Colouring In - So....this is what Summer (my dog) calls my art! Colouring In!! I get, "Are you colouring again today Mummsie?" When I say I'm working, she says, "you mean colouring in", and more often lately - "You're still colouring in Mummsie, it's the middle of the night" So, how did a Petsitter become an Artist - can I call myself that? Well, I don't know what else to call it? Perhaps colouring in lol?? Back in May, there had been a lot going on over the past couple of years, and even though I couldn't draw...I mean REALLY couldn't draw, I wanted to spend some time drawing my own furry crew, and those I look after, whilst I was enjoying the sunshine and fresh air with them. And I kind of wanted them to look like them, and not what my attempts had been thus far: Oh, here are my attempts "thus far" from May 2020. You see??? Not looking very much like them, or actually this was supposed to be Herman. Although I haven't told him I've posted a blog photo with these drawings, because he won't be amused at what I've done to his eyes in that middle picture, or his nose in the last picture. I was under no illusion here, but you know, I wanted to try to draw something a bit more presentable!! And Herman being the Prince that he so quite rightly is - then I can't tell him I'm posting photos which don't exacly show him in the best light!!! So, I had been spying on Lucy's Facebook page and I realised she offered tutoring too!!! Fantastic!! All online too, so I didn't have to go "in person". I'm autistic, I prefer not to go to a strange place, with a strange person (not that I'm saying Lucy is strange - just a stranger!!), learning strange new things.
So, I could sit amid covid lockdown, using that as the excuse for staying at home and have online art lessons!! Well, apart from Lucy's work being awe inspiring, I kind of wondered if she could even teach someone as dire as me to learn to draw - I mean, I had sent over my work "thus far", and I cringed at how she would approach it all!!! I'm sure I waffled a bit on my email to her about being autistic, being obsessed about drawing Herman, not being able to draw, being nervous of meeting new people and all that- yada yada!! I should not have been worried in the slightest - Lucy is the sweetest, most patient and kind person I have been able to "meet" over a live feed. I was actually petrified before for my first session, and knew I'd find it hard to concentrate, to process everything - any autistics out there reading this should totally "get" that. You know exactly what I mean. It doesn't matter if you're meeting someone about something good, or bad, in person or on a video call - you're having to MEET someone lol And you have to think about how to "be", what to say, and it's all just so difficult to navigate, without trying to learn at the same time!!! Lucy's overall demeanour was one of complete stillness, she spoke clearly, honestly, with a huge amount of kindness, and chased my anxiety away. I suppose I'm getting caught up in how I felt when I started to learn to draw, as Summer shouts behind me as I type "off again on a tangent Mummsie" Well quite, Summer, but as I have promised to put more into my blog, then I can come back and talk more about "colouring in" at a later date!! The most life changing moment in my journey about "colouring in" came, when Lucy said - "draw what you see, not what you think you see". As we explored that concept further, it literally blew my mind!! It was like a thousand lightbulbs had gone off inside my brain, or actually had electricity connected to them for the very first time!! Whoah!! I had new eyes!!! I was seeing things so differently as we talked about light and shade and shapes. We didn't talk about vanishing points, or perspective - that kind of talk from past experience caused my brain to shrivel up like a dried out worm! I mean, an undiagnosed autistic at school in the 80's...and being female - isn't it just boys who are autistic?? I have no idea how I navigated school, college, university, and studying whilst working full time, but that all eventually takes it toll, when you're not being your authentic self, and trying to fit into a society which is totally wired differently to you! But that's how being self employed started some 6 years ago - me and being employed didn't exactly match too well!! So, this is where my journey with "colouring in" all started. It's been a cataclysmic event, but not in a destructive way, in the most positive way possible. And as cataclysmic is the word I wanted to use - for it to mean a HUGE event, but in a positive way, then I hope you get its meaning! I'll come back and talk more about "colouring in" another day, but that's all for now! Until next time
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You would be forgiven for assuming this post was all about the love of summer, especially since we’re experiencing such glorious weather currently.
