Thursday, August 20, 2015

visitors and good news.......

Today, Abi, the horses and I were very happy to welcome some very special visitors to the farm. My friend Staci has two little girls, who love horses, and I had promised them a ride in the cart if they came for a visit. I was able to keep that promise today. Knowing they were coming, I had Abi here as well.. and pretty much as I thought, the three little gals had a great time being together. 
I wondered what they would think when I brought Duke out, Abi is used to being around him, so I figured she would show them how gentle he is...
but it didn't take them anytime to warm right up to him, and he had a grand time with all their attention. Being so big, they had to take turns using the mounting block to reach all the high spots....
and Duke stood as quiet as could be. Sadly I didn't get pictures of the rest of the day.. we harnessed him up, hitch to the cart and took several trips around the field with the little gals both riding and sometimes driving ... (it's hard to take pictures and do all that at the same time...)
after the drives, we gave old Duke another good brushing and then tucked him away with treats.... the girls stayed a bit longer to play with Abi and enjoy some treats....while Staci and I had a nice visit together.  It was a very fun afternoon and one that I  need to do more of......
 Work on the front walk and garden area is really coming along. The guys are doing such a nice job. Even though the temps are beastly.... they haven't missed a day.....
I love the stone we picked, and to me it has the looks of an old foundation... I can't wait to get some plants in here, and I think it's going to be easy to take care of.....
But, we're not going to have a garden area by the front door... for that place something very special has been planned....
Course, it's those "special things" that usually require the most amount of work.....
and it took some careful measuring, cutting and planning.....
and then.... it's there.......
the very last piece......
 and the "area" now becomes the place where...



I am going to have a garden pond!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We still have much to do, but I am very excited to try this....
plus we have the perfect fountain for it!!!! Ed was given this hydrant when he was done with his term on the Water district board... we have had it all this time, just looking for the perfect place to use it. It's all ready to go... and now the "pond" will be it's new home......
With the wall complete, the walkway will be next. We have a nice old look brick for that.... 


and then the icing on the cake for today... Danny's letter has come. He has been matched and will be working as a social dog with a man who works with trouble teens... I knew this was coming, but it's so wonderful to "see it".. and it will be the perfect job for him...


so another puppy is heading to graduation.... and I could be a prouder Mom!!!!

summer projects.....continued......

Ed and I decided that the deck was going to be enough of a project for us to do. So we hired out the front walk way to be done. The materials arrived a few weeks ago and we have just been waiting to Joe to come and get it started.... and that has begun today!!!
The weather has moved into a very hot humid summer streak. I wished they had started the walk way sooner when it was cool, but... they had to come on their schedule. I don't know why I worry about them working in the heat... but I do...
I have to say, once the blocks were opened and they got working, it went quicker than I thought...
The garden bed was made first... it's a tricky job and a lot of "fussy" work... all the grades have to be done just so...
But I already love what I see, and can't wait to see the brick walkway go down.....
We also had our first official cookout on the deck... with Sadie and Abi.... I hope this is just the first of many more to come, but it was so fun to step out the door and enjoy the deck...
It didn't take Ed too long to move the grill up here. We have talked about this for such a long time and it was so fun to see it sitting where it belongs. We'll even be able to do grilling in the winter!!!!
It makes me nervous that we don't have the railings up.... but Sadie and Abi know not to get too close to the edge (I think....)
perfect summer night....
I bought this cute little flame light. It really does a nice job, but the camera can't capture it all that well. We had a really good supper, steak, corn, fresh veggies.. and sat out until the dark (and bugs) came.... finally, so much work it paying off......


yes!!!!

the traveling class.....

After five weeks of working and training.. and traveling all about the community... my little traveling class is taking the AKC Community dog test tonite. We met on the college campus... it was a super hot night and the poor dogs were certainly dealing with the heat. 
 Thanks to Kathleen helping me out with Camille and Livy... both are being tested tonight with the other students... Cam is probably wondering why at age 12, she still "has to be trained and tested".. but I just thought it would be nice for her to have this title. 
Livy really doesn't like the heat...
Julie came to do the testing. I thought all "my" students were looking really good...
showing that everyone can do the basics...

and then the testing.. this exercise is showing the dog remains calms when being approached by a person who is carrying a large object.... Julie chose this canvass bag...
I think Storm thought he could help Julie carry that big bag.... (which was full of dog toys...)
This is the "wait" exercise.. where the dog is asked to hang back while the owner goes ahead....
Daisy showing what a nice job she can do... all the dog's did this one very well....
then the "being calm while waiting with others"... we practiced this one alot over the summer... having our ice cream dates at the end of each training session... the dogs thought this was no big deal....
the last exercise is "good behavior in a crowd".. and on this hot summer night, that was easy because everyone wanted to have some ice cream. 
and I happy to report that all the dogs passed with flying colors. I knew they would, this was a great bunch of students to work with. A perfect class to teach in the summer time and all the gals want me to teach it again next summer. 

There is another level that we can do as well.. the Canine Good Citizen Urban dog... so I think I'll be looking into that one as well.....

getting closer....

With any luck... this will be the last of our Sunday's working out on the deck. Between just being busy, the weather, and about a million other things, it has turned out to be a whole summer's project.... but we are within reach....... (and so very glad that it's close to the finish)...
We knew the last couple of boards would be tricky.... but Ed had planned that all along....
He takes pride in his work, and sometimes he is so fussy about things that it makes me crazy. But it always pays off.......
And after much figuring, careful work ... here it is... the last deck board!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A few railings.. and this project is done!!!! and I have big plans for many happy times