a sunny day

Repeat after me.....

"you're feeling very sleepy"

"I am feeling very sleepy"

"the warm sun makes your eyes heavy"

"the warm sun is making my eyes heavy"



"you need to lay down"



"I need to lay down"





"It's time for a nap"

"It's time for a ..............



Mocha is hoping that everyone enjoyed this day of 80 degrees.... she sure did........

Patroit's Day

I'm not sure who came up with this, but I LOVE it... in the center of town, the street is lined with American Flags and then the flag from each branch of the services in honor of Patriots Day....

It looks just grand... and I hope that people today remember our service men and women.......

Kas and Nate.....

Well..... it WASN'T in the seventies last night when we made our first "ice cream run" of the season!!!! Memories is a great favorite of the Flagg family and they are the ones that got us hooked!!!!

So, last night after an amazing cookout on their farm... Dave and Deb said .. "let's go for ice cream".. course, we knew what that meant....

This post is for Kassy and Nate.. who might be getting alot of beach time down there in North Carolina... BUT.. they aren't getting any "Memories".......


And yes, it does seem silly to be wearing your winter coat and eating ice cream... but, that's what we do up here in the north!!!!!!!!

haven't been bloggin'

I haven't done much "bloggin" over the past few days... because the truth is.. when the weather hits the HIGH seventies!!! staying inside is something that is beyond my control!!!!

I tried to "prove" how warm it was.. with this shot of the barn thermometer.. but, you (sadly) can't see it... though, it's a pretty cool thermometer wouldn't you say... brother Bill brought this for me as a Christmas present a few years ago, he thought it would look nice on our new barn.... and he was right!!!!

But, even though the temps were warm and wonderful, walking in the woods seems to still not be part of the bargin... good ol' New England snow, it just loves to hang in there... now, mind you, some of this pile is from plowing... but deeper in the woods, I would still think you're looking at almost knee high snow......
Just behind this tree line, is a deer run, which goes directly to where the new house will sit, and will probably become my path to the barn... hope the deer won't mind sharing it with me....


Moxie got hot enough to dig herself a little hole beside (yet another) new wheel barrow...... see, I had asked for a yellow wheelbarrow for my birthday, and at the time, Ed couldn't find one... so he got me that nice blue wheel barrow... which I was just as happy with. However, when he did find a yellow one... he picked that one up too... how much "horse poo" does he think I am going to be moving?????

I feel like the finishing touches on the barn are coming quick.. and I will have some "surprises" to show all of you at the end of the week!!!!

how come

Trevor was told that some dog got to do a "Pet Co" ad.. and for a "million" dog cookies, all he had to do was hold their toy in his mouth.

Trev wants to know what's the "deal on that"

and how come he hasn't ever been asked to do it???

cocker butts....

Now that the weather is beginning to be on our side, I am getting dog walking back into my daily schedule. It really isn't any big deal... it's just a matter of putting leashes on and going!!! Trevor and Tazzy really, really enjoy these walks... the others like going for sure, but those two!!! it just makes their day!!!

I usually take just the five... poor ol Cole is just too stiff and old to make the hike that we take, and Tatter is usually off with Sadie, so I have it down to the five. We finally have sorted it out with the leashes and such and who walks better with whom.... and each day I take a different route, just because it's fun for the dogs and we get to see different things with each route.

After our walk, I ran out to take care of the horses and then headed to Acton.

This is what greeted me today.... the tack room is now enclosed!!! We are insulating it as it will be a heated room, our water supply will come into this room and for the small size of it... it will be just as easy to keep it warm. It will also be a good refuse on a cold winter day, and it will be nice to keep "horse stuff" warm.

I feel so blessed, because in the 11 years that I have really "been in the horse world" I have "lived" at three different barns. Each one has had their own way of doing things, and I have liked and disliked ideas in them all.

So when it came time to plan this barn out, I took the best of all the places that I have been, and combined them!!!! I am sure there will be things that I will discover as it goes along, it's hard to think of "everything" .. but for the most part, I have a feeling this barn is going to run pretty smoothly. (I have already thought that this tack room might be a tad on the small side!!!! but I hardly dare tell that to Ed!!!!) it will be fine and I know it will work out !!!

