getting ready...

In the hussle and bussle with Ed's surgery, Thanksgiving and the like.. I sort of forgot about the Fair Quilt. Each year, if you remember, they hand out a little patch of material and a theme... with that, you go home, come up with a quilt block of the "theme" and use the piece of material that was given to you. Well, here's the piece of material and the theme... "remembering the 60's". Now, I was born in the 60's but I don't remember them... so part of not doing my block sooner was a lack of an idea. The deadline for having your block in was Nov. 30th....




I mailed mine on December 2nd.. with hopes that it won't be considered "too late". Here's my block... I tried to go with the "peace, love, hope" idea... making the piece of material into "VW beetles" as I do know they were popular vehicles during that time frame. I hope people will "get it".. but I won't know that until the fair next August.......keep you posted on that one.....






I just had to post this photo... This is how we begin each day... a sweet little gal, with all her favorite things (the horse is new)... cuddled in Papa's chair.. watching the Lion King. Even after her "horrid" trip to the Rain Forest Cafe... she still loves her Lion King... I can almost say it word for word!!!!






Our old home town had it's annual Christmas parade. Ed has been feeling so good.. we packed up and headed down to see it. They line up on our old street......(and the parade is usually bigger than the parade route!!!) That's small town New England for ya!!!!








The family... (or part of it) waiting for the parade to begin....













Ginger and Camille came along... so did Charlie, Banjo, Hallie and Ollie...

After the parade, we went back to Kassy and Nate's for supper and goodies... and can officially say..

Christmas season has begun......

back to the city

What a look on this precious little face. It used to be "my look" at the thought of traveling to a big city. Traveling "south over the bridge".. yup that was me... raising service puppies changed that... having to do that monthly check in in the big city!!! And actually this look on Abbie's face, was her expression with regards to the Rain Forest Cafe. But.. let me back this story up just a little....

Ed had his surgery done on Tues (11/29) trip one to the city. Then on Wednesday (11/30) it was back to pick him up... trip number two.


When Kas and I had walked the mall the day before, we found a Rain Forest Cafe. It's a pretty neat restaurant... and looks just like a rain forest (I guess, I have never been to a real one before) but it has vines, and trees, and "animals"... all kinds of neat things. So, when we had to go and bring Ed home from the hospital, I said to Sadie come with me and we'll take Abbie to lunch at the cafe.





I thought she would be thrilled to go. She loves animals... watches the Lion King on the TV daily.. and I thought she would be so happy to see all the jungle animals....

I thought wrong!!!!!! She was sacred to death!!!!










We told her none of the animals were "real" and it was all pretend...and we managed to get her somewhat close to the "animals"...











and told her eating under the trees was like a picnic....

























But all she wanted was.... "let's go home"... so, we finished our lunch... went to get "Papa" and headed for home. After the past couple of days, I think we were all more than ready to be just at "home"....

However, my trips to the city weren't over yet. We had planned our puppy check- in for December 1st. I seriously thought of staying at home with Ed, but he was feeling so good, that he told me to go. Sadie and Abbie were home with him... so trip number three (all in the same week) back to the city.

We met at NEADS and then headed right out to do our work. The "puppies" are so big now that we can just get them going. Elevator ride... seven service dogs!!!!

Then we waited and went again in smaller groups. By now, this is old hat.. and even I am getting used to them.

Hard work... all this service dog training stuff....

We have alot of siblings in this group... here is T and his brother Honor... then Ginger, Leo and Clover are all litter mates... and Edgar and Otis...

Beside the hospital, we also played at the train station again. Luck was on our side... this huge freight train came thru just as we were needing a good distraction....

I'll never be a "big city" gal... but I am getting used to them (it)....

Otis and Edgar.....

I have to agree Edgar buddy... enough of this city stuff... three trips in one week, I need to get back to the country and to my Ed.....

surgery

Oh.. my Ed. He is here at the Lahey Clinic in Mass.. getting ready for a procedure known as Cardiac Arrhythmia adjustment.. aka... get his heart beating in a normal rhythm again. For the past number of years, his heart would go in and out of a regular rhythm known as "a-fib". Lots of people live with this, and it won't "kill you per say".. but it's not the way your heart is suppose to work. At first, meds would help keep his heart in better rhythm but lately, even those have not done their job.

Some days, Ed has felt very tired, a bit short of breath and no energy... not good when you live on a farm and have a life style that is busy. He is also struggling with his weight and other medical issues, that this whole heart thing plays a big part of. After meeting with is doctor, they both decide that it's time to get things in order.

At first, the thought of him going to Lahey Clinic terrified me... a "big city hospital".. far from home, over night stay... but once we arrived there.. most of my fears were quickly put to rest. This place knows what they are doing and knows how to take care of people... they were (are) wonderful.

Kassy took the day off from work to come and keep me company. This "operation" was a six hour procedure... we sat in the waiting room for a bit and then decided to walk around a near by mall to pass the time. It was a nice mall, already for the holidays, and both of us commented that it was kind of sad to "find it" under this kind of situation. We said that we will go back sometime when we can really enjoy being there.

Ed came thru it like a trooper. He said that even just out of surgery, he actually "felt better"... such encouraging words after such a long day. We got him settled into his room, and wouldn't you know... the fire alarm goes off. An announcement comes over the hospital loud speaker, asking everyone to stay put, and look what parks just outside his hospital window....yup--leave it to Ed!!!

