She's Checkin' In

This is the highboy that dad built mom years ago.

And this is the large bottom drawer that holds mom's precious Maggie and other AireSweatshirts.  The 2 grey sweatshirts right on the top are paintings that Miss Barbara did of Maggie and mom had the paintings printed on the sweatshirts.  

Mom decided to wear one of these sweatshirts on Friday.  Friday was 8 months that Maggie went to Rainbow Bridge.    When mom put the sweatshirt on an overwhelming scent hit her.  It was Maggie's scent and it was all over the sweatshirt.  When she put her nose in the drawer, she didn't smell anything - all of the scent in on the sweatshirt.  Is that too cool or what?!
Maggie is checking in once again and mom is smiling through tears.

Dad is at a barn raising this weekend in Brimfield, Massachusetts.
The cupola is all set for raising next weekend.

 This weekend, the barn frame needs to go up.

 The NorthfordTimberFramers accomplished this in one day - Saturday!  Today the rafters and roof go on and there will be a huge pawty at the end of the day. 

So until next time............

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

The Giant Pumpkin

Mom and dad went to Durham Fair last night.  We weren't allowed to go - some dumb rule about safety for all of the animals.
They saw many, many pumpkins and some of them were HUGE!

 This was the winner at 1,613.5 pounds!  Imagine how many pumpkin pies you can make out of him!

 They saw funny pumpkins.

 And even an M-n-M pumpkin!

 And the fair wouldn't be a fair without the animals. 

 This goat had the coolest beard.

 Mom fell in love with this quilt and wished that she could bring it home~

 These chemo caps are all donated to Smilow Cancer Center.  This booth is only half of them.  There are twice this many!  They are truly works of art!

 Dad had to have his apple crisp.

 And mom had to have her hot HUGE sugary donut.

 This older couple seemed to be having the best time.  haha

So until next time................

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

Godspeed Mango

Our hearts are breaking and we are so sad today.  Mango was one of our oldest and dearest friends and now he's crossed the Rainbow Bridge to be with angel Maggie and so many others. 

This was always one of our favorite pictures of you, Mango.  You were always so much fun and each time we visited your blog, we went away smiling or laughing.   Blogville can never be the same without you. 

THE EULOGY 

Look not where I was
For I am not there
My spirit is free
I am everywhere

In the air that you breathe
In the sounds that you hear
Don't cry for me Mom
My spirit is near

I'll watch for you
From the other side
I'll be the one running
New friends by my side

Smile at my memory
Remember in your heart
This isn't the end
It's a brand new start

By: Carol Kufner

Our thoughts and prayers go out to MangoMomma and Master and Dexter. 

Our hearts ache for you - We love you.

Mitch, Molly and Sue

Incentive Dish

Our mom's handmade Airedale dish is the incentive gift on the quilt blog to raise $$ for Airedale Rescue for the next two days.  

The dish is made out of Butternut wood.  The flower petals are cherry and the flower center and leaf are maple.  The eyebrow is chestnut. 

Mom made two of these dishes - one was in memory of angel Maggie and the other one was for the quilting bee to raise money for Rescue.

There is also a wonderful story of a handsome boy named Duncan on the bee's blog today.

Please check it out and donate if you can.
And thank you!

So until next time.............

Love ya lots,
Molly and Mitch

Saucy Sunday

At long last my dad is making tomato sauce again and I'm helping.  You can tell that, right?

 Molly is so bored trying to recuperate from her big girl surgery.  Mom says that it's very hard to keep a young AireGirl from running and jumping.  Both mom and Molly are counting the days when she's 100% healed and can go back to living her life in true AireFashion!

 That's right, Molly - stop and take time to smell the pretty flowers~

So until next time.........

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

I'm a Graduate Again

On Wednesday, I graduated basic obedience!

 Mom and I had to weave through these purple cones and I had to stay by her side.  I started off on-leash and then we had to do it again with my leash dropped and then again with no leash.   I did great and mom was so pleased!

 We had to walk past another hooman and dog (that's my friend Audrey) and I had to try to stay focused on mom.  I did fine and so did Audrey!

 And we had to jump through hoops.

 And go though the tunnel and it was fun!
I did break away once and I did some playbows and tuckbuttruns  and mom and my instructor, Kathy, didn't find it amusing (deadbeats) and I had to refocus and get back on track. 

