News & Updates from Patricia Platt · Page 8

We lost our dog Roxie to cancer and I took it pretty hard. We got another dog though she will never replace Roxie in our hearts she can join her there. She is also a rescue dog and has come with some issues.

She is great when we are out on walks and with other dogs, which Roxie had problems with. But Millie is over protective of us at home and around her territory. We are working on this, but we dont get alot of visitors here to sort this problem out. Another problem was night terrors. She would just shake and shiver and start climbing the walls.

After some guidance from our vet and alot of patience on our part we now have that problem sorted. But she will have panic attacks when it comes to loud noises and fireworks. But we know how to help her get over her fear. She is such a clever dog and one with a big heart when it comes to us.

And though she has problems I am glad we were able to give another rescue dog a home.

We had a call late on Tuesday night asking if we could look after 4 baby hoglets. I was a bit surprised at how small they were. This lot is the smallest we have had so far..... around 25 grams. So far they are holding their own.

It means every two hour feeds for a week or so until they are a bit bigger. Already they have put on over 5 grams. :) The mum ran off and abandoned them after the nest was disturbed by folks doing some strimming and gardening.

She didn't come back for them, so they were broung into care.

I work with a local rescue as they are so busy with injured animals of all sorts and don't really have the time to dedicate to looking after all the babies.

I have now been looking after hedgehogs for 4 years and find the babies the most statisfying raising them up and then releasing back to the wild. :) These are just two of my recent designs.

I know that football season is here so why not a football design. :)

We have had a very busy week here in the garden. The sweet corn has been planted and is protected by sticks to ward off any digging animals. And the new raspberry canes are sprouting so far just two out of the five. The mushrooms aren't doing that well.

The brain has died a death and as thus is a garden failure. :( Gardening is never a sure thing around here and when it does turn out right it is a purely wonderful thing.

Mr. Jingles has taken to sleeping next to the runner bean seedlings...... not sure what he is going to do when they get planted in the next couple of days.

Roxie has had a hair cut as being part pomeranian her coat is very thick and she over heats in the summer.

We have been sharing her fur with the birds and they have taken it to line their nests. We also found three newts in the cold frame so that is out of action until they move on.

Lots of hedgehog activity at night around the garden and lots of baby birds visiting and adult birds collecting food to feed their little ones.

The big rose bush in the front garden has started blooming and so are the peony bushes. We did pot up 17 wall baskets and 5 hanging baskets with some of the plantlets. I am hoping for a really colourful garden this year. Fingers crossed.

My new designs contain Roses and Butterflies to continue with my gardening mode. :)

I have looked after the little orphans that came in last fall as autumn juveniles that needed some tlc and a place to kip during the winter as they were too small to hibernate.

Now that spring has sprung it is time for them to move on and enjoy life as free wild hedgehogs.

Well this is what I thought. But for some reason this year, they have decided life at the hog hotel is way too cushy and have decided to stay a bit longer.

Barb was released a few nights ago and she is in the photo of the straw, next to the piece of red paper, can you spot her?

She is the box at the front, and when my hubby checked the other box there was a male in it.

Not sure who he is...... but he has decided this is a nice place to stay.

The pen has a rather large boy that should have gone a few weeks ago, but who has decided to go back into hibernation!!!

I think they know when they are onto a good thing these hedgehogs. Sharon's design is perfect for all my hoggy friends. I did the bookmark to help raise funds for Vale Wildlife Rescue, there are more available too.

I have been bitten by the gardening bug lately. Trying my hand at growing some mushrooms. The brain looking thing is supposed to be Shitake Musrooms. I have never grown mushrooms before so this should prove interesting. The other two trays are Chestnut and button mushrooms.

They aren't as scary as the Shitake thing.

I also ordered some plants for the garden and it looks like we are going to be having a very colourful garden here this year. :) The veg patch is looking sparse, but it too will soon be full of all sorts of veggies. :) My Gardening aperture card fits right in with the gardening bug. :) And the convertible would be lovely for a summer's drive.