real snow!!!

All week long, "they" have been talking snow. Ok, it's January, we're suppose to get snow... so what??? The last storm was predicted as a 'blizzard".. and yes, we got snow, and it was windy, but honestly.. I didn't see the big deal about it all. Now, we hear "nor easter", high winds, cold.. and I think "yup". To celebrate, I pull out a bag of those wonderful strawberries I picked last June, dish up some ice cream and have a grand little after dinner treat. Oh they were so good.. a little taste of summer in the winter.

We had a bit of "excitement" on the farm yesterday. Sadie woke up and looked out the window to see Tonka and Duke standing in the front yard. NOT in the pasture... in the yard. They had taken down the fence and were wondering about just as they pleased. It wasn't any trick to "catch" them.. walk towards the barn and yell "let's eat" and you can get two draft horses moving quickly. Silver, Mocha and Kringle were still "inside" and didn't discover the fence being down. So, the first thing .. Ed and I went out and got that fence put back.

The rest of the afternoon, I found the horse sunning themselves... almost as though they knew we had weather on the way... maybe they did....

This morning, we woke to this... REAL SNOW!! Howling winds, snow drifts that were "feet" high.. a real New England snow day.

Ed had a bit of time just breaking the driveway open....

This is what you could call a "white out" for sure.. I can't even see the end of the driveway...











If you look very closely.. Ed is in the picture.. plowing... maybe getting a white truck wasn't such a good idea.











Ginger had a grand time when I put the dogs out this am. The cockers were not so impressed.. they "did their business" and came right back in. At least I had a dog yard this morning.. by night fall, my entire fence (which is only three feet high) is "gone".. totally covered by the snow. So.. guess the doggies will be going out the front door for a bit... you'd think that Ginger would break some paths for the little guys, but she can't be bothered.








This was "yesterday".. our down fence. I think what happened was Tonka was reaching over the fence to get a bit of grass, and just took it down. With today's snow.. there won't be any "tempting" grass on the other side of the fence... fortunately it didn't take us long to put it back. We kept the horses locked inside until we were back in business....

And when we let them out, they ran right to where the fence was down.. who says horses aren't smart and don't' remember....

Silver - "hey Tonka, look at this.. they put the fence back!!!"

Tonka - "ya, I see.. it's just no fair"...

Hopefully, the fence is still there, with this snow, I don't know if we can even see that.. guess I'll find out in the morning!!!!

puppy training

After saying good bye to Cole on Monday, it was nice to return to the vet's again with some thing "fun". Ginger needed the last of her shots, so we popped in to get that done. She hopped right up on the scales, and waited quietly while they got her weight. She is up to 32 lbs.. so she is officially bigger than any of the cockers. I think she looks so "grown up" in this picture!!! Her "puppy look" is fading fast.

They have these great benches at the vets, so we practiced a bit of "under"... it took a few tries for her to get the idea, but once she understood, she was perfect.

Brother Leo has been staying with us this week. The puppies have had the grandest time together... they love to be out in the snow and I have to bring them in. They don't know when they are tired!!! Kathleen was little worried that two puppies might be a "bit much" , but with the fenced in area, they have pretty much entertained themselves ... Ginger's going to miss her playmate when he heads home in a few days.

Our week hasn't been without training, though. On Sunday (last) Ginger went to church with us. She tucked herself under the pew and never made a sound. I did have to run her out during the last song for a little "break".. but for her first time, she was wonderful. So.. guess it will be "church" each week for her... Chester used to love going to church.

We also got to do a little work in an elevator. I had a private student to work with in the old home town, so when we were finished, I ran Ginger over the hospital. We were greeted at the door by the volunteers, who asked how they could help. I said "all I need is your elevator.". We took several trips up and down, worked on "sitting quietly" while it moved and not going out the door until told to do so. Ginger loves to work and learn new things... I have a very good feeling about this "service dog to be"....

The rest of the week was "quiet" especially compared to past couple of weeks. Though, not so for my dear Ed.... last Monday night a firefighter from a neighboring town was killed on his way to a fire call. He actually lived in our town, but was a member of the fire department in the next town over. It was (has) been a great loss for the fire department. Since they (the other department) was so wrapped up in the funeral and the loss... Ed was asked to plan all the "coverage" for their station and the surrounding ones. He spent hours on the phone, "re-arranging" local towns and their trucks, so there would be coverage while other arrangements were being planned. I have prayed all week for this fire fighter's family... I can't even begin to imagine what they are dealing with. Please think of your local fire fighters whether they be paid or volunteer and remember the ones who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Ol' King Cole...

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that our old sweet Cole has gone on to Rainbow Bridge today. At nearly 17 he certainly had a long life, and up until just the past couple of weeks, a life that was filled with good health and happiness.

