MAY 14,2014

I GOT SIDETRACKED  BY A BUNCH OF COMMENTS ABOUT POOR CHAOS-- THAT IS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT  WE HAVE ONLY ONE HOUSE CMAERA-- AND WE CAN NOT RESTRING THAT TO ALL THE PLACES ON THE FARM--- WE DO THE BEST WE CAN  WITH IT IN THE HOUSE---  AND THE SOUND STILL NEEDS  ATTENTION... I WILL GET TO IT EVENTUALLY--

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ALL TEH DOGS GET OUT EVERY DAY AT LEAST ONCE-- AN MOST GET IN SOMEONE'S CAR AND GO SOMEWHERE    ----BUT IF YOU THINK I CAN CARRY BENTLEY AND CHAOS IN HEAT IN THE SAME CAR, YOU UNDERESTIMATE BENTLEY'S TALENTS

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WE ARE BACK AT CALENDAR MAKING TODAY-- BILL WAS AROUND YESTERDAY TO SCOUT  POSSIBLE SHOTS- AND WE WILL BE DOING SOME IN THE ARENA TODAY-- I THOUGHT WE COULD SHOW IT  BUT BILL WOULD PREFER NOT TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING OUT OVER THE INTERNET-- SO AT SOME POINT WE WILL DRAPE A TOWEL OR SOMETHIGN...

ANOTHER SHOT MAY INCLUDE MY REFRIGERATOR IN THE HOUSE  SO LORD KNOWS WE WILL HAVE TO CLEAR IT OUT... NOW THAT COULD BE A MONUMENTAL CHORE..

WHY ARE FREFRIGERATORS DEEP-- AS IN LONG SHELVES-- WHATEVER IS IN THE BACK STAYS THERE-- LIKE LAS VEGAS.

I WOULD LOVE A FRIDGE  2   FEET DEEP WITH 1 OF THOSE FEET ON THE DOOR SHELVING.  THEN NOTHING WOULD TURN GREEN  WITHOUT BEING SEEN..

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VAN SWAPPING IS THE DEAL OF THE DAY-- THE BIG VAN IS APPARENTLY PAINTED-- AND THE SMALLER VAN NOW FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY - ( IT HAD A LOOSE WIRE INTHE STEERING COLUMN SO WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP  VARIOUS ELECTRICAL THINGS WOULD HAPPEN  LIGHTS WOULD FLASH-- WINDOWS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN   ETC..)

GOTTA LOVE THESE MODERN DEVICES..

OTHER THAN THAT...

ON THE PUPPY HILL CAMERA YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE GETTTING READY TO POUR A CONCRETE "PAD" FOR THE MEAT PROJECT-- AN OUTDOOR FREEZER AND A CUTTING ROOM WITH  WASHABLE WWALLS AND FLOOR...  SUMMER IS  COMING  AND MY GARAGE  HAS A DISTINCT ODOR TO IT.

THE INSIDE OF THE BARN IS TORN ALL APART GETTING READY FOR CONCRETE AND 6 NEW "STALLS" FOR THE DANES.  THE PLACE LOOKS LIKE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION..  BIG HUGE EXCAVAORS -- PILES OF "MATERIAL" 

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AND THEN THERE IS THE WHOOPIE PIE BIT-- SOME FRIENDS FROM  NEW YORK BROUGHT UP SOME SUPER WHOOPIE  FROM   "BAKED BY SUSAN"   A BAKERY IN CROTON ON HUDSON, NY...  I HOPE WHOEVER SENDS US WHOOPIE PIES FIGURES OUT HOW TO SEND THEM FROM THERE..   THEY DID NOT EVEN LAST THRU MAIL CALL,  

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FROM TINA

Someone asked me what we actually DO at the retreat - 

this was my response - I'm hoping it might help someone else decide to join us...

Hi,

We go to the Service Dog Project farm in Ipswich, Massachusetts to experience what they do, how they work, how great the program is.

We participate actively in cleaning, feeding, petting, playing - everything that volunteers do on a daily basis. We also get to meet all the amazing employees and volunteers, plus recipients with their paired dogs + each other.

People come from all over the US. This year we also have a couple people from Canada and one from Norway on the list!

We talk, eat, joke, eat, take photos, have photos taken, laugh, eat some more, have sessions with questions and answers.

The CPs are involved in the Chicken Brick game that day, and we do a gift presentation to SDP - something special from all of the CPs, those there in spirit, as well as, physical attendees.

I think many would join me in saying that last year's retreat was a life changing experience. I cried when I left... and plan to be there every year for as long as they host us!

Hope that helps,

Tina