Fall is Coming

This cute little guy is so loud. He is busy getting ready for the winter. He actually comes closer as you talk to him. Jigs wants to chase him though.

Valley Pickin'

We went to an apple farm across the river to do some apple picking. They had quite a few varieties of apples. We got three different kinds: Alkmene and Elstar were picked for those apple pies and the Gingergold were picked for eating. We also picked some bartlett pears. Some corn was picked for a special treat for the chickens. They had lots of pumpkin ready too. We got some weird looking ones. Two white and a reddish orange one. It didn't take long to pick a wagon full. It is a bumper crop this year.

Beautiful Bartlett Pears

Amazing Alkmenes

Gorgeous Gingergolds

Exquisite Elstars

On the Chicken Rollercoaster - Part 2

After a stressful day yesterday, we never imagined that today we would find our first egg. I woke the girls up like it was Christmas morning. They excitedly put on their boots while still in their pajamas and went out to the coop to check the nesting boxes. And there it was!!! Now the challenge is to figure out who did it?

On the Chicken Rollercoaster - Part 1

Our lovely Buckeye named Lavender Brown was attacked by a Burnese Mountain Dog yesterday. I am not blaming the dog but a child who let the chickens out after repeatedly being told to not while this dog was visiting us. Needless to say, it was a hard lesson to learn for Vanessa. The dog grabbed Lavender and started to run around the yard with her before we were able to catch it and make the dog release Lavender. She started to run away but eventually collapsed. I picked her up and tried to inspect her. I was surprised that there was not much blood. At first I noticed a couple of what I thought were puncture wounds. I phoned our dog vet who referred me to an agricultural vet. They got me to send a few pictures and the vet called me back. He tried to give me advice on the phone but I had asked if he could come out. He said the charge was $50.00. I thought that was reasonable considering if I walked into a vet's office they would charge me that anyway. He warned me that he was not a bird specialist and that in fact he works just with horses. He came out because he too has children who adore their chickens and would do whatever he could to save them if it was within reason. He examined Lavender to find that under her wing, her skin had been torn off a good couple inches on her back. He thought he might be able to repair part of it and said that it would probably be another $50.00. I told him to do it. We set up a surgical room on our back deck and I acted as vet assistant. He was able to sew her back up completely and she was the best patient. She laid still and calm the whole time. We both had to check a couple times if she was still alive, she was so relaxed. 15 or so stitches later, she was put in the bunny hutch to recover. The vet told me that if this had been a horse it would have been $500.00 at least. When I got my cheque book, he said that he decided not to charge me. He just wants to know how she makes out and to phone him. He took it as an educational experience and a great story to tell at Christmas. See, he is designated the turkey stuffer because he sews up the turkey the best. Never, did he think he would do it on a live chicken. I sent him home with a care package of freshly baked chocolate zucchini loaf, jar of homemade pickled beans and a nice bottle of white wine that ironically goes well with chicken.

There are definitely good people out there and good chickens too.

Lavender Brown is doing okay but she does not want to stand. She is drinking and pooping. Will still be touch and go. In two days,  I have to remove a six inch piece of gauze from a drainage hole on her. Wish me luck.

Our Lavender Panting and in Shock

Dip, Dinner and Dahlias

We went over to friends on Labour Day. They just put in an amazing amount of work in their backyard this summer to accommodate a pool. The girls had a lot of fun checking it out. Dinner, as always, was fantastic. At the end of the night, we checked out their beautiful front yard which is full of dahlias. Gord and Britta gave me some tubers this spring for my own garden. I have hope that one day my garden can look like this.

Attack Gord Time!!!!!

Heather and Isabella

Vanessa and Tatiana

The Fruit of Our Labour

This was what resulted in quite a few of those peaches we picked earlier in the week. It was the first time I had done a lattice and it worked out okay. What would I do without the internet to teach me how to do things?

City Fair 2012

We went to the PNE and the girls got to enjoy amusement riding with their friends. Saturday was busy so we had to park on the Horse Race Track. It was neat to see it up close. The horse jumping competition was one of the events we took in while we were there. It was great to see what the girls might be able to do one day. Vanessa finally hit the 48 inch mark so that opened up a lot more rides for her. The one she just had to go on was the Corkscrew. That was a big deal to her.

On the right

Vanessa and Todd Were in the Last Car

The Corkscrew