Snowfall #2

So we bought this house with a huge, long, steep, driveway but it really never snows much on the Island...
We already have a foot and are expecting 40 cm in the next 24 hours and then another big dump on the 23rd. And cold!! We're packing water to the alpacas and goats and even the chickens. We bought a trough heater to keep the water thawed but the taps are frozen solid. And seriously, the best purchase has been the snow plow. I don't know if it will handle tonight's load but here's hoping. So far it's fun for Jim but if this keeps up I think the novelty is going to wear off pretty quick. I think he's hoping his son-in-laws will come and take over. That's if everyone can get here.

This is the view from the beach.

I don't have ducks but I'm keeping all my critters in a row

Anyone for a bonfire?

This is doing the hill with the first little bit and it did great. It also did really well with the extra foot but as Jim was saying it's getting narrower and narrower and pretty soon we will have to ride bicycles to get up and down.

I have to admit, it is pretty.

and we don't have chains...

THE BRASS ARK

Well, we've had our new additions for over a week now and it's going pretty well. Not something I would have wished for but it's getting better. For those who read this and don't know how this came about it all started with a phone call from daughter Heather who was heart broken. She has raised these critters, plus a few more that we didn't take, for the last 3 years where she works but the owners decided that they didn't want them any more. Just like that.
Get rid of them. Need I say anymore...?
So our little acreage now has 2 dogs, 2 cats, 9 chickens, 3 goats, 6 alpacas, 1 llama and a few goldfish (just for color). And yes it's nuts. The good news is no one has any nuts (except Jim but I digress). Myself & Jim know absolutely nothing about alpacas and llamas and actually we know nothing about chickens or goats either but we're getting there. About the only thing I do know is chicken poop (see, I can be polite) sticks to everything, goats poop everywhere and whoever said that alpacas & llamas poop in one spot has never raised alpacas and llamas!

Feeding time.
This is when I lock the goats away and walk out into the middle of these guys with
my heart in my throat, the bucket of grain on my head and just wait to get kicked.
So far so good but I know it's coming! Oh the bucket isn't over my head but on my head to keep them out of it until I can scoop it into their buckets.

Carlos, isn't that the cutest little face?

Hello, my name is Diego

What the hell are you?!
(Cinnamon & Bucky meet Wally for the 1st time)

The Beaver

Wally

The slightly insane goats checking out what the herd showed up in.

Simon, the very sweet llama, who, just for the record, scares the crap out of me!

Scooby Doo, horrible kicker but he's getting to be my favorite

The entire gang,
except the goats who were hiding in the barn at this point

Sweet, shy Bob

Anyway I'll keep you posted. It's been either raining or heavy fog other than two days since they showed up. I now own gum boots...ah what a life!!! I'm lovin' it!

THE END OF BEING MAYOR

I guess I should be sad but really you would have to slap the smile off my face, NO MORE MR & MRS MAYOR!!! Actually in a lot of ways we are probably going to miss it. We've met some amazing people and gained some life long friends along the way, in particular Randy and Pearle Price (I love you Kitty) and Richard & Jennifer Kannigan. But, I have to say, I can't wait to watch the Build, Bail & Sail from the Whaler not the Mayor's Luncheon.
It's only 6:30 as I type this and the polls close at 8:00. There are only a few that either of us could honestly say would be good on council or as mayor and I do worry for our beautiful little town. The funny thing is that we can't even vote in Comox because we're now in the regional district. I give it 3 years and I bet that you know who won't be able to stand what's happening out here and will run for that. In the meantime though maybe we can get some travel in and see our grandkids.
On another note I wasn't going to blog until next weekend when the newcomers arrive but I thought I would give those who don't know 'all' a heads up. Next Friday...we do...officially...become farmers! No we aren't getting cows and no I'm not getting my horse, we're getting!!!!! 6 alpacas and a llama (a guard llama, seriously). Now, I know a lot about horses, I now know a fair bit about goats (they are slightly insane, at least mine is), I seem to have very happy chickens (seems if you feed them a little BC Bud you get double yolks) (oh come on, I'm kidding, we have so many freakin' animals who could afford it!!!) But (and mine is getting bigger by the hour) I know nothing about alpacas and llamas. You see this is Heather's fault. Who could possibly say no to a crying Heather? Certainly not her dad or I. It's a long story but we are really excited about being able to help her and her herd out. And sorry Heather but they are our herd unless you are in the Valley.

We are on a learning curve like you wouldn't believe. Our vet couldn't stop laughing. We spent time today buying feed bags, confirming who sold the feed etc. I went with Darcee and a friend to a lady's place who had 2 alpacas and a llama last week. They, or these at least, weren't the prettiest animals I've ever been around. They were filthy dirty, bad teeth, bad feet, one kicked, one was deaf...okay they were all damn cute, well except for that. Hard to believe that's where your cashmere sweaters come from, eh?I thought this was a sheep but apparently it's an angora goat, talk about a face only
a mother could love.

This is a llama and he has the most horrible teeth and feet I've ever seen on an animal. I could be wrong because I know NOTHING but it kinda looked like a case of neglect because I do know that both the feet and the teeth trimmed and filed.

The really good thing was that they do indeedy poop in only one spot. See that's the other thing about becoming a 54 year old farmer, you learn that chicken poop sticks to everything, goats poop and pee on everything and alpacas poop in one place. See there's that learning curve. So stay tuned, I have a feeling the next post is going to be interesting. I'm taking bets that my slightly retarded goat can take the guard llama...crap that vet is going to be a wealthy man...This is the kicking alpaca with an attitude which knowing that they are such gentle animals makes me think he's been abused, not by her but whomever had her previouslyAnd this is little Blue Eyes whom I would love to have, she is terribly shy but so cute!! She is also totally deaf which apparently is a trait in alpacas with blue eyes, who would have known!
Man, I can't wait til Friday!!!!!

