If years were sick horses, I would have put 2011 out of its misery a long time ago! At the risk of sounding miserable, 2011 was probably one of the worst years we have had. Besides the obvious year long closure of Thirteen Moons, we have lost beloved pets, incurred incredulous vehicular bills, seen our best friends and neighbours emigrate to Cyprus ( our loss, not theirs), had our Thirteen Moons sign vandalised,our owl figure stolen and saddened to say Jill- Richard's mum passed away. In the words of "Caledonia" we have also "lost friends we needed losing along the way".

I can honestly say that during much of the time, I couldn't imagine having the strength, enthusiasm or inspiration to relaunch the business ever again. It has been shocking how quickly the shop itself deteriorated once unused. Following the rupture of 18 water pipes and one toilet, it didn't take long for plaster to fall off walls or mildew take hold. It was truly heartbreaking to watch. Even the work required to restore the plumbing caused further damage when having to hack through walls and ceilings to access damaged plumbing.  With the costs of repairs/redecoration and restocking on top of still paying off a £3000 electricity bill, opening before now was not an option.

With hindsight though, I believe perhaps the events which led to a year of closure were possibly a blessing in disguise. It has caused us to stop, take stock and allowed us time to reassess our strengths and weaknesses which in the long term will mean I am a better business woman and will keep my chances of keeping Thirteen Moons up and running for many years to come. In all honesty though, I have to admit the one thing that has undoubtedly given me the courage and determination to try again has been the unbelievable number of people stopping me where ever I go, without fail, to ask me when Thirteen Moons would open again. If I had any doubts about how much people loved and appreciated Thirteen Moons, I can say for sure , I now know it holds a special place in many people's hearts....not just mine!

On a personal note, there have been brighter times along the way. We have become grandparents for the first time to the beautiful Lexi-Blue. The arrival too of our new gorgeous neice Sophie and little Sookie, our Jack Russell delivering three healthy wee pups, one of which, "Biggie" stayed here with us.

So looking forward to 2012, our plans are to reopen on 3rd April, put the yurt back up this year, subject to planning permission!!?$! (IT'S A TENT!!!!), but with the addition of opportunities for folk who want some peace and quiet to rent 1 1/2 hour slots. We plan to have regular weekend barbeques available, monthly car boot sales and Summer time weekend alcohol licences in addition to all our usual features. Good Times!! We have al;so been rearing rare breed pigs during our "down time" so delicious pork produce will be available too.

In summary, we are raring to go. I have enlisted the help of my eldest son Luke and daughter-in-law Olivia who will introduce themselves to you on your return or your first visit to the fabulous, magical Thirteen Moons.

As my daughter Bella pointed out to me, by far the most important piece of news is that I am to become a Grandaddy! Who would have thought! Only seems like yesterday I was a kid, then kids of my own now kids kids......and the cliched sentiment that "I still feel 18 inside" rings true.

It is a strange time for me. Those that know me well will be aware that my Mum died in April. I don't think I have really taken that on board properly yet. Still have days when I go to pick up the phone for a chat, cannot bring myself to delete "Mum" from my phone contacts......all the little things. It feels very strange. A friend pointed out that when your parents die, you are no longer a child to anyone anymore. That is probably the closest I can get to describing the feeling.......kinda "alone" but in  specific sense.

And as is Life's way, at the very same time we are awaiting the arrival of Bella's baby. Now I add "grand parent" onto my titles. Again, a weird feeling and one I could never imagine. But I find myself looking forward to visits from Bella and Baby, showing her our home, our animals, our friends. It is once again the little things that seem poignant....for example, I was looking through a beautiful photography book which I had taken from my Mum's house and whilst turning the pages I thought maybe next time I look at this book, it will be eith my grandchild on my lap and we will laugh and pick our favourite pictures and make our memories together.

Approaching this phase in my life feels ok. Things are as they should be and I probably feel more at piece than I have ever done. So we wait, new life is all around us just now. As my mum leaves, a new life is getting ready to begin. It is the Circle, as it always has been and as it always will be if you can relax, and let the world and our ancestors guide us through this life.

Thirteen Moons is having a wee breather, our plans remain to open next year, but in the meantime we are not resting on our glorious laurels......we are busy,busy bees.

Having a bit of time on our hands has let us crack on with our small holding aspirations. Our piglets have arrived, we have three sows......one to keep for breeding and two to disassemble for food in a few months time. These gals are Wild Boar x Tamworth. They are delightful and have many of the characteristics of this ancient breed, but crossed into Tamworth stock to make them more bidable and viable for food production. This is the next stage for us. These pigs are our third lot and we think we now should have an attempt at breeding our own stock next year. We hope to cross the sow back to Wild Boar to keep the ancient lineage present. Again we will be taking orders for our free range pork later in the year so watch this space!!

We have been bust hatching chooks, ducks and quail. We have also taken in 4 turkeys and 3 Ebdon geese. It is lovely hatching your own birds, and also seeing impressive animals like the geese and turkeys develop day by day. We have however been blighted by crows this year. I would extimate that we have lost almost 20 birds so far. Before I lived in the country and raised my own animals I did not understand the vehmence of country folk with regard to predetors, but I have to say that losing the majority of your hatchlings does bring out the base instinct in me. Consequently we have purchased an air rifle and between Luke and myself, we have been on a mission to dispatch as many Crows as possible and scare the remainder away. If anyone has any good crow scaring tips please let me know. We have build a "traditional" scarecrow, with multicoloured dreads!!!! Unfortunately the last duckling loss was found at the feet of this chap!

Probably our biggest bit of news is Sookie is pregnant!!! our delightful little Jack Russell was mated to Harvey, equally personable and equally wee. Due date is early July so just a week or two. If you are interested in pups please contact me on huskyaddict@hotmail.com They will be £250 each and cute as you like!! Sookie herself is feeling the pregnancy now bless her. She still wants to run around and chase the big dogs, but is struggling now, and tends to make her way back under any unguarded duvets at the drop of a hat. She has also taken to making the most of her current state and is demanding hand fed human food!! I swear I never thought I would see the day!!! But Hey Ho!!

While we are on that tip.....we have baby budgies for sale too £7.50 each...this years hatch. Quail at £6 each, ducklings £5 - £7.50 . Again huskyaddict@hotmail.com is your best way to contact me!

