I am relieved to say there will be no Canada Post strike, and all mail will be accepted and delivered. That is good news for those who rely on the postal service to ship products nationally and internationally.
We spent the weekend camping in the rain. The first downpour hit just as we unhooked the trailer from the truck, and it got leveled between showers. Over the course of the weekend, we had 3 1/2", which is a lot for such a short time. There were other areas that had that much in a matter of hours, not days.
Our trailer was built in the seventies, and is little and sans-bathroom. Plans for one a little bigger are in the works, so trips will be a little more enjoyable - especially when it's pouring rain and one has to pee. As it is just the two of us, we aren't looking for one that is huge, nor do we need it to sleep a lot of people. A separate bedroom and a bit more room inside is all we need. Plus, and outdoor kitchen would be a nice touch.
I took my knitting with me, as well as my Camp NaNo Project. Sadly I did not get a single word written, but I did figure out how to increase and decrease stitches in my knitting. Knitting and I have had an ongoing battle for years; we agree to disagree. I can crochet almost anything, but put needles in my hands and I am stuck in the garter stitch. I am trying, because I would love to knit some socks from alpaca yarn. I see so many neat pairs being knit when I log into my Instagram account. It would be wonderful to have my own socks to share one day.
On the farm side of things, I made a sad discovery on Sunday when I went to do my chores. I found one of my male alpacas dead in the pen. I'm not sure what happened to him, as there were no visible marks on him. My thinking is either he ended up with a bound intestine or the loud thunder caused him to have a heart attack. He was perfectly fine Saturday evening, and being his usual try-to-get-past-the-lady self. It's always sad to lose an animal. As my daughter's 4-H leader said several years ago - if you have livestock, you have dead-stock. That is so true.
To help with the cost of hay and feed this winter, I am working on a Sponsor-an-Alpaca package. This is the first year we will have to buy hay, and the cost is going to set us back at least several hundred dollars. If the rain stops and the hay fields dry out, we should be able to get a truckload locally for a decent price. If not, then the cost will be substantially higher. I am hoping for the former.
Speaking of alpacas, it is time for me to go feed and water them. Feeding right now involves moving panels to a new patch of green grass, which usually takes me a half hour. I have a short shift at the library today, so I can do the larger move this afternoon.
If you are interested in sponsoring an alpaca, please comment below. I will work out the details and provide a link on the sidebar.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Tuesday, 5 July 2016
Camp NaNo, Alpacas and Canada Post
Here it is, already July 5th! It seemed like only yesterday the year had just begun.
I haven't done any real camping this month yet, but I have been placed in a cabin with others from around the world in Camp NaNoWriMo. So far I have written just over one thousand words. My cabin-mates are also at different stages of their projects; some have several thousand words written, while others have not updated their counts as of yet.
My alpacas are enjoying their green grass, and I am enjoying the fact they are cleaning up an area that has been overgrown for several years. Each day I move the panels to give them a new area to graze, and by month end I should be able to have them back in their original pens. That is, if I decide to keep them there. I do like the area they are grazing in better, as it is more sheltered and shaded. The rows of trees and shrubs make for a natural windbreak, which is ideal during the winter. And, I must start thinking about winter soon, as it will be here before we know it. The summers are always too short.
As many of you have heard, Canada Post is trying to come up with a solution to an ongoing wage battle. It is frustrating that they cannot resolve the issue, but on the same note there is no reason to lash out and be downright rude. I read a handful of comments on a photo of a Canada Post Outlet this morning, and not one of them was anywhere being close to courteous.
What many people fail to realize is it is not necessarily the workers themselves demanding more, but rather the people further up the food chain, so to speak. Sadly, the employees in the outlets get the most abuse as they are the ones in the public eye. I rely on Canada Post to get my packages to my customers, as do most small businesses. It is not limited to just businesses either; there are people who still depend on mail delivery for cheques, bills, bank statements and letters from family and friends. Not everyone has switched over to going completely paperless, and in all honesty I don't think that will ever happen.
Now, why don't we cut the average worker some slack and not be jerks about it all. These are people who have mouths to feed and bills to pay just like anyone else. I do agree that some changes could be made in respect to high-volume times, but for the most part it is a service we depend on. I wish people would think about the weather conditions and verbal abuse postal workers all over the world have to deal with before voicing such negativity.
