short update

Just a quick note for those who check my blog to let you know that I have lost my computer. The hard drive crashed, it was affected by a near by zap of lightening and I am pretty sure I have lost everything on my hard drive. It is at a second  computer techs' home to see if he can recover something off of it and see if he can rebuild a computer for me. Until then I now have use of Cyndy's old lap top to at least get access to my emails for the time being. Keep your fingers crossed..... in the mean time I am sort of waiting for spring to arrive. Pups are now 6 weeks old, growing like bad weeds and I have a new additon to the family. A gorgeous red sable boy called Rush...... can't wait to show him off.

They are here!

This is Aberdale Admiration

 

They are here!

The "Red"  Best Bred By In Show Multi BPIG. Ch. Aberdale Infatuation ex Aberdale's Rainfall Warning "Bubbles" litter has arrived safe and sound. All 2 of them. After a fairly quick prelabour and delivery of the first puppy a sable male she took her time, 4 hours to be exact before she spit out the second, my much wanted sable girl!!
Introducing...

Aberdale Auspicious 
"Felicity"
(Auspicious means showing or suggesting that future success is likely).
The sable girl....

 

My mini's and my pony

Well, spring must be just around the corner as my horses are starting to shed their hair. They were out basking in the warmer weather today when I was taking pictures of my geese so I snapped a couple of them too.

 

This guy above is my old pony gelding Elmo (aka Elmer) that I bought just to save from his not so great living conditions last fall.  He was not only thin and in rough shape but his feet were a mess and could hardly walk and he could not even run across my 50 ft field without having breathing problems. He fell in love with old Rosie and they are often side by side and will defend her from my young stallion. I don't know how old he is but based on his gray on his face and his teeth I suspect he is 20+.  Rosie (AMHA/AMHR registered as Arc Rosie) is 21 this year. She is right on 34" tall and came from Angie Sauer of Hoofbeat Acres in the USA and has given me 2 really nice filly foals, unfortunately losing her last foal a grey colt, after not being able to get him out of the sack 3 years ago. We shall wait to see if she conceived for this fall as she only showed signs of heat once last year (I thought she was bred for last spring but apparently my young stallion was too young) and it was late in the fall.

This is HotShot. Aberdale's Lil HotShot. He was foaled here and knew from the moment he came out that he was something!  He is coming up on 4 yrs of age and now quite the little stallion. He just loves attention and will ignore the other two just to come over and have a pat from me and its not unusual for him to run across the field when I get home from work to greet me . He is also registered  AMHR and can be registered AMHA once he is old enough as he is just a small boy, all 32" of him. He is such a gorgeous deep red bay in the summer with not a single white hair on his body.

 

 

 

 

My tufted roman geese

I have separated my geese and have my pair together. They have really bonded and its nice to watch them courting and the male watching out for his mate. They are getting near to their spring courtship and hopefully this year now that I actually have a proper pair instead of two unknown males I will maybe have some goslings this spring. I have been keeping them bedded down with straw in the barn and the goose has started to make herself comfortable on it. Soon maybe she will start rearranging it to make a nest!! I have been letting them out in the horse field where in the early spring it floods and there is a small river running through it. They love it. Here's a couple of pictures I took today of them enjoying themselves.

The swans have arrived..

So on my way home from work Friday I happened to notice movement out of the corner of my eye when I was on the road just around the corner from home and saw two big white birds flying around. I pulled over and dug out my binoculars (I keep them handy in my van as there is always some sort of interesting wildlife to stop and look at in my area) and realized that it was a pair of tundra swans. Then when I looked further I found a large flock of about 1,000 birds in the field.....Yeah...the  tundra swans have returned on their spring trip north. They will  stop over for a few weeks before they head up to the arctic to raise their young. Usually mid March they return to the Long Point area by the thousands and rest there until the weather really breaks then they head on their long trek north for the summer.Being that I am a 10 minute drive west of Long Point I am right in the path of many migrating birds and get to see wonderful spectacles all year particularly during spring and fall migration. Its quite the thing to see a field just white with these birds. Today I can hear them at home as they gather in the field to the east of me.

This is just the beginning. Over the next 3 - 4 weeks the fields around here will be full of these graceful birds.A sure sign of spring. This morning I also heard a red wing blackbird singing his spring call and a small song bird in my blue spruce singing with barely a whisper. Anyone at any distance would not have heard him.

Me..

Being that I am stuck in this place all winter with no entertainment I decided I was tired of winter back in January and decided to enroll myself in tanning sessions....... I never knew I could enjoy laying and relaxing for 20 minutes in a tight space.... wow. Do I love tanning? You bet. Every summer since I have been down here where I am now I lay out in the sun and bake for hours...ahhh one of my most favorite past times.. ya i know its not good for you but hey, it does the world of good for my self esteem so why not. I love the look of a tan and it makes me feel good about myself so what the heck. I have found it has really helped me with the mid winter blues this year. Since dad passed away I have found it very difficult especially around Christmas and I have found myself getting very down around that time. I guess the vitamin D from tanning has really helped alot. Not to mention I am starting to get nice and dark. So by the time summer comes I will already be well on my way to a great tan!! 

