fur and feathers

There has always been a lot of animals around here. Furry and feathered.
Last count there were 3 dogs, 2 guinea pigs, numerous fish in a pair of extra large aquariums and 7 chooks. Yep 7 now.
I failed to take the time a little while back when we introduced our newest three girls to the flock to then introduce them to you. I quickly fell in love with lavender araucana's and decided to get a pair from a breeder and in a moment of weakness ended up coming home with three...only one of which is a lavender but nonetheless all are beautiful. And with green eggs now gracing our nesting boxes and all 7 girls finally getting along amicably what's not to be happy about?
So here they are....
Sophia, the lavender...

Olive...
and Millie....the broody one.

and here is how pretty their eggs are.

But you know, on a much sadder note, with so many animals around they all eventually have to grow old and you're never really quite prepared for it. Kyle's dog suffered a little with dementia in his old age recently and started running away at the slightest breeze and has not returned from his last adventure.
And as I distract myself here blogging today I am preparing to say goodbye to my own best friend and longest companion this afternoon. She is 16 now and after losing an eye earlier this year and then months of me agonising over making the hardest decision one could ever make for a friend I finally knew on Tuesday that this week would be her last. It's time. And now today has come.

She's been my shadow, my cheering squad, my shoulder. She's been funny, annoying, devoted, loving and loud.

I found her at the animal shelter, quiet and husky from barking too much.

She was at the back and only little.

I didn't realise she only had three legs until I asked to give her a pat. I knew she had to come home with me and she did after the shelter gave me a 25% discount because of her missing leg! A story that always incites a giggle. But she was definitely worth the extra 25.

And so she came to live with me and I named her a variation of the Japanese word for three.

She's knows a lot about me this dog....she has seen many places and things before and after the rest of my little family now.

So I leave you with a picture of her in her prime....a long long time ago.

My dog, Sahn.

I'm going to try and be gentle with myself this afternoon and this weekend and take some more time out, but...

I will be back soon to this slightly neglected space with something much cheerier, perhaps an update on what's been happening in the patch over Spring!

Until then friends....