It's raining Dogs and Dogs!

Today I was at the Hot Dog show for the greyhound rescue GraceHounds in Vogrie Country Park, just south of Edinburgh.

There were lots of greyhounds, dogs and, er, other dogs plus lots and lots of rain and, er, more rain! - it literally poured and poured and poured!

Though there was not a cat in sight to be seen!

I was invited along by Jane and I met some new people who also have shops on etsy.com ! It's a small world.

In recognition of our jinxed day -

I brought an umbrella to shield myself from the harsh sun (ha ha!)

One lady got up 10 minutes early to paint her toenails so she could bare her feet

and I overheard a comment about the next thing happening will be the tent blowing away (which it just about did were it not for 10 able bodied folks pinning the legs to the ground in a huge gust!)

- I made an etsy treasury - called It's raining Dogs and Dogs featuring the new folks and some other folks dear to me

I shared a table with Ali from etsy shop AliBali Jewellery and was next to Angel from etsy shop Maiawalli Art all the way from Australia and Mike from etsy shop Wudwerx.

Beautiful jewellery, rich art and magnificent bee and bird homes and great company! and just down from us was Jess from etsy shop Jess Lovell, Emily from etsy shop Emily Moir and Jane from etsy shop The Dogs House!

My mum was kindly minding my stall for me as I darted amongst the rain drops taking photos.

In keeping with pouring rain and water in my treasury above is Angel's rich and celebratory Two Lovers artwork. I love the limited palette here and it works so perfectly with the turtles simple but provocative 'dance' as they communicate. When I lived in Australia I would often see these 'snake-necked' turtles and immediately recognized them today.

and I've put in Mike's amazing 'Bee Hotel' - isn't that just a lovely name - a hotel for Bees! I bet room service is included at no extra charge and the mini bar is forever full. Bees are needing all the help they can get, worldwide, so hopefully every garden will soon have a bee hotel beeing busy :)

and ofcourse I had to include hearts - just look at Ali's beautiful set of earrings in hammered silver and copper. I love the detail in the craftsmanship, the heart shapes are just right and the colours are a prefect compliment. Ali has some very desirable pieces of jewellery in her shop!

After growing up amongst ants in Africa and Australia I had to include them too! Jess made this fun and inspiring Leaf Cutter Ants original linocut and I really appreciate what hard workers ants are. Never complaining, working together in harmony, lifting many, many times their own bodyweight and always looking out for the biggest leaf! I have very fond memories of watching ants go about their lives.

I also put in Emily's Splat Mats! Isn't that a super name? and more appropriate than just 'coaster'. Wonder where coaster came from? but I sure know where splat mat comes from - I have a few book pages that can attest to being splatted on by cups of hot tea!

and ofcourse none of this would have happened if it were not for Jane inviting me along to support her favourite greyhound charity Gracehounds!

Her Max is always welcome in my treasuries - he is such an adorable and good natured chap that I am in trouble every time I come home to my two rescue buns with hands smelling of greyhound!

Here is Max wearing one of Jane's very smart doggy bandanas, customized to your pooch.

Would that be a picture of Max snoozing on it?

so .... whilst it pours with dogs and dogs of rain .....

Jane works at her stall and .....

Molly snoozes in comfort below ....

..... whilst Max proudly claims the Number 1 Prize!!

thank you all for a super day!

apart from being dressed for a summer scorcher and shivering most of the day I loved it all - seeing dogs of all sizes from Irish wolfhounds down to long haired yapping-non-stop tiny daschunds, multiple minature versions of greyhounds (Italian greyhounds) and big balls of fluffy not-so-small puppies to the most beautiful and happy 3 legged rescue greyhound - it was a wonderful day (and I actually do love the rain!)