good girl, Camille

Bright and early this morning, Moxie, Camille and I headed to Acton (my soon-to-be hometown) to attend the York County Kennel club dog show. This is a really nice show, with a history of really bad weather, and nothing was different for this year. What was suppose to be a "cool day with chance of showers" turned out to be a rainy day that was down right cold!!!! But, wisely (though not fashion for sure) I dressed for the weather.

I entered both Moxie and Camille in Rally Obedience, but with Moxie not feeling well all week long, I decided to pull her from the show and just let Camille do her thing. It was Camille's very first time in the ring!!!!

And the "thing" is... I haven't really even taken the time to "train" her. Anything that she knows, she has picked up herself just by coming to classes with me and being my "demo" dog. Rally Novice is pretty basic obedience, but there are some details to it, that I knew she could do... provided she would listen to me.

Showing outside is a bit of a trick at times... there are many distractions!!! On top of that, the obedience rings are set up under the "pulling arena"... where during fair season... horses do their thing. I can only imagine what that dirt has the scent of....

But, little Camille did her "mom" proud and worked like a little show dog......

A "perfect" score is 100.... Camille got a 94 and qualified for her first Rally Novice Leg"... PLUS took fourth place AND highest scoring cocker...... "NOT too bad for a very first try"..... good girl, Camille!!!!!

and tomorrow, we go back and do it again.... guess what, they are predicting rain!!!!!

foster #4

Happy May Day!!!!

This is "Missy"... our fourth foster dog of 2008!!! She is a three year old cocker spaniel and is the "perfect" dog... I am still trying to figure out why she was given up. It's a little unclear to me, just that I was told... "they didn't have time for her, she required grooming, and she will sometimes submissive pee"...

OK.... so, what's the problem? From the moment she has stepped inside this house, she has been nothing short of a little dream boat.

She LOVES everyone, is quiet, crate trained, and if I didn't already have SIX of my own... she would certainly be a keeper!!!

THANK goodness, there is someone coming to see her this Sunday. Actually, they will be making a decision between Missy and another rescue dog.. Jenni. I think it would be grand if they were both adopted, but... we'll see. Either way, this little girl will go fast...

You can see how "stressed out" she is to be here (that's Sadie's dog, Tatter sitting with her)

Hope I am not encouraging any bad habits!!!. cockers are allowed on the furniture.......

they really aren't "floor dogs: ...if you know what I mean

truck

This is my truck....

"yes, we know that you have a truck"

This is my truck........

"yes, we know that you drive a truck"

This is MY truck......

"what do you want us to say... we know you own a truck"

this is my truck....




and this is the LAST truck payment, going out in the mail!!!!!!

hoofprints....

I drove for about as long as I could... (have definately decided that the cart seat will need a cushion.)... gave out all the rides that I could muster (Butch says I will "put him out of business" --NOT) and decided that I should get the cookout going and feed these wonderful friends.

So, I turned Tonka and his cart back over to Butch. Their grandson had come with them for the day... and Butch wanted him to have a little ride behind Tonka....

Major was at the end of his workout with Becky... so the last I saw was the family all out together in the field....

It made a sweet picture.

After we had the horses "tucked" in and taken care of... we had a little cookout and went over the events of the day. To be honest, my mind was swimming.... I had so much new information, plus the thrill of driving and the thoughts of what it will be like, living up there and running out to the barn on a moment's notice...
it was a bit overwhelming......

But ... the silliest thing of all..... I nearly broke into tears when I saw this...

Hoofprints on the farm!!!!

cart work

As I was ground driving Tonka about the property.. Butch and Ed pulled our cart out. We bought this last fall, but Tonka has never been hitched to it. I was glad that Butch was there, and helped us make the fine adjustments that it needed to fit Tonka.

When they were ready, I drove Tonka over to the cart... he seemed unimpressed at the sight of it, so Butch had me back him into the shafts... MORE holes in my training. Tonka and I need to work on steering when it comes to backing up!!!! You can bring the cart up to the horse, but again, if I were ever to have a team with a big wagon that you couldn't bring up to the horse... you need to know how to back them in. That's ok... some pvc pipes on the ground make for good "shafts" and backing work.

