We are a conservative Christian family living on a small farm in the rural woodland of north Idaho, twelve miles from the nearest gas station or grocery shop.  Besides our beloved Cairns, we keep a flock of chickens & turkeys, a lazy horse and lazier pony, house & barn cats, a handful of pet rabbits, a small flock of East Friesian & Icelandic crossbred dairy sheep, and our Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog, Sam Sheepdog. 

I have been a stay-at-home-mom that manages our household and animals.
I homeschooled our children, but our last teen attended a local Christian high school until he graduated June 2021.  We have been actively involved with our church and local 4-H club.  Prior to my marriage and subsequent family, I was employed as a veterinary technician.  Many MANY years ago, I used to keep and raise harlequin and black Great Dane dogs.

Spring and summer seasons see us busy with lambs, garden and farm chores.  On weekends, we are frequently off hiking or fishing, or, in the case of my husband and young adult kids, bicycling.  Where we go, the dogs go, be it mountain trail or hay field.
Autumn is our really busy time with harvest.
Winter is severe here in the north, but we enjoy riding the snowmobile, skiing, and snowboarding.  Cairn terriers, fortunately, love playing in snow, too.

Our dogs are very much part of our family.  They go with on walks and hikes.  They go to town and to visit extended family.  Our dogs are very social and enjoy people and other animals.  We have frequent positive interactions with small children and with small animals, including our pet cats and chickens.  Our dogs do, however, hunt mice, moles, and ground squirrels with our approval and encouragement.  If you've ever seen the damage done to a pasture by such vermin, you would understand why!  Our dogs keep those pesky varmints under control in the true tradition of working Cairn terriers.

Years ago, I took two of our girl Cairns into the show ring world.  Bonny loved it.  Magaidh hated it.  Both girls placed well and would have earned championships if I was prepared to travel to shows with enough points available for them to earn.  Showing was interesting and very educational.  However, it will not be on our list of priorities.  The dogs we raise are intended to be family companions, not show ring divas.