WOOLLY TALES...

Self Pity

2011-10-31T15:16:00.001-07:00

I've been feeling sorry for myself today. It's a little complicated (or not, maybe) but as soon as I told myself this, which I did, thinking I was being productive in the ending of this pity party, I felt guilty. And that slickened the slide into a worse frame of mind. Someone said to me today that instead of feeling sorry for myself, maybe I was, on another level, being compassionate. Huh. Initially this comment just confused me and as i began to mentally dismiss it as a little, "out there" I paused. Normally this friend has really solid thoughts and ideas. Definitely worth some time to think about it and since I should be washing my windows, I've naturally found time to do something else! So, It's been rolling around in my head collecting bits of this and that and as I roll it off my fingers into cyberspace, this is what I've come up with:
I may not be a starving orphan in a third world, things are still sometimes not fair and sometimes things are just plain sad. So feeling sad isn't out of line. It's just that I'm not very comfortable with being sad. If I were comfortable with it, that would be self pity, hmm?
I guess that's the extent of my profundity, so now to tackle the windows.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunny Sunday Harvest

2011-10-23T19:39:00.001-07:00

It is nearing the end of October and it has been such a full month for me. Full like the harvest moon full. One reason has been the weather. It has been so beautiful. Autumn perfect. I think thats why there are two names for this time of year, Fall and Autumn. A regular full moon is great, but a harvest moon is awesome. Fall is great, but when it is awesome it is called Autumn.

This afternoon was an example of the fullness I've been feeling this month. I didn't really do any one thing that was extra special, but one thing after another added up to a, "real fine day". It was a harvest type of day around here. I hauled and forked some hay for my goats - whom I have locked up with a young buck who has come over for a conjugal visit. So far, no dice. Let's just say Julio isn't having A real full fall. Yet. Then I washed the eggs I harvested from my chickens this week. This is the only time of year I can get behind on my eggs.

Then I gathered the beets I'd pulled and cut the tops off for storage. 43 pounds of beets.

Domino and Sarah joined in the harvest too.

Then I went and had a visit with my gramma. Her face lights up and she smiles so big when she sees me - that really fills my heart so full. It is a very deeply layered full. From there I drove down to the river and watched the sun set.

A real fine day.

Arachnid Musings

2011-10-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

There is a daddy longlegs in my tub. I am a spider friendly person, usually. My exception lies with house spiders but I will get to that later. As I perched on the throne and watched sir longlegs, a few questions came to mind. The process of said thoughts was as follows, I imagined myself trying to pick up sir l.l. And him escaping and crawling up my arm (I probably have scared some of you away, but if not, please bear with me, it is interesting what I've learned). That image then made me think of what I've heard, many times, that, daddy long legs are the most venomous spiders there are, but their little jaw things are too weak to penetrate human skin. And that thought made me wonder, what do daddy longlegs eat if they have such weak "teeth"? So off I went to google. Isn't it amazing all the ways that search engine has opened up our grammatical horizons? But back to my throne-musings. Or no, not yet - just one more thing: did you know that if you know you are going to be "sitting" for awhile, you can bring your iPad with you and that makes throne time so much more productive, don't you think? Well, I found out that weak teeth or not, sir l.l. Is quite capable of eating. I had assumed that because I had never seen a l.l. In a web, they didn't spin them. Well I was wrong. Huh. They make webs, but they are odd, mismatched and assorted. And they aren't sticky. So instead of the little flies getting stick-stuck, it gets stuck in the craziness of the design. Now aren't you glad you've stuck with ME this far? Obviously my mind(less) wanderings take after sir l.l. But wait, there's more! Daddy longlegs CAN bite humans. As much as I am tempted to end my lecture here, valour compels me to share what else I learned. Daddy longlegs' venom isn't poisonous to humans. Another urban myth. I wish I could create an urban myth. The origins of this myth stem from another little known fact that l.legs like to eat spiders, too. And it has been in the observing of the consumption of deadly venomous spiders that this myth was created. Daddy long legs are devious little critters in that they will go vibrate another spider's web to make them think that they are a caught bug and when the spider comes to eat them, they are then eaten!There you go. I would like to regale you with my feelings toward house spiders, but I suspect that would be just plain boring next to my daddy longlegs account. You are thus spared.

After a Wee Hiatus...

2011-10-07T23:53:00.000-07:00

Actually, as I look at it, I don't even know what Hiatus means. I hope it's not anything bad...Regardless, I'm back. What have I been doing? Well....my most fun and happy news is that I have started my own dog grooming business. Guess what it's called? Woolly Tails. It is so much fun! I have met so many neat people and so many neat-er dogs. I get to make my own hours, stay home more and do what I really love. I've still got my sheep and Domino my princely goat and Mordecai the Llama. I've still got my three nanny goats. The only additions have been 35 chickens. Who have started laying eggs this fall. Need eggs?

noun, plural -tus·es, -tus.

a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.

Hmm - doesn't sound to bad!

Beautiful Brown Eyes...

2011-04-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

My youngest niece. Saying cheese with her sweet little lisp. I could melt into her eyes.

Cute Times Three

2011-03-31T21:22:00.000-07:00

Both my youngest nieces came over today to help feed Daniel, the orphan lamb. They are both very experienced with bottles.

Don't you just love those little girl gum-boots?!

I should have taken a video - notice Daniel's tail. When they're hitting the jackpot (milk), their tails wiggle around like little propellers.

Goofy Goat

2011-03-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

I was getting a new window installed this fall and of course Domino had to check things out. Here he is making sure my house is clean. He gives me reason to chuckle (or grumble) several times each week.

A Happy Day

2011-03-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

I love this picture! It's my niece and her friend, Miss Vicky. On St. Patrick's Day. They love each other to bits and I love that they do!

Last Winter Lamb

2011-03-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Meet Daniel, my last winter lamb. He was a twin, but rejected despite every trick I tried. So, as Murphy chuckles over the irony, my last winter lamb is an orphan.
A single lamb by itself - a single sheep even, is miserable. They are intensely social creatures. I was determined that I wasn't going to have a lamb in the house this year - I'm too busy to keep things cleaned up after myself and the dogs, so a lamb would be over the top. If it were a ewe lamb, it'd be different, I could put a diaper on her. A male lamb is not anatomically created for a human diaper to catch everthing, so it causes too much mess. Plus, I'm out of the house to work most days, and he would be miserable without me - they bond almost as strongly as goslings. So, as I battled guilt and worry, I put him in the nursery corral with my other mammas and babies. After nearly losing his little voice calling for a mamma, he bonded with my old ewe and her little ram lamb, Chinook. Chinook is small, too, his mamma is just too old to be a mamma really. So, now they both get a bottle several times a day. It worked out. Phew. If you notice his coat, it's a dog coat I made for a friend who has a sparsely coated little dog - it's wool fabric lined with denim and it is perfect for lambs. I sewed it closed while on the lamb, so that the snaps wouldn't inadvertently come undone as he was playing with his buddies.

It's Not Fair

2011-03-04T08:46:00.001-08:00

So I checked the weather report before I went to bed last night and it said we had a chance of flurries and that the amount would be about 1cm. Not too bad. I woke up and we've got 2 inches so far. I roll my eyes. 2 inches isn't so bad. I wasn't even too concerned until I looked at the road reports (see the first picture) - I look at them because there is one close to me and it tells the real time weather and wind speed. It's -17.9 by the way. With a WSW of... I forget already, but it's not too strong. What got me all worked up is that for kicks I decided to check the furthest most Northern road camera (see the second picture) - it's only feet from the Yukon. Now I'm grumpy.

It's not fair.

plant doctoring...

2011-03-03T19:54:00.000-08:00

This is a very old plant that was mine about 25 years ago, then it lived with my mum for many years and then after she died came back to live with me. It didn't like living close to my heat register in my living room and became very scraggly and sick. Finally in one of my green moods last week I doctored. First I went to Wal-Mart (yes) and got a young plant that was the same. I think this is a philodendron, but I honestly dont' know for sure - I've never really thought about it much. I like it, that's what counts, hmm? When it's healthy, it grows like crazy. After my Wally Word jaunt, I came home, hacked off the worst parts of it, dug some holes with one of my dinner forks and then pulled apart the new plant into three junks with the roots attached and stuck it in the holes. Covered them up, doused it with some good ol' Orton well water and it looks fabulous, don't you think?
This is what I did with the stuff I hacked off. They root really easily. I've also got some lemon scented geranium(citronella) cuttings in there, too.
While I was in the plant department I smelled something wonderful. Following my nose led me too this Jasmine plant (with a bunch of her buddies). Wow do they smell good. And the smell is good for you too! I couldn't resist and bought her. She lives in my bedroom and my whole room smells good. There are lots of little baby vines popping up I noticed this morning, so I'm going to try to propagate some and see what happens.

On a totally unrelated note -I saw a gopher yesterday!!!!!! I also saw tons of coyote tracks around its hole, so I don't know how long he'll last. I honestly have never been that excited to see a gopher, but seeing this one, I almost hit the ditch. I stopped, rolled down my window and talked to it for about five minutes. Winter insanity, I know.

Fight Back Against Winter

2011-03-02T08:13:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter who I've talked to lately around here, this winter has been a hard one. We have been spoiled with mild winters for so many years. Not so this year. To me it seemed that if it wasn't snowing or bitter cold, the wind was blowing 100+km/hr. I have never spent so much consecutive time indoors as I have this winter and it has taken its toll. For someone with an unfortunate natural bent for melancholy, this hasn't been good. However, I have been fighting back and that feels really good. Yesterday, being March 1, and it coming in like a cold, grumpy lion, I decided to start my gardening and started all my herb seeds.
I've been saving containers for a while. For starting seeds I particularly like containers with black bottoms and clear covers - especially if they're domed. The black bottoms retain heat and the domed, fitted covers keep the moisture in so you don't have to water but one time, plus they allow a bit of growing. The rotisserie chicken you can get at most grocery stores comes in perfect containers! I've recently discovered that if you buy an angel food cake it comes in a good container, too. I've got a bunch of home grown chickens in my freezer and know how to make an angel food - but for the sake of my seeds, I've cheated a lot this winter!
Once I plant my seeds, water and cover the containers, I put them in my sunroom. Despite the frigid looking outdoors, when the sun shines, my sun room gets hot! It's a great spot for starting seeds. The down side is that the windows are old and leaky, so when it cools off outside at night, the room cools off, too. My hope is that it just makes my plants tougher - they need to be around here.It doesn't take long for the containers to warm up like a mini-greenhouse and fog up. They fog up and get water droplets on the top that fall and continuously water the soil beneath. It's a perfect little system. A morning of planting and my winter blues have been chased away.

