footwork

All of you are going to be so tired of hearing about Tonka's driving training... but Ed and I are having so much fun with this, that it's hard for me not to "talk" about it. Yesterday's lesson was all about "footwork"... getting Tonka to place his feet and body exactly where we want him to be. This is an important part of the training, especially if (when!!!) you have a team of horses that you are working.

(And yes, Ed and I have no doubt that one day, we will find a match for Tonka and have ourselves a little team of horses!!!)

Buffy set up an obstacle course for us to play with. The work consisted of one or two steps, to place Tonka in a more "exacting" position, and/or to work around and guide him thru. It's fussy work, and can be draining on both horse and human, to work on the communication between the two. Tonka is quite sensible and patient, which is good with new drivers like Ed and myself. He tries very hard to do just what we ask of him.

Here Ed is working on stopping him and asking for a solid stand between the logs.

I am working on "step back", asking him to back up one step at a time, and standing quietly between the steps. This is a good exercise to move him in between the shafts of the cart, or place him in a spot where you could easily hook up a drag or whatever else you wanted to be pulling. After all this work, we took him out along the road again, and had a nice walk. Buffy will be keeping Tonka the month of November to do more training with him while we are away. I need to speak with Dean about shoes... which I am going to do today, as he is coming out to do trims... and on that note, I need to get moving.....

Lipizzaners!!!!!

When I was a little girl, and first in love with horses, I could tell you all about the "famous white stallions"... how they were rescued during World War II by General George Patton and his Calvary, I must have watched the Disney movie of that a "million" times..... I have never been to the Spanish Riding school to see them in real life.... but I have had the good fortune of seeing their "american cousins" twice, once when the girls were quite small and again this past Sunday evening.

They are, for sure, a beautiful breed of horse, and have a long and interesting history. If any of my "readers" are interested, you can find out all about them at www.lipizzaner.com. and if you ever have the chance to see their show, it is worth going to. The riding and music are amazing, and the horses are just wonderful to gaze upon.

They do perform some of the "Airs Above the Ground" which is a series of maneuvers developed when the horses were used in battle. According to what we were taught, only the stallions can perform these moves, because their center of gravity permits it.... mares can not do them, because their center is different due to the fact that they have the foals.... I never knew that..... and another interesting fact... is there are only six bloodlines on the sire's side (father) that all Lipizzaners stem from, even to this very day.

Some of the horses that we saw on Sunday, were from Europe and carry a different series of branding, so that it's plain to see (when you know where and how to look for it) which horses are from where. But, aside from all that..... just to watch the show, and see the work and training that have gone into it, to see these animals do moves that you wonder how they ever could... it's just the coolest thing.

Alot of the work is dressage... which is the same schooling that I am working Tonka in.... not that I ever expect him to fly threw the air (in fact, I would rather he never did !!!) but certainly some of the steps are the same, and it was fun to watch them being done in a perfect manner. Ed kept asking thru the performance... "can Tonka do that???"... and mostly I answered... "sort of !!!!" I think I got some pretty good pictures, and hope that you all enjoy them.

By the way... I understand I have two more "readers of the blog!!" Hello to Alex and Cindi!!!!!!!

pictures to enjoy....

In case you are counting...... there are two horses here!!!
And eight horses here!!!!

blessing of the animals

OK.. leave it to me, I am always doing "the different thing".. so when I saw that today was the Sunday of "blessing of the animals"... I was pretty certain that Mocha needed to be blessed. Moxie was blessed a number of years ago, and I have always felt that it was a very special thing. I convinced Kassy and Sadie to join me with Charlie and Tatter, and of course, Moxie came to... it's good to re-new your blessing!!!

After a perfect week of weather, wouldn't you know that it turned off cool and wet this morning. I wondered if they would still do the blessing, and called the church, but no answer. So, we decided to head out anyways, and just see. I could have trailered Mocha down, but wasn't sure where I would park, and it was just as easy to walk. Talk about stopping traffic.... it got so we all just started saying "yes, it's a horse" as people drove by and took a second look.

When we got to church, we were told that the services had been moved inside. I thought, "no way am I bringing Mocha into the church" so I asked Rev. Blair if she would just do the blessing outside, and then I would wait for everyone outside with Mocha. Well, nothing doing... Mocha was invited into the church with everyone else!!!!!! I decided to take the chair closest to the door... just in case, but I have to brag here..... she was better behaved than some of the dogs!!!! and actually, at one point I looked and she was resting one foot and had dozed off!!!! Needless to say, everyone was quite taken with her, and no one was that surprised to see me with a horse!!! (In fact, 80% of the dogs in church have been my students!!!!!)

As I said, Charlie, Tatter and Moxie went with us... I would have like to bring everyone, but managing that crew with Mocha probably would have been a little much.... even for me!!!!

