a shower for Abbie....

Saturday was a very busy and eventful day...it was Abbie's baby shower day and once again, the barn in York was pressed into service.. (just a side note, we have done a ton of parties and events in that "old" barn, it's so nice to have the space to use!!!) A while back, when we were talking about doing a baby shower for Sadie, we decided that it might work best to have the shower after Abbie arrived, sort of thinking that when people asked "what do you need for the baby", it would be easier to answer that question with Abbie already here.

The "nice" part about waiting was that everyone was able to see Abbie and spend a little time with her. This has to be one of my favorite shots... this is my Aunt Doreen (who is my Uncle Paul's wife).. my cousin Carolee (his daughter) and my cousin Julie (his daughter-in-law) all with baby Abbie. In case, you haven't noticed - family is "big" with me, and these kinds of moments mean the absolute most!!!!

Everyone was so kind and generous!!! And Sadie was a bit overwhelmed!!! She and Abbie received so many wonderful and useful gifts, I just can't say thank you enough to all our friends and family who have been so supportive and encouraging during all this time!!!!

We had a huge crowd, but with the barn, there was plenty of room for all. I so enjoyed hearing the conversations, and laughing and the overall joy of being together and celebrating this wonderful new life that our family has been blessed with.

Abbie's cake - which by the way - was very yummy - half white and half chocolate!!!

Now, Diana!!! We played a little game that went like this - Kassy made up some necklaces that had little baby pacifiers on them. Everyone that came received a necklace.. but during the shower, you were not allowed to say the word "baby".. if you did say it, someone else could take your necklace away. The one who had the most number of necklaces at the end of the shower received a little gift. We actually had two winners, Diana and Doreen (another one - not my aunt)... but, I have to say, since Diana is a labor and delivery nurse.. I can't believe that she of all people won this game... her life is babies!!!!Good job Di....

Sadie ... still in awe of it all.....

this is Lily, Sadie's friends little girl and Naomi... they were certainly the hit of the party , as well as baby Abbie....I love how they both got all dressed up for the occasion.....

And the "star" of the show, who by the end of the day, had had about enough and was more than ready to get back to a little peace and quiet....

Now, if the day hadn't been busy enough I had it in my mind that I just had to see this new movie that was released... "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carrey... in 3D. Well, the theatre here doesn't have the 3D capabilities, but it was good just the same. We met up with Kelli and Rick, Kas and Nate, and "hid" baby Abbie in her "moby" and went to the movie. I thought it was very good, but I have to say, it was actually a bit scary!!!! The animation was quite realistic and it wouldn't call it a movie for children. Still though, anything to do with Christmas is tops with me. I would like to find it in 3D before it leaves the theatres, but we'll see, likely there won't be time for that....

well..

This is NOT frost on the pumpkins... it's the "s" word!!! And though it's just a tiny little bit, it's the sign of things to come!!! I'm just not quite ready yet....but I guess "it's" not going to wait for me....

In a couple of weeks, Sadie's dear friend, Tara is coming for Thanksgiving. She and Sadie went to school together and Tara hasn't been "home" since starting college in Mississippi three years ago. Tara's family moved just after she left for college, so she hasn't even been here on school breaks and the like. She is SO hoping we have snow when she comes, I hate to disappoint her, but I am SO hoping we won't. I told her there will be plenty of "other" Maine things to do while she is here!!!!



Can you tell that the woodstove is chugging once again?? Any time we want to "find" someone, all you have to do is look near the stove!!! silly creatures, they certainly know where its comfortable....











And very good news!!! Patrick is home once again with his dear Mandi and beloved Maya... he was gone for 295 days!! I know that, because Mandi kept a daily on line blog recording all of Maya's adventures while her Daddy was away...







this is "what" Maya looked like when her Daddy left.... needless to say, he must see HUGE changes in her... but, now they will all be together for the holidays, and then moving onto another base...

God bless our service men and women!!!! and please bless their families who wait while they are gone.....

THANK YOU PATRICK!!!!!!!! Welcome home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

must love dogs...

A little early.. Abbie will be three weeks old tomorrow, but here are some of our fav pics...
one thing for certain... animals, especially dogs, will be a big part of her life............

hope you enjoyed them!!!!

NOT impressed!!!!

There was cause for GREAT concern in the house yesterday morning!!! It was time for Abbie's first bath, and neither she nor the animals thought it was such a good idea.

It's funny how things change over time, even just between Sadie's generation and Abbie's.. one being... NOT a ton of baths. The doctor encouraged Sadie to only bath Abbie when completely necessary, because it's best to allow the oils on her skin to help keep her soft.

