Flora at 12 weeks

So, a new super-cute Andrex puppy joins the family, and immediately there is panic buying of toilet paper.  Then, on the first day that Flora is officially allowed into the big, wide world, the Coronavirus lockdown is announced.  Coincidences?  I think not...

Flora has now been on her first real walk to the Recreation Ground, although - because of the lockdown - Monday was the only day she was allowed to play with other dogs.  Playmate number one was none other than Isla's best mate, Daisy.

Flora certainly knows how to be cute and endearing in order to get what she wants.

Back at home in lockdown, Flora is fascinated by the hole in the decking where our clothes drier fits.  By the time we come to use it this year, the hole is likely to be significantly larger than necessary.

The sunny weather has meant that we've spent lots of time playing in the back garden.  Isla, being ball-obsessed, occasionally allows Flora to join in...

...but not for very long.

At other times the two dogs play really happily together, which is lovely to watch.

Flora still has a penchant for eating Harriet's flowers, and most of the pansies have now been stripped (as well as several geraniums up-rooted).

Having mastered the cat flap already, Flora has now taught herself to use the stairs.  As a result, absolutely nothing is safe any more - including the cats!

I wonder what she'll learn to do next week?

[Pictures of Isla at the same stage can be found here]

Flora meets Ted for the first time

Since it is Flora's first day in the big, wide world, I took her and Isla to play with Ted in the spring sunshine.  The garden in Toft is sufficiently large that I was able to keep the requisite 2m apart from everyone else while, at the same time, allowing the three dogs to run around to their hearts' content. 

A short series which shows Ann discovering what slippery customers puppies can be...

There's nothing quite like a puppy to lift the spirits.

Flora at 11 weeks

Coronavirus - and the social distancing resulting from it - has inevitably had consequences to the way we live.  Both Harriet and Issy are now officially working from home, and this will be the "new normal" for the foreseeable future.  Luckily we have Flora to provide endless light relief (along with sleepless nights, it has to be said).

We've seen a bit of sunshine during the week, so Flora has been playing in the garden with Isla.  Mainly they have got on with each other absolutely fine, although it has to be said that Isla can be rather possessive where balls are concerned.  Flora is allowed to play with them - up to a point - but then she needs putting in her place.

Order is restored.

Flora the Explorer continues to live up to her name, and she now knows every square inch of the back garden.  Luckily it's now almost a week since her second set of injections, so from tomorrow she'll be able to start discovering the big wide world (subject to social distancing restrictions, of course).

 

Living up to the literal meaning of her name, Flora has discovered that pansies are edible.  I'm not sure that Harriet appreciates her flowers being put to canine culinary use, however.

Flora is definitely starting to grow up, although she's still very cuddly and loves nothing better than a warm body to lie against.

Why worry about coronavirus when there's a blonde puppy to put things into perspective?

[Pictures of Isla at the same stage can be found here]