New hats for St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Mondays are my day off. I like the t.v. line up on Mondays - I love Cake Boss and House and Harry's Law and the new Chicago Code - 3.5 hours of t.v! I can't just sit and watch t.v. without something to do, so Mondays I crochet like mad. This is what I accomplished today:

Meet Paddy - my new creation! I just made him up as I went and I totally love the result (brag, brag)

side view - yeah he's on a peanut butter jar...

Grandparents

2011-02-28T12:52:00.000-08:00

My Aunt and Godmother with her fifth grandchild. She's the best grandma I know.

What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies. ~Rudolph Giuliani

I love to share

2011-02-25T17:57:00.000-08:00

There's not much that I love more than sharing my critters with my little friends. Isn't this a great photo? The little girl is 2.5 and it was windy and cold yet she wanted to be out there visiting with the sheep, lambs and Domino - the farm's welcoming committee.

24 days...

2011-02-21T17:19:00.000-08:00

Until St. Patrick's Day. I love that day. I've also had some extra time on my hands last week so I made some stuff:

A baby cocoon and hat for a friend's new baby

hat for same friend's daughter

a couple more hats for friend's kids (and dogs)

And a hat for me :o).

Whoa

2011-02-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

I watched this incredible video today. This kid is only in kindergarten. Oy.

Sad news

2011-02-19T20:02:00.000-08:00

Well before bed, the little one was up, making a racket, wandering around and attempting to run from me. I did end up going to the barn and trying to milk some ewes - in the dark. I didn't get much - I even tried the goat. But, I managed about 2 oz all told. She sucked it back, had another nap and was raring to go. So I put another sweater on her and put her back out in the barn under the heat lamps. Sadly this morning, I found her outside the barn, dead. I was so discouraged. And I felt so guilty. I went through a bunch of 'should-a's, but it was pointless. I did discover last night, though that her mamma didn't have a lot of milk, and she was a twin. Which explained why she was weak enough to get hypothermic in the first place. A tough reality. The hardest part of this life as a shepherdess.

It's cold!

2011-02-18T17:30:00.000-08:00

We have a slight east wind.

That's rare for us - normally, living west of the Rockies, we get strong west warm winds called Chinooks. Once in a while we'll get an east breeze and it is FREEZING!

I can always tell if it is an east wind when I look outside and the sheep are huddled on the west side of their sheep shed. Normally they spend the nights inside. But, the door is on the east, and despite a wind block I set up, plus a burlap curtain, they prefer outside on the west side of the building.

This morning I discovered one of the smaller twin lambs was hypothermic. It was just laying outside all curled up while the mamma sheep and other lambs walked all around it feeding.

You can tell if a lamb has hypothermia if their mouth is cold.

I put it in the barn under a heat lamp for four hours while I went to work. She was no better when I came home, so I brought her in the house for a serious warm-up.

First I wrap her in a towel.

Then I wrap a heating pad around her.

Then I wrap another towel around herShe spent an hour like that without warming up, so I wet two large washcloths, nuked them for a minute, put them in a baggie and tucked them in the front of her (they're warm, not hot)

Then I wrap her all up with a blanket. She looks pretty cozy here. It'll be a couple hours at least until she warms up. Right now she's lethargic and lets me do whatever I want to her. Normally, she'd be alert and freaked out and baa'ing for her mamma. It's 7pm now. I'm hoping she'll be good to go by bedtime so I can return her to her mamma and the heat lamp (lamps - I added another one). I went downstairs to get some powdered lamb's milk that I had leftover from last year to discover that the cats ate it ALL. Grrr. It is crazy expensive. I thought I could fill her belly with some warm milk when she woke up and before I took her back to her mamma. I could milk one of the ewes I guess - but that really sucks. I wish my goats were still lactating. What also really sucks is that a bag of lamb's milk is $83 this year. Last year it was half that price. I really don't want to have to buy a bag if I can help it.
I'll keep you posted on her recovery!

Spring? Never mind....

2011-02-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

I don't know, I'm pretty discouraged. I know I was born and raised here in Canada - whats more, I've lived in the 'foothills of the Rockies' for most of my life - even my short stint living in the US I lived in Colorado Springs, but I am so stinkin' tired of winter. For some reason, I convinced myself that it was enough - Spring was here. Never mind that our 'groundhog/gophers' are still hibernating - definitely not peeking their rodent snouts out to see if they can see their shadows. Sigh. It melted and then it snowed. And snowed. Even my dogs are grumpy. They got into it big time this morning while doing chores - fighting over who got to lick up the last of the sheep's grain in the snow. Now I've got two bloody, wet and slobber-covered-furred dogs inside pouting. In separate rooms. I think if I were a dog I'd get into it too. I'd definitely be pouting. Well - never mind, I already am.
You can even see the snow-plow coming down my road in the top left of this photo!

My well abled young ram, Christopher. Wondering, what the heck? Where's spring?

Warm lambs

2011-02-05T19:18:00.000-08:00

So, when the weather is freezing, how does a girl keep her lambs warm? Well, I have heat lamps for the first couple of days if it's more than 10 below (celsius). And then.....SWEATERS!

This picture makes the strap on the back look as if it were bugging the lambs, but they are hunkered against 50km wind. I've been crocheting the little sweaters from wool yarn. It's my own made up, wingin' it pattern. I've got it about down pat. If you want a rough idea of the pattern, just let me know :o)

It's beginning to look like Spring

2011-02-04T15:18:00.000-08:00

Yes. Finally. It has felt like such a long hard winter to me. Has it to you? It just seemed that every time I turned around we were getting another deep freeze or blizzard or what have you. I think I was hyper-sensitive because because of a colossal mistake on this shepherdess' behalf, I'm lambing. Yeah. I know, shake your head. But, as is the world-wide mantra of all farmers and ranchers.... next year will be better. Because of the weather, I just haven't felt much like taking pictures. I basically have been just doing chores and recovering. It takes half an hour to get bundled up (I exaggerate, but, please!), then because I'm so bundled, everything takes longer. Also because the wind is usually blasting me from whatever direction I have to walk in, things take longer still. (Yes, I'm related to the guy that walked 5miles uphill to school - both directions). So, today, the wind died down at about 4:00pm. It was eery. But beautifully so! I grabbed my camera and went out just in a hoody and gum-boots and my, "I'm home sick with a cold sweat pants". Here are a few photos:

It's MELTING! I hate the wind, but I love its' effects.

The last two lambs that were born (it was -20 at the time).

This is Blizzard. Guess when she was born.

This is one great mamma. I accidentally gave her lamb to another mamma for a full day before I realized my dumb mistake. She still took the lamb without any grief. Believe me, that's a big deal.

It grew!

2011-01-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

I think later today I am going to climb my new mountain and put my flag on it. The peak of the garage you can see in the background is about 12ft high, I'd guess. My van is GONE. I don't actually drive this van in the winter - I store the goat's feed in it. It's been the only place that Domino hasn't ransacked. Thankfully the wind has gone down and the snow has stopped. Hopefully we're done with the blizzard and can start focusing on the digging out. Ugh. Maybe let's just go back to the blizzard. I watched 4 hours of Extreme Home Makeover yesterday and Sarah Palin's Alaska finale. I finished my novel.... and hmm.... I've got another one....Work seems like a crummy idea.

Poor Bailey has had enough of the cold. Not that she spends much time out in it.... Most of her time is spent in the house - curled up in a ball amongst some blankets - on the couch!

No News...

2011-01-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

So they say no news is good news... And that's pretty much it for me. Or rather no news means not much has changed. I kept feeling bad about not updating my blog, but I'd log on, look at my hybernating post and it just looked exactly the same as what I looked at out the window each day. We've had lots of snow. In fact, I'm snowed in as I write this. It just feels boring. Snow Snow Snow. I'm totally not complaining. It's not bothering me. It's just been a bit mundane. Although this weekend is a bit more exciting with the blizzard we're having. It's been a while since I've seen drifts this big:

My van is the teeny blip on the left slope of this drift in front of the garage. It's been two hours since this photo and the van has now disappeared. You can see how it's supposed to look in the first picture - the van, that is.

The sheep didn't even venture outside until about 2:30 this afternoon. Poor buggers. The windchill is really scary. I went out to feed about this time and bundled up all except my eyes and nose and they were hurting from the exposure in just a few minutes.
My driveway was about knee deep a couple hours ago. I've got four wheel drive, but I may be calling in my brother's Bobcat services.
Yesterday I woke up at 7am and quickly drove into the city to buy some paint to paint my bedroom because they were calling for this storm. I'm so glad I bought it because it looks like I may be home for a while. I've actually only painted the ceiling so far. For Christmas I was given a Satelite for my tv (before I had 1 fuzzy channel), so I've been watching tv and reading a novel for pretty much the entire day. And enjoying it. My top 3 shows are Extreme Home Makeover, Dog Whisperer and Sarah Palin's Alaska. What awesome shows. I'm in heaven.

Hibernating

2010-11-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

This week I pretty much hibernated. Each day has been colder, and we've gotten more and more snow. It's not banked high or anything - there's just lots of it laying around. Cold and well... cold. Then as I sat here this morning I saw something exciting out of my peripheral vision... sunshine coming through my windows!!!!! And can you see it there in the first picture - blue sky?! Tonight and tomorrow night are forecasted to be colder than ever - minus 30 something, but by the end of the week we'll get our famous (infamous?) chinook and some warmer weather. Here's a wee photo diary of my week.

breakfast time for the girls

I was craving chocolate. And I burned the #@$* out of these. So they've sat on the cookie sheet like this all week and the dogs each get one a day. I know - chocolate is bad for dogs. And for me!

