Loneliness of the Long Distant Ferret!

Hi Woofers!

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake here!

You know, this idea of Snowflake's to enter the 'Ferret Racing' at the Kent County Show has really shown us that getting fit to run is a lot of hard work!

Old Two Legs has purchased, (at great expense) a brand new, budget priced, travelling cage for Snowflake but this one has bigger holes in the door so she can see more of the world as we head off to the Sea Wall!

Off for a Training Session

As normal, Snowflake stays cuddled up in OTL's arms as we walk to the start of the course. All the time she is stretching her legs and slowly warming up ready for the off!

OK, I'm nearly ready!

I take the opportunity to have a quick dip before we get going.

Are we ready?

Snowflake is very organised, she first makes sure that OTL has the stopwatch ready before we start.

Stopwatch Ready OTL?

All checked and sorted, she is off at a steady trot along the Sea Wall, or as Holly calls it, 'The Wall of Death'!

Off We Go!

We have spent a long time working out the training run course and it includes beach running, road running and some inclines as well, (steps to you!)

Up the Muni Steps!

The best bit is the run down to the finish, we have designed that as a treat for Snowflake, the run down hill also helps her get up speed but we have to make sure she doesn't over do it at the final bit 'cos there is a big nettle patch there and nettles are not very nice!

On the Home Stretch!

Back in the car, Snowflake gets a rub down with one of our Doggy Towels and then has a rest while OTL gets Holly and me all dry and checked for ticks!

Back home Snowflake gets her breakfast and then has a sleep to rest her legs until lunch time.

She then does some work in the gym, she is either 'Pumpin Rubber Balls' or practising the 'Tunnel Run' which OTL has manufactured for her!

Up the start!

 She also runs and jumps all over the 'assault course' and of course, being a ferret, just loves the 'Box of Paper' in which she swims about!

A Paper Splash coming up!

 So, you see, being a Ferret in this house is not all eating and sleeping!

We left Snowflake sleeping and went out to The New Park! It was good to be back again and catch up on all the sniffs!

We even stopped at the top of the hill for a rest, well OTL needed the rest!

Wot's That?

 OTL had brought his 'Point & Shoot' camera that he had been using all day, he gets all nostalgic over his old cameras you know!

Anyway, it seems that it's not water proof and me splashing him and the camera when I went in for a 'Deep Paddle' got him all 'Showy Off', so we only had half an hour in the Swimming Hole!

A Low Level Deep Paddling Shot.

Talking of Swimming Holes, OTL stuck the camera out of the window and took a picture of our pond, looks OK we think. Now he has just a couple of other jobs to do and it will be finished!

The Pond, with some of the stones and rocks OTL has been scattering artistically!

See you tomorrow, and if you fancy coming out with Snowflake on her training run, we are down on the beach by eight fifteen every morning!

Luv,

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake

Snowflake is still training!

Hi Woofers!

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake here with you!

Wot happened to the sun? One day we were rolling around catching up with the tans and next we are searching for our woolly hats!

First thing this morning, Snowflake was up and 'Pumping Iron', well rubber balls really, she was picking them up and running down the other end of the office and storing them in another cardboard box.

All fired up, she was really up for a morning run.

Down on the beach, I went for an early morning swim while Holly tried to catch some rays!

Snowflake was off and steaming along the beach, kicking up the sea shells and sea weed!

Old Two Legs had a hard time keeping up with Snowflake, until she stopped for a wee!

Back home she had a rub down and a breakfast of Ferret Nuggets and went back to sleep.

Snowflake Snoozing!

Holly said that it was OK to sleep like that but you had to be careful you haven't had anything to give you wind!

OTL said that Holly knew all about wind!

At lunchtime it hadn't brightened up at all so even the flowers were a bit dull looking, and OTL wasn't too happy about that!

We've seen better!

Mind you, OTL did find a Brown Banded Carder Queen Bee chomping away on some pollen and tried to get a shot of it but it flew off before OTL managed to get in position, still, it's good to see that the colony is looking good. Maybe a bit later this summer OTL will be able to try again!

OK, so he can't always get the best shot!

I started to take the mickey out of him and kept woofing that I could do better with a box of crayons and a white painted wall!

Can't Catch Me!

OTL said he would pinch my tail to use as a paint brush but I said he had to catch me first!

