Walks Away and a Cotswold Stay | Dog Friendly

It's been a while since I did a travel or holiday type post but I'm back and this time I've been to the Cotswolds!

Me and the mothership decided earlier this year to book a girly break away and take my two pooches: Harry and Olive. When looking for an area to go walking, with quaint villages and pretty scenery the Cotswolds popped up and looked ideal!

 

The accommodation we chose is Parys Lodge (because, how cute does it look right!?), situated within the grounds of the owner's home with walks on your doorstop, it's beautifully secluded and set within miles and miles of beautiful rural countryside with quiet bridleways and footpaths. It's equally in a convenient spot to walk to the village pub! 

The lodge itself is beautifully decorated with modern amenities that include wifi, wood burner, bbq and Nespresso machine to name a few and we instantly felt welcome, cosy and at home when we got there.

The kitchen and living area are small but cosy and the perfect amount of space for the two of us. We both loved the way the lodge was decorated; being fresh, light and inviting. We definitely made the most of the wood burning fire and Nespresso machine during our stay too!

Another thing that was great about the lodge is that you could have two dogs. A lot of places will only take one but thankfully Parys Lodge will accommodate two and as you can see, Harry and Olive very quickly made themselves at home!

Another thing to note is the lodge can sleep 4 with one double bed and two single beds. Naturally I opted for the single bed and gave mama the double! We also hadn't realised that the master bedroom has an en suite which meant mum and I had our own bathrooms each. Result! We also discovered the the beds were equipped with electric blankets which we also utilized, turning off the heating and enjoying the heat from the log burner before coming down to lovely cool bedrooms to sleep in but with the added cosiness of warm bedding. It felt like such a treat to get into and certainly helped us get a good nights sleep.

The lodge was the perfect space and size for the two of us and the dogs to retreat to and relax after a long day of walking. We'd pop the log burner on and listen to it crackle away and enjoy a glass of wine or two whilst our pizzas cooked in the over. On one of the evenings however we did frequent the local pub; a short walk away and enjoyed a hearty meal with drinks; somewhere I'd recommend going if you choose to stay here!

As previously mentioned there are walks literally on your doorstop from the lodge, so we were able to ditch the car and head out for the day on beautiful walks. 

This enclosed field is a 5 minute walk from the accommodation and was perfect for letting the dogs off to run and stretch their legs before a day of walking began. During our stay we did part of the Wychavon Walk and were able to explore the beautiful Worcestershire countryside with its peaceful waterways and scenic views with a sheep or two. 

This is the route we ended up taking and could have walked further but with it being February time the light was soon lost by 4:30 pm. Wychavon Walk is in fact 40 miles in total and starts in Holt Fleet by the River Severn so there's plenty of parts to pick up and do on various visits- something I definitely want to do with my husband Chris!

Another place that's well worth a visit and just a 20 minute drive is Broadway. A lot of people had recommended this place and for good reason. It's incredibly quaint and the epitome of what quintessentially English means to me. I felt like I was on the set of the film The Holiday!

Broadway is often referred to as the "jewel of the Cotswolds" and I can see why! Both mum and I fell in love with how quaint the properties were and cooed over the cute detailing of each house. 

The main street is lined with lots of independent shops, hotels and restaurants as well as plenty of antique shops. It's definitely a place to come for unique gifts or a memento from your holiday. 

It was also very dog friendly which for me was a huge tick and because of this it only seemed right that we popped to The Swan for a beverage with the pooches!

This lovely pub is set in the heart of the village and had a a lovely relaxed feel, with plenty of seating to choose from. 

Here mum and I toasted to a successful mother daughter trip away and before we knew it, it was sadly time to come home!

I adored this trip and definitely want to explore more of The Cotswolds now so if you have any recommendations on places to visit, do let me know! 

I can't recommend our accommodation enough too so if you're looking for a cosy little retreat, definitely check out Parys Lodge.

Meet Olive & Taking on a new puppy tips

 It's been a while since I did a blog post and I thought I'd start 2022 with news of our puppy Olive!

I wouldn't call this new news, especially if you follow me on Instagram as she's been with the House of Rayment since the end of September, but I can safely say she's very much settled into the household. 

So why a puppy now? Well Chris and I have been toying with the idea for 2-3 years now but we'd been considering moving house and changing jobs, so it felt like it wasn't quite the right time. Now that we're settled in our new house and jobs are sorted, it felt right to introduce a new member to the family and of course we opted for a rescue dog from Cyprus! (All  of our rescues are from Cyprus.) 

The rescue group we used are called Polis Pound, based in Paphos who were an absolute joy to communicate and liaise with. They were on hand to answer any questions we had and did a video interview with us to make sure we were the right fit for Olive. We knew we wanted some sort of spaniel breed again as we love their energy and running with them, so when Olive popped up as available it was an instant yes. Mum is a lab cross and with her beautiful ears it's believed her dad could have been a Springer. Once she's fully grown she is expected to be medium size. 

