So ... I have come to discover that yet, another saying is true.... "the things that you are stressing and worrying about today... probably won't seem that big a year or so from now"..... well... "a year ago"... my dear Ed and crew were "rushing" to get the last minute details done on Protection 2. With the big parade almost just hours away, they were all working hard.... and I was really wondering if they were even going to make the dead line...
They did..... and perhaps with hours to spare (though not many!!!) and Protection 2 was in the parade in all her new "finesse" and everything was well. Now, here we are.... a year later, and we're looking at rolling her out of storage because this year's parade is just days away......
What is it with these summer projects of ours anyways??? I asked Ed "what are we going to tackle next summer"... to which he replies... "relaxing"....
but some summer projects are just simply exciting (to me anyways...)
and soon, it's good bye to this walkway, if you can call it that... that leads up to the front door. Actually this has been a dreaming project for a few years... we were hoping to get it done before Sadie's wedding.... didn't happen. Then last year.... didn't happen...
and we were planning on doing it ourselves... we have done walkways before... but I got another idea, and with what I am hoping for... we decided that a bit of professional help might be the better route in this case....
A few weeks is going to make a HUGE difference here!!!!!
Besides... we are still working on the deck... and even though this project is going well... it's going long!!! way long!!!! Now that we have it figured out, the pace has picked up a bit, but there's a lot to it...
We put in a bit of time each weekend. But our biggest "block" if you will, is simply the weather. Some weekends we get in a day, and the next it's raining... OR... it's hot... way hot!!! and not just too hot in work in, but the materials themselves are to hot to handle....
so, we try to get onto it earlier in the morning, and then later in the day. It's coming... but not fast enough....
I can't wait to see railings, and parties from this view.... and yet, next summer, when those things are happening, I will look back at these photos and think... "was it all that much to fuss about??"
After a good long day last Sunday, this is where we ended... both of us hoping that we would completely finish the decking, but honestly... we were just too tired to even think... and it was beginning to get dark and buggy.... so....
enough for now, and we'll just have to get back to it next week....
I have to say, that when i got up Monday morning, and this was my view... it was nearly thrilling.... and this was the first time that I had ever opened these doors. I'm still not comfortable walking out there, and scared to death to have one of the dogs go out... but the deck is there...
and the professionals for the walkway... began moving in on Monday morning..... so this is really happening as well....
Materials began to arrive.....
heavy equipment showed up on the front lawn....
and on this one... Ed and I have the great pleasure of "sitting back" and watching it all unfold before our eyes....
summer projects.... yeah maybe "relaxing" next summer might be a good one to try!!!!
I am having the best time teaching this Canine Community class!!! I love my students and I love the training sessions... tonight we went into Portsmouth and worked the dogs on the streets of the city....
We always seem to draw the attention of the crowds... I don't know if it's just the number of dogs working together or the fact that they are all so well behaved. The gals are doing so well and seem to be having such a fun time....
Working on the street is fun.. you never know "what" you are going to come across...
Or go across for that matter......
However, my fear of bridges only allowed me to go half way... and by this time, I was almost shaking in my boots.... I got this quick photo and told the gals that if they wanted to go on, they could.. I turned around....
We practiced things like a sit before crossing the roads... moving over into tight spaces so others could pass by...
and even how to handle and remain calm when approached by another who might not act so well. Actually this little chap was rather nasty, and was a perfect opportunity for Brutus to practice a "leave it" command...
Our training sessions always seem to end with "treats"... (for the humans)... ice cream is always on the list. But again, great training opportunities... to have your dog lay quietly under a table (out of the way) and not bother with all the food and activity around them....
Though hugs and compliments from the public are always welcomed...
A beautiful summer night in the city... a great night of dog training, and I have to think this is "my life and my work"...
blessings abound.....
Not that this family needs an "excuse" to get together... we just enjoying doing so.... but this afternoon there was a special reason.... (I though this was a funny photo -- the two grandpa's and the two chickens behind... sort of looks like they're even sitting the same way!!!)
