a teary day......

Today we attend another wonderful, amazing NEADS graduation.... as I thought, it was a great emotional day... and I will never get threw a graduation without crying my eyes out!!! I still say, when I am asked "how do you give up your puppies after a year of work.."  this is "how"!!!!

Right away, Deb seemed to sense the importance of this day.. she was as good as gold, but spent much of the ceremony sitting like this, with her eye glued to me. She seems quite concerned that I was "upset" though I told her a million times, everything was just fine. Even though this is the fall graduation and Rylie was matched a month ago, her graduation will be next spring.. so I could "enjoy" this one without any personal attachments (ha, ha!!!)

There were 26 teams today... with dogs from each group.. though this time, the dogs for children seem to out weigh the number of dogs in the other groups. The testimonies of the parents of these children is so great and so hard to listen too... and some of the children even had the courage to stand up and talk about their dogs...

Story upon story about how the children had improved since getting dogs.. everything from behavior to school work.. to making friends.. and how families can now do "normal" things... like one family who said they now can go out for dinner... because with their child's dog resting quietly under the table... their child felt secure and wanted to "act as nicely as the dog".... it just goes on and on as what these dogs do for these very special children....

Here are a few of the service dogs... but one in particular is the dog on the right. This team is from Maine!!! and not only that.. but the dog, Radar... is the dog that was sponsored by the gold star Mother that we met last December in Arlington National Cemetery... AND Radar was trained in prison, but his weekend puppy raiser is the same gal that had Rylie on the weekends while she was doing her prison training... the longer I am with NEADS, the smaller the program gets!!!!

Deb finally decided that I was really OK, and got comfortable and spent the second half of graduation like this!!!!

and here's a dog that you all "know"... this is Hope!! and if you don't remember, she came and lived here at the farm for a month when she and Rylie traded spots. Hope and Rylie are sisters, and Hope isn't far from having a match...Here she demos some of the tasks that she can do... like turning on the lights...

And opening the frig!!! There was also one other litter mate to Rylie and Hope.. that was Norton. I got to see him as well, and turns out, he's being trained as a hearing dog and didn't have much more to go before his match would be coming up. So that was a big success for NEADS.. Rylie as a social dog, Hope as a service dog and Norton a hearing dog!!! all off into the world to work their magic...

There was a good crowd of folks that came to the graduation. I knew many of them, and they were excited to meet Debbie and hear all about "where she is with her training".. Actually, it's hard to think that we have just passed the half way mark... time goes quickly.....









And as I have told all my puppies... "it's all about the RED vest"!!!! and next graduation will be all about Rylie!!!!

getting some work done!!!

I feel like I have been very busy doing "what??" and have been quite lacking when it comes to getting Debbie out on her public field trips... which is NOT good when it comes to the training log!!!! So, today, after receiving an invite.. I met up with Linda and Otis and another service dog group (ACTS) to do some work time at Cabela's.....

This is a nice group.. small and local, and I know many of the puppy raisers, so it was fun to meet up with a different group of dogs. Their puppies were all ages and at all stages of training, they were quite impressed with Miss Deb... as was I. She does know how to handle herself in public....

We roamed threw the store, Cabela's is a great place to work, because there are so many different "things"... one being the huge stuffed animals there... which at first, Debbie had to take a close look at... (moose are pretty big!!!). We got the chance to work by Suzanne and her scooter.. no problem there, and then practiced our obedience skills here and there. The store was fairly busy, and we got lots of time to talk with folks who were interested in watching the dogs work.

They have a big fish tank here (like LL Beans) and Deb watched the fish for the longest time. She thought they were pretty cool.....

Then we popped over to the shooting gallery. There were some kids playing there and so all sorts of things would pop up or make strange sounds. Debbie loved this and watched and waited for the next "thing" to pop. She wasn't one bit shy about any of the sounds or actions. She is turning out to be a good little worker and I am really enjoying our training together.... I have good feelings about her, like I did with Rylie.... and it was a fun morning.





