I'm Back!

I have not blogged in a few months. I have had plenty to talk about but I had decided to keep to myself. All I will say is that I have always loved and connected with animals while having a lack of trust for humans. This fall has punctuated that for me...those of you reading this that I am speaking of know who you are. BUT, I am back and this is my anthem....more fun blogging stuff later!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlet6TMM4PQ&feature=player_embedded

Harvesting

As summer comes to an end we begin preparing to store our harvest for winter.

The hurricane left us lots of firewood...

Onions braided....

this sunflower actually survived the mice, hiding it in with the asparagus worked!

potatoes drying...



the melons didn't get big but...

they were delicious!

Always lots of little helpers

Happy Harvesting

Today I will remember

Today I am remembering lots of souls that lost their lives that day. I am especially remembering my amazing partner, Barkley.

We started our lives together in an unexpected way. No one wanted him, he languished in a tiny animals shelter for months. His time had run out, he was sent to be euthanized. He was already there, he should have been dead when I arrived. But fate had different plans for us. I took him home and our journey began.

Together we joined the newly forming FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams. Only California had these teams, this training and these dogs. It didn't deter us. We were inseparable, we spent just about every moment of every day together...along with my son Zach. Zach was a key member of this team. Zach was an expert "victim".

We were always on the lookout  for anything that could be used as a "rubble pile" to train. Back then they didn't exist outside California. We would use anything we could find, giant log jam piles, dilapidated houses, old barns, huge glacial deposits in the forest, quarry piles, everything was looked at with its potential to be a rubble pile. Zach would go hide, Barkley would search for him. We eventually had a group of others to train with us, but Zach was always the best "victim". His timing was perfect and enthusiasm for play (the dogs reward) unmatched.

The 3 of us traveled to California to train a few times and also to test. It was a big event to travel to the Type I test. The most advanced and notoriously difficult. At that time, the pass rate was only 25% (it is much better now with more experienced folks training...and an easier test). On our first attempt we passed. He became only the second dog outside California to EVER pass the Type I test and the FIRST dog East of the Mississippi to do it. At that time he was one of less then 25 dogs that were certified Type I. I am very proud of him for that and don't want it to be forgotten.

 It was a long day, Barkley worked amazingly hard. He was not the type of dog that would be chosen by most people today. He may not have passed the testing to see if he was a worthy candidate. But he had an amazing heart, amazing work ethic, he was very smart and he would do anything for me. We were an amazing team. He got a perfect score that day. I have never had another partner like Barkley. I still cry today of his loss and miss him terribly.

We were there at the World Trade Center. The photo in this post is Barkley on his tenth birthday. He celebrated by spending our entire 12 hour shift working on the rubble. An amazing honor. He helped, along with the other k9 hero's from MATF-1 locate the remains of 7 people, 4 of them came on that day.

18 months after we returned home Barkley came to me one evening after I got into bed. This was unusual because he always chose to sleep, upside down, at the front door. He put his paws on the bed and laid his head on my chest. As I rubbed him and wondered why he was there I felt it.....lumps on his neck. As it turned out he had massive cancer. At least 3 different types and his body was riddled with it. He hated the chemo treatment. So, one month later he disappeared one night. The next morning he came by while I was in with the horses. He stopped by the fence and sat. I recall, with his head drooped low, that he looked like Snoopy on top of his dog house. Then he walked away. I didn't realize then that he was saying goodbye. He walked off into the woods, crawled under a cottage by the lake and quietly passed away.

So, on this day I will remember all the hero's from September 11th...but especially my hero Barkley.



Tiny barrel racers

Scout's friends joined us for barrel racing this weekend. The little lead liners were awesome, just 2 and 4 years old! So much more fun with friends.

posing with Daddy

and her buddy

the littlest buckaroo

See ya next time

Sesame Place

A great summer vacation is Sesame Place. If you go, visit during the week to avoid the largest crowds. Our first day was a Thursday and overcast, virtually no lines. Plan for 2 days, it costs $56 per person (over the age of 1) but you get a second day free. We found an inexpensive hotel ($45/night) with breakfast and went back the next day. We left the Cape at 3 am, 5 hour drive, arrive in the parking lot by 9:30. Play all day (open til 10pm). Come back the next day, we left at 2:30, after the parade, and you can get home at a reasonable hour. Pay the extra $3.00 and park in the preferred lot next to the picnic tables. You are just as close as the VIP parking to the front gate and you can come out at lunch time to eat, close to your car. You are allowed a small cooler for snacks but can't bring a big one in for picnicking inside. Buy your tickets on-line to speed up getting inside the park. Be at the gate about 9:45 for the 10 am opening.

There are dry rides. Kids under 36" can ride on all but the roller coaster, either alone or with an adult on others.

Visit Elmo and friends inside the tent in the dry ride area. Other characters appear around the park but the lines are longer and out in the sun.

There are many different play areas scattered all over the park. The first day we tried to get to all of them so Scout would know what was there. The second day we let Scout tell us where she wanted to go.

This little slide area was here favorite spot.

There are 3 different shows, repeated many times throughout the day and evening. We did get in line 30 minutes early to get front row seats.

The water park is great...finally a place that the tiny ones can go on everything (well just 2 slides for the bigger kids). Infants were even riding on some. We wore our bathing suits all day both days. There is one bathroom, near the Counts Castle, that has a changing area.

The parade is at 2 and again at 9. The dots along main street mark the parade route. Put your towel down next to the dots for a front row seat. We sat near the entrance and only needed to get there 15 minutes early. It was a great spot, the parade stopped there and performed.

Bring the stroller. We brought our bike trailer, with its stroller wheel. It held all our towels, snacks and extra clothes with plenty of room for a nap!