puppy night at the mall....

The service puppies are looking more and more like service dogs these days. Now that the summer craziness is past, and before the holiday crazies begin, we are getting together to do our training. Last Saturday night we all met at the local mall to get the puppies out and about. I was really surprised at how busy it was... and to think it only gets more so as the holidays come close.







We met in the food court, had the puppies do their "unders" under the table while we had supper together and chatted about things that are going on. The pups did great and as long as we get a big enough table, we can put them all together. They know to be quiet and not fool around while they are all there together.








all total -- there were six dogs under the table. Most of the people around us didn't even have a clue that they were there.











I had forgotten how much the mall has to "offer"-- course the people - lots of people... food, elevators, kids, noises... the list goes on and on, it's a great place to "work".. especially when the weather turns off cold.








T and Ginger taking a little ride. This is beginning to be "old hat"













Ginger even got to work in the "bathroom" :) got to practice everywhere!!!!!

day around the farm

Fall has returned!!!! our wonderful snow has gone, and we are again enjoying the last of the warm(ish) weather. Ed and I are crazy busy getting the outside work buttoned up, because that cold weather is certainly back on it's way. The big guys were snoozing in the sunshine....









as well as old Silver boy. He had a really good summer, and has some "fat" on him. He's going into the winter weather better than last year, so I feel less anxious about him. At this stage in his life, every day is an extra.










Since the weather was so good, I got brave and let the "baby" guinea hens out of their pen. It's just so hard to wrangle them in at night sometimes, that I sort of hate letting them out. But, we got them to "go out" and sometime you gotta let 'em loose.







We got the last of the new gates put in. Amazing what kind of help you can find when you are doing new projects....Tonka has to be the noisiest thing and he likes to know about everything that is going on. Pretty funny when a 1300 lbs horse is getting underfoot.









Course, Silver wanted to be part of the action as well.......















Annabelle was happy to supervise.....










and there is it!!! a COMPLETED project!!! all the gates are in place and we'll see how that works with the snow plowing....

remember our wood project... even that's coming along. We took a big chunk of it this weekend.. now throughout the week, I will get the split pile in the tent building.. and then we'll be back on the cutting pile. I'm not so sure this was a good idea, and we may change our plans for next year (Rick!!!!)

We think our tractor is "cat powered".....

and the last of the weekend projects.. our new hitching post. This is so I can hitch the team together when there aren't extra hands around. Can't wait to give it a try....

and another week begins on the farm... next weekend we go to NEADS graduation where we get to see Chester again.....

it is November

Just HAD to put this on the blog!!!!!

one of those projects

In a way.. this "freak" snow storm was a real blessing, because it showed us "what's to come" and still allows us a break to get it done. This lovely mound of snow is what came off the barn roof. With the lean to roof over the stall doors, it doesn't land directly in front of them, but each snow drop has to be moved so the horses can get out. Our "poor" rope fence just doesn't handle this so well, and all last year, Ed said, we needed to do something different. The pull on the fence and the risk of catching it in the snow blower.. makes it a real pain to deal with.


So, after this storm, we went and bought three gates to put in and back the fence away from the drop zone. Fortunately the ground is not one bit frozen, so Ed popped the post hole digger on the tractor so we can put new posts in.











and the rope fence won't be an issue this coming winter....











One gate that we already had was moved....(can you see the kick marks in our doors??? drafts!!!)












and the new gates, which are 12 feet wide - plenty of room to run the tractor threw... went on in the pasture.













Now, when the snow comes sliding off this big roof, it will hit the gates... Ed has them swinging so he can easily work the tractor around them. And this is one project that should make the winter work a bit easier....


course, we still have a long list of "other winter" projects to do.. hopefully the snow will stay away!!!!

Halloween....

It was kind of hard to think "Halloween" between the snow and our company, but it came. In the "old home town" trick or treat is done on October 30th - we called it Beggar's night. Sadie had always planned on taking Abbie down for a bit of trick or treating... but due to the snow... Beggar's night was postponed until Halloween night. So, she met at Kassy's and the three of them went out to a few houses. I had to work,so I missed out on that fun, but I guess Abbie really "got into it" and would pound on the door and yell "trick or treat"....








