Happy Birthday Peter

Peter turns another year older today. We always used to be done haying by his birthday, and call him from Lakeside. That hasn't happened for several years now, but we almost made it this year. One more day of mowing and we will be done. Peter still fondly remembers helping us on the farm, and every so often while he is working, he dons his old Guernsey hat to remind himself.

Family Meeting

Yesterday, Sarah was offered a date to have the CCSVI angioplasty procedure done in Bulgaria. November 26th. So tonight we all got together to decide what to do. But I think the decision had already been made before we sat down. So it's off to Sofia, Bulgaria!!

Thinking of Grandpa

Today would have been Grandpa's 86th birthday.

Happy Birthday Stacy

Our little redhead turned 26 today! We took advantage of a rainy day, and took her out to eat at Montanna's in Saint John. I recall that it was also raining 26 years ago today. We enjoyed a good meal!

Stacy even got to wear the headgear, and got a good chance to bat Gilbert on the side of the head a few times.

Got 'er Done

We had relatively easy day today getting the silage in. No flat tires,no plugged blowers, and no broken chains. It is amazing how much you can get done in a short time if nothing breaks.

We even had time to return the pigs to Peter tonight, but not before I got a picture. I also found one we must have taken shortly after they arrived, less than 6 weeks ago.

Now on to the next project, to see if we can finally finish last years job on the new field we were working on. I harrowed it tonight.

It's Hot

Well, we got the week in, exciting as it was. Yes, Sarah did suffer an MS attack on Monday, but has bounced back from it quite well. We did our last 3 school tours this week, and the one on Tuesday, with 60 kids and no Sarah got done, but it was quite a day. We finished filling one silo, and although we planned on being done, we decided to mow one more field today, and that will be it for haylage.

Jesse started spraying the corn today, and we had the hoof trimmer in as well. Carrie has finished her exams, and has gone away with cadets to bush camp over in Holderville. I hope the horse flies don't carry her away.
With summer starting in a few short days, Moosehead reintroduced it's Moose Light Lime. With the temperature what it was this evening, I had some.

Cecily Anne

Here's Cecily....

And with her Mom...

Took us 10 trys to get this one...

And seeing as we were at the hospital, and seeing as I had the camera...

We think Sarah had an MS attack this morning, so we stopped by the Emergency and got her checked out and loaded with steroids. It happened just before the school bus arrived with another 40 kids for a tour, so things were a bit hectic for a few moments. Jesse stepped up to the plate and did a swell job giving the tour. Good practice for tomorrow, as he will be doing it for 60 kids while Sarah heads back in for a recheck. Steroids worked fine, got eggs gathered in double time tonight.

Annoucing... Cecily Anne Matheson

Today we had a very successful Open Farm Day in support of our Psycows bike team in the upcoming Rona MS bike ride. Here is Jesse, with his new haircut, showing visitors how to milk a cow.

We had a wonderful turnout, and all the kids were here to help out, except for Stacy. Cecily Anne decided that today was the day. Congratulations Stacy and Gilbert! And Kara and Bradford too. Tanya took advantage of being here, and stopped in to see her on her way home, but as she told us Stacy was quite tired, we decided to wait until tomorrow to go in. So no picture. I'll edit that in tomorrow. Cancel that. Cecily was soo cute she needs her own post.
We had a good run at haylage this past week, so we are almost done that. Much better than last year. I have been biking the block every day, trying to get back in shape. Yesterday morning my bike started making a rather loud hum. After being unable to determine the source, I looked up.

Now that is something I'd really like to try. Maybe with Father's day coming up, the kids will get me one. Not too much too it, a tarp, a fan, and a weedeater engine. Here is a picture of Carrie and I heading out. We soon found out that I needed to get out more.

More NB Farm of the Year

Just in case anybody missed our award this year, we put up the sign.

And as additional memento, today we received a copy of what the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Ron Ouelette,  stated in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. It came in a really nice folder. Apparently they have been trying to find us all spring, but heard we were away.

Happy Birthday Jesse

Our little man turns 24 today! Yeah! We had a school tour today, and this was how he looked as all the kids sang him Happy Birthday. I haven't finished with my Holland pictures, but seeing as we mentioned school tours, I'll share a few pics that we have of those. This was the group that came today. So far we have had 300 kids, with 220 more in the next 2 weeks.

Here they are feeding a calf in the calf barn.

Here are the 3 pigs. I can't get over how much they have grown in 3 weeks.

Then down to the lower barn, to see the sheep and Willard. And of course Buddy the bunny.Then up to the hay mow.

After the hay mow, we check out the manure pit. I wasn't watching as careful as I should have this morning, and one young fellow almost jumped in.The poor teacher nearly had a stroke.

The kids like to see the milk truck. And some milk truck drivers like to see the kids. This may or may not be one of them.

Abby is on a short leash, but she will get lots of attention.

After the milk truck leaves, we milk a cow for them.

Then donuts and chocolate milk (and a few white milk). We could hardly get the straws in fast enough with this bunch. And anyone who comes up the driveway gets to help.

Emma goat didn't attack the kids the way Billy did.

Tommy lent us his horse Banner for the horse back rides this year. Great horse. And he came with his friend Jenny the donkey.

The Highlanders watch as we give the rides.

And Carrie has found a horse that she isn't afraid to ride.

At the end of the day, Jesse had his cake. Here is "The Blow"

Happy Birthday Kara

Kara turns 4! Wow! We all hope you had a great birthday and a yummy cake. Happy Birthday!

May 3

On Monday we travelled to the Canadian War Cemetary in Groesbeek for a memorial service. It is one of the largest war cemeteries in Europe, with the graves of approximately 2600 Canadians.

Queen Beatrix and Princess Margriet were in attendance. It is interesting to remember that the Dutch Royal family stayed in Ottawa during World War II, and that Princess Margriet was born In an Ottawa hospital room that was temporarily proclaimed to be part of the Netherlands. Grandma's expert photography caught a picture of the Queen as she mingled with some of the veterans.

Dinner on the way back was a fabulous Indonesian buffet, in the Royal Military Home Bronbeek, a former palace.

Tuesday, May 4th, was the National Memorial Day in the Netherlands. We were up bright and early and headed to the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. One will never forget the way the Dutch people had their homes and properties decorated with Canadian and The Netherlands flags.

Princess Margriet was here as well, and the memorial service included a fly over by 3 World War II vintage fighter planes, and a helicopter dropping poppies. The Holten school children are very active at this cemetery, placing flowers on all the graves during the memorial service. They also place 24 hour lighted candles on every grave each Christmas.

After the service, as I was wandering through the cemetery looking at graves, I got quite a shock to run smack in a couple of my neighbours from home. Tanya's grade one teacher, Hilda Gilles, and the older kids former piano teacher, Ruth Ganong. Small world, huh. I was so surprised, I forgot to take their picture.

On the way home, we stopped at the town of Gorssel, near the place where the Canadians crossed the River Ijssel. This was a very important turning point in the war. The OSA pipe band that we travelled most everywhere with, did a short parade through town to the monument.

Then back to Fia and Jaap's for a wonderful supper.