winter fencing....

We were so happy that Abbie got to spend the weekend with us!!!! I love having her here on the farm and she seems so happy when she has the chance to come. She is really "into ponies" now and I was so surprised when she told me that she wanted to get Mocha out!!!

So down to the barn, and the first thing Abbie did was find her helmet.. she knows that "working around the horses we need to be safe".. and I am pleased to think that is a lesson she has learned. She led Mocha about for a bit and then said she wanted to go driving....

So we hitched up and had a grand little ride all around. Abbie even drove!!!! She did very well and listened to all the things I had to tell her.... looks like we have a little "horse man" in the making......

After being outside most of the day, it was time to come in and warm up.. with a tea party of hot cocoa, of course.... and then we were packing up and heading out.....

L.L. Beans' was having their pumpkin festival again. We went last year and had such a nice time.... we met up with Rachel and Rob.. and then with my parents... had a nice supper out and then onto the pumpkins. They were wonderful and certainly as many this year as there was last.....

Abbie had the greatest time looking them all over. So many different designs......

And even a pumpkin maze!!!! There was food and live music... lots of people and kids... it was a great family outing. The night was cold, but nothing that a warm coat didn't take care of!!!!

Since we did "boot pictures" last year, I just had to take on this year as well.....

Last year it was with Rylie... and this year with Debbie.......

We went into Beans to warm up a bit and Abbie loved playing in their fish tank. It is so neat that they have this big bubble that the kids can climb into ...

And feel just like they are in the tank with the fish. And the fish, are so used to it,they just swim right by your face. We had a little trouble pulling Abbie away so that we could go back out to the pumpkins!!!!!!

It so happens that this was (is) my Dad's birthday weekend. I am so blessed that I got to celebrate his birthday with him!!!!!!

Abbie, Meme and Amy... touring the many lines of pumpkins.........

another warming up time in Beans... Abbie wanted Debbie to see the big moose display... but I think Debbie was more concerned about what Abbie was up to and two big stuffed moose weren't that interesting.....

In and out of all the tents........

And a promise that she could run the pumpkin maze (again) got us back outside....

This was another great event to work Debbie at. However, I was quite surprised (and annoyed) at the number of people who said "oh a working dog," and yet they still reached out to pet Debbie. I usually just push them away by saying "ah ah, Debbie, you're working".. and then the people smile and step back... remember... don't interfere with a working dog!!!  :)

All the pumpkins are lit, which makes this so magical.. but at the end of the evening.. they all have to be taken care of... how does one blow out over 1,000 pumpkins?????

With a leaf blower... of course....

Though, they did get a bit of help from one little girl who had a blast blowing out the pumpkins before the leaf blower man came by......

Sunday morning we decided it was time to put up the winter fencing. With the hard frosts that we had have, nothing is growing any more and it's time to let the pasture "rest". The horses are never happy with the winter fence lines, because they get less than a quarter of their pasture area.. but if we want good grass next summer, it's time to pull back.

It isn't a "hard" job, but it is time consuming... by the time we will pull out all the supplies and run back and forth... it's surprising how much time it takes. This year however, we had a great little helper and Abbie was more than happy to run and back and forth with supplies....

She was great at pulling out the line... and we were happy to have the extra pair of hands..... she kept saying to me... "these are the things you need to do when you have horses to care for!!!" boy is she right about that....

And she was beyond thrilled when Papa told her she could drive the gator back and forth. Her driving skills leave a little to be desired, but one can only learn by doing!!!!!

I wouldn't be surprised if next summer, she will be able to drive without assistance....













Another weekend, come and gone... filled with fun, busy and family... it really doesn't get any better than that!!!!!

the season has begun...

And just to keep it all "official"... the wood furance has been lit and the winter heating season has begun. We're pretty pleased, because we are about one week later than we were last year. Personally I was hoping that we might be able to hold off until Novemember 1st... but the house has been rather cold these past few mornings, so it's time.  I think one more load of wood from Rick will be all we'll need..........

And we're not the only ones who have smoke rising from the chimneys..... it's a New England thing for sure....

October's check in...

well... we must be coming to the end of the month, because here we are.... back at NEADS for our annual check in. Actually we have today, and then our next will be early December, and that will be "it" for this year.... Debbie is looking good, though - like Rylie - she isn't going to be a big dog... and already I "worry" about what job she will find to do.....

Here we go.. representing all the "colors" of labs... Moxie (chocolate) Otis (black) and Debbie (yellow)..... such good puppies, waiting quietly for Dave to arrive....

And from here, the check in goes pretty much on schedule... into the training room for our chat and check in session. By now, the puppies know the drill well.... take a snooze and rest up for the day ahead....

Moxie found the whole thing boring, and now that she had moved onto therapy dog work with Rick... she probably wonders why she has to listen to all this 'service dog" talk.....

Today's visit, instead of going into the city, was all about "stores" and we hit the mall and various other places. Course, we have to stop for lunch.......

We say that it's good practice for "under" that table and not being interested in food. The restaurant was crowded (as we managed to arrive right at lunch time)... and the people around us were certainly impressed to learn that there were three dogs under those tables......

