Thursday Doin's

Early on Thursday morning, Meeko went to the Vets for a bath and his Bordetella vaccination. While he was there, they clipped his nails, cleaned his ears and trimmed the fur on his stomach. He was looking pretty when he came home and he knew it. Immediately he wanted to go out and show off his new look.

Though the photo above is a little too light, there he is looking well-groomed. He's always proud to be all cleaned up.
This afternoon the boys and I went to the farm. I was able to get a photo of Yankee. Yankee is a miniature horse. He is full grown and is not a pony.
It was a hot day and all of the horses were gathering around the water trough. One (I can't remember his name) kept coming near when he saw me taking photos of Yankee. It was as if he was saying, "I want my picture taken too."
Yankee was just taking his time wandering around the barnyard and grazing on a bit of grass. He doesn't crave the same attention as the other horses. He is more of a loner. Sometimes the other horses pick on him a little.
After I had made dinner and fed hubby, I came into the computer room, just as the sun was setting. The sky was a brilliant red to the northwest.
To the southwest it was pretty shades of pink, blue and lavender. I haven't seen colors like this in a sunset yet this summer. It was breathtaking. It wasn't long after these photos were taken that a severe thunderstorm moved in. I got these shots just in time.

And those are the joys that I experienced on Thursday. Hubby worked upstairs and I did some laundry that I was behind in and tidied the house a bit. Our helper was here and he is continuing to paint the upstairs kitchen. Hubby worked laying the new bathroom sub floor so the plumber can install the bath tub, sink and toilet when he comes on Monday. Things are shaping up nicely.

Take care and have a great weekend. ~Blessings, Mary~

A Wildlife Surprise at the Farm

As soon as Jordan got home from school on Thursday, he phoned to see if we were going to the farm. It was a beautiful spring day with clear, sunny skies. The perfect opportunity to get away for a while and enjoy the outdoors.

When we arrived, Jordan went and knocked on the door to let the owners know that we were there and to ask if there were any new animals. He came back to the van and told us yes, there was a new animal but it was in the house.

I was talking to one of the ladies who work there and told the boys to go ahead and I would be right there. The next thing I knew I heard a bleating sound and lo and behold look at the photo below to see what was coming down the walk.

I'd like to introduce you to Bambi. She is between one and two weeks old. One of the women who work at the farm saw that a doe had been hit by a car and killed not far from where the boys live. She knew that this doe had just had a new fawn and went looking for it. She found it tucked away in cover at the top of a hill not far from where its mother was killed.
Here are Brandon and Jordan petting Bambi. They were quite delighted that they could touch a fawn. Last year they got to pet a baby tiger. If you missed that post, you can read about it HERE. What lucky boys they are.
Bambi is a doe and the owner of the farm is not sure what is going to happen to her. For the time being they are keeping her in the house. She has her own bed and a kennel. The woman who found her contacted the SPCA and the Ministry of Natural Resources but neither would take Bambi. They couldn't tell her who to call for help in this situation. So she phoned the farm and the owner told her that Bambi could live there for now.

Bambi's future concerns me. If she gets used to humans and the dogs at the farm I doubt she will ever be able to be released into the wild. I did a little research and fawns are seldom seen in the wild when they are this young because the mother keeps them well hidden. At this age they have no scent, which is nature's way of protecting them.

After the boys visited with Bambi, they went out back to play on the trampoline. I followed to keep an eye on them. At the back of the house, the Hawthorne tree was in bloom. It looks lovely.
And here are the blooms in a closeup. They are beautiful, yet the thorns are dangerous. I showed them to the boys and explained how thorns very similar to these were braided into a crown that was placed on Jesus' head before he was crucified. The boys touched the thorns and couldn't believe that anyone could be so cruel as to shove these into someone's head. A good lesson for them to learn.

