Although this is not a long winded post by any means… I have updated some of the information in the above menu tabs and drop down selections… Many pictures have been added to the Adventure Tab. Click Adventures above to see all the updates! The animal sections have also been updated!
Enjoy!
Its true I have been absent for the last while. I have not been active in my blogging pursuit since August 13, 2013. But I hope to change that now that spring has arrived. Well kinda! (It is snowing out there now).
I have included our Christmas letter here too as an update and summary on last year’s events.
Sitting to write our second annual Christmas letter gets me to thinking about the year gone by; the milestones along the way, and the trials and tribulations of country living. It has been most assuredly a wonderful year full of adventure and excitement with friends’ family and neighbours.
The year began with fireworks!… Literally, we celebrated the New Year with friends and family, lighting fireworks and ringing in 2013 all together! The winter months were cold and snowy but when the spring was in full swing we began planning our gardening and animal strategy for the summer months!
We planted another garden this year and had much better luck with our harvest than in the past, in fact early in the spring as the snow started to melt I headed out to see how the carrots faired through the cold months. Last fall it was not initially my intention to leave the carrots in over the winter, however with the early and abundant snowfall I had no choice I couldn’t get to them for harvest and they had to stay put. I could see the tops of the carrots when the snow melted and dug in to find full crisp tasty garden carrots ready for eating!
Through the summer we spent a few wonderful weekends at the lake this year with family camping, fishing, boating, and swimming! We also made it to the local Rodeos in Grande Prairie, Tee Pee Creek and Dawson Creek. All were great shows and weather too despite the rain on the weekend of the Dawson Creek Rodeo! Steve also acquired a Back Hoe this summer and has spent time playing and working with it! We did some riding near our home and a couple overnight trips with the horses where we camped out (this time not under the stars!) We also did some cow chasing something I just love to do – and so does Willow!!
As fall arrived planning for snow removal did too! Although lucky for us this year’s snowfall was not as early as the past! We hosted our second annual Pizza Pumpkin Party and enjoyed our time competing and carving all together!
Winter hit and so did the snow, I learned how to run the backhoe and began my task of removing snow from the driveway. Not quite quick enough because this winter already I have been stuck a few times in the deep snow!
Work continues for both of us, Steve at a new company now, he is enjoying the new job and that is great! I am working for the same company at the college and still loving what I do!
We had many new additions to our little farm this year, including pigs, new chickens, a donkey, goats, and a new horse. While living in the barn in the pen next to the chicken coop the pigs sometimes thought they might like to be chickens… rooting under the wall in an attempt to reach the other side they succeeded on three occasions! We were thrilled when the weather warmed enough and the outside pen was ready for them! We acquired an incubator this year and began the process of hatching out our own chicks. Olive cat was quite intrigued by these little moving noisy fluff balls as he sat on the chair above the brooder watching them move about. Heading out to the Exotic Animal Sale in the spring was an adventure unto it self. While at the sale we purchased 6 chicks (likely only a week younger than the babies already at home), a pair of Guinea fowl who did not survive Dia dog for more then a couple days, and a mini Donkey Penelope (a gift for a friend!) We also purchased 2 goats while at the sale, L.B. and Vera and while away for a weekend Vera had her kids Nena and Sera. Unfortunately Nena did not make it but Sera is doing well and growing like crazy! Later in the year Steve picked up 5 more goats to join our little herd. All the goats we have now are happy and full of energy free ranging around our barnyard! Sadie Horse was the final addition to our farm this year before winter arrived! She is a beautiful horse and I was even able to ride her once before the snow flew!
So now we plan for a joyous Christmas all together and look forward to another year! And we wish all
of our Friends and Family a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!
What a year it was!
Now that the new year 2014 is in full swing and the snow is trying to melt – unsuccessfully at the moment, I started to think about the upcoming year; what will it bring, what adventures will we take and who will we meet?
