Molly’s ‘Prentiss is growing up

Well here I am again … slacking off on my writing. Tha mi dulich a h-uile duine! ~  Sorry folks!

Now down to the task …
It’s a beautiful day out here in La Ronge  quite a bit warmer than New Years day which hit balmy -39ºC {-35ºF ) at one point but leveled off to -33ºC. A tough day for the dogs but we have worked out a way to make it more comfortable for them.
Speaking of the dogs, ‘Prentiss is now 3 mos. & 29 days old. Growing like a weed & is a holy terror & has taken over most of the house. Well she thinks has anyway but Molly hasn’t been convinced yet!  While she is forever annoying the other 2 & always wanting to play!  Quite entertaining to see her get those other ‘couch potatoes’ up & playing again ….

‘Prentiss has proved many times over that she will be a great help to me down the down when Molly retires. No sign of that happening any time soon so we’ve got lots of time to train her. She’s very quick at understanding what I want her to do & is very curious when Molly does something for me. For the most part we have been doing basic obedience training with her & introducing her to the other commands through play.  If has a problem anywhere I would say it’s her enthusasism for visitors. Jumping up on them. Not just annoying & definitely a bad behavior … not a habit that we allow with our dogs! As usual ‘Prentiss is improving here too.

She is a very inquisitive little lady & most definitely a treasure !

Not much get's by our girl 'Prentiss ....

Sàinte mhor a h-uile duine                                                                                                            Best to you all!

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“Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamp-post how it feels about dogs.”

Molly’s new apprentice

Thought you might enjoy a few pictures of Molly’s new apprentice. She’s a Miniature Fox Terrier who be probably be about 13lbs when full grown … just a little bigger than Molly.

‘Prentiss @ 6weeks WEE GIRL-4.jpg

The plan is to train her to be my next workin’ gal.  Molly & I are going to train her to perform some tasks to help me in my daily routines. As you can see I’m not looking for a sled-dog to pull me along, open doors & such. Molly (& one day ‘Prentiss) helps me with jackets shirts, etc., brings my chair back to me when it rolls out of reach, gets my wife when I need some help & am unable to reach her any other way, picks anything that I accidently drop or I point out to her. Or any other tasks I might need then  … … just like Molly presently does now. Molly plans to retire, lay back & get a tan & sip Mint Juleps & read.

“Are you talking to me! … Are you talking to me!”

Molly’s_Prentiss.jpg

The new pup’s Offical name is going to be ” Betchel’s Molly’s ‘Prentiss”

Thought you might enjoy a few pictures of Molly’s new apprentice. She’s a Miniature Fox Terrier who be probably be about 13lbs when full grown … just a little bigger than Molly.

'Prentiss @ 6weeks

The plan is to train her to be my next workin’ gal.  Molly & I are going to train her, along with the help of a Professional Dog Trainer to perform some tasks to help me in my daily routines. As you can see I’m not looking for a sled-dog to pull me along, open doors & such. Molly (& one day ‘Prentiss) helps me with jackets shirts, etc., brings my chair back to me when it rolls out of reach, gets my wife when I need some help & am unable to reach her any other way, picks anything that I accidently drop or I point out to her. Or any other tasks I might need then  … … just like Molly presently does now. Molly plans to retire, lay back & get a tan & sip Mint Juleps & read.

"Are you talking to me! ... Are you talking to me!"

The new pup’s Offical name is going to be ” Betchel’s Molly’s ‘Prentiss” .  Keep watching for updates.

Slàinte mhòr a h-uile duine

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“Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamp-post how it feels about dogs.”

… summer’s over already??

Wow! It’s been a busy, busy, busy summer!

We’ve been busy getting the yard the way we like it. Pruning, fixing a few of the logs, as well as other problems caused by lack of maintenance. Most of the debris & dead branches, shrubs & stuff were cleaned up. Have build some sort ramp or other access to the lower level of the yard so that it can be finished. Too late now … maybe next year.

Wow! It’s been a busy, busy, busy summer!