Well it is in a manner of speaking, but not the summer you’re thinking of. I would like to talk a little about how Summer came to be a new member of our family, and some of what happened for that to be the case. This blog post will be a little different, it is about life, love, loss and making new memories. On the 23rd of February 2018, Summer became a fully fledged Yates. Previously she was my sister, and the actual litter sister to my previous dog, Gretal, who was tragically killed. She is a gregarious (I love that word), happy, puppy like being, who at 7 years old has been introduced to a new way of life. One with 24/7 dog and cat, days spent frolicking and nights spent sleeping….long and deeply!! When Summer first arrived, she had been used to pottering around her house and garden, with a dog flap available to her, and had never really known true tiredness. Grace kept telling Summer to "sleep whilst you can" and "you need to sleep when we don’t have visiting dogs". Summer responded with her usual "yeah yeah yeah", which has become her catchphrase - as has "I told you, but you wouldn’t listen" from Grace. At 7 years of age, Summer quite rightly thought she knew it all, and didn’t need little whipper snapper Grace telling her to sleep, and take it easy….."yeah yeah yeah" was all she said. And then it hit….that bone crunching weariness of hours and hours spent playing in the fields, entertaining visiting dogs, and barking away at the wildlife. Summer was too tired to move from her bed on the sofa, and for weeks slept downstairs….deep in sleep, never to waken. This was in stark contrast to her early weeks at Peak Pets HQ – pitter patter in the wee small hours….up the stairs….down the stairs….used to her previous insomniac mother and early riser father. Those days were certainly numbered!!!!! Now she follows the pattern of a working dog….work all day….sleep all night…and in the car….and in the garden….and yeah yeah yeah….you get the picture. As we tell Summer, Grace didn’t get her "little old lady" nickname from nowhere!!!! Now, as it happens, Summer ended up as a much loved member of our tribe in the most tragic of circumstances. Unexpectedly, and with total shock still seeping through my veins, my Mum died on 22nd February 2018. She had to go to hospital, but we thought she was ok, and when she had to stay in overnight, she asked me to look after Summer (my dad was a bit useless in charge of a dog by himself!!!!). Of course I agreed, and I was pleased to tell my Mum that Summer had been a good girl overnight. Despite being in hospital, at 07.20 on the morning of her death, my Mum wanted to know that her beautiful girl was safe and well. I was happy to reassure her, and I’m glad I did, as just a few hours later she was dead. Now you make be shocked about the use of the word dead, and not passing or passed away…more of the reasoning behind that later!! My dad was utterly heartbroken and devastated. His wife of 46 years was dead….his soul mate, his best friend and his life partner….ripped away from him in the blink of an eye. She was only 65 he said….it shouldn’t have happened. I couldn’t console my Dad, so we reluctantly left him at home to deal with his grief in his own way, he wanted to be by himself for just one night, and I understood that need for solitude more than most. He didn’t want my practical head disrupting his need for solitude. And I needed to be dealing with the thousands of thoughts running thorough my head by being useful…we were a right pair. So that night, me and my husband plotted and planned, measured and re-measured. We decided that Dad was going to come and live with us – a fine Simba bed in the back room, with a Harris Tweed chair and curtains, a radio….he could sit and do his crossword, and stare out of the window. We would look after him!!! I text my dad with my plan the next morning…I was hoping he would agree. We drove over full of fear and expectation, as my Dad hadn’t responded, which was so unlike him. As it stands, I found my Dad dead at home. Suffering a severe cardiac event, his death was instant, and a tad untimely. I was heartbroken that he never got chance to read that text message…I still am. I cannot remember much about that morning, other than repeatedly telling the ambulance control staff he was dead, after they told me to try and revive him. Well I cannot revive a corpse (apologies for the bluntness of this, but it is how I felt) My dad used to work for Salt and Son’s funeral home in Newcastle until he retired. He still had friends there, and they had driven him home from the hospital on the afternoon of my Mum’s death. And now it was my job to tell his friends that he was dead too. The only consolation, was