We had some losses over the winter, some of the old hens didn’t make it through the cold wintery months in the coop, just too old to make it though L We had another very sad loss in Vera she was taken down by our dog and a neighbours dog who was staying with us… needless to say Dia dog spent a week in Doggy Prison (locked up in the garage) and the neighbours dog was shipped off home. It didn’t change the fact that Vera didn’t make it; she was such a great goat, great mommy too! We will miss her!… Sara survived the ordeal and after spending a week in the porch recovering (sprained her leg running away on the ice) she was good as new and the other goats were up on the deck coaxing her back out to the barn yard, they have taken her in now as one of their own and all 5 are doing well playing and learning together. Our final big loss over the winter was Penelope he was an old Donkey and I believe that he died of old age nothing seemed to have attacked him or taken him down. I went to the pasture one day to find him lying in the snow. He was a good old donkey and I am just sad that the friend we got him for didn’t get to ever move him home L
Now we are looking forward to the summer ahead of us with seeds started in the mini greenhouse inside and the animals roaming around the now mud filled barnyard waiting for the first blades of green grass to poke through the ground! The water level continues to rise in the creek threatening to flood the pens again. The chickens are happy to have their run open and not filled with snow any longer. And mommy hen is brooding 18 eggs – we don’t dare touch them for fear of losing a finger! The chickens are all laying again an abundance of eggs for our consumption, and the pigs are almost ready for butcher.
As we didn’t complete the green house last year that is on the goal list for this summer so we can start planting next spring in it! I also am looking forward to building a chicken tractor and some more flowerbeds on the property. We will be renovating the upstairs of the house soon in our bedroom, spare room, office, and bathroom, I am looking forward to having a finished flow to the upstairs of our home!… the basement is another project unto itself and may be until the fall or even winter before we get back at it!
Steve is heading off to School soon to finish his last year of Trades School, he will be away for two months… back on the weekends though so I am kind of looking forward to having him home and not working on the weekends even if it means he has to be gone to a neighbouring city during the week!
Well that is some of what is coming up over the next while and we are looking forward to what the future holds!
It is my goal now and full intention to work on keeping up with blogging, my apologies to readers for taking such a long break!
Happy Spring!!!
I have had a relaxing and fun filled vacation. Many days spent with friends and family made my summer vacation amazing. We had camp fires and visits on the deck. We made it to another auction sale although did not purchase anything this time around! I went on a short and quick but interesting road trip. We celebrated a friend’s daughters 1st birthday; it was fantastic! And new animals joined our farm (check out the Animals in the menu above!) Sadie Horse my new big beautiful horse and I are getting to know each other, Steve has rode her and this weekend I will have an opportunity to get on her too!
We also added 9 more piglets to our piggy family.The other ones are ready for Butcher and Steve and his friend are planning for the 20th.
The night after returning from the overnight riding trip we saddled up the horses again and headed out with friends to move some cows. It was only a couple of hours in the evening but it was a beautiful evening ride and went so smooth that we got to just relax riding the horses!
I spent time in the garden, however as the rain fell at such inconvenient times I was not able to get all the weeds out before they took over the peas and potatoes. We still have a good crop of each but have to sift thought the weeds a little to get to them. Each year the garden gets a little easier to handle but there is still a lot of work to do in it for the next fewyears to get it to a place where I can get a good crop off of it. Steve and I also started building the new greenhouse. It is going to be wonderful to use it next year; I am hoping we can get it completed before the snow falls. I am hoping that I will have a whole section set aside for Chickens! … No more poultry in the house!
I had the opportunity to spend many wonderful days with the kids and oh what a joy that was we crafted played and went on adventures.
We took the kids out berry picking it was a beautiful day and have the berries now for a jam-packed jam-making day in the future!
We built a great backyard pool on one of the hotter days, and played in it all day!We had some campfires and late night sleepover nights too!
I made it to the final Rodeo of the season for one of the nights. It was a late night and loads of fun! I headed out in the afternoon with some friends and the kids. We visited with friends once we arrived, wandered around the fair grounds and the kids road some of the rides. The wagons started and we sat in the grand stands and watched the wagons race. After we headed back to sit by the fire with friends and then when the rain started to fall we packed up and drove home in the pouring rain.
