neads run!!!

I feel like I say this all the time... "where does the time go??" between sessions of dog classes that go every six weeks, grandbabies that grow before my eyes... monthly check in at NEADS... I feel like my life is on this "clock" of the things that I do. I guess we might all feel that way.... but here we are... check in time once again. Deb and Cappy have become great friends, and working the two of them..(let alone about to add another puppy in my life)... I will say... I am busy!!!!!

Cappy is coming along well... she is very sweet, and not as outgoing as Debbie is. She loves walking up to the barn with me in the mornings, and has become quite used to things like "hay dropping from the ceiling... horses racing into stalls for their meals, and guinea hens strolling by"... but I have some concerns about this little one and time will tell as to whether she decides to be a service dog or not...

Bernice traveled down with us this month, and had the joy of seeing the puppy she had raised.... "T".  He decided not to be a service dog and is now the beloved pet of Donna... It is such a privilege for puppy raisers to see their babies.....

And they never forget us either. All the dogs that I have had the pleasure of raising always are beyond thrilled when we can be together. (and I can't wait to see Rylie in April!!!)....

So, while we wait for Dave... the girls sit quietly and wait with us..... But this month I had the most amazing thing happen. We were standing around and chatting with some of the NEADS folks, and this lady walked into the lobby. About the time she arrived, someone spoke Debbie's name, and with that, this lady turned and asked "what is that dog's name?"  "Debbie" I said, and then found out that this was the lady who named my dear little dog.  Meeting your dog's sponsor is not so common, I met Chester's sponsor, but I haven't met any of my other dogs'.. so, this meant so much to me!!! I asked how Debbie got her name, I mean, let's face it...it's an unusual name for a dog... and turns out that she is named for this lady's sister, who passed from cancer. We had such a nice talk, she was so interested in Deb and the work that we have been doing together.... and then asked once again, what my name was. When I told her.... the most unusual look came across her face... and she told me that her sister's very best friend for most of her life.... had nearly the same name as me..... talk about a "God's wink"...... so, you know that my day at NEADS, was simply beyond wonderful...

We did our "round table" talk, filling Dave in on all the details of the pups...  while they in turn waited quietly (as usual under the table). And since it was yet another VERY cold winter day, we opted out of going to the city, and decided to "do lunch" and just work around the NEADS campus. 

Since I was working with Cappy this trip, Linda got the chance to work with Deb. She did well for Linda, but I fear that those eyes of her seldom leave me. And I only hope that it won't be a huge problem when it's time to turn her in and have someone else take over her training. She and I have become very close... and I can't say that it's "all good".....

We all went to lunch at a cute little place just a short distance from NEADS. This was Cappy's first restaurant visit and as you can tell, she did just fine. Settled right in and took a little nap......

Back at NEADS, we worked in the training room and did some stair work. You don't think about stairs.. at least I didn't.. we run up and down them all the time... but when someone has to move slow on the stairs, or depend on their dog, it's a different situation. I am now very mindful of how Deb and I or Cappy and I handle stairs.....

Deb kept a careful eye on Cap and I as we practiced up and down......

Then Dave pulled out this big gorilla and made all sorts of noises and bounced him all around. Our puppies?????

thought it was all a big game and were more interested in pouncing on it. Dave wanted to see if any of them might "run away"... all I can say... "hardly"..... 

Deb thought the whole thing was rather silly.....

and when it was her turn, she looked at Dave with this "really??? is this all that you have for me???"   (silly Dave!!!)













It was a very successful day.. once again filled with wonderful surprises... good friends and great puppies. We gathered up our things, said goodbye to the staff and headed for home. Until next month!!!!!

"somewhere over the rainbow"...

The most amazing thing has happened over the past week....... 

This is Olivia.... born on September 7, 2013. I have been looking over the past two years for another brown, white and tan cocker. One like Moxie was, and like Camille is. I love the coloring and the fact that they're not very common. I have been asking all my cocker friends to keep their eyes open for me, and any litter that is expecting and might have brown and white tri's... I have been waiting. My good friend Karen, contacted me in August, saying that she had a litter coming that should have brown and white tri's and on top of that... the puppies would be related to Camille. I was so excited. Well, the pups were born and no brown and white tri's... just brown and tans. 