Her costume this year.... a frog. We are still wondering where that came from. Sadie began to ask her back in September what she wanted to be for Halloween. Every single time the answer was the same... a frog.








All of us began to search high and low, and we weren't having much luck. One evening after we had been to dinner, I went into a local material/craft store and saw they had kids' costumes 60% off. Ed and I went thru each one, and we came across a dinosaur. I looked it over and thought that if I took off the teeth, I might be able to make it look "frog-like". Then I noticed on the floor a big pile of costumes.. so I began to dig threw them and would you know... there was ONE frog left, and it was Abbie's size!!!! Perfect!!!
(God wink) so, she got to be a frog!!!

Now Ginger was on her puppy swap and was spending Halloween with Linda. They were having a costume contest at Cabela's.. so nothing doing.. Linda dressed Ginger up as a hula gal. As you can see - from this photo- Ginger took it all in stride....

One thing that NEADS suggests is that we get the puppies around "costumed people".. Ginger certainly got that exposure this year!!!

She snuggled with everyone. As it turns out, there was a prize being offered for "best costume" and it was done by vote. Linda emailed me this evening... Ginger won!!!!

Halloween turned out to be rather fun this year.. we certainly got "tricked" by the weather and "treat" by the fun...

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

the rest of the weekend.

Believe it or not, the first order of business Sunday morning was finding the TALL boots.. because the walk to the barn was going to be a snowy one for sure!!! After Saturday's night storm, we were left with at least a foot of snow... it's hard to think of this as Halloween weekend...









The barn looked warm and cozy as I approached, but right away - noticed the fence was down. With the snow being so wet and heavy, it slipped right off the roof and onto the fence. We have been meaning (all summer) to replace some of the fencing with gates that would (#1) stand up to the snow slides and (#2) be much easier to plow around. Guess we best get onto that project asap!!!





Becky and Butch's team spent the night in the ally way. This is Ben and Bill... they seemed pretty happy in their overnight accommodations....











But I don't think Tonka was so happy with the company... or maybe it was because he (and the others) were locked in all night, or maybe because Butch is here and he knows it will be a work day.... or maybe.. he's just grumpy!!!!







We spent the morning visiting with Becky and Butch and having a grand breakfast. It also gave the day a chance to warm up - the sun came out, and Butch was all for working our team. They (well - Tonka) has been giving us some trouble all summer, and needed to have a little one on one time with Butch. Since Sadie was at work, Abbie got to spend the day with us in the barn... and rule number one here --- you must wear your helmet when in the barn and around the horses. Fortunately, she thinks her "helmo" is pretty neat and doesn't mind keeping it on.

We got the boys harnessed, and right off Tonka began his tricks. Which actually pleased me, because Butch could see first hand what we had been complaining about. He and Tonka had a little discussion - and then Butch gave me some tips.....

And after that -- it was right to work. We did a bit of ground driving -- Duke was great, and seemed happy to see that Tonka was finally acting like a team mate.

Abbie and Papa followed in the gator, Ed wanted to see the lesson too, and this was an easy way to keep track of Abbie. She enjoyed watching the horses too... and kept telling me "good job, Baby"

We are so fortunate to have Butch and Becky as our friends, and so willing to come and give us a hand. I am feeling encouraged once again and anxious to keep the positive time on a roll.

We got the hooked to the wagon, and went out for a drive... it was nice for me to have Butch sitting beside me as I drove, encouraging me and correcting the things that I did wrong. It was a good ride...

and we even had passengers.......

a couple of tired horses at the end of the day....good thing, because they will be locked in for another night until we can get the fence put back up.

We fed, put the tack away and got the barn all tucked in. Abbie took care of the cross ties....

and then Butch and Becky, packed up and headed for home. They will be doing rides at LL Beans for the weekend before Christmas, so we plan on trekking up there to see them again...

in the meantime, the team and I have work to do.

what is this?????

I feel like there are two stories from the weekend. One, visiting with Becky and Butch and working the team...

and two, the record breaking weather. Official reports put our snow fall between 14-16 inches.. at this point what does it matter... it looks more like January than October.

Good thing, it won't last, there is still plenty of fall season left... but the pictures will be fun to look at......

remember --- it's 10/30/11