A diary of the projects, hurdles, rewards and family life at we recorded at Wise Acres, our former homestead in Horsefly, BC. (Careers and teenagers have forced us back into the city, at least for a little while.)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Ups and Downs

It's been a while since we've blogged.  We've been hopping this Spring with many projects, like upgrading the garden boxes, building a new chicken brooder house and fencing...lots of fencing.  We are wrapping up many of these projects and getting ready to enjoy the Summer months, hopefully I will update with some more pictures soon.

Recently we had a bit of a setback...the 'down' part of this post.  The other night a coyote or possibly a bear attacked and killed my treasured Brownie girl and her little ram lamb.  Erich and his mom made the gruesome discovery while I was away.  The dogs had been barking up a storm for several nights and so I brought Knut inside one night and I figure that is the night they were killed. Brownie was one of our first sheep and she was very friendly and would knock you over if you weren't giving her enough love.  She was also the leader of the pack and very regal looking if you ask me...
I am grateful that I wasn't the one to find her, because it truly would have broken my heart.

So as it is with most things, it is with farming, there is a fine balance between birth and death, ups and downs.  This was the other discovery that was made...
One of our laying hens had gone 'broody' and had been sitting on her eggs for the last three weeks, completely without our knowledge.  They are darn cute, I have to say.
Momma hen is a fierce protector, she fluffs up and scoots them under her when we come around.  This morning I went out to find all three of them perched on her back.

The other thing that really touched us about losing those sheep was when one of our friends heard what happened they showed up with their trailer, ready and willing to help Erich dispose of the bodies.  Because apparently, that is 'just what neighbours do'.  We will be forever grateful for that act of kindness and strive to be those kinds of neighbours!

So, thanks to Erich's herculean fencing efforts and our faithful guard dogs who are now on patrol 24/7...I'm hoping we can sleep a little more soundly.