How did you spend your New Year's Day? Napping away a hangover on the couch, pretending to watch football?

That kind of afternoon sounds foolish to the group of rafters who floated the Spokane River on Tuesday. The Northwest Whitewater Association celebrated the 20th Annual Only Fools Float the River on the First the only way they knew how – by eschewing a day at home and getting onto the water despite the air being only 22 degrees when they launched.

“If you're a boater, you take every chance to get on the water,” Bruce Bernhardt said.

More than 30 people attended the event with more than 20 boats on the water.

“This is more exciting” than watching football, said Pat Keegan before launching.

It’s fawn season in Spokane County and the Ponti Veterinary Hospital has already been visited by quite the number of the small guests. Seven fawns are currently staying at the clinic because concerned citizens have dropped them off thinking they’re alone and even abandoned.

The Otis Orchards hospital thankfully has a wildlife rehabilitator on staff to take care of the orphaned babies. Marilyn Omlor says their current residents were brought in by the public.

“They’ve either seen the doe hit by a car or they’ve seen a fawn out in the wild. We have to take the public’s word that the doe is dead because the doe can leave the fawn for up to ten hours,” Omlor said. “She might be nearby watching you pick up her fawn.”

The hospital has been taking care of the fawns and will continue to do so until September when their spots begin to fade. They know a property owner with large acreage near Deer Park who allow the fawns to be released into the wild. They trust this area because the surrounding property owners do not allow hunting.

The big question for many potential urban farmers is, how much is this poultry adventure going to set me back?

Your friendly neighborhood chicken expert, Ron Welker has that answer. Welker manages the Aslin-Finch in the Spokane Valley. He says that in the long run chicks will cost less than a dog.“You’re going to spend the same on housing the chicks as you would a dog. Your overall expense for the chicks is going to be less,” said Welker. “If you want to get a good coop that’s going to hold 2, 3 or 4 birds, you’re going to spend on a good one, probably right around $400-$500. That’s going to be your number one expense.”

There are several resources out there if you would like to build your own coop. The creative urban farmer might convert an old camper top into a hen house or build a pint-sized Victorian mansion for their girls. Once you have a coop, the residual costs are reasonable compared to other pets.

One of the biggest expenses Mojo, the dog, racks up is at the vet’s office getting vaccinated.