So... I've had my hands full for the past week. Not full of pastels but full of puppy!

There is a new dog in the house. Hector. He is a Border Terrier/Jack Russell cross. A wee bit more than 8 weeks now.

Hebe-the-dog tolerated his snappy, teethy lunging for the first few days. She wasn't sure what he was? I even considered renaming him 'Stoat'. It was the dart-grab-bite-hide action that threw us. We had, until then, lived quite a placid life here.

Hebe-the-dog and me, for that matter, are patient creatures but lines had to be drawn in the sand, and rules enforced. Puppies just don't nip the Pack Leader and Top Dog! Playful nips were ignored but when I got a cut on my painting hand, and Hebe-the-dog got her paw bitten and she had to thoroughly inspect the redness for confirmation of the deed, I adopted a firm 'No!' while Hebe-the-dog resorted to kettling the wee weasel behind some garden tubs, or else standing over him like an unfolded ladder - to show who was in charge, I supposed.

Hector-the-pup is spirited but was temporarily calmed, but was always trying to sneak in surreptious nips when we were both off-guard.

His nature seems to be one of living dangerously at the mo. Fitting in is not top of his list, apparently.

Again, as in Hebe-the-dog's early days, Hector-the-pup is immediately into gardening - specifically Botony and Entomology.

He scoots round the garden like a racing superbike, fast 'n furious, at an angled pace on maybe 3 legs, grabbing at any leaf within reach and frilling the edges like a lacy Victorian petticoat!

Entomologically speaking: he is instinctively curious about insects. Lazy flies can be easily despatched, but he's also discovered that vile-tasting beetles require slightly more inspection before ingestion. Slugs are an oddity best ignored and he has yet to experience the defence mechanism of bees and wasps.

Sunny days here in the Northern Highlands have been so welcome - especially for keen gardeners, entomologists and sun bathers.

I'm sure the extra VitD has increased the size of his legs, 'cos Hector-the-pup seems to have stretched, even in 6 days.

Eventually, I imagine he will be taller than Hebe-the-dog. I wonder if she will still be wearing her Correction Officer hat then, or will Hector-the-pup have stolen it away?

Who knows?

But so far Big Sister is firmly in charge.

Happy Days!

: )