Big news is that we now have a dog - a working cocker spaniel called Lola. We bough her from a breeder in Cork, who brought her over to us two days ago. Ed and I have been thinking about getting a cocker spaniel puppy for some time now, but since neither of us has ever owned a dog, we were worried that we won't instinctively know how to train or take care of a young puppy. This is partially why we got a slightly older bitch, Lola is almost 8 month old.

She comes from a good line of dogs. Like all pedigree dogs her ancestors have complicated names, her father is called Meadowsedge Ptarmigan and her mother is Moelfamau Mystic (!). Lola's registered name is also long - Derrycullen Dunlin, you couldn't make this up, right? :) I know nothing about dog trials or pedigrees, and I am sure Lola will turn out to be a clever little thing, for the moment though one thing is clear - Ed and I are completely smitten with this gorgeous, and playful seal-like creature.

As we were falling asleep the other night, Ed said that he couldn't understand why it's taken him so long to get a dog. It's true, we've always considered ourselves to be 'cat people', but honestly, dog's love is something else - it is huge and amazing.

To wake up in the morning to a tail-wagging-happy-to-see-you cuddly creature is a recipe for a great day. Forget coffee or electric blanket or a long lie-in, a walk with the dog in the early hours in the woods is the best remedy for late winter blues. I just can't believe how much love she gives and is able to soak up. She gives us so much joy!

Our daily walks with Lola will definitely contribute towards my complete and utter obsession with feathers. Today as Lola was jumping excitedly between Ed and myself in the woods collecting as many cuddles as she could, I was also managing to scan the ground and tree tops for signs of sparrowhawks. And I did spot a potential sparrowhawk nest, in a veeeeery tall sitka spruce... Hmm, I better polish those tree climbing skills soon. Last time I was climbing trees was two years ago.

And then Ed spotted plucked blue tit feathers on a mossy tree very close to the main path - a sure sign of sparrowhawk's presence here.

Aren't blue tit feathers gorgeous? Check out how blue they are!

The down feathers are so fluffy and soft.

So strange how life changes - one day you are dogless and the next day you have this wonderful creature looking up at, and adoring you unconditionally.

We have big plans for Lola and eventually we would like her to help us flush game for the sparrowhawks we hope to have this summer, if our Wild Take applications are successful, but we will see how it goes. For now I am just happy to have her asleep by my side. :)

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