playing on Columbus Day

So... normally.. this is Camille and Livy... together.. enjoying each other's company.. all is well

Livy will even play care giver.. and likes to be "kissing" and touching Camille... but...... like all good siblings... it's not alway Love, Peace and Kindness....

Poor little Camille... the victim of a dog fight. Now, I do not allow dog fights, and actually, being a multi dog household, am on the watch for them, even with the best of dogs. They are dogs!!! they do doggie things, and that includes wanting to be at the top, keep possession of certain items.. and the like. I went to see Dad at the hospital and left Cam and Livy alone in the car. I usually separate them, just because but this day I didn't, and returned to the car to find that Livy had discovered a ball and wanted to be certain that Camille wouldn't get it. Cam doesn't even care about balls, but that doesn't matter. 

Cam certainly took the brunt.. her left ear had been bitten (and was bleeding) and her eye looked sore. I got her home, cleaned up and just let her rest. The next morning the eye didn't look great, so we ran into the vet and discovered that she has a scratch and an ulcer on the eye.... ugh~~~  so, two kinds of meds.. pain killers and a cone for protection are the things in line for the next 10 days or so. Needless to say, I shan't let my guard down again with these two... Livy is now top dog, and will keep that spot at all costs.. I just have to sure that the costs aren't high.  And yes, I was ripped at Livy for having done such a thing... but really.. it was my mistake...

On a brighter note... Columbus day weekend was a good one. The weather was quite nice .. except for Sunday when it rained. But we are in dire need of rain, so i couldn't even complain about that. On Monday, I got Duke and the wagonette out. I took a friend of mine for a drive in the morning and in the afternoon, Sadie and Abi popped in, so I took them for a ride as well.

Wonder what Duke thought of being hitched twice in one day... he probably didn't really care, but this is MY weather, and I'm taking advantage of every second possible. 

I absolutely love driving and now that I'm getting used to how the wagonette travels, I am really..really enjoying it... I haven't taken it out totally alone, but I really don't have any worries about doing that and will probably get out as much as I possibly can....

though I do enjoy having the company of friends when I drive, so I have warned all visitors that they might end up driving before they leave.

Sadie said she really liked the drive and gave Duke a scratch in his favorite spot to say thank you. Goodness I love this old horse, and the day we have to part will be very very sad... but, let's not think about that just now...

Livy loves college.....

Our pet therapy visits take Livy and I to all sorts of different places... which is one of the reasons why I enjoy doing them so much. Today we were at the UNH college... it was "well being day"... an event that is done mostly for the the freshmen, but all kinds of students were there. It was nice, and it gives the kids a chance to see what there is at the school in case they're having trouble settling in, or just different adventures they can do now that they are there. It was such a pretty day and we took a little time to walk about the campus

Since the event was the better part of the day.. the dogs did it in shifts... so there were already some students talking with the other dogs when we arrived.... but it didn't take Livy long to worm her way into the crowd...

Tillie was ending her shift and she looked like she was ready to go. You don't realize that it's a lot of work for the dogs to handle so much attention and after a while they do get "petted out"....

Livy likes to ham it up for the people...she had her picture taken hundreds of times, and so many of the kids made the comment... "I miss my dog so much, this is just what I needed to do today"

Snuggles for everyone.....

Livy's partner was a guy named Buddy.. this was his first official visit, but he did absolutely great as well.. (golden are shoo in as therapy dogs)... it was a fun event, and later in the year we'll go back for the "study buddy" event.. where the dogs go back during exam week and give the kids a chance to snuggle with them while they study...

When we got back from therapy dog... Miss Abi came to the farm!!! She has tomorrow off from school, so I took advantage of that and snagged her for an overnight!!! She is so busy with school and all the other things she does, that I don't get to see her very often right now. She was so happy to come to farm, and right away wanted to go to the barn and see "everyone"....

I made some comment about the milkweed, but she didn't know what I was talking about... so, we pulled a couple of the pods and played with them....

but what she really wanted to do was get Mocha out.. she wanted to get her all brushed up and then I suggested we take a walk around the farm.... both were pretty happy with that idea...

Abi likes to stop and see Kringle's grave when she can, and since it was on the walk, both she and Mocha stopped a minute. I'm not sure if Abi really remembers Kringle or the fact that he passed, but either way, she thinks of him often

Mocha liked the attention.. a good brushing, some grass (which is getting rare this time of year) and a bit of one on one time... course.. Baby was pretty happy to have this time together too.....

we're back

With the change of the leaves, and fall well here, there's another event that comes once again....

It's reading dog season!!! and Livy and I have been asked back to school to read with the children. This is such an honor and both Livy and I enjoy it so much.... she really missed being with the kids over the summer....

the reading teams this year, are Livy and I... Louise and Chief... Caron and Shelby. This is Shelby... he's young so Caron is going to be more of a fill in dog (as he was today because Chief couldn't come).. but I'm pleased to see the team is beginning to grow. Someday, perhaps, we will have a whole crew... but it takes time.

I'm (we're) still being considered for another school.. which if it happens that would be great and if not, then we tried... It's nice to see that people are realizing what dogs can bring to them and the world . The kids are so excited to read to them again, and I am happily looking forward to another great year.

a fall Sunday.....

