NomFest '09

Some highlights from the Sterling Renaissance Festival. Dogs weren't allowed on the festival grounds so Hansel's mom watched Winnie for the day.







Yes, we ate a lot.

Farmer's Market

Today was such a beautiful day that we were finally able to make our long-planned trip to the Farmer's Market. We packed up the dogs and headed there today (dogs are allowed only on Sundays). This was my first time going to the Farmer's Market, so I was super excited.


It was so awesome! I wish I had the stomach and money to buy all the food that was there, but in the end I ended up getting a yummy spinach and feta crepe. Hansel's mom got a burrito that she raved about- I'll definitely have to try that next time.


They had everything from ethnic food to locally made crafted items, as well as locally grown meat. I got really excited when I saw that one stand had rabbit for sale (Winnie hasn't had rabbit in ages), but I was told that it was sold out before I even got a chance to ask how much it cost. Boo. I'm not too bummed- I'm expecting an order from Hare-Today soon, so Winnie will finally have some variety in her diet.


Since we had so many dogs with us at once (4- Winnie, Hansel, Juneau, and Ava) we got plenty of attention from other people, even though there were quite a few other dogs at the market.


Winnie got plenty of bum scritches as well.


We found a nice shady area to eat and talk, and the dogs were happy to lay down underneath a tree.


Afterwards we headed over to the dog park to let the pups play around a bit, and then we headed home.

A very long day..and a very long blog entry

Bear with me, this will be a long post with a lot of pictures!

The day started off with me and Winnie going to Hansel and Ava's graduation for obedience and agility. I used the opportunity to work on focus exercises with Winnie. Hansel graduated from beginner agility and graduate novice while Ava graduated from beginner agility and pre-novice.

The obedience club did a fun "Show Off Your Trick" thing. Even though we aren't enrolled in classes yet Winnie was allowed to participate- we did "Sit Pretty" and won a squeaky toy from the toy bin!

Dog slobber-covered toy

Winnie started barking and whining when the dogs were running their agility courses! Something tells me she'll love agility :) The next set of classes start in the beginning of July- I'm so excited! I plan on buying a set of 2x2 weave poles next week as well as Susan Garrett's 2x2 weave training DVD so that we can get a head start on things ;)

After graduation we shoved the dogs in the trunk (literally) and took the dogs to Buttermilk Falls State Park for a hike, since it was such a nice day.


I have to admit that I'm not a very outdoorsy person, but it was definitely nice to go out and enjoy some upstate New York scenery. Winnie, as usual, loves this kind of stuff so she had a blast. The falls were gorgeous!

Group shot

Afterwards we made a stop at Petsmart to buy random things here and there.

Hansel wearing a Harley-Davidson hat that his mom found in the store. Hansel, he's so hot right now (Zoolander, anyone?)

I bought Winnie replacement balls for her mini Chuck-it (the awesome rubber pink ball that we normally use is lost somewhere in the apartment), as well as a brand new toy. I'm hoping to use it to increase her tug drive for agility. It's great for throwing and it squeaks in the middle!


We then headed for Bethany's house (Ava, Juneau, and Brandt's mom) where the dogs played a bit more in their huge yard and the humans prepared dinner.

Winnie and I both met some pretty exotic animals! Bethany and her roommate have geckos, a tarantula, fish, guinea pigs, a sugarglider, a hedgehog, and a chinchilla! Darn vet students and their wild collection of animals, LOL.

Winnie became slightly obsessed with the guinea pigs. She kept barking at them and trying to get at the poor things.



I did allow her to meet Emma the hedgehog. Emma, unlike the cavies, has a defense mechanism- her prickly spines!


The chinchilla, Anubis, is absolutely adorable! He looks like a mouse-rabbit mix or something. Winnie got to sniff him but I think he scared her a bit.



For dinner we cooked up some corn on the cob, grilled potatoes, and grilled marinated chicken breast with mango/black bean salsa. Dessert was raspberry jello and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (which I ate WAY too many of). Food coma, anyone?


Afterwards the dogs started snoozing off. I took this awesome picture of Hansel and Juneau. The two are actually from the same litter.

Hansel. He couldn't be any more comfortable (or tired/sleepy) in Bethany's lap.

We finally went back home around 10 PM. Winnie is currently sleeping- she is completely knocked out, and I'm, er...blogging. And doing laundry. And watching TV.


I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Winnie with me this summer! Things are so much more fun when you have a dog with you :) It's definitely going to get harder when I start school, though, with having to study and all.

Tomorrow starts another week. I hope everyone had a great weekend!

We're here!

We're finally here! Even though this isn't technically her first trip on a plane (it's her second), she did really well- she only barked twice while we were waiting at the gate for the ride from LAX to Newark.

Sunrise in Newark, taken from the plane

At the food court; Newark airport

During the connection from Newark to Ithaca Winnie got a bit stressed because it's a tiny propellor plane (only 9 seats!) and makes a lot more noise/vibrations. Thankfully it's only a 1 hr ride to Ithaca.

Landing in Ithaca.

Outside of Ithaca Regional Airport, stretching and rolling

When we got to our sublet we both crashed for about 4 hours. The little pig wouldn't sleep on the dog bed that my mom had bought her as a going-away present.

Ungrateful, much? LOL!

I felt bad about her sleeping on the carpet (even though it was technically her choice, LOL) so I let her on the bed, an offer which she very happily accepted.

Knocked out.

I feel bad that I'm already starting work tomorrow, but I have a feeling she'll just sleep all day.