SHADOW AND YODA

This is Shadow,photo was taken when he was one day old, standing under the protective eye of his doting mom Yoda. He turned two this past April and has grown into a handsome llama. He is a spitting image of his Dad and is named after him...Cappy's Shadow.

KISSY SUMMER 2008

SIPPY CUP KISSY

BABY KISSY

This is our youngest Llama, Kissy. She is a very special girl indeed. Kissy's mom Angel rejected her at birth. And when this happens the baby is known as a bottle fed baby or in Kissy's case a sippycup baby. When she was born we didn't have a bottle to feed her from, so I looked through my cupboards and found one of those sippy cups that comes with the plug in it and she took to that like crazy!! When she was a newborn I was feeding her five to six times a day, a few ounces at a time of goats milk. Eventually this was cut back to four times then three times for a while then eventually down to one time. Statistically Kissy should not have made it. We came close to losing her when she was a week old or so. Colostrom from their mom is so critical to have. It provides them with the antibodies they need. Unfortunately we were unable to get any from her mom. We were able to get some sheep colostrum from a neighbor in the first twenty four hours of her life. This is the critical window to get the colostrum into a llama. Kissy will be two in July, 2009. And as you can see in the two photos above her baby picture, she has turned into a beauty!! Kissy is a very sociable girl and loves to give strangers her special kisses.

OUR LITTLE PONY- LACIE

This is our little pony Lacie. We have owned her since she was five months old. Jetta our "Tennessee Walker" mare died in May, 2008. I had owned her for thirteen years. This was hard on everyone, including Lacie, as these two were inseparable great buddies. Jetta's death was unexpected, horrible and painful to go through. Jetta and Lacie were together for a number of years. Jetta was a beautiful horse and is truly missed. We moved our mini donkeys in with Lacie so she wouldn't be alone. Lacie began herding the donkeys and would round them up at night and bring them up to the barn for bed. She can be very bossy with the donkeys at times, especially at feeding time, she is a little horse with a big horse attitude!! She is about 40-42 inches at the shoulder. Mini donkeys cannot be taller then 36 inches at the shoulder. I had to put up some of our temp. fencing on the weekend. As Lacie has been know to be like a mountain goat and climb onto the high drifts. And the height of some of the drifts in the pasture go over top of the perm. fence. Have a Sunshine Day!!

OUR Three Mini Donkeys- KEY-KEY, CLOVER, and HOLLY

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!! All the best in 2009!! In the next few weeks I would like to introduce you to our critters. First up are our three wee jennys.We love our long-earred girls. Donkeys are really not as stubborn as people think. Unlike other animals when teaching them new things a donkey likes to think it through first before doing the new thing. But once they learn they never forget. Our girls love children, they are very gentle!! And they are very interested in anyone that will stop and give the a scratch. Scratch a donkey behind the ear and they will follow you anywhere!!!

WINTER FROST

I think the antibiotics are kicking in, thank goodness!! We are in for some nasty weather later today. 15cm of snow, high winds and low temperatures which means high wind chill factor. Meanwhile right now we are still in the Chinook which blew strong warm winds all night. Welcome to southern Alberta!! Where the weather can change in a blink of an eye!!
Over the next while I would like to introduce our critters....stay tuned!!
Have a Sunshine Day!! (at least until the nasty weather hits later)

WINTER BEAUTY

"A crisp winter's day with the warmth of the winter's sun, creates such Winter Beauty"

I love it when the trees are painted with frost!! This is a shot I took early one day before the frost melted away from the sun's strong rays. I have completed about 95% of our inside home decorations for Christmas, even thou I have been well under the weather this week. I hope these antibiotics kick in over the next day or so. I just stated them yesterday.
I still haven't officially started my Christmas shopping. Oh well, I guess I still have a couple of weeks to complete it. I absolutely hate shopping!! That is the type of shopping that involves the hustle and bustle of the large box stores, malls or just plain old grocery shopping. I do like to poke around antique stores, thrift stores, artisan markets etc., this is when I am not looking for anything in particular, but is when I usually find unique treasures. Well I think this afternoon a nice cup of herbal tea, a pillow and a blanket are in order. Have a Sunshine Day!!

WINTER WONDERS

I can't believe that it is already December. Wow, where did the time go this year? I also can't believe I haven't posted since November 14th. Oh well I guess time flys when you are having fun!!! Or renovating!!! It sure keeps one out of trouble. I guess I will be rather busy getting the Christmas stuff out and getting our home ready for Christmas this week. I am also gearing up to officially start our Christmas shopping. I will try to at least post one time per week. Have a Sunshine Day!!!

PHOENIX

"Shifting clouds, a Phoenix emerges."

Sometimes we have different levels of intensity in our lives.

This is another shot from the Chinook Arch Sunset series.

The sky went through various levels of intensity that evening.

I spent a great morning yesterday setting up my very first website. It took about four hours. The hardest part was deciding on the template......to many choices. I still have much to do, but figure a couple of dedicated hours,I should be able to complete the majority of the information I want to upload.

It will have to wait until Monday, as I have a busy weekend ahead.

Have a Sunshine Weekend!!

OLD BOOTS

I have a fascination for antiques and just plan old things. I find a certain beauty and mystery in them. I love history, especially family history.

