A happy photo arrived in my phone this morning, our friends Nicole and Keene have arrived at an ocean resort in New Hampshire and wasted no time getting into the water. They are off on a Whale Watch today.
This photo had a lot of special meaning for Maria and me. We have known Nicole awhile, she is a vet tech at the Cambridge Valley Veterinary Clinic, where many of you have read about our trials with our dogs and with Gus.
This is the first year we have hired her to help with some chores on the farm, and with pet and farm sitting while we are away.
We met Keene earlier this summer when he came over with Nicole to help stack some firewood. Like his mother, he works like a fiend. He told me he and Nicole were saving up money for his first trip to the ocean.
He took the $10 I gave him in pay for his part in wood stacking and put it in the pot he and Nicole have been using to save up every penny. Nicole has had a challenging year and she and Keene worked hard all summer to save up money for this trip.
She feels like part of our family, there is no work too hard for her, and she stacked two cords of firewood in a couple of hours one day in a broiling sun. Keene was sweating right there with her.
Keene also worked exercising Fate and playing with her when we were busy or away.
The two are very much alike. At first Keene would throw the ball and then raced Fate to get to it, he often beat her there, and Fate runs like a cougar.
When Keene was her, Fate slept happily for hours. Needless to say, she loves him and his visits. No one has ever been able to wear Fate out.
It was touching to see how hard these two were willing to work for their trip to the beach, and how happy they are to be there.
I asked her to send some photos from the whale watch. Nicole is impressive, she works hard, is wonderful with animals, and is confident. There is no BS about her.
She grew up on a farm, and is great at taking care of a farm.
She is also strong as a mule. We are happy to know her and Keene. This photo made my day. My good news of the day.