HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL
We’ve had a great time around here. Gary’s daughter couldn’t visit this Season, but all three of mine have been around. They have kept us company and also have seen other family members and friends. As is a mother’s prerogative and joy, I’ve tried to ensure they had enough to eat while they were at our house, including favourites. I was able to take some not-great pictures:
Left to right, this is Susan, Kim, and Shelly… in age, middle, youngest, eldest.
These were wonderful days, visiting the girls and our friends, and being in touch with other family members and friends by phone.
Also, I had many great dogs to take care of for the holidays. I’ve always taken some pride in operating a “kennel” which doesn’t require much notice as long as I have the space. This Season I actually ran out of space, and when some faithful customers wanted dog boarding at the last minute on Christmas Eve, I absolutely could not take two more. As it turned out, some new potential customers made a mistake and made reservations with US when they meant to make reservations elsewhere, and didn’t show up… I knew I had let my friends down for nothing. It was too late to get the business back, and I was very disappointed; I’m resolved to double check that new clients at least know which TOWN they’re going to!
I get busy with the “real” work of caring for the pets and forget to go back out with the camera. I didn’t do so badly this time, though the camera has a long “delay” in shutter speed, if that’s what you can still call it when digital; it SUCKS for taking animal pictures, as the pet hears the click and/or sees the flash, and has moved by the time the photo registers. Here are my attempts anyway:
This is Timon, a large Akita who sports a beautiful champagne coloured coat and a pleasant attitude. Each time I told him to “sit”, he whirled around joyfully and plunked his butt on my feet, looking up at me. He, like many dogs, loved being stroked with my rubberized garden gloves, and walked, and brushed. He’s a new friend who is welcome to stay anytime:
Here are regular canine guests, Makalu and Shyloh. Makalu is always trusting, and Shiloh, who is usually composed and happy, is very camera shy:
And then we have Smudge, who is always pleasant too. We’ve watched him grow from a puppy to a fine grown-up:
Here is Ryder, who is another regular guest who has visited since he was a wee adorable pup. Hasn’t he become a handsome guy, too?
This is Ben, who we are just getting to know. He’s a loving and gentle young Golden Retriever from Edmonton, and his owner has gone into a remote area to “heli-ski” and enjoy a beautiful lodge which belongs to friends of ours. On the right is Jules, who is an Australian Staffordshire Terrier; it’s his first time here and he has seemed okay with everything… EXCEPT the camera:
Below is Tika, who has become a long-term resident (while her owner works), and is treated as well as Lady, our own house dog. She is no trouble and makes a person smile just to look at her fuzzy little face:
Here’s a portrait of Lady, who thinks she has done something wrong when asked to sit and stay by the Christmas tree:
That doesn’t even bring me up to date, really. Dozens of pets have come and gone while I haven’t had time to get out the camera. There are other dogs still boarding that I haven’t photographed or introduced you to.
We’re enjoying a new washer and dryer here, after years of toughing out the laundromat scene. It seems to be working out well for us, with sufficient water and a good-enough filter too. What a relief it is to have a laundry “team” here; I guess its time had come, once the high-efficiency front loading washer became affordable, with of course, the matching dryer. I don’t really miss the pedestals that much, and a Sears representative has not called me as promised, to find out why we were so disatisfied with the buying experience.
After most of the doggy guests have gone home, and after New Year’s, which will be quiet at our house, I’ll get back to some sewing, including the Raggedy dolls, and bookwork and other “winter” work. I enjoy winters and the “hibernation” which goes with them, though I can look forward to Spring when I buy more trees to sell and get back to gardening. One of these years we might work harder to plan a winter vacation as well.
Again, Happy New Year to you and yours, may it be enjoyed in good health and prosperity. Thank you for visiting my blog.
~ Ann