Any way my friends, the next blog entry you read will be written by my lovely wife Dawn. She is keen to contribute to the blog , but does not do technology at all. I expect she will scratch her musings on a piece of slate and wait for me to transcribe them onto the website.......

Let us know what you think, any feedback or thoughts always welcome

Love to you all

Richard xxx

Firstly, Dawn and I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support we have recieved since falling on these difficult times recently. Whether it has been an email, a telephone call, a word in the street or an old fashioned letter. Our landlords have been supportive and understanding about our difficulties We have been very touched by this and it makes us even more determined to reopen Thirteen Moons.

We have been using the time, as planned, to sort ourselves out. Our first priority has been to pay our small scale suppliers, our artists and friends what we owed. We are just about there with this, and also we are making headway into our staggering bill to Scottish Hydro for electricity. Some people had suggested we just bankrupt Thirteen Moons, and whilst this may make some kind business sense, it is not how we want to trade. We will pay everyone we owe, even the big multinationals. To this end, I have been working extra shifts at the hospital to earn the extra money we need to achieve this aim. At the same time, Dawn has been a full-time smallholder, looking after our livestock in all its varied shapes and forms. Dawn has also realised we need to be more efficient, streamlined and simplified if we are to survive. Somehow she has managed to fit in attending various business courses, work part-time and still keep our home ticking over. Respect is due!!!

So, while we are rebuilding, we have had a chance to pause and take stock at many levels. It is without doubt simpler not running our own business. We have had time to spend with our animals, our friends and family. Even so, it still feels wrong that Thirteen Moons is shut. So we stick with our cunning plan, to reopen in 2012, wiser, stronger, more efficient but determined to maintain the ethos and ethics of Thirteen Moons. We know we have to change some things, but we are committed to keeping the warm, welcoming, nuturing spirit of the place.

New arrivals at Thirteen Moons include our four orphan lambs which we will be raising for meat later this year. They are needing bottle feeding several times a day still and it makes us appreciate the enormous amount of work our sheep farming neighbours must put in to maintain their commercial flocks.

In a few weeks our next batch of pigs will arrive. They are Tamworth x Wild Boar, commonly known as "Iron Age" pigs. These chaps will also be going to slaughter so get your orders in promptly. Anyone who enjoyed our last foray into the world of free range pork will know how tasty these critters are, so make sure you don't miss out! We are especially excited as we will be keeping one Sow to breed from. This is a logical progression for us and the prospect of bringing our very own Moon Pigs into this world is something we will be looking forward to.

We will be selling ducklings and home reared budgies too. Watch this space for further details in the next couple of weeks.

This Spring has been wonderful so far, warm dry days, blue skies and long balmy evenings. Living this close to nature is a priviledge. When we opened Thirteen Moons, one of our stated aims was to stay in touch with the seasons (thirteen lunar cycles in a calender year etc etc). Certainly we felt the force of Nature last winter, and the profound effect it had on us here.....burst pipes, blocked roads, frozen fields.....but this Spring has been a gift. As the days lengthen and warm we can feel new shoots of enthusiasm and determination growing. We will be back better and stronger than before.

Thank you all again for your support and we hope to see you soon

One Love

Richard and Dawn xxx

For those of you who know us, (and those of you who don’t), we wish to take this opportunity to let you in on what is happening here at Thirteen Moons.

It is almost two years since Thirteen Moons opened its doors to the public. Any doubts we may have had as to whether or not people would embrace the new venture, were soon dispelled as it soon gained popularity. Many people returned regularly, frequently bringing friends along with them. All of which boosted Thirteen Moons favourable reputation enormously. (Thank you all, you know who you are!)

It was a time of acute excitement for us, and an extremely steep learning curve at the same time. Neither Richard nor I had run a business before, plus Richard remained in full time employment at Dr Grays Hospital throughout. We were very busy people to say the least!

The experience has taught us many things, but two things stand out above all the others. Firstly, the kindness, trust, enthusiasm, encouragement and supportiveness demonstrated by almost everyone we met who came here, is honestly, overwhelming.

Secondly, there is far more to running a small rural community business than meets the eye. Not least, the two and a half thousand pound a month it cost, just to open the doors. That’s without any food!!

If you combine the second lesson with the harshest winter in 30 years, the early start to winter the next, plus numerous episodes of flooding in between, well you can see where I am going with this. Subsequently, it has taken only a short time to find ourselves and our beloved Thirteen Moons in trouble. And as many of you will know, either personally or if running a business of your own, these are hard times for everyone regardless. And once money is owed, interest only compounds the problem.

However, I would like to point out that there are those who, in the face of adversity, continued to offer there help. These have included our landlord, REAP, Business Gateway, social enterprise representatives, and last but by no means least, our loyal customers. We have been inundated with offers of practical help, support, advice and encouragement, for which we are so grateful. They came at a time of real difficulty and self doubt. It is due to this and our underlying belief in what we were trying to achieve at here, that we feel it is important to explain clearly what our intentions are for the future of Thirteen Moons.

The fundamental principles which underpin our efforts are these:

• To provide a relaxing, welcoming rural hub for its community
• To have as little negative impact on our environment as possible
• To provide non pressurised outlet for local artisans
• An outlet for locally grown/made produce including honey, fruit/vegetables
• To produce and sell our own free range eggs, meat and homemade preserves
• To inspire our visitors to ‘get back to basics’ and be given the opportunity to become involved in the fabric of Thirteen Moons
• To provide the opportunity for young and old alike to learn about the various elements which are required to achieve all the other principles, such as recycling, waste reduction, animal rearing, etc

These ideals hold true to us with or without Thirteen Moons, but its’ existence allows us to share this with others and them the opportunity to experience it. Either in the form of simply having tea from charity shop bone china with the best organic cake around, or becoming more deeply involved and being inspired to implement some of these values at home with their own families.

However, working with Mother Nature and all her wonderful fickleness can be problematic at times. We have to face the repercussions of these events as well as enjoy the good they can bring. So how can we reconcile these setbacks with future hopes and aspirations for Thirteen Moons? Well another lesson we learnt was reduce our outgoings and increase our income. Simples! However, once a nurse, always a nurse, and I find charging people directly for making them feel better (for that is how I see myself as doing) as unnatural. So now that we find ourselves at this crossroads where we either address our weaknesses and build a new future for Thirteen Moons, or ignore them completely, let the whole thing go and move on from it.

