Tonka goes to school.... twice

Today, after our riding lesson, Tonka and I stopped by the nursery school where Kassy works. I wanted to pop in and say hello and she thought "her" kids would have fun seeing Tonka.

Most of them were a bit timid when they actually got close to the trailer and saw that big creature inside, but one little gal who "loves horses" couldn't wait to get close enough for a pat.

Tonka would have loved to get out with them, but, it wasn't safe to do that, and besides, I didn't want to scare the kids....

Mocha is actually doing a "real school" visit in a few weeks (like she did last year).... I think they will feel a bit more comfortable with her..

we got..... windows!!!!!!

So..... they cut big holes in my house and then....

go to lunch....

actually, they finished shingling the front side of the roof, and then cut the window openings... by then, it was more than lunchtime!!!!

The crate that holds all the windows and was delivered last fall... is finally opened!!!!

"honey.... there's a man standing outside our window!!!!"

and in goes the first!!!! got to get inside and see what they really look like........

we got.... con't

can't believe how different the house looks with the windows in...

this picture was taken from the kitchen looking into the living room... there are still windows going in here on the back wall (to the left)

our bedroom... which is the right front corner of the house... we have 5 windows in this room... since the sun comes up on this side... there won't be much sleeping in......

this is the other front bedroom... looking across the hallway into our room...

this house will have plenty of light and fresh air...

animals, animals....

Sometimes, as I am rushing about, trying to "fit everything into that certain time slot"... trying to cope with the "stresses that seem to be thrown at me lately".. I forget just how blessed I am. And today, as I was yet again, rushing about, I looked over and saw Titus.... all stretched out, enjoying "his sun"... taking life as it comes. Now, I know that my dear turtle doesn't have to worry about the light bill (so that his sun light will stay on) or that the water level in his tank stays up, or that he has food coming... he just trusts that "it will be provided for".. and guess what... it is. So, my lesson of the day via my turtle.... "don't' worry about tomorrow, for it will take care of itself.. and the Good Lord knows what I need to get thru today.... "thank you Lord for taking care of today... and "we'll" handle tomorrow when it gets here".....

Last night was graduation night for the Tuesday classes. I am so grateful for my "work".. and I love watching how the dogs and humans progress over the weeks. I had some "different" breeds this go round, everything from a Great Dane to a bulldog!!!and almost everything in between....

Dane to beagle.... "you run, I'll run... why do we have to sit here?"

It was great fun!!!!!

I have a couple of dogs here for boarding, So, after class it was dog walking time and out we went. As they were "sniffing" about the yard, I could hear "an animal" rustling about -down near the lake. I didn't think too much about that, until it sounded like it was getting closer. I would have loved for my two dogs to do a little barking... but the cowards... ran to me instead!!! Then out of the corner of my eye, I could see something climbing up a tree very close by. I ran in and called to Ed, he grabbed a flashlight and turned on the big flood lights...

I ran up on the upper deck of the camp and look what we "caught"... a big ol' porcupine!!! just outside the camp!!! I don't think he was too impressed with all these lights shinning on him, and the flash from my camera... but he sat and looked at us and waited for all the "fuss" to calm down.... course, he presents a "problem" in that I don't dare let the cockers out loose at night... guess we will have to get our pen brought up here and put it up... which we have been talking about doing anyways....

so, we have had a "hootie in the house"... now a "piney in the tree".... what's next.....(or dare I ask)

this mud........ will eat you!!!

We'll be walking up to the barn for the next few weeks, as mud season has officially arrived... a few days earlier than spring!!! With the four wheel drive trucks, we could thrash our way there, but it's only tearing up the driveway, and really, we don't walk just because we are lazy!!! so, walking it will be... mind you, I am not complaining, these days with 40 degree temps are doing wonders on my spirits and the melting of the snow....

This mud is "serious"... and if you stop even for a moment, there is a pretty good chance that you will lose you boot!!! So, when you make your way across, you don't stop... or we might not find you until the fourth of July!!!

Now, in deciding that we are no longer driving up to the barn, we had to get the horse trailer pulled out. I will need that for Tonka's lessons on Thursdays. Ed decided to park it up near the house, and Tonka and I will have to walk out to it, but that's no big deal.

Ed felt that it would be better to pull the trailer out with the tractor, instead of bringing one of the trucks in. I think he made a good choice, especially when for a few seconds, he almost buried the tractor.... told you, you can't stop for a second!!!

He managed to rock the tractor out and with the trailer still hitched to the tractor, made his way down the drive. After that, he back dragged the whole driveway, so that when it does dry out, it will dry without big ruts in it....

