Home Is What We Make Of It

The 10th of March Hubby and I will have moved into this house 7 years ago. Who would have thought that much time would go so quickly. When we first moved here things were pretty rough. The house was built prior to our moving here by a Norwegian sailor/cowboy. He had built it for his wife and himself to move in to as part of their Canadian adventure. She came and took one look and decided to move home... he didn't want to go and so divorce seemed the best option. The house went up for sale as part of the divorce settlement. Enter Hubby and moi.

Let me tell you that purchasing this house was no small task and especially from a Norwegian sailor/cowboy with grand ideas of the wild west. He didn't have a clue really about the laws of Canada and felt that he could sell us the house and use the same lawyer that we had.... He wanted to come visit the lawyer the same day we did and thought it all could be done in one afternoon. We eventually got it all worked out but it was a painful process.

We have never regretted living in this house and we have never regretted our lifestyle here which believe me has been a little uncooth at times. The needs of a Norwegian sailor/cowboy and his wife are quite different than a family of four with two dogs and two cats. For example, when we fist moved into this house there was carpet on the kitchen floor and only one bedroom. Hubby and I, in our wisdom, moved the kids into the closet in our bedroom and managed to squash the possessions of four people into 600 square feet. We eventually closed off the cathedral ceiling in our living room, and built a large upstairs room for the girls. Over the years a number of changes have been made to the house the least of which was not the extensive renovations to the kitchen (where we took up the carpet) or the addition of a front door and porch. We have added a 600 square foot deck. It's a cozy home and though it has a very lived in look most of the time, I for one love it here.

I'm sitting here listening to the CBC show, Daybreak North, which is broadcasting from the local cafe in our little town. They are interviewing the Boones from Bears Flats just up the highway from here and they are talking about Site C. Site C is like saying the "F" word in our neck of the woods. Site C is a proposed hydro electric dam that will ruin a river valley which is one of the most beautiful valleys anywhere, and we happen to live in it. People will be displaced and the town will will be cut off from the nearest centre so suffice it to say that it is a touchy subject for sure in this locale. My family will not actually be affected directly but the new lake will certainly be our neighbour. What people don't realize is that reservoir lakes are dead. They cause horrible amounts of sluffing (sloughing) and the wind turns all the sluffed banks into dust whirlwinds. It is a horrible sight to see when that much dust lays a coating of inches over everything.... it looks like an atomic bomb has gone off. And of course no animals can survive such conditions. I hope Site C doesn't go ahead. Our property will lose most of its value.... not a nice thing I assure you.

The Boones are not alone in their fight against Site C. Many people like us have bought homes in this valley because it is so beautiful. They want to see life in their chosen homeland stay beautiful and I can understand that.

So it is with this in mind that Hubby and I embark on renovations to our home... not lightly let me tell you. We are sitting on a time bomb really. If we invest another 40 - 50 thousand dollars into our home we do not want to see it lose value but rather gain. We do not invest the money for the reason of gaining or losing but because we need the space, but gaining in value is certainly expected when investing that kind of money. The reservoir will basically lick at the edges of our property and the property of our neighbours. We have the risk of being buried under those inches of blowing sand and dust. Our land will become basically valueless.

It is interesting to hear the people talk on the radio about Site C. Some people are for Site C and some are adamantly against it. I realize that it may bring with it economic growth but then I look out at my animals and wonder what will happen to me and my family.

Hubby and I canoed the river about two years ago. We canoed the area that will be affected if Site C goes ahead. We want to do it again this year and we hope to take the girls with us this time.... at least part of the way. I want them to see what beauty will be destroyed if Site C goes ahead. I want them to know what life was like before Armageddon.

It is interesting to listen to people talking so coolly about something that can be so significant in their lives and ours. But listen I do... I just pray that when all is said and done, the good Lord above is watching over us and will touch us and this valley with only good things.

Anyway renovations are certainly in our future.... whether Site C is, remains to be seen.

I'm Back

A week in Victoria went a whole lot faster than I expected. I left here last week after a visit to FSJ hospital for a kidney infection. So on antibiotics, and feeling more rotten than good, I landed in Victoria in the late evening and was assigned a room which, praises be, I didn't have to share with anyone (thanks Stew). I made up my bed and unpacked in a matter of a few moments and prepared to renew some relationships from a year ago. I then hit my bed and tried to get a decent night's sleep. I have to say that the life of the sorority is not something I fit well into and so for most of the week I felt like a fish out of water. J, we will call him, my travelling companion from Hudson's Hope was a blessing, because he has an easy way about him and helped my awkwardness many times. I was up at 5:30 am the next morning to shower and prepare for class which was to start at 7:45 am sharp. I had breakfast at the mess hall at 6:00 am and began my ritual of yogurt and fruit for breakfast. Class began with filling out and signing contracts for the week. I will get paid for this course that I took! still find that to be a surprise. We started in right away. The courses that I took were Advanced Dispute Resolution and Non-violent Crisis Intervention. Both were exacting and both were immensely fulfilling. I think the only complaint is that I hate roll playing (I have never been an actress). I find roll playing to reach too deep into my inner turmoil and draw out things best left buried where they belong. It doesn't help that the feminine psychy rears its ugly head at particular times of the month. Though the moon was not full I felt the workings of the monthlys heavy on me about mid-week when roll playing was at it height. At one point I was reduced to tears and embarrassed for it. I don't like to be in the limelight and there I sat for all eyes to bear witness to my discomfort... ugh!