Here is Kassy and Charlie with Rev. Blair.... Charlie sported his Marine coat, and made sure that everyone knew that his "Daddy" is in Iraq!!! They had a nice prayer for our troops this morning as well.

It was a lovely service, aside from Mocha and various dogs, a little boy brought his two hermit crabs, and a little girl brought her two stuffed sheep...... and between you and me, I think animals added to the service and it should be done a lot more often!!!!!! "Thank you Lord, for the animals that bring so much to out lives".......

road work

On Wednesday, we met with Buffy again for a driving lesson. The day we had with Becky and Butch was amazing, but in the training of a horse (or any animal for that matter) nothing is "seated" in one doing. There's still a lot of work that needs to be done... mostly on my part I think. My driving skills need improvement.... I am finding that driving is a lot like riding and driving isn't anything like riding!!!! so, it's a work in progress.

This week, Buffy wanted to get us out on the road a bit. Not that driving a horse on the road is the greatest idea, but, you need to be able to do it. You never know when a road might cross your path, or you might need to use parts of it to get to another spot. There wasn't a ton of car traffic on the road, but enough to test the waters a bit. Tonka managed them beautifully... even an oil truck. Most drivers of cars, are fairly respectful of a horse, and maybe seeing Buffy and I tailing behind, they got the idea that we were in a training session.

Thursday, when I had my riding lesson, I told Laura that I would be happy to bring Tonka over and rake out her arena..... it would be good practice for us, and useful "work"... so I think we might try and get over there on Saturday.

Today, however, I had a very pleasant surprise!!! Ed and I took a run up to Meader's (where we got Tonka's harness) and got the next (and hopefully.. one of the last) things needed for all this driving business... a CART!!!! this is a nice sturdy cart and will be great for training and just driving in general. Someday, I hope to have a nice wooden "Meadowbrook" cart, but this one will more than do what I need it to....... SO... now we start the work of putting all the training parts and pieces together........

a love story

Today is Kassy and Nate's second wedding anniversary, and their story, though just beginning, has a script all it's own. They were engaged in March 2005, when Nate had graduated from boot camp. With the help of his folks, (Deb had the ring in her pocket,) Nate proposed just after the graduation ceremony. We knew it was going to happen, because of out respect and tradition, Nate had phone Ed to ask permission to do so!!!!!

A wedding date was set for September 17, 2005, and wedding plans began. The search for the perfect dress, the right invitations, the bridemaids, groom's men, limo....... the wedding shower... everything was in it's place. Then.....Hurricane Katrina rolled thru and hit the southern part of the states. Chaos and havoc resulted, things were out of control, and per their history... the Marines are called in!!! Ten days, before their wedding, Nate phones home to say he is shipping out, his unit has been called, and it's time to go to work!!!! You can imagine the "blow" to the families!!!! Keeping our utmost pride with regards to our young marine, and consoling a bride who is now without a wedding!!!! Dozens of phone calls to make, postponing everything and with no future date in mind!!!! September 17th came and went without fan fare.

October 1, 2005, Kassy's 20th birthday..... still pining for her Marine, her birthday didn't seem very special. Then....a phone call, Nate is back in North Carolina and making plans to be home... and can they have a wedding within the week. The "parentals" spring into action, and within 24 hours, wedding plans, slightly scaled down, are back into play.

October 4th, Tuesday, the day starts cool and foggy, but nothing is going to dampen the spirits of this young couple and their family and friends. It's an out door wedding in Rye, by the ocean, and as the wedding vows are being said, the fog lifts and the day turns off sunny and bright. A good omen for a new life together.

There is just one little glitch... the marriage licence issued for September has run out, so the ceremony goes on... the couple run to the town hall for a new licence.... head out for a short honeymoon, and return a few days later to have all the "official paperwork" taken care of.

I like to tease Kas, a marriage that begins with two different dates, (9/17 and 10/4) but paperwork that doesn't make if official until 10/7... one begins to think when is the anniversary for sure!!!!! Kas and Nate decide that it is the 4th... and so it shall be. Now, the next big thing will be when they have the chance to celebrate it together, for that is yet to happen. Last year Nate was out in the middle of the ocean on an air craft carrier and this year in Iraq (packing up to come home!!!) They say the third is always the charm... so, that will make it next year!!!! Either way.. they have the love and support of each other and their families as well......

Happy #2 Kass and Nate.... we love you!!!!

Guten tag, Oktber!!!!