I didn't do my dishes this week. It is SO my least favourite job. In the world.

The animals had it "rough", don't you think?

Sarah has reclaimed her Stuffy! And my yoga mat. I suck at it, but I've got Wii Fit and I love it.

Snow days

2010-11-17T14:56:00.001-08:00

Winter has slammed us here in Southern Alberta. WIND and snow. And more WIND and SNOW. So, I have taken two snow days so far and stayed home. The cats and dogs are all inside except for small forays with me outside to do chores. I've read and read and watched t.v., talked on the phone, done some internet research on sausage and jerky making, made yummy soup and had a nap. It's been kinda nice.

The tom-cat has overtaken Sarah (my Golden Retriever)'s Stuffy.

Here are book covers of two of the best authors I've read. Check them out at The Rabbit Room
Andrew Peterson and his brother Pete (A.S. Peterson) are fabulous authors and these books shown here are both parts of series each of them has written. Andrew Peterson is also one of my favourite musicians.

Christmas already?

2010-11-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

I heard Christmas carols the other day in the store. I don't know why it bothers me so much, but it does. It's like it waters down the holiday to start celebrating it so early. By the time December 25 rolls around, I'm sick of it. That's just wrong. That's consumerism for you. North America. But being a North American and being that nearly every time I go to the city I stop at Walmart - I can't point too far without including myself. BUUUT there are things we can do now for Christmas that fly in the face of all that and leave me feeling really really good. It's Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child time again. It's become my favourite part of Christmas. Have you ever done it? I Challenge you do to it this year. Never heard of it? Just click on the image below and check out the website. But, basically, you get a shoebox - your own or a tupperware like container that's about the same size or you can get OCC shoe boxes, too. Buy some toys and toiletries for a child in a country where they don't get these basic things and fill your shoe box. A small thing, but a life-changing thing for a needy child. Check out the videos they have at their website - it is so great to see those little kids so happy to get a shoe box of goodies.

Carving Outside The Box

2010-11-02T18:44:00.001-07:00

I helped a friend gut a dozen pumpkins the other day and it put me in the mood to carve a pumpkin myself. I haven't done that since I was a kid. But I didn't do anything about buying a pumpkin until I went to the city on Sunday. Halloween. Yeah, right. No pumpkins. But while I was in the store I passed some watermelon, butternut squash, honey dew and cantalope - so.... when life gives you melons...

Pardon the fuzzy photos - I just used my iPod.

The North Wind...

2010-10-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

Each time the wind from the North comes in, I get that rhyme in my head...although until today I had it wrong. That's google for ya. This is my version:
The North Wind doth blow
and we shall have snow-
What will poor Robin do now?
He'll go in the barn so he can keep warm-
and poop on the head of a cow!

The 'real' version I googled this morning:
The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
He'll sit in a barn and keep himself warm
and hide his head under his wing, poor thing.

I like mine better - it's not so sad. We've had too many sad bird stories lately.
This was Tuesday late afternoon - the North wind came in... brrr it's cold on the fingers when you've got wet laundry!

And this is last night. Sigh. Actually I'm not too upset - I do enjoy the cooler temps more. And I really love having definite Seasons. Sometimes the winter season seems the longest, is all.

Hero

2010-10-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

A boy doesn't have to go to war to be a hero; he can say he doesn't like pie when he sees there isn't enough to go around.Edgar Watson Howe

A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men.Plato

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.Ralph Waldo Emerson

I like making things for people I love. It makes me think of them while I create. Today I finished a camouflage outfit for my brother. I love that he asked me to make it. I love that he went to the fabric store and picked out the fabric! He's got hunting on the brain. A disease that many men have this time of year. So I've been thinking of him the past few days. He's 3 years younger than me.
Who is your hero? I have a few. One of the biggest is my brother. He's an ordinary guy I suppose to many, but to me he is beyond ordinary. (I could make a joke here, being the big sister, but I"ll refrain) He is such a good dad. I love that he loves his kids. A lot. I know, all dads love their kids, but I have a unique perspective here in watching my little brother be a parent.
I love that his oldest daughter can bring him to tears worrying that he's doing enough for her. I love how he consciously looks for hobbies that he and his oldest son can enjoy together. I love watching him delight in things his six year old daughter says and does. I love that he doesn't squelch her strong personality. I love watching him with the youngest - allowing her to slow him down while she drives with him on the bobcat, or fetching arrows with him while he shoots targets. I love that he loves his wife. And admits that she's smarter and stronger than him in many respects, lol. It takes a man to do that, I think. I love that he was smart enough to realize that he needed this woman and married her.
I love his sensitive heart. Don't get me wrong - he's all manly man, but I've seen him make a point of talking to someone that is shy. I've watched him laugh when an old feller tells him the same story again. I've watched him slow down and walk at my grandma's pace.
I've watched him hold his tongue and be respectful when that is that last thing he wanted to do. And I've watched him weigh his words and say the hard things needing said, too.
I love that he works hard and I love what he's done with his company and the men that work for him. I love his tunnel vision when something is important to him. I love his giggle. I love that he blushes easily. (I know he'll be embarrassed that I wrote this post) He is such a good man. A hero in my eyes.

The Perfect Weekend

2010-10-17T15:12:00.001-07:00

I had a perfect weekend. At first, I was going to tell about my perfect day yesterday, but while reflecting I realized that it's really been a perfect weekend. It started Friday night when a friend and I decided to go see, Legend of the Guardians. It's a 3D animation. It was such a good movie. One of those that leave you feeling that all is right with the world when it's over. It's been a while since I've been, 'out on the town', on a Friday night. I was pretty amazed. I'm glad I'm not a parent of teenagers. Oy. It seemed like they were taking over the world Friday night there were so many of them. I'm getting old, I know.

Then Saturday, the same friend and the same me went geocaching for the entire day. We drove east and were really really far from anywhere. Except for beautiful scenery. It was everywhere. At one point, we could see into Saskatchewan, Montana and the plains of Alberta. It was awe-inspiring. It was a lot of driving. We left in the morning, finished our last 2 caches in the dark, putting our day's total to 17 and then headed home. It was a lot of driving. It was so fun. Lots of visiting, laughing, silence, listening to good stories, reading and driving.

As we drove we listened to a couple episodes of The Vinyl Cafe . If you've never heard it, you must take the time to listen to this show. It's a radio show on CBC radio Canada whose host is a storyteller. THE storyteller, Stuart McLean. It's on once a week and I wait with deep expectance each week for it. He is a master of the spoken word. Some weeks I'm laughing so hard I'm worried I'll pee my pants, other weeks I'm crying. You can download the program as a free podcast on Itunes and it'll update for you each week, which is what I do. Or you can go to his website and listen from there. Do it. He's really good.

Every time we go geocaching we talk about how glad we were to go because we've seen something we hadn't seen before, had no idea it even existed, even, but are better people for having seen it. One of those places yesterday was Red Rock Coulee. You're driving a lonely single, narrow hardtop road along the prairie, when you come across this coulee that has all these queer HUGE red round rocks in it. They're breathtaking. It's like a type of Stonehenge. It feels almost sacred. It seems like you're walking on the face of the moon, the landscape is so strange - dried, deeply cracked, silty mud, prairie grasses, and these rocks. I can't believe I didn't take my camera. I got a few photos from the internet, though.

Wasn't it a great weekend? What was your last perfect weekend?

Recipes

2010-10-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

Deluxe Apple Pie:

This is apple pie like you've never had it. SO so good. I also always add cloves, because I really like the flavour. I've skipped the lemon rind before, and the pie suffers. And, serve with vanilla ice cream - goes without saying, no?

The second recipe I just made up and it turned out to be my most favourite ever turkey noodle soup. All I did was boiled the carcass, took the meat off and discarded the bones. Then I added some veggies, a can of cream of celery soup and when the veggies were done, I added a package of Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup. Once the noodles were soft, it was ready. So, for all my American friends, save this recipe for your Thanksgiving leftovers!

The best parts of Thanksgiving...

2010-10-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

Mmmmhmmmm - Apple Pie and Turkey Soup!

Stay tuned for the best ever recipes for both!

They are ready to go!

2010-10-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

The kittens are finally ready to go! I had an agreement with a local pet store to take them, but they backed out at the last minute. So, instead of paying $185 for a kitten at the pet store, you can pick them up from me for FREE! I know, it's exciting. Here are a few recent photos:

What are you reading?

2010-10-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

I love love love to read. It was a wonderful gift my mum gave me - the love of reading. My grade one teacher also really fostered this gift. I still remember bringing home my first book and for all the praise I got for each book read. I remember getting a prize for the most books read in our grade. My high school English teacher was fabulous, too. She taught me to appreciate the talent of a truly gifted author. Marilynne Robinson is one of those authors. I like all sorts of books - what my friend and I call, "Fluff", and then books like, Robinson's Housekeeping. It is definitely not fluff. No skimming or skipping. Her sentences are works of art. Truly.

Another book I've just finished that is absolutely fabulous, is Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. I think I liked it even more, just because I didn't have to work so hard at it. The story line really propelled me. The quality is there, too. Give it a go, I don't think you'll be disappointed. It's been adopted into my "top 10".
What are you reading right now? What are some of your favourites? I love Shelfari.com - see the shelf I've got on the right side, bottom, of the screen. You can put books you've read on a shelf and you can browse what others are reading. I have found so many good books this way. I browse through Shelfari on one screen and then on another I've got my local library so I can order the books. It's great.

My Winter Garden

2010-10-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed to have this bank of windows on the south side of my house. It provides so much light and heat that help beat the blahs of a Canadian winter, plus I can do a bit of winter gardening. Funny - I never even considered such a thing possible - never even heard the term until recently while reading a blog from someone in Florida.

