we met "Tuesday"...

What a fun evening we had tonite. But, before this story really begins.. it actually began last summer. We were at camp, I was down by the water with the dogs, when Ed yelled out to me.. "come and see this, I think it's something you would like". Well, I almost didn't go up to check it out, but I am sure glad I did. Ed was flipping threw the tv channels, and caught glimpse of Lois Montalvan.. a veteran who had just published a book titled "Until Tuesday".. it is the story of his service dog, Tuesday, and how getting this dog truly saved his life. Now, I'm not going to give that story away.. and just encourage you to pick up a copy and read it yourself. It's a wonderful story and next summer (I believe) will be made into a movie.
So, after watching the interview on the tv, I went and got the book, and then I "found" Lois on facebook and became his "friend". I told him if he ever got to Maine, I would love to know and perhaps one day meet him and Tuesday.

That opportunity happened...an other friend, Suzan, (who has service dog, Friday!!!) sent a note to the puppy raiser group that Lois was going to be at Planet Dog for a talk and book signing... so, tonite, we trucked up to Planet Dog. It was a bitter cold night  (lucky for me) so there wasn't a huge crowd.

We brought Rylie with us... when I read "Until Tuesday" I was raising Ginger, and each time I get a new puppy, I would let Lois know. He thinks "we puppy raisers" are "amazing"...

His talk was very fun. He told about his life in the military... talked a little about his injury and PTSD... and how he heard about service dogs, and finally being matched with Tuesday. I knew much of his story from his book, but it was much better hearing it in "real life"....

Most of us from the puppy raiser group were there...( Bernice came along and brought her baby ZuZu).....and there were a number of both service dogs and puppies in training  . Just a great evening of good dog folks and dogs.... (one of my favorite kind of events)

Afterwards, Lois took the time to chat with us, and sign his book. Again because the crowd wasn't that large, we were able to spend some real time with him.

I was pretty excited to shake his hand and give my name a "face"... I got a big hug from him. Then we did a few photo opts (and please don't say anything about Ed and I in "twin" mode.... it happens alot, but that is another whole story!!!!)

Lois is a big dog person, and he was happy to meet Moxie and Rylie. He was very interested in NEADS and how our program works....

Tuesday was "off duty" so he happily in true golden style, schmoozed with Kelli and everyone else who had come to meet him.

And of course, I had to get a photo of Tuesday and Rylie together. Who knows, maybe one day.. Rylie will have a book written about her.!!! But, anyways, it was just a fun night.. and again, if you are looking for a really good read.. pick up a copy of "Until Tuesday".... you'll be glad you did!!!

winter day projects..

It's been a busy winter, and really - I can't believe how quickly it's going by.... spring is just around the corner... (along with baby Reagan!!!) I am outside as much as possible.. sleighing as much as possible., but there are those bitter cold days, where, you almost can't be outside. And then I turn to indoor projects, of which there are many to choose from!!!

I've been "playing" around with knitting for a while now. Don't know that I am all that great at it, but there are a few projects I have done and have been very pleased with. I made this little hat (Abbie's baby doll is playing model for me).. I love the little sheep that it has on it...

And it's one of my gifts to Reagan. This is some of that beautiful wool that I got at the Common Ground Fair last fall. Abbie really liked it, so I have a raspberry color that I want to do for her. I also made a counted cross stitch blanket for Reagan, but somehow I never got a picture of that... 
I have a couple of quilt tops that need to be finished, and an endless number of cross stitch "kits" that can be broken into... there's always something to keep me entertained....

Sadie's boyfriend, Jesse, is "in love" with our big wood furnace. As I was heading out one morning, I caught this photo of him.... pipe, coffee, and minding the stove... is this "New England" or what???

And Abbie and Tatter were playing "dress up" one cold winter morning... are they quite the pair. If it isn't Rylie that is in "some outfit", it's Tatter... though they both seem to always enjoy the attention!!!! (btw, the scarf that Tatter is wearing is another one of my creations!!!)

So, winter plods along.. here on the farm...

baby shower!!!!

Little did she know... but Deb and I have been planning Kassy's baby shower for months. However, anytime she mentioned "do you think I'll have a family baby shower, Mom".. my answer was.. "let's get threw the holidays and the bulk of winter"...Kass likes to have things done ahead, so that answer didn't sit too well (which was the plan).

