Groupies

Over the last year the high school students here in Faro have been operating a very successful coffee shop out of the school called the Kettle Cafe. It is open once (or twice depending on the season) a week and serves some pretty fantastic goodness in cups. I always have my raspberry hot chocolate!

During the Crane and Sheep Festival there was also live entertainment down at the Kettle! Two of Matt's co-workers were in the band on Friday night and Cavan was loving the music. Him and another little girl were full on groupies!

Their bums were just a-bouncing to the tunes:

Cavan getting up close and personal with the band:

The fabulous musicians:

I am so thankful we live in a small community where people just laugh when toddlers take to the stage.

The Cranes And Sheep Are Here... Where Are You?

The festival is having yet another successful year! We took in some of the festivities today and are blown away by the numbers of visitors to our community. This is turning into quite the popular event. Matt and Cavan took in a breakfast while Hunter and I slept in, later we quadded for a few hours followed by an afternoon nap. Tonight we attended the wild game bbq and stopped into the rec centre to see what was being auctioned off and to eat cake.

This morning, around 9am, a few large flocks of cranes gave the tourists exactly what they came here for.
(This was the view from my side deck)

The cranes just kept coming!

This is a bit blurry since it is super cropped, but I just wanted to show off the size of these birds. You can click on this picture to see it bigger.
They have a wing span of six feet!

Again, click on this one to see it bigger.

We stopped into the Sheep Viewing Station and saw two sheep on the mountain.
Cavan was passed right out!

All smiles.

This afternoon the sky was filled with cranes again! Click on this one to see it larger. It looks like swarms of bugs.

Thousands of cranes overhead!

Talking to Nanny

Hunter begged me to let him call his Nanny the other day over lunch. He talked for at least 15 minutes and we were able to eat our lunch in peace.

I think the kid needs a hands-free set up on his tricycle:

Can this kid multitask or what!
Bouncing on the bed while talking:

Enjoying A Yukon Spring

We are in the middle of another beautiful Yukon spring. Our third Yukon spring already- has it already been that long since we left Nunavut?

The boys and I spend a lot of time outside and they are especially enjoying digging in the sand. Today they enjoyed it so much I drug out a chair for myself and got to read a few pages in a book. How lovely!

Dig, dig, digging!

Out with the old,
and in with the new:

There is just something so beautiful about this picture.
Seeing my boy with dirty hands fills me full of joy

Our backyard tree is budding up:

Another dirty boy filling my heart with joy:

The cranes are flying through by the thousands!
Such an amazing sight and sound.

And of course the sand must be tasted for quality control.
I see some gritty-shitty diapers in my future.

Another Milestone

Remember the end of February when I lost my youngest child in weight? I have now lost the oldest!

Hunter weighs 33.5lbs, which is my loss to date. When I have Hunter in my arms I find it hard to believe that just four months ago I was packing that weight around full time. I feel fantastic!

Cutie Pie

Feeling Great!

Quadding Fun!

Last weekend we spent a few hours on the quads with the boys. The trails are still snow covered so we stuck to the roads. While we kept our eyes out for wildlife all we saw was a grouse and some cranes.

Me and the boys

Before we know it, these two will be quadding on their own and leaving us at home.

A perfect new family photo thanks to the auto-timer:

They went up and down the ramp for twenty minutes!

Nothing like tasty snow!

7th Annual Crane and Sheep Festival!

What are your plans for next weekend? I sure hope they involve driving to Faro to take in the festivities of the 7th Annual Crane and Sheep Festival! Never been before? Well here is what will be happening over the weekend:

