lobsta, football or birthday????

Well.... there was so much going on today, it was hard to even come up with a "title" for this blog.. so, I guess I might as well include everything. This coming Thursday is our monthly check in with Dave - and even though Kathleen, Bernice and I don't have puppies, we'll still go down.. not just because we always have a good time, but also.... it's Dave's birthday that day.






When we heard that last month, we all decided that we wanted to do something fun on his birthday. Now, we know that Dave loves lobster and never really has the chance to get it. So, Rick said he could get some lobsters for Dave from a fishing friend, and then I said, well, if we were getting lobsters for Dave, we should get some for all of us. So, today, the Maine puppy chapter got together for a lobster bake (in the middle of winter).





Rick arrived threw the door... more than ready to begin the party... or feast, which ever you want to call it.......











I guess their Mom's never told them NOT to play with their food!~!!!!!












Abbie still isn't quite so sure that these "things" are really meant to be eaten. But at least this time, she didn't run away in fear!!!!!









Now, it was also an important game for all the football fans. The Patriots are playing for the chance to head to the Super Bowl. I'm not a football fan - but several of the puppy raisers are, so, we had the game on, and our lobster bake/birthday party sort of became a Pre Super Bowl party as well... but, call it what you will.. it was still a fun get together....









"Hey Dave, THIS will be part of your birthday present come Thursday --- and you don't even know".....










The cooking crew had to bundle up well... I do have to say, I think lobster bakes are easier in the summer time....












but, Ed was happy to man the grill ( we had steak and chicken too - because some of "us" aren't lobster eaters!!! ) Can't imagine that......











Rick manned the lobsters......














Not so sure what was "that funny", but this is a great picture of my Ed and Kathleen.......












Oh boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! let's get eating.......











Rick and Bernice are still trying to tell Abbie that "yes, you really can eat them!!!"













Funny how quiet it become when the food is ready......












and the football fans didn't stray too far from the TV......










So.. our lobster bake, football, birthday party was great fun, and very filling.... it was a good way to begin another winter week.


And Thursday, we bring some lobster meat to Dave, and have a training/birthday check-in at NEADS.


(oh ya... the Partriots did win and they're heading to the Super Bowl... another party????)

Happy Birthday!!!!!

We had another birthday around here.... my dear Ed's. On Saturday we went to dinner, but on the actual date, you just have to have a little something as well.










I picked up a small cake (small being the word as Ed is really working on getting some weight off) and we let Abbie do the decorating. That is one thing about having a child in the house... everything is grand and exciting.. she reminds me of many things.








And the more candles the better... and what's with perfection... place them on the cake and celebrate!!!!!











After the decorating of the cake, she had to "dress for the party"... I'm not sure what's up with the Halloween frog costume, but she felt it was fitting!!! (and she looks so cute in it - might as well enjoy if before she outgrows it!!!)









Time to sing ... "happy birthday....."













Abbie and Papa.....life is grand.....













And another happy youngster in the house... our little foster puppy. I think he has missed Ginger so much but this week, we have a visitor. This is Chloe, she belongs to Linda our puppy raiser chapter leader. Some new snow, and two young dogs are having a great time.









Winter days... they're slipping by quickly.

one tuff bird...

Bitter cold weather has set in. By this time of year, we should be used to it, but it's been so mild.. that it's all the talk right now. I always "worry" about the farm animals when we are in cold snaps like this. If I had my way "everyone" would be inside and cuddled next to the woodstove... but actually the farm animals do just fine in the cold. We make sure that there is plenty of water on hand, and extra feed.. that they can get shelter and everyone does just fine. Even the birds....

However, our little silky rooster has had quite the week... poor fellow......


I went down to do chores one morning last week, and found him stuck in the door of the chicken pen. I am thinking that he flew up to chase the other chickens away and somehow got his foot stuck in the chicken wire. Having five toes, silkies have big feet and his foot got caught, he was hanging upside down by his stuck foot. Because he was so still, I was pretty sure he was dead, and I called Ed down to give me a hand at untangling him. Well, when we went to move him, he was alive... and just had the good sense to hold still (thankfully the other birds did not attack him in this bad situation)....

but, he certainly was "hurt"... and I wasn't sure if the leg was broken, sprained or what. We decided to put him in a dog crate and just give him a few days to rest and see what happened. So far, it looks like he's going to pull threw.. he is beginning to stand on his leg and is eating and drinking. Before he is put back with the others, though, I want to be sure he is strong. One thing about chickens.. they're basically not nice and any sign of weakness in another bird.. makes them a victim for sure. I like this little chap, so I want to be certain he is back in control - or at least take it back when he is ready to join the rest. All I can say, he is one tough little guy....

thinking about a birthday...