On a frosty morning I'll always find the cats on the dog house roof - warming up.

The plant on the left is a type of Wandering Jew, the one in the middle I always forget the name of, and on the right is a Lemon Scented Geranium (Citronella). The middle one is so cool - it gets little fuschia coloured flowers several times a year.

I just brought in this double flowering Chamomile (with a little sprig of Chocolate Mint growing in it - it really tastes like chocolate mint) in from the garden yesterday. Chamomile is one of my all time favourite scents. I'm hoping it will flavour the air of my sunporch.

More Citronella, plus I've started some more chamomile and some Skullcap.

More chamomile and some lavender. On the floor peeking into the bottom right of the photo is lemon balm - I love it in ice tea.

Mornings

2010-10-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

My mornings have been a lot earlier since I've gotten Dash. It's been a good thing - who'd a thunk. I'm a night owl and mornings have always been difficult, to say the least. I've always hated that part of me - my whole family are morning people. Are? Is? Grammar - hmm. Bear in mind, I didn't sleep 'till noon - I got up, with the help of two alarms, and two dogs.... but I just hated it. Now, I'm up before the first alarm. Before the first dog even. It's nice. The animals are all fed and watered and milked by 8. My house is clean and ready for the day by 9 am. Hehe, but I've been in bed and pretty much asleep by 9 or 10 pm each day. Not a bad thing. Just new. I really really hope it lasts. I kinda like it.

I was wondering...

2010-10-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

What is, "Locust Bean Gum" anyway? It's in like everything we eat. Well, no, I guess I exaggerate, but it IS in lots of the ingredient lists I look at. It always makes me cringe. I think, "grasshopper spit". Yeah, sorry. Just had to share that.
I did look it up and it is actually from the carob tree - and it is a lot like cocoa apparently. SO, why didn't my low-fat herb and garlic cream cheese taste like chocolate?

Play

2010-10-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

Top Flight

2010-10-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

perseverance - Definition

[pur-suh-veer-uhns]

(n.) Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

Last night I was listening to, As It Happens, on CBC radio (Canada's version of the BBC or NPR) and they had this amazing story about the Red Knot. It's a bird in the sandpiper family. They're not very big - like 6 oz. in weight, 9 inches long with a wing span of about 20 inches. (I know, we're metric in Canada, but inches is still easier). They're known for flying incredible distances. They winter in South America and breed in the Canadian Arctic. Pretty far. Well, they've put little geolocaters on some of these birds and they clocked one of these little guys flying NONSTOP for 5000 miles. How many consecutive marathons would that be? I ran to the end of the pasture today and I'm still tired. I looked up some stuff on the 'net about these little guys and I found out, "Analyzing the year-long geolocator data, researchers now know that the same bird that flew nearly 5,000 miles non-stop for six days also covered one of the longest recorded distances in a year of any bird species: 16,600 miles (26,700 kilometers)". That quote is from here. I am just so impressed by that little bird.

Random

2010-10-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

I woke up at 4:30 this morning to six kittens dancing on my feet. Thumping around the bed like six elephants. How do cats do that? Stealthily, soundlessly catch their prey outside, but run down the hall in the house and do it with enough noise to wake the neighbours? So, I put the kittens out and shut the door. Then Sarah wanted out. So I put her AND Bailey out and shut my door. Then I laid there thinking of how I could improve the goat's stanchion. And then Sarah started whining out my door. So OUTSIDE she went and Bailey ripped out with her, barking. My neighbours are pretty close - just across the road. I hope they were sleeping heavily. She only barked a few times.... I should have just gotten up, but I was so tired last night and I didn't want to be that tired today. I fell asleep long enough to feel annoyed when the alarm went off for me to go out and milk Dash. Crazy morning. But, I"m not too tired. I had a yummy breakfast and am nursing a cappuccino. I don't have a lot of work to do today, so this afternoon I think I'm going to go to the city to buy myself a birthday present :o). I got some birthday money (my birthday was last weekend) this week and I"ve had my eye on a few things so I"m going to go check them out. Here are a few random pictures from this morning,

This is Charlotte. She is a cat-spider living between the storm window and my living room window. I washed all my windows this week except these ones - I'm enjoying her company and feel guilty about turning her out in the cold. We've been getting frost - several times already.

My yummy breakfast - oatmeal and Dash's milk

Sarah. She's tired after her early start today.

A girl needs a horse

2010-09-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

Last week Sara was talking about riding a "hoawse" while sitting on her stool and I was in a crafty mood so the two of us came up with her new "hoawse". We raided mommy's mismatched sock pile, stole big brothers broken hockey stick, some old grocery bags for stuffing and a bit of yarn and a marker and there you have it. His name is CCM.

Wow.

2010-09-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

This was the view to the east when I went to milk Dash. What an awesome way to start my day.
His splendor was like the sunrise;

rays flashed from his hand,

where his power was hidden.

Habakkuk 3:4

I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.... People think pleasing God is all God care about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back. ~Alice Walker, The Color Purple, 1982

Got milk?

2010-09-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

The last (YES LAST) batch of kittens has hit the super-cute stage. In the mornings, after I milk Dash I give a bit to the kittens. I forgot I'd left the window open overnight (it was a perfect weather-wind) and pretty soon everyone was there.

I don't know why, but the past couple days these two kittens keep having naps in the dog's water bowl and food dish. (The dogs are outside all day with the sheep trough for water)

My new favourite thing

2010-09-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of geocaching? It is the absoluteliest funnest thing. It's like an adventure-hobby. I copied some stuff from their webpage to tell you about it:

"Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment."

My best friend and I have started this adventure they call geocaching. I really really like it. Really really. I like how it takes you to places you have never been and you see things you never would have seen - and often it is in an area you've been to a million times! This past weekend we went to a farmers market that is a couple hours from here, closer to the mountains and the views were so perfect. The day was warm (a rarity lately) and the leaves were changing and we were driving by fields of cattle and crops and hay and mini evergreen forests dotted with the changing leaf birches and poplars... it was beautiful. For a special treat we met my aunt and uncle and then went to a small trendy mountain town for home-made ice cream. And geocaching. The one spot we found a geocache over looked a bit of a valley with trees that were changing colour and in the near-distance you could see the peaks of 81 mountains. We learned some neat history, too. That's another thing about geocaching - you learn really neat things.

Last night my friend and I went out and found a few caches that are just 15min from where I live and I saw more things/places I never have. It is so cool that way. If you can, you need to try it.

Our drive to the mountains

looking for a cache

new things we learned...

This is just 15min from where I live - I wonder if bears like sheep?
A play by play of one of the caches we found: (sorry about the quality of the photos)

There were some neat treasures in here - coins, gadgets and treats.

Little Girls

2010-09-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

"Little girls are precious gifts, wrapped in love serene. Their dresses tied with sashes and futures tied with dreams." unknown

Pure Unadulterated

2010-09-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

Sara and I had fun today again. She has times of pure silliness. And then she says, "Funny me, Auntie, Funny me!". Yep.

She's finally here!

2010-09-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

My long awaited nanny goat is here. And her two kids. Doe kids. I've been really excited about having her, especially after meeting her three long weeks ago. She is so beautiful and soft. I just came in from a petting session - she's too soft to pet, though, it's more of a caress. Her name is Dash. She had a mate called Dot, I think. But, I like Dash for a name. I hope it's not because she likes to run fast! Her little girls are gorgeous, too. I'm waiting on names for them. That's usually how I go about naming my animals and it serves me well. I'll just wait and usually while I'm with them, something comes to mind that is just right. Here are their pics.

Domino came up close for a check up but wasn't too interested. She talked to him, but because I don't think he thinks he's a goat, he didn't respond. Plus he's wethered, so there's not a big hormonal pull :o)

So far, her temperment is very sweet and gentle. She has carefully touched noses with one of the mamma cats and with my sheep dog and despite being very aware of her kids and where they are, she's not defensive. She's talkative today, but I think she's stressed from leaving her goat mates and coming to a new place.

I wish you could touch her and see how soft she is... Doesn't she have neat markings? When I first met her she was all white. These black stripes are new, starting out as eyebrows, and then traveling down her face like goat markings now. I know it's silly, but I feel like reading Heidi again!

Isn't she a doll? She is the braver of the two kids and looks like an angora goat. We'll see how her fiber is - weather I'll have to shear her like an angora or if she'll shed like her mamma.

This one is a bit more timid. She's so bright. I wish the rain would quit around here so that she will stay clean. I've got barely any straw for winter yet. I've got enough hay for 3 winters, but no straw. A lot of crops haven't been cut yet - it's been so cool that they haven't ripened enough. There's still time yet, but I'm glad I'm not a farmer.

Salsa Saturday

2010-09-20T20:20:00.001-07:00

We've been having rain and cold for a long time. My best friend and I decided since the weather was going to keep us indoors, we ought to break down and make our biannual salsa. It is so good. I snapped a few pics of the process. What is it about fall that makes one want to store-away? The sheep are storing away, too, trying to gain back their baby weight and then some to get through the winter ... I'm a bit worried about winter - the animals are really packing it on and furring and woolling up. New words. I know.

MMMMMmmmm orange peppers - for colour, of course!

Onions from my own garden... yay!

Yes, I know, it's gorgeous.

I have a theory - farmers like to have their rows and rows of nice furrows and their perfectly stacked hay to see in the winter - it's the same hormone that causes women to swoon over rows of processed goodies "popping" as they seal... What do you think?

Steamy Windows

2010-09-13T19:46:00.001-07:00

Fall is so here. My windows steamed up today. It's been a few months since that's happened, for sure. I had a busy cozy fall inside working kinda day which contributed to the steamy windows. I'm trying to catch up on some laundry - you know, get to the BOTTOM of the laundry hamper, plus all the bedding and couch blankets. Then I quick made up a batch of strawberry jam that floated :( because I doubled the fruit and halved the sugar, but it tastes SO good. I've had a pot of soup on since bedtime last night - chicken and vegetables. I boiled the carcass over night, picked the veggies and herbs this morning and cooked it all day and had a friend over for supper. It doesn't get much better.

