A tough day but a host of great memories and a strong legacy

Saturday was eventful.  It was the day of the Christmas lunch so we were off to Kentville.  If that sounds a bit off, it is the lunch during which we choose names for the  Christmas stockings.  That gives nine months to accumulate items for the person whose name you drew.  These are serious Christmas stockings.  At the opposite end of the scale, we are saying good by to Sophie.  Only on her last day was she unable to play ball.  It will be a different house without this wonderful old dog.  She offered us much in her consummate dignity, zest for the outdoors and for life.  She was so much part of the fabric of Regalridge - with never a cross word for a person or another dog.  We hope you might raise a glass to her at dinner tonight. 

The kennel is busy.  Jasper and Maddie arrived with their gear and smiles on their faces.  They know the routine, trot out of their runs to the number three yard and take off with gay abandon to sort out who has been there and what is needed in the way of their ministrations.  Shadow is in herding mode - Jake and Abby Labs are her flock and although somewhat bemused are humouring the Sheltie instinct.  They are, all three, having a huge time outside.  The resident Golden has decided that all toys belong in the exercise yard so all have taken the trip from run to grassy area.  One is larger than the Dachshund who is highly supportive of this exodus, lugging the biggest of the stuffed animals as best he can.  Barrett found a lovely pink bone that belongs to Piper and was left in the yard when she returned to the house.  He is delighted with the treasure and hopes his owner has gone somewhere to find many of them for him.  He chases it when thrown and then pounces on it to kill it, returns it to the general area of the throwing arm and waits for the next throw.  He kind of missed the part where he is a Setter that 'returns to hand' but he is Barrett after all and marches to his own drummer, fitting right in at Regalridge.  The little Cirneco is not a retriever of any sort so while her pal chases the bone, Trebia jumps up and down trying to sort out what Chantelle is doing to make her buddy go away from her.  Maggie, the diminutive, is here, replete with her own house.  Some days she goes out with Nemo and others she declines that honour.  She sits in her doorway able to keep a Yorkie eye on both the inside and outside activity and that suits our Maggie just fine.  Sophie is managing her yard and looking forward to spring.  She has heard a rumour her people are to return in the spring and is sort of wondering where they are because it has been spring since they left. 

Clint has a girlfriend arriving from Massachusetts this week.  There were frantic phone calls through the noon hour as their progesterone tests were returned to them with a recommendation that they gas up and get driving.  We look forward to the visit - as does Clint.  Patti is doing very well and Clem is back in action, living under Lee's feet until Chantelle surfaces - at which point Lee is toast.  Scout is working hard at this exercises in anticipation of Agility class on Tuesday.  He has perfected push ups and walking around a stool on his hind legs - interesting activities for a dog.  Nick made the trip to Kentville and communed with Rascal and Daisy while we had lunch.  The little crew are being the little crew - bouncing and barking their way through the day, happy puppies all.  Paula is back in the house and firmly in charge of her errant daughter.  Viola is much better behaved when her mother is in the house. 

Dinner was a light casserole - after the Chinese lunch.  With apple pie and ice cream, we were ready for the curling semi-final and a new day.

Friday was travel oriented yet again

It was Friday and an interesting one in the world of Regalridge.  Lee was up and running at 6, making Mrs Field's chocolate chip cookies to take to Tatamagouche for Shelagh.  Chantelle was off to Elmsdale and Ken tried to get ten hours of work in to the two he had before the van had to be out of the driveway.  Ken also had a meeting in Tatamagouche so there was a time mandate - always a challenge.  There was a quick side trip to McDonald's for a milkshake to accompany the cookies and then off through the wilds of Nova Scotia's heartland, over the mountain and on to the care facility.  It was a challenging day with Shelagh.  She is deeply stressed and terribly unhappy with her circumstances.  These are not easy days.  On a brighter day, Ken's meeting went well and the Tatamagouche residents were given a better understanding of emergency care in Nova Scotia.  While we were away, Tom applied another coat of oil stain to the stair treads - that, of course, meant shingles by bedtime on the steps and that lovely scent of stain to accompany us to bed.  And The Project continues. 