Surprisingly, the mud is drying up quickly... IF we can keep the rain away for a bit longer, we might even get back to driving the trucks in and not bringing home so many muddy paws!!!!! but, it's spring in Maine, so who can count on anything.....

PS... I am working on dates for another trip south... don't tell Ed!!!!!!

a little gem

Look at what Ed surprised me with the other evening!!! This is a "feather weight" Singer sewing machine, circa 1940's. This little gem is a quilter's dream and they can be quite hard to get a hold of, especially one that is in top condition like this.

I have know about these little machines since I was a child. My Mom has one, that actually was her high school graduation gift, and only weeks after she got hers, it was in a house fire!!!! My Mom and her family pretty much lost everything in that fire, but her little sewing machine was found in the basement after the fire. It had been in her bedroom on the second floor of the house, and fell the two stories to the basement during the fire. My Grandfather took it back to be repaired and gone thru, and wouldn't you know ... the little machine came back to life. I remember my Mom sewing all sorts of things on her little machine... it did everything!!!

When I "got into quilting" and took a few classes and such, I saw that the others there had these machines, when I told them the story about my Mom's they were impressed, and many offered to buy it from her if she ever thought that she would want to sell it. Of course, that would never happen, because if my Mom wanted to part with her machine (which she doesn't,) you can be sure I would scoff it up in a heartbeat.

Well, my Dad found this one somewhere... and he was telling me about it, and he wanted to sell it. Never knowing that I would love to have one, I told him I would buy it from him. I haven't ever got around to doing that, though, and Ed knew that I would love it... so..... as a surprise, HE bought it from my Dad and gave it to me!!!!

I would love to know more about this little machine.. because it was well loved by.... Flora Dennett... and the reason I know that, is she has her name etched in the bottom of it, and on the foot pedal. She didn't want to loose it, that if for sure.... I haven't had it running yet, but, I know it works just fine and come fall, I will certainly find a quilt to make on it.....and "Miss Flora Dennett" will know that her little machine is in good hands and will be much loved!!!!!

Ed's day

So, I am always talking about "my stuff" on this blog, but let me tell you about Ed's day today at the farm. Leave it to my Ed, his adventures are as eventful as mine!!!

This morning, Ed goes to do some work on the barn, and as usual, meets up with Ken. They putter around for awhile, and then decide that they need some supplies from the local lumber shop. Off they go.
After loading up with things and heading back to the barn, it is about lunch time, so they stop at a little store to get some sandwiches made. Just as they are leaving the store, Ed hears Acton Fire tone out for a structure fire!!! And it just so happens that this fire is just a very short drive from where they are. Now, Ed is a member of Acton ( as well as chief here in York ) and Ken is a Wakefield firefighter and used to be on Acton.. so needless to say, they both rush to the scene.

They are the first ones there, a lady is waiting outside, and smoke is pouring out of her house. Ed gets on the radio to advise the fire crews and Ken takes a quick peek inside. It is a fire on a stove top, but it's moving quickly and is starting to char the kitchen cabinets. Ken comes out of the house and asks Ed if he has a fire extinguisher in the truck... which he does. Ed stays with the home owner and continues to talk to the fire company on his radio and Ken goes back inside and manages to get the fire under control.

When "Acton" arrives, they are a bit surprised to see a York Fire chief and a Wakefield Firefighter have saved the day ... er house!!! but everyone is quite pleased that they did, especially the home owner!!! The Acton fire crews make a double check of the situation, and asks Ed to continue his radio traffic to the dispatch as needed.

After their big fire adventure, the two of them head to the barn. Now, as I said on a previous blog, the trucks can't make it back and forth across the field right now.

Look what the two of them did to my little gator. Loaded it to the gills and had it carry all their supplies across the field to the barn!!!!

I don't know, Ed and Ken are a pair that spells trouble in my book!!! I thought that Ed and Dave made enough mischief, without Ed having another partner in crime!!!!

but who am I to "complain".. they have built a fine barn this winter, and now can go on the "books" as the rescuers of houses!!!

