Rough week

As much as I love working on a farm, its not always easy! This week was just plain shitty! 

It rained......

And it rained.....

And it rained! 

By the end of the week, I felt like I was in a WW1 zone, with mud going over the top of my boots!

Constant rain really effects my mood, and I'm sure that's why the horses were not the greatest  this week either!

I got this lovely foot injury from chasing a horse out of its pasture! Ginger (the horse) thought it would be fun to run where I wanted her to go, but then change directions the last minute to run right where I didn't want her to go! Rubber boots weren't made to run in! 

Their Gypsy Vanner in its very wet field!

 Despite those negatives, there were positives to the week as well! I was given a pony to ride, in the hopes that she would become more suitable for the horse camp they have here. Well, they used her this week, and they said she was pretty good! Mission accomplished!

The pony, Mudslide!

I also got to help out with treating some equine injuries! I always enjoy learning new things! For example, I learned that honey is very good for treating infections! I believe Cyndi said its because bacteria can't grow in a sweet environment. Just spread some natural, organic honey over a wound, and it begins to heal! It worked on my foot anyway! 

On the one sunny day, I got to take their farm dog for a walk! They have two large corn fields behind the ranch, so we explored those for a bit!

Loki!

Corn everywhere!

I spent the weekend back in Toronto. The dogs needed some looking after for a few nights! Tonight I go back to the farm! We shall see if this week goes a little better!

How did I get here?!

Where am I?!

In my paradise!

Surrounded by horses!

Out of the city!

With a variety of other animals to play with!

I have a working student position at Absolute Equestrian farm in Bowmansville Ontario. (1/2hour outside of Toronto.) Remember those abandoned bunnies I found? Well, one of the people who wanted to provide a new home, lives here! After visiting the farm, seeing how my face lit up when we pulled in, Alicia (mother of the boys I nanny) said they didn't really need me for the summer. However, the director of this farm (Cyndi) said she was in desperate need of help! So, here I am all summer, and it looks like its going to be great fun!

Some facts about this farm!

- Almost 100 horses
- Has two indoor arenas, and three outdoor
- eighty some odd stalls
- Mostly hunter jumper, English style riding here!
- other animals are two dogs, a lot of cats, and two adorable goats!

Some facts about this job:

- I get covered in a lot of dirt!
- Help muck about 80 stalls
- Turn horses out into the pasture
- Sweep, I do lots of sweeping!
- Feed and distribute diets to horses.

That happens everyday! Then there are odd jobs like exercising horses, dealing with equine injuries, dusting the cobwebs, which are everywhere! At the end of the day I get to ride! Soon I will receive lessons in jumping, which is something I haven't done much of! Hoping to find the time to keep you all posted!

Half Way!

I'm half way done my time at this job! Wow! I honestly feel like I just got started! Five more months to go! 

At this half way point, I feel like I have already learned so much! I thought raising kids was pretty simple! I mean, I spent a lot of time helping take care for my siblings as I was growing up. It wasn't easy, but nothing I couldn't handle....well, I've realised that its not as simple as I thought! Raising kids can be really frustrating at times!

A sword fight is happening, no matter how tired you are!

It is also super rewarding though! I feel so privileged to be a part of these boy's lives, and their integration into Canadian culture! 

Home made Popsicles

Best three year old cookie baker!

 Volunteering at the Toronto Wildlife Centre is also going very well! During my shift in the nursery, there are four other women who I work with, and they are awesome! We are a very good team! We got told by our supervisor that we are one of the best teams she has ever had to work with! I look forward to every Saturday morning! It is so much fun! 

(Note: Taking pictures of the patients at TWC is not allowed, that is why there are no pics! Sorry!)

My Rouge shift is also going very well! All the baby raccoons, and skunks are starting to take over! Oh! And all those squirrels I spent the spring syringe feeding! I can't say enough about how incredibly awesome being a part of the rehabilitation process is!

Taking a little selfie break outside of some rouge park enclosures. 

 I also started taking Jiu Jitsu classes about three weeks ago! Honestly, I love it! Jiu Jitsu is really my thing, and (I think) I'm pretty good at it! I felt, since I do a lot of solo travelling, that having some self defence knowledge was in my best interest. I strongly encourage women who can, to take classes like this! They really boost self confidence! (Plus are really fun!)

I didn't think I would get to see the glory of nature in Toronto, but I was wrong! Here are some cool pics of nature I've captured over the last few months!

Rouge park

Backyard

Garden

The bluffs

Lake Ontario

Road side

We have also had lots of storms lately! Including a Tornado warning!

I did go through a rough period for a while here, where I really wanted to quit! This job was harder then I thought it was going to be, and I really hated the city! Now though, I'm actually starting to really enjoy myself! 

Of course, if I had to choose between living in the country or the city my entire life I would choose the country. However (since I'm here) I may as well really take hold of all the benefits living in the city has to offer! Since adopting this perspective, I have grown to enjoy life here a lot more! I think it is helping that the language barrier is slipping away, and the boys are starting to respect me more as well; But I think my perspective changing has also helped me enjoy myself a lot more! 

