I have to admit, now that we’re getting so close to our move date I have some fears rolling around inside my head about moving to the prairies! It’d be different if we were moving into ‘town’. I’ve lived in a small town before in Ontario, however, I’ve never lived quite so rural.
I love adventure, and I’m actually a tomboy at heart, so these silly fears create a sort of battle within me. It’s a constant fight between fun and adventure – vs. – being cautious and worried.
It’s silly little things that go through my head. Random things. Like…
- How will I take my 2.5 pound doggie for his last pee at night without worrying he’ll be snatched away by a coyote, or a fox, or… a wolf?
- Is there wolves near my future farm/home?
- Never mind the coyotes, fox and wolves… how will I take my 2.5 pound doggie for a pee at night in a few feet of snow?! Or a blizzard?
- Will I need to get sewing up some washable piddle pads like I used when he was a puppy instead, and forget about taking him out in the few feet of snow? I’ve got time to figure that one out.
I think.
- Hopefully we won’t have a few feet of snow there this spring…
- How do I feel confident in letting my girls play outside, without me watching them every moment of every day, because I’m not sure of the wild life out there yet?
- I can’t wait to take photos of the wildlife out there!!!!!!!!
- I can’t wait for my children to experience the wildlife on the prairies!
- I wonder how many baby wild animals Shaylah will find without mothers over the course of her lifetime while living on the prairies?
- I wonder how many of those she’ll convince me we need to ‘rescue’.
- Maybe we should get goats?!
- Will there be many ‘weird’ bugs?
- If so, what kind of ‘weird’ bugs will there be?
- Will there be swarms of them?!
- Will I be able to get fairly fast internet in our rural municipality?
- I wonder how long it will take me to upload my 120 photos each week for my instore stockings?
- Will I need to begin uploading those 120 photos a week before? lol Will I sit spinning in my office chair waiting for them to upload like our old dial up internet?
- Will I want to hibernate all winter? If so, maybe I should get a spinning wheel next winter and start yet another hobby…
- Will we have enough land to raise a few sheep for the wool to spin?
- Hmmm… maybe we should do cows first. Or both.
- I wonder if we can buy more land nearby one day…
- I wonder what types of things grow best in a garden out in the prairies?
- Could we grow our own Christmas trees on the prairies?
(I’m thinking some of these may be stupid questions… don’t laugh at me too much ok? lol)
- If we get sheep, will the coyotes try to take them, or kill them, or eat them?
- I wonder what the horses will think of the prairies…
- Will I really be able to see my dog running away for two whole days?
(lol … had to throw that thought in there!)
- Will I love riding my bike in the prairies as much as I loved riding my bike in the Netherlands since they are both so fla______at…?
- Will small town ‘folk’ think I’m totally weird in my hand dyed bamboo velour yoga pants and hand knit socks?
- Maybe I am weird. Should I just be upfront about that from the beginning…?
Such are just a very few of the thoughts that run through my mind as I ponder our move to the prairies…
Let’s see… I will answer what I can 🙂
1. There are no wolves 🙂 Foxes will not be a danger to your dog, but coyotes might. However, they will not race out of the wild and snatch your dog. But I wouldn’t let him roam free at night 🙂
2. Peeing in the snow – the dog just goes fast is my understanding 🙂 You obviously will have to shovel!
3. I think your girls will be plenty safe out exploring. The scariest thing to me is a garter snake – and they are more scared of us. I would think there is more in BC to be afraid of 🙂
4. Weird bugs… I don’t think so. Just lots of mosquitoes if it is wet. Lots and lots of mosquitoes.
5. Our government made some sort of promise to have high speed available in rural communities. Check out sasktel. They can help you out 😉
6. Hibernating… well that is a matter of preference. You get used to the cold 🙂
7. There are Christmas tree farms around here, so I suspect you could. It might just take a while!
8. Coyotes again… and sheep. Yes – coyotes will kill your sheep. I would recommend sheepdogs. My dad works for a sheep rancher who sells sheepdogs. I’m sure we could get you in contact.