Not a bad job guys!!!!

farm photos

With the mud being so bad on the farm, we can no longer drive the trucks in and out. Thank goodness, we have the gator to help cart things back and forth. Being on the lighter side, it doesn't create big ruts in the field, and can easily get thru the mud holes.

the cockers just LOVE it there!!! Trevor "camps" out beside the gator...

Camille and Hunter enjoying the afternoon sun

Moxie is practicing her "being a farm dog" act...

If this what "spring" is going to look like... you can be sure that the cockers will be wearing short coats most of the time.

a grand day...

I think spring has actually found the state of Maine today. I headed out fairly early this morning, and was pleasantly surprised at the warm air that met me at the back door. Not, only was this perfect weather here today, but it also arrived on lesson day.... and what could be nicer than that??

"Ol Tonka boy" was enjoying the morning as well, I felt kind of guilty (NOT) about taking him away to do some work!!!!! I think this whole thing of laying in the mud is a way of him saying ..."do you really want to bother riding and having all this mess to clean up?" but, his "trick" didn't work.... that is one good thing about mud, it comes off almost as quickly as it goes on!!!!

Laura decided that we would be riding "outside" for today's lesson. She has worked so hard to get her farm just so, and has a wonderful indoor arena, but also an outside arena. The outdoor is so much bigger and gives just oddles of room to work in. Each year we have a goal in mind for Tonka, and have declared this riding season as "the summer of the canter". Tonka is a willing student, but his canter work needs balance, so it will be our big focus.

I often have to remind myself of how far we have come in the four years that I have owned him. He was "broken" when I bought him, but we pretty much decided that it was "quick job to get him sold" sort of training. Laura "warned" me when I bought him, he would be a project, but I was (and am) happy to take that on. The first summer was all about tack.. he is the hardest horse to fit!!! He's quite a bit bigger than horse, and in some pieces not big enough for draft, so it's been a puzzle finding things that fit. I am still not that happy with his bridle, it has been working, but, it is on my list to "up grade"...to what, I don't know. The second summer I had him, I was laid up for most of the season due to some fairly serious surgery.. so, by the time I was riding again, it was mostly about getting fit and getting back into the saddle. Last year's issues were with the trailer!!!! I did do a fair amount of riding, but alot of work was done with loading and unloading.. and of course, we started our driving work with him..... and here we are again, at the start of a whole new season.....

I still get a bit nervous in the "outdoor" arena. There is so much to think about out there.. inside, you have those four sturdy walls, but outside is different. I am always glad that Laura warms him up first, and puts me on when he is a bit on the tired side.

So, I will add that to my list.. ride Tonka when he is fresh in the outdoor!!!! He really is quite sensible, but I am always questioning my own skills. Laura says I am too hard on myself, which might be true, because I do like to do things well.... I don't like being a "newbie" at anything... course, you can't be an "oldie" until you have been a "newbie".... one of those great rules of life .. I guess!!!

So, today has been a grand day with so many blessings in it, that they can't be counted on both hands!!!! And when amazing weather and a ride come together... nothing can beat that.....

inside

Despite the muck and the mud, work continues nicely on the barn. The interior walls have been boarded up now and Ed is working on the wiring and the pre-plumbing. The days go back and forth between outside work and inside work.. depending on the weather. It won't be long now, before this "open" side will be enclosed with stalls.

Which reminds me... I haven't told you all the "stall" story. We were told that there is a company in Eliot who basically builds barns, and that if you hit it "right" you can sometimes find "bargins" in their scrap pile. So, Ed and I took a ride over. We told them what we were looking for and as "luck" would have it, they said they might have just the thing.

A client of theirs had four stalls in a barn, but, they did not like the fact that a bit of rust was coming up on the stall doors... so, the client had the company come back and take all the stall out. Everything (including all the hardware) was sitting in a pile... we looked it all over, and the little spots of rust that were the complaint, didn't bother us in the least.... so, we bought all four stalls for a fraction of what they would cost new!!!! There were even guards for the windows!!!!! Fortunately, Ed got the stalls up to the barn before mud season... because it is highly unlikely he would get the trailer in now!!!!

