Meet Charlie (Insert British Accent Here)

After a few weeks of considering and a couple more looking, I got a dog.

Yes, the above picture is the dog my new Pup and not a picture of a random horse. He is my 111 pound Labrador.

One Wednesday night Claire and I decided to take the drive to Skowhegan to meet Stryker.

I know, I'm a horrible person, I changed his name. But in the short time I was there visiting I called him Stryper, Skyler, Skyper, Brownie (You may not all get the Brownie reference, My Foolish Father will) and it at least 6 times. The name change had to happen. He is not named after the "neighbor Charlie" as Scout would most likely assume. I'd looked at so many other dogs in the past weeks. One who's was name Charlie. He was a yellow lab and $300. Out of my price range! I said that day, no matter the dog, the name Charlie stuck. You have to admit, he looks like a Charlie. So he's not wearing crocs.. But the bandana, that's something a Charlie would wear.

Jesse promised me, if I came home without the dog that night and slept on the idea of having such a huge responsibility in my life, he would take me back up there. I held him to that. Just two days later, we took the ride back up to Skowvegas. We learned a little more about Skyper Charlie that night. Like, that his favorite food was Chinese, (maybe this is why I own a horse/giant dog.) that he can't jump into vehicles (just imagine lifting a dog at 111 pounds into your truck) and that dogs who eat Chinese and ride in vehicles they cant jump into, don't mix. It was a long, smelly ride home. I haven't ever laughed as much as I did that night. Jesse didn't find as much humor in this as me. Maybe it was because it was his vehicle and not mine or maybe it was because he had just finished a double beef sandwich from Arby's. We were both happy when we finally reached his driveway. Not solely based on the fact that we couldn't wait to breath fresh air, but Charlie became my dog that night.

In just two short weeks Charlie has learned so much. He is learning to eat dog food, much to his dismay. He is learning that he will never ever have Chinese or any human food again. He finally learned how to fetch just last night. I was really concerned that I had the only lab in the world that wasn't neurotic about a game of fetch. He has learned he doesn't need to jump on people who come to say hi to him, he cant just sit still and enjoy it. He has learned how to run and play with other dogs (many other dogs). He was a little socially awkward at first.

I still have so much to teach him. I will eventually try to get him to walk calmly on a leash, he does so well running along side me without one I haven't tried the leash much. Not to mention I'm a little afraid of what a untrained 111 pound dog would do to my hand on a leash.

Charlie has been a great addition to my life. I love the responsibility and I'm outside and being more active than ever. Charlie will not be the only fit one when I'm done with him!

I will update my blog in two months with a picture of him at 75 pounds!

Catching Up.. Sort Of

I cant keep up with this blogging thing. You see, I am not nearly as bad at as my sister, Robin and she has a computer.

A lot has changed for me in the last couple of months, one of the more obvious things being my lack of internet access. As much as I would have loved to keep you all updated in my ever so exciting life, it wasn't really doable.

My garden looks more like a hay field than an actual garden at all. Even though I have completely abandon the poor patch, it still feeds me. I got a great big bowl of potatoes, plenty of cherry tomatoes, beans, squash and peppers on the way! My corn looks as though it was grown by a barbie doll. I could toss the ears back, like UTZ salt and vinegar chips. I'm sure it will make a great fall decor in Skipper's plastic house though. The corn was really small if you didnt gather. The glads are gorgeous, planting 3 rows was probably more than enough. I have given many away as pretty bouquets and also a ton to the farm stand.

The chicks are growing up so fast, they seem to be doing well at DiMauro Farm High. I can still identify each one of them. It takes me a little longer now as they have changed so much. I am very proud to say I raised some great chickens. My second round didn't turn out as well. Not a single one hatched. I'm sure there are a ton of reasons why they didn't make it, one of them being the same neglect I showed the garden.

