Easter Blessings....

We had a beautiful Easter this year. So much about Easter is already wonderful, our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life for our sins, that we might spend the rest of time in heaven with Him... the day to day blessings the Good Lord provides for us.. this wonderful country that we live in, where we have the freedom to serve our Lord... we are a blessed people. And then, to top it off this year, not only do we have our dear little Abbie.. but we also had the most amazing weather.. which in New England.. can be tricky... Easter can be warm and it can be freezing... we had warm this year!!!!

Before church, Abbie was given her little Easter basket. We tend to keep Easter as a celebration of the Lord (and leave the bunny out of it).. but we do give gifts in celebration....

The little eggs contained many "goodies".. but a special one had a new "passie"....

just checking to make sure we found all the things that might be inside....

then it was time for church. A new outfit.. and how lucky that could be shown off... (often times a winter coat needs to cover the new outfits!!!)

The bell choir sounded just beautiful. I felt sad that I wasn't a part of it.. but one has to make the practices. Still though it was great fun to be able to sit and listen.. when you "play" you don't get to do that....

And because I wasn't in the choir, Chester got to go to church as usual. He pretty much sleeps thru the whole service......

Beautiful lilies decorated the front of the church.

And a special cupcake was waiting for Abbie during the "coffee time".....

Then it was onto Rachel's for a family get together. She and Naomi had made up a special egg to celebrate Abbie's first Easter.

And a table with a great dinner waiting for us.

Time spent with Great Grandpa......

and cousin Naomi......

And a grand day spent with family ended in the arms of Uncle John and a cup of "milk"..

I hope that all my blogger friends had as Blessed Easter as we had... and that the Good Lord will be a part of your lives as He is in ours.....

surprise party....

If you have been a follower of the blog then you already know that Deb and I have birthdays within days of each other. Mine being 3/30 and Deb's being 4/1... we are also the same age, which means that it was Deb's big 5-0 as well. Our "poor" kids.. two surprise parties in one week, but they pulled it off and last Saturday (4/4) it was Deb's turn to be surprised.








A nice table of gifts from family and friends.. waiting Deb's arrival....

A moment to unwind and begin to enjoy the time together before Deb arrives....

And talk of "how was she getting there".. because that part had been left up to Dave....

Even Chester had to wonder what Dave would do to bring Deb to her party!!!!

Fortunately is was an absolutely perfect spring day, so Dave suggested that they hitch up Buddy and Alice and go for a little drive together.I took this picture thru the window... Deb had no idea that she was driving to her own party!!!!!

But as she rounded the corner, she figured it out pretty quickly.....

And it's pretty safe to say that she was as surprised at her party as I had been at mine....

they "got ya Deb"!!!!!

Course, all the "hitching up work" couldn't go to waste... so Dave gave some rides around the parking lot with Buddy before he headed back home with him.

The horses had to be taken back home, Rick offered to drive Alice back so Deb could stay at her party.

Abbie got right into the "swing of things".. she didn't quite get the idea of blowing into this little horn to make the sound, but she "knew" it had something to do with "going into the mouth"....

Sadie tried to show her what to do... but she's still pretty little to be doing something like that....

Deb had a grand time .. as did the rest of us... she got to see a lot of friends and some folks that she hadn't seen in a long while. It was a great afternoon and one that we won't forget for a long time.....

happy birthday, my dear friend.....

playin' in the mud

It's that time of year again, where we have to cut the boys out of the pasture so it can get some green. If we allowed them out on it, they would gobble up the grass before it even has a chance to start. The area near the barn is pretty mucky and I hate having them stuck in here, but it's only for a few weeks, and if the sun sticks around for a while, this will quickly dry out.








Give it just a bit of time, and this will green up well, and the boys will have grazing all summer long.











Ed has been wanting to get another corner post in for quite sometime. We had rigged the corner with a regular fiberglass post, and so far, it held up. But if the drafts get "horsing" around, it wouldn't stand up to them. So, we put on the boots, headed out to the mud and got a hole dug for the new post.







Abbie was with us, as Sadie was at work. I just buckled her into the "gator" and she buzzed around the pasture with us as we worked. She seemed pretty happy with all the activity.... we'll make her a "country baby" yet!!!!









