Ralph's Dog Blog

Ralph posing...

2011-08-29T10:42:00.003+01:00

Ralph has a go at being a sexy but coy webcam dog!

Degus!!

2011-07-15T13:50:00.001+01:00

Ralph has two new degu friends who, as yet, have no names.

Whisby Nature Park

2011-06-27T09:34:00.003+01:00

Ralph took his people to Whisby Nature Park...he liked the dog-friendly lake best. (He later fell into a dog-not-friendly lake and his dad had to hoist him out)

Lazy bones, sleeping in the sun...

2011-06-15T12:52:00.003+01:00

Ralph had such a hard day sleeping in the sun that he had to spend the evening sleeping in the shade

Grand Union Canal

2011-06-06T10:46:00.004+01:00

Ralph spent the day on the Grand Union Canal

He took charge of navigation for a while...

...giving orders as necessary...

...before relaxing, knowing all was smooth sailing.

Beside the Seaside

2011-05-29T21:35:00.004+01:00

Ralph went to the seaside to visit Unky Forbes and to meet Gemma. He was very happy seeing Unky Forbes again and thought Gemma was luuuuuuuuurvly (she let him sit on her sofa and on her lap). This morning he went to the park and played with a whole gang of other dogs...this evening he is very, very fast asleep.

One Little Egg and the British Hen Welfare Trust

2011-05-25T18:33:00.002+01:00

Further to The Macmillan Secret Art Sale, I have donated a commissioned portrait via One Little Egg to raise funds for the British Hen Welfare Trust.

One Little Egg began with one little egg, which was swapped for a Marmite Toast Rack, which was swapped for a signed Star Trek script, which was swapped for a night in a Welsh B&B, which was swapped for a £125 Red Letter Day voucher…you get the idea!

In addition to the swap venture, my portrait is being auctioned. Sophie McCoy from One Little Egg has said the following:

I am thrilled that Yasmin Coleman has offered a bespoke pet portrait as a mini-auction prize. Her work is incredible. So whoever pledges the highest donation before Saturday will win a bespoke portrait of their pet by Yasmin. It's an incredible gift for yourself or a loved one, & every single penny will go to the BHWT to help end battery farming. Just email your pledge to contact@onelittleegg.co.uk

Woodland and lambland

2011-05-21T17:30:00.004+01:00

Today, Ralph and all his people walked in Sleaford Wood

Ralph spotted (and heard) a woodpecker's nest in a tree trunk, something his mum's never seen before.

The wood is looking lovely.

In the nearby park, where the young master and miss had fun on the swingy, spinny, bouncy things, there was a couple with a very stunning German Shepherd dog and a delightful lamb...you don't see that every day!

Egog

2011-05-17T16:39:00.001+01:00

Ralph and his mum spotted this little lovely toddling across the road :o)

Macmillan Secret Art Sale

2011-05-11T17:35:00.003+01:00

Ralph's Mum has been working on a couple of drawings for this event. More about them here

Ancaster walk

2011-04-26T15:07:00.005+01:00

Oh my...forgot to post about a walk the weekend before last around Ancaster! I think because Ralph's Mum posted about it here, she forgot about anywhere else. So, here we go...

The lake at Woodland Waters..there were geese!

There were dinosaurs, too. (or that could just be a dog print)

The walk was about five and half miles and Ralph was very tired when he got home, but he was a happy sort of tired. He is at his happiest when walking with his homies :o)

Easter weekend

2011-04-25T20:22:00.003+01:00

Ralph had a busy Easter weekend visiting his two grandmas. His Dad updated his 'phone last night and lost all the pictures he took...updates...who needs them?

Doorstep thing

2011-04-17T17:30:00.004+01:00

Ralph and his Dad like the sunshine

New bed...

2011-04-14T22:36:00.002+01:00

Ralph only sleeps in half his bed, so now he has a new smaller one...cosier for him and less obstructive for us

A walk in the sun

2011-04-12T10:29:00.003+01:00

More photos from a Sunday walk...actually, the same walk as the last one...

...but this time with the young master and mistress in their new hiking boots. They managed four and half miles without any problems.

Ralph's Bistro

2011-04-04T21:43:00.002+01:00

At last, the local birds have decided to dine at Ralph's Bistro

Ladybirds

2011-03-23T11:39:00.003Z

Ralph and I spotted a spotted gathering on his walk. The shrubs are covered in these little bundles of perdiness. No doubt the pundits will say it's a sure sign of good summer and no doubt the summer will be disappointing again.