My hunny has a birthday this week... the 17th to be exact.. so tonite we did a last minute supper out with the "kids" and some friends. Any excuse to eat out and be together with the kids is great by me....









Since his procedure last November, things have gone really well. He is feeling absolutely great, is getting his energy back, and has lost 22 pounds... (just by eating a little more carefully and feeling good)... He's excited about the weight loss and is determined to keep this trend going....








Everyone is keeping him encouraged, and I think by the summer... it's going to be hard to keep up with him....


Happy "early" birthday wishes!!!!!

a snowy day....

It's been a while since we have had a snowy day... funny, snow for Halloween, and now nothing, strange winter for sure. But today made up for that and we enjoyed a nice quiet snowy day at home. It was kind of fun.....our guest doggies enjoyed being out in it....









Puppies and kids know how to make the things that adults consider "a pain".. tons of fun. I just enjoyed watching them run and play....











Abbie couldn't wait to get out there.. she kept asking me "can we go now Baby??" I put her off for a little bit, because it was pretty cold and very windy... but just before lunch, Abbie, Papa and Baby all bundled up and headed out. She got a couple of new sleds for Christmas and Papa offered her a ride on one of them.






She had a pretty good time taking a ride up and down the driveway...













until the wind....... the snow started hitting her in the face (and being so close to the ground she really got it...) and she decided that this wasn't as much fun... she kept saying "make the snow stop"... so our outside adventure was short lived, but fun. We came in with rosey cheeks and had a nice lunch all together.

As the day progressed, it got colder and the wind really picked up. I am guessing that winter has found us again... as it should.

back to normal... projects around the farm

I don't have any photos for this blog :( they're in the "other" computer... the other "sick" computer!!!! again!!! Ed bought a nice laptop maybe five years ago. At first he used it for his business and such, but then decided that a desk top computer really was better for the business... so, I got to take over the lap top. I love that lap top, because I can sit while he watches TV and watch and blog at the same time. But then, the little lap top got "sick".. so we took it to the doctor and he made it better.. and sort of said.. it was beginning to get old. Still we used it, and it went along well.. and then... it got sick again. And has been sick for a number of times... but this time.. I think it really has had it. Now, the folks that are living in the big camp this winter are computer geniuses.. and so we took the lap top to them to see if they could fix it.. and they did, but said it's probably time for a new one. I guess lap tops don't typically have long lives.

We decided to go and look at a new one... and found that if you don't want too many fancies (and I actually don't' want ANY) you can get a nice little lap top for a fairly reasonable price. So, we did..... the old lap top is back at the computer doctor (along with my photos) and the new one is up and running. I know... ever heard of "backing up" the things on the computer... well, yes... but it's one of those things that requires "doing it".. however, I promise, this time... back ups will be in order. Our friends believe they can save our photos, and if I can get them off the old computer, I'll be happy......

So... with Ginger off to college, it's time to get busy with other things. One big project involved Rick and his wood chipper again. We've been wanting to clear some of the wood behind the barn to make more room. Rick is (sadly) in a quiet time of his work, so he offered to come and work with Ed. They got a nice big area cleared, and all the pines either cut up for the furnace or made into chips. Now, I can move our manure pile out of sight and we're going to set up a tent building to house the wagons and sleighs, and they'll be undercover.

It's been a strange winter, even for New England... fairly mild and no snow... high 30's and bare ground in January is really odd.... I don't know if we'll slide threw like this or if it's going to sneak up on us and we'll get slammed with "winter" towards the end... time will tell.

I have opted to grab any extra days I can at the post office. I worked all last week and it looks like I'll be covering the next few Fridays. Might as well.. come good weather, the last place I will want to be is inside!!! I had hoped by working these few hours each week at the post would cover our hay bill, and it seems as though it has. So that's a nice feeling.

