How the heck did it get to be August?  There was snow until April - or May; there was cold and rain until late June followed by wet and chilly July and all of a sudden it is August.  Of the house crew, only Marguerite has any interest at all in spending the days outside.  Even on the odd warm day Rocky says the house beds are calling his name and Trebia is looking for Lee's lap.  The little Welsh are enjoying their playground with the ins and outs interspersed with games and siestas.  Richmond is pretty sure he is in charge of life in general.  Tori rides herd with a benevolent autocracy and little Heloise just bops along without a care in the world.  She missed the Welsh intensity gene.  Clint continues to improve and gains strength daily.  He is a particularly sensitive Airedale so is taking this assault on his system very seriously.  Glued to Lee at every opportunity, he patrols the property, is eating well and has begun to engage in serious ball games each evening before lights out.  Last night, both baseball and soccer were on the menu and were played with some verve.  Lori assisted as goal keeper - she found (a feat in itself) and stood on the ball, urging Lee and Clint on with barks that lifted her whole front end. 


The gardens are at their peak.  Baskets are filled to overflowing, roses are opening in great number, lilies are massively displayed, the annuals have spread and dahlias are beginning.  With all of the precipitation, the grass is deep green and encourages Our Ken to cut it almost daily.  And there has been a discovery.  When the move to this location occurred, Regalridge was situated in Elmsdale.  With the advent of 911, the area name reverted to its antecedents and returned to Belnan.  However, Elmsdale is the village and there was a line of stately elms on the property.  Sadly, they were in the process of succumbing to Dutch Elm disease.  And now, more than twenty five years later, an elm tree is growing in Belnan.  In the wood oven garden, the lovely elm has surfaced and will be cherished by all.  


The birds are thankful for Our Ken's ministrations.  Perhaps it is the rain.  Perhaps it is the aftermath of the dreadful winter or perhaps it is simply opportunity but the birds are plentiful, hungry and numerous.  There are lots and lots of young.  The six baby swallows remain in residence but are in the eaves only sporadically.  All are practising flight manoeuvers, eating lots of bugs (yahoo for the swallows) and returning only for little rests.  It seems that one nest will be enough for mom and pop this year.  Six is actually enough. 


Today's adventure was a foray into the city.  The forecast had included thunder showers so a trip further afield will have to wait.  Costco is a madhouse.  PetSmart offered up a lovely soft sided exercise pen for hotel stays - yes Chantelle, you can borrow it.  Sadly, the fish truck was nowhere to be found.  Still, Costco's fabulous salmon steaks leapt into the cart and will be enjoyed in due course. Our Ken required new summer shorts so a detour to Mark's was in order.  Not fun.  Not inexpensive.  Successful.  The end. 


The wood oven is in operation and the learning curve is flattening a bit.  Ribs and chicken breasts have graced the floor of the oven as have sour cherries.  The flavour is mighty impressive and the technology amazing.  Pizza is in our future.  Dinners recently have included planked salmon, rib steak night and tonight will include lamb chops and hodge podge (with baby beets from the garden - just because).  May we recommend our new summer dessert - warm sour cherries with your liqueur of choice; cut pound cake or grab a meringue or a slice of available sweet bread; add a scoop of Hagen Daz (flavour of choice), pour cherries with syrup over the ice cream and drizzle with your own chocolate sauce OR cream of balsamic OR mint infused simple syrup. 

It was a cloudy day early on; it was a thunderous day mid-day; it was a sunny day for about 48 seconds and then it was a cloudy day with sporadic rainy periods.  It is time for July to regain its momentum.  Even Mort the pond frog seems nonplused by this weather.  The foliage on the property rivals the rain forest and the flowers that have managed to bloom are holding those blossoms forever.   The strawberry season has lasted long beyond its stale date with the cool temperatures that followed the hot sun of late June.  Jam is plentiful at Regalridge.  Our Ken is frantically pulling weeds but keeping up is an impossibility.  The pond garden is in his sites now that the wood oven garden is complete.  And complete it is.  The gate and associated wrought iron connector is in place and functioning beautifully.  The lovely red Adirondack chairs are comfortably placed with a view of the oven's innards and the river rock is strategically aligned with the borders.  Planters abound and it appears geraniums have surfaced in new pots for fall colour.  Even the fountain is offering up its gurgling stream of water.  Lee spent the day supporting Ken's projects and sorting paperwork for the kennel club.  Much progress was made.