that my Dad only had to be apart from my Mum for a few hours. They were reunited very quickly, and I keep saying that my Dad caught the same train as my Mum….with her saying, what the hell are you doing here – can’t I have a few minutes peace!!! You couldn’t write this story, we ran it over in our minds numerous times (and still do). I find myself shaking my head, and not quite believing it happened. And so, this is how Summer came to live with us…quite simply because she was an orphan, as I was too. My Mum and Dad’s funeral was, I hope a celebration of life. It involved two horse drawn hearses, doves being released, a slideshow of memories, and music that felt fitting. It was "Their Last Hurrah", and I did my very best to make it so. I also had to include my sister in this, as they were joining my sister and becoming a family of 3 again, as my sister also tragically died in 2012 aged 40. My dad’s friends from Salt and Son’s played their part, and Marcus especially understood my need for great attention to detail, my total absorption in my task, until the special day finally arrived. During the midst of all of this change, of heartbreak, of untold tragedy, and of welcoming Summer as a permanent member of our household, I found out I had Asperger’s syndrome. Now, finding out you’re on the autistic spectrum didn’t actually come as a shock. Me and my husband already "knew". I had many an aspie trait….not your typical male traits, but your female adult aspie traits….the ones who go un-diagnosed for years, the ones who become more than apt at social masking, and have many years under their belt of "pretending to be normal". I felt a sense of freedom, of relief, of contentment. I felt released from the constraints of neurotypical life, and resolved that it was more than ok to be neurodiverse….to be me. My only regret, is that I can’t tell my Mum and Dad. What would they have said I wonder….my dad being my Dad wouldn’t have said much. I would say my Mum knew, as I suspect she was an aspie too. During this process of enlightenment to the "neuro diverse side", I happened to mention to a customer that I was being assessed. She made me laugh all the way home….because she said "of course you are" and "tell me something I didn’t know". I felt a sense of relief then too…she knows and it’s ok!!!!! And this then takes me onto the subject of words….why I call death……death. Because that’s what it is….and being an aspie means I have a literal use of the English language, and at times, a bluntess which might come across as rudeness, when that's not my intention. So what do you get in return. Well, us aspies are known for our "special interests". I’m lucky that mine is animals, that they run through my veins like blood, that I live and breathe their very existence, and that by far I love animals much more than people. It is with an intensity that causes physical and emotional pain like no other at times, but it is who I am and part of me. This blog posts fills me with a sense of catharsis….I have Asperger’s Syndrome, and that makes me who I am. I am proud of my neurodiversity, and not ashamed of it. It means I have been successful at running a business for nearly 4 years now, after many years of not quite fitting in during my previous career. I was not meant to be an Accountant – we’re not all good at Maths you know!!! We're not all "rain man" or "trainspotters" and as it's a spectrum disorder, then we're all different. We think differently, process information differently and see the world through our own unique lens. I don't see it as something to be overcome, but something to be aware of, so I can make sense of this world which wasn't set up with me and people like me in mind. Meeting people tires me out, it overloads my senses, and has me running for the hills….literally. My peace and solitude are my medicine to life’s challenges. My animals heal my heart, and my job now is the perfect prize. I am truly happy looking after animals in my little paradise. I would also like to thank my loyal customers during the tragedy that struck so suddenly. Giving me the space and time I needed to think, organise and deal with my grief, and then still being there afterwards. I hope you all understand a little about what happened, who I am, and if you’ve ever noticed any of my idiosyncrasies, you can now make sense of them. Despite my outer social mask, I’m not the best people person, and too much peopling is quite hard for me to do. If you ever want to find out more about female aspies…then google Tania Marshall, Alis Rowe and Tony Attwood Until next time…. Well, it's about time I dedicated a blog post to "my boys". Their personalities are larger than life....and so are they.