News on the house... the guys are now shingling the main part of the roof..... they are making good progress and this should go easier as there are no angles or ties in to deal with....

after this.... window and doors!!!!!!



Oh... Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!!

are you sure we'll come back?

Here's the photo that Dusty took of Tonka loading for his "first" riding lesson last week. Almost seems like he's asking .... "are you sure you will bring me back to the farm if I get on this thing?" He loaded right on after this shot and yes, we brought him back home again!!!!

picture tour....

Hunter and Trevor... cuddled together in the front of my truck... enjoying the ride and the sun!!!!

Ed... scoping out his "workshop"... picture taken looking out the "back"... Ed's office is to the right off the workshop

Ed's office.. skylight was put in this week... this space is above the mudroom and to the left is the workshop....

View from the upstairs hallway... looking down the stairs...

Picture taken from the "master bedroom" looking across the hallway to the other bedroom... electrical boxes now in and Ed's begun the wiring... front hallway window partly cut open - to let the owl out, which he didn't use!!!!!

Downstairs... picture taken from the living room.. the dining room is to the left, kitchen to the right, with the pantry and bathroom...opening to the garage is now in place....

The two front doors have been brought to camp to be painted....and ready for Ken to be installed next week (?)....

The color is "cranberry"... not red!!!!!

a "hootie" in the house...

It might be a little hard to see, but there is an OWL in this picture.... and "he's" in the bathroom of our house!!!! I seem to miss all the excitement on the farm... this morning I was off to work with a private student, Ed, Ken and crew, were all going in to work on the new house. Buzz said that when he went upstairs he thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye, Ed saw "him" as he flew thru the rooms!!!!

I don't think "he" hung around too long, the guys tried shooing him out, but he eventually went out his own way (probably the way he came in)...

I don't know a whole lot about owls.. but seeing as this is Friday the 13th... I am going to consider him a good luck icon!!! and hope that he had a peaceful night in our new house!!!!

riding season begun...

Today, Tonka and I had our first riding lesson of the season, it was wonderful to be on him once again, and I have to say, he was such a good boy!!!! I haven't ridden since last fall, and he hasn't been on the trailer since we moved to the farm, so I was wondering how it all might go. He loaded like a pro with just a bit of encouraging from Ed standing behind him. That was a good thing, because our neighbor, Dusty (the gal that does the horse photos) was there. She called this morning to ask if she could "use the barn for a shoot" and when I told her, "sure, but I won't be there as I have a lesson".. she then wanted to come and take a couple of photos of Tonka loading on the trailer. She keeps a whole file on all sorts of "horse things" just in case she is ever called for them. I was so pleased that he was a good guy and got right on... not just for Dusty, but just because.

He seemed pretty happy to be at Laura's again (he knows this place well) and we got right to work. Aside from the fact that he is out of shape (and so is his Mom) he was very good and did everything that was asked of him. We even did a bit of canter work, which is where we had left off last fall. I had about a hundred layers of clothes on... it was a cold day, but at least the indoor keeps the wind out!!! Both Tonka and I were pretty warm by the end of the lesson, but I am glad that I didn't dress any lighter.

We're more than likely to get a little more winter weather (we're not out of the woods until April) but today... for me at least.... spring has begun.....

And look for Silver's "hollywood moment" in a future blog.... he was in Dusty's photo shoot today......

gettin' ready

Tomorrow begins the riding (lesson) season for me, so yesterday I dug out my tack, checked it all over and gave it a good cleaning!!! I'm excited to get back to my riding lessons, Tonka and I always learn something new to practice and it "keeps me honest" in my work. Nothing like your trainer keeping her eye on you and pointing out your "weak spots"....

It will also give Tonka a weekly chance to be on the trailer and we will be trucking quite a bit further now... instead of a 20 minute ride, it will now be an hour. But, I think it's good for a horse to be comfortable in a trailer .. you never know when or where you might have to ship them. His loading skills can be "if-y" so the more we do the better.

I had "forgotten" what mud season is like on the farm!!! Don't misunderstand, I am waiting for spring with baited breath... but, one thing for certain, my boots won't be "retiring" anytime soon!!!

and if anyone is dropping by the farm over the next six weeks or so... be sure you bring your boots along!!!!

And look what the guys began yesterday....

shingles!!!!

Course this morning I woke about 4:30 to hear sleet pelting on the sky lights!!! "They" said we were in for a day of "wintery mix".. sleet, snow and rain.. which is just what it has turned out to be. As I blog away, it has just turned over to rain.. so, the guys won't be up today. It's suppose to end by the afternoon and turn off cold...

guess it's what March is all about!!!!

back to "real life"

Yesterday morning in North Carolina, was even prettier than it had been the days before!!! It was a "slow and painful" project, packing things up knowing we were headed back to Maine. Mandi, baby Maya, Kas and I attended church. Everyone was so happy to see Kas again, and wanted to know all about her life in Maine.