After the trampoline and the lesson on thorns, we went back to the front of the house and visited with Bambi a little before heading home. It was a fun day and the boys really enjoyed seeing the fawn. A beautiful experience for all of us. We never know what blessing God is going to send our way next. Take care and have a great weekend. ~Blessings, Mary~

Fun at the Farm

Good Morning to all of my friends and readers. This is a long weekend here in Canada. Monday is the 24th of May also known as Victoria Day. For those of you who don't know about this holiday, it has been celebrated since the time that Queen Victoria reigned. Remember, that Canada was a British Colony and for years we were under Britain's rule. Queen Victoria declared her birthday to be a holiday for her subjects. When she died, the tradition continued and when Canada declared its independence from Britain, we kept many of those holidays, including this one.

When Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took the throne upon her father's death the holiday might have been changed because her birthday is in April. However, she felt it was fitting for the holiday to remain the same. This holiday has been part of Canadian tradition for over 100 years.

In other news, the boys and I set out to the farm on Thursday. Even though we were late setting out I did remember my camera. When we arrived, the boys headed out for the trampoline. I saw the horses were in the corral and headed there with the camera.

I can't remember the name of the horse above, but when I approached, she was interested. Possibly she thought I had a treat. Why didn't I bring a bag of carrots or an apple or two? The boys would have loved feeding the horses a treat.
Isn't she a beauty. I love her rich, brown color and she is so friendly. She posed for me, just like the lady she is.
Some of the other horses wanted to get in on the photo session, so they too came to the fence. The one with her head looking back at the brown one kept kicking the steel gate with her hoof, as if to say she'd like out into the grassy area for a snack of fresh grass.
After taking the photos, I headed back to the trampoline where the boys were having a fun game of dodge ball. When the ball fell into the chasm (as they called it) the other fellow got a point. Then they decided that a game of Monkey in the Middle would be fun. They were on the trampolines and Grandma was on the ground. However, this old lady fooled them and got the ball from them several times. There was lots of laughter pealing across that field and we made a few memories.
As we were leaving, these two ladies came to the gate once more as if to bid us farewell until Tuesday. The boys scratched and pet them and then we were on our way. It does both the boys and I good to get out in the fresh air and sunshine and have a bit of fun.

As ususal we are to get some rain for the 24th of May weekend. It is usually rainy and chilly for this holiday, but we are certainly in need of the rain. Water levels are low here even though we've had a good amount of rain this spring.

Many Ontarians will be heading north to open their cottages for the season. The police are out in droves to try and make sure that the roads are safe for travelers. They have their work cut out for them. Last year 7 people died on Ontario highways on this long weekend. All of the fatalities were because of speed or impaired driving.

Wherever you are this weekend, if you're traveling, drive the speed limit and don't drink and drive. The life you save may be your own. Be safe! ~Blessings, Mary~

Show and Tell Friday

It's time for Show and Tell Friday. If you would like to participate, drop over to Kelli's at There's No Place Like Home.

I mentioned to someone in their comments that I had several stuffed animals and they asked me to share them. So, here they are. All of them still have the price tag. In the chair is the guest of honor, my panda. I love panda bears and I got him when I managed a toy store. He is brand new and I keep him packed away to keep him nice and clean. This old house is dusty and I wouldn't want him to be ruined.

On Panda's right is Freddy the Fox. When I was a child I read books about Freddy the Fox and when I saw this one, I fell in love with him. He is a hand puppet and he has entertained many children in his day, including my own grandsons.

On Panda's left is my reindeer that Santa left me one year. His colors are beautiful. I had never seen a blue and white reindeer until he came along. He is very unique, that's for certain.

Above Panda's head is my snow tiger. He has velcro on his paws, which enables me to hang him on the mirror of my dresser. The dresser belonged to Grandma and it has posts going up each side of the mirror. Freddy the Fox sits on the post and then the snow tiger hangs from the top of it. They certainly dress up the mirror.

So, that is my animal menagerie. I hope you enjoyed being introduced to my animal friends.

Thursday after school, the boys and I loaded up their bikes and headed to the farm. We also had a huge ball in the car. Getting the bikes in there was no fun, but we managed. We didn't arrive at the farm until 4:30 - late for us. We are usually there by 4 pm.

The boys rode their bikes for a while and then Jordan stopped riding to play ball with Conner who is at the farm after school every day. It seemed quite a while since we'd seen Brandon so Jordan hopped on his bike and went to find him. The two boys finally appeared and Brandon was dirty all down his right side. It seems he had hit a rut in the lane and taken a tumble, but he said he was fine. I breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't hurt.