It was then that we heard a Black Headed Gull calling out that no one could catch him and he started to run across the mud stamping his feet!

Yer Can't Catch me either!

As OTL said, 'Soppy Bird'!

Back home for some more work for OTL while we had our afternoon snooze on the bed and left him in peace.

So, that's it for another day, I do hope the sun comes back soon, I've heard that the weekend should be sunny, so, claws crossed, we may even get a ride out in the car!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake

An exciting day hunting rabbits and other stuff!

Hi Ho Woofers!

It's us, back again, Daisy, Holly & Snowflake.

Wot a super sunny day! Summer has really arrived. We were up good and early this morning, well, it was just too good to stay in bed, unless your name is Holly!

We started off with Snowflakes run along the beach, but then Holly and I thought it was a good idea to hunt some rabbit and off we went! Old Two Legs was in hot pursuit, together with Snowflake who had got the sniff as well!

When OTL caught up with us we were put on the lead to make sure we all kept together. Trouble was, as he was doing the lead bit, Snowflake took it into her head to dive down one of the rabbit holes to do some investigations of her own!

It was lucky that OTL had the harness on her 'cos she had disappeared from sight and OTL had to gently pull her back out!

Back home and we had a brush before getting back into the car to do some shopping, at B&Q, which means that OTL has some gardening to do today!

We were right, loads more stones for the garden plus some plants and pots into which the plants will go!

It's getting close now, it is almost finished, only the 'Wild Flowers' left and that won't be done until March next year!

While we were out, we dropped into the Doggy Shop! Oooooooooo! The Sniffs were Terrific!

We even stopped at the cage with the rabbits in and chose one for lunch!

Then we stopped at the 'Grooming Station' and watched a Bozo being blow dried!

OTL just had to buy Snowflake another squeaky ball 'cos she has hidden a couple in the office and OTL can't find them!

Back home Snowflake was let out for a run around and decided to help OTL out with his camera stuff. Well, she gave his lens a good licking to clean it up!

OTL said he was very pleased that she took such an interest in the camera stuff and please make sure not to poo in his bag!

Another Job Jobbed!

 OK, we know it is all fuzzy and not very well focused, but it was a 'Quick Shot' !

Bye the way, Gob's Mum and Dad have repaired the nest and are starting on another family, well we think they are but we can't see 'cos all the nesting stuff has blocked the camera, so all we get is audio of one or the other shuffling around in the nest!

Lunch time we were out again down the Sea Wall and we spotted a Wormy Man out digging and he had a dog with him as well!

I suppose that meant it was a Wormy Dog!

Wormy Man & Wormy Dog!

We also spotted a couple sitting on the wall having lunch, to be exact, they had just finished lunch and there was nothing left for us to mug!

Lunch finished!

Unless you fancied some strawberries, which we didn't!

 More rabbit hunting but this time Holly did her 'Highland Charge'. So I decided to let her get on with it and just sat down to wait for OTL who was chasing a Dragon Fly!

Holly's Gone & Rabbits Gone!

 Not too sure what we have got planned tomorrow but we know it could be warm, so whatever it is we are looking forward to it!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake

Serious Training For Snowflake.

Hi Woofers!

What a super Hot Day for us, Daisy, Holly & Snowflake!

We were out a bit late this morning 'cos we had a late night last night, but that didn't stop young Snowflake from getting in her morning race along the beach, Holly and I were banned from rabbit hunting while Snowflake had her morning workout!

We were running ahead of her, keeping everyone out of her way and I even woofed at a couple of Magpie's who were trying to spoil Snowflakes concentration!

Of course, when we got back home it was a quick rub down and some Ferretone to ease her legs, then off for a snooze to recover!

The morning was spent watching the F1 racing from Silverstone and half way through the race Holly and I decided we needed a walk!

So, Old Two Legs asked for the rest of the race to be recorded and off we set!

It was hot! Very Hot! Being Sunday we got the normal bunch of Bozo's turn up on the beach. There was one couple that brought their own seats, no problem with that, but why sit behind the bench?

Hiding behind the bench!

We carried on and blow me down, there was another couple waiting for the tide to come in!

Is the Tide in yet?

Of course, there is always the Bozo's who don't check what time the tide is in and end up not doing any fishing at all!