"Red and gold leaf-fire roars from Canada to Connecticut shores, harried by the snow's pale horsemen, like a horde of howling Norsemen. Sunshine stems the tide, but time is on winter's side"... the Farmer's Almanac
I love the month of October!!! I love the coolish weather, the display of leaves, and it seems like October has so many things "to do".... fairs, festivals.. and birthdays!!!! October 1st was (is) Kassy's birthday, and some how she has turned 22.. (still trying to figure out when that happened). Sadly, she and Nate have never spent her birthday together since they were "together"... the first year he was in boot camp, and since then, he has been deployed somewhere in the world!!! Even though she knew that going into "their relationship" it still puts a damper on things. But, this should be the last one that they are apart, and in the meantime, Charlie is there (as always) to assist her in blowing out the birthday candles!!!!! In just a couple of weeks, Kas and Charlie pack up and head to NC.. the mail to Nate has been closed down, which is a good sign that the "boys" are beginning to pack up and wrap up their work in Iraq!!!! Please, continue to keep Nate in your prayers (and the rest of the unit) as they head back into "real life" and make the adjustments that go with that. Also, pray for the units that are arriving to relieve Nate's unit and that their job over the next six months will go smoothly and safely.
Now, let me take a minute and show off my new sweatshirt!!! I hope you can all see it well, because it has the greatest design on it..... it shows a gal and her dog, in a cart being pulled by a horse and the sign on the cart says... "therapy in session"!!! Deb found this at the Deerfield Fair and bought it for me, because of my "rough week" with Ed being the hospital!!! Leave it to Deb, she is one of those people who can find the absolute best gifts, and gives them at the absolute best time to do so!!!! It fits perfectly and I have so enjoyed wearing it over the past few days!!! my horse friends have noticed it right away!!! and you can be sure I will be wearing it to my driving lesson on Wednesday (today).

Ed is doing well, he is working very hard at "staying honest" with all the things he needs to be doing.... he's doing a good job!!! Cole has certainly been enjoying the short one on one walks that he and Ed are doing together!!! and I feel less guilty about taking out the "crew" and leaving Cole behind!!!

Why am I "hanging" this puppy?? Well, actually its part of a "temperament test" that I did for my friend Maxine and her litter of English Cocker pups. It's a neat test, and you do it on the 70th day of a puppy's life. It's designed to show a puppy's base temperament and can be a great help in placing a puppy into the right home. We test things like a puppy's tolerance to noise, sight, pain, and willingness towards people. You might be surprised at the different reactions of puppies that have all come from the same litter!!! This particular exercise is a "trust" one... you dangle a puppy for 30 seconds, and watch to see if he remains relaxed, or if he panics, or tries to fight you. This little guy was great and just "hung out" until the test was done. All the puppies did really well, but some certainly had a little "more fire" than others!!! This world of "dog training" has so many interesting parts to it, and I just never know from one student to another what I might find!!!

So, I suspect there will be some fun blogs to report on this month... not that blogging isn't always fun!!! I so enjoy keeping this... and I do believe that the 31st will be my one year anniversary at blogging... have to check on that.....

bye bye September.....

Here is it, another month down..... and so we bid a farewell to September!!! It's been a memorable month.... and a nice introduction to the fall season. I am excited to think that Nate is about six weeks away, and I secretly hope that October will hurry pass like September did!!!

I have received so many emails with concerns about Ed... he is doing well, thank you all very much. We have made some big changes around here already, the trick is... KEEPING the changes!! But, this heart business is too serious to "fool around with" and I intend on keeping to the good stuff!!!! I miss him when I do barn chores (he's suppose to keep it " light" for a few weeks) we were having great fun driving Tonka together, and I want him back as soon as possible!!! Ed's suppose to take a few short walks each day, I have put Cole in charge of that!!! Cole can't go as far as the rest of the crew, but he's starting to put some weight on... so, I asked Ed when he takes his walks to please take Cole along with him. They went out this afternoon and Ed said he had to take a little rest, (which put me into panic mode!!!) but the rest wasn't for him... it was for Cole!!!!!

We got to visit yesterday with Becky and Butch!!!! They are bringing the Belgians down for Harvestfest weekend (October 13/14) and on Sunday, they will be doing rides at York Beach... if any of you "readers" are in the area that day, go take a ride... Becky said the rides will be free!!!! Anyways, they came down to see where they will be staying and what the route will be, and afterwards, popped over to see what we were up to.

I just like them more and more!!! I love Becky's stories about their horses and such, and I like to pick Butch's brain about horse training. I have asked him (when we get to the farm),if her would consider doing a beginner's driving clinic.... he just gives me a shy smile and a shrug, but I know he could do an amazing clinic...course that will be a couple of years before we could really do it, so I have some time to work on him!!!!!

Tomorrow is October and Kassy's birthday... tonite we are doing a little family celebration, which I will tell you all about later!!!! So, as the Flagg's are walking thru the door, I must fly........

be-fuddled!!!

Life is always interesting, to say the very least. But, when that curve gets thrown at you.... it's easy to become be-fuddled, and I am so glad that I know the Good Lord is the overseer of my life, because without Him, I would be a wreck!!!

