Good friends and great food - oh my!

It was a hot day.  Now in Virginia, according to weatherman Jim Duncan, it is not hot until it reaches 98 American degrees.  According to Our Ken, it was hot in Nova Scotia at 30C.  By mid-evening it had cooled to the mid-20's with a lovely breeze, allowing people returned from the ATA dinner to sit outside on the back deck and enjoy a drink while rehashing the great day.  These evenings, at this hour, are not terribly common and with the swallows cleaning up the mosquitos, all was well.  Both nests have babies.  The parents are working flat out to keep the little ones fed.  The ATA dinner and auction were held in Portuguese Cove at the lovely home of the Cook's.  The auction was successful, the food was fabulous (the spinach pie a real hit, accompanying Ken's prime rib and Margot's fresh whole salmon with dill sauce).  There were many desserts and lovely appetizers, Dawn's fresh green beans in a blue cheese cause and Lee's roast vegetables.  Add that to lentil salads, quinoa, green salads and fruit and cheese and nobody went home wanting. 

The kennel is busy enough for the long week end and is rocking along. 

The house crew were underwhelmed by the leaving of the Regalridgemobile, full of the smells of the meal that had been planned as dinner by the canine contingent.  Piper, in particular, was not amused.  All else was well.  The puppies are improving in their acceptance of dog food, cleaning the bowl and now enjoying their time on the deck.  The odd one hoots to return to the comfort of the den while the rest pile up when tired and enjoy the breeze and shade on the deck.  They are growing and maturing, moving to the point that they will soon be ready to leave. 

And dinner was the bountiful buffet.  Life works.