Chicken Barn Roof Deleaking Extravaganza

The roof in the new chicken barn has been leaking a bit all summer as we worked in it, but it leaked like a sieve when the last 2 hurricanes passed through. Tanya had to listen to me grumble about it when she was down helping with corn, so she invited her siblings to a roof deleaking party, to coincide with our Thanksgiving meal plans. One of them forwarded the invite to everyone in the facebook world, but only the Fav Five showed up. No pics of them working, but after they were done they definitely wanted their pictures taken. A light rain last evening didn't show any leaks, so hopefully when the next hurricane passes by, my hens will stay dry. Thanks guys! Afterwards Grandma and Gilbert came and we enjoyed a great turkey dinner, with turnup, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, apple and pumpkin pie. And wine & beer. And we all told what we were thankful for....

This Week

Wow, 10 days since the last post. Some things we have done this week. I took Carrie and some of her friends (Lexie & Beth pictured) to a movie last Saturday. We have been working on the chicken barn all week. And working away at the corn, half a load a day, waiting for silo to settle so I can get it all in. 3 more loads as of today. Friday night, Tanya came down and took Carrie to see Carrie Underwood concert. TJ bought the tickets for Tanya, but he is busy digging potatoes. He is half done he says, so we hope for good weather for him. Carrie was kind enough to come out to the farm for me to take her picture.

Grandma's House

We checked out the progress on Grandma's new house on Sunday. It is taking shape.

Another Silo Full

While Emma was helping out in the barn (she really loves milking the cows), her Mom was busy hauling in the silage. Here is the last 2 rows of corn in the first field we did, and then the last 2 rows in the second field. The last silo is pretty much full, but the problem is that we have one more field to do!

Harvesting Corn

Tanya came down last night to help me put in the corn silage. It is really early this year. After changing the knives on the harvester, we put in a few loads last night, and then finished filling a silo today that had our second cut grass in it. We might get another load in it tomorrow morning, and then we will get it ready to feed out of and then start filling the corn silo.

Who You Gonna Call?.... Peter!

Usually when a calf is born in the field we have to quit what we are doing and go get it and the mother. But not when Peter is around!. He quickly volunteered to help Carrie bring it home. May was quick to help out too.



It was good to have Peter & May here before the reunion, May also got a chance to enjoy the children. Maybe it will stir some maternal urges?


The night before they left, Peter treated us to lobster, which we boiled on the deck.

Today's News

"The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR), principally out of Petawawa, Ont., and Gagetown, N.B., replaced the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry during a ceremony held on Sunday."


So I thought it fitting to post a pic of Dan, with his Mom & Grandma, taken earlier this week before he left from Fredericton. We have heard he arrived safely, and wish him good luck, as well as Mike & Brad, and all the troops that are over in Afganistan with him.

Today 's Plowing Match

The plowing competition started today. The tractors arrived all week, and they all hit the fields at 9:00 am today. The horses came this morning and they plowed all afternoon. One furrow at a time. Makes you appreciate a tractor. We caught Stacy plowing today too. Future Queen of the Furrow? We shall see tomorrow. Tanya came last night with Madilyn and Sarah, and she and Carrie ran a canteen out of the Gator with proceeds going to next years M-S bike tour.

First Frost

Yesterday we finished our second cut of haylage, finally. With all the damp days it has taken ages this year. This morning we had our first frost. Here we are unloading the last load, and since no one took a picture of me mowing I've included a pic of the mower all washed up and ready to be put away.

Finally

Ever since we had been on the farm we have wanted a concrete floor in the machine shed. There always seemed other things more important. We made a stab at it back in 2003, but never got it done. Anyways, we went at again this year, and with Victoria's help a few weeks ago (picture went missing) we got it ready, and then today we ran the concrete. Looks good, huh?

Tomorrow's Project

The tile drainage machine arrived Friday night, as well as a few rolls of drain tile, so I imagine they will be at it tomorrow in the field that was recently landformed. We took a drive up there tonight and I see all the orange flags are up.

Abby LIkes being a Red Head

I wish I'd taken this picture a little earlier in the day, but you can still see the red in her hair on her head. Maybe she is looking for Grandma's affection? Any guesses on how she did it?

Plowing Match

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Next weekend we will be hosting the New Brunswick Provincial plowing competition. They were here today setting up and measuring plow plots.

Back to School

Carrie went back to school yesterday. Grade 9. High school. All grown up. Just 9 years ago we had 5 kids getting on the bus..Tanya in grade 12 , Stacy in grade 10, Jesse in grade 8, Victoria in grade 6 and Carrie just starting kindergarten. Now just Carrie. Anyone notice a sad moment here?

Family Reunion

We had our family reunion last weekend here at the farm. I'd like to thank Peter & May for answering the call for pictures and sending me some, and May for her excellent photography. In attendance were Grandma & her sister Joan; Joan's sons Chris & Joyce, Gordon & Shari, and her daughter Linda & Keith; Chris's son Sandy & his girlfriend Erica; Sheila & Art; Dan, Nick & his girlfriend Karine; Mike & his girlfriend Elaine; Bruce & Sarah; Tanya, Emma, Madilyn & Sarah; Stacy, Gilbert, Kara & Bradford; Carrie; Peter & May; and our cousin Anne & Doran. (32 to save you from counting!)
We had a BBQ, drank some beer & wine, had a corn boil , bonfires and went for a nice drive on the Kingston peninsula, then out to Welsford to Mount Hope cemetery where Grandma and Joan's grandparents are buried, into Saint John and visited Fernhill cemetery where Grandpa is buried as well as Grandma's & Joan's parents and many other relatives on the Bayard side.


Great pic of one of the bonfires!

Nick, Mike & Peter played us some tunes.

A reunion would not be complete without Carrie jumping the string fire!

And we have a new Gator driver this year!