workin' in the cellar

When the winter winds are blowing and it's a little too cold to play outside, there are always inside projects to be done. Our main focus over the past month has been the cellar. We have a really nice cellar, that walks out to the back yard. The "kennel" area is there, and it's bright and sunny and very pleasant to be in. The stairs have been a huge deal, for the longest time they have been "open" with no sides. This always made me nervous when the dogs were scrambling up and down.. pushing and shoving to see who could be first, I lived in fear of someone going off the side. But Ed has them all closed in now, with proper railings and I feel much better.

We got the one back wall all insulated as well. Suddenly it's so quiet, and the wall isn't cold when you walk by it. We now need to get the sheetrock done - which will be fun, because there are some really neat things that we can hang up.

Along with this great project has been the radiant heating for the first floor, which as you see, is in the ceiling of the cellar. This has been an interesting project, getting all that tubing going to it's proper place... but we did (and let me tell you, it's warm on the first floor!!!!)

It amazes me how well this radiant heat works. We have it in the cellar floor as well (and the doggies are always toasty warm).. but it's neat to walk across the floor in your bare or stocking feet and feel how warm they are.

We still need to finish this insulating as well. All the tubes have to be covered so the heat can work efficiently... but it will make a nice clean ceiling for the cellar when all the insulation is up

And last but not least, real lights. Up until now, we have been working off a sting of construction lights, which I had to plug in everytime I needed lighting in the cellar. Now I can just flick a switch and it's magic!!! I also have plugs, so I can run my dryers to dry the doggie's after bath time. It's really nice. So, bit by bit,it's coming together. We still need to get our back deck built (hopefully before the weather gets too hot or buggy) and there are a few small things to do.. but the house is really getting close to "done"

March roars in....

so, with the winter being so mild (and really - quite wonderful). I took down my winter decorations, and put up "spring". The mornings have been relativity warm, the birds are coming back early and singing once again, we are ready!!!!

The bit of snow we got last week was quickly fading. I am sad that we didn't get to use the sleighs as much.. but there's always next winter.....












And just as we're getting all excited.. Ol' Man Winter shows up again. I guess just to prove that we aren't out of the woods yet!!!!











March roared in like a mighty lion!!! Not so unusual for this time of year, in fact.. March can be quite snowy. Ed put the plow on the truck, and we enjoyed a nice inside snowy day.












The rockers on the porch wait patiently, but looks like we can get that sleigh out again afterall.....

Happy LEAP Day... happy BIRTHDAY

It's been four long years!!!! But birthday number 6 finally arrived for Sadie, at this rate, Abbie is going to have more birthdays than her Mom.... but it's all a part of it when you are a "Leapling!!!" (aka born on Leap Day!!!)

Sadie has a good time with being a "leapling", but what's been even more fun is finding others that share her birthday. When she was working at the little general store in town - ID-ing folks when they bought beer or cigeretts, she actually got to meet a few other leaplings!!!









For the most part, the day was quiet, she opened a few presents in the morning --- with lots of help from Abbie....












And in the evening, we took her out for dinner. Actually we all went to "steak night", so she celebrated with all our friends there. Abbie was delighted that Tee-Tee brought balloons for Mom and promptly claimed them for herself.









Norton got to come and celebrate as well. ... actually he 'worked" under the table. Abbie is so funny, she thinks it's normal for us to have a dog under the table... and took a little time to go and check on him.














Happy #6/24" birthday.....











and there's no better gift than a big birthday hug....

horse play

THIS is the reason why we took the wire fencing down and put gates up instead. That snow is just waiting for a bit of warm weather to come crashing to the ground....

I really thought it would "go" sometime today, the weather has been so nice... almost like spring. But "they" tell us big snows are on the way, so I guess we best not get used to it just yet.

The horses sure like the sun. With their black coats, Tonka and Duke almost steam in the warm sunshine. Won't be too much longer and shedding season will begin.... uuuggghhh.....

These two are buddies for sure, they play together all the time... it's fun to watch.

So far all the guinuea hens have survived the winter too. Hoping we might get some keets this spring... that is if we can keep them in long enough to be "successful"... wouldn't it be fun to have some babies on the farm!!!!

blessings

Alright, so it was my idea to clean out the freezer (aka get the last of the turkeys cooked up).. but it was Kassy's idea to get us to play this crazy game!!!










Put a headband on... place a card in it, and then ask questions of your friends to see if you can figure out what the card says. Oh my goodness, did we laugh.. and some of the "things" the card could say....









Example, how do you try and figure out that you are "toilet paper" or "Santa Claus" or "New York City".... we played for at least a couple of hours... and laughed so hard. Winter evenings, they are true treasures....









This is my dear friend Shelly. Shelly is one of those friends that I don't see that often, but when we do have the chance to get together, we just seem to pick up where we left off. Shelly is a Mom to three (grown) daughters... she is also a grandmother and "a grandmother to be"....










