Joanna and Tyler

2008-07-21T18:56:00.004-04:00

On May 30th, Jenn and Chad tied on the knot on Pender island. We, the Kouwenberg clan, grew up going to a family friend's cottage there as kids.

The setting was beautiful, set right on the ocean.

The dogs even had a good time...

2008-07-21T18:51:00.002-04:00

I recently participated in a friendly polo tournament at Willow Creek Polo Club. The club is located in Elizabeth, CO, approx 40mins from our house.

This is Yoda, a very patient polo horse.

2008-07-17T23:24:00.009-04:00

Tyler has been taking some mt biking courses in Boulder, Co. and I was able to go along for one of the 3 trips in June.
Yes, we still own a 2 person tent and yes there were 2 large dogs and 2 people in the tent...and yes we spent 2 nights in these accommodations.

We hiked in 2 miles to a campsite for the weekend...nature's hotel.

Sue Wall, a wonderful friend from Sk, was able to visit this spring. We had a great time and I miss her dearly. She and her husband Chris are living in Australia for 10+ mths this next year. Perhaps after all this time I'll get to travel back to Oz to visit...

More recently I find myself working at the zoo with elephants and zebras...

2008-07-17T23:04:00.002-04:00

Sheila and Ernie drove down from SK and spent some time with us during the winter. We enjoyed trips to Leadville and Monarch.

My mom, Colleen, came for a visit on school spring break. We enjoyed her time here and appreciated her sewing skills in making the dress for Jenn's upcoming wedding.

2008-07-17T22:57:00.001-04:00

Another trip to Leadville with the doggies.

2008-02-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

I found myself on call the other weekend suturing up a nifty facial laceration that was down to the bone, good times! Actually suturing is one of my favourite things.

2008-02-05T18:58:00.000-05:00

A couple of action shots of Jasper and Bayou. Where Jasper is...Bayou follows and copies.

2008-02-03T22:29:00.000-05:00

A new member was recently added to the Birkham family....a second dog! We made the 10hr return trip to Rifle in northwestern Colorado. Joanna has wanted a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog for some time and so we researched several breeders in Colorado and Texas. We ended up choosing Bayou, an 8wk old, male, blue leopard with tan tips. Quite the character!

2008-02-03T22:26:00.000-05:00

Tosco and Joanna, pic for the clinic web page.

2008-02-03T22:09:00.001-05:00

Jasper after an afternoon on the trails.

Travelled north west of Peyton, CO to Leadville for a weekend of cross-country skiing. There is a 12 mile loop through the small old mining town of Leadville. Lots of historic mine shafts and cabins throughout the trail. Plus the necessary component to skiing of any sort...more snow than where we live in Peyton.

2008-02-02T10:40:00.000-05:00

Chad (the bridgegroom...Jenn's husband to be) and Tyler tried their legs at snowboarding at Cypress during our visit to the coast. Lots of laughs and collisions.

Jenn and Chad

Johnny and Chad

Another day at Cypress another activity to enjoy! Jonathan, Jenn, Chad, Tyler, Gabriel and I went snow shoeing for several hours.

2008-02-02T10:35:00.000-05:00

Jonathan gave Tyler and I a great tour of the ship he is currently the combat officer on, The HMCS Winnipeg.

2008-01-13T16:19:00.000-05:00

On our recent trip to Canada, we had the opportunity to visit with Jonathan and cause some damage to his new house in Victoria! He is renovating the front suite...which currently contains the bare essentials...including a hole in the floor for a toliet...wax plug anyone? Note the inner contents of the house spewed out on the deck...

2008-01-13T16:05:00.000-05:00

Tyler on one of his hikes with the Colorado Mt club. This hike was located west of Monument, at Mt. Herman. Since then he has purchased a fancy pair of orange snow shoes and will be seen miles away on the trails.

They met a guy on the trail that uses goats to pack his equipment in on multi-day trips. Quite practical as they also forage for their food so no need to bring supplies for them. I would imagine they could be entertaining as well.

2008-01-13T15:31:00.000-05:00

West of Co springs on a walk.

2008-01-13T15:11:00.000-05:00

The inside of our house in CO. Actually took the pics for an application for a German Short haired pointer rescue puppy. Funny thing...cause Tyler won't be home for the next 2yrs we got denied.

2008-01-13T12:05:00.000-05:00

the property in the winter...

View whilst out on the road on calls after heavy frost.

2008-01-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

Tyler and I adventured out on a Co springs trail with the whole family...how the Christmas card was born! It was the first official run with the trailer and of course firsts must have lessons. SO, we got a trailer tire flat on the way there, the spare was also a dud, and there was no wheel iron in the work truck. I was thankful for Walmart at this time on a sunday evening...however, they were not permitted to help us place the tire on the trailer...can't have it all I suppose.

2007-12-29T15:25:00.000-05:00

It tends to snow heavily during storms in Co. Then the wind displaces the snow into drifts in the days to come...apparently you can get 9' drifts.

Jasper doesn't mind the snow but rather gets very lively during outings...especially if there is a rabbit to chase.

2007-09-29T14:28:00.000-04:00

Tyler joined the Co mountain club. These pics are from a recent hike up one of the 14, 000 feet peaks, Mt. Yale.

2007-09-29T14:12:00.000-04:00

The new addition to the animal family, Tosco. He is an 11yr old Thoroughbred, previously used to play polo. I plan to ride him when able throughout the winter and play some polo next spring/summer at a local club in Elizabeth, approx 40mins away.

2007-09-29T13:56:00.000-04:00

Tyler's biking adventures

Back in Co with the rather large UHaul...UHell as some say.

Truck was larger than planned so we went for the staggering approach to packing. At least we got a van!

