The Porch

If the big fir in the front yard is a favorite place to hang out when the weather is nice, the porch is where the action is for rainy days.  In the photo starting at the top, that's blind Helen at the far end, blind Penny, blind Priscilla, her sister Molly, then Bailey and blind and deaf Spinner.  Priscilla and Molly are usually snuggled up together on a bed, but for some reason Molly wandered off this time.  But it's not just a brief rain shower that brings the dogs up onto the porch; it's a nice, cool place to hang out when it's sunny and hot, too. 

One blog reader asked where Trooper was in an earlier photo of the Poodle sisters -- he's in one of the dog yards behind the house, with blind Buddy and blind Brody.  The girls are kind of "over" Trooper, thankfully.  They finally realized what we'd told them all along -- they could do so much better than a two-timing hound dog with crooked legs!  They seem a bit embarrassed now that they swooned over him way back when.

You can see we added railings to the porch.  That's only part of the carpentry work we've had going on here in recent weeks, and I'll post some photos of the projects later this week.

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A couple of people asked about what happened to our skunk, Annie Andrew.  This actually was a bit distressing for us to have to leave her behind.  While I have no doubt we could have caught her in a live trap, I don't think legally we could have transported her to another state.  Even if we could have received permits, relocating wildlife from their home territory can be counterproductive -- she might have been driven off or killed by other skunks here, or by other predators.  So we've explained to both our real estate agent and our friends who will be looking after the ranch for us that Annie Andrew is a sweet, harmless skunk who won't bother anyone.  Hopefully whoever buys the ranch will take the same "live and let live" attitude towards her that we did, and that she did towards us. 

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Speaking of selling the ranch, other blog readers have asked whether it is now on the market.  Yes, it is.  You can see the listing for it here.  In a couple of the photos you'll notice an unusual structure you may not have seen before -- it's a 26' solar dome greenhouse, a personal project that Alayne and I put in a couple of years ago.  I was growing big, fat zucchinis in there this past February, along with a beautiful crop of  salad greens and spinach all winter long.  These solar dome greenhouses are designed for high-altitude, cold climate gardening, and they work amazingly well.  We were sorry to leave it behind, too!  Anyway, I knew people would ask about that building when they saw the photos.

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We now have our official new mailing address here in New Hampshire:  It's the Rolling Dog Ranch, P.O. Box 150, Lancaster, New Hampshire, 03584.  We do have a street mailbox but it's down the road and out of sight, so we thought it better and more secure to use a post office box.

With the new address in hand, I will be working with a Web designer this week to update the Web site, graphic design elements (like the banner at the top of the blog that said, "A special place where disabled animals enjoy life on a Montana ranch" ... now changed), and related issues.  There are a lot of moving parts, so please bear with us if you notice some things have been updated and others haven't.

Comments

[Anne in FL]

Something tells me Widget wont be staring anyone down to get on that chair...that one looks to be the 'last resort' spot if the rest of the deck is all taken already (or is it she is just SO kind to be saving that one for you!) And...oh how decadent to be close enough to town to have an in-town PO box!! Will you get used to having such a luxury!!! Town, shopping and vet care LESS than a hour away!! WooHoo!

[Anne &Jen in FL]

I dont even live there and I cannot wait till Alayne sees all the wonderful things you have gotten done. The land, house and porch all look so welcoming, calm, peaceful and wonderful. She will love it, and the fact that you have gotten so much done!! Good work Steve. I know it cant be easy, but then again I am sure Alayne has not been just sitting on her hands back in MT. Peace to you, Alayne and continued peace to the very unstressed critters you share life with. Bless you.

[Vanessa Kacon]

Hi! I stumbled across your blog looking for info on "how to care for blind horses" which led to your website and the rest is history! I just want you to know that you and your wife are an absolute inspiration to me... I have spent my whole life "saving" one or two animals at a time. You two are my heroes!! Thank you thank you thank you! I can show my husband your web site and he can't give me a hard time anymore;) I wish there were more kind and generous people in the world like you. On a lighter note, I am glad that you are settling in to your new home in NH. I have family in Seeley Lake, MT and after visiting them I will never complain about my 20 mi drive to shop/vet etc...

[Ann]

Those are great pictures. The dogs are so relaxed and happy. I wish I had a porch like that for me and my dogs to relax on. Enjoy your summer days on the porch!

[Lori Leduc]

Everyone looks to be settling in nicely. It makes me smile everytime I see the picutures of your new place. I am sure you will all be very happy there.

[Suzanne Babbitt]

I want that porch. If I had a porch like that I would be sitting out on it all the time. Then I would get nothing done.

[Ann Taylor]

I love this picture of the porch have you ever thought of making notecards or calendars, your photos are amazing, and selling them to raise money for the animals?

[Gena]

Ah, geez.... poor crooked legged two-timing Trooper..... such a bad rep will ruin his chances with the ladies. LOL.

Don't mention it out loud again, and those blind girls won't have a clue that he's not the most handsome fella on the block!

We love Trooper! Um... well, we love them all, so I guess what I said is redundant, isn't it?

And about Annie Andrew - I can just imagine her placid personality going south if she was cooped up in a cage for the long drive - Oh, the stink! :-)

[Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty]

Such contentment! Did the dogs adjust to their new home as easily as it appears they did? How are the horses doing with their adjustment?

[Angela]

Very inviting! - I felt relaxed looking at it and was mentally transported into a snuggle-with-the dogs pose. Looks like your transition is going super well :)

[Doe George]

Lovely photo! The porch looks like the perfect place to me!

[Dee's Mom]

This picture is just tooooo cute! You do need to get two rocking chairs. I know you and Alayne will be too busy to rock but I'm sure a couple of dogs and cats would love them. Hey, maybe you could rename your New Hampshire digs "The Rock and Roll Ranch". :)

[Barbara Techel]

Frankie and I want to come hang out on your porch! What a cute photo!!

Frankie's Mom,
Barbara Techel

[Bibi]

There is just something about those dogs on their porch that grabs my heart....

I think everyone is going to be so happy in their new forever home !

[Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin]

I just love this picture!!! All dogs should have a porch like this to lay on in any kind of weather!!!! I'm enjoying your new place so much so I'm sure living there is even more special.

[Kathy and Harley]

I'm glad to see that your are going to share your porch, but I don't think you have much of a choice do you? They all look very happy and content.I really like your new home and setting, hope it makes things easier for you and Alayne to keep doing what you like to do for year to come. Bless you and all youe critters.

[Lynn (in Louisiana)]

Just think....this time next week, there will be another chair and at least one more dog bed on that porch!

[Cassie]

Hey guys!
I love the porch scene! I think the porch would be my preference, too. Looks like everybody has settled in nicely. Enjoy your new digs! :-)

[Barb Ribinski]

Glad to see the railings on the porch. I was wondering how the dogs would know where the porch ended. Now it looks much safer. And what a group! Do you rotate who gets to be in which yard? And will you be planting trees in the dog yards in the back? So many questions that I'm sure will be answered in time. How you're all settling in. The area looks beautiful and the animals seems happy as ever.