Because daughter Kayla is expecting a little girl sometime in the month of April. The thing is about these "kids"... I used to babysit for them during the summer and after school, they grew up with our girls!!! And now, here they are, about to Moms themselves...I don't feel old enough to think of "my charges" as Moms!!!







And so, we went to a wonderful baby shower for Kayla. The food was great, I got to see some "old" friends, and Kayla got so many things for little baby "Edan"....










but, the news of Shelly's grandbabies doesn't just stop with Kayla... this is sister Diedre.... and guess what... she's expecting too - in July. However, it's not just one baby.... it's two!!!! Boys!!!!

so, along with grandson Trevor.. Shelly with have three more grandbabies... all in one year!!! Talk about a busy family!!!!








and here is Shelly and I... first Mom's together and now Grandmom's together.....










Life is certainly full of blessings!!!!!!

one horse open sleigh

Yesterday, we awoke to this... a very lite snow had fallen threw the night. Not too far, everyone else got rain.. but for us, snow.










In a way, it was a "pain in the neck" snow, not enough to plow, but enough to make the road slick and the stairs and walkways the same. For some, it was probably a real bother... but for me....












EXCITING!!! Ed had finished the shafts for our little sleigh, and from that moment on, we simply have not had enough snow to try them out. We actually toyed with the idea of trying them on grass, but really... snow is the best.









We got them on the little sleigh, and everything fit perfectly. Ed was pretty pleased, he hasn't ever made anything like this before, and though we measured and planned, you just don't know until you get them on.









Next... the horse. I chose Duke because he is a "been there, done that" horse, and we figured somewhere in his background he has probably pulled a sleigh. It's different with a sleigh mainly because of the sound they make sliding behind a horse, it's not like a cart at all. I did some ground work with him, because it's been ages since he was hitched last......






And then we backed him between the shafts, and off we went. By the way he acted (which was excellent) he has definitely done sleighs before, and really it wasn't any big deal.. I drove first (pardon the lead rope laying on the ground.. it came un-done during photos, believe me, we are aware of it!!!!!)










and then Ed hopped in. We had a great time together. (one thing though, if this sleigh were meant for four-- they were certainly a lot smaller than we are!!!) Two could fit, cozy......









We went around the field several times, much to the entertainment of our neighbors, and passerbys... and it was simply.. great fun. (Duke looks huge hitched to this sleigh - probably wasn't really made for a draft)










One thing for sure, there will be more sleigh rides, and we'll have to do some work with Tonka so he can go as well.











Snow - in the winter time - well it's perfectly fine by me!!!!!

NEADS check in

February's check in day at NEADS. and (sadly) for me, another "puppy-less" check in. It was time for Norton to "visit" the vet and so, we dropped him off on our way in. Actually, Mr. Norton has had his "head in the clouds" these past couple of weeks, so I am just as happy to have "this" over and done with, so we can get back to business.

Per our usual routine, we met with Dave in the training room, to go over questions and evaluations on the dogs. Otis and Stoney were the main topics, and the count down is on for their turn in dates. Sweet little Vickie joined us again this month (can you tell that I am just in love with her??) and her puppy raiser is reporting all good things. So, that's good to hear. The word on Ginger is still promising as it is with Leo and T, and we're expecting to see these three Maine dogs at the fall graduation - if all stays on track. So exciting!!!



Otis and Edgar just hung out while the humans chatted... they seem to have the bored look about them.











However, before we headed into the city this time... Kathleen had to pick up her new "charge"... we now add Monty to the Maine group!!! a cute "little" chocolate lab, 4 months old!!! Kathleen likes the goldens, but deep down... she is really a lab fan.. so this upcoming year will be great fun for her!!!!







Otis, giving Monty the check over. (you can see now why I said "little".. Monty is one good sized puppy).











Randi and Stoney on the city streets. And yes, she is only wearing a sweater in February!!! The day was almost like spring, and it's hard to think that we really aren't out of "winter" just yet....










Bernice came along as well (even though she is puppyless too).. but she is waiting until the fall to take on another charge. She enjoyed puppy raising, but has a busy summer ahead. And of course, Rick working with Otis.....we have such a fun time together.








While the others went to work in the hospital, Kathleen chose to stay outside with Monty. It gave them a chance to get to know each other, and being such a little guy and with so much exciting, she thought it best to keep him out and now "allow anything to go wrong" inside (so to speak)

As we were getting ready to leave, a group from the scouts came to take a tour of NEADS. This being school vacation week, it's been pretty busy there with tours of one kind or another. So good to see young kids having the chance to learn about service dogs and the work that they do. Too bad I didn't' live closer to NEADS, I would love to volunteer and take groups threw like this.

but, I guess puppy raising will have to be my "gig"...