Readiness is not far away

Some years weather is the story as Christmas gallops toward us.  Not this year.  A messy day this week brought slush.  Slush has given way to mud since the ground has yet to freeze.  Charlotte is delighted.  There are seasonal movies to be watched and late nights follow long days.  Still, the tree is trimmed, presents are wrapped (actually more wrapping than bagging this year) and baking has begun in earnest.  As Alex noted, the kitchen looks like a line kitchen in a restaurant.  Adding to the joy of the day, Our Ken began the next phase of the fudge ritual.  On this day, his enthusiasm overtook his thought process.  On to the antique spode plate was poured - something.  Now, Our Ken is a fudge purveyor extraordinaire.  Without thought for a recipe, ingredients are spread about (no orderly cooking for Our Ken when a production is a possibility) and the game is on.  There is pouring and mumbling, sinks are filled with cold water and every wooden spoon in the house is employed.  Finally, the pot hovers over a buttered dish and with a great flourish (a drum is rolling somewhere) the outcome is poured and pronounced.  Well, this year on the antique plate, the pronouncement was an anguished "I've never seen anything like this" statement.  Lee, to this point trying hard to ignore the fudge-event, turned to see something concrete-like hardening on her plate.  And on it went.  That plate set aside, the production again began.  Undaunted, the kitchen remaining in turmoil, Our Ken continued.  Now, Lee was in the process of making 5 dozen Christmas cookies - the Swedish teacakes of her mother's recipe that are time consuming and fussy, employing perfectly chopped walnuts for rolling and homemade blackberry jelly, a thimble and fine shortbread-like dough.  The kitchen is a great room - for Lee.  Not so great for the machinations of the husband and his ability to spread, made even more able when panic follows production.  Pot two was somewhat more annoying than pot one and resulted in only a minor improvement.  There was some hope that this concrete would be able to be removed from the second plate - not the antique that had been eyed by Our Ken as his next victim, but still.  Sarah, ever cheerful, made the terrible error of noting that she 'loves taffy' - perhaps the most positive interpretation of this concoction  that could be given.  For her kind effort, she was sent home with batch two, Ken certain that it would be enjoyed and Alex contemplating how far up the road he would have to go before that offering became a Frisbee.  Lee finally put paid to the confusion and sent everyone out of her domain.  The cookies were completed and puppies were readied for their adventure to see Eric-the-Vet.  Home again, home again and a change of clothes to return to the city to dinner with the youngest son and his great children.  And as those clothes were changed,  a final pot of fudge appeared.  You see, each child (and associated grandchildren) receive Christmas fudge.  And it was going to happen.  So with the aid of the internet (Lee did a little research to explain the difference between hard ball and soft ball stage, augmenting Alex's correct interpretation already proffered) the usually successful fudge appeared and was packaged for the next child.  Christmas is never dull at Regalridge. 

The kennel is ticking along, managed well by Naomi and Moses.  The old Airedales are in residence and settled, knowing exactly where they are and enjoying the activity level. 

And the dogs are delighted with the season's pleasures.  They love the comings and goings of extra people in the house.  They love the kitchen activity.  They love the wrapping and having Lee in the den more than is usual and they love the food that lands on top of their dinners.  The older puppies thought the brief snow period had been set up just for them and took great pleasure in learning the snow plow moves of the older dogs.  Piper is firmly attached to Lee's side, taking every opportunity to note that she is 'special' and in need of all extra available treats.  Abigail is bouncing.   Our Ken is inside more than is usual and is urged to sit in his chair so that little Abigail can join him. 

Dinners have been varied and are increasingly deliberately planned.  Seafood and fish are mentioned regularly and the fresh, local turkey will be collected from the butcher shop across the street.  The pudding is being readied and the hard and lemon sauces will be made.  Cranberries are done.  Sprouts are on the menu and Our Ken's squash has been chosen.  Fiddleheads are a tradition.  Lobster has been settled on for Christmas Eve - another Ken production.  Lee is giving thought to her mother's mocha cakes.  Cherry flips will appear before Sunday.  Sweet breads are made.  June's chocolate is being employed.  Nobody will go hungry.  