And Jiu Jitsu! I'm kind of sad I only have five months left now! I wish I could just teleport the classes wherever I go!

Family came down two weeks ago for the weekend! Was great to see them!

Anyhow, sorry for the rather long post, and sorry I have a bit of a gap between posts as well! My life has just been really hard to keep together lately! Here is a phrase of thought to end on....

Found it on a trail!

OMG! I finally understand my Parents!

As I sit outside under a lilac tree, with a cold glass of pomegranate juice, with no little children running around..... I am beginning to understand why my parents sometimes wanted a break from us kids!

Actually, now I understand so much more about them that I never did before!

For example, I never understood why Mom sent us all to our rooms when she got super mad! Now I do! Sometimes you just need the little ones out of your sight, so you can breath!

I also could never understand why she was, so happy when the house was clean! After making the house spotless this week, I actually felt immense joy! It was just so satisfying! I never liked house cleaning before, but honestly, its starting to become some what therapeutic!

And then I always thought my mom was going insane! I have recently learned that this basically comes with being a parent! I mean how are you supposed to keep yourself fully together, when you are trying to keep the lives of several little children, your house, responsibilities, and your finances together?! Its pretty normally to go slightly insane! (And I'm only getting a taste of parent hood right now!)

Honestly, I have so much respect for both my parents! This job has been very eye opening for me. I realise now that my parents are human. I always thought as a child (for some reason) that their only calling in life was to look after me. I never understood that they could have dreams, feel hurt, feel defeated, feel like they weren't good enough. Now that I understand that my parents probably felt like this, I have so much gratitude for them sticking it out, and putting effort into providing a good life for my siblings and I.

So to all the parents out there who feel defeated, feel like their children will never understand the struggle they are going through to raise them, have no fear! I finally understand my parents, and I'm sure someday your kids will feel indebted to you as well!

And some exciting news! (Speaking of my parents) My mother got accepted to university! I am honestly so proud and excited for her! This is something I can tell she has wanted to do her whole life, and I'm glad that she has finally got the opportunity to do it! So, starting September, guess who is going to be only a short bus ride away from me?

I wonder if her choice of university was intentional?!

Week Off! Yeah!

I finally got a week off! I had requested this week before I started my job as a nanny, and boy did I sure have an amazing time!

First, I took a bus from Toronto to Napanee. There, Sue from Sandy Pines Wildlife Center met me at the bus stop! It was so great to see her again, the staff, and the horses! Sue even bought me a welcome back cake, which was SO delicious! The horses were very happy to see me again! Phelix, even let me get on his back!  I had such a great time between bottle feeding raccoons, and working with the horses; I wish I had arranged to stay longer! Sue said though, that I am welcome back anytime!

Selfie with Phelix

When I was an intern here last summer, this pond was all dried up! Now it is overflowing!

I got to see how some of our baby turtles have progressed from last year! Soon they will be returning to the wild!

I then met up with one of the interns from last year in Kingston! We had sushi together, and talked about the good old times! She is honestly one of the sweetest people ever! She waited the whole time with me till the train arrived. I took a train (for the first time alone!) to Ottawa! I was seated beside this older lady, and we talked together the whole way there! She had a really sad story about how her husband died in the car on their way home from watching La La Land. Now every time I hear about this film, I will be thinking of that!

I then met up with a friend of mine, who I met five years ago in the hospital, and we spent the night in Ottawa's jail hostel!

It was way more authentic then I thought it was going to be!

My mom laughed when she saw this picture, telling me that I looked good in jail!

Staying here was extra special, because my Dad and Godmother both stayed in this hostel for a few nights when they were young adults!

During the night, my friend and I explored down town Ottawa!

Running through the streets just so we could get to the frozen ice cream store before it closed!

Then later the next day, I met up with friends from back home, and family, to stand for my 6th or 7th time in a row, at Parliament hill. The March for Life 2017(pro-life protest) I know a lot of my friends are pro choice. (I was actually scanning the pro-choice side to see if I could find any of them! lol)  I am pretty open about many issues, but this one I just can't be! I'll leave it at that!

Unfortunately, the speaker system never seems to work, so we never end up hearing the motivational talks! Good time to catch up on sleep!

The Killaloe for Life crew 2017!

Tired from the March, and waiting for our bus to arrive.

After the march I went home to Killaloe! I was home very briefly this time! I took the time I did have though, and spent it with my mother to celebrate mother's day a little bit early! We went to this really delicious polish restaurant (The Wilno Tavern) and had a great time! I never understood, up until now, how difficult it is to be a mother! As a nanny I am beginning to understand just why Mom was....the way she was! I appreciate what she has done for me, even more now!

My incredible mother!

Anyhow, I'm back in Toronto again! The rain has finally stopped, and it is nice and sunny! Things at the Toronto Wildlife Center have gone full baby mode, just like Sandy Pines! I don't think there was a moment at my shift yesterday where I didn't have a baby squirrel in my hands! Still loving the weekend job! 

Happy Mother's Day to all you incredible mothers out there! Rock on!