getting the tree....

We finally found a day to go and get our tree.(actually is was just a week ago today) I don't ever remember getting our tree this "late" in the season, but between everything going on, and then this past weekend proved be very rainy and yucky... it just took time. We actually started the day with a trip to the vet with Miss Ginger, she needed her booster shots. She hopped right up on the scale (at 23 pounds!!) and sat as good as gold until I told her to get off.

Dr. Spahn has graciously offered to be her sponsor. This is such a generous offer, because not having to pay for vet services is a big thing for NEADS. Dr. Spahn also took care of Chester, so to be doing this again.. is so appreciated!!!! The staff that works for him is outstanding, and we love going there!!!!! After shots and the exam.. we were off to the Christmas tree farm...

The day was cold, but sunny. We haven't had any snow yet, which is a bummer in a way... but it made it easier for Abbie to walk among the trees. We said we would let her pick the tree out...

Cam and Ginger on the hunt for the "perfect" tree....

Abbie seemed to like this tree... she kept pulling at the branches and saying "pretty".. so we went with this one...

Watching carefully as Grandpa cuts the tree....

and his wish.... "where's my chain saw???"

After watching, Abbie was pretty sure that she could have cut the tree herself!!!!!

pup-pups and me......

"yup, let's get moving and get this tree home!!!"

my wish... "why are we dragging this trees, where are those drafts when you need them??"

course, it just isn't a visit to the Christmas tree farm without getting a little candy cane...









or having a nice sip of cocoa....

think the season has begun (finally) at our house!!!!

training day....

So, it proved to be no rest for the weary.. we got home from Williamsburg on Tuesday... Wednesday I hosted a Christmas get together with the ladies from our church.. and then Thursday, it was on the road again... taking Ginger and Leo back to NEADS for a day of evaluations and training. Ginger rides very well in the car and just laid quietly in the back seat while we cruised along.







We met up with Teena and Freedom, plus Camille was with us because I had to teach dog class in the evening, and then it was Kathleen and Leo.. so three gals and four dogs!!!









Dave went over evaluations in the training room at the campus. Noises are the big thing right now, just getting the puppies used to all sorts of loud and unexpected sounds. Ginger can be a little sound sensitive, so we're working on that at home. Then we took the puppies around some of the equipment in the training room.. things like walkers, wheel chairs, canes and the like. Neither one was too phased about any of those kinds of thing...





After that, it was playtime. One thing about puppies, their attention span is pretty short, so you have to keep the lessons short, sweet and simple. That way they want to learn, because it's fun to do so.







After that, we loaded up again and headed to the little mall where NEADS works alot of their dogs. It's fun because at this mall, no one hardly notices you because the dogs are there all the time. It's kind of nice in a way,because you can really concentrate on your puppy and not have to "bother" with the public. Both Ginger and Leo did quite well at the mall... the slippery floors, lots of people, kids ... were all taken in stride. Ginger was even brave enough to check out the metal floor just in front of the escalator. (they are not allowed to ride on them, but it's good to not be afraid to approach them)

A quick trip to the parking garage provided another experience. A place to potty, and then the noises and the cold. We didn't hang out there too long...one thing about service dogs, they need to be taught to "go" when given the command to do so.. you can't always depend on the fact that there will be that nice patch of grass to do your business on!!!

good puppies... a long and exciting day...

and then time to head north once again. We plan on going to NEADS once a month with these guys, so you will certainly be reading this kind of post in the future..

"Kringle"

When you leave the kids in charge of the farm.. almost anything can happen. Not that I am (was) worried about any big parties, but I did worry about things like keeping the wood furnace burning, making sure the doggies got out on time, and keeping the barn. Turns out, those sorts of things were the last of my "worries".. I never thought that we would be acquiring another equine!!!!

From what I'm told the story goes something like this.. the Saturday we were in Williamsburg, Sadie gets a knock at the door. A man is standing there telling her that her horses are out and on the main street. Sadie runs to get dressed and heads out the door, only to find our horses happily grazing in our pasture. "They're not mine" she tells the man, but then offers her help. Sure enough, a neighbor's horses are out --- again!!! These guys have a knack for getting out, I've seem them loose a few times myself. By the time Sadie and this man get to the horses, a few other folks have stopped as well. And not too soon after, along comes the owner.

Poor woman is frazzled. Turns out she has already received one fine for horses on the loose.. and today's escape hasn't helped. She is caring for elderly parents, and at the moment doesn't live on the property with the horses, but trucks back and forth each day to care for them. So, when they get out, she doesn't know until someone calls her. And if it's the police...it's a fine. Once she is there, most of the helpers go on their way, but Sadie decides to stay and give her a hand. She tells Sadie that the two brown mares don't even belong to her, and she has called their owners to say that they need to find a new place to stay. Then she looks at the pony and says... "I don't have a clue what to do with you". And then another comment of "put down or send to auction", either the way... a pony needs a home.

