As I sit here writing, it is again snowing outside. The big white flakes indicate it will soon be changing to rain, then to ice as it freezes later tonight. The 224-year-old weather forecasting guide, the Old Farmers’ Almanac, proves accurate again as it's extended 2016/17 forecast for southern B.C. was for a cold, snowy winter with colder-than-normal temperatures and more precipitation than usual. I can attest to the more than usual precipation this fall as all it seemed to do is rain. The annual FurryCreek Bonfire and Wiener Roast for neighbours and friends did not happen this fall as the fields were just to wet and muddy to be enjoyable. While we did enjoy a white Christmas this year the ice, snow and cold does get tiring and limits what work can be done outside.
Marva's surgery at the Jubilee Hospital this October went well. She received a spinal cord stimulator implant making her truly a bionic woman. Her parents Otto and Levie Day travelled from Newfoundland to help out with Marva's recovery. They stayed with us for six weeks and we were sorry to see them leave, although I suspect that they were happy to head home and to get away from the burden of caring and dealing with so many animals, not to mention Marva and myself. They could not believe that in a six week visit they had only three days with no rain.
Marva kept her father busy with numerous odd jobs she had been saving for him, but the real work began when I decided to develop a new pasture. Otto grabbed a chain saw and before he left, approximately 30 Big Leaf Maples had been felled and limbed. I will have firewood for years to come as well as maple wood once it has dried and been milled.
In mid October, I put the rams and ewes in their respective pastures and it was just like Woodstock all over again at FurryCreek Farm. The love-in appears to be over and we are excitedly waiting for April spring lambs. Our experience with last years "Wee Willie" was so positive we can't wait for a small flock of lambs.
We fully enjoyed this Christmas, spending time with family and friends while in direct contact with those we could not physically be with. Getting into the Christmas spirit started slowly this year but once Marva decorated the house the magic began. Even the dogs seemed to enjoy the season. Pippi has turned out to be the puppy from hell. While we love her to death, she has a bit of a chewing problem. Over Christmas she destroyed six pair of my wife's shoes (a hanging offence) after she learned how to open the closet door and then chewed the arm off a hide-a-bed couch (I had to hide the guns) in the time- out room.
The good news is that the dogs loved the Christmas tree and decorations and not one ornament or decoration was touched or damaged. Go figure.
We fully enjoyed this Christmas, spending time with family and friends while in direct contact with those we could not physically be with. Getting into the Christmas spirit started slowly this year but once Marva decorated the house the magic began. Even the dogs seemed to enjoy the season. Pippi has turned out to be the puppy from hell. While we love her to death, she has a bit of a chewing problem. Over Christmas she destroyed six pair of my wife's shoes (a hanging offence) after she learned how to open the closet door and then chewed the arm off a hide-a-bed couch (I had to hide the guns) in the time- out room.
The good news is that the dogs loved the Christmas tree and decorations and not one ornament or decoration was touched or damaged. Go figure.
New Years was more challenging as Marva came down with the flu causing us to cancel a family New Year's Dinner. New Year's day ended with this sunset showing the promise and potential of another year at FurryCreek Farm.