When we do the "pet therapy visits'.. I am never sure "who" has the most fun, the people we are going to see, or the puppies when they have the chance to be all together. Today we had Camille, Livy, Danny, Moxie and Sasha.....
and it's always a puppy pile when we first get there!!!!
Once all the puppies have had their chance to say hello, it's off to see "our friends"... Rick and Moxie lead the way....
Linda and Sasha....
Danny Boy.....
and Camille and Livy. Everyone is always so happy to see the dogs, and I just find it so much fun watching the dogs enjoying all this attention....
Livy is becoming a great therapy dog, and I am just so pleased with her. What cocker spaniel doesn't like attention, but Livy is really understanding what this is all about. There is no doubt that she will be ready to certify this coming fall. I love how she has plenty of "bounce" but knows when it's time to settle down and be serious.
This is great "work" for Danny as well... and he seems very comfortable being around all the people and their equipment...
Afterwards, we let the puppies end the day with a bit more playtime. After being so "good" and "quiet", it's nice for them to be able to be silly again......
But one thing I can count on... very tired puppies on the ride home....
In fact, both Livy and Danny were sound asleep before we even left the parking lot..... and that is what I would call, a day well spent.....
I don't know if it's just because winter was so long... or if because we did have such a "wet" spring... or if it's just because I am loving this summer weather... but it seems to me that everything looks so pretty this year!!! We have a ton of wild flowers growing all around the farm, and since a gardener I am NOT... I am happy to see these, knowing my little bees are finding good things to "eat"...
The horses are enjoying being on pasture again. They hardly spend anytime inside, (which makes for clean stalls!!!) and I basically check the water... I haven't bothered putting out hay, because they aren't eating it... the grass is just too nice....
Speaking of hay... it's that time again!!! As if getting the beach house and camp isn't enough work on our list... the hay is on it's way in!!! Time to open up the loft doors.......
Can you believe this view we have from the hay loft!!!! Honestly, this would make a neat apartment with all these grand views!!!!
But, the "only ones that see it" are the hay bales!!! We did pretty well this past year, even with the very cold temps, and all the hay we fed out.. we have some left... I like to take the time to get all the "old" hay in one area, sweep up and feed out any broken bales, and just have a nice place to put the new hay in....
And we're ready just in time, because "Father" has knocked down my favorite hay field. He knows I really like the hay from this particular field... and he usually "saves" it for us....
The family that owns this farm doesn't live on it, and let's "Father" tend the fields and sell the hay. I feel very fortunate that there are still farms like this one!!!
Once the bales are made, we wait for the call and head over.... the hay this year is looking very good... and I would think that there will be two cuttings this year.
We pull up with the trailer and everyone pitches in!!!! Big or small, every hand helps and it so nice to see that the "kids" are happy to lend a hand....
This year, even Abbie is big enough to move some bales around. And she was pretty excited to know that she is "now big enough to help"... (and let me tell you, she can really hussle those bales!!!)
I only hope that we will continue to have "generations" that want to keep these traditions alive and well. Many horse folk - other than us - depend on people being willing to hay and keep the farm lands open....
And the first load heads for home. Two big loads will fill the loft half way, and then I can rest easy and wait for the second cut - usually in late August - to come in. I usually buy more hay than we need, but there is something comforting just knowing that hay is in the loft....
Elevator is down, a few extra hands unload at the farm, and before I know it, the trailer is empty, hay's inside and we're heading back for load number two....
The group is waiting for our return, and get right to work. I think they look a bit like the bees at the hive!!! but they make quick work of it.....
And the field is all cut, ready to grow again.....
Twinkle and Mocha come in from the pasture just to see what is going on. They get the first taste of the this years hay, and from what I can tell... they approve....
Tonka, on the other hand, was just as happy to stay out on his grass... but I know he'll appreciate this hay come winter winds!!!!
A stormy looking sky says that we got the hay at just the right time. Haying is a tricky business that depends on the weather, but once again... Father got it right!!!!! and for now... this job is behind us, and we get on with the next...
Father's Day weekend... nice June weather, and we're finishing up the last of the detailed work with the beach house... yeah!!! Summer is certainly on the way, and we'll be ready for the summer folks who rent our house during this season. I couldn't help but play around with my camera and get some shots of the light house ---- and yes, this is the view that our little beach house has... (no wonder why people like to rent it!!!)