Then it was onto the store that (truthfully) I hate - the Halloween store. It certainly is a good training ground for working with "strange and unusual".. but it gives me the creeps. I am not a fan of scary things, and Halloween has never been a favorite "holiday" of mine... and why anyone would spend so much money on scary things is way beyond me....

The dogs had a little chat session before we began....

I took it slow with Debbie, if those creepy, jumpy, gruesome things make me jump, I was sure she would too. However, I am happy to say that she handled the zombies much better than I. In fact, she thought this zombie baby was quite fun, and decided just to pick it up by the head and carry it home... (don't think so)....

"really Mom - this bothers you --- can say for a fact.... it's all fake!!!!"

Otis says to his Mom "this isn't my kind of shopping!!!" The puppies did very well in the store and I was more than happy to move onto the mall. Which was more pleasant with the starts of Christmas decorations!!!!










And while we were at the mall, we came upon this beautiful work dog... (a balance dog)... she was as uninterested in our puppies as they were of her (which really pleased Dave)...


so all in all, other successful check in, with puppies going on course just as they should.... and we'll be back in December (yikes!!!)

a wonderful Sunday...

We made a check on the bees today... just wanting to be certain that they look good and are getting ready for the winter months ahead. I doubt that we will be going into the hive many more times, once they are buttoned up, they need to be left so they can keep the hive warm and get threw.

They were quiet today, the cooler weather makes a difference. The honey stores look good, but Ed and I are going to take a class on feeding threw the winter. I will certainly offer them "extra" food, after all this time, it would be very sad if we lost them...

They'll fly on warm winter days, but for the most part, they'll just hunker down and wait for the warm spring days to arrive.....

My friend, Mary, has been anxiously awaiting for some time to come and play with the horses... and day was the day. I was so happy to have such great weather to "play" in..... we hitched Duke and had a grand time driving around the farm.....

I can't say enough how much I love this horse... I haven't driven in weeks, and I can just pull him out of the pasture, throw him in harness and cart and off we go. He is a true pleasure... and I think he's pretty happy here in his "retirement" home....

Certainly pulling one small cart with two people is easy work compared to the carriages he used to pull in Acadia.....

He just plods along - knowing that in a couple of hours, the work is done and he can go back to doing the things he likes best.....

Mary enjoyed her day of horses, she got a lesson in hitching and unhitching, and even did a bit of ground driving with Duke... plus brought Twinkle out for some leading and brushing. I love working with the horses, but it's even more fun when there's someone to share it with....

(Duke just stands and waits while we get everything un-done)......

After our horse time, Mary let her girls out for a run... these are Banjo's sisters....

And they had a grand time racing about the field ..... guess pretty much everyone enjoys the farm when they come to visit......













While we were playing with dogs and horses, Ed pulled out his little one-lunger engine and got that chugging along. I guess if the generator ever decides not to work, we have a back up!!!  (LOL)

a day at Harvestfest...

Fall and early winter, are without a doubt, my favorite time of year. Each year, I say how  beautiful the season is, but I think this one has been exceptionally beautiful. The horses certainly love it.... no bugs!!!

My friend Linda, and her son Marc popped in for a visit while they were in the area. It is always such a joy to see her, and we do try to visit as much as possible (living six hours away from each other). Marc is learning about black smithing (talk about keep a lost art alive) and he showed me these hooks that he is learning to make. I thought they were simply beautiful and tried to talk Marc in leaving them with me. I told him, that if he really gets into making them, I will be sure to buy a number of them....... (they would look great on the beams in my house!!!)

It's also the time of year for all sorts of outdoor events, mainly crafts fairs and fall festivals... and one of the nicest ones is in my home town. So,it was off to "home" to check out the festival....

This one is held on the village green and it has all the charm that small town has to offer. I liked going today because the weekend crowds haven't arrived and you can really take your time, walk about, chat with friends, and enjoy all the goods.....

I met with Kass and Reagan and got to also enjoy a grand day with my little "grand"......

Debbie came with us as well... these are exactly the type of events that I like to get the service puppies out to. Aside from the craft's fair, there was also a "scarecrow contest" going on, and some of the displays were really good. Debbie hardly paid any attention to these "scary" things!!!!

There was all kinds of foods being cooked (another good "experience for my little girl to work around"..) and I love buying something yummy, then finding a hay bale, sit in the sun and enjoy the treats....

Debbie got some practice time, laying quietly and not interrupting or begging while we ate. She also drew alot of attention of people who couldn't believe that a young dog could sit so quietly and wait......

 


The crafts were great (I think that Linda's Marc could sell those beautiful hooks in a place like this)... and people are so clever... Debbie enjoyed seeing herself in this made over window pane.....











And it was just a grand day to be sure. Sadly, the fall weather and beauty passes too quickly, so I'm going to enjoy each moment that I can before...... old man winter makes his appearance......

Happy #4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Today is Abbie's real birthday... so I thought it would be fun to take her out to breakfast with her Mom, Kass and Reagan. We met at the local Cracker Barrel and had a grand time being together and celebrating number 4. I can't even begin to say how blessed I am that our children are close (both in love and physically) and spending time with them, watching over them as they conquer the world... is one of my greatest joys....

 

Happy Birthday Abbie... and many, many more!!!!!