happy weekend....

This is just no way a weekend can't be grand when it begins like this!!!! My life long friend, Lory, was in the area visiting with family and was able to sneak out a few hours with me!!!! Lory and I go way back... way, way back... before kids... and even though she has moved far away, and we haven't seen each other in at least 10 years... we have always remained in touch and when we got together, we picked up our conversations as though we just had them yesterday. Lory and I were very much in the dog show world, two of my winning cockers --Frosty and Randi-- were from her kennel. It was very sad for me when she had to move away, but I am just so thrilled that life changes and many miles has not taken away a dear friend.....

Like me, Lory still has cockers.. well.. one right now, but she will be heading home with another one!!! This is her little girl Kenzie... who is a darling little dog and who was very interested in the crew at the barn. I was so happy to meet her and show Lory my cocker crew... and with any luck... we won't let another 10 years go by without visiting (in person) again.........






Weather wise, it was a pretty yucky day and it rained a good amount. Which meant we got no work done on the back deck... but the day ended as fun as it began when we decided to meet up with the fam and have dinner our at the beach.  The Goldenrod is always a fav.........

We grabbed Abi on our way down to the ocean... and as you can tell by this big smile... a night at the beach, a favorite place to eat... the promise of some time on the playground (and some candy).. now that's a summer night out with Baby and Papa!!!!

Reagan was all smiles as well......

Abi loves her "Krunkle" and Uncle Sean...... (they love to spoil her too)....

After supper, it was off to the playground as promised. Both of the grands love to go here... so many fun things to do. Reagan has gotten so brave since just the spring... there are two sets of "climbing set with slides" and the like, at first he stuck just to the small one, but now he has begun to tackle the bigger one. This  is his new accomplishment... climbing the "bull dozer track" as he calls it..... 

And this curly slide has be at least 15 feet high... he climbs right to the top and down he comes!!!!

Abi has a great time too, and is pretty good at keeping an eye on her little cousin.....

Papa and Kass (and grandbaby number three ---- which we can't see just yet).. but he/she is on the way and will be joining our family late in February!!!!!! 


YUP.... we're going to be Baby and Papa again!!!!!

Then it was onto the beach for a little running around there...... with the tide out, there was plenty of room....

and even the coldest of oceans draw people in... we don't even bother saying "don't get wet"... 

and this grand day ended with a few rounds of skee ball... I have to say, this is one of my favorite games to play. (and I'm pretty good at it).....

On Sunday, Joey and I headed back to the beach. Ed decided to stay on the farm, wanting to get some things done... but I went because this is Lee and Tom's week at the beach house, and our annual "neads puppy raiser's lobster bake".... 

Joey loved the beach house and had the grandest time, just looking over the porch rail. 

He's such a good boy, and it's hard to think that this will probably be our last big outing... Joey is heading back to neads at the end of the week.....I'm already sad thinking about him moving on, so this is a really special time with him and with good friends.....

It was a wonderful bake... we had the usuals, plus everyone brought something wonderful to share.... I am a sea food girl and I make sure that each summer, I have my fill.....

Not as big a group as we usually have, but great company and conversations just the same....

Bernice and Zuzu.....

I think the little house looks happy when people are enjoying it.....

and the view that everyone comes here for....

Joey and Zuzu, being good and enjoying the party....

And Atticus checks out Lee's little grandbaby.... it was such a fun afternoon, good food, good friends, and dogs... for me, it doesn't get any better....

A timber frame!!! Living in a timber frame house, (and having built a timber frame barn).. I don't think there is anything prettier... this sweet little barn is being built up near camp, and before it is covered over, I just had to get a shot of it. That's the "sad" thing about timber frames, all that pretty framing is covered and you can only see it from the inside.... I never get tired of looking inside my house!!!

Abi said she wants to go to NEADs with us when we take Joey back this coming week. She hasn't had as much time with him as she has had with some of the others, but she loves them all just the same.... someday she I hope she will be proud of the work I do with these dogs, but in the meantime, I sure do appreciate what she brings to these puppies...

beginning to ride....

All of a sudden (sort of) Abi is beginning to have a true interest in the horses. She has always been comfortable with them, being around the farm so much... but I feel like this interest is completely her own doing. She likes to run up to the barn by herself now, "just to check on the horses"... or "they might like a peppermint"  and off she goes. But I have to say, that when she began to talk about "wanting to ride on Tonka".. I was a little surprised and of course, very thrilled. So, tonite we saddled up to let her have a try. 

Now, Tonka is big enough when you are standing beside him, but getting up on there... well.. that is a whole different thing. Abi climbed on easy enough, but once she was up there, she wasn't so sure. So, I just had Tonka stand quietly and give Abi a chance to catch her breath and think this threw.

I got her to do some stretching, just to loosen her back a bit and take deep breaths, and begin to get the "feel" of being on a horse. Each time she did it, I could see her feeling more and more confident....

and before too long, she said that Tonka could move and we began walking around the pen. I have to say, he was so good with her on his back, they know... they're smart and I think he was being as careful as he could with Abi. I was proud of him....

Each trip around went better and better, and I told Abi if she comes and rides often, i will get her some riding breeches and some little boots... I think I will need to look into those soon.....

The true test of a "good ride".... you don't want to get off when it's done.....

After Abi's ride we did a bit of round pen work. Tonka hasn't forgotten his stuff... it's been ages since I have worked him like this....

