Susann arrived while Eve and Julian were still at the farm, so her introduction to our place was a group experience. As they say ‘many hands make light work!’ With all three willing workers we did a job we had been putting off for some time, falling and clearing two big trees, one by the wood shed and another by the parking lot at the lodge. Susann had flown into Calgary and was only there 2 days before she caught the bus to Golden. She was very happy to be in the country and fit right into our routine. Especially since was from a relatively small village near Berlin, where her Mother had a large garden.
Susann kept busy helping with both domestic chores and the garden. She did a lot of weeding and preparing the soil and then she planted peas, onions and potatoes. It is now June 6th and these plants are up and doing great. Susann helped Loren rebuild our outdoor chicken coup so it would be ready new chickens. Gregor had done a great job of this several years back, but we were having problems with ravens and hawks stealing chickens and eggs, so Susann helped Loren cover the outside coup with wire mesh. She did not see the new chickens arrive as it was supposed to be midweek after she left, however Susann when you read this you will laugh at what I’m to say next. I thought I had made arrangements to buy chickens that were ready to lay, so when it was time to pick up the layers, Loren and I loaded the large wire cage in the back of the truck and drove to the feed store to pick up the birds. On arrival the woman at the store told us it would be too cold to transport the chickens in the cage in the back of the truck. And proceeded to tell me she had a box we could use. I was suspicious when I saw the size of the box (too small for 8 full grown layers), but when she asked if I needed chick started I realized I had made a mistake, and asked her ‘are these full grown layers.’ ‘No, they are chicks’ she replied, and I knew I had made an assumption that we were getting ready to lay layers, and not laying chicks. To make a long story short, she agreed to keep the chicks for another buyer, and Loren and I picked up hens at the end of May from a chicken farmer Salmon Arm. Then hens are just starting to lay and seem to like the remodelled coup. Susann also helped Loren to build the bridge over the water feature (she really liked working with wood). Susann also did a great job of cleaning and treating the horse harnesses.
Susann did a couple of touristy activities while she was here. One evening she accompanied me to an all lades birthday party and bike ride. It was the day after the Royal Wedding, so all of us wore crowns on our helmets. She took the medi bus to Radium, accompanied me to Banff of an appointment, where she did the tourist stuff and ventured out on several walks and bike rides in the Blaeberry.
Like all woofers we’re sorry to see Susann leave, however because she was with us for almost three weeks and with us most days, all day, it was especially difficult to say ‘Good-bye!’