Then I think this. I cannot imagine life without Thirteen Moons and all it has come to represent. The people we have met, friendships we have forged and lessons we have learnt. I still believe it has so much more to offer. Not only to me, but to those who have already come to love it, and those who have yet to have the pleasure. And although part of me wants to just get the shop up and running now, I think for Thirteen Moons to have the chance of a really viable future, we need to build stronger foundations under our castles in the air. We feel it will be worth it in the end, and hope you feel the same way.

So here’s PLAN B!

After much soul searching, we have decided to remain closed following our enforced closure with a view to re launching in 2012. For those who don’t know us, the early snows and temperatures down to -18, blocked our ski slope/drive, froze our pipes and then flooded the building on numerous occasions as the pipes defrosted and burst one by one. Needless to say Christmas trading was at an all time low! As a result of zero income, but bills all the same (2.5k a month, remember?!!) to open now would mean starting in a significant deficit, which is both stupid and soul destroying. It would also probably contribute to the eventual slow painful demise of Thirteen Moons in the end anyway. So instead of blindly forging on, we will utilise this ‘year out’ productively, increasing our own self sufficiency status, improving our animal facilities/increasing our own animal production and endeavouring not to make the same mistakes twice.

As a result of missed payments, our energy supplier disconnected the electricity to the shop. It is the sole source of energy, and although it poses obvious problems, we see this as the push we needed to find a way of producing our own clean energy. Where’s Jack Strawbridge when you need him?!  Energy is our number one money drainer, and the biggest element that lets the side down when it comes to our sustainable efforts. So if this time allows us to raise Thirteen Moons up out of the slush, stronger, cleaner and significantly more affordable, then I do believe we may all look forward to Thirteen Moon filled future, my friends!

Besides being the biggest drain on our financial resources, energy production will pose us with our biggest challenge. This will take time, effort, patience, ingenuity and the elusive beastie….money, all of which we could ill afford if trying to run the business at the same time. However, during our ‘year out’ we plan on hosting regular events to aid the project, raise awareness of our vision and remain in the hearts and minds of Thirteen Moon Supporters. So those of you who are used to visiting us regularly won’t have to go completely ‘cold turkey’.

We plan to have regular car boot sales (recycling in full effect), craft fares, barbeques,

the sale of vouchers for the chance to be “A smallholder for a day”, renting out of our yurt, and you will find us at craft fares and farmers markets. We won’t be slacking!

On that note, all that remains for me to say is this. We miss our patrons dearly, and hope they will bear with us at this time of redevelopment. That they, and any of you hearing about us for the first time, but believe in what Thirteen Moons aims to achieve, will support us in our efforts outwith the ‘normal’ running of the enterprise. And that you will join us in the reinvention of a true community gem.

And to anyone facing adversity of their own at this time, remember this;

In the fading light of the day, the shadows always point to the Dawn.

(A new day with infinite possibilities, not me!)

Bright Blessings

Dawn and Richard

For more information and regular blog updates, go to our website www.thirteenmoons.org.uk Email; thirteenmoons@hotmail.co.uk

Well, needs must............so Im on night shift in my alter ego as a nurse. We need money and at the moment this is the only way to get it, so here I am. I remember, with a wry smile, how I promised myself I would not be doing night shifts by the time I was forty....well, Im just over that now *sic* and I find myself in that familiar state of trying to keep awake through the long long nights. We have decided we will do this, we will make Thirteen Moons happen again, so for the mean time it is just a lot of hard work.

We have remained positive all through these recent trials and tribulations, but tonight I am finding it hard to keep my pecker up....maybe its my age????? I think the wet dreary days don't help. I am trying to stay useful, I have been mending the khana walls of the yurt in preparation for getting it back up come the Spring. The original camel skin ties have taken a bashing in the harsh weather here in the north east of Scotland. The khana walls are the trellis like wooden wasll that provide the characteristic vertical wall to the yurt. To mend them I have been using strips cut from a bicycle inner tube, my very own camel skin substitute. Will let you all know how it performs but in terms of repair it is doing the trick.

Dawn has been making marmalade, bird boxes and animal blackboards.....not black board for animals, that would be ridiculous, animlas can't write, let alone worry themselves with "to do" notes.....no these are animal shaped blackboards for your pleasure and amusement. Dawn has also been heard muttering about building "ladybird hotels" from silver birch logs. She will either make it onto Dragons Den, or find herself admitted to a secure unit somewhere. The pressure is starting to tell.

Tonight I just wish all our plans, hopes and dreams were not pinned upon something as crass and vulgar as money. Yet we cannot seem to escape this fact. However hard we work at rebuiolding Thirteen Moons, it will eventually come dopwn to pounds, shillings and pence. I long for the day when I don't have to worry what evil letters from banks will bring, when I can pick up the phone and not have some call centre collection dept harrass me in my own home, when I can pay back all the friends and small producers we still owe. Ochhhhhh..........I guess I should stop feeling sorry for ourselves. Pah!!!!

Most of the time I can count my blessings, but tonight I'm just counting the cost.

As I write, Thirteen Moons remains closed. Pipes are burst, water turned off and electricity disconnected. We have some significant bills to pay and we cannot trade at present.

Dawn and I have spent many hours discussing the future of Thirteen Moons. Our conclusion is that it simply feels wrong that Thirteen Moons is closed. We have had so many letters of support, messages and visits from customers and neighbours offering all kinds of help, from the practical to admin support. If we could trade on goodwill alone we would be a very very successful concern.

The bottom line is we need money to reopen. The last few months saw us being hit hard by the weather, initially the snow made it impossible to get to us, then the freezing conditions caused burst pipes through the whole of our building. We could not trade and very soon the bills could not be paid. We have put thousands and thousands of pounds of our own money into this business and we simply have no more to give. So we have the unpleasant reality check that we now connot open even if we wanted to.

At the saame time, we have used this time positively. We have reviewed all our expenses, been shocked at just how much it costs just to keep the place open each month! Dawn has written a business plan and we are approaching potential fund granting bodies to see if they can help. We have thopught long and hard about what we do well and what we can improve upon. We are confident that if we can get a second chance we will be better prepared, better organised and better disciplined in our approach to the business.

We dont want to lose the core values of Thirteen Moons. We believe we are doing something right to have received the level of support we have both when we were open and now that we are experiencing some difficulties. Like a phoenix we will rise from the flames....or rather the puddles and drips. We may well take up some of these offers of help to get us back on our feet

Keep the faith.........we are.

