A Few People will be Happy

On Tuesday, Jesse and I decided that it was time to fix the front wall of the dairy. Which we destroyed when we installed new cooler last spring.

So we went at it, and although it didn't seem like a big job, it took us till this afternoon. Between pulling calves every time we turned around, and answering the telephone, we got it done.

So who is gonna be happy? Blaine for sure because we finally got a hose port!

And Me because it was one more thing checked off my list of things to do before winter. And TJ, because he lay awake at night wondering if we were ever gonna fix it.

Last Week & Halloween

We had a busy week last week. Washed machinery and put it away. Washed the chicken barn down. After that was done, Sarah and Jesse disinfected and got ready for the new flock. They were supposed to fly in last night, but yesterday afternoon we found out that their flight had been delayed 3 days.

I stirred up the manure pit and spread some manure. I had been worried about that, because the pit had been getting full, the weather colder, and the fields wetter. But after 2 good days on Friday and Saturday, I got over 6 feet out and spread, so that takes the pressure off.

And the Saturday night was Halloween. Carrie and Melissa carved 2 pumpkins. Who did a better job?

Victoria and Brad had their first pumpkin together.

Stacy brought Kara and Bradford over for treats.

Emma, Madilyn, and Sarah got all dressed up. TJ took Emma and Madilyn out Trick or Treating, while Sarah stayed home with Tanya to pass out treats.

Bat Carrie

Carrie had a bunch of her friends stay over last night and she got dressed up for school again today. This time she had more on. Here she is with her friend Mariah.

Heavy Rain Last Night

Like I said, it was supposed to rain heavily last night,and guess what? Over 4 inches and high winds. Here is one local road that washed out a bit around the culvert.

Flock Dispersal

This morning the first half of our first flock of chickens headed up the road. Sad to see them go, they worked hard  for us, and it was quite an experience. Tomorrow the other half fly the coop, then it is clean and disinfect. The new flock should fly in the door sometime during the night of November 1st (next Sunday).

Not too much else new this week, we got the last of the corn silage unloaded yesterday, and the silo started. Most of the animals are in the barn, except for a few beef, the 2 goats, and of course Willard is still wandering around out there somewhere. Raining again today, with heavy rains coming tonight. Gotta be the wettest year ever.

Done Corn

Today we finished harvesting our corn silage. We finished the wet field and moved on to the field we should have planted rice in.

But it was a nice sunny day and I enjoyed watching the cows sunning themselves by the pond.

I got all the corn, and what I missed the geese will get.

And on a final note, why was Carrie dressed like this going to school? Kinda reminded me of running into Tanya at the Three Mile when she was seventeen...

Even Colder...

It definitely wasn't warm on the open tractor hauling in corn. Jesse ended up with ski mask and winter clothes. On the other hand, the sun kept my tractor quite toasty, you gotta love a tractor cab. The wet fields turned out dryer than I had thought, so we have had 2 more good days of chopping corn, and for the most part it is an excellent crop. Except where it isn't.

On another note, I am kinds wondering what this fellow would look like on a farm in Glassville? We could call him "Emma Steer"

Cold Day doing Corn

Fall was definitely in the air when we did corn silage yesterday. Maybe even a hint of winter!
But we managed to get another field in, now there are only the wet fields left.

Corn Silage

Today we started our corn silage harvest. It shall be a challenge as most of the fields are wet. But we started with a dry one, and I was very impressed with the crop, as I had thought it would have been worse than it was. We finished the first field, and that filled the top of one of the silos. It is always a good feeling when you take the last 2 rows of a field.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday we had the pleasure of having a lot of family here for Thanksgiving dinner. We are thankful for that...

Good Old Ivan...

The kids have always thought our driveway is way too long, so on a day like today, when it was raining really hard, Carrie & Melissa were quite pleased when he decided to bring them right to the door.

Jesse got ANOTHER new Truck

Here is Jesse's new truck. It's a beauty. Chevy Silverado. Good luck with this one Jesse. David, it is safe to come back now, but I betcha you might have to sit in the passenger seat!

4 Exchanges

On Wednesday, Melissa & Carrie played soccer against the school from Salisbury. And it just happened that the other exchange from Melissa's school in St. Marc-des-Carrieres was on the other team. How cool is that!

2 years ago in Holland

I've been thinking about our trip to Holland 2 years ago and our stay with our good friends, Fia & Jaap. Along with all the memories of all the places we visited, I'll remember our morning stops for coffee and applecake, the afternoon stops for beer, and the wonderful meals we had in different towns and at home with Fia cooking.

And here we are in Bathmen, on our last night, exactly 2 years ago, before our return home.

Stacy is "Queen of the Furrow"

Stacy plowed in this years New Brunswick Provincial Plowing Competition, and did very well. So well, that she won Queen of the Furrow. Congratulations, Stacy!

I have to admit, that looks pretty straight.

And here is the crown. Will she wear it while grading eggs?

Saint John's "Marathon by the Sea"

Today we rushed through morning chores and headed in to Saint John to try and catch Tanya cross the finish line in the half marathon. She did it in 1:52 in Halifax, and we arrived at 1:53. But she found it a little more hilly than Halifax, so we were in luck, and made it just a few minutes before she landed in.
Congratulations Tanya! A time of 2:00:42 and in the top half.

After the run, the kids all went swimming at the Delta, where Tanya had stayed overnight. Then we took Carrie and Melissa to see the Reversing Falls.

Emma is staying with us for the week. She was quick to hop on the Gator and take everyone for a ride.

First school dance this past week. Garrett was chauffeur.

This week, Jesse and I finished up 3rd cut, did one more load of hay, had another excellent herd health visit with the vet, and started putting machinery away for the year. And I was told in no uncertain terms, that I should give this fellow, and his buddies, more pasture, or I might get poked. So I did.

And this picture is a week old. The week before last, Tanya went to Portage in Manitoba, to the McCain plant for work. Sarah and her sister, Ba Ba went up and looked after the kids all week. Tanya got the girls some new hats while she was there.

Hampton 5 Miler

I found some pictures on the Hampton River Runners website.
Here is Jesse & Sheila.

Jesse is looking like he is hurting. Maybe he is only Superman on a bicycle?

But a sprint to the finish, and he actually beat this fellow by 4 seconds, good going, Jesse!

And Grandma leisurely strode in, to be first in her age class...Grandpa would have been proud!