Food, Frights, Fun, Festivities, & More Food

Hi Everyone,

There seems to have been loads happening over the last few months.

There was Halloween, which I always enjoy (mainly because the half pint humans make pumpkin lanterns and I do like my pumpkin). I also get to have a go at apple bobbing. The Food Fairy always makes sure there's an apple for me so that I can have a go. Personally I don't know what all the fuss is about - I don't have a problem with getting my face wet, especially when there's food involved.

Around this time of year us dogs have to be more careful with all the fireworks going off. Not only can we be frightened by the noise they make, but if we get too close we can get badly injured. They can also play havoc with our toileting habits, particularly when the neighbours inadvertently set them so that the rockets shoot into the garden or towards the house. I thought we were under attack at one point, so I took cover behind the sofa and crossed my legs until the coast was clear.

It was also the Food Fairy's birthday a couple of days ago so I had great fun unwrapping her presents. She has also had a new camera, which has meant I haven't had a moments peace. There is just so much pressure for me to look my best all the time, which is not an easy task when I swim with the ducks in the river everyday and jump in muddy puddles. However, it would seem that I managed a modicum of cuteness as I appear on all the Christmas cards that have been sent out this year - I am literally the star of my own range of Christmas cards - is there no end to this pampered pooch's talents?

Anyway I must dash. Sunday dinner is about to make its way to the table and if I position myself correctly, I might just get a bit before it gets there.

Merry Buttmas to you all.

Button X

My Latest Adventure in Scotland

Hi everyone,
I’ve just got back from my latest adventure in the Highlands of Scotland and what an adventure it was. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever had the pleasure to sniff and even the cats and chickens were friendly. That's me in the photo looking out to Tioram.

It’s a really long way to travel, but it’s well worth it. We stayed in the heart of ‘Monarch of the Glen’ country in a village called Kingussie. My human dad found a wonderful B&B called the ‘West Wing of Clifton’. The people that ran it were really welcoming and helpful and made our stay all the more enjoyable. They even cooked my egg every morning for me (well it is part of my special diet).
After spending so long in the back of the car, I made the most of every opportunity to have a sniff, run and swim. However, I don’t think my exuberance was appreciated by the canoeists I persued across one of the Lochs…sorry. But boy can those things travel across water; I’m definitely going to have to work on my doggy paddle.
I encountered my first chickens, ‘The girls’ would come over to the fence to cluck hello evry time I popped across the garden for a sniff. There was also a local cat who was happy to be sniffed. The local rabbits weren’t too keen on socialising and nor were the deer for that matter, but I got my biggest surprise when I saw a fish fly up out of the water.
Admittedly it rained quite a lot, but that didn’t stop us getting about and visiting really intersting places such as Glenfinnan (as seen in one of the Harry Potter movies), Eilean Donan Castle (used in one of the Highlander movis), Aviemore, Tioram and Glencoe. The scenery around Glencoe is magnificent, but as I understand it, Glen Coe is best known for what happened on the morning of 13th February 1692.
In August the previous year, King William made known his intention to pardon all the Highland clans who had taken up arms against him in the Jacobite uprising of 1689. this included the MacDonalds of Glen Coe. The pardon was only available to those prepared to take an oath of allegiance to the King by 1 January 1692.
On 31 December 1691, Clan Chief Alastair MacDonald arrived at Inverlochy, where he discovered he should have gone to Inveraray to take his oath. Because he missed the deadline by five days, The Glen Coe MacDonalds did not appear on the list of clans who had taken the oath by the deadline.
Sir John Dalrymple, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Decided to set an example by punishing one of the clans who failed to take the oath and he set his sights on the Glen Coe MacDonalds.
On 1 February two companies of troops, commanded by Captain Robert Campbell, were billeted with the MacDonalds in Glen Coe. Written orders arrived on 12 February, to put all to the sword under seventy.
The massacre started at 5am and 38 macDonalds were killed by the troops. Many escaped into the winter mountains, but it is not known how many died from exposure.
Anyway, that’s enough of the history lesson. Keep safe and I'll write again soon.
Button