Herman Peter and Haggis Tweed have been in our lives for just over a year. They're my furry fluffy bundles of naughtiness. It's like actually having 2 more dogs in the house. If you're not fond of cats.....then you haven't met "The Trillers" Now...Herman.....oh Herman, you naughty little lovable rogue you! He's my new test cat (having had little old Lucy and my big man Cactus, until they went to rainbow bridge....rest their souls). Herman is not yet fully grown, and already weighs a whopping 7kg. He's a lanky, lean Maine Coon, who likes to be involved in EVERYTHING....and I mean EVVERRYYYTHIING!!!! He "inspects" all new dogs when they come for their socialisation visit, and has hands and arms instead of front legs.....he stretches out his "go go gadget" arms, to touch his new doggy visitors He's even made a few friends from our visiting daycare and boarding doggies. He gives kisses to Sky, has snuggled up to Madge, and has been known to steal many a doggy bed...tut tut Herman!! Herman is a Prince and he knows it....he saunters around the house like the Prince that he is....and loves to come out for walks with the doggies. He bounds through the paddock with a lolloping gait, (specifically reserved for Maine Coons), and ends up as dirty as the doggies, in what can only be described as a wet mess!!!! Little Haggis Tweed, is a scaled down version of Herman. Whilst they're brothers, Haggis is a tiny 6kg in comparison, and is the most laid back pussy cat you could imagine....but we suspect he doesn't have an awful lot between his ears, bless him. Haggis is far more cat, than dog, and is out and about exploring his Serengeti in the wee small hours, whilst we sleep....and then announces his presence in the middle of the night, by jumping on the bed and covering you in kisses....forgetting he has long double coated fur, which means we get showered...not just in love....but water....or even worse...mud!!!! Haggis has recently been on a "big night out", which went horribly wrong!!! Making his way out to his nightly party....and Mr Tweed failed to come home.... we waited and waited and waited. It only took me about...err...5 hours to mount a full scale search and rescue mission. Many facebook posts, advertising campaigns, pleas for drones and search and rescue dogs.....and 6 long days later Haggis returns. Our relief was palpable, and so was his. He was skinny and starving....tired and scared, but other than that unharmed!!!!! And he has been lectured in between cuddles and kisses, not to do such a scary thing again!!!! Curiosity and cats are not a good combination young Haggis!! As always, Herman and Haggis have slotted nicely into family life, and entertain us all on a daily basis with their antics, lack of balance, and all other manner of things unbecoming of a cat. They're fun loving yet laid back, loyal and sweet. I would highly recommend a Maine Coon as a cat/dog companion....life is never boring!!!! Until next time.... Again, I have to slap my own wrists, as I haven't updated my blog in....ooooo.....too long!!!
Well, what has been happening in "them there hills" I hear you ask. Well, much of the same, with a few furry changes!! 2016, was a tough year, and I'll be brief, because we all know how hard it is to lose our furry friends. It breaks your heart, and then some. In February 2016, we lost Gretal, in the most tragic of accidents. Hit by a car on our tiny, quiet, country lane. Very much bittersweet, due to it being an instant affair, which will forever be etched in our hearts and minds, as the shocking incident it was. After the instant shock and disbelief, undoubtedly comes the guilt and bewilderment...how? why? In that instant, our fences were re-erected, and we became Fort Knox. No "cat dog", will be able to find their way onto the lane again - and thankfully, (touch wood), that's the way it has stayed!!! I wandered around in a daze, carrying on with work, but feeling as though my heart had been torn out, missing my shadow and constant friend. It wasn't long (not long at all) before we welcomed Grace into the fold. A beautiful little sausage roll - Oh her breath smelled liked biscuits, and she tamed the searing pain in my heart. Little Gracie Grey!!! Now, she's a totally different kettle of fish to Gretal...lane? lane? What lane? I don't like going on the lane....GOOD GIRL GRACE!!! What an absolute relief - and in true Grace style, she quickly established herself in our hearts, and was never far away. Always trotting alongside me, and never looking for the next adventure, without her Mummy or Daddy in tow!!! A month later, in March 2016, we lost our sweet little old lady....Lucy. A gorgeous dignified pussy cat, who lived to the grand old age of 18. She had been with me since I bought my first house, before I was married, and before we moved over to "Normal Farm" She'd seen it all, and that included my doggy visitors. Lucy was my "test cat", the one who checked out the visiting dogs, because one wrong move, and ninja paw would make an appearance. Dogs soon knew their place, and harmony