Following the recent adverse weather, we have experienced multiple setbacks that have resulted in us not being able to trade here at Thirteen Moons. Unfortunately due to considerable loss, damage and expense we do not know when we will be able to reopen.

We are taking time to pause and consider what is next for us and Thirteen Moons. Dawn and I truly believe in everything Thirteen Moons stands for , and believe that if we can overcome our current issues, we will emerge leaner, stronger and more efficient.

May we take the opportunity to thank you very much for supporting Thirteen Moons. It has been a pleasure.

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and look forward to seeing soon.

Richard and Dawn xxx

The winter is well and truly upon us. The snow has been falling and temperatures dropping to Baltic levels. This is always a very hard time of year for us and yet again we have been forced to conceed to the gods of the elements and close the shop while this cold snap has hold.

We are trying to open every day so it is always worth checking here or giving us a ring. We have been as innovative as we can and have been taking Thirteen Moons on the road. Dawn has been battling through snow drifts to deliver our fantastic pork to our customers and our lovely gifts and crafts. If this weather persists we will try and come to you if you reside in this Winter wonderland around Keith.

Our poor animals hate this prolonged cold. It is also loads more work for Dawn and me. Our normal morning chores now take about two hours as we have to feed all our animals, change frozen water, feed birds .......then go and do it all again a few hours later. It also costs a fortune, which is tricky when we have no income from the shop at this time. Please feel free to drop your stale bread down to our ducks and hens if you are passing , they will love you forever in return.

So we watch the forecast each day and hope for better news, this "working with the seasons" aspect of Thirteen Moons is lovely in Spring and Summer, but hard hard work on these short, cold winters days.

We celebrated our Halloween with a Bistro evening at the Moons. This was our first venture into the world of evening entertainment and to hold our hands, Maggie and Angus from Steading Artisan Foods cooked a delicious meal, while we organised the music and venue.

We decided we would only sell 20 tickets to ensure an intimate atmosphere and to try and make the evening feel special for all our guests. Entertainment was provided by Mama's Brand New Bag . We were already fans having heard their album, but to have them live at The Moons was just amazing.They didn't disappoint with the combination of Kate's amazing vocals, smooth barrelhouse blues and absolutely awful jokes. I loved the raunchy, heartfelt blues, but will remember the Mama's version of Route 66, reworked as "Get your kicks, on the A96".

The meal was created by Maggie and Angus and they endevoured to use fine, locally sourced ingredients to demonstrate just what fine food we have here in Moray. Feedback was very positive, the meal was an unhurried affair as our guests relaxed and enjoyed the music between courses.

Coincedentally it was our wedding anniversary. It was hard work on the night, but we were able to sit down and enjoy the last set of the evening. We hope to host more evenings like this so keep an eye on the website for upcoming events.

Here's a little tle that warmed my heart today.

We had a vist from a group of senior folk today. It was the second time the group had been out to us and we loved entertaining them. One lady in the group had spent her whole life terrified of horses, but on her previous visit she had been persuaded to pet our lovely gentle Highland Pony . Rhum is a beautiful boy and behaves impeccably. This lady who had been scared of horses stroked and fussed him, and found that far from being fearful, she loved being close to this wonderful animal.

She went away from Thirteen Moons that day and decided that she would learn to ride! so now the highlight of her week is her riding lesson, and she puts it all down to meeing Rhum at Thirteen Moons.

I think this is such a lovely story and I am so proud of Rhum and his place in our magykal world.

Recently I fell off the rig while out training the huskies. I suffered hideous injuries....well, I bruised my ribs and trashed my back that laid me up for a few days until the bruising had settled. While I was drifting in and out of a life threatening coma......well, lay on the sofa and couldn't move without screming.....Dawn had to manage in the shop by herself. I was worried how she would manage. Our helpers stepped up to help her, Fergus came in on extra days and Mary came in to work along with Shona and Emma.

By Thursday I was feeling a bit better and went to help out. I was expecting to be welcomed back with open arms and sigh of relief, but it was not exactly what happened. If anything Emma and co looked a little disappointed. I have been relegated.......I'm no longer on the A team! I'm on the B team.....the reserves :(

And do you know who else is on the B team with me?????.........Hamish and Sookie.......and they are both puppies! I'm hurt, first physically and now my pride has been cruelly crushed. Oh well, I will just have to content myself as the "eye candy" in the shop.

The Summer has limped along here at Thirteen Moons. We don't seem to have had much more than the odd day when it was vaguely warm. Our plans and aspirations for outside have been hampered, but fortunately for us we have had a string of helpers this Summer.

We have a volunteer from the HelpX organisation staying with us at the moment. Confusingly she is also called Dawn! We have drawn the distinction between them as "Boss Dawn" and "Slave Dawn"....not very politically correct and all that, but we never were the best at that. Slave Dawn has been a real asset to Thirteen Moons and for Dawn (that's Boss Dawn) and I. Slave Dawn has revamped the shop, cared for our animals, worked....well.....like a slave, all for the meagre priviledge of staying in our dog-filled house. As I write, the two Dawns are out, unsupervised, in Elgin and surrounds looking for bargains and escaping the Moons for a few hours.

Clare has also been helping out, mainly tidying and building outside. She is amazing and a font of ideas and inspiration. Where Clare gets her energy is a mystery to us, us who drag our sorry bones out of bed after hitting the snooze button at leas three times.

The other big news for us was that my daughter Bella has been up for the last month. It was lovely to have her staying for a good length of time. It was an eventful visit, and one that will always be remembered with both joy and pain. Bella is now back down the road and has taken Sam along with her so he can spend some time with Steve and Luke and family. The house is tooooooooo quiet now, also, we have realised we can't blame the teenagers for the mess in the hoose if they aren't here! So I should be doing my Cinderella bit just now, but have taken a break to update this blog.

In the shop we have been uber busy through the season. We are continuing to get new customers as well as our regulars. We love you all........really......it is amazing meeting all these wonderful people. There are so many amazing, talented people in our community. Last Sunday we hosted a party for Roddie who was the miller here at the Mill of Towie for many many years. T'was a great night with friends old and new, all connected to Roddie or The Mill. The event was put on by Alex and Priscilla from the Drummuir Estate, and a fine night was had by all.

We have been working with Maggie and Angus from Steading Artisan Foods and Debbie from Wild at Heart. Forging really strong links with local businesses who share our ethos and aims. We are looking forward to working with Huntly Herbs in the near future, always making Thirteen Moons ever more community focussed.

