Hello!  I’m back, and earlier than I thought, as I fully intended to be heads down over the felting needle this week. However, the sun’s been shining  and it’s been too nice to stay indoors, so Higgins and I went off to our favourite wood for a walk and I thought you might like to share our afternoon.

Here is Higgins, looking smartly colour co-ordinated for Autumn.

Unfortunately the afternoon didn’t end so well for him, I don’t know what happened, it could have been the quick dash about he did with a passing Springer Spaniel, but by the time we got three quarters of the way round he was limping and he ended up being carried back to the car.

So it was a visit to the vet today, where alas my perky little pup, up for anything, turns into a legless jelly who collapses into a puddle of pee with panic.  SO embarrassing!  As I had thought, it’s probably a pulled muscle or an awkward twist and he’s got painkillers and has been told to rest and NO JUMPING!  This is going to be a problem.  All the books say Dachshunds must be careful, with their little legs and long backs.  Unfortunately, Higgins hasn’t read the books.

So healing vibes sent to Higgins will be very welcome, and some luck in my direction would be good!

Anyway, I hear you wondering what good things I’m thinking of sharing out. So this is my cunning plan.

I realised too late that, although I had celebrated my 150th Blog Post with a prize draw, my 200th post slipped by without me noticing!   So I thought I’d celebrate belatedly with the 210th post.

So what am I going to share? If you’ve been visiting Planet Penny for a while, you will know that back in June I met up with Penelope by the Sea, and she gave me a birthday present, and it was the fabulous Julie Arkell book…

and since then, by a circuitous route, I have been given another one.  Well I love it, but it seems selfish to be looking at it with another one sitting on the shelf which I know would be so much appreciated by someone else. SO…. I though I’d do it this way.

I’ve had some great suggestions for the name of my little cow, so from the list of names, you choose your favourite. Obviously, the name with the most votes will be awarded to the cow, and I’ll put all the names in the famous hat and award to the first name drawn out the Julie Arkell book AND a teeny tiny blue Planet Penny sheep!

So, here is the list of names…

• Esmeralda
• Ermintrude
• Petunia
• Lucy
• Daisy
• Dandelion
• Burdock
• Flora
• Marguerite
• Lola
• Besse
• Moomin
• Marilyn
• Molly
• Gertrude
• Pearl de Lait
• Miss Marple
• Pamela  (this last from my husband as he feels the cow looks just like Pam Ayres!)

All you have to do is  leave a comment with your choice of name, and if you put a link to the draw from your own blog I’ll put your name in twice .  I’ll let it run for a couple of weeks into October  and then ask Higgins to draw the winning ticket, I’m sure he will have recovered enough by then.

Thanks so much for all the name suggestions.  I now have enough for a whole herd!

There is still time to vote for Planet Penny on the Dorset Cereals Little Blog Award and it would be lovely if you would.  There’s a draw for all those participating so there’s  potential for another prize!