All is well and a busy day is upon us.   There is a family coming to visit the puppies, folks coming to help us evaluate the litter and a dinner party.   Gingerbread is baking and dinner is underway so that the afternoon is freed up for visiting.   The adventures of yesterday are behind us - well, perhaps not behind the caffeinated Norwich.   She is still a bit ruffled by the surprise of it all.   It is a mild day with high winds and a little sun.   Much of the remaining snow has melted and the ice rink is forming once again.   The forecast is for a quick drop this afternoon so ice is in our immediate future.   Our Ken just loves that.   The birds, though, are happier.  Fewer are at the feeders on these pleasant days and all have reverted to normal size, from their puffed up caricatures of the icy days earlier in the month.   The woodpeckers have a firm hold on the suet cages but the swinging feeders are empty - the carnival ride offered must be a bit daunting, even for the Jays.   Chantelle is in residence, trimming Charlie and keeping an eye on Viola.   That is great for an extra pair of hands to tote puppies and an extra voice to answer Our Ken's constant queries.  


The kennel is ticking along.   The big yards had the benefit of the snow blower yesterday so all gates are moving freely and the open double pens behind the kennel are clear.   Jersey, the Lab, is a great visitor.   She loves the kennel; finds the routine agrees with her and food arrives on time.   Having sorted out the exercise yard process, she happily follows whoever goes out to take her from the yards to her run, without need of a leash.  Just a great girl.  


The house crew is well and happy.   With a warmer day, Lori prefers to be outside, living in hope that a ball game will materialize if she is just patient enough.   Dolly will go to her 'perch' among the trees next to the fern garden and sit on a stump watching the front yard and communing with Phil the pheasant until her name is called.   Then it is a jump and run full tilt to the house moment.   Piper, of course, is inside on a dog bed, keeping an eye on Lee.   Marilla is adjacent to Piper, living in hope that there will be a kitchen disaster that lands on the floor for her ministrations.   Billy is simply underfoot and happy about it.   His nocturnal adventures have left him a bit tired - because Viola was upstairs, Billy was relegated to a crate in the bedroom so thumped around in it all night to let everyone know that he was not amused.  Marguerite remains in the house adjacent to the puppy pen in the den, keeping a close watch on the little ones.   She is bemused, however, wondering where her delightful little puppies have gone.   While these big puppies are interesting, she does look for her babies when the mood strikes.   The babies are adorable and learning skills minute by minute.   They carry their food dish once empty and position it precisely.   There are puppy games that only puppies understand.   Personalities are developing and all respond to people with tilted heads and quizzical expressions that are so unique to the Airedale.   It is a fabulous litter.


Dinner was great - a pub-style meal of turkey tenders with dipping sauces, herbed roasted potatoes and a fresh tomato dish with blue cheese, lemon oil and garlic.   Finishing with rum cake, life was complete. 

2014 and the blog is renewed

Perhaps it is time to renew the blog.   There appears to be an appetite among readers.   Life at Regalridge has been active in 2014.   There have been the usual comings and goings; the normal ups and downs of an active life and busy property.   It was a less than stellar growing season with inopportune rains, less than welcome dry spells and a general lack of conditions that would support vegetables.   There were, however, lots of apples.   And, as Alex the grandson noted,  a handful of the most labour intensive, expensive potatoes in the world.    There was a focus on rebuilding kennel exercise spaces, opening lovely view planes for both people and dogs alike.  What a difference.   The dogs are well and content with their lives, as only a houseful of Airedales, one Norwich and one Cirneco can be.   Yes, Trebia has moved in - much to Our Ken's worried look and her delight.   She has taken Lee over and, as Our Ken notes, wrapped her around her skinny paw.   A hound among the terriers, Trebia is quick as a wink and interested in all activity.   Did you know the vantage point from the center of the kitchen table is far superior to any point on the floor?   But I digress.   The birds are still in residence and have developed gourmet tastes.   Costco has an avian aversion from early spring through late fall.   There is little in the way of seed but there are still birds to be fed.   That led Our Ken to search out other sources.   There are now more bags of specialty seed at Regalridge than at any store in the city.   Apparently, his woodpeckers have many and varied tastes.  It has been a cold start to 2014 and today is no exception.   A few snowflakes are in the air, just as a reminder to those indoors that spring is a way off. 


The kennel is reasonably quiet.   There are few Regalridge dogs living in that lovely space and boarding dogs come and go easily.   Today we are home to Jersey who is managing the large space and outdoor runs with the assistance of Gabe, Clint and Virginia.  


The house crowd are happy to be inside.   All are trimmed so not wanting to be outside for long periods.   Billy had a moment during his wake up routine - a great roll on the couch resulting in Ken's coffee mug flying through the air and landing on the bed containing the Norwich, caffeinating the old girl and resulting in a bemused Ken.   The litter of 13 Airedale puppies is approaching the seven week landmark.    Vaccinations are behind them and life is just one big game.   This morning, they read the newspapers and all are up to date on local events, ready for any tests that may be given.   The one little male, Creighton, has finally decided that food is actually allowed to go into your tummy so seven weeks of bottle feeding and no sleep seems to be behind us.   The other twelve are doing equally well, have been pronounced fit, hale and hearty by the lovely Veterinarian who brought the litter to fruition with one straw of Nick's frozen semen.  Marguerite, ever the over achiever, now watches them from a distance and seems as amazed as the people of the house at the number and growth.  


Meals have not fallen to the bottom of any chart.   Marmalade has been made from the season's Seville oranges (thanks Cheryl Tissington) with two batches finished and two to go.   Recent dinners have included  a great chicken puttanesca (what could be bad with garlic, anchovies and olives), lovely tomato soup from garden tomatoes, an English rice pudding (baked with a regular custard process and water bath) and a pork tenderloin in an orange sauce.  And we are on to another day.