puppy night at the mall....

The service puppies are looking more and more like service dogs these days. Now that the summer craziness is past, and before the holiday crazies begin, we are getting together to do our training. Last Saturday night we all met at the local mall to get the puppies out and about. I was really surprised at how busy it was... and to think it only gets more so as the holidays come close.







We met in the food court, had the puppies do their "unders" under the table while we had supper together and chatted about things that are going on. The pups did great and as long as we get a big enough table, we can put them all together. They know to be quiet and not fool around while they are all there together.








all total -- there were six dogs under the table. Most of the people around us didn't even have a clue that they were there.











I had forgotten how much the mall has to "offer"-- course the people - lots of people... food, elevators, kids, noises... the list goes on and on, it's a great place to "work".. especially when the weather turns off cold.








T and Ginger taking a little ride. This is beginning to be "old hat"













Ginger even got to work in the "bathroom" :) got to practice everywhere!!!!!

day around the farm

Fall has returned!!!! our wonderful snow has gone, and we are again enjoying the last of the warm(ish) weather. Ed and I are crazy busy getting the outside work buttoned up, because that cold weather is certainly back on it's way. The big guys were snoozing in the sunshine....









as well as old Silver boy. He had a really good summer, and has some "fat" on him. He's going into the winter weather better than last year, so I feel less anxious about him. At this stage in his life, every day is an extra.










Since the weather was so good, I got brave and let the "baby" guinea hens out of their pen. It's just so hard to wrangle them in at night sometimes, that I sort of hate letting them out. But, we got them to "go out" and sometime you gotta let 'em loose.







We got the last of the new gates put in. Amazing what kind of help you can find when you are doing new projects....Tonka has to be the noisiest thing and he likes to know about everything that is going on. Pretty funny when a 1300 lbs horse is getting underfoot.









Course, Silver wanted to be part of the action as well.......















Annabelle was happy to supervise.....










and there is it!!! a COMPLETED project!!! all the gates are in place and we'll see how that works with the snow plowing....

remember our wood project... even that's coming along. We took a big chunk of it this weekend.. now throughout the week, I will get the split pile in the tent building.. and then we'll be back on the cutting pile. I'm not so sure this was a good idea, and we may change our plans for next year (Rick!!!!)

We think our tractor is "cat powered".....

and the last of the weekend projects.. our new hitching post. This is so I can hitch the team together when there aren't extra hands around. Can't wait to give it a try....

and another week begins on the farm... next weekend we go to NEADS graduation where we get to see Chester again.....