Gotta Love Those Surfer Shorts

Jamie and Heather took Sullivan swimming yesterday and I just had to look back
at our Hawaii pictures with Luke. We really need to win a lottery so we all go there once
Dan and Jen's little one is born.
Anyway I thought these were cute.

Wow, it's Halloween!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted!!!
There's a new baby girl since I last posted, amazing!! I can't wait to meet little Evelyn.
Aren't they a beautiful family?Oh and how life changes with a puppy in the house. Turn your back on her for a second and she's eating a shoe or a table leg or a cat or, in the case of the photo, a chicken. But today she's sitting quietly at my feet while I type this. That should last for about 5 minutes. As usual I'm sitting here waiting for some kind of tradesman to show up. It's now 10:15
and he was supposed to be here by 8:00. Seriously what is it about electricians?!!!

So our first Hallow's Eve in the new place, our plan was to have a big fire and to set off fireworks (which are downstairs) but it's pouring and blowing and just not nice. Could be worse though, it could be snow. I guess we'll just have to bug the neighbors to sit by their lovely fireplace and drink blueberry teas (Darcee makes the world's best). Lord knows there
won't be any kids around to hand out candy to.

As for the 'farm' everything is great. We've done all we can afford to do for this year and really the only other thing Jim really wants to do next year is put in a generator for outages. We recently added a shed up top in the field to store hay & grain and we are waiting for BC Hydro to come and hook up power to the stalls. It looks pretty blah but just wait until the spring when I paint it and barn red & white! We are also waiting on a gate. We're concerned that Brenna may chase a deer up the top and head out on to the road.
Don't worry it's not too high so the deer can still jump it.
Today we're just having a light put on the back deck so you can at least see your hand in front of your face out there. Damn it's dark!! Oh, the electrician just phoned (sounds like he's 12) and he's lost...hmmmThe fall colours on the bank have been amazing.

We still haven't had a good storm to see how well our new rocks do but it sure looks nice. The grass came up beautifully and I think it's going to look amazing next summer. The other thing I did was finally plant a tree for Luke but unfortunately he wasn't there to help. It's over by the coop and it is so pretty. I think with it being so blue it should look really nice next to Sullivan's butterfly maple. I have another tree for Evelyn but I'm not sure where I want it yet.Also since the last post we had a visit from Jamie, Johnny, Sullivan, Cooper, Heather and Sara.Sullivan is seriously the best baby I've ever seen. Brenda sold me this 'Exersaucer' that was her grandsons and Sully just loved it. Gotta love 'almost free' second hand toys!

Jamie was supposed to stay an extra few days but Eden decided that she'd had enough of the pregnancy stuff and went into labour 2 weeks early. She had a gorgeous little boy, Connor! It was hilarious from this end because Lindsay who was overdue went into labour the same night. She managed to deliver Evelyn at home (on purpose) in 2 HOURS!!
So here a few photos of the weekend.Damn, he's cute!!!Okay, that's just spookyThe evil twins"I'm gonna wash that grey right out of my hair..."Don't ask...there was alcohol and a suitcase of Barbies...
Okay, I'm bored, bye

OUCH!!!

So the saga of the left foot continued today, I had to go into the hospital and have the pins removed. In hind sight it should probably have been 'had a pin' removed but too late now. When they removed the joint last year they put in two pins (and a wire) to hold the two bone ends together so they could fuse. The pins are supposed to stay put but apparently one had a mind of it's own and started to move and this Sunday it actually broke through the skin on the top of my foot, an amazingly long way from where it was actually inserted last November. Needless to say it's been damned uncomfortable for quite a while.
The foot has never been right and shortly after having it done my doctor retired so I had a new fellow, fresh out of school taking over for him. Really nice guy but he needs to learn not to say things like, "I can't seem to find it" or " I really don't want to make a bigger incision" or when I said, "Maybe that one should stay where it is" and he says " I hate to lose at anything" and then about a half hour later and much uncomfortable 'digging' he says, " I probably should have left that one in..." Dah, it was more than likely holding my foot together! So I guess we'll have to see what it brings once the swelling and bruising is done. I'm really scared that it isn't fused and it will all start over again.
I just want to thank Darcee so much for coming with me, I watched most of the surgeries on both feet and thought this would be nothing but this little procedure was really uncomfortable and if she hadn't put a cold cloth on my head I'm pretty sure I would have been sick. Love you Darce and thanks for everything including driving me there, making me laugh, getting my pills, getting Brenna's pumpkin (not to carve), walking all the dogs (making me laugh again), feeding the goats...oh, and thinking to bring the pins home so I could take a picture of them!

HEEEEERE'S BRENNA

First night. You honestly couldn't find a better dog than Will.

" I love my new home!"

Love at first sight

I have no idea what I'm looking at.

What a beauty.

Here's our newest addition and she is a beauty.
Unfortunately she has kennel cough or at least I hope that's all it is but she is pretty damn cute and getting crazier every day and I'm sure she's grown an inch in the last 4 days.
She arrived last Friday evening on a WestJet flight from Winnipeg.
Nine weeks old and scared to death. She's probably like me cause every time I fly anywhere I get a cold. She is seriously just so cute. Pees everywhere but we're working on it.
I just want her to stop coughing as it's really sad to watch. The breeder was just sick about it and offered to pay for the vet bills or take her back (like that's going to happen) but we will just keep our fingers crossed and hope she's not a lemon because we already love her so much.Morning with the neighbors.Stella putting on her, "I'm actually a wolf , face."" I'm just so happy."Little Miss Brenna -10 weeks old