Butch took Tonka out first .. by himself no less. Last time he had Becky go with him, just in case someone needed to "jump out" and attend the horse. But that wasn't necessary this time... (another improvement!!!)

Becky's beautiful paint, Major, was quite interested in all the "going ons". Becky is doing some great work with him, including driving. In fact, on Monday she is headed to New York state somewhere for a four day training clinic with him.

After a couple of spins around the field, Butch had me climb in and off we went. Tonka was an old pro and I can honestly say I felt very comfortable driving... even when we did hit the ruts in the field.

Then Butch jumped out, and said, I think there are some folks here that need a couple of rides.... have fun!!! So, he went "off" to help Becky with Major and left me to my horse!!! (though I know he was keeping an eye on things....)

I took "everyone" for rides... Sadie, Matt, and my friend Betty (who dropped by to see all the excitement) all went with Tonka and I. When it was Ed's turn, we had the greatest time driving together and chatting about the whole day. Ed did tell me that he is going to have Tonka and I help him fill in the ruts in the field... "since you hit every one of them, you know where they are".... ya, very funny!!!!





Ed also told me that I must have been having the time of my life... (of course, but what would make him say that.).. he said I never offered to let him drive Tonka during his ride.. I do feel a little sad about that... but not too much!!!!!

"Butch"

Becky and Butch arrived around 10:00... just as the rain began to have a "real purpose", Becky brought her horse, Major, to "play" with... it was fun to have a couple of "equines" on the property. We gave them the grand tour and waited for the rain to let up some.

Butch is a "true horseman" and has a talent for them that I can only hope to learn. He is very interested in natural horsemanship and uses that idea for training. So, he brought his usual "bag of goodies" and worked Tonka in the round pen. Now, here is where I have a few moments of bragging rights.

After we had visited with Butch last summer, I took many of his ideas and worked with Tonka my self. So, when I saw Butch pull out his "blue tarp" I thought to myself... piece of cake!!! and it was. Tonka could have cared less about that silly thing and continued to work just as Butch asked him to do. There were a couple of other things as well, a big beach ball... no prob... a tire that Butch asked him to step around, threw and over... no prob.... cones... "big" no prob (I don't even think Tonka noticed them) and a few other items. Tonka was very respectful of Butch's space (which I still have to remind him about with me) and he walked, trotted, cantered, whoa and turned on voice. I was so proud!!!! Until.... the whip!!!! When Butch pulled that out, I thought Tonka was heading for home!!!!

He has been extremely sensitive with the whip, so I am careful with it around him... but, after watching Butch yesterday... my "protecting "Tonka from it has proved not to be a good training idea. As Butch said, a snapping branch in the woods can sound a lot like a whip snap, and if I am driving out there... well, I don't want him taking off on me. It took probably a couple of hours for Tonka to decide that Butch wasn't going to hurt him, with that horrible sounding thing, and after the work, Tonka pretty much decided that everything was still ok.... but, I can see that I still have "holes" in my training work.

After the roundpen work, we harnessed Tonka and headed out. He hasn't been in harness since last Novemeber, but I remember hearing that "if you leave a horse in a good place, that is where he will likely return when you begin again". This proved to be true in Tonka's case, because in moment, Butch had him tugging a tire without any trouble at all.

Then it was my turn. I was surprised at how familiar it felt when I took up the driving reins. Guess all those miles of walking last fall have paid off. We went together like "peas and carrots" and I ground drove him all around the field.

He stayed happy and relaxed in my hands, and though the raindrops continued to be their pesky selves... we had a grand time and I could see that when I finally get up on the farm...

There's a pretty good chance I won't be leaving it!!!!!

horse on the farm

Today was an exciting day on "Sweetgrass Farm".. and because I have so many good pictures to share, it's going to take a couple of "blogs" to do just that. So hopefully, "you" are all interested in horse stuff... if not, just skip the next few blog postings.