7th Annual Crane & Sheep Viewing Festival, May 7-9, 2010

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Flock of Sandhill Cranes

Don't miss one of North America's most spectacular migrations! Faro's 7th Annual Crane and Sheep Viewing Festival is quickly approaching and this year promises to be one of the best yet! Friday May 7th, 2010 4:15 - 6:30 - DVG Education Celebration BBQ Celebrate education with the students and teachers from DVG School with burgers and salads. All are welcome! Location: Del Van Gorder School 5:00 - 9:00pm - Faro Kettle Café Open Come in for a latte and enjoy some of Faro's best musicians! Serving Fair Trade and Organic Coffees and Teas. Location: DVG School (Library Entrance) 7:00 - 9:00pm - Movie Night Join us for a film - the remarkable story of three animal families on a journey across our planet - polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales. Location: Faro Recreation Centre Saturday May 8th, 2010 World Migratory Bird Day 8:00 - 10:00am - Breakfast Enjoy a fundraising breakfast for the Golf Club before a busy day of nature-watching. Location: Recreation Centre 9:30 - 11:30am - Walk to the Falls - Bruce Bennett Learn about plants on this guided hike to Van Gorder Falls. Caution: Steep Sections. Location: CRIC 10:30 - 11:30am - The Natural History of Marmots and Other Montane Mammals - Tom Jung Learn about some of the species that share the mountains with our Fannin’s sheep. Location: Recreation Centre 11:00am - 3:00pm - Faro Kettle Café Serving Organic and Fair Trade Coffees and Teas. Location: DVG School (Library Entrance) 11:00am - 4:00pm - Youth Concession Stand Take a break and enjoy snacks and refreshments before heading out for more tours and talks. Location: Recreation Centre TOURS & TALKS Crane & Sheep Viewing Tour times to be posted at CRIC View cranes flying overhead and spot Faro’s unique Fannin’s sheep on the mountain slopes. Wildlife experts will be available to answer all your questions. Location: Mt. Mye Sheep Centre (Blind Creek Road) Includes the following: TOURS to the Mineral lick CRANE TALKS at the Cabin 12:00 - 5:00pm Selected Literature on Display at Faro Library SHUTTLE SERVICE to Mt. Mye Sheep Centre Meet at the Recreation Centre/DVG School Parking Lot. Departure and Return times to be posted at CRIC and Recreation Centre 1:00 - 3:00pm - WORKSHOPS Anvil Range Arts Society (ARAS) - Admission $5.00 - supports local artists 8 workshops offer something for all ages. Includes keychain making, crane and sheep painting, embroidery, fly tying, and kids crafts. Location: Recreation Centre 1:30 - 5:00pm - Local Art Demonstrations Local artists will demonstrate different techniques and will be available to answer questions. Location: Mt. Mye Sheep Centre and CRIC 5:00 - 7:00pm - Wild Meat BBQ Enjoy tasty wild game skewers and burgers and listen to local musicians - a Festival favourite! Sponsored by Denison Environmental Services Location: CRIC (Deck) 7:00 - 9:00pm - ARAS Exhibition & Silent Auction This is your chance to view and purchase art from local artists and bid on various precious items. Coffee, tea and desserts care of Anvil Range Arts Society. Location: Recreation Centre 7:00 - 8:30pm - Keynote Presentation "The Ecology of Perception" - Marten Berkman, Yukon Photographer What Fannin's sheep are our studies and photographs really doing for our relationship with the land? Sharing journeys from Patagonia to the Yukon, and a range of media from visual art, to photography and film, join Marten Berkman as he shares his perspective of how our stories of the land are the critical membrane connecting people with the planet. Location: Recreation Centre 8:30 - 9:00pm - Talking Cranes & Sheep Friday/Saturday wrap up. This is the time to ask your final questions, have some fun and win great prizes! Silent Auction and raffle winners will be announced at this time. Location: Recreation Centre Sunday May 10th, 2009 Happy Mother’s Day! 9:00 - 11:00am –Mother’s Day Brunch at the Studio Hotel Location: Faro Studio Hotel 9:00 - 9:30am - Birds of Faro - Bruce Bennett Captivating presentation of common birds in Faro. Location: Faro Recreation Centre 9:30 - 12:00pm - Spring Birding Tour - Mary Whitley Take a tour of Faro’s Lagoon Location: Faro Recreation Centre 10:00am - 1:00pm - Seeing the Sloughs - Cost $5/person Hike with local naturalist guide Yasmine Djabri to the open sloughs to observe migratory water fowl. Fresh Coffee and Snacks will be served at Lynx Track Farm to all participants. Registration at Mt. Mye Sheep Centre: 9:30 - 10:00am Please wear appropriate foot and outer wear. 11:00am - 3:00pm - Faro Kettle Café Serving Organic and Fair Trade Coffees and Teas. Location: DVG School (Library Entrance) 1:30 - 4:00pm - Walk About Faro for Breast Cancer Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Region Mother’s Day Walk for Mom. All proceeds will be donated to CBCF. Pledge forms available at Town office or here. Location: Register and Start at the CRIC - 3Km. If you have any questions regarding the festival, please feel free to contact the Town of Faro by phone at 867-994-2728 or by email at erica@faroyukon.ca.