 I didn't stay all day, because it was just too pretty out and I wanted to get Duke out in the cart ... which I have been doing a fair amount this fall. As it turns out, Kathleen and Courtney stopped by and I was "able to convince" them to take a little drive with us.... all  too soon this wonderful weather is going to be on it's way.. so I'm taking advantage of every second!!!!

a bit of this and that...

We're well into fall now. The leaves have pretty much gone by and I can, once again, see the homes of my neighbors. Which is nice when the days are so short and dark, to look across the field and see another home and know that I'm not the only person in the world. I love the quiet of my farm, but there are times when I feel like I am the only person on the earth.......

I saw this pattern for this little hat and just knew that I had to have it!!! When the pattern arrived, I realized there where some stitches that I do not know how to do... thank goodness for the internet. With a bit of studying and some patience.... it came out.. looking somewhat like the fox it's suppose to be...

I tried it on Abbie, but it was a bit too small.... so decided that this one can go to Reagan and I'll do another one for Abs'... and if you make it up in gray... it's a wolf.....

Sadie came for a visit... and decided that she would get the pony out and see what she could do with her. Sadly this little pony isn't exactly what I was looking for.. she's quite timid and it's taken her a long time to settle in. I'm not even sure that I will keep her forever... but turns out, Sadie made some real progress with her...

I totally forgot that I had a pony saddle, Sadie said she just went slow and easy, and got the saddle on without too much fuss. Course Abbie wanted to help, she really is hoping that "her pony will learn to like her".....

And the three of them just "played" quietly together for the longest time.....

With a bit of help and some gentle work... Abbie actually got on her and sat for a little bit. This is huge and maybe if we continue, we can bring her around... and she can stay. BTW... I don't usually dress like this or allow a picture to be taken if I do... however.... while they were playing with the pony....

I was cleaning out the turkey pen!!!! and so by the looks of what I was dealing with... one can appreciate my "not wanting to be dressed up"..... (yuck).. but the pen is all clean and ready to be the winter home of the guinea hens!!!!

We popped down to have a visit with Reagan.... he's mobile now and Abbie had a great time with him. He can finally play with her and she was delighted.....

The foxy hat is actually alittle too big for him. But, he'll grow into it.. so this one is his for sure... and I'll definitely be making more of them... they are really fun to do...

These two played for the longest time and allowed the big people to have a nice visit together....

Looks like the days of "old".......

Whenever Abbie is here on the farm, she likes to check her email.... this morning, she decided to do it "just the way Baby does"... (note the glasses.....)  











We finished getting the "girls" settled for the winter. Time to wrap the hive, which helps to keep the drafts out, and give them extra support to stay warm. We started by taping up the vent holes... all but the very top were done...

Then, using a sheet of tar paper, wrapped around the boxes, covering the seams between each box. That helps keep out the drafts..... I guess the dark color of the paper also attracts heat from the sun, but our hive is a dark color anyways.... and you don't wrap it completely, because there needs to  be some air movement in the hive.







The girls will fly on warm winter days... so even though we're buttoned up, it's not like they just stay in all winter..I have to make some winter food - just in case they run out of honey (which I don't think will happen) and then, we wait for warm spring days to see if they made it threw.....

playing....

Well.. I have to admit, for the past couple of days... I have not been at all "responsible" and have simply been.... playing!!! The weather is so grand right now, and to be inside doing "responsible" things is beyond what I can do. I have to be outside and just enjoying!!! My friend Kathy saw that I had taken Mary out for a drive a few weeks ago, and made a comment that "some day she would like to go"... just give me an excuse to hitch Duke and go for a drive!!!! So, we made a date and today Kathy and her little dog, Tia came!!!! Duke is so gentle and kind and I wanted to show Tia that she had nothing to fear....

After I tack up -- I like to do a short, stretching walk with Duke before we hitch.... he knows exactly what we're up to when we do this.....