Christmas is coming- we have heard a rumour

There is simply too much hurrying and too little ability to keep up with the season's dictates.  That leads to adventures at Regalridge.  Lee has managed to flood the kitchen, simply through inattention.  Ken has had a grooming room flood and water appears to be the theme of this holiday.  bob arrived early one morning and Home Hardware is likely never going to be the same again.  The Ken and Bob Show appeared, re-appeared and showed up again at their doors, only to return with more queries.  There may well have been a Home Hardware person in the kennel holding a wrench, just to get rid of them.  And that's Our Ken in a nutshell - never fix a small job when a large one will do just as well.  It's a wonder the one pipe didn't turn into replumbing the entire building.  There were date squares eaten (Bob's favourite treat) and soup enjoyed - despite Lee's addition of honey that made Bob's eyes widen.  Dawn and Jim were able to join the Regalridge table of Ken, Lee and Chantelle for a prime rib dinner.  Our Ken uses Jimmy as a reason for bring home a prime rib  on a regular basis.  Jimmy humours him and chokes it down.  Shopping is finished.  As with all things Christmas, the case of the disappearing presents has again surfaced.  Small but critical-to-the-success-of-the-day items have been purchased twice.  Other items have been more well mannered and are in the mail or wrapped and ready to be gifted.  Plans are made for visits, lunches and dinners.  A schedule has actually developed and things may yet unfold as they should - not likely, but one can live in hope.  Decorating continues.  Wrapping continues.  Baking continues.  The weather has stayed warm - the only saving grace with all of the shopping required during this season.  The birds are plentiful, though, with a constant flock of Jays and Doves, the two pair of Woodpeckers, three pair of Chickadees and the flocks of Starlings and Grosbeaks.  Phil pheasant is firmly ensconced in residence with his bevy of Philomenas.  The use of the front door must now be judicious.  Our Ken does not allow Phil to be disturbed while partaking of the fare spread under the chestnut tree for his dining pleasure. 

The kennel is ticking along nicely and the seasonal visitors are arriving. 

The house crew love Christmas.  There is a high level of kitchen activity - Piper is thrilled to death.  Lily has gone home to PEI so the competition for Lee's attention has lessened.  Piper waved good by for hours - just to ensure the Rod-mobile didn't take a wrong turn and land back at the gates.  Lily was happy to see her very own people and had lots of stories to share.  Even as she left, she couldn't quite put her paw on where those babies of hers had disappeared and who those critters were in the den.  They looked a little familiar but . . .  Motherhood was a blink of an eye to Miss Lily.   The puppies are a fabulous litter.   Logan is an outstanding dog.  The stars have aligned and with the addition of Lily's most excellent genetics and good looks, this litter is simply lovely.  All love the large stuffed dog that is in the pen with them, offering a gathering spot for snoozes.  Green collar is the high-minded fellow and sleeps on top of the dog at every opportunity.  Red collar keeps them all honest.  Personalities are emerging quickly now. 

Dinner was tortière with Our Ken's potatoes and a lovely chocolate gingerbread.  June delivered several pounds of Rogers chocolate (from the latest visit to the 'other Island') so the season is promising. 

Warm weather and seasonal readiness lists

All is well at Regalridge.  Puppies are growing, Christmas is coming - ready or not - and a cold day has finally arrived.  It is mighty difficult to be in Santa-readiness mode when NS is the hottest spot in Canada with a 19 (that is almost 70 degrees for the Americans among us) degree wake-up  temperature mid-December.  Mud season continues and Charlotte is thrilled to death.  Winter is certainly shorter by the day (even though it has yet to arrive).  We Maritimers feel that November  begins winter, the season lasting until late March.  This year, a month and a half has been taken off and the long autumn is a reality.  Our Ken is fighting the battle of the copper pipes.  Last week, there was an Airedale-friendly little swimming hole - unfortunately in the grooming room but a delight in and of itself as far as Gabe was concerned.  He had a party planned and invitations written by the time the leak was pinned down.  Apparently a tiny hole had managed to appear in a pipe behind the bathtub.  Our Ken moved into management mode and has been switching water on and off as he contemplated the major repair project.  Calling on young Alex, the two determined that step one would be to move the tub - and the fun began.  There is now a tub in the center of the room, a pipe under pressure broken (the pool deepened for a while and Gabe's guest list adjusted to incorporate only long legged terriers) and the management of the room is, well, you can figure that out.  Bob Marshall is coming up to analyze the situation and effect repairs.  Hopefully he will have stopped shaking his head by the time he gets here or he will be treated for ear mites.

The kennel, apart from the construction zone, is well and the dogs happy.  Lola and Kenzie departed with a jaunty wave, having maintained order for three weeks.  There is coming and going for the next week and then the Christmas visitors will settle in. 

The house crew are thriving in the warm weather, enjoying daily ball games with Our Ken and time in front of the fire by late afternoon.  Piper has been penning Christmas lists for all of her friends.  The list is lengthening by the day.  Lily has been taken off of the list.  With Lee in Toronto on the week end, Miss Lily had a grievance.  Deciding to phone Glenda to complain, she found the phone book print small so used Our Ken's glasses for improved clarity.  Needing sustenance prior to actually putting in the numbers, she shared Our Ken's invitation (it was available and on the table) to partake of his hot chocolate.  Finding it not to her taste and knowing that it could be bad for Our Ken, she thoughtfully deposited the cup on the tile floor - who knew cups break!  The late night long distance phone conversation was a tale of woe.  Poor Ken.  It's never easy staying ahead of an Airedale.  The puppies are doing incredibly well.  They are a happy litter and very people oriented.  Weaning has been a smooth transition and food is now on the menu.  There are no dissenters.  There was a visit from the Antigonish folks, with appropriate appreciation for the bright little faces.  The move from whelping room to den is complete and the  indoctrination into the world of CNN and the Weather Channel has begun.  The addition to their lives of a large, stuffed bulldog met with puppy approbation.  All now sleep on top of, next to and occasionally under their new best friend. 

