Lambing Jugs

Earlier this week, I went to visit my friend, and fellow Shetland shepherd, Carol Arthur. Carol has just recently moved from Alberta to the Eastern Townships in Quebec. Since she has sold most of her sheep, she had a LOT of sheep equipment that she no longer needed and she offered it to me ... :-)

Above is one of the lambing jugs. There are enough panels for me to have 21 jugs like this one ... :-)

Carol bought these panels to use when she AIed her ewe flock back in 1999. This year, they will be used for MY AI ewes ... 8 years later. Pretty cool, eh!?!

There is a LOT more equipment. I'll post pictures of it in another post. I also have some VERY exciting news from Carol to share with you all ... but ... I'm going to make you wait to hear it ... hehehe

Matt's New Hat

I am not sure that you will remember the truly UGLY hat that Matt, The Kid Across the Road Who Makes It Possible For Me to Do This, bought to wear this winter ... So I have reposted the picture above.

Below is his NEW hat that he got for Christmas. And guess what ... I have one that looks almost the same ... ;-)

Quite an improvement isn't it ... now that he is dressing like me ... hehehe

January 6th, 2007 ... SPRING??

While unpluging my outdoor Christmas lights today ... look what I found ... PANSIES BLOOMIMG!

On January 6th! Hard to imagine, eh?!

The fuzzy photo is one of the pansies blowing in the breeze. I like the look of it ... and it IS my blog ... so I posted it ... :-)

The Gifts Didn't Stop There ... :-)

Besides the gift from my staff that will save a baby in Africa's life ... and the gift from my sister that will do the same thing ... I also got enough cash from my kids, my partner, and my friends ... to Become a Child's Hero TWO MORE TIMES!

Thank you Gene, Kate, Tim, and Jill!!

This weekend, as I take down our tree ... normally something I don't look forward to ... I will remind myself as I pack away each decoration ... that this was a wonderful Christmas. I will never forget just how amazing it feels to get gifts for the charity of my choice.

AIDS/HIV is devastating Africa. Women and children are the ones with the greatest need. I am just one person. What can I do? I was left feeling helpless. So ... instead of trying to cure the continent ... too big a task for anyone, even me ... ;-) ... I will save the lives of babies throughout the year ... and I will do it ... ONE BABY AT A TIME! So far ... four babies will have a chance at life. My goal is to give 50 babies a chance at life this year!

THANK YOU to all who have supported me ... and those who will support me. This project is likely the most important thing I have ever done ... :-)
Happy 2007 ... the year I will spend ... saving as many babies in Africa as I can!

And Then a Gift From My Sister arrived ...

An eCard of Hope

Dear Bill Stearman,

A gift has been given in your honour by Betty Cecchetto through World Vision Canada to give hope to needy children and their families.

Personal message from sender:

May some of your dreams come true! You are already nicer than Nora thinks you are!
Love, Betty

To visit World Vision's Gift Catalogue, click here.

To learn more about World Vision Canada, click here.

THANK YOU BETTY!

True Heroes

Update on my Become a Child's Hero Campaign ...

I work with the MOST amazing Educational Assistants in the WORLD!!! I love them to bits. They truly are heroes on a day-to-day basis.

The students that we work with have extremely high needs. I deal with their educational needs and get a lot of credit for the success of our program. I do, however, take every opportunity possible to give the credit to those who really deserve it ... my EAs!

My EAs help a GREAT deal with the educational needs of our students, but more importantly, they assist the students with their physical needs. The students ALWAYS feel loved by these individuals as their needs are met with absolute dignity and respect.

We have a happy classroom ... filled with love ... thanks to these HEROES!

And ... even though these people make only a FRACTION of what they deserve ... they got together for Christmas ... and gave me enough money to save a baby through the Become a Child's Hero program!

Hugs ... and a HUGE thank you to them all ... :-)

Here are their smiles ...

Above is ... Joan. Below is ... Lisa.

Above is ... Marty. Below is ... Pat.
And this is ... Tammy.