As previously reported, our friends, Becky and Butch called and made plans to come today to see the barn, and help get Tonka back into driving mode. So, bright and early this morning, Ed and I went to fetch Tonka and get him up to the farm. The weather was not the best, it was quite cold and drizzly, but, I wouldn't allow it to dampen my spirits!!! This was a taste of future days ahead, and I couldn't wait.

As we unloaded, Tonka was very curious about his new surroundings. It's been a while since he has seen a field like this one, and he was quite happy to check it all out.

He backed off the trailer like a gentlemen, took a big deep sniff of the air, and a long whinny..... just in case someone should answer back!!!!

I took him over to the roundpen, wanting him to have some time to check out his new surroundings and get settled in before Becky and Butch arrived.

He didn't quite know what to do first, check out the countryside, have a good roll in the soft grass, do a little grazing, or run around like a crazy boy..... he actually did a little of everything....


we were off to a good start......

it's starting....

This is, I dare say, the first of many loads that will be taken north to the farm... the driving cart will more than likely live there now, as I do not really have a place to "drive" down this way.. and the round pen is actually making it's second trip north.

It's a funny story about the round pen(s), I actually bought two of them three years ago. The lady I got them from, had warned me that these would be the last of her old prices, and so, Ed and I decided to get two of them and then if we found that we didn't need the extra, we could always sell it. We trucked them up to Acton to be "used" at a later time, though we did set one up just to see what it looked like and in case we wanted to use it.

When we moved into Teresa's barn, I brought one pen back down from Acton and used it to outline her little arena area so we would have a place to ride. It worked out quite well. Then when we bought Mocha and moved her over to Teresa's, we took the second pen down and used that for Mocha's little paddock area. So, already we have had good use of both pens.

Now, tomorrow our friends, Becky and Butch are coming to visit. They have been wanting to see the barn, and Butch has been asking about Tonka and his driving work. After some conversations, we decided that Ed and I will bring Tonka up to the barn, and Butch will do a little work with him while they are here..... so, it was time to move the round pen BACK to Acton and get the cart up there as well.

With the "idea" of guests arriving and a horse coming to the farm, Ed and Ken concentrated on ..... finishing a stall!!!!! AND, putting the outside wall on the tack room. So, this morning when we arrived with "our load", I had the most wonderful surprise waiting for me!!! All of a sudden, it is really looking like a horse barn!!! Ed and I puttered around, we hung a bucket in the stall for Tonka tomorrow, put up some cross ties, and just did some tidy work. I have that same "excited feeling" that I get around Christmas time, and can't wait to see Tonka there at his "new home"..... I hope he likes it as much as we do!!!! AND I hope that he plans on "being good" and maybe we can do some driving around the field... time will tell, I guess.




My sister Rachel popped in the other day with my little niece, Naomi.... she is getting so big and I just love having them visit. Naomi is quite fascinated with our house... guinea pigs, bunny, turtle, cats... they have two big dogs, so the cockers aren't that special, but she loves to check out all the other critters.

As they were getting ready to go, Naomi decided she wanted "a little ride on the horse".... so Rachel set her up on the cement horse we got in North Carolina... she thought she was pretty special sitting up there..... I thought she was adorable!!!!

a sunny day

Repeat after me.....

"you're feeling very sleepy"

"I am feeling very sleepy"

"the warm sun makes your eyes heavy"

"the warm sun is making my eyes heavy"



"you need to lay down"



"I need to lay down"





"It's time for a nap"

"It's time for a ..............



Mocha is hoping that everyone enjoyed this day of 80 degrees.... she sure did........

Patroit's Day

I'm not sure who came up with this, but I LOVE it... in the center of town, the street is lined with American Flags and then the flag from each branch of the services in honor of Patriots Day....

It looks just grand... and I hope that people today remember our service men and women.......

Kas and Nate.....

Well..... it WASN'T in the seventies last night when we made our first "ice cream run" of the season!!!! Memories is a great favorite of the Flagg family and they are the ones that got us hooked!!!!

