Fog rolls into Fullerton Farm

Muffin - 3/4 Blue face Leicester ewe lamb

Benny - Pure Clun Forest Ram Lamb & Garnet -Blue Face Leicester x Rideau Arcott ram lamb

My Girls

Today was a wondrous blessing. Our home and surrounding landscape was encased in a thick shroud of fog. While many would curl deeper beneath their covers I was cruising around my pastures looking for interesting pictures.

I love taking photos in the fog. I would love it better if my sheep did not have an illness called "Nuisance Gene". This is an ailment that plagues any farmer who treats his animals well, provides TLC and the occasional back rub. I am glad there was a thick pea soup fog for if my neighbors saw me jumping up and down attempting to scare my "unscareable" sheep they would have had a good laugh at my expense. Any passerby would have surely called the nearest mental ward to have me carted off for some "evaluation".

Come to think of it I need not worry, the fellows from the funny farm would have to come get me and considering how my sheep feel any human with hands should be rubbing their backs I am pretty certain I could make a get away! Remember they have twice as many legs as us and are quite insistent that all available hands must be put to work here at Fullerton Farm.

Here's hoping your days are a bit foggy!!

Things I learned from my kids

Horse - photo

I am a big supporter of the 4H program. It is a youth organization that focus' on young people and leadership as well as learning. I have been a leader of light horse, photography, poultry and turkey projects and it gives me a great deal of pleasure to watch the young people I deal with mature.

Quite often I am the one who gets to learn a lesson as opposed to giving it.

Recently our local club had its achievement day. A day that allows the members a chance to show off their skills and complete their projects. The night before the leaders gathered to have a meeting and choose worthy members for awards. This can be a very difficult thing to do as not all members are known to all the leaders.

A request was made to offer names for awards. I made a few suggestions and watched as one leader in particular proceeded to promote their own children for awards. I was more than a little irritated as I felt this was a tactless thing to do especially when this individual proceeded to degrade other young members. I left the meeting extremely disgusted by the evenings outcome.

The interesting thing that happened was the response the children had the next day. When the child of the aforementioned leader won, many other members shrugged their shoulders and said,

"Of course he won. His mother runs the club."

The award meant nothing to the members. They seemed to already know what had occurred without being told and as a result dismissed it as an unreliable measure of ones achievement. I was surprised at their willingness to accept the result and decided if it did not bother them why should I be concerned.

At the end of the evening my daughter who had placed 1st in all her livestock classes but one (where she received a 2nd) decided not to proceed into the Grand champion showman class. As a former showman myself I thought she would relish being able to show off her skills. Once again I was pleasantly surprised when she told me of her reason for not competing.

"I already won everything. There was no point."

I learned there was no need to decimate the competition. My eleven year old daughter handled her self with more skill and class than some parents I know.

It was a lesson well worth learning.

Little Puss -Oil Commission

This is part two of a three part set of adorable little pussy cats. The last part of this trio just needs whiskers and a few well placed highlights. If I ever find the time I just might get it done.

Between the job, the sheep, chickens , kids and family needs my studio is well neglected. I am usually really good at managing my time but my job is really physical and by the time I get home and finish up my regular chores I find myself snoring in front of the bath room mirror with a toothbrush in my mouth and a dollop of drool hanging from my chin!

Here's hoping the weekend offers a respite!

Flowers at the NSAC Alumni & Rock Gardens

Well the sun has finally arrived and for the first time this year it finally feels like we will have a summer here in Atlantic Canada. After a dismal spring filled with storm clouds threatening our every move and rain that soaked our very being we are starting to dry out and the mold that grew on me is finally beginning to leave (Joke!!!).

I personally do not know how ducks survive this sort of weather and I bet if a census was done you'd find that their cheery attitudes about letting things roll off their backs would have been a fallacy this past spring!

During a recent sunny lunch break I toured our gardens here at the College and captured some stunning photos of the flowers as they bloomed in profusion. As you can see even they seemed to glow in the warm sunshine.

Now that we have some solar rays I know I glow too!