The second part of the week was better with Non-violent Crisis Intervention. I thoroughly enjoyed getting the ideas behind that course. I also thought that the actual deflecting exercises were brilliant. I came away reassured that what I try to do in a melt down with teenagers (mostly my own) is the correct method and the courses gave me some strategies to deal with kids that are difficult and unresponsive. Believe me, as a Mom wih two teenagers (one almost) the course is a great way of aiding you and balancing you as a rounded human.

After hours was a different thing altogether. I spent a lot of time working on my book reports for my Master Spinner level 2 homework. I am pleased to say that I have finished all six book reports and I have several of the other research questions done too. Thanks to Hubby, I was able to use a laptop and get all my work done. I went shopping and spent way too much money on beading supplies. The great thing about Victoria is the great down town area where cool and nifty shops abound. The last day there I spent and afternoon in Market Square poking about in the shops there. I found a great fudge shop and brought home a log of something that I can't remeber the name of. It was nougat with cherries and raisins and nuts in it rolled in caramel and pecan nuts.... with the way I love nougat it was yum! I bought Hubby a hat made of waxed cotton and looked like the hat that Indiana Jones wore in the movies. The girls got braclets from an East Indian clothing shop and I wish I could have afforded a sari for them. J and I had challenged each other to tattoos but we both didn't feel that the tattoo shop we went to was what we were looking for so in the end we decided to wait until we could do a tattoo and get exactly what we wanted. Dinner out happened twice. Once at a Thai place and the other at a Curry East Indian joint. Both restaurants had great food. The highlight of the trip I think though was the opportunity to go to the Tournament of Hearts and see the curlers for real. The curling was amazing and the whole experience was top notch. I did have to choose between the Tournament of Hearts and the night that everybody went out for dinner. But in hind sight it wasn't so bad. I think there was too much flirty crap that went on for my enjoyment. The most disappointing about it was that my WO and his wife were there and for the second year in a row and I have not had the opportunity to meet her and socialize with them both. I would have liked to do that. I did hear that some of my fellow class mates were outrageous in their behaviour after over indulging in booze. I did that years ago in my college days and I don't feel I have anything else to proove. I am glad to say that the politics of such an event are beyond me and I am always glad to forgo people politics and machinations..... that is what makes me a loner. I am happy to be just me and not have to worry about who is flirting with this one or that one or who is sucking up to this one or that one.... it is kind of sad to watch.

This trip has been an eye opener for me and I have discovered that I am too hard on myself and certainly too analytical. I need to just live and let the others take care of themselves. People who are out to proove something usually only just end up hurting themselves. I have decided to stay away from people who don't deserve my friendship and loyalty, and enjoy the ones who do. In the end my friendship is good and I am a worthy friend and companion. I renewed relationships and solidified others, and in the end hopefully built a little respect among the ones who took the time to get to know me. A little self discovery is good from time to time.

Moving Right Along....

I have been enjoying a week of unconventional communication..... from intellectual debates with archdeacons to unexpected flattery from a Captain in the army. Even Hubby jumped into the fray.

Hubby and I have long surpassed the days when intellectual conversation of any kind is the norm.... we’ve discussed ad nausium topics of interest and so we generally know where each other stands with most topics. Conversation is usually a comfortable day to day dance of body language, and verbal discourse. Topics usually fall in the category of ongoing events. Rarely we discuss things that we hear on the radio and occasionally we debate topics that come up due to what we read. It’s not bad.... it’s just comfortable. So when opportunities arise on both our parts to exchange witticisms of any kind whether with each other or with others it is most stimulating.

I want to say that most of what occurred this week is due to the fact that technology is so advanced that one can debate online without ever coming face to face. One can be most brave when one is facing a computer screen rather than a person. I’ll be honest, my bravery is pathetic. I’m sure I would never say some of the things that I say if I actually had to look the person in the eye.