Now, Karen felt that one little girl would be just the one for me, and we talked back and forth and I thought maybe I should go with a brown and tan. And the photos she sent me as the puppies grew were wonderful.. and I thought and thought. But the bottom line was, the puppies would go to their new homes around Christmas, and though her price for them was more than fair, I just couldn't see spending the money, housetraining a puppy in winter, and trying to finish up Debbie's obedience work all at the same time. soooooo...... I opted out and said I would wait for the next litter with the hopes that a brown and white tri would come along. After that, I cried for days wondering if I had made a good decision. 

Last week, Karen calls again...... and guess what, the little dog that she thought would be good for me is still available. Olivia (as Karen had called her) had been sold to someone else, but for one reason or another, they weren't going to be taking her. Karen did have someone else in mind, but it would mean that Livy would be going far away, and live more or less as a "kennel dog"... so, Karen just wanted to be sure that I wasn't still interested. 

Well, you just know that I had to go and see her. And in the days before I did, I did some praying and came up with an "offer" for Karen, telling myself that if she felt OK with it, and the fact that this puppy was "still available" and if Camille liked her... then she was the one meant to be. 

The "meeting" between the two was amazing, I know they don't know they are related, but they hit it off right away. Livy is Camille's niece... Camille's half sister is Livy's Mom..... so, even though Livy isn't brown and white, she could have brown and white puppies....

so... you all know where this story is going, if you know anything about me....

Karen thought my offer was just fine, and part of that is... when Livy has her babies in a year or two.. Karen will have her pick.....

two brown babies together... 

and hopes that "everyone else" will love her as well.....












Because this little girl is mine, and will be coming to the farm next week. 


but there's just one more "thing" to add to the story. It's been five years since I lost my dear Moxie... and not looking to replace her by any means, it's just that the "search for just the right one"  has taken a long time. And after I made the decision to bring Livy home.. I thought that perhaps having another brown and white tri might not be so good... since I don't want to put "Moxie" expectations on "anyone"... and then a really strange thing... as I was thinking about all of this.. on the TV early one morning, I heard the song "Somewhere over the rainbow" and got the strangest feeling that Moxie, from the other side of "Rainbow Bridge"  approved of my decision. And then TWICE more on the radio.. that same day... I heard the song again.

So, there is no doubt now... Livy is meant to be with us... and I am so exited at the times ahead and where this little gal and I will travel together....  

welcome home LIVY!!!!!

new snow and Valentines....

snow....snow...snow..... now, I know it's winter... I know we get snow, we live in the north, but it would seem that we are in a "every three days - a storm" mode... and it's ruining my dog training schedule!!!!

But, aside from the snow, it's the cold. We are breaking "cold" records all over the place, we usually get one or two really cold days, and then it's mild again, but this winter it seems that we have weeks of bitter cold. 

The sad thing is, we are really chewing threw our wood piles... and since it's the only way that we heat this house.... that means something... we have a call into Rick for another order of wood... and not so sure that just one load will do it. 

The doggies come in like moving mounds of snow. I am so happy for the cellar entrance way, because I can leave them to dry off some before coming up into the house. Saves on keeping the floors dry and clean for sure...

And the horses look about the same..

But they all have nice heavy coats, a warm barn to hide in 

and plenty to eat.... goodness July seems far away when - it the heat of the summer - we were stocking the hayloft.....

I have been sticking to my "new year's resolution" of working on getting my "ufo's" (unfinished objects) done. Here's the latest in my long list of "to do's".... the funny thing about these projects is most of them are so close to done, and they needed just a few more hours to complete. I guess I just get bored when projects seem to go on "forever" and put them away.... but, new leaf!!!!

Aside from "regular" work, plowing seems to be Ed's main job this winter. I say this each year, but I am so happy that we have the equipment to move all this white stuff..... and between the farm and keeping the camp road open... there is always plenty of plowing to do after each storm.....