Finally, don't forget to book your ticket for "A Local Affayre"(Sunday 31st October), our Bistro night with The Steading and featuring their amazing culinary skills, and also a chance to enjoy Mama's Brand New Bag in concert. This will be a very exclusive night with limited tickets available to ensure an intimate, personal night of fine dining and great music. Tickets are going fast so book soon to avoid disappointment. See the Events section of this web site for further details.

It was our great priviledge to be invited to the Queen's garden party at Hollyrood Palace in Edinburgh this month. We felt very honoured to have been nominated and then selected to attend. It was also a great excuse for a trip to Edinburgh for us, seeing as we haven't had a day off in ages. We took the train down and enjoyed the chance just to sit still for a few hours and to be alone for a while. I think we made the right decision as Edinburgh was gridlocked while we were there.

We stayed in the centre of the city for one night before the party. We maxed our time there, wandering the streets and exploring. It was the first time I had been in a city for a while and after 24 hours I was ready to get back to the country, beautiful as Edinburgh is, there are just too many folk in yer face! The party itself was a strange affair, and I did actually have cucumber sandwiches with the crusts off. Dawn and I couldn't help but marvel at the catering facilities put on for several thousand people while we are coming to terms with our first busy season at da Moons. We simply need a host of staff and fab equipment and we could pull an event like this off.

We had a great break away but were glad to get back home.

Warm, long days in Scotland are a delight. It sometimes seems that in this part of the world, it has forgotten that it should get dark at night. Long days are great, but also mean there is no excuse for putting your feet up. The jobs just keep piling up think and fast.

Dawn and I have been struggling to keep on top of things as Thirteen Moons gets busier, animls keep having babies and my nursing job keeps me on the go. We got to a point where we have had to say, enough is enough....this isnt really fun just now. We were working so hard, but feeling like we weren't getting anywhere. So we have had to decide what we do.......do we quit, let all this go???........Damn you life!!!! you won't defeat us that easily!!! So our alternative has been to look for more help around the place.

To that end, we have taken on a bit more help. Shona and Mary have joined the Moon Team. Both local ladies who not only help aboot the hoose, but also are getting Dawn and I up to scratch with our Doric, the regional dialect here aboots. I know what a "cloot" is and "dubs" and that everyone loves a "bosie". We also have a volunteer with us just now. Dawn. Which makes for much confusion in the kitchen with 2 Dawns working. We tried to explain the whole concept of volunteering to Sam.....Dawn is staying with us, gets board and lodgings and in return helps out around the cafe and with our animals. Sam listened carefully and at the end of our eloquent explanation he said "So..........she is like a slave and I can get her to do whatever I want?".....which has lead us to referring to my Dawn as "Boss Dawn" and volunteer Dawn as "Slave Dawn"....its all terribly non-PC but it makes us smile.

There has been much hatching of eggs recently. Our small holding now has a number of wee chicks and ducklings running around. Ronnie and Reggie, the pigs keep getting bigger and are looking tastier by the day. These bad free range pigs busted out of their pen the other day, what a time to choose, Saturday morning just before we opened! Well they were enticed into the goat field with food and promises, and are now installed there while I try and sort out the electric fencing.

We have 3 Cayuga ducks too. Free cycle finds, these beautiful irridescent birds shine bright green in the sunshine and lay black eggs! We almost had a peacock too! Dawn responded to a call telling her this bird was on death row, going to be shot in the morn, so off she went to Grantown ( about 40 mins away) to the rescue. Only to fail to capture said bird and returning hours later with 2 lowly hens in the van. But it was not a wasted journey as Emma and Dawn found a natural burial ground and heve decided they are going to weave their own coffins out of willow..............no......they dont have a problem......no....not morbid.

And finally for now, I am writing this blog in a hairy state. I'm not shaving for England! I'm backing the beard!!! and will continue to do so as long as England stay in the World Cup! Come on Boys!!! Germany on Sunday!! Gillette shares must be hitting rock bottom by now.

So thats it....dont forget tarot readings with Sun Fyre first Wednesday in the month and also we are starting jewellery making workshops with Jo from Dragon Flight Designs.

See you at da Moonz!!

We were very honoured to be asked to host the wedding reception of Adam Taylor and Lesley Ford at Thirteen Moons on 15th May 2010. This was a new departure for us, even though Dawn and I had our Handfasting ceremony in the Mill and also Emma and Ian had their binding ceremony at the summer solstice last year. This was to be the first semi-commercial wedding we would host.

Adam and Lesley arranged for a magnificent marquee to be erected by North of Scotland Marquees and the grounds of Thirteen Moons were transformed into an idyllic rural setting for their celebration. A hog roast was provided by a local butcher, and flowers and music were sourced locally. The couple were determined that not only would their dy be special for them and their guests, but also they wanted local businesses to benefit as well. This was exactly the ethos we promote at Thirteen Moons. The marriage took place at the beautiful St.Rufus church in Keith, then the wedding party was piped to Keith Station where the Keith-Dufftown railway had been chartered to transport their guests to Thirteen Moons, making an extraordinary stop at Auchindachy, harking back to days gone by when there was a working station at this site. A big thank you to Dave and Jill Wells who allowed the guests to alight at their property and cross the road to Thirteen Moons.

The weather was fine and the atmosphere was superb all day. Food was provided by caterers from RAF Lossiemouth and was delicious. I ran a bar for the first time with the help of Royan and Derek. We had a great time, and managed to party ourselves behind the bar between serving guests.

I have to thank all our helpers who worked like Trojans to make the day go so well, Fergus and Francis were chief washers up, Royan and Derek behind the bar and Skye for overseeing the whole Shabang. I would also like to thank Emma especially for stepping into the breach when we ran out of hot water , and for all her hard work the following day too, and Layla for putting aside her glass of rose for a while to help the guys in the kitchen when it all got a bit stressy!

So Thirteen Moons.....the perfect rural wedding setting????....watch this space for more developments.

Tomorrow we have two guests coming to stay for a few months...we are getting two Tamworth piggies from Jim. This time we are going to be confirmed Fair Weather Pig Owners.......these two boys will join us in the Spring and say au revoir in the Autumn. We hope to have our piggies butchered and be available for sale later in the year, so let us know if you are interested in some Thirteen Moons Magic Pork.

