cold!!!

As I look out the back and over the dog pen, seeing that the snow has pretty much hidden the fence, I tell myself that next summer, in the heat... I'll miss this. Ya right!!! It's been a "typical" Maine winter and I am very happy that February is next week. It's time to move on... onto the next season, where I will then complain about the black flies and mud...

We have come thru quite the cold snap. I don't know how to photograph "cold"... actually I don't want to stay out long enough to photograph "cold" so I guess you will just have to take my word for it, unless you live here and then you know just what I mean. I could take a picture of our dwindling wood pile (though Rick is great about keeping us supplied)...

but, this picture better describes it... I don't think this cat (Darci) went more than a few inches from the stove. Maybe she changed from one side to the other, or popped out for a moment to eat, however this is where she was during the whole time.

Titus on the other hand, has his own little tropical island. You can pretty much find him hanging out on his rock. He doesn't even bother to go into the water when you walk by the tank... he knows a warm spot.

And cold winter days, when you aren't going very far, are perfect pj days. I must confess that when Abbie has been home, she pretty much hangs out in her pj's. Note the "dog on the leash"... this is her newest game... she loves taking the leashes and clipping them on her "doggies" and walking them around the house. If it would warm up just a tad, I would take her out on a real doggie walk....

Look who has a "new project"!!! Here is Rick with service dog #2 ... Ginger!!! Rick was so great helping me with Chester, that when I asked him if he would like to help with Ginger, he was all over it. They're first class together was this past week....

She likes her new friend!!!!

I am very fortunate and get to take care of lots of doggies. Everyone is my favorite when they are here, but once in a while.. there is one that is a "favorite" favorite.. and this award goes to Ella. She is a mini wire-hair dachshund. She was in my puppy class and is currently in the Adv. class.. I fell in love with Ella the first night she came thru the door. And everything that you see in her face is true... she is grandest little dog you could ever meet.




I'm not sure "who likes who" in this picture. Darci is quite taken with Ella, and I think she is in return. Course, they get so busy playing that "potty" time seems to go out the window....

We have to make that "business" run when kitty isn't around... and yes... the cat is bigger!!!!!

Back to the snow... my garden horse, another storm or two and he might completely disappear - and this is all "real" snow.. not just a plowed up mound around him....

I'm even thinking about next year's garden...

time to leave Mr. Winter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

winter days

We still had a bit of snow to contend with on Wednesday, but for the most part, we were pretty well cleaned up from Tuesday's snow. It seems as though we are in this little weather pattern of snow every few days... fortunately, the little breaks allow "life" to continue. And so, it was dog class Wednesday night, actually it was graduation night (which had been cancelled the week before). Ginger was thrilled to see her friend Lily...

And because Lily was the only puppy to show up for her class... we allowed them to play the better part of the time. Lily is a white Boxer and was born deaf. However, as you can well see, it doesn't stop her one little bit.









Her owners are teaching her hand signals, and if you didn't know, you could not guess that she is any different from any puppy in class....

Happy graduation Lily...

For the "big dogs" everyone managed to come out for their graduation. This was really a nice group of dogs, and I have to say their owners did them proud.









Thursday morning, we headed down to NEADS for our monthly check in. It seems I have pictures of NEADS in all kinds of "weather" except for snow.. so, had to get this shot...











Like we did last month, Dave started the puppies in the training room. We worked on the basics like sit, stand, down and come.. and showed Dave how well the puppies are doing wearing their gentle leaders and cape. He was pretty pleased with the progress that both Ginger and Leo have made.

Then we packed up and went to the local Home Depot to work the puppies in public. I was surprised at just how busy the store was on a Thursday afternoon. We played with shopping carts and listened to all the different sounds of the store. The puppies got lots of attention and took it all in stride.

Dave watched us run thru the obedience lessons there, and gave us some tips to keep things on track. It is always so good to check in with him, not only is it a wonderful day of friends and puppies, but it keeps me fresh as a trainer to be a student.

Leo, taking in all in... he is such a good puppy!!!!

THEN, Friday... more snow!!! My boss called and asked if I could cover the post office. He has such a long drive and of course, I have all of 800 feet to travel, so what can I say. I don't mind working these snow days.. for the most part, it stays pretty quiet, I make a few extra dollars, and get to take Ginger with me... not a bad trade. Besides, look at this nice view that I have from the office windows.