The boys and Conner played ball for a long time and even played Monkey-in-the-Middle. Remember that old game that we played when we were kids? Well I taught the boys how to play it and they love it. After that, the boys went on the trampoline and had a wonderful time. We headed for home at 6pm. It was a beautiful day. The breeze was a bit chilly by the time we were ready to leave, but the boys had a great time and I enjoyed watching them.

When they arrived home, the boys helped me get the bikes out of the car and rode down to the park. Their parents weren't home from running errands and so the boys raced each other down the hill at the park and had a good time together.

It does my heart good to see the boys outside playing in the fresh air instead of sitting in the house playing video games. They both love their bikes and it is great exercise, as is the trampoline. I'm not sure if it is true, but the child psychologist at the farm told me that playing on the trampoline for 10 minutes is equivalent to 20 minutes of walking. Do you think it's safe for this ol' gal to get on a trampoline. I sure could use the exercise. LOL

That's about all the news from here. Nothing very exciting is happening. Tomorrow is hubby's birthday and I think the boys are coming over for birthday cake. We will see what happens and if that works. Their parents might have other plans.

Enjoy the weekend, get out in the fresh air and sunshine and take some time for rest and relaxation. Be safe and remember not to drink and drive. The life you save might be your own.
~Blessings, Mary~

If you would like to read my memories of the Old Red Barn of my childhood, please click HERE.

Animal Therapy for Asperger's Syndrome

April is Autism Awareness Month and as it is drawing to a close, I wanted to post at least once more on autism and the way it affects individuals.

Many of my readers already know that my grandson, Brandon, has Asperger's Syndrome. In March 2007, I saw an article in our local paper about the farm where I take the boys. It focused on animal therapy for individuals with disabilities both visible and invisible. It mentioned that animal therapy could aid those on the autism spectrum. I phoned the farm and made an appointment for Brandon to be assessed.

The farm accepted Brandon for animal therapy. Shortly thereafter, I had Jordan assessed. Both boys were eligible and so started our weekly trips to the farm.

At that time, there were numerous goats and horses at the farm. The boys saw pregnant goats, met the babies when they were born and experienced farm life. They bonded with the animals and learned about life and death. Because I grew up on the farm I wanted them to experience the circle of life and to understand that life is fragile. I also wanted them to benefit from the animal therapy.

Brandon has come a long way in the last year. He has learned to do things that he said he would never be able to do. He learned that he could sit with a baby goat on his lap and whisper his deepest fears and his secrets in its ear. He had no fear of that baby goat telling anyone what his feelings were. He didn't have to worry about the goat laughing at him or bullying him. The goat didn't care that he was different or that he thought a different way. The goat only wanted his love and to return that affection.

Today when I picked the boys up for the farm, Brandon was having a bad day. By the time we got to the farm, he was having a meltdown - not a major one, but a meltdown just the same. He said he was tired. He said he was sad. He didn't really know what he wanted to say, nor did he know what to do about it. At first he wouldn't get out of the car and so Jordan and I got out and left him. Sometimes that is the best thing we can do - give Brandon some quiet time. It didn't take long for him to get out of the car and we went to the barn. It was a chilly day with a strong wind and he complained all the way. I just kept the boys moving.

Once we were in the barn, Brandon headed to the stall where Matthew, the lamb and Chrissy, the baby goat are penned together. The babies were vying for Brandon's attention and it wasn't long until he was interacting with the animals. Then we saw Crackers lying in the paddock. I immediately wondered what was up as horses don't often lie down. We kept our eye on her and eventually she got up and was walking away from us. She was walking funny and I wondered if she was having some problems, but the more we watched her, the more we realized that there was something wrong with her back leg. She was lame and limping.

Brandon got so caught up with the animals that he forgot about his own troubles. He was in a much better mood as we headed home. The animals had worked their magic in his life once again.

Animal therapy has helped both of the boys a great deal, but I think it has helped Brandon the most in some ways. They are both learning lessons in the realities of life by watching the happenings on the farm. I would recommend animal therapy for anyone who is experiencing either physical or mental challenges.

