WAY TOO HOT!!!

I really try not to be a complainer, and for the most part, I do think I am a "go with the flow" type of gal..but after this week of unbearable hot weather... I have been complaining. And will say it right out plain.. I HATE the hot weather.  When we get a day or two of it, that's one thing, but an entire week, it's really more than i can bear. Thank goodness we have the lakes, they are a real blessing right now.

Ed was away most of last week, NASCAR has come to New Hampshire and he works on one of the wreckers that you see on the track. I thought we were hot here on the farm, being on that race track... insane. Fortunately, the wreckers have AC, so most of the time he was keeping cool, but it was a hot week for him too.

On Sunday, the Maine puppy raisers were invited to the lakeside house of Gerry and Kathy.   Gerry is NEADS CEO and it was such a pleasure to be able to spend a wonderful afternoon with them, their beautiful camp, and our puppies. It took the dogs all of 10 seconds to find their way to the lake, even Camille, who typically isn't much of a water dog... but she was this afternoon.

Bogey's "retriever" side was out in true form... swimming like a champ and fetching everything that would float.

This sweet boy is Kathy and Gerry's 10 year old Chase. He would swim out to their float and hop right up on it. Watch for fish, and then jump in for another swim. Chase was a great host to the service puppies...

Bogey, Moxie and Monty spent  hours swimming, playing and fetching in the lake... they had a perfect afternoon together.

Camille kept careful watch over everyone... she liked the water, but all that wrestling just isn't her thing... she was happy to paddle about and then hang out on the "beach"

I had to pull Bogey out to rest. He would have swum all afternoon and never stop...

Like wise, Moxie..... 







Does this dog look a little familiar. She might, it's Clover --- Ginger's sister. Clover was "released" from the service dog program, it just wasn't her thing. But, she was adopted by Sherrie (who works at NEADS) and she is so happy being Sherrie's dog. Sherrie and Clover are doing all kinds of neat things, they recently passed the Canine Good Citizen test and are currently doing Rally Obedience. It' always so nice to see them.....



We thought it would be fun to get a photo of all the puppies together sitting beside the lake... I think we got a pretty good photo with all of them...

From left to right... Monty, Clover, Bogey, Camille, Chaser, Jasper and Moxie...












And then a picture of us and our hosts....it was a great way to spend a hot summer afternoon.

But, I am waiting for this weather to pass.....

Lakeside--- at last!!!!

Finally, a summer weekend at camp... our first of the season!!! Not that there hasn't been great weather for lakeside fun, but other things just seem to have more importance.. hay being one. But this weekend, we weren't going to let anything get in the way. The weekend began with the arrival of "kids"... Kas and Nate, and friends, Katie and Craig, Rachel and Mike. After they were settled, we went out to our local sea food restaurant for supper.

After supper, I went home to pack for camp. I had worked all week and just didn't have everything together.... as we pulled into the drive and were getting out, Mona came and jumped on the roof of the truck... Bogey was all confused as to "where" that cat had gone!!!!

Saturday morning brought more company to camp... my sister Rachel and niece (who fell in love with Bogey).. my Mom and Dad... and Dave and Deb... and then other friends popped in and out all day. Oh and dogs... lots of dogs... 11 in total, who all got along like they had always been together. Just what I love.. my home filled with family and friends.

The weather couldn't have been better... the lake was perfect....

Camp is a great place for dogs... especially "swimming dogs".. which Banjo is for sure. In fact, Kas has to pull him out once in a while and make him rest. He'd go until he dropped. Course, he doesn't think it's a good idea to have to "rest"...

and what's camp without lots of good eats... there are always great things to eat.....and why is it, that you always get so hungry at camp???

Camp filled to the brim..... now that's the way to have it!!!!

This year, Abbie has really gotten into swimming... in some ways, she is fearless (which is good and bad)... the good thing is, there was generally someone in the water, so she got to swim to her heart's content.

but what I really couldn't believe... to watch her jumping off the dock into someone's waiting hands...

Abbie and Mommy......

Trevor having a little swim for himself....

loving the water.....

And playing with her cousin. The girls had such a good time together.. Naomi gets the chance to be a "big sister" when Abbie is around....

the way life should be............................

Like "poor Banjo"  the girls had to be pulled from the lake to warm up and rest... both were shivering, with blue lips and still telling their Moms... "we're not cold, we don't need a rest"... but some food, a movie and blankies to cuddle in, they decided that maybe their Moms did know what they were talking about!!!

And Hunter dog set the best example of all.... take some time to nap.



Hope you all had a weekend of fun, family and naps......

a fun 4th

OOOOOOOHHHH... don't I love seeing big pots like this!!!

Because look what's inside... my fav... I do really, really enjoy lobster. I know, it's alot of "work" and not the "easiest" to eat... but that's more than OK with me.

