Spring is coming to Nova Scotia

Mid-week arrived and it was time for a visit with Reg in the city.  After sorting out the next stage of the income tax (there has to be some benefit from the darned project) we were off to Halifax for lunch and a little shopping update.  Armed with cat pan liners (essentials unavailable in Belnan) and a new toy for Charlotte (to enable a higher degree of taunting of the human population) we were returned to Regalridge by mid-afternoon.  Chantelle was in Elmsdale for the day so home early and it was on to trimming dogs and readying the population for the upcoming shows. 

The kennel is doing well - busy and happy.  It is an excellent group of dogs.  The two B's trot to their big exercise yard without the need for leashes and enjoyed their freedom in the 1/2 acre that has become their domain.  Jake, Abby and Shadow took over number three yard.  This was Shadow's first foray out with friends and with the plethora of big dogs the two Labs seemed a good bet.  Abby adopted Shadow, thinking the old Sheltie would want a thorough and careful tour of the area.  She showed him all of her best places and Shadow dutifully followed, inspecting spots and nodding in agreement.  Jake was perplexed at this mentoring process but tagged along just to see if he had missed anything.  Sophie had a yard to herself for a change of pace and that made her very happy.  She is an only child, after all!  Barrett and Trebia were the second shift in yard four and the two are working on their harmony.  We're pretty sure last night's rendition was Ode To Spring - but we are hoping for a repeat performance tonight to be certain.  Practice makes perfect.

The house dogs are delighting in the warm weather and sunny days.  While the winds are chilly, the bright and cloudless skies buoy the spirits, even after our non-winter.  Sophie continues to struggle but is still with us and is playing ball each day.  Patti is thriving under Ken's care and Piper is repatriated - deciding that Lee was the cause of her woes and giving her the cold shoulder with a backward glance to make certain it is being noticed.  That's our Piper.  Clem is slowing as well (another of the ancient dogs) so we are compensating as best we can for the failing eyesight and slower ability to get around.  Chantelle is not much of a seeing-eye person and Clem apprises her of that fact on a regular basis.  She also is highly perturbed when Lee collects her from the front gates that she is dutifully waiting beside for Chantelle to come home - now the fact that it is 9:30 pm and Chantelle has been home for 4 hours has escaped her but she feels that is incidental to her loyal and purposeful wait.  The geriatric ward is expanding.

Dinner was a lovely meal of garlic chicken. potatoes and fresh asparagus.  Spring is coming as is Daylight Savings Time and St Patrick's Day.  Lots to look forward to . . .

The week is unfolding with spring like weather

It was Tuesday and there were things to do - late in the day when there should not be things to do.  We are an early morning crowd and since our creatures of habit are - creatures of habit - they were up at sunrise.  And our day started.  The great coffee maker gets us going - latte is the order of the day followed by good strong coffee to give us a little boost.  We spent the day as gate attendants - letting dogs in and out at their whim on a lovely spring day.  Mud is surfacing everywhere so the Airedales are happy and the Welsh delighted. Ken managed to get some trimming done and the raspberry patch got more attention.  Lee worked on the ATA Specialty advertising and on her meeting for the evening.  Scout and Chantelle began their next foray into the world of Agility, this time with Brenda at Fetch.  Lee had a meeting in the same area at the same time so stopped in to collect Barrett late in the evening, in time to watch the end of the class.  Dogs working on exercise balls make for an interesting sight, late at night when you're quite weary.  Out of body experiences come in many ways.  Barrett was happy to return to Camp Regalridge in the PT Cruiser and marched down to his run, checking out the new arrivals and having a bonding moment with his Cirneco before he could go into his run.  With his all weather coat and jaunty step, he looked the part of the urbane gentleman out for an evening stroll as he cantered along with Ken offering words of encouragement to 'say hi to your friend because it's bedtime and you have to go to sleep so you can go out with her tomorrow''  They are the funniest combination, the little smooth coated pointy hound and the very large full coated Gordon Setter and they have become fast friends. 