I love seeing the "grands" together.... Reagan is at an age now where Abi enjoys playing with him... up until just recently she saw him as a baby and more of an annoyance that a pal.... as time goes by, their relationship will only get better....
They spent a long time happily playing in the sand box.....
But this why we were together tonite... it's Nate's birthday!!! (and a big one to boot!!!)
Both sides of the family had a great time, we had a nice cookout (great food) and yummy dessert......
Happy birthday!!!!
The little back deck was crowded.....
Our good friend Glen was visiting from Tennessee.. (he usually comes this way each year about this time)... so, we asked him to pop over too... so nice to have friends that are "there" your whole life....
Now (sadly) I don't know anything about guns, except that this is one that Nate has wanted for sometime. Kassy , Dave and Deb all pitched in and got this for him. As you can see, he was pretty surprised and pleased....
Reagan... playing peek a boo.......
I am coming to realize just how special times like these are and I truly appreciate these moments..... such a nice evening with family and friends... these truly are the times that count the most....
We were back to decking the next day... it's coming along. This is a slower process than traditional wood decking, but when it's done.. it will be all done.... much of the work is done on our hands and knees, and we can only do that for so long. But.. there are finally enough rows where I am brave enough to get up on the deck and hopefully be more help to Ed.
I did make it up there, and was actually of some help... we hit the halfway mark today... and I decided that it was "officially" the first night that we sat out on the deck...
We'll finish it and one day look back and not think of how much work it really all was... but tonite, I'm just sitting here.... resting!!!
The summer is absolutely flying by!!!! I am grabbing every day possible and cramming in as much as I can.... including (and especially) Abi. School starts this fall for her, and with that, and her being at home, and then being with her Dad... I have great fear, that Papa and Baby time, is going to become very precious and not enough. With that in mind, I take her every opportunity possible.....and we do all those "horrid" grandparent things... like staying up way too late!!!!!
Cuddle time with Papa before heading to bed... (and notice Titus getting in on the photo)....
I'm not so sure where that little baby has gone and this beautiful little girl has stepped into her place..... truly... every day is such a gift......
The bees are having a great summer too... I feel like we are adding boxes like crazy... there seems to be enough rain to keeps things growing and they are busy, busy, busy......
I love to go out and just watch them fly......
They're coming in, loaded down with nectar and pollen.... I am expecting a very good honey crop this year!!!!!! and then hopefully we can get threw the winter......
This has also started being an annual "summer event".... the dog and pony show!!! Last summer, I took Mocha over to visit the adults with special needs... she was such a big hit, that we were invited back again this summer.... I think Mocha likes to go as much as they like to have her......
When we arrived, she kept giving me this look like... "are we going to go and say hello... or just stand here in the parking lot???"
Course, I always have to have these photo opts... Mocha, me, Livy and Camille.... ready to go and visit.....
Some of the folks we visited with remembered us from last year, and others were new. Either way, for the most part, the residents loved seeing us.....
At first, some folks aren't so sure about all of this, but Mocha's gentleness soon has made good friends....
She amazes me .... nothing upsets her... sometimes the residents are off balance in their movements, or need some help with walkers, wheelchairs and the like... some pet gently while others are not so refined... and she takes everything in stride....
This young man is a huge horse lover, and he got all dressed up for the occasion, and asked several times to have his picture taken with Mocha....
Smiles are everywhere on a day like this.... this lady was beyond thrilled that Mocha walked up to her. She has trouble stretching her arms out, but she didn't need to go too far, because Mocha was right there....
Course Livy was about to let Mocha have everyone to herself... and she got into every opportunity possible....
And my gentle, sweet Camille..... she took a real shine to this lady and I think there was a special moment between just the two of them.
Everyone is so grateful that we come to visit, but in all honesty... I think it's me that gets the most of out it. And to have such special animals that enjoy being a part of it...
well.. there are not words that can describe this...
