Rain is forecast for the week end

It is a wet early fall day.  The news is filled with the launch of the Bluenose schooner.  Pictured on the Canadian dime, this is a major event and has drawn thousands to our UNESCO heritage town on the south shore.  Tide is high in a little more than an hour and the lovely vessel is poised to make her debut.  That's news in this little province.  It was a full day at Regalridge as well.  There was paperwork to complete, outside jobs to take on since this was to be the last of the warm sunny days for the next while and sorting to accomplish with the move of furniture complete.  Pictures were rehung and walls washed.  Concrete was poured by the alpha male and paint brushes were wielded.  Einstein has a new perch on the back of the living room sofa, an adequate spot from which to observe activity on the east side of the house and especially provenant for vicariously hunting birds. 

The kennel is quiet and the girls in season are doing their best to keep up the charade of concerned visitors.  Sarah is particularly helpful and encourages Marguerite.  Lori is embarrassed.  Scooter joins in when not balancing the ball on her nose - it is hard to bark and balance simultaneously.  Trebia bounces and barks, the better to push out that hound sound. 

The house crew are trying out the leather furniture.  Dolly has perfected the chair - hopping in and leaning back until the foot rest is engaged and the rocking stops.  With a sigh she then circles and plants herself, head on the arm and eyes closing.  Ken is again relegated to the couch.  Marilla has bounced up and off several times, not entirely sure that the lovely leather is an improvement over her couch of preference that disappeared from under her nose.  Charlotte is content to engage her dog bed and Piper holds all furniture in little regard, preferring the kitchen with its more central vantage points.  Billy is ignoring the change in the room, trying hard to maintain his composure as he attempts to follow his usual patterns, only to find a chair blocking his way. 

Meals included a lovely tomato basil soup, a roast chicken with roast potatoes and Our Ken's apple pie.  Life goes on. 

Hi ho!  Life is occasionally a little too busy at Regalridge.  Occasionally something slips.  The blog became subject to that slippage and is now back.  With dog shows, post-show visitors, puppies departing and the various committees and boards that take up inhabitants' time, not to mention time spent with the dogs, there were too few hours for a month.  Things are now caught up; the return to normal welcomed.  The weather has been interesting.  Lots of rain followed the summer drought.  Lots of rain sat on top of hard baked ground - and sat, and sat.  Still, the surface is sodden while digging down a bit offers powder.  It will take a while for the tables to rebalance and in the interim, more rain is forecast.  The apple crop is stellar as is the squash.  Tomatoes are abundant.  Flowers are again blooming, having taken a hiatus during the dry weather.  There are roses everywhere and finally dahlias are showing their colour rather than simply copious amounts of leaf.  Tony's 'taliban tree' is shedding its nuts and leaves are developing colour.  A trip to PEI last week end showed that the Island is shutting down for the season.  Fall has arrived.  There are moose appearing in school yards in Halifax (a first) and on roads in NB (not really news).  Cool mornings welcome the dogs and Jack has requested a coat. 

The kennel is quiet as is usual for the early fall.   There are girls in season and boys putting an exclamation point on the situation.  This, too, shall pass. 

The house crew bade farewell to Patti Labour Day week end.  Our old friend had a wonderful life, lived it long and well and maintained order amid the chaos for well over a decade and a half.  Life is not the same.  Piper, Marilla and Dolly are contemplating top dog status (Charlotte demurs) but each feels that it may be a lot of work for little gain.  Piper has all she can do managing Lee, noting that she already has a full time position with good pay and plenty of responsibility.  Marilla notes that taking on a job could cut into her play time - that would not sit well with Marilla.  Dolly is considering the job most seriously.  She likes life as it now sits but is Patti's sister and does have the ability to manage the unruly youngsters.  There is new furniture in the den and Dolly has taken up a position in the lovely leather chair, sorting out quickly that if the chair is tipped back far enough to allow the foot rest to elevate, the rocking stops and sleep can be had.  This, too, adds an excellent and elevated vantage point form which to supervise indoor activity. 

Part of the activity level late August and early September is the wrestling of the crops into submission.  There is applesauce and tomato chow, a plenitude of jams and jellies and pickled peaches.  There have been apple pies and baked apples, blueberry pies and jam.  Tomato and blue cheese soup has become a staple and is frozen for winter days.  Squash is only just starting.  Dinner was fresh haddock (Lee was in the city so found the fish truck) with squash, potatoes and fried green tomatoes.  Our Ken had apple pie.  All is well.