Research has proven that animal therapy is good for people who are on the autism spectrum and Brandon has definitely benefited from having the animals in his life.

If you would like to read more about Asperger's and animal therapy, there is a good article HERE! Have a great Wednesday and remember to be kind to those who are different. Wouldn't this world be a dull place if we were all the same? ~Blessings, Mary~

Sad News from the Farm

Both boys came along to the farm today, but when we arrived there was sad news. Remember Rosie, the ewe? She was pregnant and about to give birth any day.

Above, she is helping herself to some hay. Well, Rosie went into labor on the weekend and it seems that one of her lambs were lodged up near her spine. The baby damaged the nerves along her spine and the message that she was giving birth did not get through to her brain. She was in a lot of pain when they found her. Rosie and both of the lambs died before the vet could arrive. If she had been found earlier, a cesarian section may have saved her, the lambs or both. Then again, maybe not. Life on a farm is fragile and these things happen. Both of the boys took the news well. I was quite proud of them. They are learning the lessons of the circle of life.

Little Matthew, above, was Rosie's baby from last year. He is so cute and growing every day. However, he misses his Mama and was blatting incessantly while we were there. Some believe animals have no feelings, but that is not what I believe. Having grown up on a farm, I know better.
The baby goat is the only one that is left. Her name is Crystal. Everyone calls her Chrissy. The boys enjoyed fetching some grain for Crystal and Matthew and they learned how to spread grain along in the feed trough. Crystal and Matthew were happy to eat what they provided.

According to Katie, who is the daughter of the owners, her father is going to an auction this Friday. He hopes to buy a female lamb about Matthew's age so he can breed them when they are old enough. This will be a welcome addition for the boys. She also told us that they are hoping to buy a few goats and some rabbits so they can have a petting pen for visitors this summer. That will be a lot of fun for all the kids.

The photos that I've posted today and ones that I've had for a while. I forgot to take the camera along. I don't have new batteries yet, but did get the camera to upload yesterday. I'm hoping that next week when we go to the farm there will be a new lamb to take photos of.

Not much other news from here. It was a beautiful spring day and the boys and I saw several pair of doves on the way to the farm. They both enjoy watching birds.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday and that the weather is nice wherever you are. I'm enjoying the lovely spring weather we're having right now. Have a great day and remember to give thanks for all you have. ~Blessings, Mary~

If you would like to have your name entered for a Christian fiction book, please go to my Pay It Forward Post and leave a comment stating that you'd like to participate. The contest ends at 12:01 my time on April 17th and the winner will be announced when I post on Thursday evening.

Show and Tell Friday, the Farm and a Meme

It's time for Show and Tell Friday. If you would like to participate, drop over to Kelli's at There's No Place Like Home.

This crystal angel came my way from a blogging friend at Christmas 2007 and was a complete surprise. I absolutely adore her. The photo doesn't do her justice but she is beautiful. She stands about 6 inches high and is 5.5 inches from front to back. The pink you can see through her is the lovely tea light candle that she is holding. I often turn out the lights and let this little angel guide my way. I keep her on my entertainment unit. She is a very treasured possession. Thank you once again my blogging friend. Your gesture touched my heart.

Tuesday Brandon and I went to the farm and we enjoyed a bit of one-on-one time. We didn't take any photos. We hadn't been for several weeks and since the weather was nice we decided to go and see if Rosie the sheep had given birth. She hadn't. Today, Jordan and I took our one-on-one time and he wanted me to take the camera along because he wanted to take photos.

Here he caught the baby lamb from last fall looking directly at the camera. I must say that he took his time and made sure he was going to get a good shot.


He thought it was cute because Matthew and the goat were staying close together. This isn't a bad photo either for someone who is only 10 years old.
The the baby goat stood on his hind legs and started eating hay. Jordan was delighted and snapped the photo above.

He soon tired of taking photos and was off to play on the trampoline. The boy next door came running over to play with him and they spent about 20 minutes having fun. While they were doing that, one of the girls from the farm were watching them and I decided to go and see the horses. Meet Cracker, above. I love his gentle nature.

