Happy Father's Dad... and per our usual "style" this family of mine found it a good reason to get together and celebrate. Actually it's so much fun, because when I think family... it includes everyone.... my Mom and Dad, sister, children... their children.. and then Nate's family, siblings, grandparents...... the list goes on and on... oh and then add friends....
Kass and Nate's house was filled to the brim with people and good food... and pets.... it was a great time for fun, and good talks....
Everyone brings a little food, and it makes for so many good things.....
Reagan made this a first "Father's Day" for Nate, and was properly passed around to all... here he is with his two Great grandmothers!!!!! (Amy wasn't about to be left out, so when my Mom had Reagan -- she hopped up on the next available lap)....
He seems to enjoy the craziness of this family... good thing....
It's alway fun to be able to give gifts!!!!
Diana popped in to see everyone... she was Kass's personal coaching nurse when little Reagan arrived into the world..... she keeps close tabs on "her" little baby....
I didn't get a ton of pictures, because I was "too busy" visiting everyone too.. but we had a very good day and I feel so blessed to have my Dad with me on Father's Day..... and to see this family at four generations --- on both sides, it a real gift....
as for Camille... well, the car seat was open.....
A few folks who are on staff at my vet's .. got puppies this past spring. When they asked me about puppy classes, I thought it would be fun to run a class just for them. Afterall, they take care of all my service puppies for FREE.... donating their time and all medical services... so I thought this might be a nice way for me to say thank you to them. We had a few classes right at the clinic and then for their graduation class... we all met at the local Tractor Supply store to test their skills.
I have to admit, I love the Tractor Supply stores, not only do they have everything that I need for the farm.. but they welcomed dogs... all dogs... and for my students, its a great place to go and practice their dog's obedience skills. Example... meeting up with other people, especially kids......
That's a hard lesson for a happy excitable pup... NOT to jump when approached....
And then there are all sorts of "weird" things... statues for example... every see a more than life large rooster.... or a miniature cowboy.... things like this can take a puppy by surprise.... or how about learning to walk beside a shopping cart....
down stays being practiced in the dog food isle... and Abbie (very happy to be a part of the group)... walking back and forth by the puppies.....
Course, she and Rylie had to do a bit of dog training of their own. She was quite the "big shot" walking "her" puppy threw the store....
And Rylie followed along, as nice as could be.... (leaving us is going to be very hard!!!!)
Just "out shoppin'" with her buddy.......
But, back to my class... we played going threw the doorways... sliding doors can be scary too... they move differently from regular doors, and they make a strange sound...
But everyone did well....
We went out to the garden section.. I thought that might be a nice spot to have our little graduation ceremony.. amongst the flowers and such...
And the puppies seemed pretty please with their caps....
As were the owners. So, first step of their life long training begun...
As for these two.........
trouble!!!!!
But noted... "Baby... Rylie follows me everywhere and does just what I want her to..." (oh my,,,,,,,)
Rylie seems so happy to be home once again. I haven't "talked" much about her, but last month, she spent sometime in a prison program. The idea, to give her a chance to work on "transition" so that when she leaves for real, it will be something that she has already done. I heard that she settled in pretty well, so, it makes me feel a little better about her leaving at the end of the month. Abbie and Ed are already having a hard time about saying goodbye (well, I am too) she has been a dear little dog, but there's talent there and I have a feeling she's going to make someone a very good little service dog.
Sadie had a busy week at work, so asked if I would mind having Abbie for a few days ( force me!!! LOL) Tuesday morning the weather turned out to be absolutely perfect in my book. That horrid hot weather has moved along, and this sunny, dry, slight windy day moved in. I am a happy camper, I can tell you. Abbie was awake at 4:45 (am), just as the sun was rising... wanting to head up to the barn and 'get those eggs"... I managed to put her off until around 7:30... bucket in hand, she is off!!!!
She still does like the turkeys...they're getting big - quick - and love being in Turkey Manor. Now that they can't fit threw the fencing, we have been letting them out during the day. Abbie is still upset that we "lost" that one bird and she can count to nine and does so each time, to make sure they are all there....
She loves to walk Mocha out to the roundpen... and it's a big help to me, because I can lead Twinkle out... saves me a trip when Ab's takes Mocha. She's good at handling her too, and "doesnt' let her get away with anything..."...
Job done....
Hangin' out for a bit, watching the horses enjoy the morning and the dewy grass....
Tuesday, Kas goes over and works with Nate and Dave at the repair shop (Ed is working there too...) and while Kass works, Reagan spends the time with Deb... I know taking him for a walk up threw the path in their woods is a favorite thing for them to do. With the day just being so pretty, I called Deb to see if Abbie and I could join them... she welcomed us. So, I packed up Abbie.. and five dogs... and off we went to walk with Deb and Reagan (and Hallie and Ollie)....
