Thursday, December 29, 2011

As 2012 Approaches ;o)

Looks Like Winter!
The temperatures keep fluctuating from 15-45 degrees, so the pond ice continues to not be safe ...  and there is a dusting of snow that sticks, but then is quickly washed away by a downpour of rain ... it's been ideal though for working out in the woods and clearing downed trees for both the woodstove and the snowshoeing loop ... plus the travel on Christmas was ideal ;o)
Family Gathering ;o)

Girls love all their new toys ;o)
Emma just graduated from her "Clicker Unleashed" class and in January is enrolled in an "Agility Puppy Foundation" workshop at the local Humane Society ... Willow is ongoing with her Rally class at AK9C, dispite my seemingly dislexic interpretation of sign directions ... since November, both Sutter & Willow have been in a monthly winter Vermont Agility League that will now be twice a month in January and February ;o)

Emma Graduates ;o)
The year ends with the publishing of the (single copy) Golden Embers Blog Book 2

Published ;o)

... and as usual at an exhausting day's end, all colapse by the cozy wood stove for a brief winter's nap  ;o)

Pleasant Dreams Willow ;o)
Emma & Sutter ;o)
TILL NEXT YEAR...

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

December Happenings

Careful girls ... Ice skim on pond!
Temps have flurted with 60-70's leading into this month and then plumeted to 20's with up to 2" snow ... downside of the beauty of thin ice above is that the girls frustratingly aren't allowed outside without their human ... the last 2 stormwindows are on, the 2nd "deicer" cable is on the rear steep roof, the firewood gathering/splitting is ongoing and we're in the midst of the Holiday season:
  • Oooh, invites to festive gatherings ...  calories!!! just remember "everything in moderation" ... that's why I can't get caught up in holiday baking anymore ... "willpower" of my 20's, 30's, 40's has matured to love of sweets and is further weakened after working/hiking/boating in the fresh out-of-doors ... so if it's not in the house, I'll pick a healthier choice ... RIGHT!!!!
  • Finally got the makings of our 2011 Christmas card done, thanks to friend Kara and her computer talents to decorate our photocard this year ... Oooops, forgot the seasonal scarves ;o)
  • Ahhhh ... sitting by the cozy woodstove to snail-mail address, computer email or online Facebook those cards to family/friends, with special messages to those we are only in touch with this time each year ;o)

    We enjoyed a wonderful visit from our favorite lil' girl "Margo" ... she still loves to come and just runs/plays from sun-up to sun-down ... open the door and she zooms right in to see if everything is the same and what's new since her last visit ... the girls all wear collars with bells and orange vests ... hunters in your own woods you ask ... well anything is possible, but honestly it helps me in my eye/ear "retirement" stage of life, to locate their roamings ... I wear a whistle and the girls are pretty responsive, as they know a handful of kibble is forthcoming from the pocket ;o)
Our baby is now 7 months old and :-O  she's come into her first heat cycle ... she wasn't phased at all by wearing her "pants" to Doggie School ... no chancing off-leash work this week till we see how her classmates react to her condition "Hey Mom, the boys think I'm cute!!!!"

12 "Desserts" plus "Walter" ;o)
One of my favorite weekly things over the past 8 weeks has been puppy visits and photoshoots of my favorite Golden Retrievers at SunKissed kennels ... and Emma has been able to visit/snif/tug with her mom "Shimmer" ... it's a riot to watch them run over/wade in frigid water on the backyard  poolcover ;o)

Red Boy "Watson" ;o)
Singleton dubbed  "Walter"  ;o)
Power Nap ;-)

Our first "bonies" ;o)
Sleeeeepin' Heavenly Peace ;o)

SURROUND YOURSELF with THAT WHICH BRINGS OUT the BEST in YOU    ;-)


    Tuesday, December 6, 2011

    Merry Christmas & Happy 2012 New Year ;o)



    FROM ALL of US at GOLDEN EMBERS ... TO ALL of YOU

    REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON ... the CHRIST in CHRISTMAS
    ... FORGIVING, SHARING and LOVING ;o))