Well the water was here last time!

We stopped to have a look at the whole beach but there were loads of Bozo's all over the place!

Holly and I decided it would be best to leave them alone!

Look! There's Loads of them!

As we headed back towards the car, Holly spotted this rose growing by the path. OTL said it was called a 'Dog Rose', Holly said it was a bit silly calling it a Dog 'cos it couldn't chase Rabbits, wee up lamp posts or chew bones!

OTL said she was being silly!

So, back home to see the rest of the racing and then a cool drink of pond water!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

Daisy, Holly and (Call Me Slick) Snowflake!

Busy Day!

Hi Ho Woofers!

What a day today, and it hasn't finished yet!

It's us here, Daisy, Holly & Snowflake.

This morning we were out good and early, Snowflake has started her training program and stayed in wrapped up in Old Two Legs arms until half way around the Sea Wall Path!

OTL started Snowflake off by letting her loose on the beach to have a run up and down on the sand. That is meant to toughen up her claws and paws!

Holly and I got a bit fed up and went off to chase a couple of rabbits we had seen hop by!

When we got back we all crashed out after breakfast and even Snowflake said she would leave her frying steak until later in the day!

Lunch time we left Snowflake snoozing away and headed off to Auntie Jane's house, that's where Lucy lives.

Hi! I'm Lucy!

We were there to meet Johnathan, who is The Missus's Great Grandchild!

Of course, TM wanted to have a picture of her holding Johnathan but just before OTL pressed the shutter, she nicked his dummy!

Naughty, Naughty TM!

 Naughty TM!

It didn't take too long for a suitable soft toy to be found that started him going Goo, Goo!

Goo, Goo, Goo!

Of course, all the females in the family wanted to have a cuddle and he did his job of going Goo Goo all over the place. That was until TM wanted a second cuddle!

More Goo Goo's

 We also met up with Megan who, at the last time we saw her, was all floppy and falling over the place.

Now, she is turning into a sneaky little girl 'cos she pinched a chocolate finger and managed to get it all over her face!

Wot Choccy?

 That's my girl!

After that we went off to Auntie Andrea to do some baby sitting. That is where we are at the time of putting the blog on. The babies have gone to bed, OTL has read them a bed time story and TM is watching the F1 qualifying!

Holly and I have been out in the garden playing with all the tennis balls left around the garden!

Loads a Balls!

 Holly found a strange looking animal in the garden, she gave it a woof but it didn't even move, Holly said it was just too scared to move!

Yeah! Right!

Wot is It?

 So, here we are, sitting in the kitchen with OTL thinking about going out for a wee!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake

Ferret Racing?

Hi Woofers!

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake here again.

It has been a bit of a damp day down in North Kent, not pouring with rain, just the sort of rain that makes you damp but not soaking wet, unless you go bouncing around in the grass, like wot we do!

Snowflake came out with us this morning and enjoyed her run around the Sea Wall. She was bouncing along at a steady pace, but every so often she stopped to have a rub of the grass. She said that she found that if she rolled on a place where there were ants, they sort of cleaned her fur as she rolled on them. I'm not sure if that was because they are squirting acid at her or she was crushing them and getting not only acid but dead ant sniff as well!

We didn't meet up with anyone on the path, so it was a little boring, but we did get to do our business in peace!

Back home, we were up in Old Two Legs office, having a chat about this and that, Snowflake was saying how fast a ferret can run down a hole and chase the rabbits or rats out.

We were chatting when the postman called and put some envelopes through the letterbox. One of these was OTL's tickets for the Kent County Show, we always got to the show each year and the sniffs are terrific!

Especially in the sheep and cattle halls!

Well, this year OTL spotted that they had a stand that offered 'Ferret Racing'!

It looks like you stick your ferret in one end of a pipe and it runs all the way down to the end of the pipe and the first one out the other end is the winner.

'Hey', says Holly to Snowflake, 'How do you fancy your chances?'

'If OTL can get me in, I'll have a go!' says Snowflake!

So, OTL will be going on his own on the first day and taking us on the second day but if OTL can get Snowflake in, she will be racing on the third day, that is the Sunday and even The Missus said she will come along as well to cheer Snowflake on!

We will let you know how we get on.

Our lunch time walk was fun, we met up with Arthur who had put on a couple of kilo's since we last saw him and Holly called him a 'Lump'!