Tuesday, I had a grand lesson with Tonka and Laura, we are working on the "half pass" -- a fairly difficult move of dressage. He's learning and I'm learning and that's a hard combo to begin with, but we worked together and even had a couple of decent moves by the end of the lesson. I have Tonka on the trailer and am just leaving Laura's when my phone rings, and it's Sadie!!! She is home... which is odd, but odder still -----she is at the hospital..... with ED!!!!! Sadie came home because she only had one class for the day, she called Ed to tell him what she was up to, and found her Daddy at the hospital.... here's the story

Ed had a regular doctor's appointment, everything is looking OK, and he knows that he needs to work on getting some weight off, and take better care with his blood pressure and sugar levels. He has lost a little weight since selling the company and being under my "watchful eye" .. that part is good, but what wasn't good.... is his heart beat. His heart is (was) out of rhythm and so, the doctor admitted him to the hospital!!!! I rushed Tonka home, and headed to the hospital and found Ed in the ER hooked up to a "million" wires!!!! After watching his heart for a bit, "they" admitted him for a few days.

Ed came home last night-----with meds,(and lots of prayers!!!) they have been able to get his heart back in a regular beat, (though the fact that they might have to "jump start" it again is not out of the picture just yet) and the list of do's and dont's, medications, and doctor's appointments are going to be the ruling factor of our lives for at least the next few months!!!!!

I find myself going back and forth from being totally panicked to the "boss who wants to control everything" he does.... it's an odd thing. So, it's day by day. I feel so blessed that we know there isn't any damage to his heart (because who knows how long its been out of beat -- his stress level over the past month has been very high) and with careful work , getting back to a healthy lifestyle, we know that will do wonders for sure!!!! OK... next chapter..........................

success!!!!

And if the weekend wasn't "fun enough" with Dave's birthday, the Common Ground Fair and the Acton Apple Festival.... we packed Tonka up on Sunday morning and headed to W. Sumner to see our friends, Becky and Butch. They had offered to spend some time with us and see what Tonka knows about his driving. What an amazing day!!!!

The first thing Butch did, was a little round pen work, to get to know Tonka and see what his manners are like (fortunately, his manners are very good!!! thanks to good trainers who have advised me well!!!) Then Butch likes to do this lesson using a blue tarp. It's to show him what the horse's tolerance level is, and to build up a trust factor between him and the horse. Tonka was quite sensible about this and it wasn't too long, before Butch could all but wrap him up in the tarp and still make him work. Very interesting lesson, and I learned a lot, and plan to practice that one myself!!!

After maybe an hour or so, and a little rest, we put Tonka's harness on, and Butch did some ground driving with him. And it wasn't too long after that, when he hitched him first to a single log and then his "scoot". Tonka pulled it like a pro, and Butch feels that somewhere in his past, Tonka has definitely been a "driving horse" . His skills are "rusty" and I have a lot of finishing work to do with him... and with me... but overall, Tonka has the knowledge and we just need to continue on with it. But the best was yet to come, before I hardly even knew it, Butch had Tonka hitched to his training cart, and asked Becky to hop in and do a little steering, while Butch stayed on his head. And after that, Butch hopped in the cart and did the driving.

I could hardly believe it when I heard the words "Your turn!!!" And here it is..... I am driving my horse!!!!!

On top of that, Ed drove him as well, and then, because we had a tired horse and everything was going so well, Becky hitched up the Belgians and the four of us took the horses on the trail. Butch and I took Tonka, and Ed and Becky had the Belgians!!!! It was a perfect fall afternoon, leaves just beginning to turn, miles of dirt roads, and the sounds of horses!!!!! I really doubt there is anything much better than that!!!!! So last winter when we ordered that harness, and I had the dreams of driving, it's just amazing when you see it all come together. I still have a couple of goals in mind, and know that the work has just begun... but this kind of "work".... I'll do any day!!!!!!

fall news

After having a wonderful day at the Common Ground Fair on Friday.... Saturday we found ourselves in Acton at the "Apple festival". Acton has several large apple groves, and each fall the groves open up for picking and start the season off with the Festival. There are craft fairs, and suppers, hayrides, music... all sorts of fun things to do and see. The weather has been simply amazing, and makes it so you just have to be outside and attending all these things!!! The apples this year are beautiful and the trees are full, so I think it must be a good season... and I can tell you, the apples taste grand!!!!

Along with the apple festival.... it was also Dave's birthday!!!! So, Saturday evening the family all got together at the "Texas Roadhouse" for dinner and celebration!!! If you haven't gotten over to the Roadhouse, and like a good steak... it's the place to be. We knew all about it, because we have been to one in Jacksonville when we go to see Kas and Nate. You will get a good meal there, but don't expect it to be quiet!!!! We weren't too sure how they "honor" one's birthday there, but we knew it would be "something special"... so a tip to our waitress about the birthday boy, was certainly in order!!!!