Well, by now, you have exactly figured out where this story is going. Instead of seeing him just shipped out to place unknown, Sadie offers to bring him home. Course the lady jumps at this chance and says... "he's yours". I'm not sure if Sadie exactly expected this, but she came home, got a halter and lead rope and walked him back.

To be honest, I sort of thought that by the time we got home, this lady might have changed her mind and say she gave him away without thinking. But since it's been over a week, I guess that's not happening. He seems like a nice little chap. He has manners (as I have had the vet out to see him), and he's ridable and who knows, maybe he drives. If nothing else, he could turn out to be a nice little riding horse for Abbie or any future grand babies.... OH.. and he has a new name... "Kringle"... in honor of Christmas.

The "problem" is, we really don't have a spot for him. In the best case, he and Mocha will become great friends, and we can house them in the same stall. I've been thinking it would be nice for Mocha to have a buddy, she does get lonely when the big guys move way out in the pasture and she is stuck alone at the barn.

Bit by bit, I have been turning the two out, Mocha, having raised a few babies, knows how to put Kringle in his place, and he has backed off each time. So far so, good.. I think another few days like this and we'll try them together in the stall.

Looks like this picture tells the whole story...

we have a pony on the farm.

heading home....

Monday morning it was time to think about heading north again. We had traveled down on Friday in one long (12 hour) ride, but we all decided that returning home, we would cut the ride in half. We went back to the Colonial city to "say goodbye" and take in a couple of tours before getting on the road. We also did a bit of Christmas shopping... and a few photo opts...









Here's a great picture of our friends!!!!

You know.. this could SO be my job!!! Let's see, to work in Colonial Williamsburg.. driving a buggy or riding horse back... yup that could so be me!!!!

We came home via the Chesapeake bay route. It is a bit longer than the interstate run, but it is a much prettier ride. We also wanted to show Kelli and Rick the Chesapeake bay bridge.. which is really three bridges and two tunnels that span the bay.

There is a visitors center in the middle of the bridge that we stopped at. It has a little restaurant and gift shop, plus great views of the bay. It was very windy and cold.. the water was quite rough.

A view of one of the tunnels and bridges....

Tankers were waiting in the bay for their inspections before entering the harbor. We continued on, and made it to about a half way point before we put up for the night. Things were going well at home, but the kids were anxious to have us back, and I was missing my puppies.. besides, there is another story to tell... but that's in a blog to come.....

the Grand Illumination...

So much for the "sunny south".. the "mild temperatures" of Virginia... it was sunny, but it was down right COLD... even for new england folks like us. Course, we know how to handle the cold, and wisely had packed all sorts of cold weather clothes. Sunday morning, we woke to snow!!! just a light dusting to be sure, but now we have seen Williamsburg with a bit of snow as well.







It didn't last the day, and only stuck to the leaves and the shadow parts of the grass.. but it certainly added to the Christmas look of the colonial city.












The decorations were grand. And each house or business puts their own special twists on the decorations. The big grand houses, usually have pretty grand wreaths.... this one had all sorts of dried flowers, feathers and the like...

This one was mostly "greens", but then they used oranges and lemons, and the peelings from them made the 'curlies"...

and here's the wreath that the blacksmith had.... tools, some coal... and a few greens....

you've heard... "strike while the iron is hot"....






We spent the day touring the buildings, admiring the decorations and just enjoying the trip. It was such fun to take Kelli and Rick along..we loved showing the city off to folks who had never seen it before. Though it's hard to show anyone all of it in just one short visit. One thing about Colonial Williamsburg, there is something for everyone, and you really can't see it in just a few days.....

There were many things going on... after all the Grand Illumination is one of the highlights of the season. This coral group was very good, I suspect they were from the college of William and Mary, and we had such fun standing and listening to them.

And when it got dark... the fireworks really began... we decided to stand near the palace.. but there were two other locations of fireworks.. and all three go at the same time.

There was a big crowd of people, but we only felt crowded during the fireworks. Afterwards, there was music and all kinds of entertainment. We didn't stay too much longer, because after having been outside for the entire day, we were all getting a little chilly.






We found a great little restaurant, had a nice hot meal, and it was the end of another fun day. As we knew, the weekend was going by much too fast.....

photos of the day

I'll just let the pictures tell the story.......

Williamsburg....

it's pretty simple, we're here!!!!