The mountain IS shrinking... I'm down to the dog beds now.

Real Home made soup - even the chicken came from here.

My floating jam. Sigh.

Home made jam on a home made bun - Heaven.

A friend for Domino?

2010-09-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

Being the only goat on the place, Domino has done very well. He acts like the King and treats all the other animals as his subjects. He was a rescue goat - he was the only goat on his previous place, too, but his subjects were cows, and took offense at his rulings and beat him up pretty bad. He has a limp now. He loves to snuggle and be with me. I don't know what he thinks he is. I love his personality, though. He tries to help me round up the sheep and treats it like a game every time. When I'm out fencing, he comes behind me as I'm bent down and
leans his head on my back. And just holds it there. When I'm in a good mood, he's charming. When I'm in a bad mood - well, this is a family blog :o).
I'm getting a new goat. A Nanny with two little doe kids. I have no idea how Domino is going to react to her. He's wethered, but - ? Or will he be jealous (I have a hunch this will be more the case). I have been so excited about the new goat. I've built a pretty intense goat pen - 6ft boards, but the boards were free. All that's left to do is to hang the gate and build the stanchion. That's tomorrow's job. Then, maybe Tuesday I can pick up my new girl.

Do Ewe Doodle?

2010-09-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

I am a doodler. Often it's just shapes and stars and scratches. One night I spent some time with a Sharpie. If I'm sitting and on the phone, I've got a pen in hand and am doodling. My notes at school were decorated in the margins with all sorts of scratchings. Are you a doodler? What do you doodle?

Herb Harvest

2010-09-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

With the girls' help yesterday, I got in the last of my herb harvest. Mostly tea herbs, with a few culinary ones, too. I spent hour upon hour researching this spring and summer on herbs. I haven't harvested my 'medicinal' herbs yet. The tea ones are all sorts of good medicine too, but I planted a few more specific ones. Lady's Mantle, Dead Nettle and Heal-All. In the sun-room in my house I have Skullcap and Lavender, and I'm still trying to get some Black Cohosh to germinate. It's been tricky for me.

Tea Party

2010-09-06T14:43:00.001-07:00

Today for Labour Day, my nieces came out for a while and we harvested herbs from the garden. Chocolate Mint, Lemon Balm, Fennel, Spearmint, Oregano, Terragon, Dill, Apple Mint, Chamomile, Bee Balm, and Cat Nip. I cut the herbs, and the girls wrapped elastic bands around the stems so I can hang them to dry. Then we came inside, picked what we thought would be yummy combinations for our own personal tea and had a tea party. Jayme picked Lemon Balm and Chocolate mint. Jesse had Fennel, Chocolate Mint and Lemon Balm. I picked Cat Nip and Chocolate Mint and Chamomile and Sara shared with all of us.

The girl showing the bundles of herbs they chose for their tea.

Sometimes with fresh tea, you get a leaf!

We also picked some Holly-Hocks and made some Pretty Ladies

Two

2010-09-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

In the past 2 years I have gotten to know a little Somebody Special. When you combine a Somebody Special with great parents, words just can't describe. We get to hang out every Thursday and it's been a real treasure to watch this baby turn into a toddler and who is on the cusp of being a little girl. This is my niece, Sara Jade. She met me at the door the other night, leaning against this wall with her legs crossed and casually said, "I'm Two. It's my birthday," and gave a proud little smile. Yep. She's Two. And it has been so much fun watching her get there.

Mum had gotten out the cake to serve, but when you're Two you can help yourself!

I've never met such a climber-monkey as this one. One day we found a book at the library called, "Mommy calls me monkey-pants", and we really liked it. So, Auntie made her some monkey-pants. Looks like she can wear them until she's Four!

Heaven Is....

2010-08-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

A good nap.

Have you ever had a nap that is just SO cozy? I did, this morning. I got up before dawn to go milk my new nanny goat. She doesn't live here yet and so I had to drive over to her farm. Today was my first day meeting her and the two of us trying each other out. I loved her and she tolerated me. I've milked ewes - not a real fun job, let me tell ya. If I was maybe 2.5 feet tall and a contortionist with little hands, maybe. With a goat, they go on a 'stantion' which puts them up to your comfortable milking height. My new girl is named Dash. She's all white and has two white doe-kids that are coming with her.

Anyway, all that to say, I got up early. When I came home, the sun was up, the sheep were content and I had some time on my hands before I had to get out and on with my day, so I sat down with a book, a wool blanket and leaned the chair waaaaaay back. The window was open and cool pre-autumn air was blowing in. On page 30, my eyes got bleary, so I crawled into bed with one dog, just for a few winks. Soon the other dog joined us (a rarity) and after a while I felt something at my feet. An hour later I woke up feeling SO good. That doesn't happen too often for me, let me tell ya! I have a sleep disorder and I just don't often wake up very spry. This morning, though, the dogs were in just the right spot, the blanket was just the right warmth and the pillow had just the right softness. And I had a few good dreams to boot.

I think everyone had a good sleep because when I got up, most everyone else stayed in bed. In the picture, on the bed, are 2 dogs and 3 kittens. And a heap of blankets. I just brought some in off the wash and was lazy and had a nap before folding...much to the animal's delight.

We're Growing....

2010-08-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

Early this spring we had a bunch of foggy days. A bunch. A rarity for us, let me tell ya. Well, it goes without saying we had the wettest summer we've ever had. We border on arid, I think, where I live in Southern Alberta. Not this summer. It's the end of August and things are still GREEN! Unheard of. It has been SO MUCH fun to garden this year. I had a horrid tragedy this summer and lost 11 lambs and 2 ewes to a train. (My north pasture runs parallel with the train line - within 10 feet - and they got through the tiniest of holes like only sheep can do...) A couple weeks later, while in my care, I watched a friends' dog kill another one of their littler dogs despite all I tried to get it to quit. I walked around in a daze of traumatized grief I think, to be honest, for at least a month. My garden anchored me.It's hard to see in a little picture, but if you click on it, you can see my cool Red Runner Bean TeePee and my enormous row of sunflowers in the background.

I didn't get a close picture but along the entire south side of my garden I've planted only herbs. I spent hours upon hours studying about different herbs - medicinal and cooking herbs. I am really excited about how well they've turned out for me this year.
What's really neat is if you click here you can see how my garden began this year...

More kitten pics..

2010-08-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

Scaredy cat

awwwww.....

I'd say the dog has adjusted to having cats around.... just don't tell her friends!

Kittens for sale!

2010-08-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of fun with the kittens that were born months ago - and three more have been born since and now the first mamma is ready to have more!!!! The two mammas are scheduled for spaying - if I can get them before they get pregnant. Sheesh. Here's a couple cute pictures...

Black cat + flour = photo op.

I'm on a loooong break...

2010-07-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry folks, I've taken the summer off and cancelled my internet until the fall. I was having issues with my provider, and spring hit and gardening and all the summer things.... I'll be back in the fall, or sooner :o). I sure miss this more than I thought I would.

DidJaKnow?

2010-06-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

DidJaKnow that, "legend has it that the number of breaths it takes to blow off all the seeds of a dandelion globe that has gone to seed, is the hour number. Time, anyone? Source: Online Etymology Dictionary & Common Dandelion - The Lion's Tooth

If blowing seeds is not your idea of telling time, consider this:

"The dandelion is called the rustic oracle; its flowers always open about 5 A.M. and shut at 8 P.M., serving the shepherd for a clock." Source: Folkard (448. 309), from "The Child and Childhood in Folk-Thought," by Alexander F. Chamberlain
OR

"The dandelion is an excellent barometer, one of the commonest and most reliable. It is when the blooms have seeded and are in the fluffy, feathery condition that its weather prophet facilities come to the fore. In fine weather the ball extends to the full, but when rain approaches, it shuts like an umbrella. If the weather is inclined to be showery it keeps shut all the time, only opening when the danger from the wet is past." Source: "Camping For Boys," by H.W. Gibson

"Dandelion Diuretic Properties

Dandelion is extremely popular for its diuretic properties and it increases urine output. It helps flush toxins and excess salts out from the kidneys.

This property of dandelion makes it very effective in treating people with mild renal problems and certain digestive disorders, as well as in hypertensive patients.

Dandelion contains potassium and hence inhibits the loss of potassium, which is caused by other synthetically available diuretics.

Dandelion Benefits on the Liver, Gallbladder and Bile Production

Dandelion helps build immunity and strengthen the liver and gallbladder. It also helps stimulate bile production and cures any inflammatory conditions of the bile duct.

Some people have reported effectively curing gallstones by drinking dandelion tea. Why dandelion benefits this condition can be attributed to the chemical substance taraxacin present in the herb.

Dandelion also helps effectively treat patients with hepatitis, kidney and liver disorders, like jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver and some other conditions caused due to reduced bile secretion.

Nutrition Benefits of Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion leaves are very nutritious and contain beta carotenes that are very good for the eyes, skin, hair, etc. They are also a good source of vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, C, E, and P.

Further, dandelion contains high levels of iron and calcium. In addition to all of the above, dandelion contains potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc, which are excellent for the human body. Due to its vast array of nutrients, dandelion benefits the body in many ways.

Fresh and tender dandelion leaves are used in preparing salads for the purpose of cleansing the body.

Health Benefits of Dandelion Root

The famous dandelion root contains a chemical substance called inuin, which is a sugar that does not stimulate increased or excessive insulin production like other refined and processed sugars. Therefore, it is very effective for people with late-onset diabetes. This is a unique benefit ofdandelion root.

The white sap extracted from the dandelion stem and root is used to treat certain skin disorders and warts.

Health Benefits of Dandelion Tea / Dandelion Root Tea

Dandelion root benefits other health conditions too. Dandelion root tea or pills, capsules, etc, are used to treat flatulence and constipation related problems, mainly because it has a laxative effect and helps in digestion.