We kept the boys in while we worked.. mainly so they wouldn't be under foot and "helpful".. once we let them out, Tonka went straight out to the fence and walked the line. I could almost here him saying "what's with this???"









Then he went back to where the new post was (and all that "new" mud) and took a nice little roll for himself. Silver decided that he would "smile" for the photo!!!!!












and then had a little roll for himself. Ah, shedding season... gotta love it.












Abbie seemed pretty happy "playin" around the farm .. she loves to be outside and just a part of anything that is going on!!!!










And here's our Chester.. home after surgery. He wanted to "fuss" with his boo-boo, so they had to send him home with this silly cone thing. He actually didn't mind it too much, and slept most of the rest of the day and evening. Give him a day or two and he'll be back to himself.


I said to Ed, the animals are going to want to keep far from me... poor Chester and his operation, the boys crowded into a small paddock.. I bet the others are just waiting to see what I'll do to them!!!!!!!!!!!!

boy... is he lucky!!!!

Trevor is one lucky dog... lucky that we love him!! Because he sure can get himself into trouble.. yes, the "dog trainer's dog" gets into trouble. I bought a couple of Pandora charms at the local jewelry shop. One for my niece's birthday and one for Deb's birthday. This little shop always does the charms up in a big way and I walked out with these two cute little packages.

Well, I had to run a couple of errands, and so I tucked the boxes (which were also in a bag) into my purse and ran my errands. (the purse was left in the truck since I didn't need it)



I came back to the truck and find out that Mr. Trevor... having been left in the truck... nosed thru my purse and pulled out the bag. He then proceeded to open the gifts!!! And eat the boxes, the ribbon and the receipt!!!! Needless to say, I was "bloody" mad!!! Camille and Hunter did their best to "hide" while I told Trevor pretty much what I thought of him at that moment.

Then, a horrible thought hit... WHERE were the beads??? Not only were they my presents, but they can be a little expensive and the thought of them being "in" Trevor.... horrifying!!!

Fortunately, he did NOT eat the beads themselves and I found them in the crack of the seat.... ,he was one little lucky dog.

The next day, I humbly went back to the jewelry store, told them my fate and asked if they would re-wrap the gifts. They were very gracious and being dog folks could understand.. thankfully I doubt they know that I train dogs for a living!!!!

Either way, the gifts have made it safely to their "people" and I will yet again, remind myself that Trevor and anything of paper... is a bad combo....

April

After the deluge of rain that we had during March, it has been so very nice to see the sun the past couple of mornings. Last year, we were still dealing with a fair amount of snow, so to have this much "open space" so soon is a real blessing. I was up fairly early today and this was the view outside our bedroom window.. sadly, the camera doesn't capture it the way it was... but still, a full moon just before sunrise on a calm lake.

A beautiful way to celebrate "Good Friday".. and then, even better, the singing of the loons.... they are back!!!! and to hear their song just started the day.

The "girls" hard at working, making breakfast. They have decided that the hay bin is the best place for eggs, so, before we feed out the hay, we always need to check for eggs!!!!

Ed switched gears (if you will) and has gone onto yet another house project!!! (I have to say, and not because he is "mine".. but this one talented person!!! and I greatly admire all the things he can do. I can't even begin to think what he has "saved" us in labor costs around this house!!!!)

Yesterday, he took the time to hook up our hot water heater.

And, yes, by the end of the day.. we now have hot water in the house!!! Which means.. I can use my "dog tub"!!!! now, just get a couple of sinks in the house, and we'll be "almost home"!!!

just wanted to add these last couple of pictures from my birthday weekend. Our friends, Dave, Traci and Dillon stayed the night with us. So Sunday morning, we took them over to the Miss Wakefield for breakfast. We haven't been there since Thanksgiving, and it was so good and such a treat. Then.. you know we had to get a picture of them in front of the moose!!!

And Sadie and Abbie too. It was such a cold day!!! so, the predicted warm temps for this weekend is a welcomed thought!!!