We’ve been busy getting the yard the way we like it. Pruning, fixing a few of the logs, as well as other problems caused by lack of maintenance. Most of the debris & dead branches, shrubs & stuff were cleaned up. Have build some sort ramp or other access to the lower level of the yard so that it can be finished. Too late now … maybe next year.

The mess in the backyard ... little or no maintenance in the past while

We also wandered over to Alberta & then on to Prince George to visit nephews. From there we went down & wandered around Barkerville – “Gold Rush Town”. An amazing wheelchair friendly place as well very interesting to actually see a real gold rush town.

... going through the street of Barkerville's Chinatown

After that we travelled down to Williams Lake to put our feet up & relax at a friend’s log cabin in the BC interior. When we pried ourselves away from that wonderful place on the lake we then travelled over to the Yellowhead Rd & up the Rockies to Jasper over the Columbia Icefields & then onto Rock Mountain House and on to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, AB. Then back home to northern Saskatchewan. Not much time to write but I did take lots of photos … almost 5000! Fortunately for the rest of the world I’m still sorting them. So no long & boring slide shows when you visit here …

a view of Lake Abraham as we travelled thru the Columbia Icefield Area

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, AB has got to be the most awesome place on earth!! One way you can the Rockies & looking east you can see forever … well to PEI at least. LOL

A view from the top of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, AB

I  just started the Advanced Gaelic course from the Atlantic Gaelic Academy so don’t be surprised to come across some different words in future postings.  I’ll try & remember to put the translation there … maybe??

Suas leis a’ Ghàidhlig!!

Sàinte mhor a h-uile duine

Best to you all!

—

“Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamp-post how it feels about dogs.”

Is it really the 1st day of spring

So it was the first day of spring & it was showing it’s beautiful head!

And even though I thought I’d never see anything as beautiful as an icicle … icicles are starting to appear. They may be small but they are a sight to behold after such a cold winter. It gets much too cold up here for them … lots of others too!

Because of the setting sun the icicles are too bright white to photograph clearly but it is an icicle. I counted 3 on the whole roof! WoW!! Spring just might be here …

‘S e an t-earrach a th’ ann!                                                                                          It’s spring!

nobody here but us dogs …

It’s Friday evening … nobody here but us dogs … the cute young fur-kids & this ugly old dog {me}. While Pam is heading off for a weekend writer’s brainstorming weekend a few hours away in the south. Here’s a picture of the writer putting on her creative ‘face’ … bet some interesting story developments will happen for her & others. Have fun folks!

 

So Molly, Chesney & I have decided to eat fatty snack foods, play a lot of fetch & play really loud Gàidhlig radio, music & storytelling… glè mhath!

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Bu mhath an sgàthan sùil caraid.

[A friend's eye is a good looking-glass.]

Today in LA …

Here’s a photo of what it’s like here in LA … well near it anyway.

 

The actual shot is of the road about 90 kms from La Ronge. As you can see  the road is quite clear but if this web camera shows the road is snow covered we stay put even if the weather is fine here. And the report for Prince Albert is sunny & clear. Seems that this is where the worst of the weather hits … & planned trips south for veterinary visit, groceries, bottled beer (only canned available in LA),  etc. is postponed.  

Have to keep an eye on the camera this weekend as Pam will be away at a writer’s weekend in the south & we’re supposed to get a “weather event”.  And there’ll just be m’self & the fur-kids at home. Molly sez she wants to party … eat lots of fatty snacks & play fetch! :-)

Oh well …  at least it’s going to be a warm day!  Only -9º 

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Bu mhath an sgàthan sùil caraid.

[A friend's eye is a good looking-glass.]

LA shopping

Saturday is our day for wandering around this great town. Whether it’s -27ºC or whether it’s a hot day like -12°C we’re “oo n’ aboot”. And today was no exception … well except that we’re trying to be more ‘health’ conscious when buying our groceries. Not as easy as it might sound. First thing we do is check label for the “Expiration Date” & more importantly the “Nutrition Data” so you can imagine what we thought when we saw this marvellous can of ‘ ‘Puritan’ nurtrition & goodness. hmmmm wouldn’t you like to sink your teeth into beans & wieners? 

