Life is never dull around here, and this year was no exception. The circle of life continues to turn, as old spirits pass on and new ones enter our life. Mingus, our 15-year-old Dalmatian, passed away in February, five months after we were sure we were going to lose her, and now awaits us at the Rainbow Bridge. This is the first time Brian has been Dalmatianless since sometime in the 1970s.

In August, another canine spirit joined us, a Golden Retriever puppy that we’ve named Maizy Mae. She’s full of energy, as you’d expect a puppy to be. It turns out that she has a urinary tract condition, but it’s being managed with medications, so all is well for now.

Murray, our great orange hunter cat, still roams the farm in search of rodents and (unfortunately) birds, while his adoring companion Moxie is content to watch from the window.

Mason and Maizy Mae