As for me, I am jussstt swell. Dealing with the many changes in my life fairly well (but it really depends on the day). I have a new roommate, as my last sort of jumped ship. :) Tia, my baby sister, moved in about two months ago now. VERY shortly after Casey left. Casey, freshly 21, realized he hadn't accomplished as much in life as he'd like to before "settling down". No hard feelings Case. This isn't a bash Casey blog. You'll have to come to me in private for that web address. Hehe. Casey, being a such big part of my life was hard to let go of. He was everything to me, my best friend and some one I shared my hopes, dreams and thought my future with. I apologize for the sappiness, I promise I'll finish with a laugh. We also shared bills. Adjusting to just one income has been almost as hard as adjusting to not having him around. This whole thing has completely thrown me off balance. I have no doubts that I'll come back on top, but the recovery process doesn't seem to be going super great. Some one once said, don't cry over a little missing silverware or was it spilled milk? I don't know. There was no spilled beverage in this case.. I do have a assome support system. My Parents, Sisters, friends have all been there for me, put up with my crying and always giving tons great of advice. Thank you, without all of I would truly be a train wreck. Well, more of a train wreck.

So, there it is.. I hope you all understand the reason behind my blog not being top priority, I have been oober busy trying to piece my heart back together. Do you guys all feel bad for me yet? I'll do my best to get you all a picture of my garden before I get Tim Bartlett to come hay it.

L.L. Bean Clogs, What?

As you all know My father is a bit of a nut (Yes Sisters, when I say a bit of a nut, I do mean completely nutty) Which is one of my very favorite things about him. He can always make me smile and laugh. And because of him I am slightly silly as well, making others smile and laugh.

It's more often than not at my own expense, again something we have in common..

This past Sunday at our Nicole Fest/Lobster Fest, Daddy was rocking some "new clogs". My mother insisted on me asking him about them. He very proudly informed me that he made them from an old pair of Bean Boots. Uh huh, he really did this and he really was wearing them too. I have pictures to prove it. =)

We all shared a laugh at my fathers expense. How resourceful and goofy that father of mine is.
Thank you Daddy, I love you.

<3

My Best Friends For Always.

At Heidi's In Auburn For Hunter's Birthday Lunch.

The 4 of us had a great time eating and chatting, as usual. These kids mean the world to me. I will always be their friend, even when they don't want it as much as they do now! I have made them promise me they wont pretend I don't exist when they are older.

Chick TV

Sorry!

Out of commission and a lap top...

Mother Hen

This whole process has been so amazing. The anticipation nearly killed me, but it was all so worth it. There was a good couple of days (probably more like couple of weeks) where it was all I could talk about. So naturally in the 5o some odd people that I talked to there were a few that new their shiz. A friend of mine told me how he raised a clutch of wild turkeys when he was younger. He told me they imprinted on him immediately and said how they would follow him around. A little Fly Away Home if you ask me. I didn't really understand how true this was until I took the chicks out of their box and let them play around on my living room floor.





Every where I went they followed. I would sit down and they would find away to sit as close to me as possible. Beefy Brian would cuddle right up in my hand every time I let him. I have become extremely attached. I don't know what I'm going to do when it's time for the big move. I will do my best to keep my sister Robin and her little man hood removing tool away from my roosters. =) By the time this group is ready to move out, I will have a second set. I started round 2 July 23rd and now that I am more familiar with the incubator and process of it all I think I will have much fewer unhatched eggs.

Meet My Chics

Shelly is the yellow chick in the center with thick black stripes.

Wallace, Beefy Brian (BB), Sweet & Love

Chicky Poo, Annie, Big Head

Gregory & Jillian were my last 2 to hatch and at that point I was too busy holding and feeding the others I didn't get a chance to get pictures of them. Everyone always says you get more pictures of your first kid because you have time and then by the next you are just too busy. I understand that now. ;)

Gregory & Jillian were all black. Unfortunately Jillian didn't make it. She was my very last to hatch. I think she was in her egg too long. I had prepared myself very well for this. My father warned me a hundred times over that you always lose chicks and they wont all hatch. As much preparing as I did, I was still very bummed.

Cracking A Smile

One egg had a small crack in it this morning, I could hear peeping & two eggs were moving all around. I couldn't be happier!

Nervous

Today is day 21 and still no cracks or cheeping. I feel sick.

Google, my regular go to is not providing me with any info on this. I am freaking.

Please send an expert my way.