New gravel for the drive

2011-03-21T17:09:00.003Z

The gravel arrived this afternoon...

and Ralph checked all was completed to his satisfaction...it was :o)

Ruskington walk

2011-03-19T16:01:00.010Z

It was such a beautiful day that Ralph decided to take his people on a walk around Ruskington.

First there were chickens...hundreds of them in big fields...

...then a bridge...

...then the still water before the little lock...

...then the not so still water after the little lock.

Ralph's dad found a big stick...

...then had a sit down. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours in glorious sunshine; looking forward to the next time.

Garden inprovements

2011-03-18T17:15:00.003Z

Ralph's dad has dug out and levelled the front drive and laid the membrane in readiness for the new gravel. Ralph sat in the window and kept an eye to make sure all was carried out correctly. We shall soon look very smart again.

Happy Birthday, Ralph xx

2011-03-17T18:03:00.002Z

Five years old today and sleeping off his birthday excesses...the treat of an extra dried sausage :o)

Couch Potato...

2011-02-12T21:45:00.004Z

We had a new sofa delivered; the old one spent the night in the garden...

...look who else wanted to :o)

So fast asleep...

2011-01-13T17:11:00.003Z

Ralph was so fast asleep it was quite difficult to wake him.

Not sure we could have relied on him to spring into action if needed.

Happy New Year to All x

2011-01-10T18:26:00.004Z

He's up a tree, again; this time it's a hazel tree in Grandma's garden.

Ivy frost

2010-12-20T14:08:00.003Z

This time we have had no snow, so far...but the frost this morning has not cleared. It is very, very pretty but VERY, VERY cold...

Bird table

2010-12-04T13:44:00.003Z

Whenever crumbs and scraps are put out for the birds, Ralph gets there first; but no more...

...our lovely neighbours have bought a multi-hanging bird feeder and have given us their old bird table. They have no idea how happy they've made me :o)

Snow :o)

2010-12-02T16:23:00.002Z

People were enjoying the snow in Lincoln Arboretum today. Ralph has hardly left his warm, cosy bed all week.

Tiny snow...

2010-11-29T11:21:00.000Z

Ralph's neighbour has a tiny, tiny, cute snowman :o)

Best Buddies

2010-11-16T13:14:00.002Z

These guys have become best buddies :o)

Seems to be a bit of a bromance thing going on, too...but I can't post those pictures!

Uncle Stanley's visit

2010-11-11T12:54:00.005Z

Ralph's Uncle Stanley has come to visit. At the moment he's staying in a lovely farm house ten minutes away; here, he's gazing from his bedroom window. Soon, he's going to be staying at Ralph's house.

Uncle Stanley likes to walk on two feet rather a lot...so does his mum, as demonstrated in the background :o)

Birthday cake...

2010-10-18T08:58:00.005+01:00

Unky Jess made Unky Forbes a grown up birthday cake this year...trust me, it is grown up compared to previous cakes!

Scary cake inside...

...shhh

Uncle Stanley

2010-10-10T12:26:00.002+01:00

Ralph's Uncle Stanley

Now the leaves are beginning to fall, the nest in the tree outside the bedroom window can be seen more easily :o)

Photo Album...takes a while to load...sorry!

2010-09-30T17:42:00.003+01:00

Photo album customized with Smilebox

Leaf forest

2010-09-28T16:03:00.001+01:00

The view from Ralph's Mum and Dad's bedroom window...there's a nest in there!

More clearing

2010-09-20T10:37:00.005+01:00

Yet more tree stuff chopped and put in the bin....help from both the Young Master and Young Miss this time.

Now, how can that be comfortable?

Yet it clearly is!

More sawing

2010-09-19T12:49:00.004+01:00

After more health and safety flouting there was an abundance of logs and twigs...

...so on a chilly September evening, the fire basket was filled and lit. Ralph stayed indoors as he doesn't like the smell...no doubt he was toasty warm while his people huddled with wine.

Cheeeeeeeeese...

2010-09-07T13:30:00.003+01:00

In a moment of forgetfulness, Ralph's Dad put a cheese wrapper in the recycling basket in the kitchen.

