Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

I went shopping yesterday, on the hunt for a nice summery dress. Success. This is the one I purchased and I’m really pleased with it. Now if only the weather would cooperate so I could start wearing it.

When we applied to foster dogs for the SPCA we thought we’d have dogs quite often. We had Patch for five weeks and haven’t had another dog since. I rang to ask about the frequency but evidently the fosters aren’t available all the time. Color me disappointed when I arrived home after picking up my husband from golf to find a message on our answer phone. I rang back straight away, but they’d found an alternative foster for Mikey meantime. Cross your fingers that a foster comes up soon. I’m really missing a dog around the place and, unfortunately, we can’t adopt one at present since it’s possible my husband will be transferred to the other end of the country.

And finally, I was very excited to wake up to find The Spurned Viscountess had made the Top Five list at Carina Press. By the time you check out the list I’ll probably have disappeared, but I thought it was exciting.

I can’t believe we’ve had Patch for four weeks. On Thursday or Friday I need to ring the SPCA and book him in for a vet appointment. All incoming and outgoing dogs have a vet check to keep any possible diseases under control. As I’ve said, he’s a wonderful dog with a very good nature. He has continued to grow in confidence, although the odd thing throws him. On Saturday Mr. Munro got out the leaf blower and attempted to start it. Patch didn’t like it one bit and took off to hide behind the garden shed. If he’s frightened outside of the section he sits down and refuses to move.

After the leaf blower scare, we finally extracted him from behind the shed and took him to the Botanic Gardens. It was a beautiful winter’s day and hubby, Patch and I had a fine time walking and exploring the gardens.

Touch wood, he hasn’t chewed anything for a while. The bones seem to keep him happy. His latest trick is pulling all his blankets out of his kennel and tearing around the lawn with them. I’ll be writing and look out the window to see that the lawn has suddenly sprouted blankets everywhere.

A bird’s nest attracted my attention.

We explored the herb garden.

This is the bed of poppies near the cafe. We had a coffee and sat at one of the outside tables. Patch sat and watched everyone. I was so proud of him.

On Sunday we took him to the Farmers’s market. Patch wasn’t as confident with all the people around but he did pretty well and only did his stubborn sitting thing once by the mushroom stall. He travels well in the car.

Patch has even started barking a little. He has a rough, deep bark that’s quite pleasant to listen to. If you’ve lived with a shrill bark before you’ll understand this comment totally! He’s grown like a weed and will grow bigger yet.

He’ll make someone a wonderful pet.

We’ve had Patch for just over two weeks now. He’s changed a lot in that time, putting on weight and growing in confidence. These days he wags his tail instead of tucking it between his legs. He limped for the first week after overdoing the running, but his rear leg seems to be much stronger now.

Today, I rescued an old golf club, the grate off the bottom of the compost bin, one of the blankets from his kennel, and another part of Mr. Munro’s irrigation system. There’s quite a collection of irrigation equipment on the top of the garden table now. In addition, our lawn looks like a graveyard. Patch has dragged all Scotty’s old bones from under the hedge. He races around the section with a bone in his mouth and loves to chew on them.

At first he didn’t like leaving the section but now he waits at the gate for his morning and evening walk. He sniffs everything and tries to eat just about everything that catches his attention. I have to watch him like a hawk because he eats plastic, cans, and paper. He tends to pull on the lead a bit, but he’s very good at road crossings, sitting as soon as we stop.

Patch is an affectionate dog and very intelligent. He was REALLY naughty today, but he made me laugh because a mischievous puppy is so normal.

Last Thursday we picked up our first foster dog from the SPCA. He’s a Stafford terrier cross and is six months old. His name is Patch Adams. He had surgery on his left hind leg and was on cage rest until we brought him home.

When Patch first arrived at our place, he was very timid. Our section is fully fenced but I had a few anxious moments when I couldn’t find him. He spent the rest of the day hiding behind the potager garden. When he did finally emerge from hiding, he claimed Scotty’s old kennel and made himself at home.

Our job as fosters is to build his confidence, teach him manners and get him used to a lead. We’re walking him every morning and night, giving him loads of affection and building his confidence by introducing him to new situations and noises.

He’s very good at sitting and is improving daily in the confidence arena. For the first few days he didn’t like leaving the section but now he’s eager to walk. The second day with us, he started chewing. Luckily the cannon bone Mr. Munro brought home has done the trick, and he’s concentrated on chewing that. My shoes and doormat are safe again.

Patch is a loving and very affectionate dog. He’s really sweet and will make someone a wonderful pet.

When we returned from our recent holiday, we applied to the RSPCA to foster pets. A few days ago, we received an invitation to attend a training course, which takes place this weekend. I’m actually really excited about having a pet around the place again (even if the pet is only on loan). It has been very quiet without Scotty. Our walks aren’t quite the same without a dog to watch over.

There are a variety of animals available to foster, ranging from kittens, cats, puppies, dogs to rabbits and guinea pigs. We’ve said we’re interested in fostering dogs and will consider rabbits and guinea pigs. Hubby had a rabbit and guinea pig on the farm as a child, but I’ve never had either as a pet. They give training etc along with all the paraphernalia required for each pet. I’m sure we’d be fine rabbit foster parents.

They said it’s possible some of the people attending the course might be asked if they’d like to foster straight away, so a foster pet might be closer than we think.

In writing/publishing news, Carina Press officially opened it doors today. I’m so excited to be part of this new publishing venture and can’t wait for my historical to hit the virtual shelves. Unofficially that will be in September. I’ll let you know as soon as I have an official release date. Meantime, go and check out the launch releases at Carina Press. There’s something there for every discerning romance reader.