He didn't like that and chased her down the hill!

Naughty Holly!

 Mind you, it didn't last long 'cos he couldn't run very far and he got all out of breath as well!

I need a Breather!

 Holly and I went down on the beach for a run around and I got the idea that a paddle in the squidgy mud would be just the thing to do on a damp day like today. Well, that was until OTL called out that the first puppy who put her paws in the mud gets a full wash down in cold water and rubbed down with a scrubbing brush!

Wot! Us?

Holly found a sniff that she said was new to her and she had to concentrate hard to remember it for next time!

Mmmmm! This is new!

 We had to wait for OTL 'cos he has found that Corncockles were growing on the Sea Wall. Now these are supposed to be a bit rare, so we are doing well with the flowers!

OTL says that he has some Corncockle seeds in the 'Wild Seed Pack' he got last year at the Kent County Show, that means we will have some of these growing in the garden next year!

Agrostemma githago   Corncockle

 I just hope that we get 'Wild Flowers' and not 'Weeds'!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake (The Fastest Ferret in the World)

We go Fox Hunting!

Hello Woofers!

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake back with you today!

Have we had a fun day! We were up good and early and also made sure that Old Two Legs was awake, Holly made sure of that 'cos she gave him a good ear lick and then a cuddle!

Trouble was, he went back to sleep, so did Holly and the result was, we all got up late!

Snowflake came out with us and we chased a couple of rabbits, then we had a ferret around in the long grass and guess who came bounding over the hill............Barney!

We hadn't seen Barney for some time so we had a chat and caught up on tales, he told us about his holiday and we told him all about the Isle of Mull and Snowflake told him about her fancy Spa Hotel and his owner told OTL she had Shingles.

OTL said goodbye and legged it down the hill to the Sea Wall!

Back home OTL was in Manufacturing mode again and Snowflake, Holly and me went into sleep mode!

We helped OTL do the deliveries and then it was back to the Sea Wall.

We were just starting our walk when in the distance I spotted a fox, just standing there looking at us!

It took my just two Milli Seconds to decide what a part Fox Terrier should do.......Chaaaarge!

Off I went like a rocket, Holly was close behind, well I thought she was close. but she stopped for a sniff and there I was, all on my own!

Come Here Foxy Chops!

Luckily, my charge up the path got the fox a bit worried and he decided that it would be better if it retreated back to his own bramble bush!

Stand still when I woof at you!

Maybe if we got down the Sea Wall a little earlier we will catch him next time!

After all that excitement I was feeling a little hot, so I decided a quick splash in the water would be a good idea.

Now this is Coooooolll!

 Trouble is, OTL didn't think it was a good idea and called me back onto the beach and told me I was a Mucky Puppy!

Me? Mucky?

Holly thought it was very funny for some reason or other and couldn't stop laughing!

What a Wally!

Back up on the Sea Wall we met up with Fly and his mate. Fly was a good runner but had been mistreated when he was younger but he looks good now, just not so fast!

My name's Fly!

While Fly was woofing at OTL his sister came along and told him to stop woofing, then she went up to OTL and had a cuddle!

I don't know how he does it, all the soppy dogs think he is wonderful! This one is a Yorkshire Terrier and a Chihuahua cross and would you believe she is eight years old!

Look, I know Cute!

 She said that she had been doing 'Cute' all her life and was a real expert!

That was it, I gave up with OTL and we headed back for our afternoon snooze!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake!

Return to The Forest!

Hi Woofers!

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake back with you.

Although it has not been blasting hot sun shine it has however been warm and sunny, in patches!

We were out again this morning with Snowflake, who stayed in Old Two Legs arms until we got to the furthest most point of our walk. Then, as soon as she got put down, she dived into the hay and was rolling around and diving under the grass having a super time!

Holly and I not only saw rabbits, but we saw a fox, twice, who was also after the rabbits. I think he wanted to invite them to breakfast!

After breakfast we let OTL do his stuff and got ready to go with him to do 'Deliveries'.

As Snowflake comes out with us in the morning, OTL doesn't take the camera with him 'cos 'two dogs and ferret are enough for anyone' says OTL!

Lunch time it's different, Snowflake is still snoozing and it's just OTL and us, and the camera!