remained. Good old Lucy!!! What were we going to do without you!!!! Life soon settled down, lots of doggy's visiting and getting to know Grace, and Cactus (our black and white cat) then took over "test cat" duties. What a good boy!!!! Cactus was our "big man", and generally lived in the kitchen, where we slaves provided him with many beds on the work surfaces, fridge, units and what not!!!! He loved his fusses and cuddles, and even came up to the paddock for a little stroll with the dogs. He was a big cat, with a big heart. He had the most beautiful eyes, and his tail was his pride and joy. He loved company from his Humans and was the most loving of souls. But tragedy struck once more, just after we returned from our holiday in August 2016. Cactus was very happy to see us as we arrived home.......but as he got over excited, he seemed to have trouble breathing - rushing him to the vets, asthma had been suspected. Sadly, that wasn't the case....it was much worse. He had laryngeal paralysis, so his larynx was beginning to fail, and in a nutshell, suffocating him. We had hope in a laryngeal tie back, to permanently keep his larynx open. But sadly, this wasn't to be, and after an emergency tracheostomy, we eventually had to make that heart wrenching decision....to let him go. Nobody would operate on an FIV+ cat with diabetes, with a newly suspected heart condition. Cactus was 14....we were again reeling with shock. Thankfully, things have settled down, and apart from the paranoia, when one of my furry crew, dares to sneeze, we're all good!!! Since, then, in honour of my black and white big man, Cactus, we now have two Maine Coons in our life. It wasn't supposed to be like that you know....I wanted a ginger Maine Coon....just the one!!!! What happened....well we decided to get a black and white Coonie, and then came home with two!! Haggis and Herman - "The Trillers". They are as much "dog cat" as Gretal was "cat dog"....and for sure, they deserve their own blog post, detailing their antics. They have hands, not paws....arms not legs. They are truly hilarious, and have slotted into our family, in the most superb way. Our furry family feels complete again.....we will always have our memories, and we miss Gretal, Lucy and Cactus very much. But we will never forget them, and we always make room in our hearts for our furry loved ones. Until next time! Gosh!!! I didn't realise it'd been almost a year since my last blog.....well it's been a busy old year...and I'm sure I have a couple of stories up my sleeve!
Business has been booming, and neither I nor my faithful companion Gretal, can complain. She's been busy making new friends and showing them around her fields....hopefully not teaching them too many naughty tricks!! As I have numerous Labradors coming to stay, then let's say a few words about the black, the chocolate and the yellow!! They may be different colours, but all in all they're quite similar. Now Gretal.....loves to run...the Labradors do too, but not unless they smell something AMAZING....like horse poo....some decomposing animal, fox poo....you get the picture. You see, Gretal doesn't understand this love of writhing around the floor in total ecstasy, in fact she can't quite understand why they do it! But you see, it's up to Auntie Claire to then do her best to remove said smells from those lovely Labradors....and I'm not always that successful!!! And of course, all Labradors love to scavenge don't they......and they'll eat ANYTHING.....so as I do my comedy run to try and remove said foreign, obnoxious smelling poo or what not from the jaws of the rapturous Lab , and then I'm just grateful I don't see too many people in the hills....phew!! And finally, let's bring up the subject of water, bogs and what not. My first customer when I set up this business was Madge, the black Labrador. She's fit and youthful, despite being in her twilight years. If she's near water, then it's like Christmas....well not just one Christmas but quite a few rolled in together. I remember a trip to a canal, and Madge was overcome with joy....and my own dog....well.....nonplussed would be putting it mildly..lol...I love how different they are!! On a recent trip to the beach with Madge and Sky the yellow Labrador....they bounded through the sea....splashing it around with bountiful joy....and Gretal??? You guessed it... she preferred just getting her tip toes wet!!! Now I can't end this post without mentioning Mystie the chocolate Labrador who...shock horror...doesn't like water!! She doesn't like the canal, or the reservoir, or the pool!!!!! Is she related to Gretal do you ask?? Well, her fur is a little wavy on her back, so you never know!! AND...Mystie also has a fondness for bogs....just like my little bog dog Gretal....damn, she really has been exposing Mysite to her naughty tricks!! I'm happy so far with how business is going, and things wouldn't be the same without the variety would it.....a water loving labrador, a water hating Bedlington, and chickens which follow you around, as if they were.....well....dogs!!!
