a story

 

Tomorrow is my first birthday... I can't believe that a whole year has gone by and I have learned so much and seen so many things!!! But Mom says that there is much to come in the times ahead. I have had an amazing year here on the farm and I can't imagine what the future will be holding for me...I have grown too... when you look back on the photos of me, and even though I'm  not a "big" Lab...Mom says there is a "job" out there for me.

 

Because also, tomorrow, I say goodbye to my family and the farm... Mom will be leaving me at NEADS for my advance training work. She says it will be a happy/sad day all at the same time. I understand....... but, I have a "reason" in life, as does she and sometimes, you have to part ways to move on.....

 

and it's been..... "the life of Rylie!!!!!"

first day of summer...

These days, the sun is up so early and the moon goes to bed so late... Mom said today is the first official day of summer and it is the day that we have the longest daylight. We got up just in time to watch the moon go to bed.....

Abbie  and I having an early morning play....

Life on the farm is good. I like it here, but Mom said that some news has come... and it's official that in a few days --- actually --- my first birthday, I will be returning to NEADS and going in for advance training. This news always makes my Mom so sad, but she said that she knew from our first day together that this time would come.... am I ready...

Mom says I am......

In the meantime, things are busy on the farm. It's hay season and the humans have been busy getting it into the barn, so the horses will have their food next winter.....

Up to the hayloft it goes... on an elevator no less... but certainly not like the elevators that I have ridden on!!!!!

The guinea hens are busy keeping the bugs away.... I have gotten very used to them and Mom says that's why I know not to chase birds... even though I am a Labrador!!!!!

We've also been getting a lot of thunderstorms... Mom doesn't like them at all... neither does Camille....











They are kind of scary and they can be very loud. But they don't bother me at all.. which Mom says is a very good thing.

So, it looks like my last week here on Sweetgrass Farm has begun. I knew there had been other service puppies here before me.. and that there are going to be more to follow... but Mom says, like her other puppies, there will always be a little place here on the farm and in her heart, that will belong just to me...

life of ...Rylie!!!!

"working" or "playing" with Abbie....

The weather has been so hot, it was nice to swim at camp... but poor Mom has no energy and we dogs just lay around when it's like that. However, today, it felt so much cooler, and there was a beautiful breeze. Mom called her friend Deb... and with Abbie, baby Reagan, various cocker spaniels... we all decided to take a hike in the woods......

It was very fun, I loved being with all the other dogs, and the woods were filled with great smells. I would have loved to run loose, and Mom would let me, because I am so good and always come when called.... but, because there are so many other critters in the woods (like skunks and porcupines).. Mom said no way were we going loose and getting into trouble!!!!

Mom said we looked like a parade.... Abbie was so happy to be going along as well and kept asking " are you having fun Ry-ry"....

We took a very long walk and it was so nice to stop for a moment and take a break.....

Trevor took a break too.. but Hunter, Tazzy and Camille wanted to keep going. It was a perfect day... after our walk, we all got big drinks of water, and then slept on the car ride home.... Mom says this is a 'summer thing".. between camp and the woods.. I think summer is going to be fun.....

The next day Abbie and I went out to play... Mom said these pictures of us running together "look familiar".. and yet much has changed. She says that we both have grown a lot over the winter....

Mom keeps telling Abbie and I that our time together is growing short... that I will be heading off to college soon..... do I like that idea????

ya,... you could call us "best friends".....

"come on Abbie... get up... let's run more!!!"













Guess I tucked her out!!!!








life with ....Rylie

camp....

So, with all this hot weather that we have been having, Mom said it was time to get up to "camp" .. open it up and get things ready for summer. That sounded like fun to me.. I'm not so sure what "camp" is.. but everyone else got pretty excited when they heard. First off, the docks had to go in... so we all watched while the humans pulled them into the lake .....