Here is a view of the tack room..... the sink is one that Ed brought home from who knows where... but he has had it for all this time, sitting in a box and just waiting to be used....

THIS is just the thing he likes to talk about when I get on him about being a "pack rat" and wanting to save everything!!!!!

And just in case my last "mud" photos weren't impressive enough.... just take a look at Ken's poor truck......

the game is flyball

this past weekend, my dog club (Piscataqua Obedience Club) and our flyball team (Maine Coast Runners) were the hosts to a new england regional flyball tournament. This is the fifth year that we have hosted a tournament and they get better and better each year. As usual, our horse trailer was pressed into service to transport mats, jumps and the various equipment that is needed. I love pulling my trailer and so, am more than happy to help out in this department.

I used to play flyball with Moxie, but sadly (and rarely does this ever happen) she was "hit" by another dog from another team that we were racing. After that, she would not play.... we tried for months to get her back in the game, but she was either too smart or too scared and never went back. I did pull Trevor out for awhile, and he picked up enough points for the first two titles, but somehow after that, I guess I just lost interest and now, am more of a "moral support" to the team.

For those of you who may not know what this is all about.. here's a quick run down. You have a team of four dogs racing another team of four dogs... it's a relay race. The idea is to have the dogs jump over four jumps to a box that has a ball in it, the dogs catch the ball and race back and the next team member is sent. The team that gets all their dogs down and back and have no mistakes... wins the heat.

Any dog with a drive for running and fetching can play. And since the height of the jumps are based on your smallest dog, teams often look for little ones to play.. they are called "height dogs"... which is what Moxie and Trevor were. Really fast teams can do all of this in about 16-18 SECONDS!!! (which is hard to get a good picture of the race, the dogs are just way too fast!!!) Each race is worth is certain number of points and as dogs wrack up the points, they are awarded different titles.

There were 39 teams that raced this year... they came from all over new england and we even had a couple of teams that came down from Canada.

It is great fun, and I do miss having a dog to run. I sort of am toying with the idea of bring Trevor out and see what he thinks of all of this. He is "crazy" about a ball, and now that he is older, perhaps he will be a bit more settled than he was in his younger day. We'll see...

but, it made for a fun weekend, it was nice to see a lot of my "old" flyball friends and have dinner out with the group... and, as with anything of this size... plans for next year are already in the works.....

visitors........

"let this be your warning!!!" It isn't that we don't want visitors to the barn right now.. but, I am telling you... DON'T COME!!! unless you don't mind a little bit of walk and you bring your boots!!!

I have always heard that here in Maine, we have 5 seasons... summer, fall, winter, MUD and spring. Now, I do know mud season, just take one look at my kitchen floor this time of year (with little spaniels that run in and out the doggie door).. but, I don't think that I really "appreciated" mud season, until we started being up on the farm.

THIS is the drive in.........
And this is what one little red truck looks like, after it has made the drive in.. you definitely need four wheel drive to even think of making it......

Oh, and one more thing to remember.. this used to be a cow field, so from what I am told... not only do you get to enjoy the visual side of this wonderful mud... you get to enjoy the "smell" side of it as well....

So, just in case you don't get an invitation to come and see us.. please don't be upset, I am just waiting for .....

spring!!!!!

saddle season

This is the "look" I got when I told Tonka that today was "lesson day" and it was time to get on the trailer!!! I have officially declared it to be spring and riding season once again!!!!

It's a funny thing, though... I still get "butterflies" on this first day of lessons. I ask myself all sorts of silly questions like... "do I remember how to ride?? do I really know how to handle this 1300 lbs. horse? do I know how to drive with my trailer? why do I like to do this?" but the moment my foot hits the stirrup, all the questions melt away, and it's just "me and Tonka" taking a lesson with Laura.

Right now, I feel amazing, our lesson was grand!!! Each year when we begin again, we are further than the year before and practically picked up where we stopped last December. Course tomorrow will be another story, once the old muscles find their place again. I wish that I could do more winter riding, but where the boys live at the moment, there really isn't good riding... that should all be different next winter!!!!

