Going, going.......

First major job done!  The previous owner had built a partition wall over the utility area as she didn't like looking at the boiler and washing machine.  I always knew I'd be taking it down so tackled it yesterday.

There was a door in front of the washing machine but I forgot to take a pic of it before I removed it.

Going, going.....

Gone!!

It opens up the room and gives me more space to put a larger dog bed (Emma insists on getting into Lucy's bed but there's just not enough room for them both!) and get access to the cupboards.  There's now space to fit my kitchen maid. The walls need a wee bit of plastering but that will be an easy quick fix.  Then just a lick of paint and I'll have finished my first room makeover :-)

Poorly puppy

My dogs are a huge part of my life.  So when one of them is ill it's a worry.  Poor Lucydog has had a nasty upper GI bug.  After 4 days of vomiting the diarrhoea kicked in.  So a quick trip to the vet for some meds and special food (she's lost weight!) resulted in an unplanned expense. 

It seems every time I get a few pounds saved, something crops up that needs money thrown at it.  Recently my car needed new tyres, it had an oil leak and an engine misfire.  Big garage bill! And now a vet bill.  Fingers crossed Emma doesn't get it but since they like to cuddle up together in bed it seems likely that she'll get it too.

Ah well, I just need to sell loads of stuff at the Christmas fair this Saturday!

Meet the girls

Ok, owning 2 dogs isn't the smartest idea when your budget is tight but I wouldn't part with them for the world.  Lucy (left) is 7yo and Emma (right) is 8mo. Both are black labs.

Lucy is the sweetest natured dog I have ever owned. She is very shy and timid.  Her favourite activities are fetching a tennis ball (she can do this for hours!!!) and swimming.

Emma is totally bonkers!  But her zest and enthusiasm for life is just awesome.  She has a naughty side which involves stealing clothes and shredding them!

ATM my monthly food bill for dried dog food is around £65.  I have pet insurance for Emma which is £15 per month.  So that's £80 before spending anything on toys (they get destroyed!!) or collars/leads.  The trainer I'm working with suggested changing their food to raw meat and veg.  She believes that feeding dogs dried food is like feeding your kids junk food.  And I have never done that!  You can buy frozen raw meat from the pet store but I've worked out it would cost over £100 per month to feed both dogs this way.  Sadly at this moment in time I just can't do it.

But the pleasure we all get from them is beyond measure.  Going for walks, going for a run, playing ball with them are all free activities that benefits both humans and dogs.