The Week (10 days) in Review

Dear Everett,
Great big push to the finish line at work is almost done! Thankfully! So, yet again, I have been neglecting putting up posts and pics of the Crew and how they are doing.

Overall, they are doing very well. We've had two snowfalls in the past week, plus rain and general unpleasant weather. But! We need the moisture--I just wish Beannie was not so determined to dig up the back yard by her fence-running with the neighbor's Doberman. And M, the fiend, has gone back to digging to China--a favorite passtime before the forced rest began.

Nov 6 - two days after the election, and already Paisle is done with the news. She just wants to go to sleep--can we shut out the lights finally, and close our eyes? Nov. 7 - The very next morning, our first snow!!

The Big Boy is loving the fresh white dusting (chasing P of course, who is out of the pic): So here, full attention, from Marshal and a real idea of the light snow dust: And just 24 minutes later, significantly more snow on the ground! Back inside, the pups share the safety (from what??) of his crate, aka the Condo. Both are chewing beef bones, but the toys are hard to see:And time yet again, for another snooze. This is Paisle in the pink chair...I am constantly amazed at how many different ways her cuteness comes through:Not to be outdone by Paisle, here is M inside the same blanket (11 hrs later), but on one of the doggy beds on the floor:Nov. 8 - This morning I brought Ansel with me on early am errands, but I dressed him in his coat, in case the car became chilly:

Back home, Beannie is on the move again:

Even though our small amount of snow is gone, here is Marshal, so happy to have some freedom, and movement!

Then the second snow came along, and Paisle looks possessed: All good fun in the tiny bit of snow.

Nov. 9 - I am off to the farm! I love going to the farm.

The only bad part about going (besides the long drive) is that I cannot bring the dogs. There are just too many things to chase:

And some of those things have horns! This is Petunia, in with the lambs (that's Nina filling the water bucket). Petunia is having a really tough time with one of her feet, but her horns are as dangerous to a young puppy as always. The rest of the herd is out in the pasture behind this cow shed.

There are also many things, without horns:

Front and center here is an Araucana, producer of blue eggs, Guinea hen on the Araucana's right, two turkeys behind it, and one Dominique in the very back. All the chickens are named Henrietta. The turkey eggs are my personal favorite, because they are reliably larger than chicken eggs, but the turkeys have stopped laying for the winter. Bummer.

This is Lazarus, shot from inside the chicken coop. Born to a first-time mother struggling with maternal instincts, the newborn stopped breathing. Luckily Nina had a cat-wise friend visiting from the east coast, who saved both kittens and mama kitty. Thus Lazarus is the kitten (now full grown)who came back from the dead:

Visiting the farm is never complete without admiration for the multitudes of produce:

These pale pumpkins have really wonderful meat for pies. Nina kindly gave me a few to take home, as well as more squash, jam, leftovers from a lamb dinner, and of course, eggs.

Nov. 11 - Harmony in the household:

I tried and tried, Everett, to take a photo showing all three toys the Crew are chewing, but to no avail. Ansel has a beef bone. Paisle has the Galileo. And Marshal, Big Boy who didn't fit on the bed, has a rope. It feels so good to see them all together! There is still ocassional discord--Ansel has to let both pups know to recognize his maturity, and M defers to A every time there is a need. Paisle, spoiled as she is, has never challenged Ansel. She does, however, push his limits with her routine desire to sleep on him in his basket, or share his dog bed, eat his meal, and be a general pain in his rear. I've not witnessed any dominance attempts, and hopefully none are in the future.

Nov. 11 - evening and more snow. Marshal & Paisle are harder to see here, in the dark.

Not sure how I did this, but that mist is not exhaled. The temp was just 32--rain turning to snow, with mist heavy in the air. I like the Transylvania feel.Nov. 12 - More of the same. Work had me up at ridiculous hours; thankfully I have pups to entertain me at 3:11 am. Notice how much more snow is on the ground. This photo is only 5 hours later and the Transylvania feel continues:
Add another 4 hours, some daylight, and you see more snow! Marshal trying to entice Paisle to play:

A break in the action, to eat some snow. Beannie is ever watchful, for her Doberman friend to appear behind the fence:

Another pause in the action, but this pause gives us a better view of how much snow is on the ground. By looking at the Bean's feet on the lounge chair, I'm guessing this frosting is about an inch of the heavy wet stuff. It melted before the day was over.

Nov. 14 - I love this photo. The snow is gone, the ground is wet, and though Paisle is but a blur, Marshal is in sharp relief (okay, relatively sharp):

Yet again, blurry, but still fun (perhaps you can tell I've made progress with raking?):That pale spot in M's mouth is a very large nylabone.

As in the past, after resting inside for a bit, M showed signs of stiffness. So I put his coat on him, and the pups slept soundly while I finished the business day:

All that's missing, from this tale of snow, play, sleep, rain, play, sleep, is the hot chocolate with whipped cream and a crackling fire. Too bad for these kids, chocolate can be dangerous for dogs. I guess I'll have to drink it all myself--or maybe some wine instead.

Missing you daily, Everett!