He had gone deaf a few years ago, and last winter, he began to loose his sight. I was worried how he would do when we moved into the new house, since he didn't know the lay out of it ahead of time. But, he did just fine and soon got the "feel of it" and went along like he had always lived here.

About a week ago I noticed that he was drinking a lot of water and not moving around so much. Then he began to pick at his food, and even the all time favorite of "rice and chicken" didn't do much to excite him. He still would eat apples though.. he was always crazy about apples... I was pretty worried about him over the holiday weekend, and by Sunday night, I just had "that feeling".. he had stopped eating all together, and wasn't even that excited about apples.... he wanted me to be close by....

This morning, he wasn't "right"... and I knew what needed to happen next. I called the vet.... and we said our goodbyes. Through my tears, I have this wonderful vision of Cole and Moxie greeting each other once again... then going for a good race across God's green fields... and heading to the lake to take a swim together, because the two of them always loved to swim.

He brought great jou to me and I will miss his sweet spirit............Good bye my sweet boy.......`

1-1-11

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! and quite the interesting date to start it all off!!! As usual the holidays have flown by and in another few days, it will all go back to "normal"... too bad, the holidays are never long enough. Our day started out well, first off, it was a Saturday and I had the day off!!! and secondly our local Lion's Club was doing their monthly pancake breakfast.. so we went out to that. We met up with Kathleen and Bob as Leo is staying with us this week... so we had good company along with good food!!!





Another bonus to the day.. it was nearly 60 degrees!! Leave it to New England, last weekend we were preparing for a blizzard, and this weekend, spring has arrived!!! The animals so enjoyed the warmth.. Mr. G had a grand time patrolling the farm and just getting out, he has been cooped up in the barn way too long!!! (but he is as handsome as ever!!!)





Given this "opportunity".. Ed and I decided it would be a good day to go through the barn. We do daily chores, but this was a chance to really get things picked up again and back in order. We even got the chicken's stall done and Turkey manor.. so the birds have nice clean houses to get them thru the rest of the winter....








The gator even got a bath......













We got all the dishes and water buckets washed.. and I even found a new salt lick that I gave to Mocha and Kringle. It was a holiday filled with "normal" things, but a great way to begin the new year....









Last night we were at Kas and Nate's. Nate has turned my "old doggie school" into his "man cave"... Bill gave him the pool table that he and Ed had as "kids".. and there have been several other donations made to the cause...so furniture, games (like a dart board).. a bar... all the things needed to make it just like home!!! We order Chinese food and just had a great family evening together.....

This was Abbie's idea of playing pool.....

And here, she is explaining the rules of the pool game to Rick!!!!

It has been a good year -2010 - we are very blessed, and hope that the new year brings all of you many good things!!!!

another "day before"

wow.. a week ago, it was the "day before the day before".. I remember feeling a little stressed and anxious about the "need to be done's" and now this week, it's all behind us - and I sort of wonder what I was so worried about. It turned out to be a great Christmas spent with family and friends.. and really, isn't that what it's all about???















I've put a few days in at the post this week. I worked on Monday because of the snow and then I worked today and again tomorrow, just so my boss could have a little time to enjoy the holidays. I would have thought that Monday might be really quiet, but surprise surprise... being Mainers, people were still out to get their mail!!!!






It is MUCH quieter than it was last week, enough that I have felt comfortable bringing Ginger to work with me in the afternoons. The mornings are too busy getting the mail sorted and "delivered" to be able to watch a puppy, but the afternoons are just busy enough that I can do both. It has been great bringing her to work... there's a lot that goes on... mostly "noises" .. that are really good for her to handle. Like, hearing the door open and close many times, or the sound that the little mailbox doors make when people go into get the mail. Or the rumble of the big mail carts.... etc. etc.

She has been very good at work, and is getting used to "down time". I'll be taking her to church within the next week or so.. she's ready to learn to lay quietly. I know the folks at church will be happy to see a dog again... they have missed Chester.

The "Wednesday" night dog classes have been running right along. I wasn't so sure that "we" could fill a class during the holiday season.. but Paula managed to fill two of them. Attendance has been very good... this is a dedicated group of folks for sure.

Ginger loves puppy class.. especially -puppy play time. She has a great time with everyone!!!

We'll be making another trip to NEADS in January... so I want to stay up to date on the training for sure.....

SNOW!!!

As forecasted...we got a pretty good snow storm Sunday evening into Monday morning. I was all set for a good ol fashion, stay at home quilting day.. but as I thought, I was called into work. I do recall that one of the questions of my interview was... "do you live close enough that you could cover on snowy days".. now since I live about 800 feet from the post office, and my boss has about an hour's drive.. I guess I can pretty much plan... big snows mean work!!! Oh well, that's OK...


