H1N1

We've all heard about this form of influenza going around the world, and putting a scare into everyone.  We've heard from opposites sides of this.  Should we, or shouldn't we?  Who's more at risk?  What's the consequences, symptoms, etc.......
I'm a little suspicious of the effectiveness of the vaccine.  It's just went too fast.  What are the long term effects?  It's very hard to make a decision.
I've taken the conscience decision to not get the vaccines for my family and I.  I hope I'm doing the right thing.  But only time will tell.  We will take every precaution to keep this virus away.  but trying to teach 2 and 3 year old's the proper way to wash your hands, to cough, and not to share stuff with other kids is hard.  But with constant supervision, we will do it.
What's your take on the H1N1?  Will you get the vaccines for your family and yourselves?  Feel free to post your comments.

busy days

The weather is changing rather quickly.  Frost over the weekend,  DH putting on his long-johns, Canadian geese flying over head, got to get a move on and get our winter organized.
We finally have a bit of firewood, thanks to good friend that give a hand unselfishly.  #0+cm of snow fell in BC yesterday, so we have to know it's coming our way.
DH was a brave one yesterday, he decided to get on the big mare were keeping.  He looked so funny and so small on top of her.  But she behaved gently, like the gentle giant she is.
I'm a little tired from the weekend, waking up every three hours to feed Salvat is a demanding job, but so rewarding.  It melts my heart when i hear the little purring coming from him when his little stomach is full.  It's a first time experience for me, and I'm loving it even though it's time consuming.  Hopefully I can make this one into a house cat that will not attack my birds.

fresh from the farm.....

a long journey ahead

I've taken on the task of raising a newborn kitten.  It's going to be quite and adventure, a first for me.  I really do hope to save this little guy.  But I tell you, it's a proud moment when you see him latching onto the bottle, and just sucking away.  Got a long journey ahead of us, starting in two hours from now.  Yep, fed every couple of hours, for THREE weeks.   Ho well!  Que sera, sera!  I will update this post threw out the night, keep track of the progress that Sal's(Salvat means saved in Catalan) doing.

3:22am-  We've had successful feedings all night. Urine and bowel moments.  We are doing good, or so I hope.


UPDATE: 12/10/09  Sal is doing very well!  He's quite the strong little bugger.  When he smells the milk near, he's hard to hold down.  I'm pretty confident in saying, that Sal is saved!


.....fresh from the farm

saving baby kitten

Doune, my female cat has had her share of ups and downs with her litters.  Always one that dies, is not normal,or all but one of them don't make it.  One litter, seven kittens, one alive.  Let's just say that turned out to be one fat cat.  She's always had her litters in the house, except this last one.  She spends the night inside, and goes out during the day.  But three days ago, she didn't come in for the night.  I found her the next morning, all skinny.  She'd had her babies during the night, outside somewhere.  Guess i was going to become a cat stalker.  We are just about ready to go to the store, when we hear whimpers coming from the basement.  Seven baby kittens!!!  One was not alive, so that left us with six.
For some reason, my female just won't take care of them.  On the first day, she managed to sneak out of the house early afternoon, and was nowhere to be found.  We called and called her all evening.  She finally showed up at around midnight when i got home, only to find her kittens very weak and freezing.  I rushed them into the house, placed them on the furnace grill trying to get heat to them. For some unknown reason, she just doesn't want to care for these little guys.  Threw out the night, I lost five of them.  Only one of them is still alive, and I'm going to fight for him with everything I have.  Rushed to the pet store this morning, got replacement milk and little feeding bottle.
What a joy to finally see the little tongue stick to that nipple.  What a hungry little guy.
So far, he's doing great.  Only have to get a bowel movement for today out of him, and we're all set.
It'll be hard work, feeding every two hours for three weeks, but it's all worth it if i get a cute little kitten to live in the process, will keep you updated.
Now all I need is a name for the little guy!

fresh from the farm......

Newest members

 

 We've been pretty busy getting things organized around here for the cold months.  So much to do to keep all those beasts warm.  We are starting to be known in the region as "the people that will take your unwanted animals".  To some extent, we love helping out people, and we love even more helping out animals in need.  We would never turn our back on any animal that needs shelter and food.

We have two new members to our animal family.

A beautiful baby belted galloway heifer that we name, or I should say, Audrey named, Ice.  The owner found her half way out of her mother, with the mom too weak to keep pushing her out.  So he helped the little one finish it's course into this world, as he slowly watched the mom leave.  He took it upon himself to bottle feed this little creature, and loving it completely.  It became man's best friend pretty quickly.   And let's just say that both my daughters fell madly in love with Ice from the fist second they saw her.  They can walk her around the yard on a leash just like our dogs lol.

Second newcomer is a two and a half percheron mare.  She is a giant, but a gentle one.  You cannot walk into the paddock without being invaded by her.  She will follow you everywhere.  We were a bit intimidated by her size when we first saw her, but we are slowly getting used to her.  She is so gentle and careful, that you can't help but want to cuddle her.  And she loves to give us kisses.

Well, it's time again to go back to my chores.  Gotta get everything ready for everyone to have a comfortable winter, including us.

fresh from the farm........