This is Christopher’s rendition of an olympic skier; or is it a self portrait from his day at Andes Tower Hills?!
February, 2006
27
Feb 06
John’s Best Friend
In the middle of January, Sarah Race asked if we wished to obtain her 4 year old dog, Katie. It had not worked out well to have the dog at their new location on the Silo Farm. John agreed to be the primary owner and caretaker of the golden retriever/lab mix, and Joseph agreed to help us find a kennel for her, AFTER the “college at home” seminar. Little did we know that Joseph’s dog was going to leave us in the meantime.(see previous post). After picking up Katie on January 23rd, John was able to bring her home to Dusty’s recently vacated kennel and run. She was a little anxious to be in the habitat of her old Crown Farm neighbor, but she soon learned that she would be run 5 times a day, and that it was OK to push the dog igloo door open to get inside it. Good thing for her, as the weather dipped to teens below zero, without the windchill!
John and Katie are learning a lot from each other, and both are quite teachable. 
Joseph has joined John on a few runs to give him some experienced pointers. Having Katie around has helped us all to adjust to the void Dusty left. John is looking forward to baseball season, when Katie’s passion for retrieving balls can be put to good use!
See their picture in our photo blog.
17
Feb 06
Dusty Departs
Another thing that happened during the that busy weekend of January 21st was the passing of Joseph’s golden retriever, Dusty. During his walks on Thursday, it appeared that he was quite “putsy” and had little of the “get up and go” to which we were accustomed . Friday morning he was even slower and we booked him a vet appointment for 3:30. Susan (and house guest Beth Caswell) offered to bring him in so Joseph could keep working on the farm, and then take the rest of the kids and company ice skating. By the time we brought him to the office he was laid out on the floor breathing painfully and with a rapid pulse. Dr. Cook suggested an abdominal x-ray, as well as a blood test. Both were called in negative to Joseph’s cell phone. Dusty was kept at the vet’s overnight, which was a blessing, as Kraemers were hosting 21 people Friday night and all day Saturday.
The next morning we launched the seminar (see previous 2 blog posts) and about lunch time, Susan, overcome by curiosity, asked Joseph if he “had any messages on his cell phone,” to which he truthfully answered, “No.” After the 15 plus families finally departed from the church basement, Joseph informed me that he had spoken with Dr. Cook at 8:30 am, and followed his recommendation to put Dusty, whose condition had worsened through the night, out of his misery. He was 8 years old, and suffered from a type of heart failure. That evening our family began to process the loss with tears, questions, and recognition of the blessings of how God had timed Dusty’s passing. (More on that in the next post).
Meanwhile, Joseph mentioned two weeks later that he had “just buried Dusty.” As the vet had disposed of the dog and his body, I wondered how that could be so. He went on to say that he had just walked to the mail box, this time without his dog, to pay the remaining vet bill. Joseph truly has a lot to process as he moves from one phase of his life to another.
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things….I Cor.13:11
16
Feb 06
Joseph moves out…Joseph moves in!
During an extremely busy week in the life of the Kraemer household, Joseph loaded up his belongings amassed over the past 21 years and with the help of his siblings dragged them over by sled to the neighboring trailer home. His first few nights were spent accompanied by his siblings as the “inn” was full at the K. Kraemer household (see previous post).
Moving in, and re-arranging his things continues to be accomplished little by little as the busy farm manager finds time. He visits the family a few times a week, and comes back for an occasional meal, especially when we have company.
We have found his his trailer home to be handy to bake extra bread, store extra frozen food, and sleep extra house guests.
Having the first born “leave the nest” has been, and continues to be a learning experience for all. Communication is a good thing! 