Home from Europe

We are back from Europe. Two weeks home almost. Trying to settle back in. I have so many pictures from Europe, but I think trying to sort them on my Blog may prove to be way too hard for me. I've never let this Blog go, and I don't want to let this go now, but I am floundering a bit. My kids challenge anything I want to post. And my personal stuff feels a little heavy right now. So I end up not being sure what to post. And yet, this Blog has been going since 2005, and I am determined to figure out some way to allow it to continue to BE. 

So today, I share a funny video of our 3rd dog, Raven, "singing" with an online video of dogs singing. 

I want, years from now, to look back and remember the happy moments. The funny things in our life. So I'm going to try to get more intentional about posting!

Favorite Raven Pictures

Pounce like a tiger

 

Technology can be fun sometimes!

Raven is SUCH a fun dog. She is so much littler than our other dogs and SUCH a sweet heart. Everyone has a favorite dog. Isaac doesn't love dogs but would probably say Raven. Sidge would say Ritter. Abigail would say Raven. Hannah would say Raven. And I would say Arabelle. No one loves Arabelle like I do. Ritter is a pile of fluff, and you can't not like him. But ohhhh, our Raven girl. The girls call her "Buts-uh" because her butt is always a-wigglin'

Raven

This is Raven. She is the fourth dog I have ever owned. She's just over one year old and simply the sweetest little thing you've ever met. She's gone through one heat, and we are waiting for her to go through her second heat, at which time we will allow she and Ritter to mate and hopefully have new puppies.

Raven is most-loved by Abigail. When we got this pup, Abigail really wanted Arabelle to be "her" dog. I told her that dogs imprint on the person that spends the most time with them. This is usually the case. Arabelle definitely bonded with me, but Ritter has always been open to whoever is giving him the best belly rubs.

Raven doesn't seem to love Abigail the best, but she certainly likes her a lot. The kids playfully call her "busto" or "butt wiggle" because the little dog's body bends in half when she's excited. She LOVES to play with Bronco, Gabe's dog, and she will also wrestle with Ritter quite a bit. Arabelle consider her "her" puppy and definitely protects her. If Arabelle is out when Raven is wrestling with Bronco or Ritter, Arabelle inserts herself and tries to get them to stop.

When I married my husband in 1998, I had NEVER had a pet. 

Much has changed.

We Bought a Farm: Abigail's Little Raven

The truth? 

I question or sanity in getting a third dog constantly. Should we have done it? Why did we do it? What was I thinking? Am I glutton for punishment or what?

But the bigger truth?

She is a really super duper doggie who is from a great breeder we have used before and is as smart as the dogs that have come before her. (i.e. Ritter and Arabelle.)

She currently appears to have Arabelle's brains but a bit of Ritter's stubbornness. We've all been super frustrated when she won't come when called even though she very clearly knows what we are asking. 

This is especially true because the moment we ask her favorite person (Abigail) to come out and call her, she comes trotting in full speed. 

Here is a paragraph Abigail wrote about "her" dog Raven for a school assignment. I loved it:

Abigail has been VERY purposeful in being Raven's "person." She and Sidge were both going to be in charge of Raven, but in the end, Abigail kept up on it and has spent the most time with her. I really think Raven will be "her" dog. 

The video below is of Abigail working with her on "leave it." I honestly am VERY surprised she has gotten leave it already. She is doing sit and lay and paw and come, but to do "leave it" at such a young age is really fantastic. It's always a hard one to learn.

Enjoying Raven

Raven has now been with us since Saturday morning. So far, she's fitting in seamlessly. She is sleeping outside in a little "mobile tractor" but during the day she is spending a lot of time moving from kid to kid, a small little kennel we are keeping inside, and back outside.

She really likes to sleep under the wine rack in the corner of the kitchen and has seemed to take very well to Arabelle, Ritter, and frequent visitor Bronco. 

Here are some pictures that Hannah got of her on her first full day home: 

• She has the CRAZIEST howl when she is upset about having to stay in her outdoor kennel. Click here to listen for yourself. 
• One of the CHIEF reasons we decided to get a third dog was because the breeding brings us all such joy. But honestly, Isaac, is probably a tight 2nd in the reason. Isaac isn't, by nature, in love with animals or farming. But he LOVES puppies. Here is an ADORABLE video of him playing with our new little gal.

Introducing: Raven

We have added a third dog to our brood here on the farm.

I know. I needed another dog like a hole in the head.

But here I am anyway with a hole, clearly in the side of my head.

We decided that Arabelle will be retired from breeding after next litter (which will probably be in early 2021). Because we enjoy breeding so much, we've decided to bring in another little lady that can be our new "farm Mama" once Arabelle passes the torch.

We purchased this gal from the same breeders we used for Ritter and Arabelle. We have named her "Raven" being as we love birds, and she is black, and ... well ... it was the only name that all six of us could agree on.

Welcome to the crazy Raven. There will be no shortage of love and farm for you here at the Bauernhof!

 

1. First video of Raven
2. Sidge and Raven
3. Arabelle meets Raven
4. Ritter meets Raven