Let it Snow!

When I woke up today, this was the view out of my window!

It was snowing! I love the snow, but my first thought was, "Uh, I have to bike to church in this!?!" Luckily, Sue seemed to be able to read my mind, and offered to drive me there. That was as long as I put in a good word to God for her, and played a bit with our rescue kittens when I got back!

Our two new adorable rescue kittens!

The rest of my day has been very relaxed. I cooked myself a hot lunch, then pulled on my snow gear to go out and enjoy the weather a bit! The horses were all covered in snow, and very happy to eat the apples I brought them!

The donkeys were smart, and stayed dry out of the snow, eating hay!

This week in the clinic has been a strange one. Mostly, because I am beginning to realise that my time here is almost done! Leah and I were doing the owls the other day, and she kept saying things like, "Its going to be weird for you when you're done!....This has been your life for awhile....." etc. In my head I was like, "don't mention these things! I don't want to think about it right now!....I kind of don't want to leave!"

I mean I do want to leave in the sense that I want to see my family, get some sleep, make some plans (because I might be going to Iceland!!), but I am also leaving a lot behind here! The horses, the work, which I have loved, Sue...she has been like a second mother to me! The staff, the interns....they have all become family, and it is going to be hard saying goodbye. Who knows when I will see them again?!

But I guess saying goodbye is a part of life, and I am going to have to get used to it, especially since I plan to travel!

Anyhow, we still have a lot of owls! So many, that we have started naming them! We don't normally name the animals here, because that just causes us to get more attached. However, with so many owls, there needs to be a way to know who you are talking about. We have been naming them after where they came from. For example, we have Belle from Belleville, Mel from Mellrose, King, and Soldier from Kingston, and Bert from Bath! I get really amused by their names, and also how they all seem to have different personalities! Harry is feisty, Belle is sweet, Mel hates everyone! They are very entertaining!

Belle

Mel

Soldier

We also got a very, and I mean VERY large porcupine this week! He came to us from another sanctuary. He was really feisty and aggressive when I handled him the other day, but with Julia's help we managed to medicate him, and move him outside!

The grouch!

With snow on the forecast there was a lot of pressure this week to get things cleaned and stored away! Four of us piled the baby raccoon enclosures on top of each other, which proved to be quite the job! I then had to army crawl under the giant tarp we were throwing over, and stand up in the middle with a stick, so we could get it over our tower! It was an exciting project to say the least!

Our giant pile with the tarp over it!

I rode the horses on my last sunny day off. It is so great how far I managed to train them, and I really hope an intern next year takes up the task!

He is a magnificent horse!

I got to go on a release this week, which may have been my last! We released our Canadian Goose, who ended up flying off in the totally opposite direction of the river, when we let her go! It surprised us all, but she can fly, so she should be alright!

Anyhow, I guess this is my last post before my final one! I honestly can't believe it! It feels like yesterday I was a frightened teenager dropped off at the doorstep. Now however, I don't feel like a teenager and I don't feel frightened! I feel like I've got a lot more out of this internship then just rehabilitation experience. I feel a little more confident, independent, and although I am sad to leave, I am excited about what my future might hold!