 So being that I can't afford to fly south for a vacation these are my mini vacations to myself... even though its hard to imagine the sound of waves on a beach and its just a bit difficult to take a pina collada in with me while I tan. So now I have to keep my eye open for that perfect bikini for the summer. Then I will have to try and find the time to actually wear it now that I am working full time. The best part is there is a fabulous beach not far from me on Long Point!! Wheww wheww thats why they call it Ontario's South Coast! (Life outside the box!!)

It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.  ~Lucille Ball

One of the days I was wandering around the net just killing another day I came across a blog by a lady by the name of Kandee. Well she is a very inspirational person let me tell you. Have a peek

http://kandeethemakeupartist.blogspot.com/2010/07/dont-dream-little-dream.html

I took some new pictures of Red the other day. I did not get a chance to get them uploaded. Red has matured into such a beautiful boy, both in personality and looks. I think he was named appropriately. Aberdale Infatuation. Infatuation: A foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion or attraction.

Here is my passion...... my Red Man....

Squeek's first indoor match...

Well I took Squeek to her first indoor ever show on the weekend. It was only a fun match but I wanted her to experience what it was like on mats and inside rings and with noise going on. For her very first time ever being in an indoor show situation (she was only ever at one show which was outdoors as a barely 6 month old puppy) she did mighty fine. She not only won BOB (Best Of Breed) but she went on to Herding Group 1st and was considered in Best In Match. I was really really pleased at how well she did for me. She showed like a pro, moved like she had been doing it all her life and I was so proud of her. Shades of great gramma Katie came through. I think I will have lots of fun showing her when she does get out. I so love this little gal.....Pictures and a video from the match are on Rick's camera so when he lets me borrow the card I will upload them.

Can we say stay warm?

Katie's most favorite spot in the whole world  on a cold day. Right as close as she can get to the woodstove. Got to hand it to her, its my favorite spot too when I can't get warm and its not unusual for me to throw a few cushions on the floor and take a nap in front of the stove with Russ smack up against me and a few curled up behind my legs. Ah, my TV set, the best investment I have ever made was buying this wood stove. Its made out of cast iron and soap stone and it really holds the heat. I have had MORE enjoyment out of this stove then any TV set could supply. (not to mention that I have not had an actual TV set turned on in this house in over 2 years) Nothing more relaxing in both summer and winter then having a nice fire going sitting with a cup of coffee and watching it 'til you fall asleep in the chair.....zzz

As Rick calls it, my "pretty" stove.....but it does the job!

I'm becoming a Big Sister

Well early this winter I decided to do something that I have wanted to do since I was 21. Become a Big Sister. The time was never right to be able to dedicate 1 or 2 years (or more) to being a Big Sister. There was always something tying up my time. So now that my life is now "mine" to do with what I please, and what I want to do now that I no longer have personal obligations I decided now was the time. So I lifted my chin high and I ventured into the office and put in my application. After a long enrollment process I have to this point been accepted and I now wait for my home visit and then we decide on who might be the best  Little Sister match for me. I am getting so unbelievably excited. I was never able to have kids (as much as we tried) and have always enjoyed showing "kids" how to do things so now is my opportunity to give back something of myself that I value that I know will be appreciated and carried down to further generations. I will now have a "Little" to do things with, someone who has not had the privilege to be able to experience some of the things that I can offer. (what young girl would give their right arm to be able to spend time with little horse, and shelties and chickens and hang out on a hobby farm and go to the occasional dog show or go for a walk on the beach in the summer, or maybe go camping, or fishing....so many things I would love to do with a Little Sister) So if you see me out and about with a "Little Person" showing them the ropes then you know I have achieved a life long goal!! To be a BIG SISTER!!!

Big Brothers and Big Sisters

Katie

Katie at 11 1/2 yrs of age enjoying the last rays of sun coming in the window on this cold day. My how time flies. I can see age starting to creep in. Graying eyebrows and muzzle....

Squeek....

Snapped a few quick pics of Squeek while she was helping me bring in a couple of loads of wood. Too cold to take more then a couple and my fingers froze off while I took them.  She promptly decided that minus 16 on indoor feet was much too cold.

Memories....Pictures from Summer 2009

A young female ruby throat hummer coming into the feeder. I get hummers all summer right through until October when they head south. They are brave little souls and will come in to feed when I am standing right next to the feeder.

I LOVE roses and this is one of my favorite rose bushes. It has the sweetest "damask rose" perfume and such lovely rose buds. I could have roses all through my garden and I can see me each year planting a few more rose bushes.

My front garden..still a very young garden and just starting to be developed......Ah spring.......I can't wait.

Baby birds still in the nest

 

Baby barn swallows just leaving the nest, still with their baby fluff attached in spots

This hummer was coming into the feeder and the sun was right behind it. These pictures were taken from my office window through a screen. I just loved the way the sun was outlining the bird and feeder like a halo.

Happy Birthday my Russ... today my boy turns 13 years of age!!

Happy 13th Birthday to my Russ...

The light of my life!!