It's Been a Long Long Time

Wow, I had great intentions of keeping up this blog...now I see it's been since March that I wrote. Sheesh!!  Oh well.....

Well, our dear, sweet Reily did not make it thru advanced training. She was released by CCI and now is living with her new family in Albuquerque. We had to find a way to get her from Oceanside to ABQ and after much gnashing of teeth and tears and worrying Ojai's mom, Judy, came to the rescue along with a rock band! Judy was driving out to CA to spend a month or so at the beach (that's a whole nother story) and took a big detour to Oceanside, picked up Reily and took her to the beach house for a day or so and then delivered her to the guys in the band in Hollywood. Ms R then rode back to ABQ with Ives the Band and was handed over to her new mom and dad. What a long trip for that sweet girl. We were so disappointed that she didn't get to stay in AT, but oh she has a wonderful home now and people who love her dearly. She even has a swimming pool and a cat to play in/with. Doesn't every Labrador need a pool? She also has a cat!!  While we had her, there were two occasions when she "lived' with a cat and all went well. She does not have a big prey drive. So we were pretty sure this would work out. Not how sure Lily Boots is about her but at the last report, they were getting along.  We have not seen her since she moved back to NM...that will come in time. Right now she needs to know that she is with her forever family and seeing us might just upset that new balance. But we know she is being taken good care of and is living "The Life of Reily".....

So now we wait for our next puppy...late July or in August, most likely. I've asked for a Golden Retriever but not sure we'll get one. We'll take whatever the "dog gods" send us. Judy and I would again love to have litter-mates. And Levi will be glad to have a partner again.

It's been a dry warm spring around here. Gene is very busy with his greenhouse and corn/potatoes/squash gardens plus asparagus and onions and tomatoes. He's expanding the drip irrigation and hopefully we'll have a great harvest. One of his friends is letting him come over and get water from their acequia so that's really helpful. And another friend/neighbor has given us tomato/strawberry/onion starts and lots of advice (he's a horticulturist) ...my garden right now is planted with strawberries/rhubarb/tomatoes. have a bunch of onions to plant and am growing basil and parsley starts in the back porch. Hoping to be able to keep the critters out of my space this year. The cactus garden is coming along nicely.....several of them in bloom right now...so gorgeous..if the wind ever dies down I might get some pictures. !!

Off to Minnesota for a month's vacation on June 12th. Gene will stay home and take care of Levi and the "ranch". I'm driving up and am looking forward to seeing old friends and relatives (old as in "long-time", but also old as in years. we are not getting younger). Will spend about 10 days "up north" at the lake and time in the Cities with my friends there. I have never had this much time off at once so am going to enjoy!!