The sun has been shining and we have been falling in love with this place all over again. Tonight we took Rhum and Magnifico for a wee walk up the hill. T'was really lovely and peaceful, apart from Magnifico alternating between immobility and kicking his heels up and trotting down the road. The ducks and hens have been laying eggs again. The Spring is here.

We are open!! Hurrah I hear you cry......about time too!! Our Christmas break just went on and on curtesy of the worst winter for many years here in North East Scotland. We have survived floods, snow and ice, burst pipes, power cuts and pestilence.....well, not pestillence really but Dawn did have a nasty cold.

It was the ice and snow that really got us. Our track became unpassable except in 4X4s or tractors! and even then it was touch and go at times. Eventually the weather improved and we set an opening date for 2nd March. We had a Press day on the 1st which was well attended and the spin off was a couple of great articles in local papers, and the chance to tell local people what we are up to here at "da Moonz".

We are so glad to be open again and seeing some familiar faces again and meeting lots of wonderful new people who excite and inspire us. Our other big news is that we have embraced the Social Enterprise structure for Thirteen Moons. We have appointed a Board of Directors, an Advisory panel and will be seeking Members in the near future. Andy, Jo and Margaret provide a variety of experience and expertise which will be such an asset to call on. The Board will oversee the company and ensure we stay true to our social purpose which is to provide an outlet for local artisans and producers and also to meet the needs of our local community. We will be seeking "Members" and "Friends of" Thirteen Moons in the very near future, so if you would like to hear about all our plans and events, or if you want to get more involved in how Thirteen Moons evolves you may like to join us? Keep an eye on the website for more news, or drop into Thirteen Moons for a chat.

We have had some great events already since opening. The Keith Walkers group visited for lunch, then we sold out our Mothers Day lunches. It was a roaring success, but poor Dawn was on her knees by the end of the weekend. We are hoping to have visits from various other local groups over the next few months. Its a great way for us to meet more people and to spread the good word about Thirteen Moons.

Couple of dates for your diary:

Easter Weekend sees our grand Easter Egg hunt. Fun for the young and the young at heart.

Then we have ambitious plans for the first anniversary of Thirteen Moons. We are planning a big fun day, a "Poker Run" for motorcycles, music and mirth. Keep 4th July free, its going to be a great day

So the days are getting longer, we have whole days above freezing and the Spring grass is trying to show itself. These are the days to come down and see us at Thirteen Moons. Relax in the restful peaceful atmosphere  and enjoy good wholesome local produce. Hope to see you soon.

The thaw came and went and now we are back under the white stuff yet again. We have a horrible sense of Deja Vue as the fields disappear under a white blanket yet again, and our poor animals shiver. Anyone who says we have not been through a "proper Keith Winter" may suffer a severe sense of humour failure on our part.

While the shop has been shut Dawn has been making stocks of marmalade and chutneys, and we have been planning for our re-opening on the 2nd March. Our plan is to open 6 days a week, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 and having Mondays off. Our other big decision is to embrace the Social Enterprise aspect of Thirteen Moons and seek to push on with our social values as core dimensions to our business. We will shortly be opening up membership to Thirteen Moons. By becoming a memeber you will receive a regular newsletter and updates of all the events and happenings at Thirteen Moons and be able to attend our AGM when we will review how our trading year has gone and look forward to the year ahead. As always your views and opinions are valued and we will be seeking feedback from our customers.

Anyway, enough of all this, if yootmaiu want to know anymore about Thirteen Moons and our Social Enterprise aspirations please feel free to contact us in the shop or by email at thirteenmoons@hotmail.com

We have been snowed in for almost three weeks now. Bella, Luke and Liv are still here, they were supposed to fly back to London on Hogmany, but a combination of snow and ice have cancelled flights. So we are holed up. We have not been able to open Thirteen Moons since Christmas Eve, it simply is not safe, the car park is under at least 4 foot of snow and we are struggling to even get the doors of the cafe open! We also have to consider the build up of snow on the roof which is getting deeper by the day.

Times like these are double edged. The scenery is truly stunning, the snow gives the landscape a magical quality, but at the same time it is causing chaos for the local community. Whilst we make every effort to be a low impact business, we are so glad of our 4x4 at times like these. It has let me get to work at Dr Grays, and also to get out and do a few errands for friends and neighbours who are truly trapped.

It has been great to have Bella, Luke and Liv for an extended break. They have chipped in and helped with all the feeding and watering of the animals and all the general chores around the place. I know Bella is dying to get back to her kitted Pixie, but she phones her kitty most days! Now they are having a blast of snow and ice down South and we send our good wishes to them, we certainly have experienced the winter chill up here.

In just over 2 weeks we have our premier husky race at Aviemore. Ironically, all this snow and arctic weather are putting this sled dog race in jeapardy as competitors from all over the British Isles struggle to make their way up North. Then even if they get here, we have to ensure the trails are safe for the dogs and the mushers. Dawn has mixed feelings about the possiblity of a sled race for her first Aviemore. We will keep you all posted as to how we get on.

Busy times at Thirteen Moons as we move towards the festive season. Dawn has bookings for over 50 Christmas lunches before the big day and I'm sure we will be sick of the sight of turkey by the time we sit down for our lunch on Christmas day.

The shop is looking fab with loads more gifts, arts and crafts and clothing now in stock for some exceptionally talented local people. If you are looking for something a bit special and unique you will be spoilt for choice just now.

Our pottery class has finished for a month or so. I will miss the Saturday morning gang and all the hilarity that accompanied the class. Their creations are being fired on the 17th so we are all looking forward to see them glazed and finished. However, there is never a dull moment here and we have hosted a "Soul Buddies" workshop for kids and adults where old pairs of socks and gloves are transformed into crazy,imaginative dolls and puppets. We also have had Sun Fyre offering Tarot readings, and we have appointments available this Saturday 16th December if anyone would like to book!!

Our BIG new addition at Thirteen Moons is Rhum, our beautiful Highland Pony. He has made his way to us by a complex and convuluted route, but we love this gentle giant. Once again Dawn and I find ourselves back on that steep learning curve as Rhum is the first horse we have had. But as ever we are enjoying the challenge and loving him more and more as we get to know him better each day. Highland ponies are hardy beasts, built for the Scottish climate, but we cannot but feel he needs a nice dry barn at night so he comes across and joins Mr Magnifico (the donkey) and the goats in the steading of an evening.