Let Them Eat Cake

I volunteered to do the birthday shopping and baking for Misty's Birthday. Misty is my Manager at PTN. After gathering the important details.. (That she loves strawberry cake.) I did a quick search for frosting. I was going to take the easy route and use a box strawberry cake, as I have never even thought about making a homemade strawberry cake before. I would then add a special touch with a yummy homemade frosting. I went straight to my favorite recipe spot; www.smittenkitchen.com, recommended to me by my sister Robin months ago. There is nothing on that blog that I don't want to eat/make. The recipes all rock and her pictures are beautiful. Some day you will all be looking at my blog thinking these same things. There was a recipe for a strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting called Pink Lady Cake. As hard as I tried to convince myself I didn't have the time to make a cake from scratch before the next day, I wound up at the store an hour later with a grocery basket filled with cake flower, strawberries and cream cheese.




The results we not exactly what I was hoping for, but they never are. It did taste great and it was a big hit at work. I'm just no artist when it comes to frosting a cake. I was happy I didn't take the whole Betty Crocker, 3 eggs and a cup of water way out. I think everyone else was too. I was promoted from existing job; listening to customers yelling at me to birthday cake maker and still listening to customers yell at me.

Eggcited

The chicks should be here by Tuesday! That's in 3 days! I would have already started preparing their room by now but, I need Dad to get here with it!

Dear Crystal,

Remember, I love you and you are the greatest friend.

I know how much you hate snakes and walking through my grass in fear there are snakes out there, but when I saw this little guy all I could think about was you!
Please come back over, I promise I set him free some where far away from our house.

A Little Bit Of E.G.S.

For those of you who are not familiar with E.G.S. I will explain.

E.G.S. (Empty Garden Syndrome) Is the feeling of loss and will leave you saddened. These feelings can lead to depression and anxiety. Uncontrollable tears and emotionalism. E.G.S. Can be very serious, if not treated immediately.

I have a few home remedies I would like to share...


Remedy A.

Donate To The Farm Stand



If your are still left sad and pondering over the empty spots in your garden try this..


Remedy B.

Make a delicous salad to go with yummy homemade pizza..

This one did the trick.


I was feeling pretty bad after picking lettuce from the garden, the empty spots kill me.
Who am i? I mean, what the heck is a garden you don't pick the veggies out of. Over the last few days I have been able to relax about it and just enjoy the garden for it's true purpose.
The pizza was a perfect side for the salad =) And cured my E.G.S.

A Crown Is Merely A Hat That Lets The Rain In.

Oh, the (not so) smaller things in life..

I cant help but smile, when wearing or even looking at this hat. It's just one of the strange things I enjoy. I feel the same way about this hat, I do my neon green socks. The simple things in life are the ones that always catch my eye. Or maybe it was the neon in the socks case.

*These picture are not to be used as evidence that the sun does sometimes come out in Maine.

Scroggin

Scroggin: Sultanas, Chocolate, Raisins and Other Goody-Goodies Including Nuts.


The Market At Pineland sells these little bags of goodies, from dried fruits to all kinds of candy fun. I cant seem to turn them down when I am in there. I see past their plastic wrappers and imagine a better life for them. Not that they are any safer from my hungry hands all mixed up in this jar, but they sure do look a lot cuter.

So I said it, cuter = a better life...
Sorry for you less fortunate snack foods


Ingredients Include: Granola, White Chocolate Covered Popcorn, Assorted Chocolate Covered Nuts, Raisins, Banana Chips, Dried Apples, Apricots, Peaches & Pears.

Counting My Chicks Before They Hatch.

As if the garden wasn't enough of a responsibility...

We have 16 chickens and 2 wild turkeys on the way. It's very possible the two turkey eggs wont be much more than smelly boiled eggs. I did the best I could before we got the incubator, with a small drop light and a damp bandanna. These turkey eggs lost their mother in a tragic haying accident. I was left with no other choice, I had to give it a shot. Even though I think I would need a miracle for these two beautiful eggs to hatch, I am glad I brought them home.

We are giving the first batch of chickens to Mom & Dad, we will keep at least 3 and then we'll load up the incubator again. Next round will probably go to Tammy and Robin. Me and Casey plan to build our own hen house. Thankfully Casey is as handy as they come. There is nothing this boy can't do and do well. From fixing just about anything (I probably should thank Charlie, his father for that) To growing an amazing garden with me and getting this contraption ready to make some baby chicks.

So 21 days from now, I hope to be able to show you all 16 tiny chickens cracking out of their shell. And even more, I hope for 2 wild turkeys. (Don't tell Dad, he was worried I would think like that)


To Be Continued....