No News Is Sad News

I wish I had something to report or at least something encouraging to report. We met with our realtor to draft an offer on the Kennel. The vendor absolutely freaked when he heard our offer. Apparently, he felt the need to swear, rave and rant. Whatever. We've learned they may be facing a divorce of sorts. Again...whatever. The drama of real estate. Ho-hum. Their realtor is going to approach the wife when she is alone to see if she's willing to consider the offer. I know, what kind of realtor presents an offer in a very delicate situation to only one of the vendors (and not even the one who actually wants to sell). Stupid with a capital "S", no? So now, we sit and wait. They have had three showing and no action, all have requested the 'secret' books for the business and had no luck receiving them. Sounds like the vendors need to sit on the property for a while. How long? Long enough for a good dose of reason to set in. Bryan and I have to face the fact that that may never happen. Some people are just that removed from reason.

Thus ends my rant. (Doggy knows how I feel. He really wants me to get that place, too!)

Canmore Vacation Spot

This is a where I stayed in Canmore. Excellent accommodations, close to town center, hiking and more than reasonable rates. If you want to spend some time in the mountains,

this place should be on the top of your list.

Spacious and airy rooms with panoramic views of mountains from every window.

A large deck with a view perfect

to accompany a morning cup of joe.

If you think you would like to rent this condo for your next mountain holiday, let me know and I will give your info to the owners.

Stop Writing, Mom!

I think Olivia wants some attention. She's been waiting so patiently.

Good To Know!

It's really good to know someone who has farmed before and I happen to have an absolute goldmine in Elsie, or "Mom" as I call her. She's farmed crops and raised everything from chickens to milking cows. I'm talking 300 head! She was no hobby farmer. Today, I had a very good talk with her about things we could do with the land (should that pan out) that would encourage the FCC to grant us financing.

Obviously, we plan to board horses (outside - there is no barn).

We could have approximately 20 head without raping the land.

We could purchase 6, 0r so, Chalet calves in the spring at the auction and raise them for beef. The Chalet is considered the Cadillac of eating beef. You can sell them in the fall, which qualifies them as 'veal' (real veal is illegal in North America - thankfully!) which means you don't have to fee them through the winter.

Or, we could get baby Guernsey calves. Also good for meat and have that doe-like face.

Very Cute.

Bryan's not keen on the idea as he is afraid of Mad Cow!

(Isn't this picture horrifying and hilarious at the same time?

It's official...I'm seriously demented. Poor cow!)

Alright, then...how about-

The Leghorn Chicken. Great for laying eggs.

If you buy the chicks, you can sell the males

at six weeks for fryers...

and keep the girls for

laying. Or...

we could get Bedrock chickens. You buy chicks from the hatchery in spring and sell them for meat in the fall (again, no feeding/care during cold winter) and in the meantime...

they lay brown eggs (free-range organic = $!) to sell at farmer's market.

But, although I do think Chicken's are among the most beautiful birds on earth (I'm actually serious!) they are dirty and they can be really mean to each other! This will require further thought. I'm sure Mom can put my mind to ease. Maybe they pick on each other because there isn't enough food?

Bryan's idea of farming the land. BORING! But not nearly as smelly, true.

I apologize for being so macabre. Sharayah says this is why she never blogs late at night.

Property #3?

3D Equestrian Centre

Bryan and I are trying to cover all our basis. He wondered if the stable we looked at last spring was still for sale. We decided to drive by. We met Sandra who is one of the trainers recently added to the barn's staff. She was very personable and professional. We learned that she had been training out of a barn in Bruderheim but has nearly doubled her clientele by moving closer to Edmonton. There are three other trainers working out of the barn and the stalls are filling up. It looks like there are nearly 40 outdoor boarders and about 20-25 indoor boarders. This is much better than when we looked at the property early spring.

This time, with no snow on the ground, Bryan and I took the opportunity to walk the trails running through the 35 acres.