Don't let anyone tell you that horses don't take care of each other. The barnyard is very muddy because of all the melting snow and the rain we've had this spring. The horses are muddy and here cracker is pulling mud out of Max's hair.

When Crackers finished with Max, I whistled and called him over. Yes, I can whistle and yes, he did come. Here he is wanting some attention.
Then he turned his head as if to say, "This is my best profile." He began to scratch his nose on the fence so I gave his head and neck a good rubbing. He basked in the attention, though he gets lots from the people who live on the farm.

Max didn't want to be left out, so came over to have his photo taken as well. I rubbed his head and neck as well. These horses are Heflinger's and they are beautiful. The three girls that live on the farm will bring all of the horses in tomorrow, clean them up and give them a good brushing. They will look much like this within a day.

After the farm, Jordan and I stopped at Tim Horton's, washed our hands and I bought him a milk. He always gets quite thirsty when he goes to the farm and of course he knows we have to pass the coffee shop on our way home. We had a wonderful couple of hours together.


Now you may wonder why, since Easter is over, that I decided to post a picture of Jesus on the cross. Grams at Talk to Grams tagged me to do this meme. I've done this one before and it was easy to do, so I decided to do it again.

The Rules:
1. Write your own six-word memoir about yourself.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you'd like.
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible, so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. And don't forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

My six word memoir: He died that I might live.

Since I've done this before and tagged people, I am not going to tag anyone for this one. However if you do decide to partipate, please leave a comment so I can come and read your memoir.

I saw this meme over at Hootin' Anni's and thought it would be fun. For those who don't already know, Anni and I are good blogging buddies. We talk almost everyday and we have come to agree that we are kindred spirits. Now when I saw this, I realized that there are more things that Anni and I have in common.

The Name Game

Your rock star name (first pet, current car) Jack Ford. A very common name at that. Not something that a rock star would be likely to use.

Your Native American name (favorite color, favorite animal) Green Wolf. Not sure about Green Wolf but at least Wolf fits for Native American. Gray Wolf would have been better. Sorry, my favorite color is green.

Your Star Wars name (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name) Alw -Ma. I think this kind of sounds like something or someone in pain. Well, you never know with Star Wars.

Superhero name (2nd favorite color, favorite drink) Purple T. I shortened my favorite drink, which is a good cuppa tea to T. Sounds more like a superhero - Remember Mr. T.

NASCAR name (the first names of your grandfathers) William Bertrum. Bertrum William? Whadda think?

Stripper name (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy) I don't have a favorite cologne, so that is out. But I do have a favorite fragrance. How about Lilac Chocolate or Chocolate Lilac. Do you think that sounds like a name for a stripper?

TV weather anchor name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Chrysler Charlottetown. Charlottetown is the capital city of Prince Edward Island.

Spy name (your favorite season/holiday, flower) Spring Rose Spring is my favorite season because it is a time of rebirth and I have always loved roses since I was a little girl. Climbing roses are my very favorite, but I also love tea roses, floribunda roses and any other kind of rose.
Cartoon name: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now) Raspberry Jeans

Hippie name (what you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) Orange Willow. Think it fits? A good name for a hippie, don't you think?

Porn star name (first pet, first street where you lived) Jack Spring. Guess that would be okay for a male porn star. LOL Maybe Jackie Spring?

Thanks, Anni. I had a lot of fun doing this.

A week or so ago, I sent Anni her Pay it Forward gift and she's already received it. Drop by her blog to see what I sent her.

To Pea and Denise, remember that you can receive yours Pay it Forward gift anytime during the year, which ends in January 2009. LOL You'll never know when to expect a parcel in your mailbox.
Last but not least, be sure to stop by Mary's Vintage Flea Market and take a look at the cute things I have to offer for sale this week. There are rooster mugs, a Trust the Lord print, Fairy prints and some other items. You can also find out how to participate in Friday Flea Market by following the link from Mary's Vintage Flea Market. Join in the fun! Buy, sell or just browse and leave comments.

Have a wonderful weekend and spend some time outdoors. This is great weather for getting some exercise and enjoying the harbingers of spring. ~Blessings, Mary~