A letter to Theodore

(Theodore is a 3000 pound steer who is one of the critters making their home with R.A.S.T.A, an animal sanctuary moving to a property within ten minutes of my home.  I've been helping out a couple of times a week, doing odd jobs to get everything ready for the animals, who will likely arrive this week. If you'd like to see a photo of Theodore, head on over to their website here.)

Dear Theodore,

This is to let you know that your accommodation,  Shelter No. 1, is more-or-less ready and awaiting your arrival.  The paint crew (yours truly) finished painting it today, inside and out, with the paint generously donated by Cheryl of Dulux Paints.  It is a lovely light greenish tone which blends in beautifully with your new surroundings among the tall trees, freshly cut pasture, and soft earth.

The paint job isn't perfect - I'm a  "Jill-of-all-trades and master (mistress?) of none".  I'm sure, as you are a steer of great size, that you can appreciate the challenges of painting a wall which is two inches from a wire fence and about 15" max from another railing and pile of bricks.  As a person of  some size (in girth, though definitely not in height), squeezing into that narrow spot and painting with some accuracy was - well - a challenge.  But we got it done!

Finished!  Including the back! 

Your much greater height might have come in handy, though, to reach those rafters.  Even on a ladder, my 5'1" doesn't quite get me where I want to be.  And sticking an extension ladder between the rafters didn't leave much room - okay, didn't leave enough room - for this oversized painter to climb on through and paint from above.

I'm no spring chicken (or maybe I should say "I'm no young heifer"), as you'll soon find out, so looking skyward through my trifocal progressive lenses poses problems - the top of the glasses are the distance part, and painting the rafters looking up from the ladder required the middle or close up part.  I'm sure you would have laughed along with me, though, as I clambered up and down, up and down, trying to see what I'd painted and what was still bare.  Gotta maintain a sense of humor. Theodore.  If you spot somewhere I've missed, I'll touch it up for you.

Staring up at a bright blue sky and brilliant sun didn't help matters.  Yes, that's right - you can see the sky through the top of your shelter.  And the trees.  And the birds and bees and a spider or two.  In fact, you'll find a few painted spiders in your abode.  No, those aren't some scary giant breed found only in BC - just ordinary brown or black or white or pink or orange spiders who crawled out of their hiding places just as the paint sprayer or roller or brush was going past. But I digress.....

You can see the sky through the roof of your shelter, because the search is still on for donated or affordable metal roofing.  Maybe one of my blog readers will have some to donate? Or know someone in the business who might donate some or at least give the sanctuary a break on cost?  Moving is a huge expense, and as every sanctuary owner and rescue knows, caring for animals is financially challenging at the best of times.

Metal roofing wanted - for this  and several other shelters
to be built.

I promise you there will be a roof over your head come winter.  But for now, you will be able to enjoy your open-air roof, with gentle breezes to keep you cool in the daytime, and moonlight and stars to lull you to sleep at night.

It's beautiful here on the island, Theodore, and the winters are mild with little or no snow.  Sometimes there can be many days of rain, but it seems those times aren't that frequent any more.  And besides, you'll have a roof over your head, food in your belly, good friends to keep you company. What more could a steer want?

I'm looking forward to meeting you, Theodore, you and all your friends - the mini donkeys, the mini horse, the farm pig, the many potbelly pigs, the dogs and cats and ducks and chickens and whoever else comes along.  I'll have a lot of names to learn!

But do me a favour, Theodore?  Please ask everyone to load easily, travel safely, and unload smoothly. Lucie has done so much work here for you, and she's exhausted, so she really needs everyone's cooperation for the trip.

Before you know it, you'll be here -  and I can't wait to meet you!

Sincerely,
Jean, the Jill-of-all-trades (but mostly a photographer and writer and animal lover).

There's a new kid in town!

No, not at my house!  Mitzi clearly loves being an only dog, and so I have made a commitment to her that I won't adopt any more dogs as long as she is alive.  

Over the past six months or so, I've been growing weary of this area and of blogging - many of my small circle of local friends, especially my hiking buddies, have moved away or passed away; my own family of critters has shrunk; and while I love the beauty of the area, one can only post photos of the same spots so many times before readers lose interest.

Just how many times can I photograph
this same view?

When I began this blog in January 2008, I lived on acreage in the Fraser Valley with seventeen critters - a foster family of twelve potbelly pigs, an alpaca, three dogs and a cat, as well as frequent visiting critters both domestic and wild. Friends' dogs, coyotes, bears and their cubs,  runaway llamas or chickens - there was always something new to write about. Now, with one cat and one cat-like non-hiking dog, there's not a lot to say. Or do.

Martin the alpaca was always
good for a story or two

And remember Brazen the coyote
who visited the farm frequently but never
did any harm (except to wild rodents)?

Heck, we even had lots of snow there to
make for a good story.
This is Belle checking out the white stuff. 

I've never stayed very long in any one community - I think my record, as an adult,  is ten years and I've been here six - and so I began surfing the real estate sites for other affordable and interesting possibilities.  The grass is always greener, is it not?

Nothing was ever greener than
the beautiful five acres we rented.
Sadie and I both loved it.
Sadly, good things sometimes end.

But....then I heard a rumor.  And the rumor was true.  And all of a sudden the grass around here was looking mighty green (okay, maybe it is the sun glasses - our actual grass is really very very brown right now). There's a new kid in town, and one that I want to get to know.

The new kid in town - well, in nearby Chemainus - is an animal sanctuary.  A sanctuary that has, among other critters,  potbelly pigs!  RASTA (Rescue and Sanctuary for Threatened Animals) has been well established in Alberta for a number of years, but the difficulty of looking after so many animals in harsh winter conditions led the owner to decide to relocate the sanctuary to Vancouver Island.  And the property to which she is moving, with all the animals, is just ten minutes from my home!

Guess who has already offered to volunteer there?

The property has a house on it, but little else, so they are currently clearing brush, building fences, and drawing up plans for a barn. A few of the pigs are here already, in a temporary foster home, and the rest of the animals will be here by the end of the summer.

If you live in the area, think about volunteering.  There's a work party tomorrow (Sunday), and there will be an ongoing need for volunteers in many capacities.  Check out their facebook page or their website for more information.

I look forward to getting to know them.  And I hope you will be able to look forward to entertaining stories and photos here at  'My Life (volunteering) With The Critters'.  If you have read my earliest posts, you'll know how very entertaining piggies can be!

Yes, we are, we are very entertaining!
Even when we are tired little piggies all tucked in for the night.
(This little piggy I fostered made his own blanket from a larger one, and then
pulled it over himself just so!)