And here's what they do.... you have to sit in the "birthday Saddle!!!!" Course Dave always looks good in the saddle, ( we're used to seeing Buddy as well) so, it wasn't any trick for Dave to "saddle up"!!!! Needless to say, when you do this, the whole restaurant knows "it's your birthday!!!" Dave (always the good sport!!!) gave me a big happy grin as he celebrated his birthday and was "back in the saddle again!!!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.......DAVE!!!!!

Common Ground Fair

A long time ago, when the girls were very little and I first started boarding dogs, I used to take care of a little dog named Blake. The reason "why" I took care of him, was because his "parents" always had a vendor at the Common Ground Fair. They always had such wonderful things to say about this fair, and would say to me..."you should go and see it!!!" but as I told them, if I was off seeing the fair, they wouldn't have anyone to take care of Blake!!!!! However, I did tell myself, that one day, I would go and see the Common Ground Fair..... and yesterday, was "that day"

Ed and I got up fairly early in the morning and got on the road. It's about a two and a half hour trip, but I can say, it was worth the time and effort to get there. The fair prides itself on two very important factors.... organic and agricultural.....and it is at that. You won't find any rides, cotton candy, or blooming onions... but you will find lots of animals and " natural things," like wool for spinning, yarns, quilts, bee keeping items... etc. etc... and for food, all organic and VERY yummy!!!!

We watched the sheep herding demo... those border collies were some impressive, saw lots of livestock, including this beautiful "highland cow", mules, draft horses, lots of llamas and alpaca.. bunnies, chickens and all the sort of farm animals...

We sat in on a bee keeping lecture.. in fact, there are all kinds of lectures that go on all day.... saw one being done on sheep, another on "natural logging of your land", one on keeping alpaca., and the list goes on and on. It's what I would call a real learning fair, and if you ever had a question on farming or some part of it, you can probably get the answer there. They had a whole section on things like building a "green" house (environment friendly), using solar power or wind power, composting, growing your own food (or raising it for that matter!!!) There were lots of animals being put to good use, like this nice team of mules showing how a barley field can be cut by hand....

And look at this wonderful old thresher.... I don't recall what "year" it is, but it was run by some sort of engine ... possibly a one-lunger back in the day- and it was all belt driven. Course now, we look at it and wonder how they ever figured out something like that, but I bet when it was brand new and showed up on your farm, it was thrilling to think you wouldn't have to do all that threshing by hand!!!! The day went by so quickly, and we didn't even notice how tired we were from walking...until we sat down!!!! There were just so many wonderful things to see and do. On top of that, the weather couldn't have been any better, it was actually on the hot side, certainly did not feel like the middle of September!!!! and just a grand day to be out and about. So, to quote my friends from all those years ago..... "the Common Ground Fair, yes you really need to take the time to go!!!!!!!!!!"

mode of travel.....

On Sunday, after our exciting night at the Rochester Fair... Ed, cockers, and I headed up to Acton to check on the camps and bring the gator home.... after "losing" (stolen!!) our other little gator last winter, this one will winter at home!!!! So, before we loaded it up... Mox and I had to take a little spin down the camp road. She is SO funny and just loves to ride in all sorts of vehicles..... one minute she might be cruising the lake with us in the boat, and the next, sitting in the shotgun seat of the gator, riding in style!!!! I can even take her in the beetle with the top down and she never moves!!!! Needless to say, when she wasn't feeling good a few weeks ago... neither was I!!!!

And here she is..just being silly. The dogs absolutely love being at camp.... they all act like puppies when we are there.... I can only imagine what it's going to be like for them when we are finally settled in on the farm!!!!! We have the "blessings" of the town to begin work on the barn, and it's a real goal to have a building up before snow flies!!! With the permit in hand, it's now time to start shopping for lumber and begin our game plan. Ed wants to do most of the work himself, he loves building projects!!!!!

OH and get this.... we have in our neighborhood, a pack of coyotes!!!!! Kas heard them a couple of weeks ago, and I said something to one of the neighbors, and she says she has heard them all summer.... (I haven't!!!!) last night, or rather this morning, about 2 am Tatter was pitching a fit in her crate. I finally got up and yelled to her to hush, and there was "no hushing" to be done.... just when I was about to go and "deal" with her, she settled down, and I went back to sleep. Well, today another neighbor came over and asked if we had heard the ruckus in the night... we said, no, but then I realized it was about the same time that Tatter was barking.. so she must have heard them..... I can't believe that we would have them here in the village...... but since I have had a bear in the back yard... I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. On top of that, the deer are back at the old apple tree, we had three of them the other night... I am hoping to get a picture to post, they are so pretty and I love to watch them eat the apples........

