I have been offline for a while but found lots to keep me busy!

Caper is now 5 weeks old and has had his first explore outside today. He is a very good puppy but has learnt how to get out of his playpen and is usually found asleep on a vetbed near Celine or eating (his favourite pastime). He is good during the night but then Celine opens the gate for him and he climbs up the duvet to wake me up. The photos start at 4 weeks where he was making himself comfy on the settee and watching a bit of TV (shades of his Great Grandma Cachet), He hasn't a spare bit of skin due to the full cream milk diet Celine is giving him. She plays nicely with him and he is quite the timewaster when he is pouncing on her tail or hanging off her ears. He is learning to come when called and does a little sit too--he is already enrolled on his first puppy course along with Cello and Cruz. Zippy loved obedience when he was a youngster so hopefully he will follow in his pawprints. He has had his collar on already and, although it makes him walk like a crab at times, he isn't too bad about it.He is definitely a character and, hopefully, will be of real use to the breed too when he grows up. I have started his little black book already :)) .

Midland Counties saturday and Remy had 3rd in PGDog, qualifying for Crufts. Elle won PB and was BPBitch Tervueren also qualifying her for Crufts.

Malinois was a good result for Bonvivant and for Cliche kids:-

BD BONVIVANT WHIZZ KID (MISS J CLIFFE)

RBD BONVIVANT TETE A TETE (MS J E RALPH)

BB BONVIVANT COUP DE FOUDRE AVEC ZODANTTA CSAU-EX TAN (MRS A BROWN)

RBB BONVIVANT SORCIERE (MISS L KIRK)

BOB BONVIVANT COUP DE FOUDRE AVEC ZODANTTA CSAU-EX TAN (MRS A BROWN)

BP BELSHAROSE OKLAHOMA (MRS D & MS A LLOYD & REEVES)

Well Done to Jackie with Speedy at his very first show, he was such a good boy. Nice to see Saffy, Dana and Reno again too.

Sunday was Cellos' first Open obedience show in PreBeginners and Beginners, just training rounds but he was a good boy and, despite the wind,really concentrated on his work and did some lovely heelwork and turns. He looked around, saw there were lots of collies, met lots of his obedience friends, and seemed to know that he wasn't at a breed show where he is normally way over the top! Lots of winter training now and hopefully he will compete properly next year. Having just celebrated his eighth birthday he is doing really well in his new career. He was glowing on Tuesday night at club so I think he feels one of the "in crowd" now Lol!!!

Apologies for not blogging for ages but there has so much to do before the winter here.

BSDA of GB results :-

Malinois-BD BVD,BVIB Ch Bonvivant Dewet,

BB and BOB Ch Bonvivant Nochotte,

RBB BVB Bonvivant Coup de Foudre avec Zodantta CSAU TAN.

PD B.Yazoo,

PB BPIB B.Ysatis.

Laekenois- RBB BVIB Van de Baarbeekhoeve Brizo for Bonvivant.

Tervueren- Bonvivant X-Elle 2nd PB.

NBSDC results:-

Tervueren- BD Delark Witchcraft

PB BPIB Bonvivant X-Elle

Malinois- BD BVD BVIB BOB Ch. Bonvivant Dewet

RBD PD Bonvivant Yazoo

BB RBOB Bonvivant Coup de Foudre avec Zodantta

RBB Ch. Bonvivant Nochotte

PB BPIB Bonvivant Ysatis

Laekenois-

BB BOB BVIB Van de Baarbeekhoeve Brizo for Bonvivant.

Celine had only one puppy, a male, which is growing extremely fast. He has his eyes open now and gets fatter every day.

The chickens are nearly all out in their new pens (old kennels) and I had 3 new hens for my birthday to add to the laying flock. The youngest of the chicks are now moved into the shed for the next few weeks, especially as it has turned so chilly at night, so they still need a heatlamp. Out of 11 Favarolles 5 are male, 5 female and 1 who knows as it looks like it might be a cross with something else. Photos to follow.