Dinner was chicken cutlets (pounded nicely with the mallet Christmas gift of several years previous) with fresh green bean and portabellos and riced potatoes.  Date squares and ice cream rounded out the meal.  Date squares are a favourite of Our Ken and Bob so may be on offer for a short time only. 

 

Great weather and Christmas preparations

It was another warm day with cloud but little precipitation.  The weather cannot be faulted this fall.  Have you heard that Christmas is coming?  Our Ken is all about lights.  Like a squirrel, he stores them, admires them, ponders their application and potential.  Some are left (hidden) year round in strategic trees.  And each year, more appear.  One day, there will be a mad rush to apply lights to all vertical outside surfaces - and there are many surfaces at Regalridge.  That day has yet to come so the pondering continues.  Lee is more incremental in her application.  There are additions daily to various rooms.  Each will have a tree by the time it is all over.  On this day, it was the ceramic tree built by Lee's mother and gifted to her decades ago.  It has birds on branches, hearkens to another era and is valued.  A crisis occurred when a short surfaced and Our Ken spent the early evening in repair mode.  All is now well.   The den sports a small tree, a lighted ornament and 'the bear' decked in light and greenery.  The larger tree will appear on the week end and will center the thought processes in the living room.  There are, of course, regular comings and goings as well.  Lee managed to reprise the turkey - it is now the favourite casserole as well as soup-in-the-making   Lily helped.  There was some sorting in preparation for departure on the week end and there was correspondence.  There was also the addition of a new printer to the office.  A daunting task, at best, the mission was accomplished with much angst on Lee's part and a lot of crawling under the desk.  The floor is cleaner for the effort, the clothes may never be wearable again.  But the office is back in operation with a working scanner, fax, printer and copier.  Our Ken had a water event in the kennel - there was muttering, pacing and much looking up in the air.  Gutters appear to be the culprit.  Alex is in for some fun.  It was a quiet day for the birds.  With the warm weather, the pressure on the feeders is relieved somewhat.  Blue Jays abound, the Doves come and go, the Chickadees visit regularly, the Woodpeckers in both varieties are a constant and the Red winged blackbirds are occasionally present.  The pheasants are in residence as are the three crows - this group collegial and fond of the chestnut tree.  The only flock of the day was the Grosbeaks.  This crowd have discovered the window feeder and spent several hours jockeying for position.  One particularly enterprising fellow ate his fill then popped on top of the feeder, guarding his spot until he could stomach more food and in the interim suggesting to all comers that they find another area.  Not a very collegial fellow but magnificent in his bright yellow plumage. 

The kennel is well and bouncing along.  Little Bella is firmly in charge and the Airedales are entertained by her orders - repeatedly given.  Lola in particular is grinning and doing the opposite of Bella's pointing paw, just to get the little one going.  Works every time.  Barrett and his sweater departed.  Trebia is bereft. 

The house crew had a good day.  The turkey event is a busy time with dropping pieces abundantly distributed.  Lily has requested that turkey day occur in PEI on a weekly basis, please.  She is insatiable at this stage, hoping that there will be Lily-food at every turn.  At one point in the day, Lee noticed an Airedale exiting the pantry, a bag of carrots firmly clamped in her jaws and a plan apparently in mind.  It took some considerable discussion to unhinge those jaws and repatriate the carrots - Lily was quite sure Lee could find her own afternoon snack and didn't have to have hers.  She has also discovered that Lee is best managed by laying hard against her heels wherever she stops - fine if Lee remembers Lily is in place and fine if Lee is actually stopped.  A bit more of a challenge if Lee has only slowed and tries to change direction.  Kitchen directional signals will be needed soon.  The puppies started on solid food - a red letter day.  There was some interest but this too will build.  Goat's milk was not as palatable as mom according to this little crew.  They are solidly on their feet now, are trotting happily and the eyes are bright and Airedale-wise.  Piper would like Lily to find her own home - the sooner the better.  This business of trailing around after Lee does not sit well with princess Piper - keeper of all things Lee and not big on sharing.  Lily did look at Piper's bed next to Lee's chair in the den - Piper explained that was not on. 

Dinner included the turkey with a baked potato and fresh asparagus, cranberry et al.  Our Ken was happy.  Life unfolds.