Pete and the Gang

Pete and I were looking for something to do together this afternoon.  Shop?  Go for a drive?  Have a nap?  We decided to take the group in the back field for a run.

The field was half in shadow, so I asked Pete to lead the group into the sun.

I don't know who he is calling, as I'm pretty sure the one he's looking for is right behind him...

Miley is a love-bug...she would like all the attention, all of the time.

Here is the one he was after...Paris, Pete's favourite girl.  I think she's his favourite because she is a Tira daughter, and Tira was his devoted friend. 

Miley trying to intercept...noooo pick ME!

Paris gets scooped up...Sushi as I mentioned in the previous post, is not a runner.  She prefers to hang out with us.  Now I'm wondering if she got bumped and would prefer the safety of our legs.

The flying Finn

Sun is starting to set...time to head back.

LuAnne's 15th Birthday

We had a great celebration for our beautiful "LuAnne"...aka MBISS Am/Can Ch Laureate Louisiana.  I have lots of pictures in an album on Facebook, sharing them there as so many of our friends gave me some good suggestions for the cake...it was sweet potato shortcake this year with greek yogurt instead of whipped cream.  Happy Birthday our sweet "Boo", hope you have many more!

Holiday catch-up

I didn't have an opportunity to post pictures over the holidays, so I'm finally sorting through some of the photos...this was a low light picture taken at my Dad's over Christmas. Dad and Gisela always have their home so beautifully decorated...it is very festive. We on the other hand are minimalists! Some pine cones on the dining table, an ornament tree (from Pier One) and some ornaments set out in bowls, and we're set. No Christmas trees for us. Too many years planting real spruce trees at our other home to ever want to cut one down.


While we where there I asked Pete to snap a photo of the painting of "Fannie". I painted this for Gisela and presented it to her Christmas 2006. Fannie had passed away that year, so it was an emotional moment. I used to get very creative over the holiday and many times gave paintings to family members. Now, not so much...gift cards this year (easy peasy).

For New Years we went up to Mont Ste-Marie and spent a great evening with Georges and Sylvie, and a great group of their friends and family as well as their two dogs, Mousse and Milou. Mousse is the little terrier mix in front. He's a character and scrappy like most terriers. Milou is still a pup, and full of beans. A real sweetie. We stayed over and went for a lovely walk on New Years day.

Mousse is wondering why we've stopped...he's already through the gate.

Sylvie and Georges have a wonderful property. 170 acres of woodland and meadows. It borders two rivers with 1200 foot frontage on the Kazabazua river. In the background, an abandoned farmhouse on top of the hill on a neighboring piece of land.

Here is the river, all frozen over. There isn't a house in sight; it is peaceful and so very beautiful.

For New Years Eve dinner Sylvie made Cipaille...a French tradition (pronounced sea pie). It is made with pastry and six different wild game meats. Being hunters they supplied the game...caribou, venison, moose (and three other meats). We had fun guessing what they were. We guessed things like racoon, possum, gopher! hahaha. Actually, she put chicken, pork and something else so it wasn't too gamey for us. It was delicious.

We had a lovely holiday, enjoyed the company of our family and friends. Hope everyone else did too.

Big Boots

November 1st and finally some sun! We were delighted to see Petra (Tresta Shelties) again and had a great dinner and sleepover. This morning we put on our boots and headed to the back fields.
Just starting out and they've already been in the ditch...

The gang
Stormy and Valerie

Mayer getting some love...

Stormy loves getting out for a run and gets very silly with us...leaping and grinning.

Stormy still being silly

The old girls stay close

Petra with Cocoa, Bridgit and Juno

Gabi my shadow, made it the entire way around.

Making Hay While The Sun Shines

We were lucky to get our neighbour, Ernie to come and hay the field just behind the dog yard. Yesterday he twirled the cuttings into rows. I don't know what the technical term is for that.

Morning dew
Then this afternoon he came back with his baler to roll up the hay. It is great to get this off the field. Unfortunately, the majority of our fields were too far gone and full of goldenrod and other weeds that animals won't eat. Another neighbour, Dan is helping us out by cutting it down. Next year we'll see if we can get the fields plowed and planted.
Pete doing some trimming.
We're finding all kinds of things left behind by the former owner. Tires, rolls of wire...you name it. Dan got his tractor stuck while cutting too close to the drainage ditch. That is when he noticed the wire. There is never any lack of work to do when you live in the country!
This morning we made another trip to the Carp Farmers Market. Mayer is doing really well. He loves everyone and so far hasn't shown any fear. Barbie is another story; she doesn't care for children, large dogs, small dogs and basically anyone that wants to touch her. It is very discouraging, but we'll keep working at it. My Mom showed up, and Barbie was happy to see her and her friends that she'd met before; so at least that was positive.
Gorgeous red peppers. We bought some veggies for dinner tonight.

I love sunflowers; I must remember to grow some next year.

Playdate with 'auntie' Em

Little miss "Emma" had a photo shoot this afternoon (see the other pictures on our hopefuls page). After getting fussed up and then fussed over for being such a good girl, I let her play with the puppies for the very first time. Up until now, they weren't robust enough to handle her.

Having fun!
I took the picture on the right today and on the left three months ago...pretty neat (deja vu all over again).

At nine plus weeks of age, they thought Emma was great fun! That is Maisie going around the corner after her, and you can probably guess by the smile who is coming towards me.Emma in full greyhound race mode...
Take down!
Maisie looking pleased with herself
Winding down

My Big Sister Turns 50!

My sister Jan with husband Charlie. Photo taken this January in Sydney when we visited them in Australia. Jan and Charlie were very good hosts and arranged and organized all the details, and put us up in their home for several weeks. I'm sure they are still recovering!

Jan and Charlie met at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Charlie's Mom, Margie McIver was riding for the Australian dressage team and Jan was a groom for a rider on the Canadian 3-day eventing team. Charlie hitched a ride to Canada on a cargo plane with the horses, and then about four months later they left for Australia...again on a cargo plane carrying horses.

They married and raised two great kids, Katie and Charles. They have a good life, full of family, friends, and animals; and lots of laughs.

Here is Jan at three years of age. I love our Mom in this picture!!! She was stylish with that hat and the horned rimmed glasses. That's me in her arms...my big birthday is right around the corner!

Gathering of the Aston-Miller clan up in Sudbury. Back row: Our Dad Phil, Nana Miller, our Mom Janet, Aunt Pauline, cousins Cathy and Melanie holding our first Sheltie Dusty, Papa Miller, Uncle Jim.

Bottom row: Cousin George, Kim, Jan, Dave and Jim

Photo circa 1971

Jan and daughter Katie when they came over three years ago to celebrate my Mom's birthday.

Jan doing what she loves best...riding. This is her new love, Acorn doing a half pass.

Love you Jan...Happy Birthday!!!

Kim and Pete