Bogey on the other hand wasn't so sure about this "green, flipping thing"... even though I told him it was "food".. I don't think he quite believed me.

Our cookout was at "the Flagg's"...and actually, we had meant to be there earlier in the day. Their town has a parade and Deb was taking Alice (Mocha's baby)  so I thought I would bring Mocha and walk with them. However, when I woke up in the morning, I realized we were much to late for that plan. Deciding not to rush around, and try to simply enjoy the holiday.. we arrived just for the cookout.

It truly was a perfect summer day... some even got into Deb and Dave's pool.  The weather put a squish to some of the fireworks displays scheduled for the evening... but over all it was just a nice, fun holiday...



and better still, we're celebrating again this weekend with all of the family coming to camp...... happy summer......

hay we go again....

 Happy July.... and the day dawned warm and bright, very much like summer. After church I thought it would be great to sit by the lake and enjoy this wonderful weather, and then....... Father called, another batch of hay will be ready... well, so much for lakeside sitting. But really isn't this a pretty sight... the field is just top a hill side and the views, the sky, the breeze (thank goodness) made it perfect for hay.

It doesn't take long to get it into bales.. and this skidder idea is the greatest, though I'm not one to ride it. Catching those bales and getting them on is a talent that I don't seem to have.

 Once the skidder is full, a bar is pushed into the ground, then Father pulls the tractor ahead and with a bit of pushing...

 The whole block slides off...

And off they go for more, and we load the trailer.

 It's so nice to have friends that are willing to give you a hand... makes for light work on a warm summer day....

All was going well, but we were keeping an eye on the sky. Predictions of possible thunderstorms kept us moving, and then when these thunderheads appeared.. we moved just a bit quicker. 

 The baler was being a pain today, and had to take little breaks for adjustments...

But once it got moving, it does make quick work...

Around 200 bales were brought in today.. that just about fills us up and should be more than enough (with what we already had inside) to get us threw another winter. Hard to think about that on a day like today... but we all know, it will come.

As far as the storm goes, it went just a bit north of us, and all we got was a very small shower, and then this beautiful rainbow. So, I think we are about done with our hay season.. and nice to think we don't have to "worry" about it for the rest of the summer. Hope July won't fly by as quickly as June did, but I have a feeling........

a web cam...

There is a bridge in a town not far from us, that is being torn down and rebuilt. It's a pretty big deal have this bridge replaced, so much so, that there is a web cam that allows us to watch the progress. But Ed found two pictures that the camera caught that is pretty neat. This one shows a bolt of lightening on the right side.

And then a  day later, after another  storm had passed, a beautiful rainbow. I just thought these two pictures had to be shared.... pretty cool, huh?

threw a shoe........ :(

 THIS is not a good sign... a shoe, that is NOT on a horse... oh o .... I noticed on Wedsnesday that Mr. Duke was stepping just a little differently, and upon close inspection, he was missing one of his shoes. No farrier likes to hear that his shoes have come off, but ya know... it happens. The good thing is, we found it laying out in the pasture, which means Ben can pop it back on for us and we don't have to buy a new shoe.

What I can't figure out is how he tweaked it so badly, this thing is bent!!! Duke's hoof is fine, so the shoe didn't rip any hoof off... but Ben is certainly going to have to put this one in the fire and get it back into shape!!!! 

We put a call in for Ben and he was able to come out the next day. Abbie was so happy to be able to watch Duke "get his shoes on".... (and she wanted to be sure he got them on the right feet... just like she does!!!)

Ben had us back in business in no time, and even did a double check on all the other shoes. He's not sure how Duke "did it" either, but guesses he might have just caught it on the edge of a rock... which could be, because we do have some rocks out in the pasture. Either way... all is well....

Ah.. my guinea birds!!! Funny how much I love these creatures.. I never get to pet them or pick them up, but I just love having them around. These are the only three we have left from last year... but as you know we bought a bunch of new keets....

And since they have out grown our small inside "pen".. it was time to move them outside. So, Ed and I set up a new area for them. I can't tell you how many times we have moved these dog kennel panels to make up all kinds of pens for different animals. Ed thought we might need to put a top on it, but since they are 6 feet tall, and these little guys are just beginning to try their wings, I thought we could wait....

Well, I was wrong. Later that evening, Iheard the big birds having a fit, so we go down to the barn, and sure enough... all the little birds have flown the coop. Since it was dark and we had no idea where to look, we decided to see what happened in the morning. The next day, seven of the twelve returned... and then our neighbor found one bird in his garage, so we brought him back home. To date we still have just the eight..what has happened to the other four, goodness knows. But these guys are staying fairly close to home and roost on top of the pen at night, so I have given up and decided to let them do what they wish. The big guineas haven't bothered them, and maybe one day here they will become one flock. Guineas can be hard to keep, but since they have done so well in the "bug department".. I plan on keeping them around for a while.