The requests for the blog have become rather overwhelming. A schedule may be necessary to comply. All is well at Regalridge. The Airedales are thriving - from Old Dolly through the youngsters, Heloise and Richmond, all are well and enjoying summer, each in his own way. Dolly is the ancient among us and sleeps much of the time. She still enjoys her meals, is mobile in short bursts and plays ball Dolly-style. Occasionally she manages to get to the Kong before another Airedale and if that doesn't happen, she explains to the interloper the error of her ways. Most still acquiesce to her top dog status and offer up the Kong, which Dolly now would not deign to touch with her foot much less pick up and return. That perplexes many. She has preferred beds (2) and there appears to be a timeline for each. Should another dog be there at the wrong time, she goes to great lengths to make her move. The antics run from going to the window and barking with such verve that her feet lift off of the floor (all dogs come running) then turning and taking her bed of choice while the rest are barking with enthusiasm - at what, they have no idea - to simply walking on the unsuspecting relative. The second bed is not often occupied and seems to be her destination for late afternoon snoozes. Much less effort goes into that one.
Avian activity is at full throttle in July. While other folks are taking a break from tending their feathered friends, the Regalridge birds are not only spending their days at the feeders, but also have their young along to teach them how to train humans. There could be a book written on the 7 habits of highly effective birds and all would be in evidence here. The swallows arrived on schedule and have a large nest of babies over the kitchen door in the eaves. The little ones are growing quickly and are in evidence, little beaks open and at the ready from dawn to dusk. The parents work tirelessly and the bug supply diminishes - we love those swallows even though it means no lights outside the door so they won't be disturbed from May to September. Stumbling and falling up and down the steps is the price we pay for the pleasure of having these little ones in residence. On the opposite side of the house, the Jays, yellow and purple Finches, Doves, Red-wing blackbirds, 2 pairs of Woodpeckers (Downy and Hairy), Starlings, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Catbirds, Sparrows and various and sundry occasional visitors are in evidence all day long. Phil the pheasant and his bevy of Philomenas have repaired to the fields for the summer. We hear them but won't see them again until November.
The kennel is at its usual summer level. Zeus and Shillelagh have settled in quickly and are re-explaining the kennel rules to all who will listen. Sochi is here for an extended stay and has taken the kennel vacation in his stride. He is a great little Welsh and very much enjoys the activity level of the kennel as well as the room to stretch those little legs in the large exercise areas. Viola and Ivy have also joined the party so it is a Terrier moment.
The excitement this week is the addition of a Chicago Wood Oven to the property, courtesy of our great friends in the US. When discussions began surrounding the oven's addition to the Regalridge cookery, Jo rightly noted that it could be a challenge for Ken from a placement perspective. Even Jo could not have envisaged Ken's project leading up to the installation. The entire property (every acre) was assessed for its features that might best support the wood oven placement. From the front yard to the back run, to the orchard, every area's strengths and drawbacks became apparent. Our Ken analyzed, organized, changed his mind and, at one stage, it was quite apparent that we would have to move to accommodate the gift. Finally Lee decided enough and pointed out that it would go outside the kitchen door, in the existing garden but in the area of the puppy run outcrop. The area that had been decked was undecked (a term that may be unfamiliar to some), the fencing was revised and gravel was ordered. The error in the gravel piece of the program was that Ken made that call and tonnes of gravel landed, without ceremony, in the middle of the drive. The project expanded. A newly surfaced driveway and parking area is now in evidence. The small amount of gravel needed for the oven project was simply an excuse. Patio stones became the surface of choice for the oven's final resting place. God love Tony - on the hottest days of July there he was, putting together the base for the blessed arrival, accompanied by the wonderful Jonathon on one occasion to supply heavy lifting ability. And then there is the garden. What had been a casual garden area has become a destination. There are baskets and planters of annuals, new roses and upgraded perennials; there is a fountain and bird bath, pathway lighting and mulch, mulch, mulch. There is brick edging and apparently decorative stone is in the offing - all done as a backdrop for the oven. At present, the curing process is underway. With luck, there will be wood oven offerings on the table by the week end. Oh, and Lee has been pressed into painting - interesting achievement on the part of Our Ken.