you just never know

This family of mine!!! You just never know what they are going to be up to... but one thing is for certain, we hardly ever have a dull moment around here!!! So, last Friday evening, we are waiting for Kas to come home from work, and she calls..... "I have to run over to Portsmouth, and I have to go now, because I got to be there before 6:00"... fine, but "be" where? is the question..... She had to get over to WERZ radio station in order to pick up her tickets and the details to the contest. Contest??? I guess the radio station was running a contest for "MRS. Rochester Fair"... the only thing you had to do was....be married and sign up!!! (Kas qualifies for both!!) We don't know how many signed up, but they chose six, and Kas was one of the ones chosen!!!! For signing up and being chosen, she already won free tickets to get into the fair and a 50.00 gift certificate to a spa!!!! The contest consisted of.... changing a diaper, making a lunch and folding laundry... and the one that did it the fastest... was crowned Mrs. Rochester Fair... and the grand prize.... a private photo shoot, anywhere anytime, worth about 700.00 (or so)..... well, from the picture can you possibly guess who won!!!!!!! It was such a fun night, we met up with Deb and Dave, and I have to say, the Rochester Fair has come along way.... it used to be... well, let's just say, NOT the best "family fair" to go to.... but they have done a lot to clean that up, and it was a great fair, with all the "fair things" to do and eat!!!!!!

Now, that Ed is "retired" (we still don't really know what to call this!!!) I am putting him to real work!!!! It's nice to have a partner in crime when it comes to the barn chores!!! Course, I am still wondering how he gets the clean side of the stall mucking!!!! We're still in the process of figuring out what a daily routine is, but I have to admit, this is great fun and we love being together!!!! It's in my game plan to get him on the walking schedule that the dogs and I are on..... maybe we will get this "blood pressure" thing of his in hand yet!!!!

I also wanted to show off this handsome boy!!Doesn't he clean up nice??? I have posted so many pics of "mud boy" that I thought you might enjoy seeing one of him all cleaned up. This was taken last Thursday after our riding lesson, he's coming along quite well. Laura has moved us into some pretty complicated dressage moves.... much like a football player doing ballet.!!! Not that they can't "do it", but it makes for some interesting moves to say the least... course the fact that I am on the learning curve as well.........

And I can't believe that I have forgotten this, because SO many folks have been asking.... but Moxie is pretty much back to her old self!!!! The meds seem to be working and I need to check with the vet here soon, as we are nearly at the end of one of them..... but, she's doing well, and I want to thank everyone for checking up on her.....

just bloggin'

As I arrived to gather Tonka for his driving lesson this am... I caught Nutty, Keebo and Ransom in a very "serious barn meeting"!!! I don't exactly know what they were talking about, but it looked quite important from what I could see!!!!

Here we are, nearly the middle of the month, and it's been a strange September for me. I see that big yellow school bus rumble down the road, and it no longer has any meaning in my life. No more dashing about in the morning getting everyone out the door, nor afternoon curfews or homework around the table. I miss it in some ways, and yet, I am so enjoying the "freedom" that has come my way.

Ed is pretty much done working over at Wood Bros. and is busy getting a new office set up at his Mom's old house in the harbor. He still has a bit of paperwork that needs attention, and it's easier (and safer) to have all that somewhere else. He is still up and out the door about the same time in the mornings, but it's fun to run down to the harbor and check in on him!!! And once he really has everything all settled, he will be able to go and do things with me on a moment's notice (like Tonka's lessons) and that is going to be great fun!!!!

I hope, too, to get some projects finished up for certain.... he only thought the "honey-do" list was long before... he hasn't seen it lately!!!!

And take a look at this!!! these are the first of our house plans for Acton!!! We met with the designer on Monday and went thru a whole list of things!!! (mind boggling!!) and now have the plans to "live with" for a bit and change and re-arrange as we see fit. (much cheaper to change on paper!!!) It's pretty close to being just right, but, we want to make sure before we go ahead with the final drawings. He is also working on the material list for the barn (required by the town of Acton) which we hope to have by the end of the week. If so, Ed can run it up to the code enforcement officer next week, and we should be able to order lumber within a few weeks. Which means a very good chance of having that barn up before cold weather hits!!!! (so exciting!!!)

Sadie is having a grand time at college. We talked yesterday for a half hour about her classes. She really likes her "kennel management" course and can so easily relate.. simply because it's the way she lived her whole life. We have never owned just one dog, and with the foster dogs and boarding dogs that come in and out of here, Sadie says she completely understands what they are studying in class!!!! Kas is starting to think "south". In just about a month, I will be driving down with her and helping her get the apartment opened up and ready for Nate!!!! We are on the final countdown!!! I am so looking to that "vacation" in November.... Deb, Dave, Ed and I will be there for sure when Nate arrives home!!!! and afterwards, Ed and I plan to spend sometime at Colonial Williamsburg... we haven't been there in ages!!!!

My favorite time of year... September to January, and I have a feeling it's going to zoom by.. so I am planning on enjoying every sweet moment...............

college!!!

