Old Man Winter has decided to return to us in SE Saskatchewan.  It's been a wonderful run and no one can take away the easy winter we've already had.  On Thursday morning I found this and many thirsty animals.  After Lyle got the electrical fixed I spent the rest of the day getting the ice out. 

Bugsy prefers softer water.

Persistent Bailey

Bailey, my little buckling, is very persistent. A few day ago we put in some screenings in this bin  for the chickens.  Bailey, being the smarty pants that he is, has figured it they're there.  He just can't figure out how to get in.

Fancy

Hannah, our youngest 14, brought home her first horse that she's training for someone else. Although she's trained quite a few of her own horses, this is her first official customer. Fancy is a big paint/Percheron mare that has never been worked until Hannah started with her.  She's an older horse so Hannah has her work cut out for her.  She better be wearing her helmet!  I can see some road rash coming her way.

Amber Alert ends; Timmins children found in North Bay

The Timmins children sought under an Amber Alert on Thursday have been found, Toronto police said Thursday morning.

Updated: Thu Jan. 05 2012 11:18:00 AM

CTVNews.ca Staff

Two Timmins children sought under an Amber Alert on Thursday have been found, Toronto police said Thursday morning.

Police located the pair in North Bay, Ont. Their father Zachary Johnson is in custody, police said.

Zachary Johnson is divorced from the children's mother. She last saw her three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter, just before 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, according to reports.

The children had just returned from a tobogganing outing with their father. Their mother left the room and found the children missing when she returned, along with a bag of clothes.

The vehicle Zachary Johnson was driving was found broken down not far from the children's Timmins home, so it wasn't immediately known how the trio was travelling. They were suspected to be headed to Ottawa, Nova Scotia, or Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, Que.

Timmins police Const. Rick Lemieux told CTV News Channel that it was likely Johnson stopped somewhere to sleep overnight.

Lemieux said police were hoping media coverage of the missing children would result in some calls "so we can get these children home."

Timmins police are expected to update the public on the case at a 1:30 p.m. ET news conference.

Amber Alert issued in Timmins, Ontario; police fear for safety of two toddlers

Postmedia News  Jan 5, 2012 – 8:00 AM ET | Last Updated: Jan 5, 2012 9:01 AM ET

Timmins Police handout

Kara Johnson (left) and Aiden Johnson (right)

By Natalie Stechyson and Robert Hiltz
Police in Timmins, Ont., have issued an Amber Alert for two small children, with authorities saying they fear for the children’s safety.
Kara and Aiden Johnson, ages one and three, respectively, are believed to be with their father, Zachary Johnson, and could be on their way to Ottawa, Nova Scotia or Saint Sauveur des Monts, Que., Ontario Provincial Police said Thursday.
“There’s always a chance of danger,” said Const. Rick Lemieux of the Timmins Police Service.

Timmins Police Handout

Zachary Johnson

“He does suffer from depession and is taking medication for that, so that’s always a concern for police when children involved.”
The children live with their grandmother, Const. Lemieux said, and Mr. Johnson does not have custody.
The children were reported missing Wednesday evening, after Mr. Johnson went to the residence following a short visit with Aiden, then took Kara and left.
“Police searched all the areas here in Timmins — hotel rooms, family friends — they were not able to find the children,” Const. Lemieux said.
Police found Mr. Johnson’s car broken down in Timmins — a mining town almost 700 kilometres north of Toronto. They are not sure what vehicle he may be in now.
The father is about five-foot-10, and is skinny with curly brown hair and grey eyes, police said.
Aiden is 3 1/2 feet tall with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing black and red snow boots, blue snow pants and a white winter jacket with blue and black rockets and spaceships, police said in a news release.
Kara is two feet tall, with short brown hair, hazel eyes and was last seen wearing a green onesie, or one-piece sleeper, that had a bunny on it.
Anyone who spots the children and their father should not approach them, but call their local police service, Const. Lemieux said.
“Just observe and inform police of their location.”

Did some yarn and roving dyeing the other day.  This wool is now ready for some new projects to do.

I finished these non-dyed felted mittens made with our yarn just before Christmas for a customer.  I think I prefer the natural to the dyed.

Ya gotta love winter in Saskatchewan when the thermometer looks like this on an early January morning!

Busy New Years Day

I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Years Eve celebration.  We had a quiet night, I was in bed by 10 and slept through the celebrations. 

We had a busy first day of the year.  Lyle spent the afternoon grinding pig and chicken feed.

You will notice that our processing equipment is old but hey, it's paid for and it works good.  We should have enough feed ground until late into spring.  The feeder pigs haven't sold yet so I may have to finish the whole litter.  Good thing my pork is a good seller at the farmers market.

We all went to Jen's house yesterday for tobogganing and a wiener roast.  The kids really enjoyed it, nothing like eating a burnt hot dog and drinking hot chocolate when it's -15 outside.

Winter Snow

Lyle used the old Michigan payloader to move some snow around the yard today.  Is she ever loud!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Sundays are the day I fork out pens and add new bedding.  For the hens, it is a very happy day!