He picked his leads up well, and moved so nice on voice command.... I need to take more time and work with him..... sometimes I let life take over too much and I forget how much fun this sort of thing is....

and for a heavy horse, he is very light on his feet.....

I think we have a future horseman here... I hope so, I used to love to watch Kassy and Sadie when they rode, and another generation would be just wonderful...

The barn swallows have kicked the babies out of the nest... this is their second group of hatchlings....This little guy was swooping around the barn and then found a nice big landing spot... on top of one of the fans. 

I think he was pretty proud of himself to be making all those practice flights, and I know in just a day or so, he'll be off for good. But maybe he'll be back next year with a family of his own... I love having them around the barn... they are a huge part of the bug control!!! 

happy flying little one......

summer morning drive.....

I simply couldn't believe when I work up this morning and actually had "nothing to do"... no place to "be"....a morning to myself. It almost seems impossible!!! Double checking the calendar, I yes, indeed, had a morning to myself. So. I (nearly) ran to the barn... pulled out that wonderful big boy of mine....

and we went out for a drive. In all honestly, I don't know who was more happy... me or Duke. Tonka has been going out with Lucky on rides and poor Duke seems to be the one left behind. Once he was hitched he went out like, "look at me... finally my turn"  and he was, of course, as good as could be.....

We drove around the farm, and up and down the road a little... I just wanted a nice quiet happy time, and that is exactly what we did. It was wonderful, and before this summer weather comes to an end... I need to be doing way more of this, even if I have to plan.. "a day to myself".......

"everyone" seems busy, it's a busy time... the hay fields are coming down quick, and I love going by and seeing the tractors at work....

you can find both square bales and round... I love how the cover the rounds up making them look like big marshmallows in the fields.... 


storing up for winter, being ready when those old winds are howling and the snow is flying... it must be a "new england" thing....

July 4th (and 3,5th!!)

Here we are... in the blink of an eye, it's the fourth!!! With all the other spring projects we have been working on... we haven't even had a moment to get the docks in. So, with everyone coming to camp for the fourth, getting the docks in was the first thing....

Thankfully, we had a good crew to come and help. These docks are heavy and every extra hand is always appreciated. 

Ed said the water wasn't too cold... we haven't had a very warm spring/early summer, so the lake is still cold. But, the day was warm, and it all went well... camp is officially "open" for the summer...

Kass, Nate and Reagan are spending the weekend in the back camp.... I love it when we are living so close together, and I can have them to myself all weekend. Reagan seems pretty happy to be here, but the word "schedule" will go right out the window... so, in some ways for Kass, it isn't as restful a time as it should be. 

We try to keep him busy with all sorts of different things to do... and these big old tonka trucks are a huge hit...

It's nice to see neighbors Carol, Ralph and the boys. Just like "real" camp... these are the friends that we only see in the summertime. 

The boys are so sweet, and Dom is particularly good with Reagan. I can see in just a few years, Reagan will be tagging along with these boys and wanting to do all the things that they do....

Camp is for everyone, and Joey is certainly having a great time. He loves, loves, loves swimming in the lake... true to his lab side!!!!

Waiting for the boat parade to begin......

There always seems to be a good number of boats, and it's fun to watch them going by... a fun way to begin the fourth....

and all boats are welcomed!!!!!

After the parade..it's swimming time. Abi is starting out where she seemed to leave off last summer. I noticed at first she had her swimmies on, and was just stepping off the ladder....

but it didn't take too long and she was feeling pretty good in the water once again...

and then... there it is... the first cannonball of the summer. She still went off the side of the dock, but I bet before the summer is done... she'll be jumping from the deep side...

Friends and family began showing up for our cookout. Sadly, like last year, the weather could have been better, but, it's the fourth, and a holiday.. and let's celebrate. This is Bruce... Craig and Katie's little guy... Camille was in love....

However, a few soft boards in the decking, brought things to a halt for a few moments.... they had to be fixed before someone steps threw......

oh well... one does what is needed... and again, we had a good crew on hand....

Naomi, Dom and Abi.........

A few showers brought the tent out.. I had wished it was sun that we needed it for... but the food was good, the company was fun and the fourth was celebrated in style....

The fifth brought better weather... and Abi was ready to go swimming the moment she got out of bed. One of the great things about camp... you can go swimming even before breakfast......

More cannonballs.......

Enjoying the sunshine.....

Hunter... 

Trevor... they have always loved coming here... but I notice they spend more time laying in the sun... those days of crazy puppies racing about and jumping in and out of the water have gone by.....

Kass and Nate bought this big glider type plane, and had a good time tossing it in the air and watching it fly down to the water. One on throw it went quite a ways out in the lake. A canoe passing by happily picked up the plane and brought it back to shore... that saved Nate from some serious swimming!!!

Water balloon fight!!!!!

Camp is for fun and games!!!!

And then we heard "him".. that magical tune that brings kids (both big and small) running... the ice cream truck is making his rounds!!!!

What is it about an over priced (and really not that good) ice cream treat that makes it so special.....

Kids get tired at camp.... and after much swimming and racing about... a game of dominoes is a nice place to re group....

I just can't say how very very blessed I feel, to see these beautiful children in our camp... to have our amazing family all around, enjoying this wonderful place..... I never once will take all this for granted....

Such a great weekend..... the weekends ahead look pretty busy, but I hope we can squeeze a few more camp weekends in before the summer is done....

And I just had to post these photos of Hunter and Trevor... I think this was their first summer at camp.... 


silly boys...