On a more positive note, let's all enjoy the summer and be kind to one another. Life is meant to be enjoyed; not to go through being bitter and resenting everything and everyone that doesn't share your opinion. And speaking of opinions, now that I have voiced mine it is time to get on with my day and do something that will improve my life; not destroy someone else's.
Have a great day!
I haven't done any real camping this month yet, but I have been placed in a cabin with others from around the world in Camp NaNoWriMo. So far I have written just over one thousand words. My cabin-mates are also at different stages of their projects; some have several thousand words written, while others have not updated their counts as of yet.
My alpacas are enjoying their green grass, and I am enjoying the fact they are cleaning up an area that has been overgrown for several years. Each day I move the panels to give them a new area to graze, and by month end I should be able to have them back in their original pens. That is, if I decide to keep them there. I do like the area they are grazing in better, as it is more sheltered and shaded. The rows of trees and shrubs make for a natural windbreak, which is ideal during the winter. And, I must start thinking about winter soon, as it will be here before we know it. The summers are always too short.
As many of you have heard, Canada Post is trying to come up with a solution to an ongoing wage battle. It is frustrating that they cannot resolve the issue, but on the same note there is no reason to lash out and be downright rude. I read a handful of comments on a photo of a Canada Post Outlet this morning, and not one of them was anywhere being close to courteous.
What many people fail to realize is it is not necessarily the workers themselves demanding more, but rather the people further up the food chain, so to speak. Sadly, the employees in the outlets get the most abuse as they are the ones in the public eye. I rely on Canada Post to get my packages to my customers, as do most small businesses. It is not limited to just businesses either; there are people who still depend on mail delivery for cheques, bills, bank statements and letters from family and friends. Not everyone has switched over to going completely paperless, and in all honesty I don't think that will ever happen.
Now, why don't we cut the average worker some slack and not be jerks about it all. These are people who have mouths to feed and bills to pay just like anyone else. I do agree that some changes could be made in respect to high-volume times, but for the most part it is a service we depend on. I wish people would think about the weather conditions and verbal abuse postal workers all over the world have to deal with before voicing such negativity.
On a more positive note, let's all enjoy the summer and be kind to one another. Life is meant to be enjoyed; not to go through being bitter and resenting everything and everyone that doesn't share your opinion. And speaking of opinions, now that I have voiced mine it is time to get on with my day and do something that will improve my life; not destroy someone else's.
Have a great day!
Thursday, 30 June 2016
Camp NaNoWriMo is Here Again
I wasn't going to do it this summer, but then I figured "why not?".
I registered for Camp NaNoWriMo, and have committed to 10,000 words written in July. Instead of tackling a novel this time around, I am going to work on a collection of short stories. The tentative title of the collection is Wandering Minds. Earlier this week I jotted down over twenty ideas for stories, which will give me a good starting point.
I have always had more trouble with short stories, but after changing my way of thinking it is getting easier to write them. I like to include details in my stories, which makes a novel ideal. I have a lot of opportunity to paint a picture (with words) of what I am seeing in my head in a novel. With a short story, I have to limit the details while still getting the point across.
By registering for Camp NaNoWriMo I am hoping to explore some genres I don't usually write in. Plus, I enjoy "meeting" new people via the cabin assignments. It is always nice to have the encouragement from others as the days go by, and the word counts increase. Last summer our cabin exceeded its word count by tens of thousands, if I recall correctly.
If you are a writer or are considering exploring the writing world, why not give it a shot? By setting a 10,000 word goal, it will help motivate you yet not feel overwhelming. My first novel was written during NaNoWriMo, which had a minimum word count of 50,000. For a first-time fiction writer, that was a challenge for me. I could easily write non-fiction, and at that point had already self-published a few titles. Fiction was a whole new world for me, but as I wrote I found it easier. The best part was, I have since written a second book in the series, and am working on the third.
I do have to say, I am stuck on the third. Losing my dad suddenly almost two years ago has made that particular story a difficult one to write. I know the best thing to do is to just get back to it, but I know it will be an emotional one to do. My personal goal is to get it finished before November. It will mean going back and reading the first two novels in the series and the first 27,000 words of the third, but I have to keep going.