So, last night after an amazing cookout on their farm... Dave and Deb said .. "let's go for ice cream".. course, we knew what that meant....

This post is for Kassy and Nate.. who might be getting alot of beach time down there in North Carolina... BUT.. they aren't getting any "Memories".......


And yes, it does seem silly to be wearing your winter coat and eating ice cream... but, that's what we do up here in the north!!!!!!!!

haven't been bloggin'

I haven't done much "bloggin" over the past few days... because the truth is.. when the weather hits the HIGH seventies!!! staying inside is something that is beyond my control!!!!

I tried to "prove" how warm it was.. with this shot of the barn thermometer.. but, you (sadly) can't see it... though, it's a pretty cool thermometer wouldn't you say... brother Bill brought this for me as a Christmas present a few years ago, he thought it would look nice on our new barn.... and he was right!!!!

But, even though the temps were warm and wonderful, walking in the woods seems to still not be part of the bargin... good ol' New England snow, it just loves to hang in there... now, mind you, some of this pile is from plowing... but deeper in the woods, I would still think you're looking at almost knee high snow......
Just behind this tree line, is a deer run, which goes directly to where the new house will sit, and will probably become my path to the barn... hope the deer won't mind sharing it with me....


Moxie got hot enough to dig herself a little hole beside (yet another) new wheel barrow...... see, I had asked for a yellow wheelbarrow for my birthday, and at the time, Ed couldn't find one... so he got me that nice blue wheel barrow... which I was just as happy with. However, when he did find a yellow one... he picked that one up too... how much "horse poo" does he think I am going to be moving?????

I feel like the finishing touches on the barn are coming quick.. and I will have some "surprises" to show all of you at the end of the week!!!!

how come

Trevor was told that some dog got to do a "Pet Co" ad.. and for a "million" dog cookies, all he had to do was hold their toy in his mouth.

Trev wants to know what's the "deal on that"

and how come he hasn't ever been asked to do it???

cocker butts....

Now that the weather is beginning to be on our side, I am getting dog walking back into my daily schedule. It really isn't any big deal... it's just a matter of putting leashes on and going!!! Trevor and Tazzy really, really enjoy these walks... the others like going for sure, but those two!!! it just makes their day!!!

I usually take just the five... poor ol Cole is just too stiff and old to make the hike that we take, and Tatter is usually off with Sadie, so I have it down to the five. We finally have sorted it out with the leashes and such and who walks better with whom.... and each day I take a different route, just because it's fun for the dogs and we get to see different things with each route.

After our walk, I ran out to take care of the horses and then headed to Acton.

This is what greeted me today.... the tack room is now enclosed!!! We are insulating it as it will be a heated room, our water supply will come into this room and for the small size of it... it will be just as easy to keep it warm. It will also be a good refuse on a cold winter day, and it will be nice to keep "horse stuff" warm.

I feel so blessed, because in the 11 years that I have really "been in the horse world" I have "lived" at three different barns. Each one has had their own way of doing things, and I have liked and disliked ideas in them all.

So when it came time to plan this barn out, I took the best of all the places that I have been, and combined them!!!! I am sure there will be things that I will discover as it goes along, it's hard to think of "everything" .. but for the most part, I have a feeling this barn is going to run pretty smoothly. (I have already thought that this tack room might be a tad on the small side!!!! but I hardly dare tell that to Ed!!!!) it will be fine and I know it will work out !!!

Surprisingly, the mud is drying up quickly... IF we can keep the rain away for a bit longer, we might even get back to driving the trucks in and not bringing home so many muddy paws!!!!! but, it's spring in Maine, so who can count on anything.....

PS... I am working on dates for another trip south... don't tell Ed!!!!!!

a little gem

Look at what Ed surprised me with the other evening!!! This is a "feather weight" Singer sewing machine, circa 1940's. This little gem is a quilter's dream and they can be quite hard to get a hold of, especially one that is in top condition like this.