More health benefits of dandelion root tea are that it is very effective in reducing cholesterol and uric acid levels.

Dandelion Juice Benefits

Another way of reaping some dandelion benefits on health is by using its juice.

Dandelion juice is famous for its high iron, potassium, calcium, beta-carotene, and vitamin C content. This is recommended especially for people interested in taking herbal supplements and natural vitamins in treating conditions like anemia.

In addition to the above, the bitter dandelion juice is also found to energize and detoxify the human body. In addition, dandelion juice is found be an effective blood purification agent.

Further, dandelion juice obtained from the stem and root of the dandelion herb has been found to be extremely effective in treating skin conditions like blisters, acne, and corn.

Benefits of Dandelion Tinctures

Dandelion tinctures are used to treat certain cardiac conditions including heart failure, as well as to increase potassium intake." from the website, www.all4naturalhealth.com/dandelion-benefits.html

Dandelions. Whodathunk? I wonder if it will help your eyes after reading this teeny article.

My Favourite Flower

2010-06-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

So, it is with a bit of trepidation that I confess that my favourite flower is really a Dandelion. Really. Really really. They are so perfect. I could write acres of prose about how great they are, but I did this search on the web and there is already acres of prose written about them! How wonderful! For all you naysayers who poison, murder and rip apart my sunny little friend, well...this is family friendly blogging after all. For the sake of the millions of fallen little yellow globes, read on.

A weed is just a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. Ralph Waldo Emerson

May
Come walk with me along this willowed lane,
Where, like lost coinage from some miser's store,
The golden dandelions more and more
Glow, as the warm sun kisses them again!
For this is May! who with a daisy chain
Leads on the laughing Hours; for now is o'er
Long winter's trance. No longer rise and roar
His forest-wrenching blasts. The hopeful swain,
Along the furrow, sings behind his team;
Loud pipes the redbreast - troubadour of spring,
And vocal all the morning copses ring;
More blue the skies in lucent lakelets gleam;
And the glad earth, caressed by murmuring showers,
Wakes like a bride, to deck herself with flowers!

Henry Sylvester Cornwell [1831-1886]

Source: "The Home Book of Verse," by Burton Stevenson

When you pray for rain...

2010-06-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

We've been blessed with a wet spring. This is the neighbour's dug-out.

Outside Garden

2010-06-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

I can't remember where I saw this idea. It is a Tipsy Turvy pot thing. I've got herbs in it. It was super easy to build - there's a copper pipe in the ground and then you just thread your terracotta pots onto it and lean them to the side. Put in some dirt and plants and voila. The girls and I enjoyed painting the pots one rainy afternoon. I'd like to try another one, but I think I will cap the bottom of the pipe and put little holes in it so that I can fill the pipe from the top and it will water the plants from the inside out.

I found this cross-country ski boot in my south pasture and decided to plant a little bacopa in it. I can't wait till it starts to fill out and bloom.

Baby peas - I can't wait! I'm putting straw down for my paths and then as the plants grow, I put it in amongst them as well to help keep weeds down and moisture in. It takes quite a bit of straw, but it's worth it. This garden takes about 12 bales. I tried wood shavings last year, but it was expensive and they just get mixed in the next spring and I have to start over. Here's a bigger picture of my garden. Hmmm, it looks horribly boring like this. In this picture you can mainly just see the vegetable part. I've got two perennial flower gardens in here and my herb garden. It all has to go in this fenced off area thanks to my woolly critters.

Gardens - Inside or Out?

2010-06-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

So, spring always put me in a flurry of growing and planting, and planting and planting...
I have this absolutely fabulous Sun porch (so fabulous, Sun gets a capital S) so I can grow things inside and out. Good thing too because we've had pretty rotten growing weather outside this Spring. So, here are a few of my inside projects....

Sweet Potatoes! Yes! In Canada. Being Canadian, I had no idea how to grow a sweet potato. But I love them. So, a trip around the Web showed me how to do it. The timing is wrong, but I couldn't help myself. I have to try. Even if I have a bucket of dirt in my Sun porch in November in order to harvest my sweet potatoes.

The fruits of my greenhouse shopping and seed planting...

Does anyone know what the middle plant there is? It's really cool, whatever. It grows little quarter sized aster-type fuschia coloured flowers. And the edges of the leaves get a pinkish hue. I just cut it back as it grows very profusely. I've made two other good size plants from it in a year.

I'm focused on herbs, for the most part, this year - well, I do think I suffer from plant ADHD, but for right now I'm focused on herbs. I have found all sort of great ones this year. Being in Canada, a lot won't survive outside over winter, but that's what pots are for, hmm?

Aren't these absolutely gorgeous? My new favourite. They're called Pericallis. They grow well inside and outside, the little thingy says. I haven't decided where to put them yet, so they remain amongst the other, "I don't know where to put you yet" plants.

Mares and Babies

2010-06-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

On my drive to town there is a massive pasture just loaded with pregnant mares and mares and babies. I finally stopped and took a few pictures.

YOGA!!

Pretty new.

Sun Showers

2010-06-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

The light was really neat tonight and just after I planted my herbs out in the garden, we had a sun shower. I've been out playing with my camera off and on tonight and got some neat pictures of some mamma horses and their babes and some pictures to show how much rain we have had the past week. It's wonderful! My pastures needed a drink and boyoboy did they get one.

I'm not sure if you can see the sun shower here - you can if you biggify for sure.

So many times I forget to look up. I did and saw the light playing with this elm tree branch and then, a huge rainbow. I needed that tonight :o).

Spring?

2010-05-31T17:45:00.000-07:00

When it's springtime in Alberta,
And the gentle breezes blow
About seventy miles an hour
And it's fifty-two below.

You can tell you're in Alberta

'cause the snow's up to your butt
And you take a breath of springtime air
And your nose holes both freeze shut.
The weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave Alberta

My feet are frozen to the ground!

Dishwashers

2010-05-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

I got to watch my brother's kids for a couple days this week. I'm a real retro-Auntie and don't have a dishwasher. I looked into the kitchen this morning because things had gotten quiet and found this scene. Who needs a dishwasher? They spent an hour washing about 4 plates. The cat supervised. I sat on the couch and took a breath :o).

We're getting Bigger....

2010-05-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

"Remember us? We're getting bigger!""Um, I don't feel so big right now..."
"That's okay little kitty, the dog is more scared of you than you are of her!"

"See how big I am, I can look over this!"

"And I can look uuuuuup..."

2010-05-11T21:56:00.001-07:00

The train runs close by my place. When I first moved here, it was noticeable. It still is, but in a different way. It's kinda nice, the sound of it going by. Reassuring, strong and steady. It gives 4 blasts of its horn every time it goes by. At night when I'm trying to fall asleep, the lights run around my walls to let me know it's coming before I hear it.

It's funny, now when I see train pictures, I get Johnny Cash's song, Folsom Prison Blues, in my head, "I hear a train a comin'....." I didn't know the song until I started hanging out with my five year old niece, Jesse. She knows all the words. It was cute until I heard her sing the low, gravely, "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him diiiiiee," - not really appropriate for kindergarden :o). Her grandpa loves it that she loves Johnny Cash though.

Family

2010-05-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

This weekend we celebrated family. My grandma turned 80, an uncle 60, a cousin 40 and little cousins had birthdays this month too. It was the first time a lot of us had been together in a long while. Many of the young cousins had never met before. New generations. It was pretty special to watch. My cousins are parents, my aunts and uncles are grandparents. I felt a bit old :o). But not quite 40 yet, dig, dig.

I just love this picture - two cousins meeting each other for the first time.

Mr. Smarty Pants

2010-04-29T18:07:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, only Domino would do something like this. On purpose. I watched him. He thought he was pretty special with a new necklace. That used to be nicely coiled and waiting to be put away proper. Serves me right. As I was taking photos, he looked at me, and got up and walked away as if to say, "there, my photo op for the day is done, thank you very much.". He's good for the soul, this goat.

Random photos

2010-04-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

Here are a few random photos from a couple days ago...

When I sit down outside, Domino comes and rubs his horn against my back. If only he'd do it softly, it would be so nice. Instead it's like he's trying to gouge out my kidneys. I looked down and found an old squished tennis ball, so I stuck it on his horn to give him something to think about for a few minutes and leave me in peace!

"Please, Sara, will you take off this thing? Here I'll bring it closer to you...."

Domino jumping on the roof of the kids' play fort. He loves the sound of his hooves on the wood. See how his hackles are up - like a horse mane- he's thinking he's pretty awesome.

My two Shetlands and their lambs, plus a few extra.

Isn't she interesting? My Holstein lamb, I call her.

Religious

2010-04-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:26-27

Religion is such a hated word. Even by me - it has so many overtones. If only we could do the religion it talks about in James. Jesus was/is so much more than what I think about religion. I have some cute pictures of life here on the wool ranch, but my heart has been kinda heavy with the plight of orphans today. There are so many. We really have no idea. Not here in North America. But there are things we can do. I've been surfing around and there are some really neat ideas out there. One of my favourite sites is Amazima. Katie is this 21 year old girl who has adopted 14 orphan girls, she, "sends over 350 children to school, and now has a feeding program of over 1200". She has a blog - you can get to it from the site. It moves me to tears and inspires me to do more.
One little thing is to buy these really fabulous necklaces that are made by Ugandan women to support their families. You can read about it on Katie's latest blog post.
Through her site I also found 147 million orphans
- these two moms (with 13 kids) who have creatively found ways to raise money for all these orphaned children. Worth checking out, really!
Another site I wandered onto this afternoon was a family who are wanting to adopt a little girl and they are selling cute bracelets to raise the money.
So, that's what I've been up to this afternoon. I wish I were rich. But I am, when I compare myself with pretty much any one from any other country but mine. There is so much more we can do.

