The first arrivals of 2008 are here!!!  Our sheep was due on Saturday.  Nothing happened that day or the next.  On Monday she was acting normal but had lots of mucous.  My hubby checked her just before leaving for dinner at a friends place.  She was swollen but not acting like she was in labor.  He guessed that they would be born late that evening or early the next day.  We left at 5:30 and arrived back home by 9:30 and the lambs were already born!!!  They were a little wet and she was still bleeding some.  What a surprise!!!!   I was concerned   there would be difficulties and that my hubby wouldn’t be home.  I thank God that there were no difficulties and that all went well especially since none of us were home!!!!  The Lord was though,  He watches over ever sparrow and laboring ewe!  They are both Female Dorset/Friesian cross.  One is small and the other huge.  Probably double her sisters size.  I could not believe the differnt sizes.  It will be fun to watch them grow.

 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. (Isaiah 59:1)  This verse touched my heart today that I decided to share it.  Let us not grow weary.  Let us cling to the Lord and trust Him.  He is able!!!!  I repeat He is ABLE!!!!!   Of course this promise is for those who are living in obedience with a clear conscience towards the Lord.   

Have a wonderful day!  Today is a beautiful day here in British Columbia.  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping.  This is the day that He has made I will rejoice and be glad in it!!!!

We have 25 Chickens.  4 roosters and 21 hens.  our flock is made up of mixed breeds.  One of these breeds is Buff orpington.  If anyone knows about Buff Orpingtons it is that they like to set.  Which is fine with me.   However, we seem to run into the same dilemma every year….  that they want to set in the nesting boxes and the other hens want to lay eggs.  It just does not work out this way.  The hens higher up in the peck order kick them out while they lay their eggs and then the setter returns.  Two problems occur when this happens.  First, the eggs are all at different development stages and not all the chicks will hatch.  I hate the idea of a precious chic’s life started and then left for death!  How dreadful.  Second, the eggs pile up quickly.  We built little setting cages for them.  However, most of them freak out when put in there and will not settle.  We don’t really have a lot of room to put the hens in a different location.  I just remembered a friend mentioned marking the setting eggs with pencil and collecting the rest.  Which would mean disrupting the hen every evening.   I’m not sure if this would work.  I would be glad to hear  any suggestions or ideas.

My name is Vickie.  I grew up in Guelph, Ontario.  My maiden name is Vickie Patay.   Most people knew me by the name of Vickie Butts.  I was quite the wild one!  I lived a sinful selfish life.  I grew up in an abusive/dysfunctional home and had no anchor  Once my teen years hit I rebelled. big time  However, God was so merciful!!  I moved in with my boyfriend, whom I like to say was a sheep in a wolf costume!  Soon afterwards I became pregnant.  We decided to get married.   That is what I wanted so desperately! - to get married and have a family of my own.    For some reason I thought it would bring me security.  I was very happy.  I had a child growing in my womb, a man who loved me and planned to marry me.... but something was missing!!!  It was Jesus!  I was brought up catholic (I went to catholic schools and attended church with my family a couple of times a year- However, my Mother talked of God and having faith alot!).  Believing was not enough.  I needed to repent of my sinful ways and surrender my life to the Lord.  These truths were made known to me by watching a Billy Graham movie.  Right then and there I got down on my knees and asked Christ to forgive me of my sins and become the Lord of my life.  My life has been an uphill climb since then!

14 Years later.................

We are now living in British Columbia on a 26 acre lot.  We moved here 3 years ago.  Homesteading is new to us.  We both grew up in the city with very little exposure to country living.  We only have approx 1 acre cleared the rest is forest and swamp-thus the name< "shady springs".  I didn't think  that swampy mosquito sounded as nice.  My husband and I have stayed together and now have 6 beautiful children.  Four boys and two girls ages 13, 12, 8, 6, 4, and 1.5.  They are such a joy!!!!  The Lord has blessed us so much. 

We have Sheep, goats, chickens, and one dog.  I love animals.  Our sheep is due to lamb next week.  I am a little nervous that my husband won't be here when they deliver.  I do not feel capable of helping if there are difficulties.  I pray that won't be the case.  But if it is.  I trust that God will give me the strength and wisdom to handle the situation.  One of our hens is setting.  I love when our hens set!  It is so adorable to see the momma hen with her brood.  We also buy meat birds and butcher them in the fall.  Last year was our first time and we found it worth the effort.   

I guess this is enough of an introduction.  I will share more about me, my family and shady springs another time.