Tonka loaded like a champ... walked right on the trailer... WHAT a difference that is... oh, the first summer I had him.. I would plan at least a three hour time frame for just getting him on the trailer... we even missed a couple of lessons, because he absolutely refused to get on!!!! Hours of "work" have paid off for certain!! I would just spend afternoons, loading and unloading and loading again. I would feed him on the trailer and have all sorts of his favorite treats AFTER he got on.. and one day, it seem to click with him, and now... for the most part... I just tell him to "step on"....

These pictures are little dark, but I assure you.. that's me in that saddle!!!!

The nice thing about the horses being able to come and go as they please, is that Tonka has kept a lot of his muscle tone and suppleness over the winter. He was very "giving" to the bit, and though we did keep this first lesson on the light side, he was hardly warm when we got done... and that's with winter coat!!!!

We rode for about 45 minutes, and it was a good place to stop... you always want to stop on a good note. And for the first day back... trailer loading, tacking up, the lesson itself, and the ride home was more than enough to begin "saddle season".....

And as we pulled back into the yard...

here was the "welcoming committee"......

it is spring!!!!!

almost forgot!!!

I almost forgot that today is Titus's one year anniversary with us!!! He was last year's birthday gift, and to this day, I don't even know why I thought I wanted a turtle!!!

I am guessing it had something to do with my childhood. Probably like a lot of you, we got these little green turtles at the department store. I had "hundreds" of them, mainly because they were pretty cheap to buy and usually died within a month. I remember you could get a plastic bowl with an island in the middle of it, and the "fancy" ones had a "palm tree" on the island. You were suppose to put your turtle in sunlight a few hours each day and feed it bugs and things, and if your turtle didn't escape, he sadly didn't live long either.

Now, that I have "properly owned" a turtle, I feel very sad for those poor creatures and what they went thru for our entertainment. Turtle keeping is exactly "easy".. they are a reptile (as you know) and they have some very specific needs. If I had done more research before getting Titus, I might have thought differently. Because this "free" turtle has been a rather expensive "pet".

You see, last year, my family got me a ten gallon turtle tank for my new pet. But when we got to the shop, they did not have any babies... as I had been told. Disappointed, I sort of "complained" to the store manager, and to try and make it right, he offered me Titus for nothing. He told me he was a male turtle about three years old.. "they" say the males are better pets, because you don't have to worry about "eggs being laid"..... and the fact he was an "older" turtle, got me past that crucial stage... so, I took him.

Well, the 10 gallon tank wasn't nearly large enough for him, so within the first couple of weeks, we had a 20 gallon tank.... which was ok, because the same filter, sunning lamp, sunning rock and such all worked fine in the 20 gallon. After about 6 months or so, we noticed that Titus was getting bigger!!! I thought he was pretty much full grown.. but, I guess not . The 20 gallon was getting squishy and on top of that, he could escape from it!!! More than twice we have had "turtle hunts" in the house. I began to look at bigger tanks... and found a 75 gallon that looked like it would work for a bit. Course that meant new filters, lamps...etc. etc...... well, the clerk in the store was trying to "get rid of a 120 gallon tank" that had been special ordered and never claimed. She "gave" it to us for nearly the price of the 75 gallon tank... a REAL bargain!!!

I didn't exactly realize how big this tank was, until we got it home!!!! You need a lot of space for such a big tank!!! and it took us a few months to get it set up.. one thing was ---Ed needed to make a base for it... 120 gallons of water weighs a lot!!! and with a special size, you can't just go and buy a base. So, that done, and a corner in the living room, Titus moved into his third tank within a year!!!!

Now, don't get me wrong... I wouldn't trade him for the world.. I have spent many hours watching him and amazed at some of the things he does. He is also quite personable, he will "follow" you back and forth when you stand by the tank... he paddles like mad in the corner when he is hungry!!, He does his "stretches" when on the sunrock, and has been a fun pet overall. but, if you are thinking about turtle keeping.. do a little a homework... AND plan for a pet for a long time, I understand that with proper care... turtles can go 15 to 20 years!!!!! Certainly a long way from the ones we had as kids!!!

