There is lots of activity at Regalridge.  Easter week end brought dogs, friends and plenty of food.  From Good Friday's ham we worked our way through Easter meals and likely didn't miss much in the way of traditions.  There was lemon and chocolate, ham and turkey - the major food groups were well represented.  The dogs were tickled with the additions of people to their regular routines, the extra hands to pat them and the extra voices encouraging them to eat treats.  Everybody loves a holiday!  The weather was fabulous - July-like days that hovered around 26 degrees.  We truly have been blessed with wonderfully unseasonal winter and spring days.  Let's hope we don't pay dearly for that this summer.

The kennel had lots of coming and going.  Jack has become the most recent convert to the Wal-Mart greeter program.  He escorts visitors to and from their exercise yard or to and from their outdoor run with Airedale alacrity.  His only downside is that he is pretty much positive that he should join Sophie in her personal space at bedtime.  Sophie is not amused by that clever ability to find his way to her bed instead of his own.  This morning we said good by to Rascal (Jack took Rascal under his wing, showed him the Airedale routine and welcomed the great fellow from Digby back to the fold - Rascal was delighted with the greeting).  Rascal, Ellie and Daisy departed among waving paws and good wishes for a trip home filled with stops for burgers and timbits.  Allan is still in residence.  He has to have his time for an evening run in one of the big exercise yards and declines the opportunity to come inside without having had that chance to stretch his little Welsh legs.  Rudy is a new addition to the boarding family.  He is a good natured mixed breed who allows Mikki the Sheltie to herd him to his run.  Rudy finds that amusing since he was here before Mikki arrived so knows the routine but he seems to reckon that if it makes Mikki happy, it's fine by him.  Jake is back for the week and good natured Lab that he is, he allows Mikki to add him to the herd and lumbers along next to Rudy with Mikki's encouraging little barks and rear positioning urging them along.  Every kennel needs a Sheltie to act as usher.

The house dogs are thriving.  The potion was shared with Ellie while she was in residence.  She was fading a bit at her advanced age but Luella decided after having seen Ken in potion-mode that it would help Ellie so the potion has once again migrated and worked its' magic.  There was lots of company all week end so the Norwich spread their charms among lots of folks and Piper gained a pound with the best begging badge being awarded her efforts.  Nick had the odd trip as the van came and went and many spring haircuts were handed out to unsuspecting victims as Chantelle maintained a steady stream of dogs in the grooming room. 

Meals were plentiful and well received.  Turkey with stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, new young carrots and fresh beans heralded the dining room's reopening.  A lovely pound cake with lemon cream sauce and fresh blueberries finished that meal.  There was an alternate chocolate mousse cake for the non-lemon lovers. 

We are moving into the Easter week end and readying the house for the bunny.  Good Friday traditionally brings friends and a gathering and this was no exception.  Pam came out for a visit with Rocky Airedale.  If Rocky found it odd that a woman he didn't know put a leash on him and walked him around the fields at the back part of the property, he didn't mention it.  Paul walked with the two just to see how things were going.  All went well and Pam is looking forward to signing adoption papers in May.  Rocky will have a wonderful home for his neuroses.  The weather was fabulous - a summer-like day with very warm weather and soft breezes.  Ken managed a few minutes in his gardens, interspersed with a major clean up of the dining room.  The Project continues but the paint cans et al departed the room for places unknown - will they reinvent themselves in another spot?  Undoubtedly.   But maybe not the dining room until Our Ken forgets how much work went into putting it back together yet again.  The greatroom is being painted at this point but the preparatory work appears to have been completed at this stage so perhaps the power tools can get a rest. 

The kennel is ticking along.  Queenie, Rudy and Ruff, Marged and Shillelagh arrived and settled in to wait for the bunny.  Queenie is a regular visitor, learned in the way of the kennel and its' ways.  She likes company and had a little visit with Sophie and Jack.  Rudy is with us for the fist time.  He went out with Ruff and Jake and all three had a great time.  Marged and Shillelagh are settled in and exercising their lungs in the good country air. 

The house dogs love a party so all was well in their world.  Piper paid everyone her respects and settled in behind chairs as quickly as was possible because everyone knows that positioning is everything.  Clem had her spring cleaning and looks great.  She is groomed, shined, had a pedicure and looks like a new dog - that makes her pretty darned proud.  Rocky also had a  haircut to be able to put the best foot forward in meeting Pam.  He always loves to be on the grooming table so it was a good day in Rocky's world.  The Norwich did well with all of the coming and going, heralding arrivals and departures with equal measures of Norwich enthusiasm. 

Dinner was backed ham.  Asparagus, Ken's squash, potato scallop, fried pineapple, homemade bread and the ham went well with Pam's Greek salad and a meal that ended with a lovely chocolate mousse cake and Hagen Daaz with Regalridge lattes.  

The Easter Bunny is coming

It is Easter week and there is lots happening at Regalridge.  Lee seems to be tied to the office with CKC business having become an even more consuming part of her days and nights.  Chantelle is coping with year end so her roller skates are also going as fast as they can.  Our Ken is left to pick up the pieces, play with the dogs and look after Regalridge.  The good news is that it was wet weather so his garden yearnings are limited to gazing at the tilled earth and keeping a close eye on the tulips that are up and the hundreds of crocus bravely blooming.  The 'Johnny Jump Ups' are brilliantly purple and the snowdrops have spread throughout the wooded area on the east side of the property.  Costco offered up its' Easter plunder so we are set for the week end meals.  The vegetables are great and the fruit has morphed from a complete section of apples to mangoes and figs have been replaced by kiwi - we are pretty sure they are all local . . .

The kennel is picking up for the week end with a number of dogs scheduled to come for the Easter bunny visit.  Jake has arrived as Trebia's Easter gift.  She is well pleased.  Jack has settled in to the routine, is playing well with Sophie and they are now a pack of two.  Both are eating well, playing hard all day and are thriving.  Allan is a great fellow - much like his brother Jack the Welsh.  He and Nemo have a late night party in side by each big yards and both are enjoying that opportunity.  There is no going dutifully to bed without the addition of the spin. 

The house dogs are doing well.  Patti and Clem are taking the potion and May has been added with a spoonful - she is mighty pleased.  Piper is delighted to have Lee home and is keeping a close eye on her so that she doesn't get herself lost again any time in the near future.  Nick made the Costco run and supervised the loading an unloading with Airedale-like precision - we are almost sure he opened an eye at the point that bag touched his foot.  Scout is practising his Agility every day and is quite chuffed.  Last night his tunnel arrived from California.  We could say that we don't know whether it was Chantelle or Scout who was more excited but actually we do know - the human part of the equation was living at the post office, gazing at every mail truck she saw with rapt attention and generally driving us all nuts asking whether there was news of the tunnel.   We're mighty glad it arrived. 

Dinner was Friday night pizza on Thursday night - gotta love that.