And no Saturday would be complete without going to Robertson’s Trading Post. This is where we are getting our fine meats & fishes. Bison; wild boar; sometimes even Muskox & always in-house sausages made with blueberries, cranberries, wild rice or even mixes of bison & wild boar or on a good day muskox. mmmm! One of the butchers is also very fine artist that I have been fortunate enough to become friends with. The Trading Post also has art for sale, locally carved antlers & prints by another friend who has the nicest watercolour brush work I have ever seen. And a wonderful collection of locally hand made moccasins; mitts & gloves.  

Here’s a few pictures form there:

Robertson’s sign out front was created & made by a friend who does some very beautiful watercolour & pastel paintings.  Roger Jerome http://metis.tripod.com/rjerome.html

The afternoon is usually spent putting up our feet & enjoying the day! aaaahhh! ’s marvellous!

Slàinte mhor a h-uile duine
Best to you all!

Noisy Neighbours …

Just had to post this photo of my neighbours … 

… in spite of the -27ºC  they’re still singing.

What up with that?

Slàinte mhor a h-uile duine
Best to you all!

Chores, eh?

It was evening, the yesterdays ‘chores’ ‘were over, Gàidhlig class was over & I was free to lay back & do nothing. So I did! Watched the boob-tube all night … Thursday evening is Survivor night in our house & while I normally don’t enjoy these types of shows I enjoy making fun of the participants nitt-picking; bickering & making boastful plans about how they can lead the others to their doom. Best part of course is when they’re the ones who get the ‘boot to the arse’!!! But my favourite shows are generally the Reno/DIY more especially the Cooking shows. Last night it was a Reno show …. hmm? I’m thinking that a wall needs moving.

And today I worked on carving fish fins for my present project. A Paiute Cutthroat Trout indigenous to the one area of north eastern California. Since then I have been working on a poster for the local Arts Council’s March exhibition. 

 It’s Friday evening, and I believe it’s time to head down the basement, have a nice bottle of Samuel Smith’s fine brew & then knock a few balls around.

Slàinte mhor a h-uile duine Best to you all!

The busy gypsies …

We both have been incredibly busy since moving here. Pam with her work & taking care of an old gimp on her after hours & the old gimp himself, with trying to get the wheelchair access setup to basement (shop & pool table) as well as continuing his studies for his Gaelic Course through the AGA {Atlantic Gaelic Academy}. Now that the lift installation is complete & then the subsequent repairs I have been quite busy setting up my workshop & finally getting back to work! … lots to keep me out of trouble (hopefully).

The new pool table is working really well & have had a few games. Well a lot actually! It’s so wonderful being back at the felt knocking my balls around again. As well as wood & bone … back in the chips again & loving it.

Finally got the new floor put down the new flooring in the living room on Saturday. Wow what an amazing product! The laminate flooring we picked was a knotty rough pine. Looks like it was dropped there in one piece. This stuff just locks together in a snap! Of course it helps to have someone who knows what their doing the ‘techie’ work. I was the go-fer … & a damn good one too! It took about 3½hrs to put down & do the cleanup {many tools, cardboard boxes & plastic wrap}. Turns out the fellow I was able to hire to do the work is a lad who lived in Summerside for 25 yrs. we were having a great laugh about folks complaining about the weather up here & the weather back home. … but it’s a dry cold.

I love wearing these moccasins & have decided that I am going to wear moccasins year round. Hands down or should I say ‘feet down’ they are the most comfortable & warm foot apparel I have ever worn! I also have another pair of plain ones. Ojibwa made ones that I picked up in Sudbury, ON that I will be wearing in summer months . The mitts were a Christmas present from Pam … I finally have no complaints about ‘cold hands’ on wheelchair push rims!! Thanks dear.

Been so busy in the shop & as usual, this stubborn old fart has to try to do everything himself & ends up suffering. Recovery can be long … Dangit! As well my studies of the Scottish Gaelic take up a lot of time so I haven’t been taking the time to keep my blog updated – unfortunately. But I will! Even if it’s just a couple on lines … at least that’s my “plan”. ha ha ha

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“Eucoir nas miosa na leabhraichean a losgadh – gun a bhith gan leughadh” – Joseph Brodsky
{There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.}