Suprise

2010-04-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Last night Shasta was acting funny, hissing at her sister, Bree, and I noticed that she was skinnier. I had wondered if she was pregnant before, but she didn't have that big of a tummy. When she showed up skinnier last night, I figured she'd aborted. I wasn't too concerned, it happens. And I wasn't too thrilled that she might be pregnant in the first place. 2 barn cats is enough for this place. This morning she followed me upstairs and I noticed the curtain surrounding the old chimney was messed up and I got 'that feeling' and pushed it aside and Shasta jumped in there and cuddled up to two fat little balls of fur. Yep. Kittens. And she loves them. As you can see:

Sweet kiss from mamma

Two kittens isn't so bad. I'm not sure what I think of her having them in the house. I must have locked her inside yesterday when I went to town. My mind was totally elsewhere yesterday. The fact that she had them on an old scrap of fabric upstairs on linoleum makes me breathe a sigh of relief when I think of all the other possible places she could have chosen in this house! It may be for the best, though - now I can tame them and get them to good homes. Anyone want a kitten? Generations of fantastic mousers is in their genes.

Sun Bathing

2010-04-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week we had a crazy snow storm that dumped about a foot of snow. I like that it came from Montana - they usually blame their bad weather on us! It was beautiful moisture that we really needed. Most of it has melted now and this afternoon is a balmy 20 degrees (celsius). I went out and captured a few shots of the critters sun bathing:

The chickens love the trees - soft dirt, lots of bugs and protection from bad guys.

My first ever Shetland lamb. Rather, Shetland cross. His mamma is a Shetland and his daddy is a Merino. I cannot wait to play with his wool. It's already gorgeous. He's a fat healthy little guy, full of spunk and SO playful. Keeps his mamma real busy.

When the good spots in the trees are full, my bike tire works too!

I'm so glad all the animals are outside today. Less mess. Imagine what 2 dogs, 2 cats and 3 lambs can do to a floor. That's like 28 little feet. Muddy feet this week. My mop is still shaking in the corner - from over use.

Rain(snow), go away -

2010-04-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

Annie and Andy want to play. Today is a much needed snowy/rainy day. We are so dry and I've been worrying about it (like any good rancher/farmer) so when I saw the flakes this morning it was such a beautiful feeling. I didn't have any work to do today, so I grabbed my cozy blanket and a novel and read, napped, read, watched Oprah, read.... you get the picture. It felt good. I didn't start feeling guilty until about an hour ago :o).
The animals - dogs and cats spent the afternoon in the porch - as did Annie and Andy.

What do lambs do when inside? Take a look:

Bless their darn woolly hearts. Stinkers.

It's a tough life

2010-04-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's a tough life for these two - Annie and Andy in the house. They are both healthy and happy and getting into all sorts of mischief. Which means lately they spend their days outside!
A bit of a blurry photo of Andy, but wanted to show off his fat little tummy. He's doing great now.

Andy thinking he smells something familiar on my spinning wheel. I don't know why but my lambs always end up chewing on my spinning wheel. Must be all the lanolin.

Guess What?

2010-04-08T20:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Tooth Fairy,

Words of Wisdom

2010-04-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life - learn some and think some
and draw and paint and sing and dance and play
and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic,
hold hands, and stick together.

Be aware of wonder.
Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup:
The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody
really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even
the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die.
So do we.

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books
and the first word you learned - the biggest
word of all - LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation.
Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any of those items and extrapolate it into
sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your
family life or your work or your government or
your world and it holds true and clear and firm.
Think what a better world it would be if
all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about
three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with
our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments
had a basic policy to always put thing back where
they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you
are - when you go out into the world, it is best
to hold hands and stick together.

© Robert Fulghum, 1990.
Found in Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, Villard Books: New York, 1990, page 6-7.

Annie and Andy

2010-04-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

Annie had been under the weather off and on for several days and liked nothing more than snuggling with Bailey. Bailey has enough Hound Dog in her, that she doesn't mind who sleeps with her, as long as they don't disturb her too much.
On Saturday, Annie turned a corner and now she is a regular, playful, goofy lamb. And she is happy because now she has a buddy. Meet Andy:

Andy is a triplet, and he wasn't getting enough nourishment from his mum. She is such a good mum and can count to 3 so well and often takes her babies to the warm barn to keep them warm - we have had so much awful wind lately and it is hard on the little ones. Andy was going down hill and so I brought him in the house with the intent of warming him up, feeding him and sending him back out to his mum. But, he improved so much in the house and was so comfortable and Annie was so happy with her new playmate, I decided to keep him in the house. Could I do anything else? Hmmm?

Andy - in his skinny-ness. Next pictures will show a much healthier lamb!

It's M-e-e-e-lting!

2010-04-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

Myself and a friend went on a road trip about a month ago. It was one of those fun, inspired trips. I'd been having a bad week and she greeted me that Saturday morning with, "let's go for a drive". So we went west. I'm blessed to have the Rocky Mountains only an hour and a half away. The scenery was so pretty. I know it's spring, and many of you have flowers blooming and gardens planted, but it's a bit early for that for us. BUT it IS melting and warming up. Here are a few pictures from that day.

Annie Goes 'A Visitin'

2010-03-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I took Annie into the Lodge where my Grandma lives - for a wee visit. She was a hit and charmed the residents. After about 45 minutes, Annie found herself on Grandma's lap. There have been many diapered bottoms that have sat on that lap over the years.

Auntie Day

2010-03-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday I get to spend with my brothers kids. The two younger girls and I have the bulk of the day together, and then afterschool, the older two join us. It's always guaranteed to be a busy, action packed day. This Thursday, we planted seeds, caught a grasshopper and put it in a jar, played with the next door neighbour kids, played in the sandbox, ran back and forth to the neighbours' house, cooked supper, had a yummy snack (or two!), went to the Library, went to the playground and played with Orphan Annie. I think that about sums it up.... here are a few photos of the day:

Pamper Pals

2010-03-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

Orphan Annie

2010-03-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

Meet the newest addition to my household: Orphan Annie. I was under the misguided impression that I didn't need to tag my ewes, because with only 25 I should be able to keep track of them all and their babies, right? Well, no. Poor Annie was out in the rotten-awful wind this afternoon and no one would claim her. No one. But me. I tried and tried to find her mamma. Froze my butt off, froze Annies' tail off... (well, no not really). Finally Annie, hypothermic as she was came inside to warm up. She had a sweet snuggle with my friend. I resist as much as possible having just one orphan lamb. They are a nuisance. Adorable nuisance, but still. Two is so much better.

Awww. She is going to kill me for posting this photo, but since she never checks my blog, oh well! The point was to see the cuteness of a snuggly lamb.

Annie one day later:

Before you roll your eyes and think I'm a complete idiot, there is a reason for this decked out babe. The jacket she is wearing is made of polar fleece - to keep her warm. She is so tiny and I think she was a wee bit early. The head band is because of a nasty cut on her head that goes to the scalp - it needs a bit of pressure to keep the skin together. It makes her look like a bicycle-mamma. To bad I didn't have a bike. I totally don't know how she got it or when. Sometime between last night and this afternoon. It's pretty bad, poor thing. Normally I'd just use some crazy glue, but I'm all out - I used the last on myself. It's awesome stuff, folks. No more running in for stitches! I considered duct tape, but I wanted to be able to treat the wound if necessary, and duct tape would just re-open it.

A Good Day to be a Sheep

2010-03-19T11:49:00.001-07:00

After a cold night and a snowy morning, the sun came out and melted the snow and I let all the mammas out with their babies into the sunshine. Today was Barbara's first day out with her triplets. They're looking great! I'm bottle feeding the two ewe lambs - the two all white ones.

Here's last years ram lamb I kept over. He's getting some nice horns that look like they're curling just beautifully.

Here's Mordecai and his first hair cut ever. I got him from a place where he'd been neglected - never shorn, not always fed and/or watered. He's doing pretty well here. He looks a bit crazy and horse-like with his mane, though. He is SO much smaller than I thought he'd be. All that fibre on him made him look bigger.

Here's Cheryl and her two soaking up the rays.

Shasta the cat came by for a rub on the ewe, but she was surprised seconds later when she got a good bunt! This is my first yearling to lamb this year - she lambed yesterday afternoon. A nice big ram lamb. She was a little too engorged with milk for the little guy to suck, and he was a bit traumatized from the cold weather, so they spent the night in the barn. I had to catch her and milk her out - oy! Yearlings are so cagey. But once she was in the pen with her little guy, she calmed down and let me milk her no problem.
Domino - being black is a good thing in the cooler spring - the sun just soaks right in.

Bess and her huge ewe lamb. She's one of my best mammas. She's always super-alert looking for danger. The dogs have all been bunted a good time or two from her. I had to pull this little lamb and thought maybe I'd left it too long, but she revived and is now a strong healthy lamb.

Lambing 2010!

2010-03-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Well, lambing 2010 has finally begun. With perfect timing, I might add. I've been away for a week babysitting my brother's four kids. Oy busy. I knew my ewes were close to lambing, so we drove out to my place 2x a day to check on them, and thankfully didn't have any lambs. 3 of the 4 kids had the flu last week, so I just didn't have time for lambs, too. God's timing is always perfect. This morning I went out and discovered Barbara, my hair-bellied sheep, had triplets. No surprise - she was as big as a house. For all you spinners that are cringing at my mention of 'hair'.... Barbara is special. So she stays. Well, er, stayed. I think this is Barbara's last season with me. She has a lovely big udder, but only one side is working. She had triplets last year, and raised two of them very well and I had no reason to check her udder. But, alas, she can only raise 1 this year. Which brings me to more of God's perfect timing - Cheryl - my Cheviot had two huge twins. And a huge bag full of milk, but they could only drink out of one side, as the other side was too big. It had to be milked out. Yay! Collostrum for Barbara's orphans. Perfect. AND it's a nice sunny day today. It's been warm for like a month!!! And warmer weather is coming!!! Come on you lambs, come on!

Barbara and two of the triplets - she is VERY protective and wants to bunt me into next week. Instead she bunted her grain bucket.