The huskies are training hard, well the youngsters are at least. Richard ran his first race with the new dogs at Culbin forest a few weeks ago. You can read all about it in the Knock News this month. The girls are really getting fit and we have been getting out 3 times a week, but having to train in the dark which is somewhat hairy at times. We are on a constant merry-go-round of upgrades to lights, brakes and equipment in general, but we are seeing the benefit. Thanks to Emma and Ian again , who are our trraining partners and without whom we would struggle to get out.

Other news from da Moons....... we successfully screened The Age of Stupid for the Drummuir 21 group. T'was a good evening but certainly gave us all a lot to think about with regard to our response to climate change. ........we had a pleasant surprise the other day when Sarah and Keith, husky buddies from darn sarf appeared in the cafe!!! They were staying in Aviemore on holiday and took a drive up to us for a surprise visit. Having got over the initial "weirdness" it was lovely to see them and thier new pesky puppies.......last but not least, visitors to Thirteen Moons are currently being treated to Dawns amazing dreadlocks, pink and burgundy hair for Christmas!!!!......thanx to Skye and Sun Fyre for the styling , and also a dramatic reduction in our shampoo and conditioner budget!!!

Winter is here, its official, the clocks have gone back and we are having to scrape windscreens in the morning. This means we have changed our opening times:We are now open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00- 17:00. Whilst this may mean we lose some business we hope you will understand that it was our beloved huskies that bought us to Scotland and we are setting aside Sundays for racing through the winter season. Our first race being on Sunday 15th November in Culbin forest with the Scottish Siberian Husky Club. Its the first competative race for our pups and we are hoping they will run well. After all the recent upsets with our dogs, it will be a relief and also somewhat strange to be out competing again.

The business seems to be heading into winter in a fairly healthy state. We have hosted some events for various community groups including the Moray Moot and also a local sled dog group. We are really looking forward to showing The Age of Stupid on Thursday 26th November at 19:00. This film is being screened by The Drummuir Estate and is set in the near future when climate change has taken hold of the planet with devastating effects. Pete Postlethwaite looks back at this time as "The Age of Stupid" when we could have done something to change the path we are on, but failed to, hence, "the age of stupid".Tickets are just £5 and will include refreshments and a discussion after the film.

Winter also means that it is time to dismantle the yurt which has been quite a feature of Thirteen Moons. Our yurt is a genuine Mongolian yurt, imported from Mongolia. It is the cosiest, most peaceful space, especially when it is freezing outside, but unfortunately, whilst it deals with the cold in its stride, it did not do well in the prolonged wet periods we experience in Costa Del Keith. We were told that a yurt will "last as long as a good marriage", look after your yurt, look after your marriage, and it will last a lifetime. To that end we have packed away the yurt for the winter, and we will need to do some running repairs before we erect it next spring.

A quick reminder of some of the events we have coming up: Pottery Classes on Saturdays continue and have become very popular. Some of the work is coming back glazed and fired and looks beautiful. Book early to ensure a place each Saturday. Knitting Class on Saturday 24th November and costs £20. You will be shown how to knit a simple "thumb hat" then go on to start a lovely wooly hat made from homespun Shetland Wool. These hats normally retail for more than the cost of the class, so you are quids in!

A big thank you to all our helpers who have helped us get this far, Muriel and Gerald have been absolute treasures, Fergus and Dillon help us on Saturdays, while Royan is on constant "standby" to come to our aid at short notice and finally Emma who has proved that it is possible to be a great friend and also to work together. We are indebted to you all.

Samhain, or Hallowe'en, is upon us and Thirteen Moons is dressed for the season. Oranges and black abound in the shop and our own mini pumpkin patch sits in the hallway. This is how we envisaged Thirteen Moons would run, following where we are in the year, reflecting the seasons and respecting nature.

In the kitchen we have been cooking jams, marmalade and chutneys, using any excess produce to make delicious treats for the rest of the year. All these are available to buy in the shop, and as each batch is hand cut and cooked every jar is unique. Dawn has been teaching some of our younger helpers to make preserves and you will find Royan's jars of sunshine marmalade alongside Richard's Cheeky Chilli Chelly. Perfect for a treat for yourself or as a gift.

Our first advert went in the Knock News this month, and we have started running the Pottery class every Saturday with Lindsey teaching small groups of budding potters. We are looking forward to seeing the first fired and glazed pieces from our talented bunch. Places are available every week as each session runs as a stand alone lesson so book yourself in if you would like to join in the fun.

On the 31st we have a Hallowe'en event at Thirteen Moons. A gloriously ghoulish day awaits you, with hideous face painting, spooky story telling and fangtastic food. Sun Fyre will be available for Tarot readings from the Celtic Trees and Tales deck. These cards were designed by Sun Fyre and are based on Celtic Tree wisdom and Tales and is the process of being published for early 2010.

As the nights draw in why not learn a new skill or reaquaint yourself with the Joy of Knitting. Sally will teach you how to make a "thumb hat" and with that as a basis will go on to teach you how to make your very own hat! Using handspun Shetland wool, and expert tuition, all in a relaxed atmosphere. All materials are provided and you will also have refreshments from the Thirteen Moons cafe all for £20. This class is a one off and will run on Saturday 21st November from 2pm -4:30 pm. There are a maximum of 8 places to ensure individual attention so book early.

There is a definite nip in the air, the mornings have been cold and bright and we have been blessed with blue skies for the last  few days. Despite my good intentions, we have failed dismally to take the yurt down and have decided we will dismantle the beast at the start of November when we have a whole day to do it. In all honesty I do not think Dawn and I have ever been this tired before, but it is a strange feeling because we are exhausted but happy, enjoying our days in Thirteen Moons and all the great people we have met from all walks of life.

As the weather cools, so the huskies get eager to run. Dawn has been taking the pups out with Layla and working on getting them fir for the up coming season. It is an extra job, but it was the dogs that bought us here to Scotland and we owe it to them to make time in our day for them. Hex,Cruz and Voodoo have been getting faster and faster. We have decided that this year Dawn will run the girls at Aviemore, so she is working hard with them and building the team. You may even see jogging up the odd hill trying to get fit for the dreaded Aviemore hill!!

Our babies have moved out into a pen which they share with the guinea pigs. Before anyone contacts Social Services, our babies are our wee quail and chicks, and Clumsy the duckling.