Now, as you all know, when we are out with OTL, he will always include some super pictures of Holly and me, posing and just looking good! Unfortunately, this time of the year all he really is interested in is insects and flowers!

Normally we would complain but this time we let him off 'cos he took us down to The Farm! We hadn't been down there for ages! The sniffs were new and we even spotted a fox who was taking something small and furry back for his dinner!

OTL was busy with the tripod and camera. The first picture is of a plant we don't know what it is but the blue colour looked super!

To make it perfect, along came a bee and visited most of the flowers, how's that for timing!

Where's the Landing Lights?

 Then, a bit further down the path he spotted another colourful bloom and again, he had no idea of what it's called!

What we need is a Botanist!

 We went to The Farm 'cos OTL reckoned the poppies would all be out and blooming and the Corn Cockles would be there as well, no chance! We were either too early or too late, there were about a dozen poppies in the whole field and they mostly looked past their best!

He started of with this one that we think could be used for something other than sniffing!

An 'Original' poppy.

 We found this one that looked more like the ones we all know, the only problem was the wind, because the shutter speed was so slow 'cos the aperture was so small (f16 or f22) OTL had to use a special thing called a 'Plamp' which is really an arm that you mount on the tripod leg and with the other end, you hold the stalk in another clamp!

Looks good!

English Poppy!

One very small problem with the Plamp, when you take the picture, it always is there looking all sort of strange and odd!

So, OTL has done one of his tricks on the computer and removed it, if you look very carefully you can see where it was!

As we got to the end of our walk, OTL spotted another poppy in amongst the Rape plants, so, very carefully he parted the Rape and weeds and other stuff. Then, setting up the tripod he did this one, which, to our expert eyes is much better than the other one!

That's better OTL

 Not sure what's happening tomorrow, maybe we will go looking for more insects, maybe around our pond 'cos it's getting loads of attention with the flowers all blooming!

We have just heard that dinner is ready, so off we go!

See you tomorrow.

Luv,

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake (Still asleep!)

Sun Shine At Last!

Hello Woofers!

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake back again!

We were up good and early this morning, Holly even jumped up on the bed and gave Old Two Legs a 'Good Morning Wake Up Lick' but OTL said that one thirty was just a little too early and could she try later!

Well, you have got to give her points for trying!

Our morning walk was good, Snowflake came with us and Holly and I managed to kick up a couple of rabbits while OTL and Snowflake were hunting in the grass for mouses and snakes!

Well, that's what Snowflake said she was doing, OTL was just trying to keep up!

OTL has discovered that the Goats Beard plant propagates its seeds the same way a Dandelion does and that the seed head looks just the same, but about three or four times bigger. So you know what he is going to be looking for every time we go out!

We had Chicken for breakfast today, super tasty it was too, freshly cooked!

OTL spent the morning 'Manufacturing' as he calls it, so he was boring. Still, after a good feed we decided to have a snooze and that took us up to lunch time.

Snowflake was still sleeping so we left her curled up and headed down to the Sea Wall again and I had a quick dip, just to cool off!

The tide was in and there were some fishermen there but they hadn't caught anything.

OK, Who's got the Sandwiches?

There was a lady sun bathing on the beach, Holly said she could just fancy a sun bathe herself but in the end decided that a poo and a wee was more important!

Talking of Poo Bags, OTL has found some of the Goats Beard plants with the seed heads ready to release the seed to the wind.

Goats Beard Seed Head.

 By putting the poo bag over the top of the seed head he can collect all of them in one hit! So, he has sorted out all the seeds and put them away in an envelope, ready for planting next Spring.

Holly found a couple of dead baby sparrows in the garden, so we told The Missus and she told OTL to sort it!

After careful inspection, OTL declared that neither of them was Gob, so that was good news, but they were very dead, which is not good news really.

They ended up in the compost bin where the ants had set up home and in this warm weather, they had moved all their eggs up to the top of the nest to take advantage of the heat generated by the sun beating on the plastic lid.

Holly says she doesn't do ants 'cos they don't taste nice!

If it's still sunny, OTL has promised we can have a trip down to The Farm to see the flowers, well, he wants to look at the flowers, while he is busy with the flowers we can hunt badgers!

See you tomorrow!

Luv,

Daisy, Holly & Snowflake (Still Snoozing)