it's been a spell

Since I last posted on our blog here... I'm actually thinking of just merging my blogs.. but not exactly sure about that.

anyways, what's been happening in our household for the past bit?

the lad has a fascination with spiders lately. Wants to trap them, keep them, feed them and what not. They do unfortunately die though... at least that's unfortunate in his eyes. Me.. I don't much mind that they die. he's captured a variety of interesting ones though. Some that just lives in houses, some that mostly you just see outside, and some that seem to live everywhere. The outside ones, I have to admit, they stay outside. This is what old aquariums are for.

he's also captured a whole whack of lady bugs. he's got them in a different aquarium that is packed full of leaves. We're seeing if they will survive the winter that way. We read that they live under fallen leaves and wood over the winter so he's testing that theory out.

Hubby's knee has been a bit of a bother lately. So he's been hobbling around off and on. He still can't work out properly but he's developed a routine that mostly works for him. He can't do squats, and he can't solely weight bear on that leg either. he has surgery booked for next October, our family doctor is going to see if she can't get him in earlier with a different doctor.

Me... well.. seems I'm hitting menopause early. It's caused some oddness in how I feel in my head, and most of the time I can control it. Doc says in time it will pass and to just bear through it. If it gets beyond me I'm to talk to her. I'm not completely there, but mostly. Life continues.

My rabbits have been for the most part doing well. I lost a litter in the early fall... not entirely sure why, but the does second litter had an issue as well so I think genetics played a role in that, as well as the weather. I find that bunnies die more easily in the cold wet weather than they do any other time of the year, if if they are under shelter and well protected. Bothers me, but all I can do is try to breed hardier animals.

the cats are doing well. Chase is due to have surgery soon. he's becoming too much cat and we'd like to just stop that. :) Milo still retains a bit of a sneeze from when he was ill, but for the most part is better. I need to get them into the vet this week for their shots.

what else???

Homeschooling continues... some days being better than others.

The gardens have been mostly all well manured and put to bed for the winter. I haven't done a thing with the flower gardens.. next spring awaits as I simply don't think the weather will cooperate at this point so that I can get them done. I think I'll ask one of the moms to take the lad for a couple nice days in the spring so I can work hard on them (hopefully with hubby's help). Then the lad can help with the rest of it.

And I think that's all I have in my noggin this morning. Cheers!

Earache Frustrations

So the lad's tonsils swelled, they seemed particularly bad so called his ENT to see if we could come in. No as they hadn't had a specific referral in regards to them.

So called the family doctor got in. Said they were bad but not infected sent us home after telling us they'd refer us to the ENT.

Then the lad developed an earache. It turned fairly nasty over the long weekend. called Telehealth to see what to do who after taking all our information merely said the on-call doctor should be calling us within 24 hours and to keep the phone line open. Didn't call.

SO.. on Sunday afternoon we traipsed over the Emerg. Got put on Biaxcin. It didn't seem to help. Called the ENT who said "He's not taking patients this week and next week he's on surgery so he won't be seeing him then either, go to your family doctor." ARGH!!!!!!!!!!! But they did suggest we get drops for his ears so we headed back to the emerg where friendly doctor Milne prescribed the drops and sent us on our way.

By Wednesday the lad had me thoroughly worried. But Thursday he seemed a bit better, on Friday he was back to chatting my ear off but needing rest periods, and Saturday morning he was out hunting Crickets so all is MUCH better in our household. :)

we have a new cat

We had sparks put down on the 11th, and today on the 25th we got a new kitten.

He's a spunky sort of lad.
Thinking that overall he'll do well for us. Time will tell.

He has no name yet and no pics have been taken of him yet.

He's a brown tabby.

got him from animal care and control in London. They have July free. $60 fee paid which we'll get back when we have him neutered. seven weeks old.

Sometimes God challenges

First old boy rabbit Jack dies. He went from eating normally, to eating 2 cups of feed per day and drinking like a horse, to not eating and then not drinking. He passed away over night on Thursday the 7th.

Then last night the sore on Sparks shoulder was all icky. Not sure if it popped open or if he caught it on something. Either way, it's icky and infected and we're going on holidays so we're letting him be put to sleep today. Not a pleasant course of events, and not the way we wanted to start our holidays. He's an old cat, and has been a good companion, but it's time to let him go.

means for a couple of days we're taking Milo camping with us as he's a very social cat. After camping we'll pick up a kitten who will keep him company (probably drive him nuts for the first while) but will be a good companion to him. Hopefully an orange tom! :)

It's been crazy

So this week has been rather a crazy one.

Monday: Jim's day off so we're in London.

Tuesday: cleaning and packing up a bit since we're going camping for two weeks. busy busy all day long. We had to go somewhere today as well but can't recall where or for what. :)

Wednesday: birthday party play date in Stratford for the lad. Lots of the homeschool families came. The lad had a hoot! The park by the festival theatre is such a nice park! :)

Thursday: Cleaning up the backyard, cleaning the downstairs bathroom. Busy busy all day long.

Friday: out to Kitchener for a picnic lunch with friends from Mali and Toronto. We had a good visit and good time. The lad had a hoot playing at the playground. We met at Victoria Park so it went well for everyone.

Saturday: Birthday party at Oma and Papa's. Normally we'd meet here but it's easier for papa if we go to their house.

birthday party

the lad was off to his first ever birthday party today.

his new friend libby has turned 6 and was having a party for her homeschool friends.

they had fun together.

First to build a bear where, well...they built a bear. :) each child got a bear and something to go with the bear. The lad picked a brown bunny and originally called it rabbit rabbit rabbit...but now it's just called rabbit. :)


It did take us a while to find something that rabbit wanted to wear but he REALLY liked the bicycle outfit. :)

The bear a bear event was followed up by cupcake decorating at the food court. The children enjoyed themselves.

afterwards we did some schleeping around since we had a few things to do.

A tired Saturday morning

Ever have a day when you are pretty sure you are supposed to be doing something but you can't figure out what it is? well... today is one of those days. All week Jim and I have been saying to each other... what is it we're supposed to do Saturday? but for the life of me.... can't remember.

Ah well.. what can one do?

Anyways, it's been a pretty good week overall. had a bad moment when a doe I bought last Saturday had to be culled. Really was bothered by that. I bought her, noticed she was a bit thin, found out she had a bad foot infection and tried to treat it. But then she started to bleed copious amount and so we let her go. I'll be getting another rabbit sometime from her breeder and see what happens down the road a bit.

But we had fun with week going to Dufflebag theatre with Justin. We had a hoot. Dufflebag theatre is four individuals who with a local orchestra (in this case Orchestra London) put on plays for children. They are interactive ... as in they choose children and occasionally adults, to help play certain roles in the play. They encourage audience participation. Justin kept wondering if they would choose him. :) It's a lot of fun and they teach children to enjoy theatre. The play was "the three musketeers".

Working hard this week on cleaning the bookroom. Not nearly as far along as I had hoped to be by this time...but WAY better than last week. Perhaps I'll get her done today? yeah...right...I do disparage of it at times.

Winter 2011

We've had a good winter here in small town Ontario.

It's been COLD.
The rabbits have done well. The cats are healthy though Sparks is starting to show his age.

The boy child has done well...he's learning how to ski and skate this year, much to his protestion! it's hard mommy! yeah, well...sometimes you have to do things that are difficult.

Jim is having fun skiing.
I've taken up snowshoeing.

We've had a ton of snow...enough that I'm tired of shovelling it.

Sometime I'll put up pics. :)