Let me work backwards. Currently, Kenzie is articulating "Crate," placing a Chance toy in the crate, and saying "Good boy" while Chance looks on from his dog bed. Then it repeats: "Crate...Good boy." "Crate...good boy" all while Chance is sitting on his bed--beginning to train Chance to put his toys away, supposedly.
Now, let me get to vacation.
Sarah requested that we take a vacation week during dry-off since things are slow now and will be hectic starting on April 20th (kidding). Goat news: good news: the goats' lice are gone! Bad news: the goats have mites! Meaning, you guessed it. Stripping the paddock and bleaching everything again. Only this time, we get to shampoo 21 goats and repeat the stripping two weeks later. Kenzie's convinced she has mites.
On request, Kenzie and I took a road trip to Asheville, NC. We stopped in Brooklyn, NY first and Chance met cousin Strider for the first time. It was brotherhood at first sight. Chance would not leave Strider's side at the dog park. I love my friends. I love the dog park and the overpriced smoothie place and the Bagel Hole. I don't miss exhaust in the air or waking up to thumping rap at 6 am or cement. I miss Brooklyn at the same time as I can't picture myself living there now. I'm done with my city side. I think. I will still put on cute outfits to pretend like I am going anywhere other than home and the barn for the day. I still love tight, cozy spaces and still live in one.
Anyway, this is a tangent. We went out dancing on Friday night to the "Hey Queen" dance party in Brooklyn. Kenzie kept being like "Why aren't you looking at me?"...the go-go boys were fabulous. As soon as we stepped into the club, I knew we were now country folk as Kenzie exclaimed "It's so loud." Everyone was impressed with Kenzie's dance moves. I also love them.
After Brooklyn, we stopped in Lovettsville, VA for the night at the home of two of Kenzie's distant friends who own a goat farm. They are still outside in the barn, hammering in a goat ramp at 10pm #farmlife. We are exhausted and unfortunately all I can think about is going to sleep as we try to be entertaining. Soon, two burly men with thick country accents walk in the door with "home brew" and guitars in hand. I can forget about sleep. One of them tells us stories about being an extra for films and how we must go to the Grayson Highlands to see the wild ponies on our way to Asheville.
That is just what we do. Well, try to do. I would be lying if I said we saw the wild ponies. It turned into a short excursion along our then 7 hour drive.
Just as I am starting to reach the point of maximum weirdness on the road trip from being in the car so long, we decide to glamp (glamorous camping) in Hot Springs (45 minutes outside Asheville). The cabin is heated and overlooks the river.
We are on the Appalachian trail in the Smoky Mountains. We took a beautiful hike to "Lover's leap" on the AT.
As we began our hike, Kenzie was of course snapping cute photos of Chance. Suddenly, he made a beeline for the quick river and leapt in like a deer. We screamed for him to come back. He did. We proceeded to take videos of him by the water's edge like he is our first child, cooing in high-pitched voices, praising his first swim. We are all on a high and still talking to Chance like he is the best thing in the world (he quite possibly is) when we realize he won't come out from behind a log. Of course he is scarfing up some fresh human shit. (Kenzie is embarrassed for our perfect pup and prefers that I don't mention that part.)
We bathed in the hot spring mineral water (stolen by the resort and funneled into large outdoor tubs). I almost forgot. So, we are walking the small touristy town of Hot Springs prior. We come upon a liquor store/thrift shop. There is a man with a beard. He is eating pork rind chips out front. He strikes up a conversation with us. Kenzie, being the true Minnesotan that she is, hangs in with his friendly banter.
He then asks, "What are y'all up to tonight?" We pause. I am about to say, "Laying low," as Kenzie truthfully answers, "hot-tubbing." He flirts back: "Y'all want some company?" At this point, Kenzie motions me, "Do you want to go in and check out the thrift shop? I'll stay out here." In her mind, she says she was protecting me and was going to "deal with it on her own." Heck no. In my mind, she was going to continue flirting solo and invite him along? I don't know. I quickly answered her, "No, that's okay" and we abruptly left without giving him an answer except a "have a nice evening." Kenzie is still worried that we weren't "nice enough." On to Asheville...
Now, let me get to vacation.
Sarah requested that we take a vacation week during dry-off since things are slow now and will be hectic starting on April 20th (kidding). Goat news: good news: the goats' lice are gone! Bad news: the goats have mites! Meaning, you guessed it. Stripping the paddock and bleaching everything again. Only this time, we get to shampoo 21 goats and repeat the stripping two weeks later. Kenzie's convinced she has mites.
 |
| Dog park. Nice photo, Kenz. |
Anyway, this is a tangent. We went out dancing on Friday night to the "Hey Queen" dance party in Brooklyn. Kenzie kept being like "Why aren't you looking at me?"...the go-go boys were fabulous. As soon as we stepped into the club, I knew we were now country folk as Kenzie exclaimed "It's so loud." Everyone was impressed with Kenzie's dance moves. I also love them.
 |
| Waiting for Gillie and Christian... Check out Kenzie's new Topman shirt. Nice eye, Liam. |
After Brooklyn, we stopped in Lovettsville, VA for the night at the home of two of Kenzie's distant friends who own a goat farm. They are still outside in the barn, hammering in a goat ramp at 10pm #farmlife. We are exhausted and unfortunately all I can think about is going to sleep as we try to be entertaining. Soon, two burly men with thick country accents walk in the door with "home brew" and guitars in hand. I can forget about sleep. One of them tells us stories about being an extra for films and how we must go to the Grayson Highlands to see the wild ponies on our way to Asheville.
 |
| I know there are more crumbs in here... |
Just as I am starting to reach the point of maximum weirdness on the road trip from being in the car so long, we decide to glamp (glamorous camping) in Hot Springs (45 minutes outside Asheville). The cabin is heated and overlooks the river.
We are on the Appalachian trail in the Smoky Mountains. We took a beautiful hike to "Lover's leap" on the AT.
As we began our hike, Kenzie was of course snapping cute photos of Chance. Suddenly, he made a beeline for the quick river and leapt in like a deer. We screamed for him to come back. He did. We proceeded to take videos of him by the water's edge like he is our first child, cooing in high-pitched voices, praising his first swim. We are all on a high and still talking to Chance like he is the best thing in the world (he quite possibly is) when we realize he won't come out from behind a log. Of course he is scarfing up some fresh human shit. (Kenzie is embarrassed for our perfect pup and prefers that I don't mention that part.)We bathed in the hot spring mineral water (stolen by the resort and funneled into large outdoor tubs). I almost forgot. So, we are walking the small touristy town of Hot Springs prior. We come upon a liquor store/thrift shop. There is a man with a beard. He is eating pork rind chips out front. He strikes up a conversation with us. Kenzie, being the true Minnesotan that she is, hangs in with his friendly banter.
He then asks, "What are y'all up to tonight?" We pause. I am about to say, "Laying low," as Kenzie truthfully answers, "hot-tubbing." He flirts back: "Y'all want some company?" At this point, Kenzie motions me, "Do you want to go in and check out the thrift shop? I'll stay out here." In her mind, she says she was protecting me and was going to "deal with it on her own." Heck no. In my mind, she was going to continue flirting solo and invite him along? I don't know. I quickly answered her, "No, that's okay" and we abruptly left without giving him an answer except a "have a nice evening." Kenzie is still worried that we weren't "nice enough." On to Asheville...
No comments:
Post a Comment