Oliver is an indoor cat…much to his disappointment. To him, it’s kind of boring.

He has spent the warmer months wishing he was outside.

The outside cats taunt him as they stretch in the sun.

Sometimes the cats want inside when winter comes. He responds to their summer lounging by laying in front of a heater…too bad they can’t see him.

After two years he still wants to be outside. Even if he has to be in the cheap seats.

Then he tries to stare us into submission. It doesn’t work.

What I woke up to this morning…

Yep, she’s only got one. We got rid of all the other chickens when we thought we were moving, so we only have this hen, a rooster, and now a little chick. They’re slowly multiplying…

Warning: Another long post!

From Wednesday evening to Saturday afternoon, our family of three have been ‘vacationing’ in Kentucky. We went to experience the  Bluegrass Classic Sheepdog Trials and a Fiber Fest in Lexington. I love traveling and enjoy seeing new country, yet being the extreme homebody that I am…let’s just say that I was ready to go home long before we actually left. Familiarity lends great comfort to me in my everyday life, and spending my day in a quiet manner relaxes me…but driving through a big town everyday, living temporarily in a small room with a sinister television set for company, and fast food most of the time wore me out.

We first crossed the Ohio River…

…then we arrived at the grounds where the trials were being held…way off the road on lots of acreage

…just one of the many dogs that trialed

…a handler shedding the sheep

…some ewes just feel the need to jump as they entered the pen

…then we stopped by the Lexington Cemetery and we could not have stayed too long there. It is the most beautiful cemetery with the oldest of graves mingled with the newest. The Todd family, as in Mary Todd Lincoln, is buried there, along with Henry H. Halley, John C. Breckenridge, and a sailor who died aboard the Maine in Cuba. We took hundreds of photos but I uploaded only a few.

…charming Madison on the river

…back home again

…a new hobby which I am seriously thinking about taking up

…and the beautiful sunset that we watched as we made our way back home

I suppose a good place to start would to apologize to my dear mother for not posting a tribute to her on my blog for Mother’s Day like so many other dutiful daughters. I mean, she has done so much for me and I can’t bring myself to leave what I’m doing and take a moment to honor her with words? However, I think that a day late still qualifies in the range of acceptability. The day of I did make a card and surprise her with a gift (infrared thermometer). So…Happy Mother’s Day…Mother!

And, a few pictures would suffice for explaining what I’ve been up to lately…and perhaps the largest post I’ve ever had:

Blocking

Gardening….

The potatoes are to the left and the other two rows are going to be beans

And our square foot gardens are coming along nicely

Spring Recital…went well…these are my recital feet (see profile)

Some of the family

And for laughs…the dog is really annoyed at having her picture taken…as you can tell

Mom and I were figuring up my subjects for school and when we will finish up the necessary courses, when it dawned on us that I could/possibly will graduate a year early (in 2011). I will only have to spend one more year learning in a formal education, and then I can continue to learn day by day and let the winds of knowledge take me for an enjoyable ride.

We have also been dog sitting Bently, of the house of Noble Rose Press, while they were away.  Like the last time we watched him, I have grown to think him adorable even more…though I am still borderline on my feelings for little bitty dogs.

And I just received my yarn for the above project a few days ago. It will be a 4-H project and go into my hope chest when it is finished. Aren’t they adorable?

Our dear family is off at the Sufficiency of Scripture Conference in Ohio, learning and seeing both old and new friends. I must admit, I envy their pleasure, but I am content to stay at home, helping “dog-sit” their cutie. I must also admit that I wasn’t too fond of Bently when they first got him, or even a few months after that. He was tiny, a little bug eyed, and a rat terrier….the three weren’t my cup of tea…but when he came to our home…that changed. Now, he’s kinda cute. You can’t trust me to decide anything…

Isn’t he cute?

Two weeks later: No puppies, it was a false pregnancy….very disappointing

In two weeks we will have the pitter patter of little paws, the slobber of multiple doggy kisses, and the joys of raising our own pups. Courtesy of our six year old Border Collie, Jenna, we will be experiencing our first litter of puppies. Researching, however, the process of “whelping” I fear I may need to be absent during such a time. My gag factor is relatively low, and just reading about all the sacs, and green discharge…*shudder*

So, I will be enjoying the fruit of her labor, literally. Meanwhile, I will allow you to wait anxiously for pictures. I pray all goes well and that mother and pups will be healthy.

Here is the mother-to-be:

Any advice from experienced puppy owners about the whole whelping process, please leave a comment.