A windy day at the beach

Today we are going home so yesterday afternoon we went to the beach for the last time. To put it mildly, it was a bit windy... Better yet, you could lean into it.
For Beau it was the biggest challenge to walk. Apart from being strong, the wind blew the sand away at ankle hight. For Beau that is at eye hight. So, within a minute, he was covered in sand.

After this adventure, we went for a final drink. Here everybody could recover...

But it was beautiful.

Creative Swedish

This creative Swedish appartment is situated in a building from the 1920's and still has a lot of it's original details.
If you are planning on moving: it is for sale!

                                                                                                                                                     Source: Bo Laget

Opening up

With their fourth child on its way, Kristine Bernhoft and her husband decided it was time to look for a bigger house. They found it just around the corner. Four stories and still many original details from the 1940's.
They opened up the floor plan and took their home to the next era.

I really, really, really love the fireplace!

                                                                                                                                           Source: Bolig Magasinet

Running like the wind

It has been a week now since Narnia arrived and she is settling in nicely.

Last Friday we headed to one of the Dutch islands, Texel. The largest island in the Wadden region in the north of the Netherlands.
We have been there a few times already, with a succession of dogs. I must say, it is the first time we didn't have to find a vet on our first day... Probably because we didn't head straight for the beach this time as we hadn't let Narnia run freely outside a pen just then.

But, yesterday was the big day! We were taking her off the leash. Where could she go, right, it's an island?
Still, it's a big step to let a relatively new dog go free for the first time. Especially as it is a sight hound.

My heart stopped only about four times when she started chasing (the shadows) of some overflying birds and took off at full speed. I can tell you, she is even faster than our Toeke was! (Who was clocked during training once at 66 km/hr.)

As you can see, Narnia came back (pheeeew)...

Another nice side effect: they were pooped for the rest of the day! All three crashed on a sofa and didn't move a muscle for the rest for the evening.

Nordic New York

In this Danish house, the owners Suzanne Christensen and Hans Waidtlow mixed the New York loft style with a Nordic summerhouse. And added an Anatolian zest by using some restored hemp rugs from their company, Private 0204.

                                                                                                                                             Source: Elle Decoration UK

Just outside Trondheim (No)

After some experimentation with different styles, this is the style this Norwegian family settled on. A monochrome basis with splashes of color and personal touches.
It suits them and it suits the house.

                                                                                                                                    Source: klikk.no

Narnia

Narnia is doing well and adjusting fine. We are getting to know her better and better and I can tell you: she has character! Most of the times, one correction is enough to make her understand when something is not wanted. But on some occasions she has her own opinion on things and her face and posture will tell you so. Usually that has something to do with food...

I am glad she is housebroken. She already knows how the dog door works and likes to be outside.

Yesterday she escaped (I know, I know, I should have been prepared when I opened the front door) and she started running up and down the street full speed. She was having fun! After a few times back and forth though, she came up to me and I could put the leash around her neck and take her inside.
We are going to a fenced dog park today to let her blow off some steam.

Tim accepted her presence. He is not sure if he really likes it or not as she can be quit boisterous, but he is okay with it. Beau on the other hand is really concerned about his position so he is behaving absolutely NOT NICE to her. Every time she moves, he starts growling. And snapping, if he gets the chance.  But, as it is very tiring to be on the defence all the time and you can see it is wearing him out, his behaviour is already fading. Luckily she is not really impressed by him and keeps inviting him to play, so he will eventually find out that it is not all bad with a new dog in the house.

All snuggled up on her bed

Today we will start with training her to take the stairs so my hubby will not have to carry her up and down to go to bed.

And a few more minutes of alone time with the other dogs while we are out of the house. I am afraid being alone will prove to be the biggest hurdle to take...

May I introduce: Narnia

Finally, yesterday, the new addition to our family has arrived: Narnia.

January 2011 our girl Toeke walked over the rainbow, after having lived with us for about 9 years. She was a rescued mix greyhound/whippet and she left a void, a really big void, which took us a long time to get over.

Toeke in 2009

But after about a year I found myself looking a rescue sites again, like Greyhounds Rescue Holland.
I wanted a type of greyhound again, as they are the best dogs in the world.

So, after putting in a request, looking at all the pictures of adoptable dogs, narrowing it down to suitable dogs for our family, we were introduced to Narnia: a galgo español.

A five year old happy go lucky needing a forever home.

And the waiting began... (6 Weeks feels like a lifetime, I can tell you!) But finally we received the word: a group of adopted dogs would arrive from Spain in the Netherlands on the 14th of April. With our Narnia.

Jumping in time: on the 14th, around 17:00 hours, a large group of (nervous) people gathered to pick up their new roommate. A lot of them with their already adopted galgo's.

Waiting for the bus

The unloading begins

First contact

Waiting for the last paperwork

A last pee before getting home

Where are we going?



My forever couch

Introductions to the other dogs went as well as could be expected: no problem with Tim, our whippet, a lot of growling and yapping from Beau, our very jealous and possessive chihuahua/min pin mix.

Because Narnia doesn't know how to take the stairs to the bedroom yet, I spent the night in a sleeping bag in the living room. Me on the floor, Narnia on the couch (..).
 


The next morning

And here we are, after a good night's sleep, starting a new day and a new life with the five of us. With a bath for Narnia at the top of the to-do list!