Taking a moment

There's something so ostentatious about Dahlias.  The giant, bright blooms. 

You either love them or hate them.  

So does Oliver, who think's they're "beautiful and pretty" (Good man!)

This time next week I'll be getting ready to become a Mrs.  

My wedding is certainly less Dahlia and more Daisy, but even then there are so many things that I need to sort out before the 7th, and every so often I feel overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude of the day.  Time is running away from me at a terrific speed and whilst I really can't wait for the day to happen, I wish time would slow down so I can get everything done.  I've joked that we should run away and elope, so I can get away from all the stress of planning, but I know that when the day comes it'll be the most incredible day.  I get to be the Mrs to my Mr and that's the important thing.

So I'm making sure that I get a few moments a day when I take a deep breath, and think of nothing more taxing than "fire bad…tree pretty." (Points to you if you got that pop culture reference)

A cup of tea, with my flowers, listening to a snoring Howard and happy children, playing nicely together?  I don't mind if I do.

OCD....obsessive compulsive dog...

Hello all, Howard Moon here.  

I'm sure you all know who I am….and if you don't then why on earth not?!

Firstly I want to thank you for your kind well wishes.  I am absolutely fine and my plastic surgeon says that I'll still be able to carry on with modelling for VO5......phew!

After the "incident", now that I'm alone, Mummy says that I've gone back to my "old ways", whatever she means by that and having talked to Mrs Vet, apparently I have officially been diagnosed with OCD.  (I would have listened more closely but there was a mirror and I got distracted….)

I wasn't too upset about the diagnosis.  I mean I already knew that I was an Outsandingly Capable Dog and it goes without saying, an Overly Cool Dude.

When Mummy said to the nice (she had food!!) Mrs Vet lady that "only Howard could have OCD" I agreed…."yes...I am awesome...we all know this.  What is your point Mother?"

...excuse me a minute...

....I just can't stop.....

...can't....freaking stop....

*chewchewchewscratchscratchscratch*

No...how dare you suggest such a thing…..

I don't have the "f" word or mites, thank you very much...!

It's not that I'm itchy...I just can't stop…

I can't help it.

It's hard being this gorgeous.  

Thankfully I'm an Officially Cute Darling, I'm sure you'll agree (and if you don't agree with me, then quite frankly, you're wrong!)

What do you mean that's not what it means...?

Don't be such 'Orrible Callous Dimwits......

(Mummy note: Ok...perhaps that last one was pushing it a bit....)

Knowing when it's right to say goodbye

When it comes to my dogs there's no doubt about it.  They're family.

That's why when Dennis attacked Howard over food, and we were forced to make the decision to rehome him, I'm sure you can imagine the turmoil it caused us.

Dennis is an incredible dog.  Really incredible.  There was just one issue, although to begin with it wasn't really an issue.

Dennis liked his food.  I've talked about that many times before.  Unfortunately, Howard wasn't the type of dog to back off and let Dennis be the "top boy" around it.  They had a few grumbles about food, but nothing more serious.  It could have escalated once, but it didn't.  They adored each other still and were always together….It wasn't an issue, we told ourselves.  We fed them separately when possible and tried to keep them away from the children when they were eating.

Which is why when Dennis attacked Howard…really locked onto his mouth and wouldn't let go, it was a shock.  Howard was screaming in fear and pain.  Tom was holding Howard and I had grabbed Dennis, desperately trying to get my fingers to prize open the iron grip.  In that moment I knew that he didn't care who we were……he was completely out of it.  He pierced Howard's lip and there was a lot of blood, but just two inches lower and that would have been his throat.  Thankfully there was no lasting damage and he's bounced back like nothing happened.

We had to rehome him.  We couldn't risk that happening near/to the children.  What if they had a fight and Hugo got into the middle?  What if he snatched a biscuit from Oliver and got his lip?  How could we, as parents, risk that?  I was ready to be judged by people who know us/sort of know us/don't know us at all, but the support we've had has been incredible.

It was hard…god it was hard….!  We found him the best home we could have hoped for.  A lovely older lady who has always had spaniels; who lives in the countryside with a big garden; no grandchildren to worry about; no other dog to have a problem with.  She understood that he's NOT a bad dog, but was just needed a different home life.  You could see just how much he'd be loved.

So teary eyed and with a heavy heart we packed up his food, lead, bed and toys and took him to his new home.  Fast forward a couple of weeks and he has settled in like he's always lived there (I'm sure you can remember me saying the same when we adopted him.)

We couldn't give him the home he needed and I hope he has a lifetime of happiness with his new mummy. 

Preparation, preparation, preparation

All is go in Howard's House.  Tom and I are getting married in two weeks.

Yes...only two weeks.

Howard's been helping me sew my bridesmaids dresses.  Well, I think he's been helping.

I have tea sets all over the house.  The above being some of my favourites. (Well, they do go perfectly with my new kitchen...post to come on that.)

This coming week comes the bulk of the bunting makage.

And then comes the baking. (I'm really looking forwards to this part.)

Then...*bobs up and down in excitement*....I'm getting married.