Olive in the Pound!

Olive was one of Lucy's beautiful puppies. The poor mum was dumped at the gates of the pound in a state after only a few weeks of giving birth to her litter! Thanks to Lucy being the perfect mum and with some extra loving care from the fabulous pound volunteers the pups are were ready to find their forever families and travel in September, making Olive 4 months old when she arrived with us.

Olive in the pound

Why a rescue dog?

We've always had rescue pets in our household. Both Harry the dog and Zara the cat are rescues too and they will always have a special place in my heart. I think because we know we've rescued them from a horrible alternative and also I'd rather save an animal than pay for one that's been bred for purpose. The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. When you adopt, you save a loving animal by making them part of your family and open up shelter space for another animal who might desperately need it. I don't think I could do it any other way now and I would highly recommend it. Yes we did miss out on a few months of her life initially but it was worth it in order to give her a loving home.

Since having Olive, she's settled in amazingly and we can't imagine life without her! Harry is also very much enjoying her company, especially after the cat went missing in May (which is another story coming soon...)

As well as being thick as thieves, Harry has been great at showing Olive the ropes and mentoring her which has meant her confidence has really grown since she's joined us. Equally Olive has boosted Harry's confidence as before she was here he was very nervous of laminate floors and wouldn't go into my study! Now however he will happily trot in and settle down whilst I craft away. It's lovely!

Holidays

Olive has already been on holiday too! After a few weeks of being with us we took her away to Wales for a week and she adored her adventures and new sights and smells.

With still being so young we didn't do long days of walking with her and had regular rest stops at the pub so she could snooze and we could get rehydrated? Ahem...

Socialising

We've made it a priority to socialise Olive as much as possible. From taking her on her fist walks around our village it was apparent she was a little nervous of other dogs, barking at them as they walked past. One of the best places we've found is Holly Lodge Farm and Café with it's enclosed fields for exercising and socialising dogs. 

Olive socialising with friends dogs at Holly Lodge Farm

As well we've had family and friends dogs over to the house for play dates with Olive which she has loved and now on walks she is excited to see other dogs rather than intimidated.

Taking on a rescue puppy

This is my second time around taking on a rescue dog and though they are all very different and have individual needs, here are a few tips that I've found help with them settling in:

- Their own little space. It's important to determine where your dog will be spending most of their time. Pick a room that’s the centre of activity at home so your soon-to-be family member won’t feel isolated. The kitchen is often a good option as it’s best for easy clean-ups. We opted for the kitchen/utility area as the floor is wipe able for any accidents or spills of food and drink!

-Dog proof your home!-Make sure the areas where your dog will be spending most of it's time during the first few months are dog proof. Things such as moving anything precious out of the way that could be chewed, electrical items and cleaning items put on a high shelf. 

-When you’re out of the house. Create a temporary, gated-off space for your pup where they can’t damage or eat things. This will be his area whenever you’re not at home. For us we've chosen this as the utility with a baby gate to section it off from the entire kitchen.

-Register your dog's microchip. I did this as soon as we got our pets home. Be sure to register your contact information with the chip’s database company. 

-Bringing them home. Your new dog should be safely secured. When we collected Olive we were instructed to bring a slip lead with us. They may find the car trip stressful so having them in a safe place will make the trip easier for them. We bought a dog car seat and filled it with a blanket, lined it with puppy pads and attached the seatbelt which goes through the bottom of the car seat to ensure puppy is secure. It's also important to remember that you could get fined if you're driving with an unrestrained pet in the car!

- Introducing puppy to existing pets- Its important to get them introduced to your existing pets. We did this by getting Harry and Olive to meet in the garden on a lead. Initially Olive barked at Harry but soon they were sniffing one another and happy in one another's company.

-Giving puppy a tour. Once home, keep your dog on the leash and lead  from room to room - spend a few minutes in each room. Show them where their food and water bowls are.
-Take him to his own little safe haven. Take him to his toileting area immediately. Spend some time with him so he gets used to the area and can relieve himself.

-Settling a rescue dog at night. It is not unusual for puppies and even adult dogs to cry on their first night in a new home – remember that they are away from what is familiar to them! You may wish to put their bed in your bedroom for the first few nights, as being near you can help to provide a source of comfort. Another tip I have is to put a worn t-shirt in their bed. I've found this comforts a new puppy, having your scent near them in their bed and helps them to settle in.

New Pup Shopping List

Before bringing puppy home, its important to be prepared with a bed, food bowls, lead, harness etc. Here are a few things I bought for Olive in case you're interested and full disclosure, they're all green/olive green because she's called Olive!

