Ann's Weblog

Had two dogs to groom today, a medium large dog which resembled a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, and a little Shih Tzu cross, and I spent some time grooming a boarder, a Maremma with some matts.

I was glad to make a date for coffee with a friend, and I got my laundry done at the laundromat at the same time. I delivered the bouquet that I showed you yesterday, to the Post Office. I hadn't taken flowers to those folks in a long while.

I'm booked up the rest of the week with dog grooming, funerals, and Farmer's Markets. I haven't been able to get my spring weeding done in the flower beds! I just put 2 cheesecakes in the oven; one is for the Bistro where I weekly send cheesecake, and one is either for one of the funeral "teas" or to share with loved ones who are about to visit.

The phone just rang and it is an acquaintance who would like to board his dogs with us this weekend. We'll be beyond "full" again, juggling kennel space. If money was no object, I'd just phone up one of the fencing outfits which manufacture ready-to-assemble dog kennels (panels and gates), and order a few more. Gary is willing to help clear some grass and willows to make space for more runs and something I've longed for for a long time... an exercise "yard". I want to be able to throw a ball for, or to obedience train, boarders, without fearing that they'll run off. Of course I want it to be secure enough that a dog can be left in there unattended, too, and I can answer the phone or take a break (or use the run for a long-term boarder), so it's not going to just be pagewire. Ahhh if money could just BE "no object". Gary affirms that he is willing to help maintain this new expansion compound (more space to MOW).

There's still a few hours of daylight left, and it's not raining, but I just can't seem to move the ol' body (MINE!). I guess I'll go get the horses in for the night, with Lady's help, and make sure all the boarding cats and dogs are comfortable, and be a couch potato for awhile.

One of my three darling daughters is arriving on the bus in the morning, and THAT is the best kind of thing to look forward to!

Thanks for stopping in. ~Ann

Hi, my friends.

I've missed quite a few days, I know. Yes, we got the garlic hung up... there were almost 300 heads!

Our days are mostly fun and productive. We just shelled a five gallon bucket of peas while watching T.V.; that makes scarcely a couple of quarts for the freezer, but OH! they are tasty.

I had an awesome time at the Farmer's Markets this weekend. The weather was good and lots of people stopped. I sold about 5 dozen jars of jam, a bunch of produce (peas, carrots, cabbage, garlic, beets), cheesecake by the slice, some perennial plants, and more. I chatted with folks from all over the country and from further away.

The kennels have been almost beyond full. Now, a few have gone home and I feel more relaxed... for me 14 or 16 dogs boarding makes life pretty hectic, and I feel when there are 8 or 10 they get a fairer measure of attention. While I stood at the Community Market on Friday, my week ahead for pet grooming became all "booked up", as people would see me and ask about an appointment for their pooch (or cat).

I have another friend who died from cancer this week. She was only 60 years old. Last summer this friend and I were commiserating about "weight control", and I remarked that she seemed to have done well if she was trying to lose weight. She said, "Well, Ann, I've been sick, and haven't told very many people. But hey, as far as weight loss... it's getting the job done!". I feel extra sad to remember that conversation. Be careful what you wish for.

I didn't write in my weblog that the friend who gave me Kelly, the cat, has also died. Gosh, this is tough. I'm feeling pretty spooked as friends keep winking out.

A dear elderly friend had two strokes about 10 days ago; I've known this lady for thirty years, since she was approximately the age that I am now. She drove me to the hospital when I was about to give birth for the first time and has been a pal and confidante. She never turned her back on me when I left the farm at Dunster, so many years ago. And now it looks like M. will be unable to care for herself ever again, after being so kind and nurturing to so many others; it seems too cruel.

Another friend has just lost her husband to Alzheimer's; it's one of those situations where many people say that it's "a blessing". Still it is such a sadness, and part of the tragedy was that the man's life was such hell for several years.

I was going to say something about working at feeling joyful while we can, and that didn't seem quite what I wanted to say. We WILL feel joy while we can... live, love, maybe travel, spend our money, mend fences, eat good food, help others. It doesn't usually feel like "work" for me to have that joie de vivre, though sometimes THAT irritates others. If we all have to meet the same fate, why NOT view the glass as half full instead of half empty, while we have life?

Ah, I've worn myself out with emotion again. Pictured at the top is a bouquet that I picked this afternoon.

The chihuahua picture above is "Kita" who has become an occasional boarder. This is, I think, the fourth time I've looked after her. We are "great friends" now, but the first time that this little dog stayed with us, it took about four days before I could even TOUCH her without her lunging at me with teeth bared. I kept a leash on her and let her drag it about the house, and I just picked it up when it was time to go outside. That first time, Kita stayed with us for 2 weeks, and we were buddies by the time she went home. Now she seems to look forward to seeing both Gary and I, and as you can see, Kita allows herself time on the couch for naps AND overnight, occasionally visiting her open kennel in the kitchen for snacks. I still walk her on the leash when we go outside, and she still objects strenuously to getting her little toenails trimmed (it gets done anyway).

Thank you for reading my weblog. ~Ann

One of my Mennonite friends told me last week that her husband doesn't like ANY of that yummy stuff like garlic, horseradish or spanakopita. We enjoy those things.

This wheelbarrow-full is the garlic harvest for 2006, aside from a few that I pulled and sold at last week's Community Market. Gary is the real garlic boss, but today I got busy and brought it all in from the garden because he has been so busy. If the bulbs are left in the ground too long, they get "looser", which doesn't seem to affect anything but the appeal to consumers. We still had a few pounds of garlic from last summer, so I peeled every bulb, dehydrated the lot, and ground it up today in an ice crusher (they are like a bunch of rocks when dried before being made into garlic powder).

In case anyone wonders, I happen to think life is too short to make garlic braids for sale to the public; but perhaps I'm not patient enough. My first attempts at garlic braiding... have sucked.

Last week at the Market I sold all of the HORSERADISH that I had grated and bottled, 10 four ounce jars. All that is added is vinegar and salt (some recipes call for sugar, but I'll let folks add it themselves if they wish). I had a few more pounds of horseradish root, so today I thought I'd do ONE LAST batch; I've dug all the horseradish that was visible, though I know it will be back with a vengeance next year. I don't know if these roots were stronger because of sitting around all week or because of being bigger than most of the last batch, but I ended up totally gassing myself and wasn't sure I could get finished. My eyes were so swollen and irritated that I couldn't even open them for a few minutes; I went outside to recover several times and finally got this batch put into jars: about another dozen little ones plus a quart jar to keep in the fridge for bottling later. While I kept running in and out of the house, splashing water on my eyes in the bathroom, etc., I was worried that someone would come here to buy trees or pick up their dog. I'm sure they would've been patient with me, especially if they were horseradish fans!

We have had near-capacity occupancy in the kennels, including boarding cats on the porch in comfy airline crates. Most dogs really seem to like being with us, so they are easy to be with both night and day.

I'm off to play Literati (online Scrabble) in Yahoo! Games; I've been too drowsy for several nights and am anxious to get back at it.

Thank you for stopping buy to read my ramble.

~Ann