Ginger is getting pretty comfortable at work. She likes to see the people coming in and out, and they like seeing her. In fact, when I don't have her with me, they always ask where she is.....

look at that sweet face... she will be another one that will be hard to say good bye to......

And here we are back at another weekend!!! Doing what we have done the past few, cleaning up and moving the snow around that came during the week. Up until now, Ed had pretty much handled it with the truck, but this weekend, it was time for the "big guns".









There has been so much snow, that he needed to clear a little space in the pasture for the horses. Especially for the "little guys"... Mocha and Kringle are about up to their bellies...

I feel so blessed that we have all this equipment. The job is big enough, I could imagine having to any of this "by hand". We even took the tractor down to Kas and Nate's to make more room for them.

We're dealing with a real cold snap right now.. it is only in the single numbers during the day, and well below zero at night. But as we head into the last week of January, spring is getting that much closer.. the days are already a half hour longer and now the sun doesn't go down until after 5:00. Winter days on the farm are to be treasured....

ANOTHER snowy day....

Well, we no sooner got all caught up from last week's storm, and we get another one today. Yup, it's winter in New England. Today's snow wasn't quite as much as the last one, and this evening, it has turned into sleet and rain, and should be ending before the morning. Maybe this is less snow, but it's heavier and therefore, moving it-- is a job.







Ed had some business work that had to be done, so it was up to me to get things done around the farm. I had to get some wood brought inside, with the sleet and rain coming, if we lose power, the woodstove will need to be chugging in good shape (though we do have a generator too). After my "wood work" I wanted to get the barn in order. The horses will be kept inside tonite.... they were already inside... but these "snowy" butts are proof they had been out...





actually, they don't mind being out. It still amazes me how the snow just sits on their backs and doesn't melt. They have a great time playing together....











and racing thru the field....

But, a clean stall with fresh water and a meal of green sweet hay... they decide that coming in, isn't such a bad idea at all....

and everyone will be tucked inside, safe and sound while the storm finishes up.. tomorrow.. will be another day of clean up work.. because the next storm is "scheduled" for Friday...... when is it spring????

just getting caught up...

So.... last Wednesday, we got hit with a good ol fashion snow storm. Literally feet and inches of snow!! Ed spent the better part of the day plowing and just trying to "stay ahead" of the snow.. but the real work is always the day after.
Just to show you what we were dealing with, when I went to let the doggies out for their nightly "run", this is what I found when I opened the door that goes into the dog yard. I did a little shoveling, just so they could get out the door, but they weren't very happy with the idea.




Especially when it meant, climbing "up hill" just to get to the top of the snow. Fortunately, the cockers are light enough that they sort of stayed on the top. But, I can tell you... they were certainly "quick" to go that evening....










Poor Ginger ended up "swimming" thru the snow.. she didn't seem to mind it so much....













And even just the little time that they were out, all the cockers came in looking like this... poor Trev... I didn't let anyone upstairs until they all "melted" off....








Thursday morning, Ed put on his outside gear and headed into the world of white to do battle with the clean up. Abbie was there to encourage Grandpa.. but she isn't too crazy about his "silly" hat...











What the truck couldn't move, the tractor could. One nice thing, there's plenty of room for us to put all this "white".. and rule of thumb, always push it back as far as you can... just to be ready for the next storm.










Tonka enjoyed watching the tractor work.....












Abbie and Tatter enjoyed laying together on the dog bed.. enjoying the warmth of the stove.....











After Ed got the barnyard done, he tackled the dog pen for me. Not only so the dogs could get out.. but also to unbury the fence. Our fence isn't very high, only about three feet, but it was "lost" in the snow....

It was a big job...

but the doggies will certainly enjoy the raceway that Daddy made for them.. and as I said, it's alway just getting ready for the next storm.....

happy birthday!!!

It's my hunny's birthday... well, actually yesterday was.. but, with Ed going to his weekly meeting at the Fire station and me teaching dog classes... no one was home to celebrate.

We did a celebration with the kids on Saturday night, taking "Dad" out for dinner. The cake waited until this evening.









And I would have been out tonite too, teaching dog classes, but the snow storm cancelled the classes and kept me home...

So, we all had a little piece of cake and celebrated Ed's birthday today...

Happy, happy sweetie....