Now that the snow is finaly on its way out, there are a hundred and one things to do.

Lots of fencing as we need to get the horses out of their winter paddocks and into new ones to take advantage of the new grass that is begining to emerge.

We have 150 new chickens, bought as one day olds. 50 of them are meat birds this time

This will be are first foray into raising anything to eat. We will see how we manage when it comes to the time to take them to the abatoir. Killing and preparing them ourselves is simply not an option. We are much too squeemish.

These are the meat birds. (above)

And these are the new laying hens.

I have had a little success with the llamas.

They have been out from their enforced captivity for a few weeks now and are enjoying being outside much of the time.

The are however completely at home in the barn now and come and go as they please.

I have been catching Fabian up and handeling him a little over the winter so he is less stressed now when being touched.

Tasha as anyone who has read previous entries will know has been a nightmare. I have tried on occassion over the winter but to little effect.

Anyway today I decided that I have to start working with them everyday. I started with her today.

I enticed her into the barn and shut the door, then followed her around with my hand on her back. she was not very happy and kept trying to get to the door. eventually I managed to get an arm round each side of her neck and slip a lead rope onto her headcoller.

I thought she was going to kick off (she definateky thought about it), but then she calmed down and was actually ok.

I feel really pleased. Of course this could just be a one off and tomorrow she may trample me into the ground, but hopefully we will make gradual progress.

Their toe nails are hideously overgrown and need urgently trimming.

A chap from the feed store has been prommissing to drop by and show mw how to do it and also worm them, but one thing you have to get used to in NB and possibly Albert county especially is the laid back lifestyle.

He has been prommisising to do this for at least two months now and still nothing.

Anyway I have scoured the internet and also have a good book on  llamas and think I may well have to have a go myself.

I will let you know how it turns out, when I eventually get up the nerve to give it a go.

On a different subject, we have finally managed to get a family Doctor.

Shane had to go the walk in surgery for a repeat prescription and while talking with the Doc she realised we didn't have one and offered to take us on.

I just went to see her yesterday for the first time and she is really nice so we are very happy. We were on some sort of list to get a doc, but I don't think we would have got one that way.

She gave me a Tetanus shot yesterday as now we have a farm, its kind of sensible. Havn't had one for over 20 years so I was well due.

Today my arms is painful and a bit stiff though. I don't think the llama wrestling helped.

I have also started playing with the ponies again.

This is Smartie wearing a saddle and bridle properly, for the first time. she was really good and laid back with the whole thing.

I won't tell you how long it took me to learn how to tie a synch knott. Thats the girth that keeps the saddle in place. Again the internet is a wonderful tool. There aint nothing you can't find when you need to.

My synch tying is obviously working as  I have tried it out riding the little pony I got to give lessons on this year. I didn't end up under her tummy so its all good.

I havn't ridden regularly for over 10 years so at the moment I am rubish to say the least.

I have my paint mare to get going too, but I have discovered that she doesn't lunge, so I will have to go right back to basics with her.

I think I have bitten off more than I can chew for this summer. There are just so many animals that need time and training and I am not sure that will be able to keep up with it all.

It will be fun trying though.