My Dad has been back in the hospital for the past week.. so we've been making a number of trips home... almost on a daily basis.. he's doing OK, but I hate it when he's sick. Today after we visited, we had been told to go and check out a history board that has been done about the Redshirts. 

It's in the park by the Reading room... and we were excited to see what it's all about. The day was grey, but the ocean is always beautiful.. I have to say, living on the farm the ocean is something that I do miss seeing...

But, it's close by enough that I can get to it when I need to...

The history board is nice... it talks about the Redshirts and their contributions to the town and especially to the fire station... we enjoyed reading it, and then saw...

This paragraph!!!! 

No had told Ed about that... it was a complete and wonderful surprise!!! and now, it is recorded here on this history board about his love and dedication to not just Protection 2.. but to the Redshirts as well.... What an honor....

There is another history board about the fire department which is by the Redshirts board.... and the two of them are together..... 

Then we went to visit with the grands.... 

Abi was at her Dad's this weekend, which happens to be next door to  Reagan and Calvins.. and when she heard us over there visiting with them.. she came threw the woods to visit... They were so happy to see their big cousin...

I just can't get over how quickly all three are growing up!!!  Abi will be seven in just a couple of weeks.... and Calvin is thinking about "moving".... he's so bright and adorable...

Reagan's a real little chap too, zipping around on his two wheeler and having started pre school just last week.... everyone says that time goes way too fast... and each day I appreciate that more and more...

We also all got to meet Ferguson.. the newest member of the family. Sadly both of Kassy's kitties... Linus and Nora disappeared over the summer. The likelihood that they were taken out by coyotes (there is a huge pack of them that live not too far away)... Kiss wasn't sure if she wanted another kitty but Reagan was asking.. and so, after a bit, they decided to adopt one.... Little Ferguson seems to fit right in with the family and Reagan was so excited he is a black and white kitty... like Mona!!!

Happy birthday Kass.... Hi October!!!!

So, here we are.. october.. and the first day can only mean one thing for me.....it's Kassy's birthday!!!!

And keeping with my tradition... I always need to see my kiddos on their birthdays, and if possible just something just for them. Being a weekend this year, and our hubbies away at a fair with the business... we opted for a brunch... and chose a well known spot in our area

I had a "real breakfast" but Kass opted to do something special for her birthday breakfast.... a waffle sundae.... with all the trimmings... needless to say Reagan and Calvin approved of their Mom's choice!!!!

I can't believe this beautiful young woman... wife.. and mom is my little girl... but such as it is!!!!!and I just wish for her and her wonderful family.. lots and lots of birthdays ahead....

Reagan promised "Baby" that he would be a good good boy for Mama's birthday...

And little Cal... well he was just happy showing off his new trick of being able to stick his tongue out!!!!

Happy happy 31 Kass!!!! we love you!!!!

end of the month....

I find it a little amazing at how quickly it all changes. One day summer is here, and the next, the season has changed and fall has begun. Everything seems to have a different look... the sun comes up later and sets quicker.. the light of it doesn't seem as strong.. the air is cooler, but it has a different feel. It's hard to describe and unless you live in a place where seasons change, you don't really know what I'm saying. 

We have come threw the hot summer well.. this year we're in drought conditions.. the hay crop was "great", but I think I have enough to get us threw... our well is holding out, where others are not... we haven't had to mow the grass too often, and have waited to knock down the fields... I have left the horses on pasture longer this year, though there really isn't anything for them to eat... it's mostly "busy grass"...

We had just finished the walkway last year about this time, and I had planted all sorts of fall flowers... I am happy to say, I see they are back, so once the summer ones are done, I will cut them back and the fall flowers will be there. The bees have been busy around the garden, stocking up I suspect for the winter months ahead.

We'll have to think of shutting down the garden pond soonish. I am going to get a tank for the fishes to winter in, and I'll pull out my favorite plants... mostly the lilies and the grasses... I know now what I like and what I don't, so I'm expecting that next summer's water garden will be even better that this one. What a fun project this has turned out to be.

We had one more therapy visit to do today with Mocha and Livy. I guess the children at the center so enjoyed seeing her that they have been asking to have her back again. I told them she needed to come before she starts to grow her winter coat... and so, we planned for today.

Livy really doesn't like sharing the spot light.... but I guess she's know that every once in a while she's going to have to.

Maybe if she copies what Mocha does, the kids will notice her too.....

When we bring Mocha, we have to be outside... Livy keeps an eye on the door waiting for the children to come and see her.

The kids just love her... and I am so happy that she handles all of this so very well. She can be surrounded by kids and she just stands and lets them go all over her.... they come in groups, so once one group is done and goes back in.. I let her eat some grass before the next group comes. I guess this is a suitable reward for her efforts.

Livy was so happy to be surrounded too... she worms her way right into the center of things and that is where she is the happiest....

Therapy work does amazing things. This little chap has a hard time opening up his hands and often keeps them clenched in a tight fist. His aid is working on helping him relax and open his hands. They sat for a while and practiced petting Livy... (she was more than happy to just sit still and help) and after a bit of time, he did open his hand and gave Livy some nice pets. His aid was thrilled and everyone celebrated with this event. Seems like such a simple thing... pat a dog... but I am reminded that not everyone thinks that is "simple".

We did have our usual big crew for this visit... actually Rick and Atticus were the only others who came... but the three critters handled the visit well.. and we'll certainly be back sometime soon for another visit...