A beautiful spring day arrived on Saturday.. perfect for hitching up, driving and full filling a promise!!! it's going to be a fun day. My friend Shirley had brought her grand daughter (who loves horses) to the farm for a visit over a year ago. But because I got "stuck at work (post office)" I never got home in time to be with them. We have talked off and on about making up that visit, and today is the day. Good ol Duke, he hasn't been hitched in months, other than the one Sunday we did get the sleigh out this winter... but this gentle giant always goes with the "flow".. and I knew he would give us all a nice little drive.
Shirley came and brought not just Casey, but her dad, Mike and her uncle Chris (Shirley's sons). Duke was all hitched and ready to go, so we started out driving about the farm. Casey was joyous and as soon as she got in the cart, she talked about all the things she's enjoy. She was so cute and fun, I could have driven with her all day...she and I went around a few times, and then I asked Shirley if she would like a ride...
Always up for fun and an adventure, Shirley was more than happy to hop in with Casey and I .. and off we went. I have to say we were a bit squished in the forecart.... which is why I really hope that sometime this summer, I find a cart that can carry more people comfortably.... a four wheeled cart with two seats would be perfect....
but we had a nice drive all the same.
"Uncle Chris" took a ride with me as well.. and Casey a few rides... such fun, this is what I always think of when driving... to be able to share this with family and friends. Driving along isn't the same as it is with friends...
Casey, after her rides was so excited to help unhitch and asked if she could brush Duke out. I love it when kids want to do "the work" as well as have fun.
My sweet gentle boy was so good with this little gal, and she wasn't one bit afraid of him.....
She "hit all the right spots".....
and you can just tell how much Duke enjoyed all the attention after his work.....
Since Casey didn't quite want the day to be over... we brought out a "horse" more of her size.
She was so happy to walk Mocha around the farm (and Mocha enjoyed a taste of that new grass)....
A bit of grooming, warm sunshine, and grass... what more could a "horse" ask for....
Certainly a great day for a little gal who is beginning to love horses, but I have to admit... an even "better day" for a big gal who has loved horses for many years... and sharing them is always the best!!!!!
We have made another promise for another day... and I will be sure that it happens... next time.. Mocha is going to work......
A couple summers ago, our friend Denise moved her horses and barn to the farm. It was fun having her around, but when she found a place to rent, the horses and barn left. Well... now Denise has lost the rental place, and needing somewhere to go.. we invited her to move back on the farm. Today is moving day!!! We loaded the horses first....
and then the truck arrived to get the barn. These are great little barns, and not really meant to be moved, but they certainly can be....
This company has it down to a science... the barn is built on "skids".. so it's just a matter of winching it up on the truck. However, this truck is also designed to do just this job, and really in a matter of minutes, it was up... on...
loaded...
and ready to hit the road. Fortunately, it only has to travel a few miles.... but it could go cross country if needed.
The barn was right behind us, and here we go.. onto the farm.
Now, putting it where we wanted it to be was another story. I opted for having them go up the drive and then just back it in. But, the drivers wanted to take it across the field. Hummm.. a field that has only just cleared of snow, has been rained all all spring and the ground is about as soft as it can be..... not a good idea in my opinion...
Yup, pretty much as I had thought... they go stuck... and the deeper that barn sank into the ground, the more worried I became...
However, the driver was not one bit phased. He unloaded the barn... turned the truck around,
reloaded and came at it from another angel. Instead of pulling the barn across the field,
He gently pushed it. And what was more amazing to watch, is the truck and trailer were all moved by remote control. He never got back in the truck but did everything from a little hand held unit. He would inch the trailer out, then the truck backed up to the trailer.... inch it out again, back up again... the weight was better distrubted..
and even though it sank a little in the field, the continual movement kept everything from sinking in too far...
Once it was in the proper place, the barn slipped off the truck. A bit of leveling (which wasn't hardly anything) and Denise was back in business.. Up went fencing and the horses were home again.....
Since it was such a pretty day, and the barn moving project went much faster than I had thought. I decided to pull ol Duke out.. give him a much needed brush out, and do a little driving....
Good weather must be on the way... once these big boys begin to drop coat.. it's a sure sign....
almost enough hair to cover another horse!!!!
all harnessed... ready to go.. and then Duke sees, we have new friends!!!
Looking forward to lots of horse stuff this summer!!!!
Our monthly check in at neads!!! goodness, the time is always flying by!!! We stopped in at the campus and then headed right into the city. We have major concerns about Miss Bella... actually, we (puppy raisers) knew from the moment she came to us in January, that Miss Bella was never quite "service dog material"... she's extremely sweet... and wants to try.. but her soft manner isn't going to pass her. Both Kathleen and I have worked with her on all sorts of things, once she's used to something, than she is OK... but when something new crosses her path... like this bit quite statue...