It's good to see ex-battery hens enjoying the sun on their backs....well rain at the moment, but you know what I mean!! I've enjoyed feeding a daily cous cous ration to these girls, and you'd think I was feeding them gourmet cuisine as they chase after me with excitement, with the stomping waddling gait only chickens can master!! Now, variety doesn't just stop at my customer's animals, as we have a variety of animals also, which I'm sure you'll all get to know in time!! Let's take Charlie for instance, a young shire, with a deep Santa like neigh, who still thinks he's a giraffe! (That's another story) So, Charlie.....routine dental work, and a fracture is found in two teeth....simple extraction required at the hospital in Liverpool, it will only take a couple of days I'm told. OK, so I toddle off and arrange it, feeling happy it's being dealt with......well, never ever let your vet say it's "SIMPLE"....shhhhh, don't say it!!!! Don't even think it!!! So, 2 days turned into 4 days, turned into 7 days....you get the picture!! Of course Charlie's teeth wouldn't come out easily!!! He's doing his best to hang onto them!! But then he's coming home.....yay!!!!! But I obviously choose the windiest day, as I consult my weather station....so I'm pacing, imagining some Wizard of Oz type scenario, with a flying shire! He arrives home...safely! PHEW....OK, stop thinking it's all been simple....don't think it....nooooo!!! So what happens; all OK?? Oh no, that would be too simple....oh gosh, I've said it!!! He then gets a complication called Lymphangitis, possibly caused by his lazy week in stables in his hotel...I mean hospital!!! Injections into the vein daily by the vet......obviously it goes....noooo, that would be.....don't say it!!!! So, the lymphan what's a thing comes back, and then more daily injections for a longer period. And here's the best bit, I need to carry on with the injections into his bum instead of powders in his food, to make sure it's in his system quicker. S I M P L E...I can't say it so I spell it!!! Well, I've done them before haven't I, so it must be!!! As Charlie has been poked, prodded and what not, like a pin cushion for a few weeks, this laid back Santa style chappy decides he's had enough....so tries to kick me when I reach up and inject him into his bum....now, this is no ordinary bum...it's a large round, extremely high up bum, requiring maximum stretch (OK, I'm short!!!) So, the bum injections turn into bribery with food, tied next to my gate, so I can climb up and lean over, avoiding those shire sized feet!! Simple wasn't it!!!! Charlie 1, Mummy 1 What a result........ Until next time :-) This week, is a different kettle of fish to last week. T-shirts.....warm weather.....dogs panting....cats finding that chink of sun on the bed!!
ALL CHANGE! Monday was Monsoon Day......wet, wild and.....errr...fun?? Maybe for the dogs, or dog in my case. My own dog Gretal, is wrapped up in her bright orange coat, with her name lovingly embroidered in the corner. She has a habit of doing the best dogs trust pose imaginable.....you know, a whippet, with its tail tucked under, giving you those woeful eyes. Well, that's what Gretal does....and it's embarrassing.....hence the coat! She'll stay dry, so her fur doesn't stick to her body in the rain, making her look like the best advert ever!!! In contrast, my doggy daycare visitor is Madge, a black Labrador, who LOVES the rain. Bouncing and running through the rain, just like some Timotei advert (I'm trying not to imagine a black Labrador with a blonde wig on here) ...in direct contrast to my own dog, who acts like I'm an uncaring brute, when she could be curled up in front of the fire....bearing in mind she's a warm dog, and she insists on making sure her blood boils when the fire is lit....being brought up with cats has its disadvantages methinks! Anyway, I digress.....monsoon weather on Monday. I rummage through my belongings and find my waterproof legs (yes, I know they're called trousers really), and my waterproof mac, and truss myself up like some turkey...not forgetting my bobble hat, with my waterfproof hood constricting my airway as I tighten it against the raging wind. I stay totally dry, don't I, smug because I have all of my waterproof gear snuggly wrapped around my body. One small thing I've forgotten to do.....check that they don't need re-proofing. Ahhhh, yes, I knew there was something...doh!!!! I might join Gretal's camp.....water?? Who needs to go out in the rain....only a daft labrador!! Oh yes, and me :-) |
AuthorPeak Pet Services....bringing our day in the Peaks to life Archives
October 2020
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