Dinner tonight will be Sunday revisited. There is medium rare prime rib, new potatoes with chives, spinach from the garden and a tomato salad. Strawberry shortcake for dessert. Last night we suffered through baked ham (Meadowbrook farm), scalloped potatoes with Portobello mushroom and Vidalia onion, spinach and roasted peaches. And on we go.
Avian activity is at full throttle in July. While other folks are taking a break from tending their feathered friends, the Regalridge birds are not only spending their days at the feeders, but also have their young along to teach them how to train humans. There could be a book written on the 7 habits of highly effective birds and all would be in evidence here. The swallows arrived on schedule and have a large nest of babies over the kitchen door in the eaves. The little ones are growing quickly and are in evidence, little beaks open and at the ready from dawn to dusk. The parents work tirelessly and the bug supply diminishes - we love those swallows even though it means no lights outside the door so they won't be disturbed from May to September. Stumbling and falling up and down the steps is the price we pay for the pleasure of having these little ones in residence. On the opposite side of the house, the Jays, yellow and purple Finches, Doves, Red-wing blackbirds, 2 pairs of Woodpeckers (Downy and Hairy), Starlings, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Catbirds, Sparrows and various and sundry occasional visitors are in evidence all day long. Phil the pheasant and his bevy of Philomenas have repaired to the fields for the summer. We hear them but won't see them again until November.
The kennel is at its usual summer level. Zeus and Shillelagh have settled in quickly and are re-explaining the kennel rules to all who will listen. Sochi is here for an extended stay and has taken the kennel vacation in his stride. He is a great little Welsh and very much enjoys the activity level of the kennel as well as the room to stretch those little legs in the large exercise areas. Viola and Ivy have also joined the party so it is a Terrier moment.
The excitement this week is the addition of a Chicago Wood Oven to the property, courtesy of our great friends in the US. When discussions began surrounding the oven's addition to the Regalridge cookery, Jo rightly noted that it could be a challenge for Ken from a placement perspective. Even Jo could not have envisaged Ken's project leading up to the installation. The entire property (every acre) was assessed for its features that might best support the wood oven placement. From the front yard to the back run, to the orchard, every area's strengths and drawbacks became apparent. Our Ken analyzed, organized, changed his mind and, at one stage, it was quite apparent that we would have to move to accommodate the gift. Finally Lee decided enough and pointed out that it would go outside the kitchen door, in the existing garden but in the area of the puppy run outcrop. The area that had been decked was undecked (a term that may be unfamiliar to some), the fencing was revised and gravel was ordered. The error in the gravel piece of the program was that Ken made that call and tonnes of gravel landed, without ceremony, in the middle of the drive. The project expanded. A newly surfaced driveway and parking area is now in evidence. The small amount of gravel needed for the oven project was simply an excuse. Patio stones became the surface of choice for the oven's final resting place. God love Tony - on the hottest days of July there he was, putting together the base for the blessed arrival, accompanied by the wonderful Jonathon on one occasion to supply heavy lifting ability. And then there is the garden. What had been a casual garden area has become a destination. There are baskets and planters of annuals, new roses and upgraded perennials; there is a fountain and bird bath, pathway lighting and mulch, mulch, mulch. There is brick edging and apparently decorative stone is in the offing - all done as a backdrop for the oven. At present, the curing process is underway. With luck, there will be wood oven offerings on the table by the week end. Oh, and Lee has been pressed into painting - interesting achievement on the part of Our Ken.
Dinner tonight will be Sunday revisited. There is medium rare prime rib, new potatoes with chives, spinach from the garden and a tomato salad. Strawberry shortcake for dessert. Last night we suffered through baked ham (Meadowbrook farm), scalloped potatoes with Portobello mushroom and Vidalia onion, spinach and roasted peaches. And on we go.
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