Monday, May 30, 2011

memorial day weeked....

Goodness, Memorial Day weekend has come and gone.. the start of summer!!! I have an "awful" feeling that the summer is going to zip by and all these plans that I have made.. won't hardly get done. But one thing for sure, I am enjoying the warmer weather and the longer days of sunshine!!

We had a nice "long weekend". I was glad to be done with my week of covering the post office, I don't have time to "work". We puttered around the house for most of the weekend, working outside and starting to get things looking good. Now that (most) of the inside house work is done, it's time to spruce up the outside.

I have seen a few hummingbirds around, and I said to Ed that I would like to get a feeder and see if I could encourage them to stick around longer. We found this cute little hanger at Tractor Supply and I hung a little bird house (that my Mom had given us) on one side and a feeder on the other. Now all we do is wait and see if the 'hummers" find it.


I tried to point out the "hummers" to Abbie, but they are so quick, that I'm not so sure she has seen them. But I tell her to watch out the window and see if the hummers are at the feeder. She is so funny, because if you ask her what a hummer does... she hums!!!!!








Another thing I have had my eye on (at Tractor's) is a Kansas-type windmill. They had several in all sizes, but I liked the biggest one. I thought it would look neat by the Electric Shed, and all spring I would check them out when we went down for grain. Well, my Ed surprised me this weekend and went and got one for us. It was the last one they had, and they were happy to get it "moving" so, we got it on sale and all put together. Which is nice, but we had to bring it home on the trailer!!!






Ed, Sadie and Abbie got it up for me, and patiently moved it here and there until I thought it was in just the right spot.












It really works too, and Ed has "threaten" to hook it up to a battery to keep our generator charged. I don't know if he is kidding or not!!!!










Kas and Nate had us down for a little cookout, and I said to Ed, let's get some of our treasures dug out of the woods and brought up to the farm. (Besides since the house is theirs now - I think they would appreciate our getting moved out completely). Anywho, we have been collecting "farm type" treasures for years. I don't know which came first, the land on which the farm is now, or the treasurers that needed a piece of land to be on. But either way.. we have both and it's time to put them all together.



This poor treasure has been out in the woods a long time. Ed can't even remember where it came from.. and it took some digging and brute strength (and a lawn tractor) to get it out....












What is it... a horse drawn sickle bar. Used in the day for haying. Despite it's rusty look, it is in "almost could use condition".. but hooking it up to the horses isn't what I have in mind... this piece is going at the end of the driveway as a lawn ornament.









On Memorial Day itself, I wanted to be sure that Ginger got to go and see the parade. It's "on the list" of things to do with a service puppy. So, we called Rick and Kelli to see if they would like to go with us.


Ginger and Mindy rode in the back of their jeep together....







And sat together watching the parade. I missed not bringing Camille with me, but I knew she would be just too excited, and we're still suppose to be in the "calm" mode with her. Nothing in the parade bothered Ginger... just what I was hoping...
























Happy Memorial Day everyone and thank you to all who have served and continue to serve in our military.. keeping us all safe......
































































puppies and spring...



Many of you have been asking about Camille .. I am so happy to report that she is feeling much better. She still has "weakness" in her hind, which may (or may not) be permanent. Dr. Gangster (the vet that does the acupuncture) says it will really be about 12 weeks before we know for sure. The good thing is, if she does have nerve damage, there is a good chance that other nerves will develop and will help compensate what she has lost. And then again, with time she might heal completely. I have been allowing her to slowly get back into real life. I am allowing her to climb a few stairs that have good footing, she has been going back to dog classes (mostly to watch).. riding in the truck.. things like that. But, when Ginger is out, or Abbie, I do keep her crated.



The other evening, however, I had let her out for just a little and look where I found her!!!! Back on the couch, the place where she first injured herself. She hopped right up there with a look that says "see Mom, I'm fine"... the thing is, she really isn't "fine" just yet, and we need to be super careful that she doesn't re-injure herself doing silly things like this. So.... after that little episode... she is back on restriction because I now know she will do more than she should.





And look who has come for a visit!!! Say hello to George (who is very wet after playing in the tall grass one morning!!!)










And this is his sister, Beatrice (we call her "Sissy") who is also wet from the grass.


They are our current "foster" dogs for Cocker Rescue. Born on March 3rd, these little babies will soon be up for adoption.








Their Mama was bought by a very nice family via the Internet. They (the people) were told that the mama dog was a "retired breeding dog" who had been spayed and was in need of a home to be loved in. Well, not only was Mama NOT spayed.. she was expecting. And just a few weeks after arriving at her new home.. she surprised her family with 11 babies!!!!








This poor family had never raised a litter before... but, they got right to work, and with the advise of a very good vet, and info from good cocker people and the Internet.. they managed to raise nine of the babies (two died very early on). They did the tails, took the babies to the vets for shots, and did a fabulous job at raising this litter. Seven of the babies found homes right away, but little George and Beatrice weren't having much luck finding new families. So, rescue was contacted to see what "we" could do. Needless to say, it won't be hard to find the right people for these cuties.




In the meantime, we are working on social skills, crate training... working on a little food aggression issues.. and teaching them to be "good puppies' before they move on to their new homes. Puppies seem to be our lot in life here on the farm......









And spring has arrived in full force.. here are some photos just for fun...






















































































a tale of two houses....



How do you like the new charms that Kas and I got for our Pandora bracelets? Two little houses.. celebrating new ownership. We - officially on the farm....












And ... Kas and Nate.. owners of their very own house. The house that we used to live in, the house that Kas was raised in. Back when Kas and Nate were in the Marine Corps and we were planning the house on the farm, Kas asked if there was any way that she and Nate could live in the "old" house and one day buy it from us...









Last Friday (April 20th) all the paperwork was completed, and the family house is now in the hands of Kas and Nate. A 30 year mortgage.. which sounds so "long".. but really, 30 years.. goes by way too fast!!!!


It is such a blessing to be able to keep "our" house in the family, and to think that one day another generation of the family will be raised right there. And that every once in awhile, I get to go "home" again......




But our story doesn't stop with just one house. There is another, the "beach house" as we call it. This little house is on the ocean and we rent it weekly during the summer. We have been needing to open it up and get it ready for this year's guests.. but the weather has not been the most cooperative. So, Sunday, we called in the troops and got to work, getting everything back in order. Ed couldn't wait to try Nate's new mower, and Abbie couldn't wait either. She better be careful, we'll make lawn mowing her job....




She was a big help with "Tee-tee" moving the wheel barrow around while "Tee-tee" did the work...











Course, riding in the barrow was way more fun. It took us the better part of the day, but everything was done, and just in the nick of time....












And one little girl - totally worn out from the weekend's excitement and work...











Congratulations Kas and Nate... and all our best wishes for a long and happy life in the little house in the village.....