I have know about these little machines since I was a child. My Mom has one, that actually was her high school graduation gift, and only weeks after she got hers, it was in a house fire!!!! My Mom and her family pretty much lost everything in that fire, but her little sewing machine was found in the basement after the fire. It had been in her bedroom on the second floor of the house, and fell the two stories to the basement during the fire. My Grandfather took it back to be repaired and gone thru, and wouldn't you know ... the little machine came back to life. I remember my Mom sewing all sorts of things on her little machine... it did everything!!!

When I "got into quilting" and took a few classes and such, I saw that the others there had these machines, when I told them the story about my Mom's they were impressed, and many offered to buy it from her if she ever thought that she would want to sell it. Of course, that would never happen, because if my Mom wanted to part with her machine (which she doesn't,) you can be sure I would scoff it up in a heartbeat.

Well, my Dad found this one somewhere... and he was telling me about it, and he wanted to sell it. Never knowing that I would love to have one, I told him I would buy it from him. I haven't ever got around to doing that, though, and Ed knew that I would love it... so..... as a surprise, HE bought it from my Dad and gave it to me!!!!

I would love to know more about this little machine.. because it was well loved by.... Flora Dennett... and the reason I know that, is she has her name etched in the bottom of it, and on the foot pedal. She didn't want to loose it, that if for sure.... I haven't had it running yet, but, I know it works just fine and come fall, I will certainly find a quilt to make on it.....and "Miss Flora Dennett" will know that her little machine is in good hands and will be much loved!!!!!

Ed's day

So, I am always talking about "my stuff" on this blog, but let me tell you about Ed's day today at the farm. Leave it to my Ed, his adventures are as eventful as mine!!!

This morning, Ed goes to do some work on the barn, and as usual, meets up with Ken. They putter around for awhile, and then decide that they need some supplies from the local lumber shop. Off they go.
After loading up with things and heading back to the barn, it is about lunch time, so they stop at a little store to get some sandwiches made. Just as they are leaving the store, Ed hears Acton Fire tone out for a structure fire!!! And it just so happens that this fire is just a very short drive from where they are. Now, Ed is a member of Acton ( as well as chief here in York ) and Ken is a Wakefield firefighter and used to be on Acton.. so needless to say, they both rush to the scene.

They are the first ones there, a lady is waiting outside, and smoke is pouring out of her house. Ed gets on the radio to advise the fire crews and Ken takes a quick peek inside. It is a fire on a stove top, but it's moving quickly and is starting to char the kitchen cabinets. Ken comes out of the house and asks Ed if he has a fire extinguisher in the truck... which he does. Ed stays with the home owner and continues to talk to the fire company on his radio and Ken goes back inside and manages to get the fire under control.

When "Acton" arrives, they are a bit surprised to see a York Fire chief and a Wakefield Firefighter have saved the day ... er house!!! but everyone is quite pleased that they did, especially the home owner!!! The Acton fire crews make a double check of the situation, and asks Ed to continue his radio traffic to the dispatch as needed.

After their big fire adventure, the two of them head to the barn. Now, as I said on a previous blog, the trucks can't make it back and forth across the field right now.

Look what the two of them did to my little gator. Loaded it to the gills and had it carry all their supplies across the field to the barn!!!!

I don't know, Ed and Ken are a pair that spells trouble in my book!!! I thought that Ed and Dave made enough mischief, without Ed having another partner in crime!!!!

but who am I to "complain".. they have built a fine barn this winter, and now can go on the "books" as the rescuers of houses!!!

Not a bad job guys!!!!

farm photos

With the mud being so bad on the farm, we can no longer drive the trucks in and out. Thank goodness, we have the gator to help cart things back and forth. Being on the lighter side, it doesn't create big ruts in the field, and can easily get thru the mud holes.

the cockers just LOVE it there!!! Trevor "camps" out beside the gator...

Camille and Hunter enjoying the afternoon sun

Moxie is practicing her "being a farm dog" act...

If this what "spring" is going to look like... you can be sure that the cockers will be wearing short coats most of the time.