Given the opportunity... she's out of there. We basically took her down today.. with the true expectation that she would be officially dropped.... then we can quit trying to push her into something she'll never be and find that perfect home for her...
Joey, on the other hand, it typical "all boy" lab. He plunges into everything with a great sense of humor and wit. He's been so much fun to work with.. except for one thing... Housetraining!!! I am having a horrid time with that and never.... it all my dog years .. have I not been able to house train a puppy. I have true concerns and stressed that big time to the trainers today....
Poor Bella... this city life is not for her. I was so sad to see her face.. which pretty much looked this way the whole day.... those tight pinched eyes says it all... "this is not what I want to be doing today"....
We continued threw the day. Bus station with all those noisy (stinky) buses... Joey saw no troubles with.....
Beautiful "unders" at all the stations waiting places...
Trains roaring threw...
Bella continued to do her best, but now the trainers are seeing a whole different side...
Joey didn't even notice the traffic whizzing behind him....
But, being a baby, he did poop out .. and so when Bella went to do the hospital walk.. and Joey being tired (and having not done his business) we opted to wait just inside the door
Upon the return from the hospital walk, everyone has pretty much agreed that Bella will be dropped. And as sad as it seems, I know Kathleen and I are actually relived for her. Not every dog wants this job and fortunately, there are people who know and understand that.
On another note here, we have two new trainers we are working with now. Lacey and Anne... Dave has decided to take on a new venue and is no longer at Neads. I am going to miss him greatly, because I loved talking not just service dogs.. but dog training in general with him. He was so knowledgeable and we had so many thoughts in common. The gals seem very nice and we're willing to take on whatever challenges come our way... and things change.. life changes, so you just need to go with it.
Our eyes (and concerns) now turn to Joey... I hope we can sort this potty thing out.
I had a bad feeling that my little bees did not survive the winter. For all the snow that we had, it arrived in January... which meant that the cold November and December days, there really wasn't any snow to help keep them warm. When we got snow on Thanksgiving, I thought that was how the winter would be. Then it left, the cold arrived and there wasn't any good insultor for the bees. I checked on them in December, they were doing well.. had food and the like.. but things got quiet after that.
So, we opened the hive and sure enough, everyone was "gone"... I cried..... and then we found honey that had not been touched... so to make something good out of something sad... we do have honey to harvest. We called Abi to come and help, and she was beyond thrilled to have some of this sweet treat....
She's become a pro .. and maybe one day she'll want to keep bees. I love how she is so interested with the things that we do on the farm..... she really wanted to try uncapping, but that knife is hot and Papa said it was better that he do that.....
With frames in the "spinner"... Abi can now take over.....
The frames were not completely full of honey and I had wondered how much we would end up with. Actually there was more than I thought. So, what happened was the bees were too cold to eat, and died that way.... I have already decided (well already ordered) bees for the spring... we'll try again, because I like having them here on the farm, and I already know I would miss them....
In the meantime, we'll enjoy all the hard work they did for us.....
Family celebrations have to be one of my most favorite things in the world. I like to celebrate them all... but once in a while, there is one that is just a bit more special than any other one... and that would have to be today's.....
Mom and Dad are celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary. It's an amazing thing... because if you take the time to think about all the reasons and time and events that bring a couple this far... it can boggle the mind. But of course, the thing I think the most about was how sick Dad was just a few months ago, and that at Christmas we really had doubts about him even pulling threw. And today, we are so very blessed that both Mom and Dad are here.. they are doing well... and we have the chance to be all together. Blessing doesn't even begin to describe it all.....
We met at one of their favorite restaurants to eat and celebrate and have the chance to be together. Sadly not everyone made it ... (Sadie and Abi, Nate and Naomi) but it's hard to bring "big" families together, and just have to go with as many as can......
Reagan was so good, and it's hard being the little one with all the adults... but we spoiled him...
I hope my Mom and Dad have many more celebrations... I hope we'll celebrate a 60th!! But for now, we'll take each day God gives us and make that a celebration of it's own.....
April is proving to be the month of showers... I'm hoping we're at the point where snow is long behind us, and mud the thing we deal with the most. I have let the guinea hens out and they will now be free (until the next winter snows) to do the bug patrol and get those nasty tics under control....
It's nice to see them out and about and hear them talking back and forth....
We've come threw a very exciting winter... but I'm ready for some long summer days .....
