Reality TV has nothing on us.

Normal in our shop isn't like most other places. We often joke with our crew that if they were to film a reality TV show about the day-to-day goings-on in this place everyone seeing it would think the show contrived and make believe. Weird stuff happens so often in our shop that it really is our form of normal.

We house Pipsqueak Paddocks on our property, a rehabilitation and re-homing centre for miniature horses and small ponies. Our giant scales are often used to weigh in the critters to ensure the proper dose of medications, the shop truck hauls the hay and supplies, the company tractor is used for chores, and our tools are often used to maintain the barn and fences. Occasionally the shop is hastily cleaned and our sturdy welding table pressed into service as an operating theatre. We move to the other end of the shop and work as quietly as we can on those rare occasions.

Today, it was time for surgery on one of the horses. He was too heavy to lift onto the welding table and the weather too inclement to do the surgery outside. So we had to improvise. That is our specialty.

I borrowed neighbor Gord's forklift and we threw down a pallet, then brought out the horse. He was sedated onto the pallet and I gently lifted him to the perfect height for the operation.

The procedure was done under the giant porch roof by the giant magical doors. inside the shop we continued with our work - as per normal.

Life is good.

-grampa dan

Dad's promise

Today it's warm and raining, a welcome relief to the long summer heat. Peter continues to put trim up on the house and I was out measuring for more pieces and checking on his progress. As I walked past where he was working I simply had to laugh. Out loud too. A flood of memories came back to me and it was good. Peter of course wondered what was so funny and so I told him.

When we were kids we loved to build things. Since my dad was a carpenter we built our wonderful creations with wood. He encouraged us but I vividly remember my dad being very upset when he went looking for his tools and they were not at his workbench. We had inevidably left them out where we were working. My dad would rant a little about the proper use and care of tools but he couldn't be mad long. He was fiercely proud of the abilities were were showing with our work. After retrieving his now rusty tools he would close his tirade with a promise. He said some day my future kids would borrow my tools and leave them out in the rain to rust. That would be justice and suitable payback. Then, perhaps, I would understand.

Today, with a giant grin on my face, I made that same promise to Peter. I can hardly wait.

-grampa  dan

Get KRAKEN!

We've all heard of the KRAKEN, an 'imaginary' sea monster, greatly feared by the sea farers of old. But that story is no mere legend. The truth is this KRAKEN is REAL but not really alive. The Kraken actually belonged to the pirates and was a giant mechanical squid designed to wreak havock on wooden tall ships. This giant squid will be on display at the pirate themed park we are designing. He'll be emerging (all fifty feet) from the bumper boat pool, ready to pose for a photo with our guests.

This mechanical wonder is but one of many surprises in store. Stay tuned...

-grampa dan