The wood furnace is working out so well, our house is always toasty and warm... but as I said earlier, the wood supply is "ify" right now.... 

and more plowing...... the banks are getting higher and higher.....

Morning walks to the barn are still wonderful though. For one thing, because the horses are waiting, it means I must go out each day.. and some mornings with this cold, it would be very easy to just stay in and hide.....

Almost every trip to the barn, Mona comes with me. She is the funniest cat... almost more like a dog at times....

We keep a careful eye on the bees.... so far, so good..... I like to go out to the hive... give a thump and hear them buzzing inside. Hopefully we'll get a warm day soon, so they will have the chance to fly.....

On Valentine's Day I had a chance to drop in and see Mom and Dad.... and we also had the chance to get all the little ones together. Sadly, this doesn't happen often enough, so it's just a matter of "making it happen".... family is too important to let time slip by....

They are all so cute together, and close enough in age that they enjoy being together. 

Reagan has a birthday coming up very soon.... It's been such a fun year watching him change from that little new born into a little kid......

Got a call a few days later that our friends needed some help in getting hay. I love being able to "help out" and we dug out our big trailer and made a run for some round bales.

Though this trip went well.. I said to Ed that I feel so blessed that all our hay is tucked away in our barn. If we had to make hay runs like this all the time, it would get old fast. Besides, the price of hay in the winter is a whole lot different from the price of hay in the summer time!!!!!

But, I did take advantage of this trip and picked up some shavings for us. I bought a huge load of shavings late last summer and have just run out. It's much cheaper to buy it in big loads, but since my horse trailer would have to be dug out to do so.... picking up a few bales will work for now....

Sorry, boys and girls, we aren't bringing you anything too exciting.....

Late winter days...... I'm ready for signs of spring!!!!

Goodness... can we take these two anywhere together..... did they call each other to be sure that the shirts would match?????













Family!!!!!!

winter games.....

It would seem that we have a little break in the cold.... it's in the 20's today and everyone was in the mood to get out and do something fun. Kas, Nate and Reagan packed up and came to the farm.... Reagan seemed so happy to see "Baby and Papa!!!"

And it took him all of a few seconds to get his scootie moving and figure out the lay of the house. One thing with an "open concept".. there is a lot of room to move around in. When Abbie lived here, she had a little red trike that she could zip around so fast in.....

The other thing that Reagan figured out... how nicely he could "touch" things... being "taller" has many advantages!!!!

Rearranging all the photos on the frig (and dropping a couple on the floor) was great fun....

"what, Baby??? no, I'm not getting into anything that I shouldn't!!!"

We had a very nice visit while we waited... and before too long, just the sound that we were waiting for!!!!!!

Dave, Deb and Sean all arrived, bringing the sleds back to the farm once again.... it's snow mobile day!!!!

First off, a nice little ride for Reagan, going around the pasture.....

Then Kass took a little turn on her own......

while Reagan got a chance to creep around the snow waiting for Mommy to come back. 

The "boys" had planned to run the sleds over to the lake, so the "gals" planned on doing some snow shoeing. My friend, Kathleen came to join us....

And we followed the paths that the sleds had made out threw the woods. It was such a pretty day, and as I said, it actually felt "warm"... so good to be out in the fresh air.....

We had a great time, and the paths were nice and easy to hike across....

Nate and Banjo.....

I forget how much land we have here on the farm..... 

Kass was amazing... she did all that snow shoeing with little Reagan strapped to her. (and she kept right up with us!!!)

After a little bit we met up with the boys and the sleds.... oh Dave... (showing off) stuck his sled pretty good in the puckies!!!!

Took the boys some tugging and pulling to get him out of this one!!!!












Everyone came back to the house after our outings... we had good foods waiting for us, and it was just a grand time to be all together and enjoying the winter weather (for a change). Thinking there's about a month to go, and then we can begin to think spring. But in the meantime, I hope to get back out on those shoes....