April Fool's Day!!!!

The first thing to be said about "April Fool's Day"... is HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Deb and to my brother-in-law, John!!!! From some stories that I have heard from the two of them, I think this can be a "hard" day to have a birthday on..... but, we are lucky, because these two great folks were born on this day, and we have them in our lives!!!! many, many happy day wishes to you both!!!

As promised, I shot some pictures of the neat presents that I received for MY birthday... the first is this cool "turtle stool" that Kas and Nate found for me in a little shop somewhere near their home. I guess this store has TONS of turtle things, and IF we get the chance to take a trip south... I will be sure to check this out!!!! Dancer is quite taken with this little stool, and I am keeping it near Titus tank, so that when me little niece comes to visit, she will be able to stand on it and see what Titus is up to.







My second very cool gift is from Deb (and Dave) and so happens to be yet another turtle!!! He is very nice and I can think of several places for him to live, but for now, I have him out on my antique sewing machine. I thought he looked quite comfty near the basket and the dog lamp. Several folks have noticed him already!!!

The next gifts come from Ed and Sadie... now, what do you get a girl who is expecting a new barn, and will have plenty of chores to do??? Barn stuff, of course!!!

So, here we have... a leaf blower.... I have swept enough ally ways to think there has be an "easier way" to do this.. and I am thinking that a leaf blower will do just the trick. Afterall, you're only moving dirt, hay, sawdust about and I am anxious to see if this idea is going to work out. Course the horses will have to get used to the sound of it.. but what a great "training opportunity"!!! Next we have two metal cans. I currently store my grain in two plastic cans, and it has worked fine for all these years, but Ed thought that the metal would be easier to wash out, and will certainly keep out any unwanted critters (though I won't be allowing any of those "sorts of critters" in my barn!!!!) There is also a broom, and a 5 tier metal shelf unit.. and last but not least... a new wheel barrow... the TWO wheeled kind!!!! After mucking stalls for the past 11 years, I have used a number of different wheel barrows, and for manure!!! THIS is the only one to have. Nothing is more upsetting then dumping a one wheeled barrow that is filled to the brim!!! (been there / done that). I am very excited about my new things!!!

When I opened up our barn door (the York barn that is) and got all excited about my things, Sadie said to Matt "you have to understand that only MY Mom could get excited about such things".. However, I know that isn't true... I bet some on you out there are thinking... "I could use some of those things!!!" must just be the circle of friends that I "chum" with!!!!!

Ok, April... you are suppose to be the start of "good weather"... let's just check out the Farmer's Almanac and see what's up for the month Solar, then doler; must this month be so bipolar? Wondrously warm, followed by thunderousy storms: Boom! Rain's a-fallin';streams a-risin; but there's hope on the horizon. Daffodils garland the hills. Doesn't sound too bad overall......

Happy birthday to.....

ME!!!!

Today is my 48th birthday!!!! I can't tell you what it's like to be 48, because if one must "feel" their age... I can tell you... I don't feel that age!!!

I am a little girl, watching my barn come to real life and waiting to play with my horses!!! Playing "kennel" with my dogs, and hanging out with my best friend (Ed)!!! I like birthdays... I like mine.....

My Grandfather (who sadly passed three days after Ed and I were married) always loved his birthday. When most "older" folks said things like.. "I don't celebrate birthdays anymore or it's just another day"... my grandpa always said his birthdays were the best... it meant that he had been blessed to see another year, and he always looked forward to the year to come. I "adopted" that idea years ago, partly because of him, and partly because it's very true. I have been blessed with another year, and I am certainly looking forward to the one to come!!!!!

I received some pretty nice presents.. which I will show you tomorrow (as it was too dark outside to get a good pic tonite)... and as much as I love presents... it's my "gifts" that I really appreciate....

Ed, Kassy, Sadie, Nate, my folks, and sisters... neices, the "Flaggs"... friends that are almost too many to name...

my cockers, cats, horses, guinea pigs, bunny ...turtle...

a farm.....

the list is endless..... Happy birthday to me!!!!!