We met with the owner and she gave us a tour of the house which is nothing to write home about. Needs a gutting at the least! No basement, urgh! Really do NOT think I could stand to live there. I do have my limits!

Made friends with her eclectic pack, consisting of a black Chinese Crested named Phoenix (she was born there), a Boston Terrier named Tux (he peed on me he was so happy I picked him up), a blind one-eyed elderly Dalmatian who was pleased to receive our attention - very sweet girl, and a mini-Australian Shepherd - he was cute, sweet natured and flashy. I think that may be what I breed. We'll see. She had to send to Texas to get him!

I wasn't too encouraged to hear what the operation makes annually. When you have a $600,000.00 indoor arena measuring 80 x 200 and a second arena measuring 60 x 150 and an outdoor arena measuring 120 x 250, you better be bringing in the fricken dough! Can you even imagine the mortgage! She won't sell for anything less than 1.1million.

The outdoor arena.

This is good news, however, when it comes to comparatives. Knowing that they have 40 acres with 35 of it sporting never-ending trails and the operation grossing an average of $240,000 - 320,000/yr will go a long way in constructing an offer to the kennels or the dude with that beautiful chunk of land.

The kennel operation is only half the land, has no trails and no production to speak of at the moment. The house is better but still requires an overhaul in the original half.

The land with the 10 yr old house that is 300 sq ft less than the house at the kennel and no kennel building on it, but loads of land and trails but substantially further out than either of the other two places is still a viable option...at the right price. I'll have to put a building up A.S.A.P and build a clientele which can take some time.

I'm getting anxious! Perhaps that is why I am blathering on and on about it. We meet with the county tomorrow (28th) @ 3:30 and with the landowner @ 5pm. I just have to chill and trust that whatever is supposed to happen, will. You just never know what is around the corner. That's why, when driving blind through this life as required more times than not, it is always good to know who is steering your ship. During times like these I often think of that country tune, "Thank God For Unanswered Prayers". In hindsight, we can see that "no" or "not now" is the best answer we could get.

Prime Land!

Here is another prospect for a purchase regarding my dog psychology and fitness center. It is a total of 97 acres with miles of cut trails through native brush. It is absolutely beautiful. Lakes border two sides of the property and 75% of the land is connected to crown land which means no neighbors now or ever! Not that I'm unsociable, but if I'm going to run a dog operation on the land, I don't need a grumpy neighbor complaining about noise. The land, although nicely cleared and primarily rolling hills, is completely surrounded by trees. We meet the owner on Monday, Sept 29th @ 5:00pm to see the inside of the house (built 10 yrs ago) and talk price. Dare I hope?

I dare pray.

The lake on the south side of the property.

WANTED: Snow plow attachment for farm truck.

View of the south lake from the back yard.

View of the north lake (33 acres of water). You have to traverse down a 45degree drop in a path to get to the lake. Would be an absolute blast on horseback!

Let's go find the horses (approx 60 acres of rolling hills).

There they are!

(photo taken at 9x zoom - they looked like ants!)

They came up the hill to greet us.

See you later guys! The black one on the right was bottle fed from birth because his mother

died. He's always the first to come say 'hello'. He and the pinto and one of the sorrels are going to live with their owner in Saskatchewan.

Time to go home. It was the second record-breaking day (24th and 25th) reaching +35! It was scorching. The house sits over this hill and down about 1/4 mile. It's so peaceful out there. Bryan and I were laughing cuz the scene reminded us of "Little House On The Prairie". We both started humming the theme song at the same time.

Drum Lesson From Daddy

On Friday, Sept 25/09, Bryan attended a workshop with Alex Acuna hosted by Long & McQuade. Bryan had a good time talking shop and being in the company of fellow drummers. Alex, he said, was friendly and humble, an all-around nice guy. This evening, Bryan was working on his practice pad (a life saver for ears!) when Graci jumped up beside him to investigate Daddy's activity. She ended up getting her first drum lesson. I think she liked it. Look out, Neil Peart!