What's new with the animals?

Without pictures, I forget to type updates on the latest happenings with the animals.

This past Thursday Marc and Katelyn took a goat and a rabbit to the local library. The local preschool visits the library once a month and the librarian tries to schedule special events to coincide with what they are studying. The current theme has been community helpers and farmers were the focus for this month's visit.

Katelyn's rabbit Louis was a big hit with all the children. He sat very patiently as each child took a turn petting him. Marc stayed outside with Mavis until we were done with Louis since Mavis was very vocal on the way to the library. She was very well behaved and quiet in the library-- much to the children's disappointment. They wanted to hear her blat. Mavis nuzzled the children as they crowded around her. She didn't start making loud noises again until she was loaded back into the van and on her way home. Her brother had been 'yelling' for her since Marc had carried Mavis to the transport crate. He was relieved to see his sister return and the barnyard resumed its normal noise level.

The chickens are out of their coops scavenging seeds and food around the lawn and garden. They are very happy to be out and about again--rewarding us with many eggs.

The spring thaw and rains have not led to the flooding that was predicted. Thankfully, the rain has been sporadic and the nights have been cold enough to slow the runoff so the river has moved the waters within its banks in our area. The Canadian geese are returning! Spring is just around the corner!!

Spring...Winter...Spring

Sunday a.m. I made the comment to a fellow church-goer that it was a beautiful spring-like morning. The green grass was showing and the birds were singing. The next morning we woke up to approximately 18 inches of heavy, wet snow. Today temps were in the high 40's, the grass is showing again and the robins have returned. We may have snow tomorrow, but from now on, I know that it'll soon melt and spring is truly just around the corner.

Update on Matthew's internship...the school says if his financial aid comes through, he'll receive credit for the internship. According to the financial aid office, his receiving aid is pretty much guaranteed as long as there isn't a mass evacuation of siblings from our home and we don't receive a major windfall...I think he's safe! (smile)

Nathanial has a week's vacation from classes starting today so all the kids are home again. We are blessed.

Another snow day

Yesterday, Matthew and I drove out to Bath, NY (2 - 2 1/2 hours one way). He interviewed for an internship at our favorite radio station (check out www.fln.org). The interview went well, and Matthew is hopeful that the college will give him course credit for interning at the station. He will be talking with the internship coordinator on Monday. We'll keep you posted on that development.

We're thankful that our roadtrip was yesterday because this morning we woke up to heavy, wet snow...and at 3 p.m. it's still coming down. The radio reports that the western part of the state (where we were yesterday) is getting hammered with snow and then wind.

Since we're 'stranded' at home, it's a perfect day for projects. I've been working on some quilts and baby blankets to submit to the shop for approval to sell in addition to my yarn and fiber products.

Wayne has been working on bookshelves in our family room. Last week there was an 8' x 10' sectional oak bookcase listed in the Pennysaver. Wayne and the boys brought it home and have been trying to get it set up so we can unload all those boxes of books I packed before the stairway project began. Matthew helped transfer books this a.m. and sorted through all of our video collection. The family room is shaping up to be what we had imagined years ago. I can hardly wait to share pictures.

Good-bye to a Faithful Friend

Twelve and a half years ago our family adopted a Gordon Setter Mix from the local animal shelter. Brittany became a special part of our lives. She loved racing through the field with Matthew, killing woodchucks, keeping an eye on the neighborhood (we always knew when a someone was at our neighbor's back door--she would bark and stand on the edge of our property line until LaVerna came to the door and told her it was okay), and placing herself between the children and the busy road. Brittany was Wayne's shadow and would put herself within inches of his chair or at his feet. Her bark made strangers hesitate to come onto our property and I have no doubt she would have dealt severely with anyone who attempted to harm her humans.

The past few months have been very hard on Britanny and last night we lost our dearly loved dog. We are relieved that her pain has ended, but there is an emptiness in our hearts and home.
Good-bye ol' girl, and thank you...

Computer Woes Continue

The diagnosis is in...the motherboard of our computer is fried. Nathanial is letting me use his laptop to check email and post, but it'll be a while before we'll have pictures posted.

It's been another busy weeks with trips to Albany, Binghamton, and Walton (doctors and dentists). This week holds more trips to Walton and Albany. It'll be a highly productive knitting week. (smile)

Signs of spring are beginning to appear such as sap buckets on the maples lining Main Street. I took a walk today and I think I saw the beginning of pussy willows on bushes in the wetlands. (The ice cold water deterred my getting a closer look.)

Last night we had a spaghetti dinner/business meeting for the members of the Unadilla Market Place. The manager of the store made delicious spaghetti sauce and we all brought the odds and ends to finish the meal. We had a great time getting to know each other better and discussing our dreams for the shop. The next few months promise to bring lots of activity and new challenges. This is a great opportunity for all of us in developing our products and businesses as well as bringing a valuable addition to the community. It's exciting to be a part of the development of this new enterprise.

Computer Woes

It seems to happen every spring (or winter)...the computer crashed again. You don't realize how much you rely on the crazy thing until it dies. I had all sorts of pictures I was going to download and post of the past week, but that will have to wait. Matthew is letting me use his laptop to check email so I thought I'd post a bit to let you know why there are no new pics or entries.

The temps have taken a dive again so the little goats have returned to the mudroom for a couple of days. They've been in the barn since the weekend, but with the temperature going below zero for the next couple of days and mama goat not tending her babies, we thought it best to bring them back in. The dog kennel is getting plenty of use with these two. They are waiting for their evening bottle and they are proving that they are much louder than they were a few days ago!

Wayne is busy cutting out more glass for another project. I've been spinning alpaca fiber, knitting on the latest pair of socks, and sewing a baby blanket for a shower gift. I love having the time to create.

Last week I was able to do some cross country skiing around the edge of our field. It was beautiful skiing weather, but this week the wind and cold rule out that and most other outdoor activities. How thankful we are for our woodstove! There is nothing like wood heat on a cold winter night.

Correction...

Jessie turns out to be a boy. I could make all sorts of excuses for the error, but I won't.

The two little ones are bouncing around the mudroom and like to follow Marc wherever he goes. It's so fun watching them play and tussle with each other.