This is it... Becker College, where "our" Sadie is now a student!!! I still find it hard to believe that she is actually there... not that she shouldn't or couldn't be there... but for all of her high school years, Sadie always told us... "don't expect me to go to college". We never "expected" our girls to do anything that wasn't right for them, we are well aware that each person makes their own happiness in life, and basically, if our girls are God-fearing, good citizens, self supporting and doing what makes their lives full and happy.... then, we have done "our job".

But, last winter, when Sadie's High school mentor, encouraged her to look at the college route, and study what interested her... the story took a big turn around, and "we" went from..."never going to college" to " I hope they accept me"... and so "they" did.

Sadie is taking a two year, associate degree in "animal science"... which pretty much includes some Vet. Tech classes, small business courses, a kennel management class, obedience and grooming. Basically when she graduates, she could look into a number of different fields in the animal world, and then again, she might discover something more and chose to continue her education.... either way, it's a great start and I think that if the opportunity had been there for me, it would have certainly been something that I would have considered. (I already pawed over the books she had to buy for her classes!!!!)

She moved in on Tuesday, the campus is very small and very friendly and I had no reservations about "leaving her there". Sadie was a little nervous, because she shares her room with three other girls, and that will certainly take some getting used to and compromising... but, as of the phone call this evening all is going well. She also had her first two classes today, and said that she is going to enjoy them..... she said the "kennel management class" was great fun, and she expects to learn a lot there. (I guess they do a fair amount of work with greyhound rescue...... just what "we" need...eh?)

I also know that she must certainly be "enjoying her freedom" and being out from under my thumb..... it's just a "mother thing" and though I have tried very hard over the summer to "lighten up"... I haven't been very good about that. At college, it's all on her own, and the only things that I will know about... are the things that she chooses to tell me. But, it's OK, and I am doing OK with it. I have also made a point of asking her basic questions, and not going into my mother's mode of ..."you should or you need"... big steps for me!!!!

So, here are our girls... basically.. all grown up and out there in the world..... and now the next chapter begins... because for the most part... it's back to being just "sue and ed"....................................

new friends.....

Say hello to Becky and Butch Durgin of Meadow Creek Farm in Sumner Maine!!!! A few weeks ago, I posted on the Maine Draft Horse Assoc. page that I was looking for some help with Tonka and getting him hitched to a cart. Well, I got a nice note back from Becky, saying that she and her husband raised Belgians and did training, and if I would like to work with them, they would be willing. It also turned out, that they were doing some rides in Eliot at the Raitt Farm one weekend, and if we wanted to go and talk with them, we could. So, Ed and I went over early one Sunday morning and got to meet Becky and Butch in person.

What a nice couple and their horses are amazing!!! Not only did we have the chance to chat with them at great length, but got a number of rides behind those beautiful horses, AND>>>> Butch even gave me the chance to drive them!!!!! (If I wasn't hooked on driving before that.... I certainly am now!!!!)

The drawback ,at the moment, meeting up with Becky and Butch, is that the fall is their busiest season, so it might be a little while, before they can spend some time with Tonka and us... but that's ok... because we have some great new horse friends.

Today, we thought it would be fun as a family, to make a run to LL Bean and poke around Freeport. As we were having lunch, we heard the wonderful sound of bells, and hooves, and sure enough, there was Becky, Butch and the Belgians... doing rides for LL Bean's and the holiday weekend. You can be sure, that as soon as we finished with our lunch, we went over to see them, and they were so excited to see us!!!! Nothing doing, Becky told us to hop on the wagon and take a ride thru Freeport.... Butch asked if I wanted another try with the team, but to be honest .. with all that traffic and such, I begged off. Sadie however, hopped right up on the front seat, to get a bird's eye view, and away we went thru the busy streets of Freeport. This team walked quietly along, past barking dogs, clapping people, motorcycles, and even a fire engine, like there was nothing else in the world but them. Butch took them down a quieter side road, and handed the reins to Sadie!!!!! The smile that broke out on her face as she drove that team along must have been a little like mine a few weeks ago when I took them.

Becky told me that she thinks there is a weekend coming up soon, where we can bring Tonka to them, and she also told me that they are scheduled to come to York in October for Harvest Fest weekend!!! I invited them to park here at the house, and take the Belgians up to the village from here, so we will see how that works out... but it sure would be fun to have them in our yard..... either way, I can't wait to get Tonka with them, I know that Butch can get him going for us... and I suspect that we will all be friends for a very long time....

camp news

Every spring when it's time to put the docks in, it seems like we need a small army of friends and family to help with the "feat". This year, along with Dave, we had help from Dale and Val as well (check the spring blogs!!!) and every year, after the "feat" has been completed, Ed says the same thing "We should look into aluminium docks"

Now, there's no doubt that aluminium docks are nice, they are light weight and easy to handle, they are certainly "lake friendly", they last nearly forever.... but they can be expensive. As the summer has progressed, though, Ed has talked more and more about them, and finally went on a "fact finding" about them. Well, turns out, that if you order them at the right time (ie: the end of summer) you can sometimes find a deal.... and so he did. This past week, the old, heavy wooden docks have been replaced with these nice new aluminium ones!!!!