Now, the cockers get "worried" enough when it's their bath time, but when they saw baby Abbie heading to the tub, it was very upsetting. Everyone had to come and check it out, just to be sure that Sadie knew what she was doing...

poor Camille was an absolute wreck and didn't settled down until it was all over....

Even Dancer had to make sure that everything was going to be OK....

"What just happened????" (Abbie seems about as un-impressed as the dogs were!!!)























Finally, heading back into some warm cozy clothes!!!

Ever under the watchful eye(s)of the puppy dogs!!!! People always ask what the cockers think of baby Abbie... I guess any one of these photos will answer that question... they are madly in love with her, and I don't think she (or Sadie) can do anything without them noticing...

voting day

Yesterday was voting day here in the great state and since I choose NOT to get into political matters on this blog, I will just say that it seemed that a record number of people went to the polls. It's nice to think that "America" might actually be beginning to care about their rights and the privilege that we have to voice our opinions.


It's fun to vote here in our little town. I did have to wait in line (well, wait for the one person that was ahead of me!!!) There are 8 voting booths, and your ballots go into a large wooden box with a sliding top.... no counting machines here!!! Ed and I didn't get to vote together yesterday, as he was working!!!! But, I guess when he went down the lady signing him in said "OH.. so you're the new fire chief".. which was kind of cool. I really do love living in a small town again... York was small town when I grew up there, but now it's large town, don't get me wrong, I still love York, but here is more like I remember as a child.

I just had to post this picture of Hunter and Trevor

sometimes they can be so "growly" with each other and do that "push you around" brother thing, but basically, they are quite bonded to each other, and I find them more like this than not.....

So.. what's this "working" thing with Ed. Well.. Cozy needed an extra driver for the "honey wagon" (aka stool bus... sucky truck.. whatever you wish to call it!!!) and since the holidays are fastly on the approach, a bit of pocket change is always nice.... so Ed said "sure".

It seems a bit "odd" to have him up and out so early in the am.. I fear that we have gotten a bit lazy on our "getting up in the morning" routine... but he is out the door bright and early. I - on the other hand - now have morning barn chores. Usually Ed does the breakfast feed and let out, which gives me the chance to do house things, like laundry, dogs, general picking up around the house.. and the like. Then on the weekends, I do morning chores and give him a few extra minutes to himself. This has been a great routine, but for the next few days.. it's all mine.

I don't mind morning chores, except for having to drive to the barn. I don't like getting into a cold truck after rolling out of a nice warm bed!!!! But the horses are always so happy to see me and I have the prettiest views driving down to the barn. Yesterday the frost was so heavy that it looked almost like.... snow(!!! - so not ready for that yet!!!) The sun was so bright and pretty at the farm.....

But, lakeside we were in a pretty thick fog...in fact, you couldn't even see the lake... which is only about 30 feet away from the camp!!!!












It took the better part of the morning before it burned off. And when it finally did, it was a beautiful fall day.

I did all the "usual" stuff, barn chores, housework, got some knitting time in... and then ran down to meet with Kas last night and pick up some supplies for Abbie's baby shower which is this weekend. I was running out the door as Ed was coming in, so we still didn't get anytime together!!!! busy days!!!! And being back on standard time, it's already dark by 5:00... but I have to say, I like seeing daylight in the mornings.. guess if it's not one thing... it's another.......

a bit bummed....

I have been a bit out of sorts today, and then realized why... nine months ago today (Tuesday, February 3rd) I said good bye to my little Moxie dog...I guess I am getting "better" I now cry only 4 to 5 times a week instead of daily...


I still miss you Moxie girl.. and I still love you!!!!!!

busy day on the farm.

I am a HORSE, thank you very much!!!!Can't you just hear Mocha saying that to Mr. Oliver!!!

Today was such a nice, busy day at the farm!!We had a lot of visitors, so many, in fact, that I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked.

My friend, Mary came with her dog Oliver, actually they were there to meet with a student of mine, who needs to place a shepherd, and I thought that maybe Mary would be interested in her. The farm seemed like a nice, neutral place for everyone to meet, and while we waited for the other family to come, Mary took Oliver around the farm.

He was a very good boy and seemed to enjoy meeting everyone. When the other family arrived with their shepherd, I left the two families walking and getting to know each other while I finished up some barn chores. Then Betty stopped by, hoping she might catch us doing some driving with one of the big guys.

and then Mary and Ed popped over to see what we have been doing, and to give a couple of Chessie pups a run (Banjo, you missed out on a date with your sisters)....

Folks visited for a while, Mary and the other family are talking about the possible "adoption" of the other shepherd dog, and after everyone went on their way, I did get Tonka into harness....




He was going along so well, that we did get him into the small red cart and took a couple trips around the farm. He is actually going better than me.... I am the one that needs to get my confidence up and just go with him. but I tend to err on the side of caution, and so far, it has always served me well. I know if I could get some constant days of just driving, it would certainly help... that's how we did it with Mocha... and she goes great now

Just sharing some more photos Dale took of the farm....