I feel as though there isn't too much exciting going on... just winter.. just normal... but all in all, normal is goodr

Ginger goes to college.....

well.. here we are - "turn in day", and the second time that I have done this. Saying goodbye to this gal is going to be hard... very hard!!! I got to keep her longer than we did with Chester... she is a bit of a "softer" dog and so the extra time gave her the chance to grow up a little more and experience more things. I don't know if I actually spent "more time' on ginger than I did on Chester, but we certainly became very close. She is a great - great dog!!!

It was a pretty cold day, and I was hoping to run around the farm and take all kinds of photos of her here and there... but I wimped out, and settled for these few by the old hay cutter. She, of course was a good as could be and put up with all my foolishness.....

"where are we heading now, Mom?"

Along with Ginger, Leo and T turned in as well. How many times have these two goldens ridden together in the back of the truck??? countless.... and it was so much fun for Kathleen and I to have the chance to raise siblings together. Only one thing could be even better, to have them graduate together!!!! (that would be really cool)

Bernice and I traveled down together - Kathleen had a trip planned many months ago, so she left Leo with me to take in for her. I was happy the weather was good and the traveling was easy.... can't always count on that in January. Here Bernice and T head in.....

I pretty much cried the whole trip in... and then while we were there.... going over the final reports with Dave and just getting used to the idea... this is "IT"... We'll have the chance to meet up with the puppies again, but from here on in... they are no longer ours... this is "goodbye".....

T... looking regal and like he is ready to go to work.....

Ginger and Leo sharing a secret.....

and then.. it's time.. I speak her name and she turns that sweet face and asks "what can I do for you Mom"...



I give her that one last hug... that one last kiss... hand the leash to Dave, and walk out the door... my job is done..... Ginger's is just beginning....

I hang the vests by the door... once they were Chester's... then they belonged to Ginger...

and we wait for who's next....

because between the tears, I am all ready to do it again...........

saying goodbye

Happy New Years... and I hope that my "title of the post" isn't too sad, but in a way, the new year does say goodbye to lots of things -- other than the old year. Saying goodbye isn't always bad, like when you loose some weight - you don't mind saying goodbye to those extra pounds.. or paying off a bill... things like that, but saying goodbye certainly can be sad.







Ginger certainly wasn't sad today!!! Kathleen is going to visit family, so she dropped Leo off with us.. to take care of and to return to NEADS on Tuesday. The "puppies" certainly had a grand time together....I let them right out into the dog yard and they got to racing, tugging with the toys and digging in the mud. They were a complete mess, but I'll deal with that tomorrow....





To say I'm going to miss this dog is an under statement. We have become very close and I truly love her.












The last night here with us, I took tons of pictures, especially with Abbie, because I doubt that Abbie will actually remember Ginger. We talk to her about Chester, and show her the pictures and will do the same with Ginger. I wonder what she will think as she gets older about this puppy thing that her grandmother does!!!

As sad as I do feel, I know I will continue to this puppy raising "thing" for a long time. My goal is to raise at least 10 dogs... and any interim - which do come along occasionally, like Edgar. So, we'll see.

Big hugs and kisses.................

"don't worry Ginger... it's going to be great, and you're going to be great".....

So, Tuesday's the day.... hold on dear reader, the next blog may be a bumpy one!!!!!

new year's eve day...

New Year's Eve day... a bit like any other Saturday, in that I had to work. But that was OK.. it was a quiet steady, the morning went quick, and I was out by noon --- my usual time. The only glitch was, it was raining, and with the ground being so cool... everything turned to ice once it hit. Pretty, but dangerous. My mail truck was 30 minutes late... thankfully the mail volume was "small" so we quickly caught up, so glad that didn't happen during the Christmas rush.

We had been invited to Lauren's for a bon fire later that evening, but I backed out. Worried that the roads would be not fun on the ride home.

I felt sad to have done this, but we'll have to catch up with them on another day.

We did, last minute, decide to go to dinner with Kelli and Rick and catch a movie... so the evening wasn't without entertainment. And were home early... I'm not much of a party person ...and to me, New Year's feels more like the end of the holidays than the beginning...so, it was a good way to say goodbye to 2011......