Poor Ed, actually had two fire calls during the storm.. and not that this was a huge storm.. we have had bigger with way more snow, but what made this one so different was the wind. In fact, it was hurricane speed winds!!! The snow was very fine and with the wind, it creeped into everything. Ed plowed the driveway several times just to stay ahead of the drifts. I was all set for taking tons of "really cool pictures"... only to have my little camera suddenly quit on me.. and this was the only "storm picture" that I got!!!! (course you know that I had to get a new camera as soon as we could)....


so.. with new camera (actually the exact same one that I had before).. I got the rest of these photos. Oh, but look who had the good sense to move into the house, especially during the storm. It has become a nightly ritual... Annabelle sleeps in the house... no more barn bed for her.. she has found the cozy spot to be.








The snow really is pretty and if we're going to put up with the cold of winter... we might as well have some snow to play in. The temps have mild a little, last week we had sub zero, and now it stays just around freezing...










which, when you have a warm sunny spot to stand in... makes it just about perfect. With these fuzzy coats, the horses seem pretty happy. They were just glad to be outside again, we locked them in during the storm and two days of standing inside just isn't their cup of tea!!! But I wasn't taking any chances with the wind.....






It took a little doing for the birdies to come out. They aren't as comfortable with the snow... but they were happy to be out of their house and into some fresh air.


so, it's winter in New England..... however - I noticed that the days are a bit longer!!!!!

boxing day!!!!!

It had been my hope that Christmas would be celebrated at our house this year. But, it just didn't seem to work out that way.. though one year soon, I am going to do my best to make that happen... but....

I thought instead, since we had Sunday as the day after Christmas (Boxing day) that maybe we could extend the holiday a little longer and I asked everyone to come and have a Christmas turkey with us. The only drawback was.. a winter storm was heading for New England and timing was going to be everything.



We had saved some gifts out for Abbie, so she got another morning of gift opening. This actually worked out really well, because having just a few gifts at time, kept her from being overwhelmed and she got to really see her new things and enjoy them. Besides it was just great to have a little one opening presents here!!!







Around lunch time, family and friends began to arrive. I knew that some would not make it, worried about the snow beginning, but it sure was wonderful to have folks here.











As I have said, having the house filled with people is one of the best things in the world!!! People stayed as long as they dared... but the late leavers did call back to say the storm had arrived and they were glad they had left when they did.

We are in for a "real" New England Nor'easter... and I'm glad it held off as long as it did. I'm glad we didn't have that worry on Christmas day, and that we had most of Boxing day to be together...

the "cousins" certainly had a good time..... and now we head into the last week of the year... 2011 is just around the corner!!!!

simply said .... Christmas!!!!!

And here it is... Christmas again. Where has a year gone?? and why does it come faster and faster each year. And why doesn't it last longer??? Even though we cram in as much as possible, it is never long enough.



Christmas eve was spent with our dear friends (aka family) Deb and Dave. Deb made a wonderful dinner and her house was so cute all decorated for Christmas. It was so welcoming and comfortable.














We attended a candle light service at the little Baptist Church just down the street from the Flaggs. It was a nice little service and a great reminder of "what" this holiday is truly about.










If I could say... it was sad not seeing this little church filled to the brim. And sadder still, that there weren't many children.. I fear this is a sign of the future... we need to get families back to church and our children being raised in Christian homes.....








Christmas morning, it was busy here on the farm. We had animals to tend to and make sure they would all be set while we were away for the whole day. Then it was packing up of the goodies.. which required several trips to the truck. If there was any doubt about how blessed this family.. I think this photo says a great deal.







First stop was Kassy and Nate's for breakfast and gift opening. As you may recall, this is our "old" house and I am so happy to be able to spend Christmas morning here again. We have had so many great memories of Christmas "pasts" here and it's nice that it holds the "future" as well. Breakfast was grand... Kas and Nate really out did themselves!!!!






I brought Ginger and Camille along. I knew that Ginger could not go the whole day stuck in her crate. And if nothing else... it was a good day of "training" to beat. She didn't quite know what to make of all the boxes of things.. but she was very good the whole day.









After Kas and Nate's.. it was onto my parent's home for lunch.. time with the family and more gifts. My Dad repairs clocks and I just love this clock that they have out on the front lawn!!!!

My Mom and Dad's tree....

and a small part of the Santa collection that my Mom has!!!

As stated.. the whole day just flew by. But is was great fun and I savored every moment of it. Little Abbie did quite well and went the whole day without a nap (and without being cranky to boot!!) But just after supper, she was done!!!

and so a great way to end my Christmas blog...

Merry Christmas to all and to all.... a good night!!!!