Kas and I headed for home.. Sadie and Abbie had everything taken care of on the farm, and even though Ed wasn't there, I was happy to get into my bed. It had been a long day. Tomorrow it will be another trip back to bring him home... a few days of rest, and he can pretty much get back to life...

Thanksgiving...

Not that we haven't ever had "snowy" Thanksgiving, but when I got up this am to get the turkey in... the sunrise looked more like a Christmas morning than a Thanksgiving. Fortunately it wasn't that cold and this snow - like Halloween's- will probably be gone in a few days.

It was windy, and even though this snow was pretty wet and heavy, it still blew around some. The view from the barn doors looks so cold and winter like.

We had a pretty quiet Thanksgiving, just the kids. Abbie couldn't wait for Tee Tee to arrive and watched at the windows all morning long. We tired to get her to watch the "balloons" on the TV, but that only kept her interest a short time.. she wanted Tee Tee..and then we found out "why"... according to Abbie "Tee Tee play outside with Abbie"

It was good snow for snowman making... so that was the project at hand.

Abbie admiring their work.....

She had to re-arrange the eyes a little (and replace the carrot nose that Banjo took).... but all in all... her first little snowman, made on Thanksgiving day.

Time for dinner!!!It was so yummy and we are so blessed to be together.

Perfect time for a photo opt... course, getting everyone just right at the right time....

Takes a little practice... but well worth it. Happy Thanksgiving everyone, hoping your day went as happy as ours!!!!

two for two??

Thanksgiving is tomorrow.. and today, as I traveled out to meet a dog client - who's dog is staying with us over the holiday - THIS is what I followed along the road... Really??? Wasn't it "bad" enough that we had a "white Halloween"... does Thanksgiving have to copy???









I guess so. Since we woke up to about six inches of heavy wet snow. Sunday was in the high 50's and today... high 20's... so much for New England. However, you can deny the beauty of it... and I found several things to take pictures of.

Thinking that once this snow goes, I will need to get those fall decorations moved away from the old mower. It will be time for Christmas decorations anyways....

The dogs certainly enjoy the snow.. and since it's that time of year...

I might as well too.... (though now I wished I had chosen wood over horses last Sunday :) )

a country Sunday

Goodness, it's Sunday again. Ginger and I went to church (alone) Ed was battling a pretty bad cold, Sadie was working and Abbie is with her Dad.. so,it was just Ginger and I. Such a nice service and a great way to begin the day --- and the week. As you can see, Ginger is a pro at church.. but unlike Chester, she lays quietly the whole service. Chester got so used to the "routine" at church that during the closing hymn.. he always sat up and said "it's time to go".. silly dog. Everyone so enjoys having Ginger there, and of course, always ask when she will be leaving us....



When we got home, the first thing I did was get a turkey out of the freezer. Thanksgiving is this week and if I don't get a bird unthawed... we may not have one. This is one of the smaller birds... just 24 lbs... we aren't having as many here for Thanksgiving as I had originally thought.. so I had to find a smaller bird.







It was the nicest afternoon, the temps were in the high 50's and this wood pile was starring me in the face. Even though all of it won't fit uncover... we need to be getting it inside... this weather we're having now is not going to last. But, somehow.. I just couldn't "waste" it on wood......








and went to the barn instead. Annabelle seems to think that I have disturbed her napping time.....













but there are a couple of horses that need to have some work done!!!!Ed helped me harness and we brought them out to the new hitching post. It worked great, and made getting the reigns on them so much easier. With the post I could do this alone..which is what I had in mind....

and then off we went. Even though there is no hunting in Maine on Sundays... I thought it would probably be wise to wear my vest. And since we also went out on the street, it does make it easier for the cars to spot us... though I don't know how you can miss these two....

I spent the afternoon ground driving... I need to work on my own driving skills with the team. I do well single.. but a team is different..though a few more afternoons like this, and I'll be in the wagon...

perfect Sunday.....

festival of trees...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!! Well, not at our house.. just yet.. but certainly at the Festival of Trees which is an event put on by a local garden club. Actually this event happens every other year.. and this year, was the year.

Now in a sense, it is also a contest, where local clubs and businesses are encouraged to "enter" a tree with a theme. Almost since this event has been happening, my dog club has submitted a tree - dog theme - of course. It is usually a favorite, the public gets to vote for their favorite tree and many time we have come in second place. This year our design crew was determined to come up with a first place winner.... as of this blog, the tally is not in yet.. but I can tell you.. our tree was good enough that this photo appeared on the front page of the local newspaper.... we are anxiously awaiting for the results.

Our tree was just one of many wonderful displays.. and to be sure, it put you in the Christmas spirit. The weather was just perfect... a little cool, but not cold (we have gone some years where it was bitter....) The crowds were HUGE!!! and in fact, we didn't get to see one section, because - honestly - I didn't have the patience to wait in the line. But what we saw was just grand.

I decided to bring Ginger along.. knowing that the crowds would be big., and she did very well. Most people were respectful of her knowing she was "working" but there were a few that just came over and patted her without asking. Par of the course I guess

This is the "north pole" tree..... and there were just so many things. It was hard to get good photos, but these will at least give you an idea of what we saw.

So, with Thanksgiving this week... I guess I can officially say... Christmas is just around the corner....