The kennel is ticking along.  Lord Tippy departed, palace in tow, early in the day.  We anticipate that his regular subjects may pay a price for having decamped - look out folks.  Jake, Abby and Shadow had a great day with the sunshine and good weather supporting their management of their exercise yard.  They are a great trio, love the exercise and the opportunity to keep an eye on the changing complexion of the surrounding fields as spring arrives and colours change.  Sophie is managing her area nicely, still relieved that Piper's educational period is finished and beginning to put into play all that she has learned - look out for a new dog, folks!  Briggs and Brady are happy with whatever comes their way as long as they are together.  They are neighbours to the two Labs and the Sheltie in their own exercise yard and are still exploring the nooks and crannies.  That little Dachshund nose is determined to root out any varmints it unearths while the Golden watches overhead for errant birds.  All is protected as long as those two are in the area.  Trebia and Barrett relieve Sophie in yard four and have set up a race track around the perimeter.  Barrett is pretty sure he needs a passing lane on the straightaways but so far the little Cirneco is leaving him in her dust.  He finds that endlessly fascinating and at the end of each race, tells her so to her absolute delight.  Their songs are things to be documented, with Barrett crooning and Trebia providing percussion.  She desperately wants to find his timbre and emulate it but alas doesn't have the pipes.  Still, Barrett repeats the refrains so that she can try - they are fast friends after all. 

The house dogs are doing well.  Sophie continues to soldier on, played ball with Tom and had a good long sun bath in a lovely sheltered area of the property.  Even during these difficult days, she loves to be outside - always our greatest outdoor lover.  She had a spa evening with Chantelle, thought it a particularly odd ending to what had been a good day and harrumphed her way to the house.  Patti is bouncing along and Clem is doing better - that potion is a wonderful thing.  The little crew is the little crew - in charge of their universe and happy to take on the job.  They are barking all of us through our days and nights, keeping an eye on the birds and encouraging them to clean up the mess they are making under the feeders - or at least that is our interpretation. 

Dinner was take away - Lee is fond of Fridays for that reason alone.  And we move into the week end . . .

Thursday was productive and spring seems to have arrived

Thursday was a good day with lovely weather, happy dogs and lots of activity at Regalridge.  Our Ken's lament at noon was that it was too warm to work outside with a jacket on - think about that.  Lee continued to root through the storage room, coming out with bags to be taken to the Kidney Foundation and a lot more available space in the big house.  Coupled with a conference call and some administrative work, everyone managed to keep busy.  We heard from Tom in Massachusetts as he was leaving the Veterinarian's office last night.  Ginger is indeed pregnant and Atlas will be a Dad in April.  We are all looking to that.  Susan and Shirley have phoned a couple of times and are packing to come to visit Regalridge in the next couple of weeks.  We are looking forward to some good laughs. 

Sophie is being Sophie.  She is very happy in the exercise yard by herself - she is an only child after all.  Barrett and his friend Trebia had their yard.  Neither needs a lead since they are so happy to see each other, trotting together to the number four yard and then zipping around getting their lungs expanded in readiness for their latest rendition of a popular song.  Briggs and Brady are great dogs.  The little Dachshund is as cute as it can be and is a great partner in crime for the patient Golden.   Shadow, Abby and Jake own number three yard and are best friends.  Jake thinks he is in charge - yeah right.  Jake is first to be let out and herds the other two to their yard.  Abby is the speediest of the three and leads the way, keeping a close eye on Shadow knowing that Jake will bring up the rear.  Little Shadow is well looked after between the two Labs and seems to delight in their company.  Tippy is packing for his return home but has settled in, prefers his blue dish and will eat all he is given as long as it is served properly in that blue dish.  Tippy has lots of rules and we are learning them - in his opinion a bit slowly, but nevertheless we are making progress.

The house dogs are doing fine.  Sophie is still with us and although she is resistant to eating, she is still playing ball and enjoys her time outside on these sunny and warm days.  That is the norm for Sophie and we are pleased to see that.  Clem has perked up and is eating well - a relief as we work with Sophie and Patti.  The little crew is being the little crew - on alert and ready to rumble.  Paula is back in the house and Viola will be back under control immediately.  Scout and Chantelle are practicing their Agility Olympics and are adding more and more complexity to his routine.  He is happy to be working and now considers the jumps, chute, tire and seesaw his job. 

Dinner was a beef stew followed by Chantelle's addition of a lovely apple crumble pie and ice cream.  Curling was on the agenda for late evening so all is well heading into the last work day of the week.