Technology, by the way, is at a premium these days in our house. Hubby came home with a surprise yesterday. I am now the proud owner of an iPod and also a new cell phone.... our old phone was becoming antiquated.... (I know... how can a cell phone be antiquated?!!!) so Hubby and I had been talking about getting a new one for a while. We had decided that we may get rid of our regular house phone and just go with cell phones and while we haven’t gone that far yet, we have each got a cell phone.... and WOW is it cool! I can take pictures and send them to my email, I can text message, I can access on-line information, I can listen to music.... all this and communicate verbally too. I spent several hours last night getting to know my cell phone and downloading music to my new iPod. I will be heading down to Victoria next week for training with the Junior Canadian Rangers so Hubby wanted to be sure that I was good with my cell phone and being able to keep in touch... I’m all set with my new gear. I think its great. For a gal who had no clue about technology just a few years ago..... well, I’m certainly not 40, fat and foolish anymore..... just 40 and fat! My daughter hates that word.... so in honour of her... overweight.

Take care and see you all when I get back.

In Honour Of Spring

I've been thinking about Daffodils. I've been thinking of Crocuses. I've been thinking of Hyacinths and Lilys too. In honour of those beautiful flowers I've changed my colours. This is the time of the year when a trip to my local Canadian Tire store sees me trekking home with a variety of bulbs and soil to plant for forcing..... I'm actually later this year than is usual for forcing bulbs. Generally I start in late January and have them ready for the latter part of March. I love a few flowers in the house when winter is still dragging its feet and has not departed north yet and forcing bulbs gives me lots of flowers in the house.
Mostly I like Hyacinths, but I have tried Lilies and Crocuses too.

The days are getting longer now and the sun reaches farther and farther around the westering windows of our house in the evenings. Hubby and I have made our annual forray to the local financial institute for the RRSP contributions of tax time. And more importantly, we have taken the initial steps toward the Renovations to our home in the form of financing. I will be traveling next week so I cannot do anything for the time being. But when I return I will be contacting the contractor and getting a quote for the work that we want done. Then next, to satisfy the banks requirements, we have to get an appraisal on the house for both now and after the renovations are done. After that, it's just a matter of signing the documents and then the work can begin.

Now when I speak of renovations, I mean Renovations. I don't just mean painting the floor and moving furniture around. We will be removing the majority of the roof to accommodate a new set of dormers to open up the rooms upstairs and we will be closing in a deck to accommodate a new office and den/studio. If we can, we will also be putting in an ensuite. And with no more than a change of entrance to the current bathroom we will gain a laundry room albeit small. There may even be a cold storage room too. It all depends on how much the whole thing costs. I am hoping that the office will accommodate a small wood cooking heater/stove so that when the power goes out we have some kind of back up.

So the renovation ideas abound. Spring is just around the corner and I can't wait to see the changes this place will undergo. We are talking about the new flooring and what type of windows to use, we are talking about sinks and toilets and tubs.... yes tubs....(I'll be able to sit in a tub again after 7 years of showers)! We are talking about closets with cedar linings. And with all that we are talking about wood stoves and code requirements..... I'm even talking about a new little car. It is all rather facinating and a whole lot exciting.

Hubby leaves the majority of the design elements to me.... he wants nothing to do with it. Depending on when we can start, we will do the sunroom first if it is too cold to move out. Then we will move out for the summer months into the tent trailer and give the contractor time to remove the roof and put in the dormers.

I'll be posting pictures here as the Renovations continue..... this is what it looks like now....

Happy Valentine's Day

Here's hoping that you are enjoying the romance that everyone deserves on Feb 14th. It's a day when red and white and pink are prevalent. Red roses and white lacey cards and pink tulips and carnations. That is what my house is filled up with. Chocolates abound and so do red heart shaped jelly candy. We here at Nicholsville West farm have a tradition of giving a cut out heart, usually red or pink, with a few words to those we love declaring our undying love. This tradition started with my Grandfather when I was a girl sooooo ..... 35 or so years ago, when he wrote..... Oh my Barbie little Barbie how I love you no one knows, But may you never have to go with a pimple on your nose. I still have that Valentine in my keepsakes, and so began a tradition which has brought laughter and tears and no small amount of heart palpatations.

Hubby and I started our day with a nice sleep in. We never got up till 11:30 a.m. and what a nice sleep in it was. Very relaxing. And more important, very rare! Love, after 17 years together, is very different from the days when we were first together. Sleeping in constitutes romance and though that sounds lame I really appreciated a little cuddle time. No getting up and getting breaakfast for everyone. Hubby got to linger with me and we loved every minute. The minutes before getting up when we roll over and wrap our arms around each other is always the best time of the day.... but on Valentine's day when the minutes become hours.... its just such a lovely, decadent time for both of us.