After the guests on the farm, and driving, then we hurried home to entertain our dinner guests!!! Good friends, Cindy and George came for the evening. I had made our supper in the crock pot (because I knew we would be busy at the farm) and it was all ready when we arrived home.

We haven't had the chance to visit with Cindy and George since last summer when we went over to the their camp... I can't believe that much time has gone by!!! But it was such a fun evening and before I knew it, the weekend was over.

We're back on regular time.. which means, dark evenings, but I do like having the sun come up earlier in the day. Sadie and Abbie have spent the weekend down with Kas and Nate... it sure has been "quiet" around here without them, I'll be happy to have them back at home tomorrow night...

so, another weekend, come and gone, and we're into a new month.... I really hope the winter continues this quickly... I think I am ready for spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a family affair

The last day of October - Halloween. And though we never have "made much" of Halloween, we do enjoy the regular traditions... jack o' lanterns for one. Sadie decided this year to do something a little different with hers - and Abbie's... and carved their names in each one. Maybe next year, we'll have better luck in growing our own pumpkins (the wet spring really took a toll on our garden) and if we do have better luck, I may "pre carve" a couple of pumpkins with names on them (an idea I "stole" from my friend, Kim).. we'll see, next year seems like a long ways off just now...







Tuesday (the 27th) was my Dad's birthday. Sadly it was also the day of Uncle Paul's funeral, so, needless to say, it wasn't a day to celebrate. And being a "week" day, it's always hard to pull the family together, so we opted for a birthday celebration last night.

"happy is the house that is filled with family"...
and the little sunroom at my parents house last night was certainly filled, not with just "us", but my Mom's cousin, Judy and her husband Gary, also joined us. It was a wonderful meal together and we are truly blessed to be able to enjoy such good times with each other!!!!







Here, "Beepa" blows out the candles with the help of Naomi. by the way, Beepa gets his name from Kassy.... people ask me "what is Abbie going to call you" and I answer, "we'll know when she can talk".. because that is how it went when my parents became "grands"... we let Kassy name them!!! Where did Beepa and Meme come from... guess Kas is the only one that could answer that!!!!





Everyone got to spend some baby time with Abbie... Uncle John (who is Rachel's hubby/Naomi's Dad) just loves holding his little niece.. he even opted out on dinner so that Sadie could have a hot meal... but somehow I don't think he minded his dinner being "cool"....

the ever "famous" four generation picture.. actually when I was born, I made the "five generation" .. and we have a picture of that . Life is so precious, you have to grab the moments when they come!!!!!








And here are the "aunts" great aunt Rachel, Aunt Kassy and great aunt Becky!!!!

And the cousins, Kelsey and Naomi -- (told you our family was filled with girls!!!!) My parents have three daughters, five granddaughters,and one great granddaughter!!!

so, from each one of us... "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEEPA" and we want to spend many many more with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

comin' to a close

The month of October is fastly coming to it's close and in looking at the calendar and it's events, November and December promise to be busy!!! I have completed the quilt square for next year's Acton Fair quilt. This year's theme was "school days"... and (forgive me for saying this) we had the usual ugly piece of fabric to work with. I don't mean to be cruel, but honestly, I wonder where they find some of the fabric that they want us to work with, and I also wonder if they purposely do that, just to see if we can come up with something. The fabric this year is what I made the letters out of, then, I cut the other "decorations" out of the cloth and got all the little books and apples. It was mailed yesterday, and now all I can do it wait for the fair (next August) and see what other quilters came up with for their designs. This is the fourth year that I have been a part of the "fair quilt"... and it's the sixth time they have had one... if I had known of it before, I probably would have done the other two years as well. I didn't place the first year, but I have each year since then, so that's a pretty good record.

Well, with the help of Rick's good dump truck Ed has spent the past few days finishing up on dirt hauling. Not only did we need some filling in on the driveway, but there were some places around the barn that needed some fill.

One spot was directly in front of the stalls There had been a big loam pile there when we first built the barn, and when it was moved, the digger went a bit too deep into the ground, thus creating a very wet and mucky spot. The horses didn't mind it, but it was hard to keep things picked up and clean over the summer, so Ed got that area filled back in.

And the "road" going out to the manure pile had another mucky spot there as well. So, Ed dug a "bucketful" there as well. Pretty good horse training, they hardly picked up their heads as the dirt came sliding out of the truck and then the "crash" as the tail gate closed!!! Wish I could do this sort of training on a daily basis....

The earth will need some settling in time and will hopefully do that before everything turns into the deep freeze.. but it's (almost) another thing we can check off the list........