In a moment of helpfulness, Ralph removed it for him :o)

Fields of...

2010-09-07T13:25:00.003+01:00

The fields surrounding the house are lovely.

The crops have gone and the stubble remains.

It's great to walk Ralph around them when the sun is shining. Not sure what it would be like in cold rain...

I'm a little ashamed that after spending most of my life living in farming areas, I have no idea what crops are what.

Tr...

2010-09-07T13:23:00.002+01:00

The train from Lincoln is very short :o)

Snoooooooooooooker...

2010-09-03T12:06:00.002+01:00

Ralph's Dad was invited to The Courthouse Snooker Club

He played ten frames...he won eight :o)

I think he will be invited to join the team

The Grrrrrrrrriddle...

2010-09-01T12:09:00.003+01:00

Ralph stayed at home this morning while the car had a new tyre fitted.

While we waited, I had coffee and The Man had coffee and a Bacon Bap (actually full of bacon) at The Griddle, 97 East Road, Sleaford, (a sort of permanent roadside cafe van)...all for £3.00...this place is sooooooooo good.

It has a decent menu, too and the quality is excellent...better than a lot of pub food I've had. Also, it's one of the cleanest places I've ever seen. What more can I say?

Salvadog Dali...

2010-08-28T12:45:00.002+01:00

Such elegant refinement :o)

2010-08-22T21:59:00.002+01:00

The fields nearby are turning

and the conkers are appearing. There have been some big rain storms lately and there are many shells on the ground which have fallen before the conker has formed.

Intrepid gardener...

2010-08-21T18:55:00.009+01:00

Health and safety, my a**! Who needs it?

We spotted Janet's handsome husband Gorgeous George trying to lop branches off the elderflower with long handled cutters which seemed a tricky task, so Ralph's Dad leaped to the roof of a tall building and helped out.

Gorgeous George followed suit and Janet and I were treated to the spectacle our Super Heroes aloft :o)

Jason and George remained in charge above...

...and the young master took charge at ground level.
Janet and I took control from a distance, in a supervisory capacity...

Hair care

2010-07-21T15:23:00.005+01:00

After a shower, Ralph always seems to favour a natural centre parting. He smells lovely now...it won't last.

Trimming...

2010-07-18T18:06:00.004+01:00

At the end of an 80 hour working week, Ralph's Dad somehow found the energy to trim the hedge. I thought Ralph would like to be out in the sun but something made him come scooting in...maybe the smell of the clippings or the snip of the shears?

Ha ha....as I type, Ralph's gone out to the garden...the snipping has ceased but the scent remains...or is it that Janet from next door is having a chat with his Dad and Ralph thinks he may catch a glimpse of the pretty cat?

Cherries...

2010-07-18T13:56:00.005+01:00

The cherry trees, which grow along side the railway bridge, are heavy with fruit

Ralph doesn't eat cherries so we left them on the trees...I couldn't reach them anyway

Posing...

2010-07-16T07:43:00.002+01:00

Ralph likes to pose for his public :o)

Pool party...

2010-07-14T14:44:00.002+01:00

Ralph had a pool party for his friends :o)

Shadow dog...

2010-07-09T08:45:00.001+01:00

'Nuff said...

2010-07-08T08:59:00.003+01:00

Ralph was getting very agitated over the shed roof. We couldn't see anything in the trees above it and there was nothing in the shed, so we let him take a closer look...

...he found nothing but enjoyed the view :o)

Waiting...

2010-07-07T07:46:00.005+01:00

Ralph watches and waits for his Dad to come home...

...and now he's heard the car in the next road :o)

He crazies about too fast to get a picture of what he does next!

Comfort...

2010-07-06T08:09:00.002+01:00

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Sketched

2010-06-30T14:36:00.001+01:00

A quick sketch of Ralph...oh, sitting and watching :o)

Dining out...

2010-06-21T11:48:00.000+01:00

Breakfast al fresco... :o)

World Cup

2010-06-20T18:59:00.002+01:00

Ralph enjoys playing with a football and as he heard mention of a World Cup, he thought he'd train like the professionals. Now he needs physio and won't be available to play for six months...just like the professionals ;o)

Tweet...

2010-06-19T09:16:00.004+01:00

This is a trifle hard to make out...it's a little bird in the tweeter of The Stiperstones Inn speaker. It made me smile :o)

Double Daisy

2010-06-17T09:33:00.003+01:00

Ralph found a double daisy :o)

Alarming...