One of the most romantic things I have ever heard is the story of Ethel and Leo Rutlegde after 50 something years of marriage, both of them in their nineties and Leo's failing health was coming to a close. He had been in and out of consciousness for days and then the day before he died he came to consciousness and Ethel was sitting by waiting by his side as she had always been and slowly he whispered, "you know, I've been very fond of you Ethel my dear."

No grandiose declaration of everlasting love just simple appreciation for the woman who had kept him company all those years.



How could I not love this????!!!

Happy Valentine's Day and I hope you find joy in the caring... just simple joy in the caring with the one you love.

More On The Lives Of The Animals

Evening feeding time is just as much fun as watching the animals waking up in the morning. Hubby has been on feeding duty recently as I have been recuperating from winter and trying to get my head around being alive. So I've been sitting here watching him feed the animals.

Have you ever seen a sheep frolic? They jump in the air and bounce aroung like there is no tomorrow and they usually do this when they are happy. The ram is the best at it but some of the younger ewes do it too. The sheep are most happy when they are about to get their daily quota of grain. They jump and frolic around Hubby like he is a God. Even Honeydew runs to meet him at the gate. the ram and Greig my wither (castrated male) start boinking their heads together.....not because they are mad or upset but just because that is what they do. It's fun I guess. The alpacas line up and parole the fence line and watch from the closest corner as the animals receive their portion of grain. Hubby likes to feed them all alittle by hand so they are used to him and his smell. Honeydew, the llama is most skittish when he tries to feed her by hand. Honeydew has had a halter on her face all year and we have been trying to coax her to let us take t off her but for some reason she just will not let us touch her face.

Once Hubby has laid in the feed on the ground it is fun to watch them jostling for position to get to the feed. Oscar the ram is notorious for jumping under the feed and getting it all over his back as we are laying it out for him. This is something we try to avoid since the hay gets in the wool and makes a right proper mess. Not good when you want to sell the fibre down the line after shearing time. Izzy, one of last year's ewes is also notorious for that too. Jelly, who is an older ewe likes to eat and I mean eat. She gets a nasty look in her eye if you are carrying grain in a bucket and she can't get her head in the bucket right away. Tubby the retarded sheep just puts his head down and eats... like it is a job.... the rest take care of him and push him around when he is in the way or when he needs to go lie under the lean-to.

After the frenzy of feeding is over they all proceed to lay in their food and just chew their cuds while occasionally reaching down for another mouthful to just munch on. Greig and the ram will spend a great deal of time trying to lick up and left over grain that has gotten buried in the snow. The alpacas will go and get a good long drink from the watering bucket.

It's really neat to watch them frolic together and then just get along together. They have cool relationships. Just like people they get along some days better than other and the scrap and fight though rarely..... mostly the male alpacas....

It's neat to watch..... it's better than T.V.

It's getting dark out there now and they will be bedding down soon. I guess I should get ready to go to knit night.... I'm finishing wristlets and that oh so yummy wool for socks that I bought is waiting patiently.

The Farm

I love to watch the animals waking in the morning. As I sit here Honeydew, the llama, has just arisen for her morning stretch. Alpacas and llamas arise like a Camel... they lift their hind quarters first and then lift their front quarters. Honeydew has stretched her neck and then lifted her hind leg and given her front one a gentle scratch using her two toe nails. The rest of the animals in that pen seem to take that as a wake up call. The Oscar the Ram nudges Tubby the retarded sheep to get up and Greig has gotten up for a stretch too. Mishka is the last one to arise. They all head for the area where Hubby last laid grain out for them and they proceed to lick the area to get the last remaining taste from the snow. Tubby has opted to go back to sleep as he has put his head back down.

The male alpacas in the farthest pen are watching the movements of the animals that I have just spoken of. They are not quite ready to get up and move around. It is cold this morning or at least colder than it has been for the last few weeks. Dexter, one of the alpacas, has gotten up now and is patrolling the fence line. The other alpacas are still lying down in the hay by the feeder chewing their cuds and watching Dexter move around. The sun has just come up and the sky is pink and blue with hints of yellow and orange on the bottoms of the clouds and daylight is getting brighter all the time.

The ewes in their pen are just starting to move too. Most of them sleep outside where they can see what is all around them. But some of the youngers ewes like to hang out in the barn at night. They too seem to want more grain as they are checking out the place where the grain is poured onto the soft white snow.

Greig is pawing through the hay in an effort to upturn some clover seeds and get to the yummy stuff. Oscar (the ram) is poking about for the same thing. They are friends but they also butt heads from time to time. Both take care of Tubby the retarded lamb.... I don't know what they will do when he gets taken to the butcher block. Honeydew has decided to lie down again and Mishka the female alpaca has decided to lie with her. They are friends too.

It is such a placid scene and it is very calm to watch.

Later in the day things will get livelier and I will tell you about the manuevers of the animals to get what they want. See ya later...