The dogs so loved the walk... I kept them leashed only because of the ticks and the fact that Deb said she and her dogs have run across a few porcupines...even though they did run loose, they still had a good time... though, at 12... Hunter and Trev are beginning to show their age, and we did take a couple of breaks for them....
Rylie decided to take advantage of 'rest" times too.. though she could have gone much further.....
Abbie loved walking the woods and chatted with Deb about all sorts of things..... Reagan bumped along in his stroller, taking in all the sights....
When we got back to the house, Abbie and I stayed and visited for a bit.... Deb asked her if she wanted to feed Reagan....
She was so excited and pleased to be able to help. She really loves her little cousin.... I hope they grow up and become really close...
After Reagan had a full tummy... Deb took Abbie out to her chicken coop... and look at those cute little babies..... three Mama's sat on the nest and are raising the little ones.. so Deb isn't sure what baby belongs to who.. but the Mama's don't seem to mind...
Wednesday was just as pretty as Tuesday was... Abbie wanted to go outside and "work" with Rylie. I keep reminding her that Ry is leaving us soon... she seems to understand...
But for today.. it's all about running, playing and having fun.... looks like the same pictures I took last fall... when they were both much smaller.....
Just another reminder of how quickly time goes, and that each day is such a gift....
OOOOPPPPSSS!!!
Such a good girl... no matter where Ry ends up, she will keep a little piece of Abbie with her... and no doubt because of that, she will always be wonderful with kids.....
Three months already!!!! can you believe it???? "Our" little guy is growing too fast, and has certainly moved from the "infant stage" to "baby"... Kass reports that he is doing very well... sleeps most of the night, it starting to roll over... and "talk"...
He's a very easy going baby... travels well... and loves being with other people.. though his Mommy is still is favorite!!!
I am so happy that I see him a few times a week, so I don't miss out on much....
Happy number 3 "snuggs!!!"
Well... June has arrived, but it feels like August. Today we are in our fourth day of temps in the 90's... and as much as I like nice weather, this has all been too much. It's too hot to even move, let alone think about all the things I should be getting done. As we were heading off to church, Kass called and said that she and Nate were heading to the camp... Reagan's first camp adventure, so after church we head right over ourselves....
With all the wet cold weather we had just a week ago, we haven't even thought "camp".. the docks are still on the shore, and the house wasn't even "open". But since this day has arrived, it's just as good to get summer things moving....
We had a good group of "dock put 'er inners" this year... Nate, and our neighbor John and his friends all volunteered to get them in for us. Ed was so happy that he wasn't really needed.... the water was still cold, but the day was so hot, the guys didn't mind getting in.....
Course, the dogs are always the first ones in... Charlie was just as happy to swim from the shore... he didn't need any dock to be in for him....
He is a swimming fool... we like to tease and say in his past life, he must have been a fish......
I brought Rylie down once the docks were settled. She seemed interested in what the other dogs were doing, but wasn't so sure that the water was for her. Since we only have her another couple of weeks, I wanted her to at least have some try with the lake...
Of all our cockers, Trevor is our swimmer... Hunter will go if it's very hot, as will Tazzy... Camille will only go if I am in the water and she absolutely has to... but she's not a swimmer dog if it's her choice....
Rylie was still interested and checked each wet dog as they came out of the lake....finally, I went in myself (only to my knees)....
And then Ry gave it a try. She only swam the one time... but did it in true lab style....
Then it was Reagan's turn to give the lake a try... Kass went in and had Nate hand Reagan down to her... he likes his tubby time at home.. but a cold lake....
He had no troubles at all.... kicked his little feet and over all seemed to enjoy the water . As the summer goes on and it's gets warmer, I am sure he will like it even better....
Playing with Mom and Dad lakeside......
Charlie will show his little baby how to swim.......
It was a wonderful afternoon..... somehow, I always do feel a bit cooler at the lake and it's nice to see our family will be all there again this summer. I hope we have lots of cookouts and have lots of company, because that it what the lake is all about....
And one seldom has any troubles falling asleep after such a busy afternoon....Reagan has the right idea for sure...
We made a quick check on the bees this evening, they are progressing well with their new home. The frame on the bottom box are pretty much full, if you look here, you can see where they are building out the comb on this last frame.... so that means...
Time to add a second box and give them more room to build and have their brood. Depending on how quickly they can build this out, we can add a smaller box for the honey stores. However, last week's rain kept them in, so I'm beginning to think that we wont' get a honey crop this year... they will need it for the winter. Unless the fall proves to be warm and we can catch that honey run. But who wants to be thinking about the fall?????
