A couple more pictures from the Maple Festival:

Click on the pictures to see larger versions:

Arrival in Monterey:


Watching sap being boiled for syrup (and holding stuffed huskies):

Getting ready to go home (still holding stuffed huskies):

Catching up on sleep (still holding stuffed husky and another unidentified stuffed animal):

Highland Maple Festival, 2009

Clare, me, Wren, Phoebe
Highland Inn
Monterey, VA

If someone told me that this year my nieces would be even more delightful company than they were last year I would have said "impossible." And yet this year they were even better. I don't know how they do it. They are first class companions for dining and travel.

Hard to believe it snowed a week ago...

...and Saturday we did our first AT campout of 2009! And it was in the seventies! Ivory, Mackey and Max were, as ever, superb:

Mackey (in the background)
Ivory, Max (on the leash)
Saturday afternoon

Ivory "conserving energy",
Max, Mackey
At the shelter - Sunday morning

Hiking out on Sunday

First big snow of 2009

Unfortunately I only took a few good pictures of the dogs, although we went for a great hike at Pony Pasture at 10:00 on Monday, March 9. It had started snowing in the evening on Sunday, March 9 and was still snowing a little bit Monday morning. We got at least 6", maybe more. The dogs, as always, had a blast at Pony Pasture. For right now, just one quick picture - of course Ivory is the only one facing the camera. Roux and Mackey are facing away, and Max is out of the picture. More later. Have a great day,

Jay

Roux, Ivory, Mackey

Pony Pasture - Richmond, VA
Monday, March 10, 2009
~10:30 AM