I'm a 'furry pig' when it comes to food

Chocolate Labradors have a bit of a reputation where food is concerned and I can't deny it, I take my duty to uphold the reputation of my breed very seriously. I will eat anything in my path, except that is, for raw potatoes, raw parsnips and raw mushrooms. However, once the food fairy has done her magic with them, I will quite happily chobble my way through a bowl full. It's a well known fact that Labradors will eat and eat and eat and won't stop until the food supply has run out. I've even heard of Labradors eating so much that they have burst their stomach - not nice. But that's an extreme example, but like people, we can put on weight which can lead to us being really unhealthy and unfit. That's why the humans that look after us have to be responsible.
When I first came to my new home, my food fairy gave me 'dry food', which was recommended by the breeder. It was ok, it filled me up, but it was a bit boring. It also had rather a bizarre side effect. It was so full of protein it was like giving blue Smarties and cola to a child. To say I went hyper is an understatement. Within half an hour of every meal I was so full of energy I just had to run it off. That wasn't so bad when I was little or outside, but as I got bigger, it soon became clear inside the house was not the place to do it. If the food fairy hadn't changed my diet, the dining table and chairs would have been reduced to kindling in no time.
Following discussions with the vet and my mate the butcher, we seemed to hit on a reasonable diet of eggs, pasta, rice and the meat and bone mince. I enjoyed the hearts and the offal, but the food fairy wasn't too impressed with the way the smell lingered for hours. I rather liked it myself, but it is an acquired taste. Whenever the humans have a chicken, the food fairy always boils the bones so that I can have the last bits of meat and the stock. You see I'm not too keen on water, but I will drink gallons of chicken stock, so it's a way that my owners can ensure I don't get dehydrated. Clever eh!

If the food fairy is in the kitchen you can guarantee I'm not too far away. There's always a chance I might get a tasty treat and you never know when something will accidentally drop to the floor and then it's mine. Like the day she dropped a tray of mini scotch eggs - I skidded around the kitchen floor like Bambi on ice, scooping them up before the food fairy could retrieve them. I think the final score was 4-2 to me.

We had some visitors round at the weekend and all the kids had their meals on the patio. I didn't have to wait long before a juicy chicken burger came my way. If things don't get dropped, I can always go scrumping for apples or berries in the garden, or if there's really slim pickings, I can always rely on my puppy dog eyes to get me a tasty treat.

But gluttony is not without its downside and I do have to watch my weight. I've already been given the nickname the 'furry pig' after rescuing the remains of a cucumber from the compost heap when we went visiting (that was after I'd eaten the food that had been put out for the hedgehog). It doesn't help when food treats are so useful as a training aid, however my food fairy got round that one. She will give me bits of carrot or cabbage stalks as a treat - low in calories and they taste great. You know I'm sure she must think I'm a vegetarian!


Anyway time for tea, Button x.

Fun, Frolics and Forgotten Heroes

Hi everyone,

I'm back to tell you of more of my adventures on holiday. I had some fabulous times on the beaches whilst on holiday. I rolled in the sand, swam in the sea and, oh yes, splattered mud all over little miss half pint. She wasn't so impressed; nor were our travelling companions as she had to go back to the cottage to change. I also got to play football and though I say so myself, my tackling is second to none...accept for a black Labrador, who was bigger than me and kept nicking my ball.

We also went to a place called Slapton Sands, though I didn't see much sand when I was there, the pebbles were great for rolling in and having a good scratch. I also had a good swim in the sea, though I wasn't allowed to go too far because of the current.

For such a lovely place, Slapton has a very sad history. During World War II Slapton and nearby villages were evacuated and used by the military in training exercises for the Normandy Landings. There were several rehearsals for D Day, but Exercise Tiger proved costly in terms of casualties and lives lost. I find it astonishing that Eisenhower ordered the use of live ammunition during a training exercise in order to accustom troops to combat conditions. Yet what ever the task the men were practising for, was it really necessary?

We visited a memorial at the beach and saw a tank that a local man, Ken Small, had retrieved from the sea, with the aid of some locals and a few others. Ken spent a lot of his time persuing his belief there had been a cover up about Exercise Tiger. The servicemen and those involved in the exercise were sworn to secrecy at the time and threatened with the court marshall if they told anyone what had happened.

