Two days in one - sorry for the blip

Sunday and Monday were spring-like days with warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. The dogs are delighted and our Ken spent Monday in the garden shoring up the raspberry patch. It is hard to reconcile how very happy that made him. Chantelle did some trimming and spent Sunday with the dogs in the kennel followed, by Monday in Windsor. All is ticking along in her world with high anticipation for her new start in Agility at Fetch Inc. Bob and Luella departed after two days at the Briar, lots of new friends made and a different sense of Halifax than had heretofore been their experience. They are enthusiastic supporters of curling and thoroughly enjoyed their experience thanks to Chantelle's Christmas gift of the tickets. They were a little less enthusiastic returning to Digby to deep snow and a frozen lake after having enjoyed our warm temperatures and clear yards. Linda reports that Richmond is back to normal, there is no snow in the forecast and the temperatuers are in the 60's (apologies to Canadians thinking in Celsius but we are reporting US temperatures after all).

The kennel is busy and the dogs are happy - the weather doesn't hurt. Briggs and Brady are doing particularly well. The Golden remains the leader of the pack of two, with the Dachshund close on his heels as they march to and from their exercise yard. They are separated into two runs for feeding and little Mr Dachshund advises anyone who will listen that A. The Golden cannot exist without him for even a moment and B. that he has to be with him to keep him protected at all times and C. a report needs to be provided immediately because he fears his big brother has forgot himself and eaten everything when he should be finishing up his food! Jake the Lab arrived for another visit and needs no assistance in moving from his run to his exercise yard. He has discovered his best friend that he has never met - Abby, a black Lab. Abby is in control as most females are and Jake is in her thrall. That took about 1/8 of a second. Her wish is his command. Tippy is settled in. His palace is in place and he prefers to spend his time enjoying it, with occasional breaks to go out and survey his environs. He is eating well after a rocky start, needing his canned tuna to assure him that his entire life had not gone to heck in a handbasket. He is suspicious that his owners have lost their minds in leaving him behind but has resigned himself to his memories of home and hearth - with the Christmas rug providing particular solace. Sophie is doing just fine. Piper is due to return to the house this week and Sophie has a party planned - break out the champagne.

The house dogs are doing fine although with a little downturn with ancient Sophie. She is not eating as well as previously in the last couple of days but with a good ear cleaning by Lee and a brushing out by Ken, she managed to choke down some of her mac and cheese and a garlic cheese finger. We are hoping that will turn her attitude around because an attitude it is. As she is offered plate after plate (notice we are not describing dog dishses because those definitely do not suit her majesty) her head raises higher and higher until she is pointedly gazing, with intent, at the ceiling. The rest of the Regalridge crew are doing well. Potions are being dispensed to Patti, Sophie and Clem and all are taking it with greater or lesser enthusiasm. Ken and Luella agreed that their Ellie needed the potion so Luella went home with a good supply of flax oil and seed and reported in that Ellie loves it.

Dinners the past couple of nights included bar b qued pork chops from the hunting and gathering mission to the fruit stand, turnip (a fruit stand acquisition as well, potatoes and gingerbread followed the next night by the meatloaf and mac and cheese (Sophie agreed to share). And we are on to Tuesday . . .