So, we are in real crunch time now. June is 60 days away.. the move in target!!! If you don't see or hear from us over the next couple of months.. don't worry.. and if you are worried, come on over to the farm.. we can find something for you to do :o)

the big 5-0

Today is my "real" birthday, though after the wonderful party on Saturday, I felt like that was my birthday. However, today wasn't without it's surprises as well.. my dear hubby gave me two new beads for my Pandora bracelet, and I got all kinds of well wishes via phone/email and blog... and tonite at dog class... there were even balloons, a cake and a song!!! So, it was another fun and happy day... the big 5-0... another chapter in life. Ed and I got back to work on the house, though I have to admit, it's hard to be back in construction mode... I liked having it in house mode. and we had to go and find nearly everything. Now I know "why"... I can appreciate the big push on last week's projects and the huge "clean up" we did at the end of the week... but everything needed to be done, so it wasn't a "waste" by any means.

This nice sunny photo of Annabelle sitting in front of the electric shed was taken last week. We certainly do NOT have that weather right now. The wind is howling tonite and the rain is beating against the glass. Driving home from dog class was an adventure to say the very least,and according to the news, we got another 5 inches of rain just in the past 24 hours... this is the fourth storm of the month and there is water everywhere. Can a lake get too full?? But, by the end of the week, we suppose to have the sun back and almost summer like temps...so we'll see....


This is our front door light, I found it at Lowe's. I like it because it looks "old" and like it even better because it wasn't that expensive.

Ed got it put up last week, and even though we still need to get electricity to it... it's all in place and looks very nice. We made a good choice and I can't wait to see it lit.

The other big push last week, was finishing the closets that are in Sadie's bedroom and Abbie's. Now Abbie's closet will have a "secret door"... Ed has an office that is actually above the mudroom. We didn't even know we had this space until we built.. somehow all this room really didn't show up on paper. But when the real house began, and the space evolved Ed said it would make a great office space. So, we made an excess to it by going thru the closet that is in Abbie's room. This is the view from the office looking into Abbie's.

And this is the official LAST piece of sheet rock in the main house... the ceiling of Abbie's closet. Now, just a bit of mud and tape... some sanding and paint, and we'll be done.... well, we'll need a couple of doors... but basically done.

Ed gave Abbie a grand tour of her new closet and the last piece... I don't think she is quite as excited as we were....

We did have her sit in her new room and check it out. Again, I'm not so sure that she is all that excited about it....

Since Sadie has picked up some part time work, we have Abbie with us quite a bit. We're blessed that she is easy going and fairly portable. We just bring her and her things and she is pretty happy just being in the house with us....

she's pretty good about entertaining herself, so unless she really needs something (food/diaper change) we can just keep an eye on her and still get out things done around the house....

Ah yes,.. house mode... I just LOVE my dining room table... I can already see all the dinner parties we'll be having there. I can't wait to have people over!!!!

But back to construction mode... I have picked out the tile for the down stairs bath.. another Lowe's purchase.... .68 per tile.. we figure we can do the whole floor for about 120.00..... big savings !!!! and I am looking forward to tiling... haven't really done it before, but I think I can figure it out.

I have also come up with a color for the bathroom... a blue.. and think that I have finally settled on a "green" for the living room... we are also looking at our options for kitchen cabinets, and I think Ed might be right... of a sudden it will seem to pull together.

so.. on a birthday.. that's a good omen.... "it will all come together"....still though celebrating my birthday next year in the house... THAT will be a real present...

a mark of time

About 10 years ago, this little boy came to visit us with his Mom. His name was (is) Dillon, and he had never been on a horse. Course nothing doing, I had a horse and knew this little guy could have his very first ride. Silver was more than happy to help out and we all enjoyed a very special afternoon.

THEN... last Saturday.. a surprise birthday party.. friends came from near and far.. including Dillon and his Mom!!!! (traveling for four hours!!!) Not such a little chap anymore.. a wonderful young man!!!! who was very happy to be re united with the gentle horse that had given him his very first ride!!!! course we weren't about to miss such a great photo opt... so even though ol Silver is long retired and Dillon nearly taller than I am.. fond memories and good friendships last a long time!!!!