It has been a wonderful vacation and i know the rest of the summer is going to be fantastic… so many more adventures to come!
So just wanted to share with everyone my grandmothers new book!
Check it out and order your copy!
Enjoy!
Well what’s wonderful day! Sadie joined our farm today!
She is beautiful! Steve and I are very happy she is here and I am excite to have a new horse to ride! We will have some time to work with her on the weekend and then I hope to get some hours in riding her!!! It has been a very happy day!
Well it was a fabulous day… I don’t have any pictures to show for it but I am hoping that tomorrow I will get some good ones! I left the farm in Steve’s capable hands for the night and headed out on a riding adventure with his aunt and uncle on some land his uncle grazes cows on! Steve has to work for the weekend and as I am on vacation he encouraged me to go along on this wonderful trip!
We loaded the horses this morning and left the farm early ( able to do so because his aunt and uncle stayed the night before in their trailer in our yard!) When we arrived we saddled up the horses and headed out on the land… Glad to have them with me or I would have been lost off the get go! With two successful river crossings and a beautiful view for lunch on the bank we spent the day in the sun and then down pour of rain together having a fantastic time!!!
Not all fun and games this trip though, it is about the cows and making sure they are all where they are suppose to be and have what they need! Today we hauled salt to them. Tomorrow is another day and we will be out again with them! This time moving them to new locations! I am hoping with no river crossings or major danger of losing my camera I will be able to get some good shots of the events tomorrow has in store for us!
Always a great time is had out here and I look forward to what is to come tomorrow!
I have spent time doing so many wonderful things with wonderful people that I have just not had enough time to update my blog along the way. So here it is the last few weeks jammed into one blog post… Happy reading!
The last few weeks have been phenomenal. In particular we said good by to my sister in law Nicole as she ventured out on her very own journey to South America. Not that saying good-bye was a happy moment… but knowing the adventure she is embarking on is so exciting! You can follow her on WordPress as well!
Check out her blog From Coast to Coast at:
Going away Parties:
For the first night of her going away parties on June 20th we had a FONDUE
PARTY!!! In the full heat of the summer we turned on the oil pots and began to cook an incredible meal together! We played some great games and enjoyed each other’s company that evening. For the second time in my life I learned and fully believe Fondue is a wintertime activity!
The next night we all got together once again including some more family members and friends to celebrate night 2 of Nicole’s going away party… we indulged in a delicious steak dinner!
By Saturday morning June 22nd I was ready for a sleep in with all the food fun and late nights over the past few days I was tired and ready to start my morning with a late wake up and a relaxing coffee on the deck! The animals however had other ideas! I received a call from the owners of the baby horse and the mom still was not letting the foal eat, I was up and out early to milk LB and deliver her milk to the baby horse, so cute! I had a wonderful visit and breakfast so it was well worth the early morning. After breakfast I went home to spray for weeds and do some cleaning in the house. It was a slow afternoon and extremely relaxing!
Museum Fundraising Gala
Later Saturday evening my wonderful hairdresser and close friend came by, as I was getting ready for the ball. I was so grateful for her stopping in, she did my hair for me and I was able, with her help, to get ready in under an hour, which was necessary after I had taken too long on chores that afternoon! As we left the house an hour after I had been out milking LB and sloping the pigs, and half an hour after Steve arrived from work I had
another chuckle… me in my ball gown and Steve so dashing in his tux we drove in to the Gala.We arrived and waited inside the lobby and out of the heat for the other couple we were meeting there. Once we were all together we walked in and were greeted at the door in French, as the evenings theme was Paris. We had our complimentary photo taken before walking in to the ballroom. Once inside we checked out the silent auction items while enjoying champagne and hor dourves.
