Week six - Through the eyes of a child...

There is little more amazing to watch then a child learning... Our experience as leaders in our local 4H club has given us many opportunities to see this first hand. Whether its learning to cook, sew or fix an engine, how to take care of an animal or grow your own food... watching them learn and grow is pretty amazing to see! 

This month we've been hatching chicks and thus have had a number of visitors! 

A couple of the 4Hers have been following the chicks progress and have waited anxiously for their eventual arrival.

The kids have learned how the egg is formed inside the chicken and how often they lay eggs. We have also learned how long it will take for the chick to grow inside the egg (21 days) and finally they've watched them emerge and thrive. 

While they may not grow up to be chicken farmers, they have learned important lessons of life, natural selection and the responsibility of caring for another being. 

Hope they look back on these experiences as fondly as we do... 

Kidding around!

FFF Photo a Day - Day 343

Lily is a Nubian goat who along with her barn-mate Chocolate is due to kid (give birth) this winter. We are busy trying to ensure that the barn is cozy and warm for them. 

Lily is a first time mom but Chocolate has had several kids. We are looking forward to having babies again on the farm! 

Dreaming of warmer days...

FFF Photo a Day - Day 49

Its cold out there! I hate to complain but I'm soooo looking forward to spring. To cheer me up I've dived back in my photos to a warmer day a couple of summers ago. 

My daughter and I were hanging out with the kids (goat kids) in the sun. We had quite a few that year and they were playful and curious. I love this shot of her reacting to a over-curious goat nibbling on her shorts! 

I can almost feel the sunshine! 

A day of discovery...

FFF Photo a Day - Day 31

Today we took nineteen kids on a day of discovery. Thanks to a grant from FCC we were able to take all the kids in our 4H club to the Food and Farm Research Centre just south of Winnipeg. 

Many of the kids live in towns and have not given much thought to where their food comes from. They were able to explore how pigs and dairy cows are raised, ground their own flour to make bread and explored the eggs-citing world of chickens! 

No kidding!

FFF Photo a Day - Day 28

Last year on this day we were very busy. We were welcoming some new baby goats in the midst of a very cold winter. We hadn't been expecting them.. 

This is what happens when you don't keep your gates firmly closed! 

It was busy and rewarding but we definitely aren't sorry we are not facing that this year! 

But needed a dose of cuteness today so here they are! 

Goodnight sweet heart!

Sadly, tonight we said farewell to a loyal friend and constant companion, Tipi! Our dog of almost a decade, she will be sadly missed by all who live on and ever visited the farm. My 10 year old daughter created this fitting tribute to this faithful friend. Good night sweet heart!

Tipi,

Although you were a little bit skippy,

I love you too much to say,

I pray,

That you are in a better place

and you race and race and race

just run,

and have fun.

Although you don’t have a baseball to throw,

You have grandma willow to help grow.

I want you to know we love you so,

Alive or dead,

You had a cozy bed,

And I put it with you,

I hope you enjoyed how we,

Fed, lead and petted your head,

Because I sure enjoyed doing it to you.

We love you,

Taryn.

Our Valentine Surprise



The farm's newest edition!

Wednesday morning, Philip went out to the barn to do the usual morning chores. Let the goats out as usual and went on sleepily to feed the pigs outside. While out there he heard a funny noise - one that was not a typical early morning on the farm in mid-winter kind of noise.... it was the sound of a very young goat bleating for its mother.

On investigation he discovered a baby kid born only hours before. He must have missed seeing the new arrival when he let them all out but sure enough, Louise had had a new baby!

Now what made this all that more surprising was that we were not expecting to kid until May! Our rent-a-buck had only arrived on the farm in mid-December and with a four and 1/2 month gestation period... well you do the math.... was it immaculate conception??

Puzzled, I dug through my records (after checking on Mom and baby and getting them settled in some comfy private accomodations), to see when was the last time we had a male goat on the farm. Sure enough, we sold the male kids (born only 7 months before) at the end of October. I guess they were a might more mature than we had thought!

So now we are wondering just how many other February births to expect and did we rent this buck in vain! Luckily its been a very mild winter so we shouldn't have to worry too much about dangerously cold weather should we have more births earlier than planned.

I must admit, while unexpected, the birth was a wonderful Valentine's surprise - a much needed boost in the middle of the February blahs!

Louise and babe are doing well. We are not yet certain but it looks like its a girl (these things don't always "reveal" themselves right away!).

Stay tuned for more follies on the farm we call home.