Cheryl and her lovely twins - a ram and a ewe

Barbara's adorable little ram. His daddy is Obama - my New Hampshire

Barbara's smallest ewe. She's so cute and wrinkly - lost of room to grow! She needed a bit of warming up and some collostrum but is now back with her mummy. I'm feeding her and her sister with a bottle, but keeping them with their mummy.

"Sniff, sniff..."

2010-02-26T16:56:00.000-08:00

For the past week, the morning has graced us with eau de Peppe Le Pew. So, it was really only a matter of time...

Guess who tangled with Pepe? My Sarah. My snuggly Sarah.

I'm actually a bit glad it was her and not Bailey. Being a Retreiver, she usually likes baths. But I think the cat was teasing her and making her feel self-conscious.

She does not look real happy, what do you think?

Until I mention, T-R-E-A-T

I don't think she got the full brunt of the spray, because I have smelled worse. I used equal parts peroxide, baking soda and dish soap all mixed in water and rubbed her all over with it. Then rinsed her off. This morning I realized I missed a bit on her head, so I had a little re-do. She looks so good now - all clean and fresh. Until she went outside and rolled in some sheep poop and mud. Oy. She thinks she smells better now.

Mamma

2010-02-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

Got these in an email today. What a beautiful mamma.

Dogs are better...

2010-02-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

I got this in an email today and thought it was funny:

Remember, dogs are better than kids because they:

(1) eat less,

(2) don't ask for money all the time,

(3) are easier to train,

(4) normally come when called,

(5) never ask to drive the car,

(6) don't hang out with drug-using people;

(7) don't smoke or drink,

(8) don't want to wear your clothes,

(9) don't have to buy the latest fashions,

(10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and

(11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Everyone Needs a Friend

2010-02-19T00:19:00.000-08:00

Everyone needs a bit of sunshine, a warm dry place for a nap and a good friend to 'chew' on.

Auntie Day

2010-02-15T10:46:00.000-08:00

The kids came out on Saturday so their mum and dad could go celebrate each other for Valentine's Day.
Jesse has labeled the days I spend with them, "Auntie Days". I love that term. I was looking forward to the day a lot. I wanted to play outside with them and build forts and stuff. Fort building was my total favourite as a kid. It ended up a bit nippy, so we only stayed outside for about an hour. We had a hugely fun day!

Nippy cheeks. SO CUTE! Sara had a bit of a cold, but she had so much fun playing outside with the big kids.

Brenden and Lucy, the turkey. He is a bird-loving kid. He has a real way with chickens - I've never seen anyone who enjoys them so much.

Our fort - complete with a WINDOW!

Oh so cozy! Jesse, Jayme and Sara

"Auntie.... the goat!" (If I leave the door open - the goat will come in! Sara discovered this fun-fact)

Crafts with the girls

Making peanut butter-chocolate chip cookies - dog and cat, too!

Playing Wii - now this is a GREAT invention! The kids were sweating when they finished playing this game. It really makes a person move.

Well, Daniel was tired and discovered some new - not so moving - techniques.

Happy Auntie Day

Go Canada!!

2010-02-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

I love women's hockey. Fast paced and clean. And of course Canada's women's team is totally the best. Their first game is tonight against Slovakia. Go Girls!

So Silly

2010-02-10T20:41:00.000-08:00

It seems I have been catching my dogs and cats in some sort of silly predicament or another each day for the past while. Here are a few pictures:

Bailey started to get up off the couch, and then thought better of it and remained in this goofy position over Sarah for about 20min.

The cats have been enamoured with the fish and just can't find their way inside the blasted tank - not for lack of trying!
Bree keeps jumping behind the tank - and from the front it looks so funny. Almost as if she's inside. Sorry about the picture quality - I was in a hurry and didn't want to use the flash.
Bree - waiting for more papers to come out of the printer. She's my proof reader.
Okay - so I can put a bucket of water down on the floor, but if I leave the toilet lid open - they prefer that. Sorry for the sensitive sensibilities I grossed out there. Sometimes, when they come inside after being out for a while, there is a line up.
Shasta loves to help me put my duvet together. Never fail, as soon as I start, she shows up and stuffs herself inside and waits for my fingers to get close....

Who Is My Neighbour?

2010-02-07T12:55:00.000-08:00

We heard the story of the Good Samaritan today at church. I really like that one. Our youth pastor preached today and he really made it real and practical for me. I hope I can be more aware around me for 'my neighbour'. Our Pastor Bill was such an advocate of helping and doing for others. Sometimes we get so busy and trying to live our lives, we just don't see if someone needs our help. Or maybe, like me, sometimes we see, but just don't 'have time' right now.... Or sometimes, I think, what I have to offer isn't enough. Today at church I felt a bit 'raw' - you know that feeling? I haven't been sleeping well and I'm struggling a bit with my emotions and feeling a bit overwhelmed and I wasn't really sure I wanted to even be out in public... You know that feeling? Well at a point in our service, we were told to go around and say hi to folks and welcome eachother. Just what I felt like doing. (We need a sarcasm font!) Anyway, I obeyed for fear of looking like a pitiful grump and got a few hugs and many handshakes out of it and was blessed by a few folks that probably didn't have a clue that I needed that hug. Anyway, I tell all that to say, we always have something we can give. Maybe a hug, maybe a smile to a cashier who is backed up instead of a frown.... We've got neighbours everywhere we go. And it works the way anything works with God - the more we give, the more we get back. Just thought I'd share the encouragement... Have a great week everyone.

Kitchen Table?

2010-02-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

I admit, being single, I don't often sit at the kitchen table for a meal. More often it's the computer desk. I love my new chicken dishes I got from my aunt and it's so nice to sit and check my email in the morning and have breakfast out of them.
This is a yummy treat for me. It's, "Italian herb and cheese bread" - a recipe from a friend of mine. You basically take bread dough roll it out flat, smear it generously with Italian salad dressing and top it with cheese. Let it rise a little and then bake it for about 30min. I've been putting it in a round cake pan and it is like a deep dish pizza style crust. Yummy.

A Busy Play Day

2010-02-02T12:03:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I was blessed by the arrival of my dad, brother and my 5yr old niece, Jesse and my nephew, Brenden (12). Dad and Mike got busy in the barn and did some reno's to make it sheep ready - for shearing and for lambing. Both are coming up real soon. When it was time to go, the kids stayed for a while to play. Jesse and I are crafting buddies once a week and so, we naturally just got busy and did some crafts. We decorated a clay plant pot with broken bits of CD's - it looks like a broken mirror, just not quite so sharp edges :o). We made some cinnamon buns and painted some pictures and played with my Cricut Expressions machine. Meanwhile, Brenden played on the computer for a little while and then he went outside to give Domino (the goat) an apple for a treat. Next thing I knew he was over by the straw bales building a structure of some sort. It didn't take long before Jesse and I were outside joining him. I wanted to get more pictures - especially of his architectural prowess and of Brenden himself, but my camera's batteries died. :o( I did manage to get a few photos, first.

Jesse on top of the 'amusement' ride - on the back side was a guide to measure kids to see if they were tall enough :o). Then to the right is an old door that the kids slid down - in a rubbermaid bin for Brenden! The landed on a soft open bale - which Sarah had decided was her special place to chew on her stuffie. Pretty soon, Brenden had the goat and one of the dogs tied together with a long rope and we tried pulling Jesse on a sled - it worked okay, but the goat got loose. So we harnessed up Sarah to the contraption. And then their mom came to pick them up. Awwwww. Hehe, it was a super-fun play day.

MMMmmmmm

GOOP!!! The best thing. Just corn starch and water. It is SO fun and intersesting. It looks wet and messy, but it actually feels dry and it cleans up SO easy.

Jesse's semi-worried expression because she was.....

STUCK! Hehe, just temporarily.

Ouch

2010-02-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

So last night I was chatting on the phone and the dog walked by and knocked the plug out of the socket on the wall in my room. So, I got up and went to stick it in and ZAAAPPP!!!! I got zapped big time. Boy it hurt. I went and ran my hand under water for a while and grabbed a frozen yogurt tube (expiry date June 20, 2009!). I didn't think about it all too much until I was off the phone and then I had a good look at the socket, my hand and the cord. No wonder my hand hurt - the zap melted the copper prong bit, blew out behind and in front of the socket and burned my hand in three spots - I could even see where the current exited - it split the skin! I couldn't remove the ice without pain until about 3am. Burns are awful. It could have been so much worse. I totally can't imagine having a bad burn on a large area of my body - the pain would be beyond imagination.

WOOLLY TALES...

Self Pity

Sunny Sunday Harvest

Arachnid Musings

After a Wee Hiatus...

hi·a·tus

Beautiful Brown Eyes...

Cute Times Three

Goofy Goat

A Happy Day

Last Winter Lamb

It's Not Fair

plant doctoring...

Fight Back Against Winter

New hats for St. Patrick's Day

Grandparents

I love to share

24 days...

Whoa

Sad news

It's cold!

Spring? Never mind....

Warm lambs

It's beginning to look like Spring

It grew!

No News...

Hibernating

Snow days

Christmas already?

Carving Outside The Box

The North Wind...

Hero

The Perfect Weekend

Recipes

The best parts of Thanksgiving...

They are ready to go!

What are you reading?

My Winter Garden

Mornings

I was wondering...

Play

Top Flight

Random

A girl needs a horse

Wow.

Got milk?

My new favourite thing

Little Girls

Pure Unadulterated

She's finally here!

Salsa Saturday

Steamy Windows

A friend for Domino?

Do Ewe Doodle?

Herb Harvest

Tea Party

Two

Heaven Is....

We're Growing....

More kitten pics..

Kittens for sale!

I'm on a loooong break...

DidJaKnow?

My Favourite Flower

When you pray for rain...

Outside Garden

Gardens - Inside or Out?

Mares and Babies

Sun Showers

Spring?

Dishwashers

We're getting Bigger....

Family

Mr. Smarty Pants

Random photos

Religious

Suprise

Sun Bathing

Rain(snow), go away -

It's a tough life