GOT THE SAFETY GATE!

And what a difference it has made already.
I can now be completely relaxed in the kitchen when I'm cooking, but still have the puppies in there when they're having their meals.
I think it may well help me to just about keep the remains of my sanity intact!!
Lily and Rose have had a somewhat energetic start to the day, but they DID have a good ten hours sleep last night, so probably need to let off steam a bit. It's funny to watch how their play changes as they go from being full of vitality to becoming tired again. They begin by playing sociably together, often working 'collaboratively' on a project (usually a demolition project!) like dragging the cushions off the garden chair and then unzipping them to reveal the padding inside which can be shredded into tiny little bits; after this they go through a phase of antagonizing each other - grabbing the toy or chew that the other is enjoying or leaping on top of an otherwise quiet and totally unsuspecting victim. This phase usually develops into quite intense play-fighting which regularly requiring human intervention using distraction tactics to bring it to an end. The final stage of their play becomes more individual and quiet as they are content to play alongside each other but each pup  engages with their own choice of toy or chew. Usually sleep follows this phase very quickly, with Lily being the one to succumb first. Lily LOVES her sleep, whereas Rose will fight it. Lily could sleep through most interruptions, but Rose is up and alert instantly.
We've gone through exactly that pattern this morning. Lily is flat out in the crate and has been for quarter of an hour. Rose is lying calmly  in one of the cosy little beds, but is still playing quietly...
...(Oh no, I got that wrong. She's now lying at my feet fast asleep - just like that!)
...No she's not - she's back in the bed and still asleep! How does she DO that? I didn't see her or hear her move at all!
Spooky!!