I was pretty curious about all that was going on, and went down on the rocks, close to the water to check things out. Mom kept telling me to "go for a swim"... but, what does that mean??

I will say the water tasted pretty good, and I got in close enough to have a nice drink....

And while I was sitting on the dock, enjoying the sun and just being near the water... the strangest thing happened....

Charlie (who is another cocker in the family) ran right past me and jumped into the lake. He then swam big circles, going round and round and was really enjoying being in the water..... is this what Mom meant by "go swimming???"

And then the humans went in as well.... in fact, even little baby Reagan went in with his parents.... everyone was going in the water!!!!

Trevor came running down to the dock and with a mighty splash, he jumped in too.....

Banjo actually jumped off the dock... I was so excited to see him do that, and I thought, just for a moment that I would like to follow him in the lake... but I still wasn't quite brave enough....

Charlie and Banjo love to swim together....

and then I watched as even Charlie jumped from the dock into the water... something inside told me that I could swim if I wanted to. Mom kept encouraging me... and said she would really like me to try, because we aren't going to have much time together to be at the lake ......









well... I took a big breath... got as brave as I could and went into the lake... and you know... even though I was still just a little bit scared... turns out that I am a pretty good swimmer..... playing in the lake, is fun!!!!!




life of ..... Rylie!!!!!

and I'm HOME... for now.....

Hi... it's me... Rylie!!!!! and I am back.... I have been away on an adventure.. spending some time training at the prison, but today, when I went back to NEADS, I was surprised to see my sister, Hope and my MOM!!!! Mom says I am going back to the farm tonite, and I am so happy to hear that news...

Hope seemed happy to see me too... but I think she is a bit sad.. because she won't be returning to the farm....

And I can tell that she had a good time there. I feel kind of sad for her, but I hear the humans talking and from what they say, Hope may have her very own "forever human" quite soon. That would be good, I think she is ready to love her own human. Mom said that she is a very wonderful girl and that she enjoyed having her.

but, before we can head home, it was off to work for us. It was a very hot day and when we went into the city, all the humans were looking for a cool spot. We went to the hospital first, where everyone could grab a bite to eat... I was just so happy to lay at Mom's feet and think of going back.....

The "green" in the hospital makes me think of the farm.....

And even while riding the elevator... I was thinking about Abbie, and the cats.. and other dogs... horses...guinea hens...chickens..... on and on!!!!!!

Here is Otis, working with his human, Linda.. and that's Hope, she got to go with us today and worked with Rick.....

After the hospital, we walked threw the park. It was very pretty, and there were a lot of people out on such a nice day.

Otis and I took a little break while the humans stop to chat with other interested people. I remember summer (sort of) from last year... but I can tell you, having a black coat on hot days.... not good!!!!

Then it was off to the train station. I remember the first time getting on a train, the space between the platform and the train seemed so large. I had to actually jump.. but today, it's just a step... and no big deal. I walked right on.....

It was nice and cool on the train, I wouldn't have mind staying there.. but Mom said this train won't get us home... so I said, let's get off!!!!!

by the end of the day, we were all pretty tired.... here's Hope and I..... more than likely this will be one of the last pictures of us together. It was nice to be able to see her again... Mom says that maybe we will meet at a graduation one day....










But for now... it's homeward bound... though just for a short time longer (I hear).... that's OK... I'm happy...




life of Rylie....

where have I been...

This is "Rylie's mom" posting for Rylie..... we haven't really disappeared... Rylie has been away. At our last check in... Rylie and her sister, Hope have swapped places.... Ry has gone into the prison program and Hope has been here on the farm.. taking a little break from her prison training....

It has been very fun having Hope here with us.... she is a great dog (as is Rylie).... and I think she has enjoyed her time here on the farm. As far as I know, when we go back for our next check in ..the gals will be swapped again.. and Rylie will be back with us until she is turned back in for good...

so, to any of our readers.. if you have been wondering... that's what we have been up to.......

sue