Course, that meant getting rid of the old docks, and hopefully, for the last time, it took a small army of men to do so. Ed took his chainsaw and cut the wooden docks into manageable pieces, and Dave, Bill and John, wrestled them up onto the shore and then to Bill's trailer to be hauled away!!! Oh, and maybe one of the best things about the new docks... NO dock spiders!!!! Those spiders are as big as house cats!!! and like the dark spots under the wooden decks, but the new ones are open, light and airy and we are told, the dock spiders don't like them as their homes.... fine with us!!!!

Now, what's with the boat. Well, it has it's own story!!! This boat is actually an old boat... a 1966 model and it used to belong to Ed's Uncle Phil. Back in the day, Phil and his family had a camp on Wilson, and Ed can remember running their boat across the lake to visit with his cousins, Deb and Cindy, and vis a versa...... he has a lot of wonderful memories of growing up on the lake. Uncle Phil sold his camp in the early 80's because his family was no longer using it, and when the camp sold, the boat was pulled from the water and parked in a garage.


I'm not exactly sure how Ed found out it was for sale, but either way, Ed decided it would be fun to have and bought it from his uncle. This boat has only ever been on Wilson Lake, aside from sitting in the garage, and it didn't take too much "tinkering" to get her running again. "We" aren't exactly sure what we will do with this old boat, it runs pretty well, and its fun to have a boat to take us around the lake, and we don't need any sort of "speed" thing, so for a while anyways, we'll hang onto it and use it. Sometimes its fun to have something older to play with and Ed thinks it's pretty neat that the boat has retunred to it's "home".

a new house

Our daughters might tell you, that there is no way they are as "animal crazy" as their Mom.... however, that is not the truth!!! Both of them have a cocker spaniel and a cat, and then Sadie has her "zoo" of guinea pig and bunny.... and Kassy rescued two baby turtles and brought them home last spring..... so, they can say what they will... but actions speak louder than words!!!!


Thus is the story of Applejacks... he was the bunny at the daycare where Kassy works. Now, I am all for teaching children about animals, but I don't think a daycare full of children under the age of 4, is the greatest place for a bunny to live. Especially a bunny that tends to be a bit nervous anyways. Kassy felt the same, and talked her boss out of keeping Applejacks at the school, and brought him home to add to Sadie's zoo. The sad part was, even though he had grown into an adult bunny, he was still in the cage that had been bought for him as a baby.

Sadie was (is) very good about getting Applejacks out for exercise (hopping time and swimming) but to see him just sitting in that small cage day after day, was more than I could handle. So, I moved him into a large dog crate. He was much happier there and even took a little weight off, and began to groom himself better. But, neither Kassy, Sadie or I were happy with the crate idea either.


So, we pressed into service... Daddy!!! I'll tell you, "my Ed" can build anything!!! (including that new barn and house in Acton very soon!!) And we asked him to build an outdoor house for Applejacks to live in. We told Daddy that Applejacks needed plenty of hopping space and a warm, cozy house. We wanted off the ground so he would be safe, and not effected too much by the outside weather conditions.... and look at what Ed designed and built!!!! It's just perfect!!! the ends have doors for easy entry and cleaning purposes, the wire mess is fairly small so Applejacks feet won't be caught, but his "poopies" will fall away, its got a great roof that will shed water and its just off the deck, so we can still see him and enjoy watching him!!!!

I took Applejacks out there this morning, he is a bit shy and hasn't discovered all of it yet, but he will. I have no doubts that he is going to be a much happier bunny out there. We're thinking too that Pete (the guinea pig) might spend some time out there as well. He and Applejacks do fine together and now that Bella is gone, Pete doesn't have any company... so later today, I might try and that and see how it goes.

I have also added one more thing to my life....... a new job!!!! Short story of it, I have a friend up in Saco that runs a doggie daycare. The trainer that she had for a number of years is no longer able to teach for her, she called me and asked if I knew of anyone else. Well, Saco is a bit of a haul from York, but it won't be from Acton.... , I met with her yesterday and decided that I will take the classes, and get started up that way...then, when we move, I will already have something going. The classes that I teach in Wells were for the same reason.. they have gone very well, and have done a good job in getting my reputation known up that way.... I keep reminding myself that I am "going to cut back" and had decided not to build a school in Acton, but just teach a few classes here and there and continue with my private work..... somehow I don't think adding Saco to the list is "cutting back"... oh well......... can't say that I'm ever board!!!!!!

bye to Bella

It is with sad news, that we say good bye to Guinea Pig, Bella. Sadie bought her a year and a half ago, as an 18th birthday present to herself.

Bella was a sweet little "piggie" and we will certainly miss her whistles and squeaks!!! And watching her "swim" in the bathtub with Pete and Applejack.