Forest Green Dog Collar- Sophie Allport

I've found this really hardwearing and looks really smart too!

Bubbles & Fizz dog Toy- Sophie Allport

As a prosecco lover I couldn't not buy this for olive, plus what an adorable and non-tacky dog toy!

Waterproof Washable hardwearing Olive Green dog bed- Amazon

This bed has been an absolute lifesaver with Olive having accidents. The entire bed unzips so the cover can be washed and the padding too. It's very hard wearing and durable against her claws!

Fleece Blankets- Amazon

These have been perfect to line beds, take in the car or pop on the sofa when Olive wnts to come up for cuddles.

Leash Harness Set- Amazon

We didn't use the collar but the leash and harness were a great beginner set for when Olive was small to get her used to being on a lead and on walks. 

So that's little Olive! I hope the tips in this post have been helpful and you'd consider rescuing a pup rather than just buying one. There are so many dogs and puppies that need rescuing. If you're interested in the stories behind rescuing Harry and Zara, check out this post.

Alternative Christmas Gift Ideas *Ad

It's that time of year again where we start thing about the C word... and with that in mind, I thought I'd share a few gift ideas with you that aren't your standard socks or pyjamas!

For the Foodies

Getting gifts for those that are lovers of good food and wine, doesn't mean you always have to get them food itself. Have you thought of gifting them things to accompany their food and that aren't just practical but an enjoyment to use and treasure?

The 6 o'clock club - Wine coaster from Katie Cardew is a perfect gift for the wine connoisseurs and red wine loves alike. I love the style of Katie Cardew's art and I'm sure that those who are also a fan of the 6 o'clock club will also appreciate it too. They can sip away after a long day and rest assure they won't mark the table with their coaster championing their drink choice!

As I've mentioned, buying for food lovers doesn't always have to been food itself so why not opt for beautiful crockery? This Puglia Bowl from Sous Chef* is handmade in Italy and a beautiful addition for anyone who loves cooking and entertaining. Who said that cook ware had to be boring and practical when they can be pretty and practical? Serve figs drizzled in honey, a gorgeous salad or scoops of gelato; this bowl is a beautiful home ware gift and a lovely nod to the Italian Mediterranean. 

Scrunchies and Stationary*

Writing paper and scrunchies are my new favourite thing to gift people! Hair up in a pretty scrunchie and pens down on inspiring writing paper will always help to motivate people and get them off to a productive day. 

 I recently teamed up for an Instagram Live with Prints by Natasha Cole to showcase my writing paper and found that lots of her scrunchies paired perfectly with my paper! Take this Suede Effect Beige Scrunchie this pairs perfectly with the Flock To Feather* paper from my shop and would make a lovely gift to a friend over the festive season.

Another perfect pairing is the Leopard Print Hair Scrunchie and The Myla* paper for those who love some leopard in their life. 

And my personal favourite is this set of 2 scrunchies and The Countryside Walk*. 

People on the Go- Sanitizing and Stationary

Another gift idea I have is for people on the go! The wanderlust is a great paper for those who travel and the perfect pairing to accompany it is a personalised hand sanitizer to keep them safe on their travels. 

I recently discovered Little Letters LDN who make gorgeous personalised pieces that are not only practical but pretty too! I fell in love with these Personalised Hand Sanitiser Holders and feel they are a perfect gift in to accessorise your sanitizer and look chic on a handbag.

Presents for the Pooches

A family member that should definitely not be overlooked this Christmas is your doggo! My recommendation for pet gifts is Environmutt -home to environmentally friendly pet treats and accessories. 

I recently picked up a Dog Gift Set for Olive and Harry which they both LOVED. Not only were the treats inside natural and good for the doggos, the tug toy is also fashioned from recyclable tshirt yarn. The gift set we opted for contained sprats,  tripe, tug toy,  ball and poo bags- all of which will definitely be put to good use! Olive particularly loved the tug toy!

The gift of words

Heading back to the paper theme, have you thought of sending a letter to a loved one rather than a card this year? 

A heart felt letter to a long distance loved one catching up and reflecting on the year can be a really lovely way to show you care without costing the earth. Equally, the recipient doesn't necessarily need to be a long distance relative. Happy mail out of the blue can be an unexpected joy to someone you care about that could make their day! 

To keep with the festive theme, I'm releasing some Christmas papers in the shop very soon so keep your eyes peeled on the Par Avion Paper* shop for their release very soon!

So those are just a few of my gift ideas for Christmas this year that are a slightly different to you usual. Admittedly there are a lot of paper based ones in there!

Have you got any gifting alternatives to recommend?

*Ad I was kindly gifted the Sous Chef bowl in exchange for a review. ?I have also advertised my own brand Par Avion Paper Co in this post.