Winter project

I accidentally got hit with the "Crafty" bug this week. Louanne got me hooked on snooping through Etsy. After looking at umpteen different barn board projects I said "I can make that" and into the woods I went. In these parts, that's where barn wood grows. 

Lucky for me, Travis is home so I really could "make that". I'm more of an "artistic inspiration" kind of person than a "measure once, cut twice" kind. It's why Travis and I were made for each other.

Louanne said like all good DIY projects I should have before and after pictures.

Before.

After.

There's an ugly knob on that wall that can't be moved. The rusty hinge does a nice job of hiding it, which was the inspiration for the whole project. 

Unconventional Christmas 2011

It's Tradition. 

On Christmas day a bunch of us get together to wander in the woods, 

 looking for "punches",

watching out for wild life...

and refreshment stations. 

Of course all that walking outside hunting for punches, drinking Baileys and hot chocolate, and snacking on Christmas oranges in the elements is really hungry work!

Back at Eve and Bud's, folks load up.

Some grab mighty big plates...

or big bowls

and the young and skinny STILL go back for more!

Most importantly, we spend an exceptional day with great friends. 

which makes

for a perfect "Unconventional" Christmas day.

Merry Christmas

From us to you. 

Waiting for a special delivery

2 weeks and counting till Wendy delivers my pup Flint to Louanne's (and Randy's and Louanne's and Scott and Jenny's) for a much anticipated New Year's and Puppy party!

Today

It was plus three, the sun was shining, there's no snow to speak of, and the dogs and I worked until we'd all had enough. The forecast is suggesting that there's a couple more weeks of this to come. 


This could be the BEST Christmas EVER!


Pictures next time I promise. We just got caught up in the sunshine today!

I guess you had to be there.

I was bringing the girls in with Ben this afternoon (for a variety of reasons) and actually had the camera in my pocket (poor thing had to share the pocket with straw, shavings, binder twine, electrical tape, kleenex, a piece of wire, and some old list. The leatherman and the rest of my "stuff" was in the other pocket. But I digress...as usual.

At any rate, I looked up from the task at hand for a change (because it's so easy to get caught up in what needs to get done that sometimes it's easy to miss the "Wow, you're so lucky" moments)...and the sky was just glowing. 

and even though I took pictures, and then cropped them and cleaned them up, they just couldn't do justice to the "wow, I love this little valley, these sheep, this dog, these sunsets, and my lifestyle. 

Tradition

The lights are up and as always, they are traditional. Global warming and power bills be-damned, the glow is just plain better from real light bulbs!

Help end the misery

Unwanted facial hair. One of those things often noticed, but rarely talked about...openly. To be clear, this is Travis's facial hair we're talking about. Thankfully we BOTH agree that it needs to go. YOU can help. Go to mobro.co/tburwash and donate to prostate cancer research so Travis can remove the creepy crawly from his lip. I thank you in advance - REALLY I do. 

Lazy Sunday

Height seeking - a sure sign of dominance.

Note the "submissive grin" on the subordinate animal.

A change in the weather

We've had the longest, nicest, fall I can remember. All that gorgeous weather came to a screeching halt last night with four inches of fresh snow. Time to settle in for a long winter's nap...

Full House

Seems like the Tawatinaw valley was the place to be this weekend! Not one, not two, not three, but a whole flock of friends came out for fun, food, and a bit of fun with sheep. 

The driveway got so full neighbours probably thought they were missing out on an auction. 

The peanut gallery.

Cowboys

World travellers.

New toys.

Mine?

Happy Halloween!

That's right Ben....they're coming!

Did you know?

That today is Hug A Sheep Day? 

I kid you not. 

Travis and I hugged a number of sheep this morning when we did feet. 

This is Ferdinand, our new Dorper ram.

We put him in with the ewes today and he certainly embraced "Hug a Sheep Day"...

Hey Babe, you look like you could use a "hug"....

Thanks Louanne and Kyle - looks like he's settling in just fine.

Dumb Cluck.

I found one of these in the yard this morning. 

Hey, I'm just trying to blend in. 

She was sitting under a tree - cause that's what chickens do.

And everything was fine - nice fall day, sunny morning, entertaining non sheep eating wildlife in the yard - until she decided to fly away.

She took off in this direction. North. Please note that other than the house, which seems pretty obvious, there's really nothing in her way. Also please note that the house is about 250 feet away. Can you guess where this is heading?

That's right, she could have chosen "Wide Open Spaces" (in case you didn't catch it, that's a Dixie Chicks song. Get it? Dixie CHICKS. It's a chicken joke. I know, I spend too much time by myself.), but instead she flew into the fence (which among other things, is there to keep my dogs from roaming the yard eating dumb wild life) and wound up here.

Huh. How'd you find me again - what with all my stealth and camouflage and all.

She probably thought this was some fancy city single chicken coop. As in, "I have found myself some PRIME real estate here."

Ben used his strong working dog talents to help her out of her predicament, 

and then I convinced her to fly off in a new direction. "Go west young chicken" I said - because there's nothing but trees to the west, and that's what she did.