2010-06-16T10:54:00.008+01:00

Ralph stayed at The Stiperstones Inn at the weekend. He and his Mum set off the alarms at 6.15am when he needed to go out for a wee! His Dad slept through it all.

He took a gentle stroll in Pennerley

...saw some cows

...took a look at the old lead mine

...even negotiated a stile

...with some help :o)

Ralph the Penguin...

2010-06-15T07:23:00.005+01:00

Ralph the penguin poses in his new wetsuit at Marwell Wildlife in Hampshire. The ten year old Humboldt penguin, who loses all his feathers in the space of days instead of weeks, needs the suit to protect his skin from the sun.

Pigs and chickens

2010-06-13T20:23:00.004+01:00

This weekend Ralph made some new friends...

some pigs...here's one of them...

and some chickens. He asks that if you wish these beautiful animals to give up their lives for you, will you please allow them a good, happy life, for as long as possible. These guys do have that, albeit rather too short...

River Slea

2010-06-11T16:57:00.003+01:00

Ralph loves the way the tree roots end at the river bank.

There were baby ducks, some very yellow ones, but the pictures we took aren't very good...we need to remember to take a proper camera on walks.

Birthday cakes...

2010-06-10T21:29:00.003+01:00

These cakes would be vegan if it wasn't for the inch of whipped double cream.
Ralph has shown no interest in them...just as well, as they're for his Dad to take to work tonight because it's his birthday tomorrow :o)

P.S. Happy Birthday, darling xx

Laundry ball

2010-06-04T12:12:00.002+01:00

One of Ralph's favourite toys is a plastic laundry liquid ball...(the other is a tennis ball)...he likes the way it scoots away from him at high speed...

...bored with it now...

Stanley

2010-06-01T14:26:00.007+01:00

Ralph had an unexpected visitor at the weekend...a Ralph Tribute Dog who we found running in the road. We brought him in and called the number on his "I've been chipped" tag. We were given the number of our local dog warden, whose 'phone message told us there was no service at the weekend or on Bank Holidays...and it was both. So we called the vet who said bring him to us and we'll scan him and trace his owners.

This "headless" picture gives an idea of how big he is...a sort of Supersized Border Terrier. He was very lovely. No picture of the tribute act and Ralph together as, just as they were about to be introduced we spotted people in the road obviously looking for someone. So, after careful questioning to make sure they were the right people, all were re-united and there was no need to take Stanley to the vet :o)

Sunny Laburnum

2010-06-01T12:55:00.004+01:00

This rather splendid laburnum is along the route of one of Ralph's strolls. It seemed extra yellow in the weekend sunshine...or did it add extra sunshine?

Barnett Landscapes

2010-05-24T19:25:00.004+01:00

Today, Ralph popped in to have lunch with Unky Cheryl at Barnett Landscapes. He was on his way back home after his Dad had passed his final Approved Driving Instructor exam :o)

...ready to be driven home now

Green fly invasion...

2010-05-21T13:27:00.003+01:00

This morning I took my easel into the garden to work as it's such a beautiful day. I've just had to come indoors as green flies are descending in swarms. Ralph stayed out in the sun and is slowly turning green. We're in Lincolnshire...is anywhere else being invaded by aphids today?

Battle ground...

2010-05-20T10:46:00.004+01:00

Ralph's people prepare to continue battle in the sunny patch at the bottom of the garden...the boy himself is out of shot in an even sunnier patch...ah, the promise of summer...

Firm bed...

2010-05-18T10:14:00.003+01:00

Ralph has a lovely soft, cosy bed but seems to prefer the hard slabs...albeit warmed by the sun :o)

Nom...

2010-05-11T11:19:00.002+01:00

Ralph likes to breakfast late...11.15am today...he does make a bit of a mess but cleans this up at dinner time :o)

Valiant boy...

2010-05-08T19:05:00.003+01:00

Ralph finally caught and killed the pesky scrubbing brush which has been plaguing us for months now...we'll be having no more trouble from that little blighter!

Unky...

2010-05-04T11:50:00.004+01:00

I found a picture of Ralph as a puppy, probably about 10 weeks old, with his Unky Forbes.

