THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

12 January 2014

SPOKE TOO SOON


Hopeless he's not and, yes, that is a rodent in his mouth as if to prove me wrong. In his defense, he did eat it which is more than Snippet did with his one and only vole which was dispatched in a split second and left for someone else to consume. 

A short post tonight. It's been a busy weekend with new household nightmares to deal with including damp patches appearing at the bottom of the stairs and render falling off the front wall after trying to poke a drainpipe which sounded like it contained the ghost of Jack's rodent; it turned out to be a trapped Sparrow which flew out after more poking. The end of last week was VERY windy so I decided to climb Kestor with the dogs and commune with the elements. 




This pony was using a gorse bush as shelter:


These three looked like triplets:


Trigger has stayed at home for a few days.


So, until next time, when I may have more to say for myself, hope your weekend has been better than mine, RIP rodent and here's one for Tom Stephenson (http://tomstephenson.blogspot.co.uk/).


45 comments:

  1. I love that first pic especially, look at that cheeky, mischievous little face ;-)

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  2. Ohh poor little vole, but I guess it went quickly....the karma balance of things was that you saved the little sparrow and what's a little render compared aye :-)

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    1. How true Ann. I think, as terriers, it'sin their DNA to kill as quickly as possible thank goodness.

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  3. Oh yuk - I hope the rodent stayed down!

    Well done for saving the trapped sparrow, even if it does mean another DIY job on the house......

    Snippet and Jack make such a photogenic pair. You must be so pleased you found Jack!

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    1. It did stay down and he still wolfed his dinner later on. He eats more than Snippet despite being almost half the weight.

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  4. Ah well, it's just the way of things with our animals. I remember a much beloved cat who used to bring every dead rodent and drop it at our feet as if to say, "Aren't I a good boy?" Your photos are always brilliant Em, but the last one spoke to me today. Your pups are adorable!

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    1. Yes....my cats used to drop birds at my feet, which I hated!

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  5. In that last pic the dogs had far better things to look at than the camera.

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  6. You are brave, all of you. It was a bit too windy and wet round here for me to venture out far from home.
    I’d never get rid of the mud.

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    1. We clean the mud off in the stream before coming up the drive!

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  7. I will take your word for the vole in Jacks mouth... I see a big stick. I would rather they killed it and not eat it. So Snippet is the good boy for me.
    I am sure where you live something would eat it.
    Misery loves company 1/3 of my roof needs to be repaired fast before the rains comes... oh lucky me.
    Enjoyed your photos as always.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Houses.....caves would be easier in son many ways!

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  8. I'm so sorry to read about your household nightmares, I hope they're resolved quickly and easily, and I hope you get back to fun days, without the voles of course, but Jack and Snippet might disagree! :-)

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  9. I love the expression on Jack's face in that first shot.
    Jane x

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  10. Household problems are always a nightmare. Hope yours fix quickly!

    Your last photo from the top of the tor is wonderful! What a view! Also am wild about the three mares on the moor, what a gorgeous photo. Snippet does windblown very well although I really love the photo of him above the pony and gorse bush.

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  11. I think household disasters bring out the worst in one--they aren't TRAGEDIES but are very wearisome.
    Those ponies appear oddly shaped--is it the angle of the photo?
    Keeping animals [dogs, cats, horses] does complicate life, but we'd be very lonely without them.

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    1. I was quite a long way below the ponies which is why you can only see them from the knees up!

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  12. Jack has obviously improved his terrier skills! I love the way the dogs look out over the moor and over all that lovely space they have to run around in. I'm so pleased you managed to rescue the Sparrow. Good luck with all your household nightmares.

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    1. Thanks Wendy. I forgot to mention that we haven't had a phone for a week now which is a kind of background stress as I have to make phone calls from the compost heap.

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  13. Loved the photos of the dogs
    but hope things improve this week!

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    1. At least the rain isn't torrential. Hope you're not still freezing!

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  14. Jack seemingly posed for the 1st photo, Em. Lots of eww factors at times with what dogs think what is edible.

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    1. Ewww indeed, although at least I didn't have to look at it lying there dead.

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  15. As usual Em, your photographs bring to life such a beautiful area. As for the vole incident - oh dear, these things happen but I am sure you found it distressing, although why we should find it more distressing than a mouse I am not sure.

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    1. I can't be upset by something they were bred to do, so I just hope it doesn't happen too often. I know you understand the terrier thing Pat!

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  16. Lovely photos as always of the dogs and ponies and Dartmoor. I do hope you get your household problems sorted soon and it stops dry for you for a while.

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    1. It's meant to be dry tomorrow I think, which would be nice. It's raining outside now....

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  17. Sorry you have had some household nightmares, hope this week turns out better. I also enjoy your pictures but my favourite ones are the first and last ones!
    Sarah x

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  18. We have 4 dogs, and none of them can be bothered to catch small rodents. Laika, the wolf dog, does get a Jack rabbit (hare) from time to time. Bunnies are below her? Or are they too cute? Anyway, they are munching right along with packrats, and squirrels. right under the nose of the dogs.

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    1. Perhaps it wasn't what they were bred for? I do wish our two weren't quite so obsessed with cats. Our neighbours' Bengals are worth a fortune!

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  19. Hope you household problems sort themselves eventually, damp is of course an old problem in cottages, I reckon it keeps them standing upright;) it took the little Whitby cottage 3 years to dry out, the chimney leaked quite badly at one stage....But you have gorgeous dogs to take your mind of stuff xx

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    1. Our house was actually built in 1968! Doesn't look like it but it was. The damp is weather related I think. It is ridiculously wet here!

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  20. Love Snippets wind swept look and the beautiful ponies. Yes my dog is an eat anything he can find type of mutt-it can be really disgusting. We had one nice day recently which was Saturday and yesterday morning was good, but now back to wind and rain.

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    1. Horizontal rain? I imagine so. It's absolutely awful here today too. Sigh.

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  22. He'll make a ratter yet! Hope the crises end soon.... a little sunshine would help us all!

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