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.

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

—

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!

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

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.]

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!

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.}

“Let the bells ring out & the banners fly!
Feast your eyes; it’s too good to be true,
but it’s done, it’s done!”

a ride half down ...

Yup! The lift is installed ….. finally!! The Inaugural Ride happened this morning at 10AM CT … And now I’m able to glide up & down from the basement in comfort. Last Sunday my friend, Rod & I lifted the heavy seat up onto the rail … well Rod did the lifting I just handled the electronic controls & helped aim it. Anyway over the next few days I finished putting the plastic covers & other ornamental coverings & hide the all the wires but for now it’ll be bust transporting me up & down . Now onto setting up my carving / workshop & more importantly
setting up my new pool table & playing … finally.

managed to get the four solid walnut legs installed today too!

And at supper time my youngest son telephoned to tell us he is getting married. Wow what a day … a working lift, a soon to be up pool table & a wedding! Congrats son & Kerry G.

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Slàinte mhor a h-uile là a chi ’s nach fhaic.
Great health to you every day that I see you and every day that I don’t.
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“Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamp-post how it feels about dogs.” 

Normally I don’t put costumes or clothing on my gal other than what’s required to keep her warm & dry when out for walks & such but had this lying around so decided to try it. As you guessed she wasn’t pleased but being the patient lass that she is she suffered the indignity quietly & sat for a photo.

Ah!! .... do I have to!

Speaking of Halloween the weather here wasn’t cold or overcast & none of the white stuff. Quite unusual Halloween up here in northern Saskatchewan. Back on the Island we normally had to deal with a maximum of 3 Halloween’ers at the door but here we were told to expect 100 or more kids seeking treats. Well we ran out of candy at about 85 kids … & coincidently we ran out of kids at about that very same time. Pheeeew! A friend said she buys for 240 trick or treaters but this year she only had around 80 as well. Every one of the kids, from the little ones right up the teenagers were incredibly polite & thanked us for the treats. Haven’t heard of a single case of vandalism here at all. Unlike what has gone on back home … Although these days who needs Halloween as an excuse, eh?

In all lots of fun for all including Molly & Chesney … lots of chances to bark & run around like crazy.

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Slàinte mhor a h-uile là a chi ’s nach fhaic.
Great health to you every day that I see you and every day that I don’t.

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

Well as guessed, there’s been a bit of lag in my writing of late with the busy, busy times we’ve had just “moving in” to our new home here in LA. The holdup is largely due to me having access to the basement along with my all my tools, books & carving related materials. First problem came from not having the lift fully installed due to the rails Rod & installed being too short. By 5½ inches! The company that I originally got the lift from dropped off 2 more rails … neither of which were long enough!! Then I requested that they come up & finish the installation. After a few weeks of waiting for them to arrive .. or even return phone calls I finally decided to do myself. Along with help from some friends who kindly took time off they’re busy days. One friend cut a 3 foot piece of rail  & gears. And I spent 3 days on my butt sliding up & down the stairs installing the rail myself … & the last week recovering.

not much to look at but lots of fun installing on your butt!

Now I am waiting for Rod, one of my pool playing buddies to return home from his trip to lift the motor onto the rails so I can then finish the install with the electrical hookup . Allowing me to take my tools & benches, etc to the basement where I will be setting my shop as well setting up the new pool table. I understand the complications & problems a company located 5 hours south of here has doing work up here & making promises they can’t keep or phone about. But there comes a time when you have “get off your arse” do it yourself or find another way to accomplish the task … (hopefully a successful way. Electricians arrive today or tomorrow to install the new light fixtures we just bought … woodsman, log home styles of fixtures. Photos to be added here at a later date.

And a plug for the lift! Little by little I’ll be riding high again … well down too.

A small part of my tool agglomeration ...

This allow give Pam the room to rip out those disgusting rugs & paint & renovate the biggest bedroom on the first floor. I do so hate rugs! Filthy things that always slow my wheeling down …. But I must admit I have seen some very decent ones on a couple of bald headed celebrities.

………………………………..  that fills an entire room & then some.

... which covers the entire room & closet.

Today is also my AGA Gaelic class day conference calling using Skype … unless the electricians arrive & disrupt it. At least I’ve done my homework this week!

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Uill, gun tèid e gu math dhomh an-duigh

Well, wish me luck for today …

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