The kennel is rocking along.  Ken announced at lunch that this is the best crew of dogs, as a group - that we have had with us.  None requires a leash to be walked out to the yards.  The Golden and Dachshund march out to their yard, tails wagging and grins on those faces.  They love the country space and the exercise.  The two Labradors walk in lock step from their runs to their yard and are delighted to be anywhere that is a prelude to a meal because that's what life is all about in the mind of a Lab.  Sophie, of course, knows the routine and tears madly to her run hoping desperately that Piper is behind her rather than ahead.  Tippy has sorted out the indoor outdoor concept and while the castle and rug are the preferred spots, the outside does now hold some allure.  All are eating well, including out little black lord of all he surveys, and tuna is no longer required with every meal. 

The house dogs are doing well in this lovely weather.  Old Sophie is in decline but does love the outside and is still up for a game of ball.  The rest are wagging and happy.  The little crew are doing well with lots of coming and going to keep their vocal cords in shape.  Patti is sleeping in the big bedroom these days since she is taking her potion after Chantelle's parade has gone to bed.  That will be an interesting dynamic when Piper returns to the fold. 


Dinner was America Test Kitchen's pot roast - and it was excellent with a few minor changes including the change out of dark beer for the red wine. 

Two days in one - sorry for the blip

Sunday and Monday were spring-like days with warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. The dogs are delighted and our Ken spent Monday in the garden shoring up the raspberry patch. It is hard to reconcile how very happy that made him. Chantelle did some trimming and spent Sunday with the dogs in the kennel followed, by Monday in Windsor. All is ticking along in her world with high anticipation for her new start in Agility at Fetch Inc. Bob and Luella departed after two days at the Briar, lots of new friends made and a different sense of Halifax than had heretofore been their experience. They are enthusiastic supporters of curling and thoroughly enjoyed their experience thanks to Chantelle's Christmas gift of the tickets. They were a little less enthusiastic returning to Digby to deep snow and a frozen lake after having enjoyed our warm temperatures and clear yards. Linda reports that Richmond is back to normal, there is no snow in the forecast and the temperatuers are in the 60's (apologies to Canadians thinking in Celsius but we are reporting US temperatures after all).

The kennel is busy and the dogs are happy - the weather doesn't hurt. Briggs and Brady are doing particularly well. The Golden remains the leader of the pack of two, with the Dachshund close on his heels as they march to and from their exercise yard. They are separated into two runs for feeding and little Mr Dachshund advises anyone who will listen that A. The Golden cannot exist without him for even a moment and B. that he has to be with him to keep him protected at all times and C. a report needs to be provided immediately because he fears his big brother has forgot himself and eaten everything when he should be finishing up his food! Jake the Lab arrived for another visit and needs no assistance in moving from his run to his exercise yard. He has discovered his best friend that he has never met - Abby, a black Lab. Abby is in control as most females are and Jake is in her thrall. That took about 1/8 of a second. Her wish is his command. Tippy is settled in. His palace is in place and he prefers to spend his time enjoying it, with occasional breaks to go out and survey his environs. He is eating well after a rocky start, needing his canned tuna to assure him that his entire life had not gone to heck in a handbasket. He is suspicious that his owners have lost their minds in leaving him behind but has resigned himself to his memories of home and hearth - with the Christmas rug providing particular solace. Sophie is doing just fine. Piper is due to return to the house this week and Sophie has a party planned - break out the champagne.

The house dogs are doing fine although with a little downturn with ancient Sophie. She is not eating as well as previously in the last couple of days but with a good ear cleaning by Lee and a brushing out by Ken, she managed to choke down some of her mac and cheese and a garlic cheese finger. We are hoping that will turn her attitude around because an attitude it is. As she is offered plate after plate (notice we are not describing dog dishses because those definitely do not suit her majesty) her head raises higher and higher until she is pointedly gazing, with intent, at the ceiling. The rest of the Regalridge crew are doing well. Potions are being dispensed to Patti, Sophie and Clem and all are taking it with greater or lesser enthusiasm. Ken and Luella agreed that their Ellie needed the potion so Luella went home with a good supply of flax oil and seed and reported in that Ellie loves it.

Dinners the past couple of nights included bar b qued pork chops from the hunting and gathering mission to the fruit stand, turnip (a fruit stand acquisition as well, potatoes and gingerbread followed the next night by the meatloaf and mac and cheese (Sophie agreed to share). And we are on to Tuesday . . .