Christmas 2007

Christmas was as jolly as ever this year. We found a lovely tree at La Bella's:

Valerie and Michael are here for the week. There was much conversation, dog walking, and good eats.

Little Sue was thrilled with her My Little Pony Skywishes, the only thing she asked Santa to bring.

Brendan actually had some time to relax and enjoy the season.

More Kipper and Sue

Child and puppy are doing better and better together ...

Soccer Is Done

Sue's soccer experience so far has been mostly running around at the tail end of the pack of kids, looking kind of lost. But during the last couple of games this season, she really started to get the hang of it, getting into the fray, and even kicking the ball a couple of times. Hurray!

Kipper and Sue

Kipper is settling into the family quite nicely. We start doggie obedience training in two weeks, and Kipper gets fixed around then too. Although in general he has been very good for a puppy, it's been lots of work, and I'm really looking forward to when he's a bit older and more under control. That said, it's wonderful having a dog in the house again -- the eager puppy face at the door when you come in, the soft warm presence on the sofa in the evenings, the bouncy goofy pup playing in the woods.

Sue had a stomach virus this week. She spent most of her time on the sofa, with Kipper. They are getting to be good buddies.

Puppy Love

Well, after months of looking, we finally found a rescue puppy. Last Saturday we drove to Harrison, NY (Westchester County) to see a puppy billed as part Springer Spaniel, part lab. The puppy is adorable, and we brought him home. However, it's much more likely that he's a mix of Border Collie and something else, Pointer?

Sue is a combination of excited, proud, affectionate, and jealous. In many ways it's like having another child in the house.

The vet gave him a clean bill of health, and put him around 18 weeks old.

The rescue organizations called him Bobo, then Timmy. We're calling him Kipper. And Little Guy. And Little Man. And Poochie. It'll be a miracle if he ever learns his name.

Guilford Fair

It's fair season. Last weekend was the Guilford Fair. This weekend is the Durham Fair. I do love the fairs, but by the time the Durham Fair is over, I'm done with fairs (until next year, of course).

I always feel a little guilty posting about something a week or longer ago, but I'd feel even sillier not posting. So here you go, highlights of our visit to the Guilford Fair last weekend:

Sue rode a camel and a pony.





The petting zoo is always a big hit.




Sue had to go in the Tilt-A-Whirl again, with Natalie and Kim. It's almost impossible to get a good picture with those things turning and twisting.


Brendan with Sue, and Larry with Natalie, raced down the big slide together.


Towards the end of the day, when Sue got tired, we stopped by the horse pull for a little rest. Sue took these pictures. In the first one they're raking the ground under the sledge in preparation for the next pull. In the second picture they're using a tractor to pull the sledge back in place for the start of another pull.

Haddam Neck Fair

Saturday was one of those perfect New England end-of-summer days -- high air pressure, crystal clear air, warm sun, light breeze. We took full advantage of the day: first, a swim for Brendan, a sail on the sunfish for Susan, and some beach time for Sue. Next, it was on to the Haddam Neck Fair, where we met up with our friends Nathan and Joanna, and the Dattilos (Larry, Kim, and their daughter Natalie, with friend Henry). This fair is just the right size for little kids (and adults who don't like huge crowds and long waits in line too). They've got the rides, the animals, the music, the fair food, and this time they were doing dog agility trials, where the dogs run an obstacle course. Lots of fun was had by all ...

Natalie, Kim and Sue rode the Tilt-A-Whirl. Several times. Totally Barfaramic. Henry, Brendan and Larry looked on, glad they weren't the ones being flung around.



Sue rode the carousel.


Brendan took Sue down the big slide.


Sue wanted cotton candy more than anything. And she got a pony ride too.


Nathan, Joanna, and Brendan (who won a frog for Sue)


There was a petting zoo with llamas and Jacob sheep (supposedly the oldest breed of sheep).




Top it all off with yummy pizza at the newest place in town, come home and collapse. Ahh, those wonderful end-of-summer (or is it start-of-fall?) days!