It seems I have my best rambles at night...generally at bed time, or afterward.  This is one of those nights.  I should be signing off, yet my brain is saying "No.  Not yet".  So, here I am, sitting in front of my computer.

I am in the process of starting another business.  I already have a mowing business, and I must admit, it does quite well, but it is only about 5- 6 months.  I also am Dog Constable here on the Island.  No, not Dog Catcher, that gives people the idea that I am supposed to go out and catch any and all dogs that are loose.  That isn't my job.  I do catch them sometimes, but I don't HAVE to.  All I have to do is identify the dog and deal with the owners.  Sometimes it is easier to catch the dog and wait for the owner to come to me; especially when I am not sure who the dog belongs to.  And then their is my newest venture--Commissionaire.  A fancy word for "babysitter".  lol.  Yep, I get to guard (sounds a bit better than babysit) people who have been put in a cell.  This keeps the RCMP officer free to do their jobs, rather than have to sit in the detachment, doing the guarding themselves.  So, amidst all of these other jobs, I decided that opening a dog kennel would be a good idea.

I am almost 50 years old and have dreamed about opening a kennel for--well, I really don't know how long.  But since a friend of mine already had a kennel, I didn't want to cut into her business.  When she decided to sell, I had decided I no longer wanted to try it.  People started asking "Are you going to buy the kennels?" and I answered that I wasn't interested.  As time went on, more people asked.  I guess they know me better than I know me because eventually I talked about it with Joseph.  We decided to look into the numbers.  How many dogs were kenneled in the run of a year?  I already knew the costs since my dogs go to the kennels about twice a month, sometimes more.  Then on to the other numbers.  How much to move the building?  Over and above the cost of the building.  And land...we needed to clear some land as we live in the woods and have cleared as little as possible.  I LIKE being surrounded by trees.  After it is cleared, stump removal, building up the land, then cement work, adding drains in each individual kennel and, (most important in my opinion) in floor heating.  I don't want MY dogs to be cold, so I am sure most others don't want their dogs to be cold, either.  We have very cold winters and lots of dogs just don't have enough fur to stay warm.  So, add cement work, drain pipes, the materials for the heating, a hot water tank and wiring to the cost.  And there you have it.  A scary number.

Off to the bank.  A talk with a financial manager who decides we can do this due to good credit and good information on how much this is going to cost.  I am so glad we did the footwork so we could show we knew what we were doing.  Shortly afterward, the money is lined up and we just have to wait for the snow to melt...after the worst snowfall in memory. (even the old timers hadn't seen as much snow as we got this winter)

Now the now is gone enough that the land is cleared and we are just waiting for the heavy machinery to move in and start fixing things up.  Once they come, it will be more real.  And shortly after that, I am hoping the cement will be done.  Then paint on the floors, linoleum in the kennels (easily sanitized and won't soak up water.) a few shelves, a desk, the wiring. SPCA inspection...and away we go.  I will be the owner of a boarding kennel for dogs.  Ready or not.  Off on my next great adventure!