Happy Valentine's Day... kind of a fun little "holiday" in the middle of winter. I like seeing all the "color" that goes with this holiday.. lots of spring colors..pinks, red, greens.... gives the continued hope that spring is on the way!!! I don't know if "they" make as much about Valentines as they seemed to do when I was a child. We always had a big party at school, came home with the "class list" so that you could make out your cards for everyone in the class.. and then the boxes!!! My Mom made the most amazing Valentine boxes with (for) us. She would use an old shoe box and would decorate it to the hilt!!! I can remember many evenings when our kitchen became a craft room, and the table was covered with all sort of bits and pieces to decorate the boxes. Then we proudly took them to school, set the box on your desk and your classmates filled them with little cards. Seems sort of sad now, when I think of all the time and effort that Mom put into those beautiful boxes, and we probably played with them for a bit and then... into the trash they went. But, you can't take the memories away, and I certainly do remember making them with her!!!!!
We celebrated Valentine's a day early.. it was "friend day" at church so Abbie invited Auntie Kas and Uncle Nate as her friends for church. They came up, went to church and then came back to the farm for a Valentine brunch... home raised bacon... blueberry pancakes... hot coffee... some Valentine gifts and a fun time to be together.....
Blueberries that were picked last summer... they made the most wonderful pancakes!!!! Abbie ate two!!!!
The "real" Valentine Day was a Monday this year, so it was back to business... we had to run a couple of errands in the morning, and while we were out and about.. Ed took me to the little jewelry store in town and had me pick out a couple of beads for my Pandora bracelet... it's a little hard to see them.. but I chose a sleigh and a horse!!!! Very cute.....
Monday was dog school night, but as it turned out, this was also graduation night. My friend Scott is "studying" to be an instructor and has been working with me all session. He would teach part of the classes, and he'll be a good instructor one day.. I am sure. Here he is with his dog... Louie... Louie is a "service dog to be" like Ginger... Scott and his wife Mary, volunteer for CCI( canine companions for independence)... this is the fourth dog that they have raised.
One of our students and his puppy doing the "relax" exercise....
Now, since I am busy teaching the classes, it is so helpful for me to have my friends handle Ginger so she can still be a part of the classes. On Monday's, Kathleen takes over as Ginger's handler (Rick works her on Tuesdays).... this is so good for the service puppies to get used to working for different people......
And of course, at the end of the class...it's all about the caps and diplomas!! and the group photos. So, happy graduation puppies.. and Happy Valentine's Day to you all.....