The dogs are disinterested in this latest project, even though it is within their sphere of influence.  They march past the gate without pause and, other than the Cirneco, have no interest in the area.  The Hound, of course, has to be part of everything that takes the people's attention.  She has managed to try out the chairs and trot through the garden paths, much to Our Ken's dismay.  Old Dolly is doing well, eating her meals, enjoying treats and marching to her own drummer in the yards.  Clint improves daily.  Still glued to Lee, he is nevertheless able to move freely, has regained some momentum when the need arises (barking visitors are a great incentive) and is eating almost at his usual level.  Billy and Rocky are warmly encouraging his rehabilitation and repatriation to the kennel.  The little Welsh continue to beetle around, keeping their noses busy as they supervise every activity they are able to see.  Marguerite the outdoor dog keeps a close eye on the gates and is the quintessential doorbell of Regalridge.   She misses nothing. 


The kennel is busy with visitors.  Fiddler's rock and roll has morphed to a yodel.  He is a party boy and enjoys a high level of activity in his neighbours.  He misses Buddy who departed Sunday.  Shadow is enjoying the yard next to the young Airedales.  He has been coming to the kennel for years and has his own expectations and routine that must be followed.  The week end will see a full kennel with a mix of Toys, Terriers, Herding dogs and mixes.  Most have been vacationing with us for many years and trot happily up the drive to their suites. 


The news of the day, however, is the wood oven.  Curing was completed yesterday and the inaugural meal prepared this evening.  Back ribs were the request of Our Ken.  The fire building went very well with maple that was dry and burned perfectly.  The timing of the heat cycle was a bit off so juggling of the wood and meat occurred with a resultant slower than anticipated finish time.  All in all, though, the meal was a success with tremendously tasty, beautifully flavoured ribs.  On a side note, those who know Our Ken know that he is pack rat extraordinaire.  Lee had a rack for the ribs - great planning until she realized it is too large for the oven.  Considering her options, she mentioned to Ken that she needed a cast iron rack and off he marched.  Around the garage, out the back gate and toward the back forty he went, returning with a cast iron rack - perfect size, perfect weight, perfect for ribs.  And nothing will ever, ever, ever be thrown out again . . .

Summer is flying by - at least in theory.  The weather this week has been cool and, on occasion, damp.  The dogs are amused by degree.  The Cirneco does not do wet.  No wet feet, no wet head; Ms Trebia simply does not approve water falling from the sky.  Preference for rainy days would be sitting on a lap with a blanket at the ready in case of a sudden chill.  The Airedales and Welsh are far more stoic.  Clint continues to make slow and steady progress.  His appetite has improved but the activity level and interest in more than a slow wander around the yard with Lee is the best he can do.  The rest are perking along, managing the property and setting the rules for the visitors.  Billy has been somewhat less welcoming of Clint in the house - in Rocky's spot in the den.  Rocky shrugs it off but Billy has taken affront on his behalf. 


The swallows have flown and are enjoying their freedom as they learn from their parents how to hunt and gather insects throughout the neighbourhood.   They occasionally return to roost over the door but are busy through the day taking instruction and readying themselves for their trip south.  Other feathered babies are appearing at the feeders.  Less enterprising (and less useful) than the swallows, the baby doves, starlings, finches and catbirds are now in evidence.  Most are collegial but the odd bad tempered fellow is showing his colours as each determines his schedule and favourite seed from the bounty presented by Our Ken.  Mort the frog is maintaining the pond but looks increasingly alarmed as it threatens to overflow its banks.  More rain is not needed.  The most interesting moment of the week occurred early yesterday morning.  Lee was out and about shepherding Old Dolly into the house when an odd sound came from overhead.  The resident crows were talking but in a voice that was unknown - since they have been in residence for three decades, a new voice was startling.  Searching for the reason and looking to the usual post of our family crows, the reason was immediately evident.  Sitting regally at the top of the oak tree, the usual perch of the crows, was a massive bald eagle, surveying the Regalridge domain as well as the local environs.  A quick re-entry to the house of the Welsh puppies was in order and Our Ken was dispatched to encourage Mrs Eagle to find alternate accommodation. 


The gardens are soggy.  End of garden update.


The kennel continues to welcome summer campers.  Buddy is here for his week end pilgrimage.  His flagpole tail is waving over the heads of the Airedales in the adjoining pen.  Shadow has just departed, happy to see his owners after a trip to the frozen island of Newfoundland.  What a dreadful July they are having on the Avalon.  The Hipsons have a new Labrador - a fabulous girl and in Our Ken's estimation, the best of the several they have had with us over the decades we have been here.  Sochi departed this week after a long sojourn.  He is a great little Welsh - Tim and Elke have managed his transition into adulthood well.  A couple of Chantelle's little ones are here while she vacations at her cottage.   Rumour has it that it is less soggy there than here and that is likely a good thing since Miss Matilda is not fond of water falling from the sky.  Fiddler arrived today with a grin and kick of his heels. 


The fruit stand opposite is replete with early summer vegetables.  Hodge podge has now happened.  Reg and Tim have arrived, so a meal of grilled rib eye (Hants county beef), hodge podge and a lovely open strawberry pâte brisée tart landed on the table.  And the rain continues . . .