Went out to dinner to Land of the Loon for our 2 year anniversary dinner.

2007-08-22T18:45:00.000-04:00

Jonathan and Arpan visited mid-July on a BMW motorcycle trip from Nova Scotia to Victoria.

Tyler riding some red rock at the Garden of the Gods walk with Jonathan and Arpan.

Jill and I with our vet trucks...the Ford and the Chevrolet, respectively.

2007-08-22T11:22:00.000-04:00

Homestead park where we take Jasper for walks and runs.

Tyler biking in Colorado Springs.

2007-08-22T11:08:00.000-04:00

Fields around the house...160 acres owned by the property holders.

Sweet Road farm house...during the day....sunset out the back door.

2007-07-04T23:13:00.000-04:00

Back seat of our car...including the picture from our small group in Az.

Drove through New Mexico on the way to CO.

Jasper sleeping with his head squished between the two front seats.

Second night of camping, quieter vs the night before!

2007-07-04T22:56:00.000-04:00

Ramone, worker of many tasks at Arizona Equine, made each intern a horse nose twitch with his crafty skills (a gift before we left early June).

Dr. Leith gave Jill and I some buttons as a kinda joke but practical as we are both going into equine ambulatory practice. The buttons are good for skin suturing stents.

Girl intern mates, Jill and Sarah...and Ramone at good-by party June 8th.

Melissa, tech at Az Equine and good friend at the good-bye party. She had better come to Co to visit!

2007-07-04T22:41:00.001-04:00

Tyler took these pics while hiking through the Superstition mts in Apache Junction, approx 45mins from our house in Gilbert, Az. (APRIL) Jasper was of course along for the field trip.

2007-07-04T21:13:00.000-04:00

Grand Canyon adventure in AZ (APRIL)

View on the way down into the Canyon.

Derek and Joelle

Blue stream by the camp site.

On a day hike out from the canyon camp site, day 2. Climbing through a tunnel to get to a waterfall and more paths below.

2007-07-04T20:46:00.001-04:00

Grand Canyon Adventure with Derek and Joelle in Arizona (APRIL)

Donkey/horse trains that packed in/out equip for a fee.

Winding up/down the final trail to the end...or beginning.

Stream next to our campground. It was rather crowded and lots of camping traffic.

I'm eating breakfast and trying to reduce the swelling in my pathetic feet! Thought about replacements...

2007-05-30T14:25:00.000-04:00

Castration, out in the back field at work.

2007-05-15T01:35:00.000-04:00

Colic Surgery

Placing an intra uterine marble...a very colorful one!

After a night on call...no it's not what you think...it's mineral oil and some red stuff.

little buddies...

VERY little buddies...

2007-02-15T01:03:00.000-05:00

At work... in the lab with the clinic cat, 'Tuxedo'.

2007-02-15T00:57:00.000-05:00

Went to a local barrel racing competition.

2007-02-15T00:51:00.000-05:00

Went to a Hunter/Jumper show in Tuscon in October to do some vetting.
Tyler went mt biking in the region...

2007-02-15T00:44:00.000-05:00

Derek and Joelle!

2007-02-15T00:40:00.000-05:00

Did I mention it was COLD!

Went home to SK late Dec/early Jan for Derek and
Joelle's wedding on the 31st of Dec. Visited with
Chris and Sue during a ski in PA.

2007-02-15T00:05:00.000-05:00

Went to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)
annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas in December. Good talks,
lots of equine vets!

2006-11-06T21:18:00.000-05:00

My bonsai...anniversary present from Tyler...some art in the making...

2006-10-22T16:30:00.000-04:00

Roosevelt dam near Globe.

2006-10-22T16:25:00.000-04:00

2006-10-22T13:39:00.000-04:00

Sheila and Ernie cam to visit and we went for a walk at the Superstition Mts. one afternoon.
Ernie was hugging a cactus...

2006-10-22T13:38:00.000-04:00

Visiting the fancy neighborhood down the road in a golf cart,
with coffee in hand and friends from work.

2006-10-22T13:15:00.000-04:00

Riding with one of the vets from the clinic.

2006-10-22T13:08:00.000-04:00

This is our house on irrigation day. Jasper loves to play in the water...not too deep for him!

2006-09-15T14:01:00.000-04:00

Joanna at work floating some horse teeth. Front door of the clinic...

2006-09-11T01:47:00.000-04:00

Jonathan came for a visit in August and enjoyed the fine 'double-wide' trailer accommodation. We managed to get out for a hike and bike, despite the hot weather, at least 100 F.

2006-09-11T01:40:00.000-04:00

The Santan mountains near the canal where we usually walk/run the dog.

2006-08-05T16:40:00.000-04:00

Joanna at work, some of the patients are smaller than you'd expect...

2006-08-04T01:39:00.000-04:00

US!

2006-08-04T01:31:00.000-04:00

Fruita, Colorado, great campsite with huge cotton wood trees, an oasis

2006-08-04T01:26:00.000-04:00

Spent 4 days in Fruita, Colorado, mt biking and relaxing. Tyler pulled off some great moves while I just kept on trucking and had some great laughs!

2006-08-04T01:21:00.000-04:00

Not our best campsite...

2006-08-04T01:20:00.000-04:00

Yellowstone National Park-hot springs and paint pots

2006-08-04T01:17:00.000-04:00

Arches National Park-Utah

2006-08-04T01:13:00.000-04:00

On route...Monument Valley

2006-08-04T00:51:00.000-04:00

Our dingo dog Jasper came along as much as he could handle
as he managed to damage his paws repeatedly so accompanied
us infrequently...considering he needed days to recover.

2006-07-30T18:14:00.000-04:00

little friend on the trail...