This is such a sweet little church, "everything" you would expect out of a southern baptist church!!! I got such a peace listening to the sermon and I love hearing those southern voices, it's no wonder that Mandi drives an hour every Sunday to go there.

After church, we headed straight to Raleigh and the airport. Mandi said it wasn't any trouble to drive there to get us, or to drive us back.. but the truth is, she was just being a good sport... it's about a two hour drive, and with little Maya, that's a long trip!!!! (thank you so much Mandi... we had an amazing time with you!!!!)

So, it was "good bye" once again to beautiful North Carolina!!! The few days we had there, really re-charged my batteries!!!

If I had to pick a "warmer place to live".. North Carolina would definitely be at the top of the list....

The plane ride home was long. We had a big lay over in Philadelphia, and "problems" with the plane, which made us take off almost a half hour late... Kas and I tried to bring that good North Carolina weather home with us... but, when they checked our bags, "they took it away... said we couldn't have it!!!"... sorry folks...

We arrived in Manchester a little after midnight and got home around 2:30 (after getting the bags and such)

and we went from this........

to this!!!! Snow blowing and falling so hard this morning, that you couldn't even see across the lake...

unfair!!!!!

Ed said that it had been nearly 50 over the weekend, but the way the wind and snow was blowing across the field this afternoon... you could have fooled me!!!

Still though, home is home, and I was happy to sleep in my own bed last night, see my puppies again .. and my kitties....

and of course, my "big guys".. who were mainly interested in when I was serving lunch!!!

I am very grateful that I was able to take the trip... Kas for inviting me to go.. Mandi and Maya for their wonderful hospitality.. Barb for that amazing lunch we had on Friday... Betty for helping Ed out with the barn over the weekend... Sadie for pitch hitting with her Daddy.. and my dear Ed.. for telling me to go!!!! thanks everyone!!!!! and now it's back to real life!!!!

Emerald Isle...

Last night, we got a chance to "visit" with Patrick... and it made me think of my friend, Aileen!!!! (Aileen's husband was a POW in the world war.. and the way she was made aware of that, was to receive a telegram thru the local store. All the time that her dear "Pitt" was captured, Aileen had no real communications on his condition... I can't even imagine what that must have been liked for the two of them.) Patrick is serving in Iraq, and nothing about that is "easy"... for Mandi it means raising Maya, taking care of herself, running her household, and "worrying about her hubby" all on her own. However, technology is certainly a great aid during this time, because Patrick can contact his family on a daily basis, and thru the computer, they can actually see each other and "visit"... Long ways from "your day" right Aileen????


Because the day was so beautiful... we decided that we wanted to spend some time on the beach. We packed up and went out to Emerald Isle which is part of the "outer banks"... this meant crossing a huge bridge... I am such a fan of bridges (NOT), but you have to go over it in order to get there!!!











Here is baby Maya sporting her new beach wear!!!











Kas was able to hook up with another friend, Annie.. actually Annie is from "our area" and her hubby is down here serving in the "corps"... they only have a few months left of his commitment, so, they rented a condo on the beach for the winter.








The beaches in North Carolina are so different from our beaches in New England, it was such fun just to be able to walk them today.
















Tomorrow we head north again... I fear that Kas and I might suffer "climate shock"..... it certainly has been a wonderful little break!!!!

friends and food

We woke to bright sunshine and mild temps this morning, and as we were heading to the car for a day of fun... Kas and I noticed this beautiful flower!!!

OK.. so it's a dandelion... a weed, but it's bright yellow smile just caught our attention... I am ready for bright yellow "weeds" to appear at home!!!

The girls took a little time to themselves and got their nails done while I "babysat" little Maya. (basically we walked around the stores window shopping) she was so good for me, and was very interested in all the things around her.

After that, Mandi had made arrangements for many of Kassy's friends to meet at the local pizza place for lunch and a chance to visit. Maya was all for having pizza for lunch!!! but she will need some teeth before handling that piece of pizza!!!

Kas was able to catch up on all the latest news...she misses this part of living in Jacksonville... all these wonderful friends, and of course the weather!!!

We went onto the base in the afternoon, it was fun to see it again. I always enjoyed going there when we visited. Did a little shopping for some gifts and we had a nice time poking around.

Tonite's menu......

more food!!!

What a great way to spend the day... good friends, good food... beautiful weather...

what more could you ask for???