Perhaps in your history studies, you might find out more and discover what really happened. After all, it could have been one of your ancesters who lost their life at Slapton or took part in the D Day Landings.

Bye for now, Button x

Beach Babe Button

Have I got some tales to tell you...

I knew something was happening but I didn't know what. It can be really unsettling for pets when routines change because they don't understand what is happening. My 'food fairy' was packing box after box and I got really worried when her favourite walking boots disappeared. Then came the day when my 'food fairy', my human dad, the two half pint humans and nan piled into the car with what seemed like half the contents of the house. Unfortunately they didn't leave a lot of room for me; there was just enough room for my bed...not what I'm used to at all. It's hardly what you'd describe as travelling in style, but if you think this was bad you should see what it was like on the way home; I think they brought half of Somerset and Devon home with them and I ended up wearing my water bowl for part of the journey.

It wasn't until I got a sniff of the sea air that things started to look up and I realised we were going on holiday. After an hour and a half on the motorway I was like a coiled spring and you couldn't see me for sand as I did my fastest sprint ever to the sea. I amused myself and a number of onlookers for quite some time, chasing the kite surfers

up and down the shore line...well if they do it on a doggy beach what can they expect! At least when I got back in the car, I was too tired to care about the state of my travelling compartment for the last leg of the journey to the cottage in Timberscombe.

We had to collect the keys for the cottage from the pub, which was really great as I got to sit at the bar and take in all the real ale smells, as well as clean up the odd pork scratching that came my way. This was to be the first of many visits to the pub over the coming week (think I might have gained a pound or two). One of the nice things about country pubs is that dogs are made to feel welcome, which is quite right considering the work country dogs do. So whilst my human family were chatting amongst themselves, I was able to make the aquaintance of a rather dashing spaniel and take in all the new exciting smells.

Off for my tea now, follow the Butt for some more stories tomorrow.

Act my age and not my paw size huh...

It was my third birthday a couple of weeks ago, the 11th August to be precise. I had a great time with special treats and presents and all my humans seemed to be enjoying themselves. Three might not sound much in human years, but in dog years I'm an adult; how scary's that? However, even though I say so myself, I do think I have kept my puppy charm and my startling good looks and there are few that can resist my puppy dog eyes.
The trouble with getting older is that people expect you to calm down and be less boistrous. Well that sounds boring to me. I am a chocolate labrador after all and as such I do have a reputation to maintain. That said, I must be more responsible and better behaved than I was when I was a pup, because I don't seem to get into too much trouble now. Don't get me wrong I'm no angel, I do still have my moments, like sneaking a nibble at the half pint humans slippers or my food fairy's walking boots. I don't know where those boots have been, but boy do they taste good.
Anyway I heard someone say that you're as old as you feel and I certainly don't feel old and there's a lot more sniffing and nibbling to be done yet.
Catch up with you all again soon and keep safe.
Button x

Hi everyone,

I've had a great few days. I've been on some major sniffing expeditions and I've been swimming too. The half pint humans came to visit so I was able to play with them. I even managed to shake myself all over one of them. I needn't have worried about getting her clothes dirty though, as she managed to spill brown sauce all down her top one meal time. I have to say, it wasn't a good look and at least I always clean up my food spills. I have also been doing some more modelling for some photographs. It's all very wearing but at least I get some extra food treats if I manage to stay still for long enough. On the subject of food, dad wasn't happy when he found out about me taking my tea off the worktop. I think he's forgiven me now though.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer holidays. Don't forget to write. Bye for now.

The Butt x

Not all dogs are as lucky as me...

I found out the other day that my 'food fairy' (my human mom), has sponsored a dog who lives at one of the homes run by the Dogs Trust. This dog even writes to her and sends her cards. I got a bit jealous at first, (not a very attractive trait) and I tried to eat his letter, but now I understand that he and the Dogs Trust need all the support they can get. I'm really lucky; I've got my own bed and toys, I get regular meals, I even have a garden to sniff and play in. My humans are pretty good too, so I think it's cool to try and make other dogs lives better. I think it's really sad that some dogs get treated so badly, so it's really good to do something that makes their lives better.

Signed, a really lucky pup x

I am so in the doghouse....

I have just been caught stealing tomorrows tea off the worktop...mom isn't very pleased... It did taste really good though.