Cart on, and we're heading down the drive... Kathy told me that she has never had the opportunity to ride like this before..... all the more reason to make this the perfect drive!!!!

We took a couple laps around the farm and then headed out onto the road. I am lucky in that the roads around the farm are pretty quiet, and most drivers know how to safely pass a horse... so I love being out on the road... (besides... I can hear the "hoof clop-clop better!!! a sound I truly love).....

We went along for quite a ways and then turned to head for home. Duke (as usual) was amazing, and never even flinches when we are passed by cars, trucks.. and even huge truck filled with a load of logs!!! (which - honestly- sort of frightens me!!!)....

Upon our return, the others hardly even pick their heads up to say hello.......

And here we are with one of our passengers.... (Kathy was taking the picture) but Tia seemed to enjoy her ride very much... and look at Duke, he is so proud and knows when he has done a great job... (can I just say how much I love this horse!!!!)







After our ride, and getting Duke all settled back in the barn, I invited Kathy and Tia in for some hot cocoa.... well, Kathy had hot cocoa.. Tia just visited with all the cockers. They all thought she was quite cute, and I am sure they would love to have her come back again.



So, before the wintery winds begin to blow and the outside is not so welcoming... I am planning on being out as much as possible....and poor Duke, won't be having much time off!!!!!

blessings.......................

This past Sunday, the puppy chapter traveled to Pastor Jane's and Ginger's church for a "blessing of the animals".... I feel so blessed that I can stay in touch with Ginger and her forever Mom... which is quite rare in the world of the service dog puppy raiser. It was a beautiful afternoon and the service took place on the church lawn under this amazing tree....

I think of the photo I took of Dave and Ginger when we parted ways.. and Dave was leading Ginger into the kennel door... and here is Pastor Jane and Ginger coming out of the church door to begin the service... it just seems to "say" so much to me....

Kathleen, Rick and I actually went earlier in the day to attend church service and then stayed for the blessing of the animals. Ginger - of course - could not contain her excitement when she saw us enter the church. "Does a service puppy remember the people who raised her?"  Well, just watch Ginger for 2 seconds once she has seen us, and the answer is loud and clear.... it's been two years since she was with me, and she acts like we parted ways yesterday.....

There wasn't a huge crowd that attended, but it was such a nice service. Mainly dogs... (I didn't see any other pets).... and Pastor Jane's sermon was simply lovely....

I brought all the cockers... however, during the service only Camille, Tazzy and Hunter came out of the jeep... Trevor is NOT a social dog and I knew this would overwhelm him... so, he stayed int he jeep, and got a private blessing after the service was done....

Hunter seemed to enjoy the blessing the most.... he was so good and quiet and just kept watching me with his beautiful brown eyes.... I think he would like to be able to go to church more often!!!!

This is Moxie.. Kelli and Rick's dog... she hardly ever takes her eyes of her Daddy... Rick is doing therapy work with her now....

And little Debbie, who stayed with Kathleen, since I had my hands full with the cockers and Kathleen doesn't have a puppy right now.....

I have to say.. all the dogs were so well behaved and seemed to really understand that this was a special time just for them....

Here's Trev... waiting for his blessing....

The last dog to be blessed was Ginger.... is there any doubt that she adores Pastor Jane .... and she is so amazing in her work, this was (is) most certainly the perfect job for her.......

Linda and Otis brought a new toy for Ginger.... a "fox" and once Ginger had that, she carried the whole afternoon. Pastor Jane said that all of Ginger's toys have to be kept at the church... because her other dogs destroy the toys... but Ginger never does...

she was pretty proud of her new "foxy"... and what really impressed me is she would hold it, and not even grumble if another dog came near it. Trev will hold toys too, but he won't allow the other dogs to come near him when he has one... so this is really neat....









We spent the better part of the day with Pastor Jane and Ginger... and of course, I had to get this photo of "my" two babies together... at the rate Ginger is going, she'll get to meet all of my current puppies!!!!


So Ginger's work continues... sending out blessings of all kinds.. but today... it was for the animals....