One of my favourite guests

Jeanie

I do like entertaining!  Opening my home to others is an enormous pleasure.  One of my favourite guests has been this last weekend and another is coming tomorrow.

My weekend guest was my little friend Jeanie, a sweet little girl of nine.  She's absolutely no bother.  She brings her own meals packed up and even brings a bed when she comes for a sleepover.  We rather enjoy having a cuddle in my chair and she has a little of her chocolate as a special treat.

Tomorrow's guest is male and considerably more gifted in years.  He's not here for a sleepover and we won't be having a cuddle.   He'll have me running around like crazy and the visit will be anything but restful.  Still, I think Jack will enjoy the sausages and the vegetables from the garden.

And each in their own way will be a very special guest

Fido

Jeanie has been again today and she's here for a sleepover too.  It is such a joy to have a dog about the house again.  For various reasons I can't have my own dog at the moment, but how I miss my Fido!

Fido came to me from cocker rescue.  His original name was Barney but it seemed as though every other dog that I met was also called Barney.  I'd never met a dog who was actually called Fido and it seemed to suit him.  He had a terrible tendency to catch fleas, despite regular treatment so he had to be kept clipped fairly short.

He was incredibly greedy which regularly got him into trouble as he had no morals and would pinch from dogs, humans (especially children) and bins.  On one occasion he found a pineapple skin and ate it and was VERY sick but got no sympathy from your truly.  Here he had his suspicions that there was something edible under the cupboard and he managed to get stuck and being horrible I photographed him before I rescued him.

His best friend was Toby, my cousin's dog.  One day they demolished a large soft toy between them and Fido managed to wear it,  I call this picture, "His Honour, Judge Fido".

Sadly Fido had to be put to sleep November 2013.  I still miss him but I'm so glad that he enriched my life.

Jeanie

I've got a very special visitor today.  She's called Jeanie.  She's come for a day out to see if she would like to come for a few days at the end of the month.  Normally she looks after a couple of friends of mine but today she's at a loose end.

I'm not sure if  Jeanie realises it but she's a dog.  Few dogs do seem to know that about themselves and most humans are happy to go along with them.  Jeanie is actually that very special breed, a rescue dog.  Others may think of her just as a little terrier but Jeanie knows better.  She has rescued her humans from their dogless state and she's very good at making sure they are happy.  She asks very little in return, just food, a couple of walks a day, and a sunny spot in which to fall asleep.

Oh, and the friendship between Jeanie and her humans has one other very special thing - love.  Every dog deserves that.  And today she has come to bring a little canine love into my life again.  Thank you, Jeanie.

Jeanie (with the light brown hair)