We have been doing some clearing around the barn.. Ed is hoping to bring some of his toys up to the farm and we need room for them. Seeing the big equipment is fun... especially if you're Reagan.. who is visiting today!!!
I'm sure that "Baby" is going to have a lesson in what type of machinery this is and how and what it is used for... really all I know, is that it's making short work of what would take hours for Ed and I do to by hand...
The round pen is ready too.. a nice base of "sand" is going to be perfect to work the horses in... we need to get the panels back into place and it is ready to go... just hope I find (aka take) the time to work those equines of ours
Success!!! I have FINALLY finished a Christmas stocking for Abi.... took me long enough to do it.. one of the reasons her's was so long in coming was I had her pick out the pattern that she liked... I like this one too... I think the little horse looks much like Mocha and since Abi's first Christmases were here with us on the farm, it seems right. I know she's going to be excited when she comes up and sees that it's done
Baby Logan is doing well and settling in just fine. She's a smart little girl and she's going to be easy to train... so nice to have a puppy in the house...
We begun to use the little inside stove.. the mornings now are chilly as are the evenings. Henry is pretty happy with this... he loves to sit and watch the fire and I'm sure he enjoys the warmth. So far, he's been smart enough not to try and catch the flames... I don't think he'd try to.. I'm sure the heat must warn him this isn't anything to play with....
This past weekend we did some rearranging of the living area... I wanted to get rid of the futon and just go with chairs.. our favorite furniture store was having a sale... so.. we got in big trouble up there. I think with some changing things about we have a bigger space.. and with the doggies getting older, I don't like them jumping up on the furniture. So, I will also get some nice new doggie beds and keep them comfy on the floor...
I mostly took these photos so I can remember what it looked like before we did it over.
Reagan has finally arrived... and he was very impressed with all the big things we have here on the farm.....
He had to look everything over very carefully and pretty much as I knew... he began to tell me all about it and how everything works. I just love having little boys... so very different from when we raised little girls. They really do think differently... it's fun.
He wanted to help out around the barn, so we did the chores together... he was very happy moving some hay for me....
The doggies needed a little "run"., so we took a hike around the pasture.... everyone had a good time...
Took the horses a couple of seconds to figure out "who" we were... Duke was on high alert until he realized it was me. I guess Tonka already knew, because he was too busy napping to get up and check it out...
We watched Mr. Winchell work around some more... Ed wanted the drive widened a bit by the barn.....just makes room for moving trailers and the like about.
Reagan brought Kevin up... he was pretty certain that Kevin could get some of the work done on the farm... (wish he could,, I think his bill would be much cheaper than Mr. Winchells is going to be...) Funny how he loves this tractor and that it's name is Kevin.... he brings it everywhere and even takes him to be at night...
I just love days like this... spending time with my grands is one of my greatest blessings... and to think, next year at this time.. there will be another!!!
Logan has settled right in and seems to have been here all along. But somehow, I never feel like puppy raising has begun until my little puppy raiser buddy... Abi... has given them her stamp of approval.
Abi is busy with school now, so (very very sadly)... I don't see her as often as I used to.... but every chance possible we get together. Abi couldn't wait to meet Logan, so she got up to the farm and said her hellos.
She was a little sad to learn that Logan has already done barn walks with me... Abi has always been the first to run the new puppies up to the barn... but, I told her that it would be different for Logan to have her take her to the barn....
And so, exploring they went. It's just a huge extra bonus for "my" puppies to have these grand kids around.... the kids love the puppies as much as the puppies love them...
Abi had a grand time showing Logan all around, and she says that she will be here to help me like she has done with all the others....
Training begins right away... and Logan attended her first night of puppy school. I think she was pretty happy to meet Eliot, ..Scott and Mary's CCI puppy and then Parker, another little yellow lab in the class....
So many new friends!!!!
A pile of yellow puppies!!!
Saying hello to Daisy......
and to Beacon.....
much to do, learn and see.......
Kathleen will be handling Logan in school while I teach... we're both so happy to have a pup again......
Say hello to Logan!!!! our newest "service puppy in training" who arrived to the farm just yesterday..... she was born on August 20... so she is just about 9 weeks old and I think I am already falling in love.
I didn't plan on raising a puppy this fall/winter... I was planning on Livy and I raising cocker babies.. but since that didn't happen, when NEADS asked if I was up for a baby... well you can be certain that I jumped at the chance.
Not to compare puppies... because you never can... but I see a "Debbie look" about this little gal... and if she turns out as good as Debbie did... I will be thrilled.....
I've had her just hours, and already I like her spirit and her way. She is curious and on our walk to the barn this morning, she was checking out everything within her reach...
Mocha was the first of the "equines" to say hello... she took Logan a bit by surprise, but nothing that wouldn't have been totally "normal"
And her sweet little face only showed curiosity... no fear what so ever....
moments later... they were nose to nose.. (wished I had better pictures.. but holding a puppy in one hand and the camera in the other....)
She found the guinea hens quite entertaining!!!!!
as were the chickens and turkeys....
so, off on another year of adventures and fun with service puppy Logan!!!!
I think someone has forgot to tell the weather that it's November.... and NOT that I'm complaining by any sense of the word... but we have had temperatures in the high 60' and even low 70's.... I should be stacking the last of the wood in this fine weather. But since I did not get the wood shed stained last month (on my list).. I decided to take advantage of this good weather and see just how far I could get on this project....
It's a big shed, so I wasn't so sure but thought I'd take one section at a time. I really thought this was going to have to wait until spring, so any part that I get done now ..will be a bonus. Course my new little buddy hung out with me...
