Our Puppy, Buster

He came to our home three weeks ago. Our ‘male with a tail Corgi’ we named Buster. I am in full puppy mode now! which is to say very little around here has been done in these three weeks!

This messy, happy puppy time goes quickly, and my dirty house is quite patient. It will happily wait AND accumulate more dirt until I get to it. Until then, Buster needs attention and training.

My dear friend gave me some great advice she always gives to families with new babies (in my case baby puppy). ‘When puppy naps, you nap!’ This wisdom should be included in puppy training books.

HoneyPie, our two-year-old Corgi is a big help with him also. She keeps him in line. If he gets too wound up with jumping around and nipping, she is quick to tell him to settle down.

They have a grand time chasing each other. Buster wears himself out trying to keep up.

We have always liked two dogs here in the farm. Two dogs are a pack, and they work together keeping wildlife at a distance. I did not want two puppies at the same time to train, so we waited two years after getting HoneyPie to get Buster.

We have always had dogs. Mostly they have been what I call 100% Pure Pound dogs. They have been good dogs. However, we are now at an age where we need to know just how big the pups we get will grow, and their basic temperament and requirements. It is always a guess with pups from the pound.

Our corgis are energetic and active. We know what to expect from them and how we must keep them busy and well exercised. HoneyPie helps me put the chickens away at night, and helps bring in the horses in the evening as well. She will be a good help teaching Buster also.

Nap time is nearly over for right now—time to take puppy outside!

HoneyPie came with us to pick up Buster.
Sleeping on car ride home
Training a new pup is hard work—nap time for both!
Our little grandchildren are a huge help in socializing Buster (under our watchful eyes).
Buster is perfect size for baby Charlotte.
It is hard work being a puppy!
10 week old Buster
He is learning well. We must be very careful around the horses until they get to know him.
An attentive puppy.

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Deliberate

I know God has made all things well.

Every property out here has a pond. They are not big ponds, but waterfowl enjoy them. We have Canada geese on all of them for they are deliberate in their return to previous nesting places.

It is exciting hearing the geese every spring making their way ‘back home’. Our neighbors pond is larger than our farm pond, so he sees far more geese than we.

This family, however, has been all over both properties. I believe they know and are very deliberate in what they are doing. They make me laugh the way this little family deliberately runs all over the properties! This early morning they were up by the barn before they made their way to the pond!

Garden Club of Virginia Historic Garden Week

Aprils in Virginia are highly anticipated for those of us that enjoy luscious gardens and beautiful homes. All across Virginia at several different times, private homes and gardens are opened for tours.

My daughter and I have gone every year for the past seven years. Though we would love to visit all the tours across the state, we are not able. We go to the gardens in our area of Frederick/Clarke County.

Since 1929, The Garden Club of Virginia organized Historic Garden Week to benefit the restoration of Historic Virginia Gardens. Every April three to four private homes and gardens are opened for tours all across Virginia. It is a grand opportunity to see private homes one may not otherwise ever get to see.

This year three gorgeous, historic homes and gardens were open in Clarke County: The Tuleyries; Carter Hall; and Apple Hill. These tours were hosted by The Winchester-Clarke Garden Club and The Little Garden Club of Winchester. These cheerful, friendly ladies give brief tours of the main floors of each home. The gardens are open for our own time to enjoy.

Historic Garden Week is our annual mother/daughter Spring outing. Rain or shine, chilly or hot, we are always happy to see the homes, gardens and visit with other guests as well. This year my twinster was ‘allowed’ to join us! My daughter says this is a mother/daughter thing–only! Though she will allow her aunts to join us!

Check out their website: http://www.vagardenweek.org

Perhaps these photographs will convince you to go!

The Tuleyries
Beautiful barn–The Tuleyries.
The guard of the flowers!
Lovely vegetable gardens.–The Tuleyries.
Isn’t this rooster great?
Inside the gatehouse at The Tuleyries.
A huge, old Osage orange tree!The Tuleyries.
View from boxwood gardens.Tuleyries.
Carter Hall
A huge, stunning Willow Oak—Carter Hall.
Front door at Carter Hall.
Front lawn at Carter Hall.
Back porch-Carter Hall.
Boxwood gardens—Carter Hall.
Apple Hill
It was raining too much to get garden photos.
Beautiful Double-blooming Carnations purchased at Garden Club Sale!

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Persist

What would you persist in to your own detriment? Regardless of the cost in regards to your faith, family or freedom?

Persist is a hard action word that involves self-sacrifice, work, diligence, pain and perhaps sorrow.

In the words of Winston Churchill, Englands Prime Minister during World War II:

This, dear reader, is the epitome of the word persist.