We found our table and sat to enjoy a delicious 5-course meal and complimentary wine. The program started with the founder of the museum speaking of his work and thanking everyone for their generosity and donations at this fundraising event and through out the years leading up. There was a live auction with a fashion show and a very old and beautiful necklace. There were 2 fantastic bands who played during supper as well as after for the dance portion of the evening. 
When the evening came to an end we stepped out in the heat of the night and headed back to the farm to hang our lavish attire up and change into cozy loungewear. It was a beautiful night and we felt particularly fortunate to have been invited to such an incredible event!
Trail Rides:
Sunday Morning after the Ball Steve left for work and I awoke to prepare for the day. Steve’s uncle would be by soon to pick the horses and myself up to go out trail riding for the day and to check on his cows. We met his girlfriend and her family on the road and all traveled to his land 100kms away. We unloaded the horses and got ready to head out on the trail. Once 
we got going Willow was bound and determined to be out front and lead the way, she did so well! Even going through the deep swamp she was steady and we got through on the other side dry! It was a wonderful day and very warm and sunny! Once we got back to our house we were met by Steve and his mom and dad who helped to unload the horses and tack, Steve had lit a fire and we all gathered around to enjoy a Weiner roast together relaxing by the fire and talking about the days events!
After everyone left we quickly did chores and headed to bed, it had been a long weekend and I had to work the next day, I needed my beauty sleep! Another fun filled weekend was fast approaching and I wanted to be ready!
Lake Weekend Fun!
On the 28th, we decided to go out to the lake and spend the Canada Day long 
weekend with my family, we had initially intended to go out and spend Saturday there and come home on Sunday afternoon, but Steve got off work a little early on Friday and after we finished up chores and asked some friends if they could check in on the animals for us we left Friday, arriving at the lake just in time for a few beverages and a warm fire. We visited with wonderful Family for the remainder of the evening and went to bed rather early. The next morning
I was so glad we had arrived the night before and I could wake up already at the lake, bright and early. We set out on the lake in the canoe for some early morning fishing and relaxing as the sun rose over the horizon. It was a beautiful morning and Steve 
and I enjoyed one another’s company and a quiet coffee while casting for fish. No fish were caught in the end but the morning was magnificent and so I think can be labeled a 
success! After we ran out of coffee and the fish were no longer even biting we decided to paddle in and cook breakfast. After breakfast my mom and I went for a leisurely walk in the nearby trails, losing our shoes to a mud bog. Steve chose to stay back and get the Jet Ski running, once it was running he jumped on and went out for a cruise around the lake checking to see if any of our lake neighbors were home and then playing out on the water practicing his victory rolls! When he came back to 
shore it was my turn to get out on the water and as I was out playing on the Jet Ski jumping waves and doing rolls it suddenly quit running. This was not good. I was 
going wait for a minute and see if I could get it to fire up again; then a boat came along full of people also out enjoying the long weekend warm weather and beautiful day. They pulled up to see if I was okay, I let them know it wouldn’t turn over and asked if they had a tow rope to drag me to shore with, they did and after throwing it to me I tied it around the handle bars, silly to do as the jet ski has a clear label sating not to do that, but I’ve done it before so what could go wrong… Ha… as the boat began to pull me the Jet Ski began to pull sideways and proceeded to tip over dumping me in the water and landing upside down in the lake. There is a certain way to tip the Jet Ski back upright and if tipped the incorrect way it could flood and sink. 
One of the guys from the boat jumped in the water to help me flip it back up but neither of us remembered or could think logically about it in the cold water as to which way to flip it, so we took our chances and lucked out it didn’t flood we tied the tow rope up correctly this time and climbed in to the boat and they took me to shore. We untied on shore and I thanked the group for their assistance. They left and
I loaded the Jet Ski onto the lift. Steve was waiting on shore for me and immediately started trying to fix it. He and my dad worked on it for hours and it wasn’t until the next day (Sunday) that we managed to get it running again!
We spent the rest of the day relaxing and visiting with family, finally ending up by the campfire againafter a wonderful seafood dinner!
Canada Day!