With all the new technology we have it so easy in comparison to our relatives of days gone by. I don't think many of us could be transported back to the old days and be able to manage the hard labor in a day of a pioneer. I think we have a higher level of mental stress now compared to a life that held more physical stress and hardships.

Today is Canada's Remembrance Day.

A day to remember all the fine men and women that have laid down their lives for us. From long ago and also from current day peace keeping.

This is our day to remember all of you and to give our thanks.

SPIRITS IN THE CHINOOK ARCH SUNSET

This is another shot from my Chinook Sunset series. This photo is the first in a series of shots that show the progression of the changing shapes in the clouds. Which become more defined in each shot. I have been encouraged by friends and family to enter the best shots into some upcoming photo contests. I will not be posting those pictures at this time, but will after the contests are over.
I have been very busy working on my outlines for my cartooning classes for January. I need to organize and start advertizing for these classes in the next couple of weeks, as I have found out in the past that December is not a great month to advertize, because most people are finished shopping and are focused on Christmas. You might say that lessons would be a great present and I agree. Hopefully the classes will fill quickly.
I am excited to instruct from my home rather then a storefront. I think it is always awesome to see city kids being creative in the country. There are such different things to expose them to on the farm. I get such a great feeling when a child can be upclose to one of our critters for the first time. Sometimes they have a hard time containing their excitement. And always they ask if they can come back to visit. It is great to see. Have a great weekend!!!

SUNRISE THROUGH THE FOG

In the winter months often our place will have a morning or late day fog, while half a mile away will be clear as a bell. The joy of living on top of a hill. The sunrise through the fog this morning was ominous and also beautiful at the same time. The fog is now lifting. I hope the sun will warm up the day, so some of the snow from yesterday begins to melt. Have a Sunshine Day!!

CHINOOK SUNSET ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

This is another photo from my series that I took last week. Last night it started snowing and we woke up to several inches of the wet heavey white stuff. It is still coming down, now more like sleet. We have been very fortunate this year. Our fall has been very warm. But like most, I am not looking forward to the cold weather and slippery road conditions that follow.
Oh well, I do love to have all the seasons. There is beauty in each one. For me it is much harder doing my chores with our large critters in the winter. Hauling water every other day,feeding them twice a day, and mucking the barns as needed.
When the weather is not as nice, our mini donkeys would prefer to hang out in the barn. Our llamas tend to stay outside until the weather becomes bitterly cold. They always have access to their barn, but prefer to sleep outside under the stars. Our pony seems to enjoy being outside more then our mini donkeys do, but does enjoy their barn at night. Have a Sunshine Day!!

INTENSITY

"The power of Nature Intensified."

Two days ago we had the most spectacular Chinook Sunset. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will have the opportunity to share some of the photos I was able to take, capturing the progression of the sunset and the beauty of the Chinook Arch's colors. Have a Sunshine Day!!!!

CHINOOKWINDS

When we moved to our acreage fifteen years ago we were very lucky to have a 360 degree view from our place. We have a view of the valley to the east where the city of Airdrie is located, to the south the view of the city of Calgary lights, to the north farmland and the lights of towns, and to the west a view of the Rocky Mountains that doesn't end. In this picture you will see a Chinook Arch. If you would like to read about Chinooks please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinook_wind#Chinook_arch. Shortly after we moved here we named our place Chinookwinds. This is for the strong warm winds that accompany the Chinook Arch. We are very fortunate in southern Alberta to experience these throughout late fall, winter, and early spring.
In many parts of the globe when winter arrives it settles in for a long duration. But not here. The drastic temperature rise when a Chinook arrives is fantastic. It can be bitterly cold and within a few hours the temperature can rise to a balmy warmth that rapidly melts or evaporates whatever snow we have. Because we live on top of a range in the foothills we seem to get the brunt of the Chinook winds, but it is well worth having them and the wonderful reprieves throughout the cold winters.

A Rose By Any Other Name

What is it with roses? I love their beauty. Certain shades remind me of certain people that have been a part of my life, the ones that have helped shape me into the person I am today. I love to take pictures of the beauty around us. I find beauty in nature. I thought I would post this picture as our day here in southern Alberta is rather grey with a Chinook arch to the west.I love how the colors show off these roses in a soft but lovely contrasting way against the dark green of the follage. Have a wonderful weekend!

ANTIQUES

My Grandfather bought this truck from Drumheller many many years ago, it was being used as a coal truck at that time and my Grandfather bought it to haul grain from his farm outside Oyen Alberta.

I have a great passion for our past, our history and for any antiques.

This oldie is one of two grain trucks we were gifted by my Uncle.

This is an International from 1938/39. The reason I question the year is on some of its registrations the year is 1938 and on others it is 1939. Once we get it home, I am sure we will figure it out. The other truck is an International from 1957. As I mentioned I love antiques especially those that are in my family and part of our history. This old truck was still used when I was a child and I remember sitting on the fender when we waited at the elevator with a load of grain. It hasn't been used for the past 30 to 35 years and was vandalized by teens a few times where it sat in the back of my Uncle's property. We were amazed that the back tires were still inflated and the front ones, once filled held air.

Greetings!!

Hi All I have now entered the world of a blogger!

It may take me a little while to get the hang of this.

Have a great day!!

Lori