Have you ever participated in Camp NaNoWriMo or NaNoWriMo? If so, did you meet your goal? If not, are you willing to try? To register, visit.http://campnanowrimo.org/ You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians!
I registered for Camp NaNoWriMo, and have committed to 10,000 words written in July. Instead of tackling a novel this time around, I am going to work on a collection of short stories. The tentative title of the collection is Wandering Minds. Earlier this week I jotted down over twenty ideas for stories, which will give me a good starting point.
I have always had more trouble with short stories, but after changing my way of thinking it is getting easier to write them. I like to include details in my stories, which makes a novel ideal. I have a lot of opportunity to paint a picture (with words) of what I am seeing in my head in a novel. With a short story, I have to limit the details while still getting the point across.
By registering for Camp NaNoWriMo I am hoping to explore some genres I don't usually write in. Plus, I enjoy "meeting" new people via the cabin assignments. It is always nice to have the encouragement from others as the days go by, and the word counts increase. Last summer our cabin exceeded its word count by tens of thousands, if I recall correctly.
If you are a writer or are considering exploring the writing world, why not give it a shot? By setting a 10,000 word goal, it will help motivate you yet not feel overwhelming. My first novel was written during NaNoWriMo, which had a minimum word count of 50,000. For a first-time fiction writer, that was a challenge for me. I could easily write non-fiction, and at that point had already self-published a few titles. Fiction was a whole new world for me, but as I wrote I found it easier. The best part was, I have since written a second book in the series, and am working on the third.
I do have to say, I am stuck on the third. Losing my dad suddenly almost two years ago has made that particular story a difficult one to write. I know the best thing to do is to just get back to it, but I know it will be an emotional one to do. My personal goal is to get it finished before November. It will mean going back and reading the first two novels in the series and the first 27,000 words of the third, but I have to keep going.
Have you ever participated in Camp NaNoWriMo or NaNoWriMo? If so, did you meet your goal? If not, are you willing to try? To register, visit.http://campnanowrimo.org/ You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians!
Monday, 27 June 2016
Bored Kids this Summer?
Happy Monday all!
Weekends seem to go by much too quickly, don't they? I know mine didn't last long enough.
With summer officially here, it is time to start planning vacations (or stay-cations) and enjoy all that summer has to offer. For some it means kids home from school being bored - not a term I was familiar with when I was growing up. Is it just me, or does it seem the more kids have to entertain them, the more they complain of being bored?
If you are a parent or guardian of school-age children this summer, why not encourage more outside time? I know the world has changed since I was a kid, but let them play in the dirt, stay out playing street hockey after dark and encourage them to explore their surroundings. Make summer fun for them, even if you aren't going anywhere on vacation.
Most communities have a Summer Reading Program at the library, so why not encourage your child to participate. They will be encouraged to read, be eligible for some neat prizes and make some neat crafts. The latter does vary from library to library, however.
If you are one of the parents who has to work all summer while your kids are out of school, enlist the help of family, friends or responsible childcare. Summer doesn't have to be boring. What about a treasure hunt? You set it up and have your child(ren) follow the map and collect the goodies. Encourage them to tell you all about their findings when you get home from work. It will help keep you in the loop of what they did, plus they will be excited to show you what they found. Chances are, they'll want to do it again.
For kids being raised on a farm, there is no shortage of things to do. My fondest memories are of summers on the farm. My sister and I used to take a blanket, juice, sandwiches and cookies and have a picnic in the shade of the haystack. Or we would walk through the tall grass and spread our blanket out. My dad used to scold us when he realized it, and I couldn't understand why. As I learned how to operate some farm equipment, I realized why flattened grass was something he didn't want. Sometimes nature did the flattening, and trying to cut hay that is lying flat on the ground is not an easy task.
Give your kids some responsibilities based on their age. Farm kids can take over feeding the outdoor pets and help with the livestock. Those who live in town can mow the grass, weed the garden or take the family dog for a daily walk. Let them help plan a weekend of camping or a visit to a museum. If they are part of the planning process they will be more interested in going, and it will help you take a step back and see the world through their eyes.
