deck(ing)

The summer wildflowers are in full bloom all around the farm. No wonder our bees are doing so well..... queen anne's lace is in bloom, and I see the beginnings of golden rod too... the fall honey harvest will be a nice dark color I am thinking. We had to add more boxes to both hives, and I think I could have taken a frame or two of honey, but decided to wait and give them some time to get up into their new boxes.... but I'm excited about having a decent honey crop......

The spring got off to dry a spell, but the summer has been really good. We seem to get nice rain showers maybe once a week or so... never enough to "ruin" the good weather, but just that nice rain that has kept things green and growing.....

However, it hasn't helped much with the deck project..... oh... our poor deck project, that we started (dare I say) last May... and no... it's not done.... 

My Ed gets to it every chance possible, sad thing is.. those chances seem few and far between. We are busy!!!!!! and sometimes, there are other projects that are simply more important.... but, we're hoping the next couple of weekends.. and maybe some evenings, will help us get back to it and get this project done!!! I would like to have at least one or two cookouts on it before the snow flies!!!!

It's a big deck... and there's much to do... but it's so going to be worth it.....

Oh joy... looks like this little rain cloud is going to stop us again tonite....

I think I like the underneath almost as much as the top!!! We're going to have a "cement patio" (for lack of a better description) put down just outside the kennel door. That will help alot with keeping out the "dirt' and I'm hoping will also help with next winter's snow issues..... besides, it will  make a cool shady place for the doggies too....


so.... stay tuned... deck project is still in the works...

and Joey moves on.....

He came to us on February 16th.... a little black bundle of puppyhood.. and I remember the day well.. too well. We had it all lined up to turn in Danny and pick up Joey... OK....Danny was ready... and it's "easier" to trade one for one. And that morning was when we had to have Silver put down... and so poor Joey, came into a very sad family. 

But his sweetness shown threw and we gave him the nick name of Joey Jumping bean!!!! He moved right in, and became another member of the family. Service puppy in training, number nine!!!! He was (is) fun, confident, eager to please, and the time that he was here on the farm went flying by. 

Two weeks ago, I got the call from neads that they were ready to have him come back in. And so, it was time to get ready to pass on another sweet baby and send them off into the world to do what they are meant to do. Course advance training will be the tell tale, I never know "where they are headed" exactly... but I am always certain they go where they need to be. 


And so, today, with Kathleen and Abi in tow, I packed Joey up, took the "parting photos" that I always like to take around the farm... and headed out.....

The ride down was uneventful.... Joey was happy to hop out and stretch his legs. Lacy was waiting for us, and we took the time to talk about all of Joey's wonderful qualities and thoughts for what his future holds...

I wasn't able to get any last minute photos of my and Joey (I could have asked the staff, but just didn't feel up to doing that).. so I got these ones of Abi.... she is always so happy to be a part of these puppies and their training..... who knows, we may have a future puppy raiser!!!!

She wanted to walk him into the kennel, and I said that was fine.  And all in all, the parting went as they usually go.... me in tears and wondering why I do this.... and asking "when is the next puppy coming???" (we hope within the month!!!)



And so, hugs, kisses, best wishes and prayers for our Joey Jumping bean........he's off to do good works!!!!

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......