9. Horses will loves the prairies I would think – so much room to run!
10. Dogs running for days… Did you know Kansas is actually flatter than Saskatchewan?
11. Ah biking… my hubby and I did lots of biking pre-kids. It is flat, but man those gentle inclines kill as well :
12. Small town folk… ha ha… depends what your community is like. I say each to their own! Who cares what people think of us anyhow 🙂
13. We’re all weird. Embrace it 😀
Look forward to meeting you someday!
We moved to norther SK from populated Ontario (Niagara Falls) in August. I had some of the same fears and excitement about moving. Prairie life at least for us has involved a huge change in pace! We gave up tv and eating out. I did take up on line shopping because we are now 2.5 hours from a mall 🙁 We still have a lot of snow where we are, over a foot but it is melting because of the nice temps +5 today!!!
Good luck with your move and adjustment! Change is good and sometimes even great!!!!
mosquitos and lots of them (LOTS!!!) Your dog will adapt or you could litter box train and hopefully you’ll have enough time to prepare for snow. We’ve had the mildest winter since before I was born. You missed a good one 🙂 What part of the province are you moving too (if you are sharing, understand if you don’t). I agree with the pp and call Sasktel, they can help you!
It is worth getting Kevlar tires for your bike out here! But they aren’t too expensive or hard to find.
I grew up in small town Saskatchewan and I think there are things you’re really going to love.
First of all, you will be a bit of a novelty being that you are moving to a new community. You are NEWS!
People love to know your business. Your story. They LOVE to talk.
It’s actually fun to give people new material at the coffee shop. It gives them some joy and is no harm to you. Even wear crazy things if it makes you happy. Be yourself.
The very nature of rural life makes people inter-dependant. When I left Saskatchewan I was sort of disappointed that people didn’t wave when I drove by them.
See, we all grew up waving to every vehicle that passed. People are happy to see you.
We all have stories of being stuck in the ditch or with a flat or something and people coming to the rescue.
Neighbours are neighbours. You will meet some kindred spirits, you will meet some odd folks and even some weird people but if you have enough humour to regard everyone as a character in your life, regardless of their behavior, you’ll enjoy this all a great deal.
Once you have made the farm site safe, you do not have to worry much. Mosquitoes are the nastiest thing you will find and even garter snakes, which are not really common everywhere, never bite people. The local people will fill you in on the “must knows”.
My kids love the prairies. They love to go out and play Little House on the Prairie, make believe there are prairie fires and their slough is a creek for Baby Carrie. They love sticks and grass, and wild open spaces, and trees to make forts. They also love gardening. You are not too far from Bruno where there will be a cherry festival in July, with sour prairie cherries which are awesome and super-nutritious. Saskatoon berries are my favorite although possibly an acquired taste. Excellent apple, cherry strawberry, raspberry, and other varieties are available for the prairies. Gardening is really rich, if you have rain or access to water on site, and some manure, you can grow a lot of your own food and freeze it for the winter. Drier climate and cold winters kill most diseases. Veggies are a sure bet as well as hardy fruits and perennials. . Weeds grow awesome too.
The cold, is a dry cold which people who grow up in Saskatchewan are wired for although I am not sure how that change will be for you.
The winters are sunny and bright and filled with frost and loveliness. You need to pack and equip your vehicle for winter properly and be prepared for an emergency in cold weather travel.And snow removal can be a large job. But you will figure all that out.
Be ready to enjoy curling, hockey, hot chocolate and visiting OR your favorite at-home activities and lots of family time in the quiet winter months.
There is always hardship and difficulty along the way but the experience of the prairies is like life. It’s what you make it. I have a feeling you will get along very well.
All the best. May God Bless your journery!
Well, I’ve never lived there, so can’t answer any questions. But I get the whole nervous excitement, and I can’t wait for photos, and to hear of your adventures. 🙂