As adults we tend to forget what being a kid is all about. No matter how old you are, there is nothing wrong with doing something fun. Let your kids be kids, and let yourself act like one too. I miss my two being little, because we would go for walks, go to the lake for an afternoon, or go camping. We lived across the street from the school and spent hours at the playground. They had their Nintendo, but when summer came I would put it away and they were encouraged to go outside and play. There is nothing wrong with a child making mud pies. Water and soap does wonders to dirty hands, feet and faces. And if it gets on the floor, a mop will take care of that too.
On a final note, let your kids be kids. If they want to get dirty, let them. If they want to read a book in the treehouse, that's okay too. And for those who show some artistic ability, encourage it by buying sketchbooks and crayons for them. Young writers would be content with a pen and a notebook. Let them explore their world and who they are as a person. You may be surprised at what they come up with. And, when they return to school in the fall, they will have fond memories of a summer spent doing fun things, even if they didn't go anywhere on vacation.
What are your favourite summer memories as a child? Have you been able to recreate them with your own children (if you are a parent)?
Weekends seem to go by much too quickly, don't they? I know mine didn't last long enough.
With summer officially here, it is time to start planning vacations (or stay-cations) and enjoy all that summer has to offer. For some it means kids home from school being bored - not a term I was familiar with when I was growing up. Is it just me, or does it seem the more kids have to entertain them, the more they complain of being bored?
If you are a parent or guardian of school-age children this summer, why not encourage more outside time? I know the world has changed since I was a kid, but let them play in the dirt, stay out playing street hockey after dark and encourage them to explore their surroundings. Make summer fun for them, even if you aren't going anywhere on vacation.
Most communities have a Summer Reading Program at the library, so why not encourage your child to participate. They will be encouraged to read, be eligible for some neat prizes and make some neat crafts. The latter does vary from library to library, however.
If you are one of the parents who has to work all summer while your kids are out of school, enlist the help of family, friends or responsible childcare. Summer doesn't have to be boring. What about a treasure hunt? You set it up and have your child(ren) follow the map and collect the goodies. Encourage them to tell you all about their findings when you get home from work. It will help keep you in the loop of what they did, plus they will be excited to show you what they found. Chances are, they'll want to do it again.
For kids being raised on a farm, there is no shortage of things to do. My fondest memories are of summers on the farm. My sister and I used to take a blanket, juice, sandwiches and cookies and have a picnic in the shade of the haystack. Or we would walk through the tall grass and spread our blanket out. My dad used to scold us when he realized it, and I couldn't understand why. As I learned how to operate some farm equipment, I realized why flattened grass was something he didn't want. Sometimes nature did the flattening, and trying to cut hay that is lying flat on the ground is not an easy task.
Give your kids some responsibilities based on their age. Farm kids can take over feeding the outdoor pets and help with the livestock. Those who live in town can mow the grass, weed the garden or take the family dog for a daily walk. Let them help plan a weekend of camping or a visit to a museum. If they are part of the planning process they will be more interested in going, and it will help you take a step back and see the world through their eyes.
As adults we tend to forget what being a kid is all about. No matter how old you are, there is nothing wrong with doing something fun. Let your kids be kids, and let yourself act like one too. I miss my two being little, because we would go for walks, go to the lake for an afternoon, or go camping. We lived across the street from the school and spent hours at the playground. They had their Nintendo, but when summer came I would put it away and they were encouraged to go outside and play. There is nothing wrong with a child making mud pies. Water and soap does wonders to dirty hands, feet and faces. And if it gets on the floor, a mop will take care of that too.
On a final note, let your kids be kids. If they want to get dirty, let them. If they want to read a book in the treehouse, that's okay too. And for those who show some artistic ability, encourage it by buying sketchbooks and crayons for them. Young writers would be content with a pen and a notebook. Let them explore their world and who they are as a person. You may be surprised at what they come up with. And, when they return to school in the fall, they will have fond memories of a summer spent doing fun things, even if they didn't go anywhere on vacation.
What are your favourite summer memories as a child? Have you been able to recreate them with your own children (if you are a parent)?
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