This time of year when the babies start arriving, it can be very busy, but this year, the addition of being the general contractor for the renovations after the flood has been taking so much of my time. I am arranging the drywall repair, plumbing, electrical and flooring installation and after I paint, then a finishing carpenter will install new baseboards and door casings and new countertops in the kitchen. I will likely do some tile work in the bathroom downstairs and the kitchen upstairs. Just when things seemed to be progressing smoothly, a new problem arose.
There was a lot of water down the hill at the house. At first I simply thought the ice was really melting, and then we had some pretty heavy rains for a week. But the sun came out and the water continued to be present. The only explanation was that there was a problem with the well. The plumber who was already here installing the shower downstairs took a look and sure enough, the water was coming up from the well. He shut off the pump and the water subsided. He believes that the T joint from the well to the house is compromised somehow and in order to see how, the area has to be excavated around it to 8 feet deep. OUch! I am shuddering to think what the backhoe will cost. In the meantime, the water to the farm is shut off because the pump has been switched off at the main breaker. I can turn it on if I require water, and I do once a day to water the critters. At that time I also collect 5 gallons of water, a kettle full for drinking and pot full for cooking, plus a sink full for washing. Hopefully this will be addressed soon.
Then the plumber was installing the shower and the drain had to be busted out of the concrete and moved a little because the wall had pushed in by an inch or more from the top to the bottom of the shower. And the straw that broke the camel's back - the shower pieces were incorrect. The base and back matched, but the wrong sides were given. Now I have to go to Edmonton to exchange the sides IF they even have them. Grrrr! That is a 6 hour drive for a mistake by some employee.
The sheep and goats are a little staggered in breeding this year. Some lambed in February and some in March and others in April, but there are more to come in May. The ram that was in with the majority of the girls did not mate with any of them, so Quinn, the Blue Faced Leicester, who was out visiting some other girls, came home and did the job. The Romney ram was likely too young and will do a better job next year, hopefully. There are still 3 goats left to kid and about a dozen sheep, though some may be very late. Today they got new bales of hay, as did the rams and the ewes have started on a grain supplement because they are very thin. Enya does not have enough milk for her little guy. He is doing OK, but stealing some milk from unsuspecting moms when they are nursing singles. As long as he is stealing, I won't intervene. I checked him over today and he was still round so he is not starving. Enya does feed him some. If he becomes lethargic I may have to bottle feed him and I sure do not want to do that.
So, times are crazy busy. That is sometimes how life goes. It will get better. I am still thankful for all I have and am grateful that there will be money to take care of the flood damage. The well, I guess is a wait and see. Hopefully we don't need a new one. That is a 25 thousand I don't have to spend. Fingers are crossed...yours too?
There was a lot of water down the hill at the house. At first I simply thought the ice was really melting, and then we had some pretty heavy rains for a week. But the sun came out and the water continued to be present. The only explanation was that there was a problem with the well. The plumber who was already here installing the shower downstairs took a look and sure enough, the water was coming up from the well. He shut off the pump and the water subsided. He believes that the T joint from the well to the house is compromised somehow and in order to see how, the area has to be excavated around it to 8 feet deep. OUch! I am shuddering to think what the backhoe will cost. In the meantime, the water to the farm is shut off because the pump has been switched off at the main breaker. I can turn it on if I require water, and I do once a day to water the critters. At that time I also collect 5 gallons of water, a kettle full for drinking and pot full for cooking, plus a sink full for washing. Hopefully this will be addressed soon.
Then the plumber was installing the shower and the drain had to be busted out of the concrete and moved a little because the wall had pushed in by an inch or more from the top to the bottom of the shower. And the straw that broke the camel's back - the shower pieces were incorrect. The base and back matched, but the wrong sides were given. Now I have to go to Edmonton to exchange the sides IF they even have them. Grrrr! That is a 6 hour drive for a mistake by some employee.
The sheep and goats are a little staggered in breeding this year. Some lambed in February and some in March and others in April, but there are more to come in May. The ram that was in with the majority of the girls did not mate with any of them, so Quinn, the Blue Faced Leicester, who was out visiting some other girls, came home and did the job. The Romney ram was likely too young and will do a better job next year, hopefully. There are still 3 goats left to kid and about a dozen sheep, though some may be very late. Today they got new bales of hay, as did the rams and the ewes have started on a grain supplement because they are very thin. Enya does not have enough milk for her little guy. He is doing OK, but stealing some milk from unsuspecting moms when they are nursing singles. As long as he is stealing, I won't intervene. I checked him over today and he was still round so he is not starving. Enya does feed him some. If he becomes lethargic I may have to bottle feed him and I sure do not want to do that.
So, times are crazy busy. That is sometimes how life goes. It will get better. I am still thankful for all I have and am grateful that there will be money to take care of the flood damage. The well, I guess is a wait and see. Hopefully we don't need a new one. That is a 25 thousand I don't have to spend. Fingers are crossed...yours too?
Spring babies are everywhere demanding my attention. There is a burrow of baby bunnies that the mother is not covering anymore. I am tempted to some how catch them, but I am not sure how.
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