I'm quite pleased with these photos, and thinking they might be good enough to enter in the fair later this summer. I love these beach roses....
Pink and white.... these grow in the neighbors yard.....
Father's day itself, was spent at Kassy and Nate's... a nice family cookout. The day was great, the food was great, and anytime that the whole family can get together is GREAT!!! Reagan loves it when everyone is together, and he had a grand time walking all around and greeting everyone...
We certainly filled up the deck.......
Livy and Danny were excited with all the attention they both got... but actually .. found sharing a stick was even better....
Silly puppies, they certainly are good friends. It was such a nice weekend, but I can already say that the summer is going to go zooming by, and we'll be thinking "winter" again.. so I've decided.. I'm going to enjoy every minute possible!!! (as it should be!!!)
So, the "work" of the restoration continues... Ed has been working off and on all winter on the hand pumper Protection II ... which means we have had some wonderful days, running back and forth to Firefly, getting various parts done and the like. Today was a pick up day, and more than likely the last of our trips "north" to this place anyways. It's such a pretty ride, and I don't mind going along with him one bit.
Today, we were picking up the wheels... These a beautiful wooden wagon wheels and they just needed some touching up. Ed might have been able to do them himself, but it certainly saved him some time to have them done.
They're big... and they're heavy!!!! You just have to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into something like this.... Over 100 years old and with a bit of love... they are going strong....
I have to wonder... how many miles do you think these wheels have traveled???? Oh, if they could only tell the stories.......
We got them loaded in the back of the truck, and now they will go to be painted and stripped before going back onto Protection II. They're going to look amazing.....
As we pull out of Firefly... I have to look back and see this nice old piece... waiting for it's day to be back in the lime light!!! So much history goes threw is building and I for one, very much appreciate the people who still care and work to keep this part of history alive and well.
Just traveling threw the countryside.... I am a gal that is all about "open spaces"....
And (maybe the main reason why I like this trip so much!!!) Lunch at one of our favorite diners!!!! Didn't take a picture this time, but you can be assured.... Lobster roll and chocolate cream pie for me!!!!!
Spring has arrived!!!and suddenly, it would seem as though our "to do"list is filled to the brim. Our big focus, to get the rental places ready for the summer visitors. The beach house has been our biggest project... it has come to the time where the "big ticket" items need our attention. Last year it was a new roof ....
This year, the front porch. Because we had some leakage with the roof (before we got it done)...Ed feared that there could be some damage to the porch... he got "digging around" and sure enough....
He found the "trouble" that he feared. We're on a time crunch (when aren't we).. so it's full attention to this project.....
But good weather, and views like this, somehow make the job go better.
Funny .. when you go "looking for trouble, you can usually find it". We are feeling the panic of getting it done before our summer season begins, but we always seem to manage...... deep breaths!!!!
And Camille will over see that we get it all done!!!!!
Course, we never can do "just one thing at a time".... camp calls and we have projects that need to be done there as well. So, one day at the beach and the next at the lake. Reagan is very interested in this project!!!!
It won't be long before we can use his help with the docks... but for now, he gets "away with" yelling to Daddy, Papa and Jesse out the window.....
Abbie took seconds to get her bathing suit on... she can hardly wait for the first swim of the season.... it was hard keeping her and Reagan "entertained" until the docks got in....
Domino's and trucks helped some... but the game was short lived....
Putting in docks takes time. Fortunately the day was warm, and the lake wasn't "so bad" once you got in and wet. Because Ed had the help, he wanted to take his time, and get them in the right place and even. Some summers, they sort of get "thrown in" and then we say all summer how they're not exactly right...
This summer...they'll be "right".....
Everyone is getting anxious ..... even the dogs are asking when they can go in....
Abbie gave up waiting and decided to get in the water via the rocks. She gets the "first one in award" this summer.....
Goodness!!! a level??? "Papa" is being very picky this year... I guess he thinks that the docks will get plenty of use this summer!!!!
Finally, they are all in place, and everyone can get in for the first swim of the summer.... Reagan and Kas getting their toes wet....
And a new float has it's trial run.....
Looking good......
Here's our "little fish"... Abbie loves the lake, and I dare say, there will be days where we will "never get her out of the water"..... she says that this year, she's going to "jump off the docks".. I bet she will......
So, summer has officially begun around here.... houses are opened and getting ready.. docks in the lake, warm weather on the horizon, and we're going to enjoy every moment possible,because we all know... it's never here long enough.....