Unky Forbes married Unky Jess at the weekend... :o)

2010-04-26T10:41:00.002+01:00

The tree outside Ralph's window is budding beautifully...it will be covered in white flowers again this year and then we will have the dubious joy of orange berries, which look very nice but leave orange stains on the carpet when they get walked in the house. I shall have to introduce a strict code of feet wiping, which will apply to all who enter...especially Ralph :o)

Just too far...

2010-04-21T11:37:00.001+01:00

Sometimes, he just can't make it to his window sill...

Visiting Grandmas One and Two...

2010-04-20T08:55:00.013+01:00

Ralph had a busy weekend visiting both his Grandmas.

At Grandma Number One's...

he had lunch at the Fitzharris Arms, Abingdon (someone, please take this on and return it to its former glory) and caught water from a hose pipe in Grandma's garden (no picture, sorry)...

...and at Grandma Number Two's...

...he walked along the towpath...

...of the Grand Union Canal...

at Blisworth ...

...as far as the Blisworth Tunnel...

...and this, in the Legmans' Shelter...a shame it's there, but at least it's well done.

Packed and ready to come home :o)

Shiny boy...

2010-04-07T09:14:00.005+01:00

He really will sleep anywhere...

...and heeeeeeeere's Ralphy!

New mat...

2010-03-20T09:44:00.002Z

A new mat was purchased for the back door and guess who claimed it as his... :o)

Birthday Boy...

2010-03-17T09:13:00.002Z

Four years old today!

Ralphs Lane...

2010-03-14T15:46:00.004Z

Yesterday, Ralph bestowed the grace of his presence upon those who revere him so greatly they have named their main highway in his honour. He does enjoy the adoration of his subjects...

...then he went home.

Cartoonified...

2010-03-04T09:00:00.002Z

Ralph has been cartoonified

and there's that glance in my direction...

Ralph in love?

2010-03-02T07:16:00.004Z

The Sunday Roast lady next door has a Westie called Liza...Ralph and Liza snuffle at each other through the fence. There is also a pretty, pretty kitten with whom Ralph is besotted...he sits beneath her kitchen window and waits for her to appear...he's developing an unsavoury stalkerish streak.

Here, he's just keeping an eye out in case she appears...

Pattern setting in...

2010-03-01T12:48:00.005Z

Ralph seems to be settling in to a particular way of life. He sits, he watches...sometimes he casts a glance in my direction...

For a bit of variation he does it outside :o)

New skills...

2010-02-24T13:44:00.004Z

Today, Ralph is having a go at multi-tasking...he is sitting AND watching

Sleeping it off...

2010-02-23T08:48:00.003Z

On Sunday, our lovely neighbour, Janet, gave Ralph the bone from her Sunday roast...he loved it. Unfortunately, it had consequences on Monday...in spite of much effort, Ralph was unable to produce anything and was clearly very uncomfortable and became quite distressed! Today, all is well, he is much relieved and is now sleeping happily :o) I think we may have to implement a Bone Ban...

2010-02-21T09:00:00.005Z

Yesterday, Ralph tried out his new route...he approved

...and this morning, he woke to this...

...that's his Dad's car covered in snoooooooooow!!

2010-02-16T12:24:00.002Z

Ralph has been for a long walk this morning and has visited all the pet shops and the vet (but just to say "Hello")...he also very kindly left them all a bundle of his Mum's card, as seen above :o)

Watching...

2010-02-15T12:13:00.007Z

Ralph likes his new home...he likes to sit in the window. Today, he's watching the snow, which has just begun to fall and is getting heavier as I type.

Tiredy boy...

2010-02-13T22:04:00.003Z

All unpacked and totally zonked out....bless (still smelly though!)

Smelly boy...

2010-02-09T12:07:00.005Z

Ralph has had a much needed shower and smells. He doesn't smell particularly lovely, he just smells. He had a "crazy" after the shower so it wasn't possible to get a picture of him looking like a soaked rat....but there's always the next time.

Busy boy...

2010-02-08T22:18:00.009Z

Ralph's been busy wrapping, packing...

and supervising :o)

...and now he's sleeping

Oh dear, Mr Fawkes...

2009-11-05T23:17:00.000Z

Ralph is the mostest scaredest dog ever tonight

Busy Sunday

2009-10-25T12:57:00.006Z

Having a busy, busy day...