After deciding to stay yet another night at the lake we knew it would be a quick good bye in the morning and a long trip home early to make it back for the Canada day celebrations scheduled for the 1st of July. We just couldn’t resist one more night at the lake it was such a wonderful and warm weekend we got to spend with everyone. We had a magnificent weekend and cant wait to go back again! I had volunteered to be a part of the Canada day Parade with a local group, we had a horse drawn wagon as a float and stilt walkers whom had been practicing for weeks and weeks leading up to this day.
Cell Service is not available at the lake and as such we did not know that Vera had her babies until Monday morning when we got to the small town I grew up in.
Both Steve and I got text messages from our friends who had been looking after our animals while we were away and who had sent us pictures of the new babies on the farm. It was pretty spectacular and of course would happen while we were away! I had just enough time when we arrived home to see the new babies before I had to get ready and travel to town for the parade!
While I was in town Steve’s cousin from out of town stopped in for a visit with her children and they got to see the babies the little girls named them for me which is great because I have such a time figuring out names! Sera and Nina are Vera’s babies. Oh How Cute are they!
After the Parade activities and +35 Degree Weather walking through the streets with a banner I was ready for a cool down! As exciting as it was and as much fun as we had watching the children’s smiling faces as the stilt walkers high fived them from an extra 4ft height it was time for home… I cranked the AC and rolled down the windows to drive home and relax in the shade watching the baby goats play!
Not long after arriving home we completed chores and headed to Steve’s mom and 
dads to roll grain and have a burger bbq. Steve made some incredible burgers thick, juicy and delicious. His brother and a couple other people stopped in for a visit and burger and afterwards we headed out to roll some grain for the pigs! It was late when we arrived home and I was more than ready for a shower and bed!
Whirlwind weeks…
The following two weeks were a whirlwind of fun and activity. We spent time with friends and family barbequing, horseback riding, and relaxing on the deck! By the 9th July 2013 it was Steve’s birthday and we had a relaxing evening at home with Pizza, Ice Cream Cake, and Duck Dynasty! As the week came to an end I completed all my work stuff and got amped up for my vacation! Time away from work and time to spend on the farm enjoying the summer!
Rodeo Action!
By the 11th the Rodeo was in full swing and at only 6 miles from our house we spent the whole weekend there!… We went over to take in the chuck wagon action for the Thursday evening. By Friday morning my first day of vacation I was on the road to a neighboring town to pick up my Mom and Dads puppy Emma for a weekend of dog sitting while they headed off to a wedding!!
When I arrived back home Steve was ready with the trailer we were borrowing for the weekend (from his mom and dad) and we did chores and headed over to the rodeo 
grounds. That night we took in the first concert of the weekend – Mark Chesnutt; he was rather late arriving but was an amazing concert once he arrived! A late night had by all and such a fun night! The next afternoon when we rose from our slumber Steve and I went home to do chores arriving home we saw the dogs were missing we called and called and searched for 
them but with no avail decided to go back to the grounds and check in with the neighbors the next day if they were not there the next day. That night we went to the barn for night 2 of concerts and saw David Lee Murphy; another great concert after a fun filled day of rodeo action. By Sunday morning I was anxious to get home and see if the dogs had arrived home. They hadn’t; when we pulled in the driveway they were not anywhere to be seen, but a note left in the door lifted my spirits! A neighbor found them and left a note for us. I called and they made their way to our place to return the lost puppies! Emma was tied up promptly as I was taking her back that day at 4 to my parents. We went out to the barnyard after that to do chores and had a sad moment Nena had jumped in the water trough and drown.
RIP Nena
I was really upset about losing her.
After I had a moment and we finished chores, we headed back over to the rodeo grounds to take in the show for the afternoon; 
I left after the Rodeo to drop off my parent’s dog with them in the neighbouring town when they returned from their travels. I didn’t stay long, we had a quick visit about their trip and the wedding and I was back on the road again making it back in time to see the wagons race. As the weekend wrapped up and we cleaned up camp we went home to get some rest before the new week started.