Off to Midland Counties on Saturday so Remy and Maisie have been to visit. They are enjoying their new life with Phil and Ollie. Some dogs just do so much better in a home environment so, although it was hard to see Remy leave home, he is just down the road and he visits regularly.

The amazing thing about Lincolnshire is the amount of sky--and the sunsets are really beautiful. If you painted them people would think you imagined them. Here is one I took last year at the wind farm and two I took tonight on the way back from a walk. Garth and I took the two Malinois pups for a walk on the stubble field--they don't go far so it is hard to get any shots. It was getting dark too so I didn't get many.--some had alien eyes but here are a couple. The nights are drawing in fast now. We haven't had any rain since July and the ground is really hard too.

Sunny day again so took Chic and Yaz for a walk--soon wore them out on the stubble field and Yaz had to cool his feet off in the water trough when he got home. Celine went for a very slow walk--no expending too much energy for her-and had to have a rest on a straw bale half way to pose for a few photos. Then she had to rest on the sofa the rest of the day as it was all too much having to do some exercise!

Caught up on cleaning out chickens and moving the youngsters into a bigger pen--don't think the Marans will be too happy when they wake up tomorrow and find they have moved into smaller accommodation though !!!!

News from Belgium where Chiraze has been to the Pumpkin Festival. The first picture was taken at the French Nationals this year where she was graded Excellent. She now has 4 CACIBs but still no sign of her season. We really miss her but, as you can see, she is having a great time with Claire and Gaston.

Below are some photos of one of the French Wheaten hens, my favourite, a Salmon Faverolle hen and Corky the Millefleur Pekin cockerel who has been watching the Kelloggs advert and stands on top of his coop crowing merrily!

Only a few more days before our last crop of eggs should hatch-we are playing safe this time after a terrible hatch last time from Ebay eggs so we sourced eggs closer to home plus a few from our own hens.

No training for Cello this week as he seemed a little off colour so Cruz had two days and is coming along very well. His heelwork position is getting a lot more consistent--he certainly isn't lacking in the enthusiasm department now and, although he is not retrieving yet, he would like to get everyone elses dumbell! Cello was not amused to be left at home and I had to make it up to him with some lamb stew and chicken. Of course he is back to normal now but will have to wait until next weeks lesson to see all his friends. Plenty of homework for both the boys and I have actually entered a couple of shows--training rounds only-to get Cello used to working in a show situation. He will be 8yrs old next month and is loving his career change!

Spent a lovely day with Gill and Simon who had come to visit us and see the dogs again. They are waiting for a Malinois puppy to compete in Agility, both have worked in the Police Force and do a lot of work with dogs. Simon loves cooking so I experimented with a new recipe of Ricotta and herbs stuffed chicken with sweetcorn and french beans sauted in garlic and spring onions. Pictured above is my latest loaf stuffed with Antipasti and roasted peppers. It all went down a treat.

They are hoping that their puppy will come from Celine to Zippy, but will wait if the right puppy is not in that litter. I am so looking forward to seeing what this mating will produce; Zippy (top picture) is by Lanaeken Standout at Sabrefield(2nd picture) x Sabrefield Right Answer for Bonvivant. This was the first mating I ever did in Malinois and produced some brilliant working dogs and Ciel (B. Arc en Ciel), who I sadly lost this year. Zippy has never sired a litter before and, at almost 13, I must admit I was just hoping that he would be viable. His colour is still an amazing deep red and his mask so defined. Scissor bite and full dentition,clear eyes and hips 7 (scored at 11.5 yrs). That litter did have strong character but I am hoping that this combination will gel. We will see in a couple of weeks-I can't believe the time has gone so quickly since the mating.(All I want is a red Ciel--not too much to ask surely?????)

Thanks for the recipe for Sloe Gin, Simon,--I shall have to get bottling fast as it takes 6 weeks to mature--and then a very interesting recipe with the steeped fruit afterwards!