The week in review

It has been an up and down week with Lee a little under the weather. The dogs managed the house for a couple of days while Ken and Tom continued The Project. Downstairs the hall is finally complete and almost back together. The stairwell is pretty much done and the upstairs hall is underway - amid paint cans and artwork that has been dispossessed. New oil tanks were added to the property - thanks to Tank Xperts - as The Project expanded. By Friday, Lee was much improved and work was underway to prepare for the busy week end ahead. Soup for the ATA Sanction Matches on Sunday was finished and stored, paperwork was moved forward and income tax organization was begun. Then Saturday arrived - a party day for the women while Ken had the sad task of attending a friend's funeral. He was off early and Chantelle and Lee departed late morning. A group, comprised of long time friends, got together at Margot's for a cooking course. We are very fortunate to have discovered Kelly Taylor's professional life (highly qualified chef) as we enjoyed her friendship after purchasing her Regalridge Airedale. Since food has been a common thread in holding many of our parties we all decided that, provided Kelly was in agreement, we would hire her to offer a one day course at Margot's - this time with a Valentine's theme. There is little question that the neighbours were jolted by the laughter that poured through the walls on this cold Saturday in January. It was an amazing learning experience - Dawn showed us her egg separation trick (who knew!), Chantelle displayed her rare chocolate moving skills, Margaret and Lee sliced grape tomatoes without losing digits and Cheryl ensured they were positioned perfectly on their roasting tray. Margaret offered a 'show and tell' with her garlic machine, while Kelly taught us yet another use for the microplane - Lee Valley rules! We discussed reductions, salts, oils and chocolates, learned how to trim a whole tenderloin (what an art and one that is now manageable) and reconstituted mushrooms while being taught the method of straining the priceless liquid. Of course, the molten cakes were a highlight and aside from Margot's questionable ramekin buttering skills we looked forward to that part of the meal, every one of us with the intention of recreating this dessert at home. Dawn has committed to the bruschetta through the show season and may even try risotto once more since she has gone through the step by step process with Kelly (likening her first attempt to wall paper paste she quickly understood the error of her ways). Wine flowed freely and Crockett and Zeus kept a close eye on the proceedings while Dover occasionally surfaced, wondering where Margot had disappeared. When we sat down at Margot's lovely table, the meal was all we had hoped for. From the sauce to the complex flavours of the risotto, the perfectly prepared asparagus to the molten chocolate cakes with the best ice cream any of us had ever tasted, it was a fabulous experience and one that we hope we may be able to again schedule as winter progresses. We highly recommend Kelly if any of you are thinking of an activity - days don't get a lot better than this.

The dogs are well and keeping warm in the kennel. With the cold has come a reduced activity level. Kirby is content to assist in the daily inside kennel chores and is marching up and down the inside run area supervising the cleaning and replacement of water buckets and the changing of the blankets. Sophie is eating well and enjoying her time in the exercise yard interspersed with time inside watching the kennel activity. Liard has joined us for a few days as has Ruff, both seasoned inhabitants and happy to move along with the routines.

The house dogs are doing well. Patti is happy, eating her potion and keeping everyone in line. Sophie is eating very well (although never from a dish - that simply isn't done) and the little characters are barrelling around telling everyone what is happening and how it might be improved. Einstein is settled for the winter in his bed on Lee's desk - watching the birds eat underneath the chestnut tree and snoozing the days away. Finding Lee unwell for a couple of days was an added bonus in his books as he moved between the upstairs bedroom and his regular perch. It takes very little to keep a cat happy.

And tomorrow is another day . . .

The Walls in the Hall are alive with light and new colour

On Monday it was a 'going off in all directions' day. Lee held the fort while Ken went to the city and Chantelle headed to Windsor. Ken's hunting and gathering resulted in Costco plunder, a good visit with brother Reg and a little help with The Project. Chantelle made it to Windsor and home again without incident. Lee managed the eternal paperwork battle, spending part of the day organizing show pictures into albums - a lot of memories and many smiles in that job - we sure were young once! The sous-project of the day was marmalade. We used to think Cheryl Tissington was such a nice person - 8 pounds of Seville oranges later, Lee is no longer quite so certain. There was a serious tactical error made when she disabused Ken of the notion that Seville oranges were produced only once in any person's lifetime. That worked for two or three years. 4 pounds have now morphed from little round orbs to marmalade fit for a prince - that would be Our Ken. 4 pounds remain - and won't happen tomorrow. You have to get over the work of that first batch before you can face another. Tom move The Project forward, painting the downstairs hall. The colour has changed - yellow is no more and the new cream is fabulous. We all love it and Ken is mighty relieved that he doesn't have to go back to the store for another colour. Neither he nor Tom were convinced that it was going to be a winner when they opened the can.

The kennel moved along with the dogs content to be in and out frequently. It was cold and windy but bright and sunny. Sophie and Kirby are doing well. Kirby needs help eating and is being coaxed with extra tasty bits. Last night, he and Sophie had baked ham. Sophie is making friends with Trebia the Cirneco but really prefers the bum in the air run with Chantelle. Good thing the weather hasn't been terrible.

The housedogs are well. Most were content to view the nice weather from the inside, recognizing that cold and wind can accompany bright and sunny when it says January on the calendar. All were interested in the painting project and there will no doubt be variegated Airedales before the painting is complete. Sophie ate late with her garlic cheese finger and meat pie served on the kitchen floor after dinner. That was her preference and heaven knows we are not allowed to second guess Her Majesty. Patti took her potion regularly and looked after Regalridge in Patti-fashion. Charlotte led Tom a merry chase all day long - and laughed as he tried to convince/cajole/encourage/outsmart her. That's Our Charlotte. Clint was trimmed in readiness for the ATA Sanction Match this week end.

Dinner was an inter-marmalade affair with baked ham, potato scallop and peas being served as marmalade bubbled away on the stove, being checked every 10 minutes for the gel moment. It happened between courses so bottling occurred between ham and mince pie. And it was off to bed - ready for another day . . .

Football Sunday and the project continues

It was a cool day and the dogs were in and out, drawn by the sun but not delighted with their cold feet and ears. Chantelle spent the day in the grooming room with her list of ups and downs on the tables. Ken's project continues and paint is slowly being applied to ceilings through the house. The hall and bedroom have benefited thus far and there is hope that the walls may be next. A coffee cake kept Lee busy in the morning and football drew everyone by late afternoon. Dinner was had between football games so Sunday rolled along much the way it does everywhere.

Sophie and Kirby are doing well in the kennel. Sophie has returned to playing "Here Kitty Kitty" with Chantelle. Lori has been trying to teach her to go directly from the exercise yard to your own open run door. She herds Sophie up the path to the gate and keeps her in front of her so there are no second thoughts. The gate from the yard to the kennel runs is opened and the expectation is that you go to your run and get your meal or a treat. Sophie is less motivated by food than by the potential for a game so tries to do an end run to get out of formation and entice Chantelle to a good chase. Last night she won - 2 more points for Sophie. Kirby is eating and managing his run.

The house dogs are well. Patti is doing fine -eating well and taking her potion. Sophie is enjoying her control of when and what she will approve as edible and is eating better than she has in several months. This day it was mac and cheese, a garlic cheese finger, meat pie and dog biscuits. The little dogs were out a fair bit. It was a sunny day and although cold, the southern exposure of the deck is warm with the reflected heat of the house so May, Abigail, Abigail, Viola and Paula sunbathed.

Dinner was quick and easy. Roasted vegetables, roast pork and mince pie or chocolate mousse, depending on your preference. Earlier in the day, we had a lovely cranberry and roasted pecan coffeecake. We aren't suffering