I guess since winter didn't show up in 'winter"... spring would be just as good a time to arrive. And while it is far from unusual to get some spring snow... it can be a bit depressing when you have already sat and had coffee in the sun on the deck... thinking of the good weather and that the snows are behind you....
But the good thing about spring storms, is they don't stick around long, and they don't have that mean punch that winter storms have. So...... I've decided to enjoy this (more than likely) last of the snow and do some picture taking instead....
I do have to say though, I'm not much of a gardener... I'd like to be, but plants and I... we don't seem to work well together. So, I have been quite excited to see that the bulbs I planted last fall had made an appearance... and now to see them covered with snow......
Everyone tells me that they're hardy... that they will come threw this just fine.... but they seem to look so sad.....
Camille is on "walk duty"... she had a flare up with her back - which she hurt four years ago - so, we got to enjoy some snow walks.... she doesn't seem to mind, and with her 13th birthday just around the corner.. she's seen all of this before....
Henry, on the other hand.... finds this all new... but I think he enjoyed it. He's been going outside more and more.. and even though I am still the "nervous" Mother.. I do like our cats going outside. We have them to do mouse duty, and watch over the farm.. plus I'm not the "cat box type person"... so, now that he's bigger.. he's been going out pretty much everyday. He doesn't stay out long.... but that will change as he gets older I am sure
Logan, Rosie and Cole.... these puppies don't mind the snow at all, and in fact, have such a great time all running about.....
Spring will be back soon.... and there will be cooking out and enjoying the deck.... and for today..
The woodstove is keeping the house warm and cozy........
Most Fridays, I head south and check in on the family.. but this week, Livy and I had a therapy dog visit to do in the morning. So Kass decided that she, Reagan and Calvin would come up to see us. It was a beautiful spring day... the kind that reminds you the good weather is coming... and we were just so happy to play outside.
Reagan has discovered the "4 wheeler" and he just loves to come and drive it around the farm. It's so nice that we have all this room (and safe areas) that he can pretty much go where ever he chooses.....and he did just that.
Up and down the drive way several times...
and even following me all the way to end while I got the mail. I just love having the "kids" around.. this farm was meant for family!!!!!
Amanda, Braydon and Bailee came to visit too.... Bailee was so happy to come here as a visitor and not a client.. usually her Mom drops her off to be boarded.. so to come and play with Banjo and Charlie and run around the farm was a real treat for her....
She was pretty happy to meet the horses up close and personal......
Reagan got tired of (actually used up the battery) on the four wheeler... but not to worry, because Papa's tractor was sitting right in the door yard... so he just transferred to that....
He, of course, didn't actually drive it around the farm.. but in all honesty.. it isn't going to be very long before he can really drive it......
After playing, it was time for a little break and a snack. The sun was laying so nicely on the back deck.. so we all moved out there. Calvin and Braydon enjoyed some tummy time.....
Reagan was busy moving his trucks around......
and after the "big four wheeler".. this little "house four wheeler" really isn't doing "it" anymore... I can remember when Abi was playing on this little wheeler.. than Reagan.. and now both have outgrown it.. and it waits for Calvin....
Manda... Reagan and Braydon..... it was so much fun to have them come to visit.. we plan on doing more of these over the summer time....
Saturday morning, we decided it was time to get the deck into summer mode. Because we were working on it most of last summer, we didn't really get the chance to enjoy it... but this year will be different... I plan on lots of deck time, cookouts and the like....
We had ordered a storm door for the pantry door last fall... and what I really like, it has a doggie door in it.. so hopefully, I can get the doggies to be using it. They will be able to go in and out onto the deck and in time... down to the dog yard....
Henry was very curious about all the activity.. both in the deck projects and the doggies playing in the yard....
School break is next week, so we have a number of "guests" here (and coming) to the farm. The big dog yard is so nice and even better are the groups that play so well together. There will be tired doggies tonight!!!
The door turned out to be a fairly easy project...
and with a nice screen, it can be opened and bring light and air into the pantry.....I wonder if the older dogs will remember a doggie door, we had one in the other house, but it's been a lot of years since they used one.... time will tell!!!!
After we finished.. we went out to buy some nice deck furniture... and tomorrow we'll get the top back on the screen house and get the new furniture out there...
and deck weather is officially in progress....
Logan was spayed this past week, so she is on quiet time... but she's bored... thankfully Henry keeps her entertained.....
NEADS spring graduation... Sunday April 10th....we were all excited to go.. this is Danny's graduation day!!! I haven't seen him since he left us in February 2015... so I couldn't wait to meet up with him again. I was happy to be able to tell Jeff all about his puppy raising and living with us on the farm......
Kathleen, Bernice... Linda, Logan and myself.....
As we were just heading into the "meet and greet".. one of the neads officials came with the sad news. Danny and his owner were not going to make it there for graduation. Ugh!!! such disappointing news!!! I didn't realize how much I was wanting to see him, until this news arrived.... just one of those things that can't be helped.. but.. we puppy raisers really do look forward to seeing our babies this one last time....
Logan, on the other hand, took it all in stride. And though she wasn't able to meet up with Danny, she did find another service dog who lives in Maine and made fast friends with her... a "Ginger" to be exact... so, even though we didn't have Danny's owner to talk with, we did have some time to meet and talk with other clients and their dogs.
After Logan got to say hello to some other puppies, she was good and happy to just lay quietly while other people came to meet her. This is one of her neatest qualities.. she can turn it on and shut it down so easily... a very good thing for a service dog (aka puppy in training) to know....
They had a nice turn out of clients, dog, raisers and guests, as they usually do..... the little puppy book I had made for Danny, I gave to Annie (our new trainer) and she will mail it onto Danny's people. I sure hope they enjoy it and I have to say, I hope that I might get a little card or note back from them. But, if not... that's they way it is.... they're not required by any means to keep in touch with us.
We moved to the auditorium to enjoy the rest of graduation....
Logan snuggled under the seats.. just where she needed to be....
And even though they didn't make it.. they did send a message that was read during graduation.. and so, the rest is "Danny's Story"....
Part of the graduation ceremony was to talk about the dogs that are out there doing the work. One of them highlighted was Rylie!!! She wasn't there, but it was so nice to hear about her and all the good works that she and her Mom are doing at Boston Medical.. I especially enjoyed seeing the photos of her at work.....
So, another wonderful graduation, another puppy off into the world... and that makes an official five graduates that I have helped along... Chester, Ginger, Rylie, Debbie and Danny!!!.... I always tell my babies.. "it's all about the RED vest".... and Logan seems to be on that track as well.......