We had a bit of excitement yesterday when a ........"bunch"?....of cows appeared in our car-park. Made us laugh  to see Sookie sqaaring up to the beasts. Seems that even cows believe "the grass is always greener......" and they had waded across the water to our field. Well, with the help of Fergus, Dawn and I shooed them back over and now various fences are repaired and cows are where they should be.

Big thank you to Fergus, Dillon and Rowan for helping out and to Em for her continued support especially over the last week when I had to go South for a while.It is very much appreciated by Dawn and myself

We are experiencing a bit of a resurgence of Summer over the last couple of days, but there is definitely a nip of Autumn in the air. What a welcome relief after the downpours earlier this month. We even had guests sitting outside the last couple of days.

Its funny how things go, there must be some business academic somewhere who can explain why some days are busy, some are quiet, somedays everyone wants soup and then on another we only sell scones? It is the mystery of running a tearoom, and for Dawn and I who have been nurses all our lives, it is somwhat baffling. The last couple of days have seen Dawn's homemade jams,chutneys and preserves fly off the shelves. Maybe it is that Autumn chill that makes people want to hunker down, stock up and get ready for Winter, or maybe they are just after a quirky Christmas pressie? who knows?

Which brings us to our latest bit of domestic strife: As a good husband and business partner I feel I should do all I can to help in Thirteen Moons, so when Dawn left jars and jars of preserves unlabelled on the side I thought I would help by labelling them up and putting then out in the shop. I did a pretty good job I thought...........can I help that Dawn has OCD and cannot bear anything that vaguely deviates from perfect symetry!!! So, my Thirteen Moons labels were a bit......wonky......who cares, it adds to the "homemade charm" and uniqueness. In years to come I am sure they will be collector's pieces changing hands for vast amounts of money in the Jam Auction houses of the Middle East.

So, we could go to marital guidance on this one, or we could just put it out there for a customer poll?........would you be put off buying a pot of jam or marmalade if a label was slightly.......not straight? Answers below in the comments box please!

Moray has been battered by floods. We made the National news for once as houses were left underwated and the power of nature over man was gain demonstrated. Here at Thirteen Moons we found our kitchen flooded, all our fields were under water and our animals were all rounded up and hused in the staeding like some kind of ark. It rained and rained and the rivers burst their banks. People phoned round to see if anyone needed help, we met on the bridge to watch the water pouring across the road while cars stopped and turned around or the occaional gung-ho type would plough through the torrent. It was a terrible day, but also it saw the best of people coming out. Neighbours helping each other, our landlords sending down tractors and sandbags to aid us. All we could do was stand and watch and wonder how long it would go on for.

And ofcourse it eventually did stop, and the water levels subsided, and slowly things got back to normal. For us it meant mopping up and drying out. Returning animals to their fields and inspecting fences for damage, getting the shop re-open and back into the swing of running Thirteen Moons.

Since the floods it has been noticably quieter. But it seems to have been everywhere. It is like the community is still just a bit shocked and can't  get back to normal. This week has been quieter than usual , but toward the weekend, things picked up. We have two more helpers in the cafe, Dillon and Fergus and we have even had people wanting to come and help clean out our animals for us. We are so grateful to all of you who are making Thirteen Moons become the place we hoped it would be.

Dawn has been out collecting animals again. We now have a big rabbit in the bottom of the aviary along with Bert and Ernie the guinea pigs, and a new canary....the type that singsa its little heart out. We also have a new puppy. Sookie crossed our path and how could we say no to this adorable little thing. Kerry and Dee needed a home for her and I was wanting a little dog with a big heart.......a Sookie fits the bill. She is the sweetest craziest dog, and she makes us smile with her antics. Please ask if you want to see her as she is normally hanging around the shop sleeping somewhere, but loves a fuss and a play, and it is all good socialisation for her.

We have eggs due to hatch in the incubator again. We are hoping that  the duck eggs hatch in the next few days, and we also have quail eggs due in the next week or so. In the shop we are starting to get lots of local produce. It is cliched to say you can so taste the difference between supermarket and home grown veg, but Im afraid it is completely true.So we are giving local people a chance to buy local produce as an alternative to what the giant supermarkets have on offer.

All in all, we have survived the flood and we remain cheerful and loving Thirteen Moons. Hope to see you soon.

Richard

We have been open two months today and things have gone really well I think. We have met some lovely people, learnt alot and despite all the hard work, we have been able to enjoy the ride. Ironically, the only reason I have found time to update this blog today is because we have been forced to close due to flooding which has been bad round here, closing roads, flooding homes and submerging fields. We are thankfully ok, and although I am yet to get into the restaurant, I think we have escaped significant damage by about 1 inch!! We have come up with a new slogan for the shop......"Thirteen Moons - we only close for disasters".

Opening Day at Thirteen Moons

We have received some lovely comments in our visitors book and we have loved the days when the restaurant fills up and there is a buzz in the place, but equally, on the quieter days, seeing people bringing their books down, chillaxing on the sofas and taking their time over a coffee or a "Bobby Dazzler" (trademark pending!) is exactly how we hoped the place would be used.

Our menagerie of animals continues to expand as we bought ten new hens from Jim to try and keep up with our demand for eggs. We have also borrowed an incubator and are trying to hatch a variety of eggs, so watch this space for what emerges next week! Mr Magnifico, our superstar donkey has been a real crowd pleaser, but has developed a nasty habit of nipping his admirers. We hope to get Magnifico......sorted......as soon as the flies have decreased and hopefully his naughty behaviour will modify. Bert and Ernie, the elusive guinea pigs have been getting braver. Today we have them in the house as we had to rescue the soggy puff-balls from a diminishing island in the aviary. The goats have been up to no good too, jumping fences to greet our visitors in person in the car park. But no longer, a bit of fence reinforcement has put pay to their little game. Our dogs have started their training for the winter racing season. As the days cool down, we build up the mileage on our Siberians in much the same way as an athlete builds his training for the upcoming races.

We have hosted a number of events already. From small meetings of local walking groups, to a charity fun day in August when we raised over £400 for a Scottish equine charity called H.O.R.S.E. A big thank you to everyone who supported the day and also to all our helpers who worked tirelessly to keep the punters fed and watered.

Our extremely talented collection of local artists is expanding rapidly and we are proud to exhibit and sell their work at Thirteen Moons. We now have the facility to take credit and debit cards so come and find a unique gift, or treat yourself.......you know you deserve it.

Oh well, the rain has stopped at last, so I am out to play with the poor doggies for a while. We hope to see you at Thirteen Moons very soon.