Beli update

Unfortunatly I don't have any good news.  Beli was diagnosed with oral melanoma, it is inoperable.  He is in good shape and spirits at the moment, I don't know how long that will last.  I'm devastated with sadness and fear for him, so will probably not post about it again.  Please keep us both in your prayers.

Prayers please!

Well even writing this little bit is difficult at the moment so I will not go into details BUT anyone who is willing please pray for Beli AND I tomorrow.  We have an issue however I can't go into details now.  Beli will be going under anesthesia tomorrow for some procedures.  At 14 it is of course risky and I'm worried sick. I'm not getting much sleep or able to relax until this part is over at the very least.  So please pray for both of us, his safety and health and my ability to stay calm and strong in this difficult time.  Thank you all!

Yummies and goings ons...

We had a lovely walk this evening.  It was another beautiful day here, though warm, its been cool in the morning and evening.  Lots going on here as always:-))  I enjoy every time we have a relaxing evening walk in the light!  The dogs love it when I have a day off too.  Everyone but Beli came on the walk; Beli had snacks to find until the momma goat came after him:-))

Evy the golden child:-))

Suck up time!

Basking in the warmth

Which will last longer, the stick or the dogs?

I smell wabbit!

 Since I had the day off with no lessons, I cooked!  Well I cooked, washed dishes, went grocery shopping, washed clothes...  You get the idea:-))  Strawberries are in season and are really good for early in the season.  This was really yummy dessert tonight!

Strawberry Shortcake!

 Of course citrus has been in season.  Our neighbors gave us loads of lemons, tangerines and grapefruit.  What do you do with all the skin when you juice everything?  Well this is the first time I've made the candied skin before.  It is a lot of work, but the finished product is yummo!  Very sweet and citrusy, mmmmm.

Candied Grapefruit Peel

They passed:-)

Congrats Rudy and Leslie(mom)!! 

These two passed their Delta Pet Partners test on Sat.  They are approved for complex situations in any facility!  Rudy will primarily be used in a therapeutic counseling setting for children and possibly adults.  I think he will do a great job and they will touch a lot of lives!  Go Team Rudy:-))

Happy Birthday Boop!!!

Happy Birthday to the old man.  Beli is 14 this year, Woohoo:-))  I'm going to make him a pumpkin cookie "cake", if its food he'll enjoy it.  He is doing great!  Latest bloodwork showed nothing, looked like a 2yr olds!:-))  Eats like 5 horses, goes for walks with us, and even occasionally gets to help feed the sheep.  He pretty much does what he wants, when he wants!  He loves going to work with me again, he gets snacks all day there!  I love my little guy and am so happy that he is still here!  Here are a couple pics I snapped when on our walk a couple days ago.

Still has a big mouth!

Still nothing like a good roll in the pasture

relaxin with my peeps

Time to shake it off, its dinner time!


Heres to many more Birthdays with the Boop (aka Beli boop, the little guy and more recently  "Old goat")

Awww... babies

We've had babies coming all week, mostly goats but one set of lambs.  I took advantage of the day off and snapped some pics, Enjoy!!!

Curling up for a nap in the hay.

Who are you and what are you doing here?

 The epitomy of lazy

You've interuppted breakfast, do you mind? 

I gotta itch, must scratch it!

Patsy is 1!

What a fitting time to answer Taryns question on Patsy's Birthday!  Happy 1 year my Aussie girl!

4wks

 5 wks

 6wks

 4 months

Just shy of 1yrs

She is a pretty girl and you can sure tell its her still:-))  Well it is hard to compare dogs to me since they are all individuals.  I will preface anything and everything I say next under the blanket that this is a WORKING BRED AUSSIE.  I'm not taking anything away from other bloodlines but Patsy is working bred and I am mostly familiar with aussies from similar genetics.
First I love Patsy, she is different from the corgis not bad just different.  The Cardis are more pushy and demanding about attention, toys... well just about everything!  Patsy is a large lap dog and LOVES to be petted and given attention; she is very sweet:-))  The Cardi girls are just mean sometimes, I've not seen that from the aussies.  Patsy is quiet(hardly ever barks) thats just her other Aussies are very barky!  She plays well with others and didn't need the dog socialization that the Cardis do to be that way.  Movement sparks more interest (good and bad) than it does from the Cardis.  Her attitude is very workman-like most of the time.  Even on walks she does play with the dogs but not because she starts it, they always force the play on her.  I think the main difference to me is her quiet biddability, she really wants to please me.  The Cardis have a very stout personal set of goals that they are not easily persuaded about; I like that about them.  Its nice to have a dog that wants to do what you want too though!  One other thing, I've not seen an Aussie with the clowney sense of humour that Cardis have either, that I would definitly miss!

So I hope that is helpful to Taryn and anyone else who wants to know.  I really do enjoy and love Patsy she is just not the same as the Cardis.  I do think that the two breeds compliment each other well!

Happy New Year!

We are starting the new year out with being better about posting and taking pics again!  I hope I can stick with it.

First I started out last week making my Great Grandmothers Chicken and Dumplings!  Yummy:-))

 Sally started out the new year by finding more gophers; they are tearing up the back pasture terrible!

 The dogs are getting along great though we are missing Rosy, funny how one or two(Oliver) dogs being gone changes the dynamic of the whole group.  Dory does add a little different point of view but she is still very puppy, as you can see below:-))  She wants everyone to get along.

 Patsy is growing up!  She will be 1yr old on Friday and she sure acts like it.  Her work is coming along really well and all the dogs love playing with her.

 Sally, Rudy and Patsy playing... some things won't change:-))  Amazing the contortions they make when playing though!

 Mr Rudy.  He is going to attempt is TDI certification in a couple weeks.  I hope that he does well!

I hope everyone has a wonderful new exciting year planned!  We have lots of stuff in the works here; hopefully a lot will come to pass:-))  Today is the first taste of winter in FL this season, we are cold and in the 20's/30's here today and tomorrow, its a nice change from 80!