AKC family pups groomed for all lifestyles, ready for any adventure-all to the glory of God!
As each puppy finds its new home, and adjusts to its new routine, there are things that can make training and learning much easier for the family and the puppy. I thought I might share some of the tips that I have picked up either by reading, from friends, or the hard way – experience. 🙂
A fresh blanket of snow covers the property, making all things bright. Dad ponders how many hours it will take to plow as he gazes out the window, sipping his cup of coffee.
I got a good look at a set of hands today – fine specimens too. Evidently, by their sinewy appearance, they belonged to a young active man. The fingers were long and lively; at one moment fluffing up his hair, or exercising their fine motor skills by picking up a pencil or grooming their nails, keeping them nice and clean, but rather blunt.
On September 17th, a Tuesday, Dad, our Uncle, a Cousin, Anne, Matthew, Jean, and I, started the long, and daunting climb up the high mountain in California: Mount Lassen!
The rich black loam of the garden had been tilled into one-hundred foot rows, and three were seeded with the red, brown, and gold eyes of Yukon Gold, Russet, and Red Norland potatoes – Dad’s favorite crop.
The leaves are starting to fall, and the Pears and Apples are finally ripe: it’s time to start BAKING!
The leaves change and and people are out raking lawns and filling garbage bags with the trees’ once beautiful foliage. It is getting colder and the heat is on. However, not everyone uses central heat – especially people like us who live in rural areas. Instead, we burn wood. Continue reading “Keeping Warm in Winter”
My alarm went off, and I forced myself out of bed at the early hour of 5:50 – the IEGRC dog show was today! Quickly, I slipped into my plum colored “show” dress. It is dressy enough for the occasion, set off the dog, but its not so tight or short that I am uncomfortable (like the last time…). My sisters slowly got up too, and reluctantly started to dress, as I began to put up my hair. As soon as I had tamed it into a respectable pile, Mom came in (still half asleep) with her arsenal. Wielding hair spray, a handful of pins, clips, and makeup she put me in style. Yes, she enjoys it when we girls attend events! 🙂
We had packed everything the day before: our snacks, rhubarb muffins, water, and Midas’ new show leash, and dog supplies. So Jean fried some eggs and we sat down for a quick breakfast. Excitement was high! We were attending a large Golden Retriever dog show an hour an a half away, doing a little birthday shopping, and we had Burger King coupons in the car: a sister’s day out!
It was with great trepidation I pulled off the “gopher guards” installed last Fall to see if there was any damage. This was a two person job, done with caution so as not to scratch the young tree’s bark. With great rejoicing and thanks to God, not one tree was harmed – by either us or the evil voles! Father found a clever storage solution for the black drainage pipes that had been cut to match the height of each trunk – the handy dandy post we’d installed next to each tree. At this time we also did some weeding, and reshaping of the bowls around the base of each tree. Currently, we are still hand watering. Someday there may be a watering system… ~cue dreamy music~
This year marks 7 years at this property – it’s the longest we’ve been anywhere! We moved here looking for property. Land! We wanted a place to train our children where they could raise animals, grow a garden, plant trees, and build a home. After finding the idyllic spot at a fraction of California prices, we were thrilled to find 43 acres with ponds, trees, fields and barns. Immediately we began our “homesteading”. The children acquired goats, the parents cows, we planted trees, tightened fences, tilled the garden, and broke ground on the house we have now lived in for 5 years.
Rosehaven Homestead 