The shed has been up for a few years, and never painted... so it sucked that stain up in a heart beat...We bought two gallons, but at this point I already knew that isn't going to be enough....
Can't say Logan thought this was a very exciting project....
But I certainly did... and just with the one coat.. it already looks so much better. Not so sure how long this good weather is going to last, but I'm going to be painting as fast and as much as I can while it is still here...
wood can be stacked when it cools down....
Well, it's always said.. that God doesn't close one door without opening another.. and again, I have found this to be true. Livy isn't going to have puppies, and when I got the official word on that... disappointment set in. I had kind of re-arranged the next couple of months thinking that we would have a litter in the house.... but not to be.
However, a new adventure has come... when Livy earned her therapy dog endorsement last spring, I had been thinking of "what" we were going to do with that. I wasn't sure if I would check in at some of the local nursing homes, or hospitals and see if they wanted a dog team. But, I also had heard of "read dogs" and a couple summers ago, Livy and Camille had done some reading dog at the library. I like the "read" idea, so threw Pet Partners I looked at this closer. I had to take a test for "read" dog (Livy was already accepted because she is a therapy dog).. and it was a mini course which took me about five hours to do.
I also know a teacher at our local school... and last summer had the opportunity to talk with her about the "read dog" program. She was very interested in that, but it was the only conversation that we had.
The fall came, we decided to breed Livy... she didn't take and there were (are) no puppies.. and then.. the school called. What I didn't know, is my teacher friend had been working on bringing the idea to the school.. and it was just taking time, as such things do. The school was (is) very excited about the program.. we all met together.. and then it was... "when can you start". I answered... right away......
So, Livy and I have had our first "read dog" session at our school. We are working with three different children.. but there are more waiting to get in on the program. Since having three children is about an hour and half all on its' own.. I already know that I am going to have to find some more "read dog" teams... (or get some of my student's on board)... but what I can say is our first day went very ... very.... well!!!
Livy loved being with the kids... and at first they were all a little shy. Reading out loud isn't one of their strong suits (thus the dogs come in).. but as they read more and Livy cuddled closer.. their voices got louder and they were so worried about making any mistakes....
Big smiles came from each and everyone.......
And the kids really took to Livy. Karen had given her a cute little puppy cut, so she looks kind of like a brown teddy bear... and I am quite sure that is what drew the kids in....
What I find so fun and interesting is Livy seems to like to look at the books too.... and I say to the kids that Livy has questions about the stories that they read. Not sure if they think I might really know what Livy is thinking, but it does the trick....
I couldn't believe how quickly the morning went by.... we are scheduled for Wednesdays.... and I am already looking forward to next week... and doing my "homework" on finding more teams....
As for Livy... I am thinking she's happier right now being a "read dog" than a mama..... and the joy she is sharing out there is really good for both of us...
Livy... aka "R.E.A.D dog".....
We have been doing some clearing around the barn.. Ed is hoping to bring some of his toys up to the farm and we need room for them. Seeing the big equipment is fun... especially if you're Reagan.. who is visiting today!!!
I'm sure that "Baby" is going to have a lesson in what type of machinery this is and how and what it is used for... really all I know, is that it's making short work of what would take hours for Ed and I do to by hand...
The round pen is ready too.. a nice base of "sand" is going to be perfect to work the horses in... we need to get the panels back into place and it is ready to go... just hope I find (aka take) the time to work those equines of ours
Success!!! I have FINALLY finished a Christmas stocking for Abi.... took me long enough to do it.. one of the reasons her's was so long in coming was I had her pick out the pattern that she liked... I like this one too... I think the little horse looks much like Mocha and since Abi's first Christmases were here with us on the farm, it seems right. I know she's going to be excited when she comes up and sees that it's done
Baby Logan is doing well and settling in just fine. She's a smart little girl and she's going to be easy to train... so nice to have a puppy in the house...
We begun to use the little inside stove.. the mornings now are chilly as are the evenings. Henry is pretty happy with this... he loves to sit and watch the fire and I'm sure he enjoys the warmth. So far, he's been smart enough not to try and catch the flames... I don't think he'd try to.. I'm sure the heat must warn him this isn't anything to play with.... 
This past weekend we did some rearranging of the living area... I wanted to get rid of the futon and just go with chairs.. our favorite furniture store was having a sale... so.. we got in big trouble up there. I think with some changing things about we have a bigger space.. and with the doggies getting older, I don't like them jumping up on the furniture. So, I will also get some nice new doggie beds and keep them comfy on the floor...
I mostly took these photos so I can remember what it looked like before we did it over.
Reagan has finally arrived... and he was very impressed with all the big things we have here on the farm.....
He had to look everything over very carefully and pretty much as I knew... he began to tell me all about it and how everything works. I just love having little boys... so very different from when we raised little girls. They really do think differently... it's fun.
He wanted to help out around the barn, so we did the chores together... he was very happy moving some hay for me.... 
The doggies needed a little "run"., so we took a hike around the pasture.... everyone had a good time...
Took the horses a couple of seconds to figure out "who" we were... Duke was on high alert until he realized it was me. I guess Tonka already knew, because he was too busy napping to get up and check it out...
We watched Mr. Winchell work around some more... Ed wanted the drive widened a bit by the barn.....just makes room for moving trailers and the like about.
Reagan brought Kevin up... he was pretty certain that Kevin could get some of the work done on the farm... (wish he could,, I think his bill would be much cheaper than Mr. Winchells is going to be...) Funny how he loves this tractor and that it's name is Kevin.... he brings it everywhere and even takes him to be at night...
I just love days like this... spending time with my grands is one of my greatest blessings... and to think, next year at this time.. there will be another!!!
