"Even miracles take a little time."

~ Brothers Grimm - The Fairy Godmother, Cinderella

*sigh* what will she look like now?

Noodle turned 6 weeks old yesterday, and I haven't seen her since 2 1/2 weeks ago. Mrs. Breeder returns from her holiday this coming Saturday,  and shortly thereafter we'll hopefully receive the photos and video we've been promised. I definitely feel sad that I'm not getting a glimpse of her in between, but I guess I just have to be as patient as I can.

I have  a feeling of sort of detached disbelief half the time, kind of like when you go on holiday to a far away place and your brain can't quite take in where you actually are. Is she really going to be here in just over two weeks? I think that's it, or maybe I'm just in a hazy bubble because I've been poorly for what seems an eternity with the bug that came and never left.

just look at those paws!!

I haven't been very good at posting in here, but I think that's partly the illness and partly the fact that I can't see Noodle in any way, or even contact anyone who is with her for questions. It's somewhat an excruciating way to wait.

In the meantime, we've been preparing for her homecoming and the flat is filling up with all things Noodle.

I'm pleased with our progress, and not too much has been spent unnecessarily. I think most of the important things are in place, with the notable exception of food. So ... Inventory time!! WHO DOESN'T LIKE AN INVENTORY?  (...this is me making believe that this sort of thing passes for any practical organisational motivation... when in reality it is mainly a way to satisfy my desire to photograph, catalogue and archive - completely impractical most times, but definitely good fun.**)

'Her Fabulous Crate', bed and Vetbed

Perhaps the most important purchase we will ever have made for Miss Noodle Monkey-Nut. The CRATE! This one found from NorfolkPetcare on ebay --  a source strongly backed by several lovely ladies on the I Love My Cockapoo forum.

Officially listed as a '36 inch 3 Door Heavy Duty Dual Coated Galvanised & Hammerite Powder Coated Dog Cage', it doesn't feel or appear as if it will disappoint. Since it will likely be big and durable enough to be Noodle's "forever room" it shall now be referred to reverently as Her Fabulous Crate.

Inside is lined with giraffe print Vetbed (more on this a bit below)
and is seen in it's temporary place for her homecoming.Another super important purchase (but one she will very likely grow out of sooner than we'd like to admit) is her BED:

 Again, the I Love My Cockapoo forum saved me on this one. I was about to buy a nice, fluffy, comfy pillowy bed when I decided to ask pose the question. The overwhelming response was something akin to: you'd be a complete idiot if you spent money on anything that her little teeth will be ripping apart in no time flat. Cardboard boxes were even recommended. I settled on the Marchioro Perla Dog Bed, in wine colour and size 21" X 14". It has rubber feet to hold it in place and  ventilation holes in the base. Altogether sturdy and doesn't look too shabby either.

Inside is an oval fitting piece of Vetbed :

I almost feel embarrassed that I had to ask myself not too long ago "What is Vetbed, and which one should I buy?" 
Petlife Vetbed appears to be the Holy Grail of pet bedding, and the only Vetbed is the ORIGINAL Petlife Vetbed (which fortunately is available in a variety of colours and patterns). Make no mistake, it isn't cheap, but I have good reason to believe that this bedding hailed by many in the know as "nearly puppy-proof", will last many years if it wears out at all. According to Petlife, there are 7 Benefits Which Apply to Our Complete Vetbed® Range. Have a look for yourself, and check back here because if these mats don't live up to their reputation, I'll be sorely disappointed and might want to shout about it.
I bought:

• Two 21" X 14" chocolate oval pieces (two so if one gets soiled, I can use the other while the first is washing) 

• One 90cm X 60cm giraffe patterned strip which perfectly fits in Her Almighty Crate

WAY more cushy and thick than I even expected it to be. We even considered sleeping on it ourselves the first night. It could still happen.

Check back for more inventory fun in the next post! 

** so much fun that my current inventory will spill into another blog post as not to shock you with too much excitement at once.

"Walk any path in Destiny's garden, 

and you will be forced to choose, 

not once but many times." 

— Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 4: Season of Mists 

We received photos today of the litter who are three weeks old today!!!  We did receive photos from week 2, but they didn't show much and were blurry, so I didn't post them here. Unexpectedly, receiving photos is becoming equally frustrating as exciting for two reasons: the pups eyes are now fully open, yet we have yet to see a photo showing them! Also, we still have no idea about what puppies are girls or boys so have virtually no idea which of the little peanuts could be coming home with us! 

weaning!

"I'm youth, I'm joy,

 I'm a little bird that has 

broken out of the egg."

-- J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Ruby's puppies were 1 WEEK OLD the day these photos were taken (which was the 28th October). This was the first time we were able to glimpse their precious little faces, and the brighter photos really show off the sheen and colour of their healthy little coats.



Any day now we will be receiving new photos from our breeder, once the puppies' eyes are opened up completely. No doubt the cuteness meter is going to be off the scale. I'll try to contain myself (or... maybe not.) I suppose from this point on they will really start showing their distinct qualities, both in appearance and in personality.
I wonder which one will come home with us??

"Happiness is a Warm Puppy"
  - Charles M. Schultz

The puppies have arrived!!

4 handsome boys and 4 beautiful girls born on 21st October.

Here they are at 1 day old!

(Okay, so I realise they look remarkably like the last litter, but I swear they are different! ...
...and our puppy is amongst the bunch.)

Based on the waiting list, we will have our choice from 2 lovely solid chocolate girls.

Ruby and pups doing very well.

Soooo excited to see them grow and change.



**having blogger editing problems !! Ugh!  



"How long is forever?

Sometimes, just one second."

- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

The answer to the 'how many years does a cockapoo live?' question is this: at LEAST 14 YEARS. That's right, a cockapoo's MINIMUM lifespan is 14 years, and they've been known to keep wagging for 20! For me, this gives birth to the idea of ... well, giving birth. Not the 9 month pregnancy with its bloating and ballooning, mood swings or morning sickness, of course. Nor the excruciating pain or heavy drugs of delivery, sleepless nights with a newborn (save a few I'm sure), changing countless messy diapers, spit up, throw up, dribbling and screaming... 

BUT, the 20 year lifespan didn't stop the ever vocal Peanut Gallery part of my brain  saying immediately upon learning these stats the seemingly benign: "You're already [so and so age], so that will make you SO AND SO by the time your puppy leaps through the pearly gates of doggie heaven!" to which The Little Bastard part of my brain pipes in with the perfectly timed and bludgeoning remark "IF it lives that long ... if YOU live that long".

 Hm. 

“If you come at four in the afternoon,

I'll begin to be happy by three.” 

- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

About 72 miles southeast of here, here being Northwest London, lives a gorgeous black and grey English working type Cocker Spaniel named Rosie who is expecting a litter at the end of October (only a few short weeks!) Inside this beautiful animal is, if all goes well, the little creature who will be a bundle of joy,  companion and partner in crime for many years to come. HOW MANY you ask? Well...

William - quite handsome, wouldn't you say? 

Before I get ahead of myself, and if you can bear to take your eyes off stunning Rosie, 
meet the rugged beast by way of miniature poodle who is the papa to Rosie's litter! 

So what do you get when you cross a Cocker Spaniel with a miniature poodle? 
None other than a cockapoo! 
Never heard of one?