Saying Hi to Dusty.

Well as you can see we have a new addition to the household. We spent the weekend talking labs (J and K's black lab Jazz was away being mated) and how we dreamed of having a chocolate lab. Eric has been on strict instructions since starting his job that the ONLY 4 legged waif or stray he can bring home is a chocolate lab. Anyway he got to work on Monday to receive a message that a guy had one he wanted rid of. Rust is 2 years old, neutered registered etc but played rather over enthusiastically with the orphaned lambs that were reared in his garden. He had killed 2 lambs and a kid. The owner wanted to give him a chance before he shot him. Anyway here he is, Eric bought him home after work today - on probation! We have been watching him like a hawk as we, and Claire and Ian, are lambing at the moment. After giving him a few hours to find his way around we took him out the back paddock where the sheep and lambs are. We had Rust on a lead but Inca and Ben were off as usual. Well Rust showed no interest in the wooly ones so Eric let him off and I called him from a way away. All 3 bounded over to me, all ignoring the sheep. We then went to the next paddock and they charged around after each other like lunatics, including bounding up and down the filthy dyke. We then went and fed the pigs, when the 2 photo's were taken. Shame you cannot see the pigs. They've got huge and the gilts are both in pig. So Rust is doing OK so far. He is rather boisterous but as a 2 year old in a new home he is entitled to be. Also he has never been in doors so has yet to learn that dogs don't go on sofas etc. Inca has followed him around all day and Ben has kept out his way as a rule. They have snapped at each other once or twice and there has been the odd growl but I guess they have to establish a pecking order. Since belting around the paddocks together I think Ben has decided Rust is OK. They have also done a few laps of the house full pelt. I was on the deck this evening when the 3 of them hurtled up as one end going at about 60mph. Quite daunting all that power heading for you at speed!!

I have to say that the weather has been absolutely gorgeous this last 4 - 5 days. Warm and bright blue skies. I have a sore throat today and, not really in the mood for work, spent the morning sitting on the deck catching up on reading. It is so nice that the pressure at work is off for awhile.

I will tell you about the weekend later in the week. I meant to do it yesterday but we had a powercut. Did the only thing we could really and lit candles and went to bed!