Because we are so blessed with family and many friends, our "fear" was... where to have this shower. Fortunately, Kas said something about the fact that we could probably have the church hall...so I called Sharon (Kass's bible study teacher) to see if we could...and the answer was "yes".

So, today, I packed up Rylie (and a ton of other things) met Deb and Sharon at the church, and our months of planning began to come together....

Here's the decorating crew!!!! Deb got some many wonderful decorations, and the hall looked amazing when they were done...

So happy to have all this space.. and we also could use the kitchen, which was a huge help.

Reagan's cake....

Which matched his napkins and plates..... (and the theme that Kas has for his little room)

Guests arrived and the gift table began to fill.....

Friends and family filled the tables....

It was up to Nate to get Kassy there. He came up with a great "excuse"... the church's snowblower wasn't working, and he had to go and see what the trouble was. Kass wasn't too excited about going out to "fix a snowblower", but Nate got her there.. and it stayed a "surprise" until the very last moment....

She was pretty overwhelmed........

I love surprising people!!!! (we got ya Kass!!)

This is our aunt Doreen and her great grandbaby, Caroline.... the generations are getting bigger and bigger... Reagan is great grandbaby number two for my Mom and Dad.....

My sister, Rachel, made all these little cookies.....

And there were many eager helpers when it came time to open gifts....

So many wonderful things, and it looks like Kass will be all set when baby Reagan makes his grand entrance into the world....

Trina is a long time friend from the Marine Corps days.. she traveled SIX hours to be with Kass.....

After the wonderful afternoon, we all helped transport things back to Kas and Nate's... the living room filled with all the gifts.... it was fun to watch Kas go threw them again, and be able to really see them....

Kass didn't want to forget her Daddy's birthday... so we celebrated with the second cake of the day.....

And we eagerly await for the next birthday boy!!!!!!!

one horse open sleigh/Happy Birthday!!!!

We woke this morning to a nice snowfall.. which I was a bit surprised to see. The weather men are always talking "snow" and just as I get excited about it, we hear things like "it went south of us" or "went out to sea" and we have nothing and I am disappointed. But, today, they seemed to have gotten it right.

Our neighbor, Dusty, who is a professional photographer called, and asked if Abbie might be up for a photo shoot. She works for all kinds of magazines, and wanted to see if she could get some photos of Mocha and Abbie for a horse magazine. I thought it would be fun, but reminded Dusty that Abbie is "three" and sometimes not easy to work with (remember my Christmas card??) She said she didn't mind trying... so out we went and over she came.

It took about a half hour, and Dusty's camera can take pictures one after another. I don't know how many photos she took exactly... I'll say "alot"... and she did get some cute photos... but this one was certainly the best!!!! Needless to say, this Grandmother is going to have to order a "good" print of this one.. and who knows... it could very well end up in some big horse magazine!!! we'll be sure to "brag" if it does!!!!

Around lunchtime, I got a call from the place where I teach my Wednesday night classes... they had decided to cancel, just because the roads were going to freeze and traveling could get bad. Suddenly I had the whole afternoon to myself.. no schedule.. so I ran out and got Duke harnessed. No way was I going to miss out on this nice new snow.

Another neighbor of ours had commented that if I ever wanted "company in the sleigh" they would be happy to join me. So, I called them and said I had the sleigh out, and they were there in a matter of minutes. We had a great ride going around the field a few times. They sleigh went so beautifully in that new soft snow. Duke hardly knew he was pulling it....

And these are my neighbors... Anne and John... Anne said it was the first sleigh ride she had ever taken. Duke and I seem to be "having a run of first timers"... and it's fun!!! So, I for one, this winter, will not complain about the snow!!!!

Tomorrow is Ed's birthday. Sadly, it's a busy day for both of us... I have to work at the post and both of us have meetings at night. I was wondering when we were going to celebrate. Well, an expected evening home, provided just the opportunity. Abbie and I got his gift wrapped and then I asked her to hide it until Papa was ready to open it. She chose her "cup drawer" as it's hiding place.

We had a dog to drop off at it's house and another to pick up... so while we were out, I ordered some Chinese food for supper... and we had a nice family dinner. Afterwards, Abbie couldn't wait to pull Papa's gift out....

And, of course, help him open it. A new "weather station" (since his old one has died)... So, what a perfect day for a day that wasn't even suppose to be....

 

Happy birthday "Rumney"... I love you!!!!!