What a fantastic last few weeks, so full of fun family and friends, I cant wait to see what the next adventure is!
And now we are spending our days slow and steady, cleaning the house and building a green house. I hope that for the next few days I can spend time getting caught up on all the things I have fallen behind in while working full time, and taking care of the farm!
I wanted to do a quick post because I have been so swamped with work and adventures I haven’t had a lot of time to get a post up… I will have one complete with all the stories of the last few weeks ASAP! I will be on summer holidays in the next few days and have a little more time to devote to posting! In the mean time feel free to follow my twitter feed on the right! And have a fantastic day all!
I have to admit I’ve always been a bit of a shoeaholic in fact if you ask my friends they still question if I wear my stilettos out to milk the goat!
So I laughed today, literally out loud in the barnyard carrying the slop bucket out to the pigs.
I grew up “ in – town” a small town but still town, I was not a farm girl nor did we growing up ever have animals that were not “pets.” A petting zoo when I was young was as close as I ever got to “farm life.” Don’t get me wrong I have always loved the outdoors, and we spent much of my child hood exploring the great outdoors getting dirty and adventuring many remote locations outside my small hometown. However, this did not change my desire to after graduation move to a bigger city where I could nightly don my party dresses and stilettos. Then I met Steve and to my amazement he brought out the get down and dirty adventurous side of me that I reserved for only some occasions. I still make the 60-mile commute daily for work and often fly to a neighboring city for meetings at which I am always business appropriately dressed but at the end of the day my favorite thing is arriving home zipping up my jeans and heading out to the barn yard with Steve to see the animals, or embarking on our next big adventure!
This is where the laughter came from and likely why the animals looked at me as though I had lost the plot. As I headed out to do chores this morning before getting ready for work I was making a mental to do list for the things I wanted to accomplish today. (Personally! – My work list sits nestled on my desk and I try hard not to let that infiltrate my brain when I’m not in the office!) As I was running down the upcoming event list and what I would need to prepare for the next few days, I remembered that I needed to take my ball gown to the seamstress to have the broken zipper fixed, and that I would need to drop off Steve’s Tux at the Dry cleaners and I would need to remember to get those garments out of the closet before leaving for work! This though made me laugh out loud! My ball gown why on earth do I, the now country girl in her rubber boots carrying pig slop, need a ball gown.
Well…
Steve and I were invited to a fundraising gala (black tie formal – the invitation read) so as the weekend nears I will set aside my cowboy boots and slide in to my high heals, pretty up my hair, and slip in to my gown. It really was an honor to be invited to such an event and I am sure we will have a wonderful time. I still always enjoy the moments when I get to dress up for a night out on the town.
And I still love my shoes… some things will never change!
Last night was incredible, Neighbors had a foal that was just born on Monday afternoon and she was so tiny and soft.
Mom was having some issues feeding her so baby just wasn’t getting enough nutrients from her alone. She is pretty skinny but was up and full of kick and bounce as we walked her over to mom to try again to drink!
Before heading over I milked LB and Steve picked up some colostrum paste. When we arrived they were concerned that she hadn’t had a bowel movement yet and as such were worried about supplementing with the goats milk until she did. She was given the colostrum paste and tried to feed
from mom for a while getting very little in. they had another bottle of colostrum from a cow that was proving a little more tasty than the paste and she drank that out of a bottle. Scouring the pen we still could not find anything to indicate a bowel movement and so they decided to refrigerate the goats milk until today when they would look again to see if she could have it!
She is absolutely beautiful, we sat in the pen with her and mom for a couple hours and when all the children arrived home they helped with
the bottle and cleaning herup as she had chosen a cow pie earlier in the day as a good napping spot! They were all so gentle with her; they have named her Rosie, although temporary as there seemed to be some discrepancies around what her name should be!!! I’m sure it will stick though!
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go over and see her as that was the first time I have seen a foal at one day old! Just Beautiful!
Livin' the Country Life 