 Kathy awarded me with my diploma and a star stuffie and a HUGE cookie bone that mom kept.  She says it will take me a couple of days to eat this and I won't be hogging it down in one sitting.  Hoomans can be so stingy sometimes!

You'll never guess what I got for a graduation "gift".
Yesterday, I got no breakie and mom took me to my vet to have my big girl surgery.
What kind of a graduation gift is this I ask you?!
I now have a Poodle leg and a shaved belly and a huge incision but I did get to come home and not spend the night at the animal hospital so that's a good thing! When I got home, I spied that evil lampshade cone sitting on the counter.  I sure hope that I can avoid wearing it!  So far - so good!

So until next time...........

Love ya lots,
Molly

Our Hearts Are Breaking

Our dear friend Fern has lost her precious Zoie and we are just devastated for her.   Fern's husband Tom works long hours and Zoie was Fern's best friend and constant companion all day long.

She had the best home and she was so loved.  Our hearts are just shattered.  Godspeed Zoie.  You will be missed for a long time to come. 

If you can, please go to Fern's blog and leave her words of comfort.  She would surely appreciate them.

We love you, Fern, and we are sending you TONS of hugs and kisses.

Mitch, Molly and Sue

We're Getting There

Dad and mom are moving closer to completion on the shingling part of the cupola.  Mom is cutting the capper shingles and dad is nailing them on.

 I'm giving dad my professional advice. 

 He did exactly as I said and look how nicely it's coming along~

 Molly is being most helpful - as always!

 When she gets bored, she whines for mom to toss her tennis bone across the room so she can chase it.   Mom tosses it and then Molly whines for mom to go and get it and toss it again.  Mom is getting all of the exercise - not Molly.   Heaven forbid she breaks a nail!  She has decided to go with purple nails this week.   (if any of you want to paint your nails, head to picmonkey.com and go to the touch-up tab and then lip tint.  You can "paint" your nails any color that you want to)   
Have fun!

So until next time...........

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

Decision Making Monday

Which color nail polish do you think goes best with my furs?

 Pink, purple, blue or red?

Decisions, decisions...........

Love ya lots,
Molly

Another First and Baking With Mom

Guess where I went this morning?
To PetSmart and I had my nails grinded!  I've never had this experience before and it was okay!  I didn't hate it!

 I get to go back again in a month.  Maybe next time I can get get my nails painted blue so Puddles and I can be twinsies!

Dad is at a barn workshop this weekend and we're helping mom bake Double Chocolate Cookie Bars for Auntie Jill for tomorrow's lunch for the workers. 

 You probably think that we won't score anything, right?  WRONG!  Our smart mom bought Oreo cookies that are chocolate AND vanilla!

 You swooped in again on me, Molly!  You wait till mom's face is behind the camera and then you go into action.  You are such a THIEF!

 Thanks, mom!

Double Chocolate Cookie Bars

2 cups finely crushed cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies ( 24 cookies)
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
1 (12-ounce)package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts -  we used walnuts

Combine cookie crumbs and butter and press firmly on bottom of 13" X 9" baking pan.  In medium saucepan, melt 1 cup chips with the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla.  Pour evenly over prepared crust.  Top with remaining chips and nuts. 
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Cool and cut into bars. 

This is before the bars went into the oven.

 And this is 20 minutes later.  yummmm

Mom says none for us.  boooooooooo. 
Dad will take them to Auntie Jill tomorrow.

So until next time..........

Love ya lots,
Molly and Mitch

We Love Rewards

We've been hard at work supervising the cupola project that mom and dad are working on.  This is the second one that they're doing this year. It's beginning to wear us out.   Look how hot we are, dad!

 We're being rewarded for a job well done. We're off to get ice cream!
I'll drive, dad!

 You'll never guess what time it is.  It's 1:30 in the afternoon.  Who eats ice cream at this hour of the day?  We do!  whooooooohooooooo

 Dad's choice was apple pie ice cream.  FABULOUS choice, dad!

 And mom's choice was pumpkin!

 You're going to drool on my head, Mitch!

 Can we please have ice cream rewards every day at 1:30 PM. Pretty please!

Did you notice? These ice cream trips happened two times in a very short period of time. You can tell by the collars that we're wearing *wink wink*
We sure do love ice cream!

So until next time.........

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly