Prince heads north again

Prince Ali is off north early again heading to airport at 4. A sunny high of plus 18 day was so windy (like tornado windy) but didn't matter as I spent the morning doing paperwork ;( BORING! but necessary evil. I did clean the mint jewel box, stage and post.

But the afternoon was very productive. The newly acquired accent table got 2 coats of Florence green then a major overhaul happening in my frame corner. I am going to paint up the big dresser and hutch so while I got it out I rearranged. I love to organize and this was all good. I even purged some of the frames I will not use and posted for free.

Then it was time to remove the back off the hutch and hardware and give it a scrubbing, whew! By now it was 8 pm so time to come in and have a salad. Britt was home from work not much later.

If even possible the wind picked up even more for a couple hours after I got in, dam! I watched an episode of Revenge and played a few games before shutting out the light ;)

Switch off to school

Monday morning again, and the last one of March oh my! It was a long night for me on dog patrol, Coco wanted out at 2:30 then Lola got wound up barking at 3. Diego joined it but the 2 times I went to send him out he refused ;( Eventually at 5:30 I put her inside so we could all sleep, wait I don't think Britt even heard and Sheldon once. Britt was off to school but returned for her usual Monday long spare/lunch. She and I went out for a conditioning ride. Sheldon hooked up the harrows behind the quad and started the pastures making them look so much better.

Lunch and time to catch and load Switch. Today Yahoo Switch A Roo is off to boarding "school" with Kendall for a month of riding. A new route was taken, then thru Okotoks to grab a tea before arriving @ Box M Ranch Horses & Training Services. Despite the 1 1/2 hour journey over with a stop at a busy Tim Horton's and all the new smells, sounds and sights at the new place, she quickly took to her teachers' requests and showed her charming quick mind to take in new learning. Thanks to my girls Shaina & Brittany for helping me get her ready for her next learning phase, excited to see her progress in a month.

Our drive home in the sunshine took us to Lone Start Tack to restock on salt, minerals and feed before arriving back at the ranch after 6. What a gorgeous day! We unloaded the supplies and I refilled the salt/minerals too. I snapped this picture of KD's cheeks that are a mystery why they are sunken, any suggestions?

Sadly I had another headache that never left  so while Sheldon continued on harrowing I tried to lay down but the no wind beautiful evening called to me. I had to go out and walk the dogs on such a perfect day. Sheldon finished up soon after and Britt arrived home from work as we all came in to eat and relax after the start of a new week.

Sheldon did run the horses out a bale after supper to hold them over for a week and help the grass to grow. We ended the day with a nice hot tub, cheers!

barn level gets lights

Well it seems that sleep in days are a thing of youth. 4 possible days in a row and I was up again around 7:30. Now Britt who asked to go to a party at 12:30 last night (boys hockey team won provincials and just getting home to celebrate), was told yes but home by 4 am actually arrived at 5:12 am! The kicker was she had to work at 10 so had a sluggish day ahead of her.

Coco tried to hide her scored rawhide she found outside!

It started out sunny promising a lovely day, with the ponies all laying in the sun but the wind did pick up soon and stayed for the day. Sheldon wanted to have a relaxing slow start to his Palm Sunday so I went to work on projects in the garage. Time to wax the mint jewel box.

Eventually he was ready and for the next couple hours we chose cabinets for the lower portion of the tack room. They needed some repairs, silicone removal and quick clean before the arborite was cut to fit as well. They have been well used and think will blast with a coat of paint before officially securing in final spot. We held off on the top bank for a bit as I have a few ideas on it.

 stall side of the tack room wall

Time for a beverage and lunch before Sheldon headed back out to move the lights down to the barn level and I continued on projects in the garage. I waxed the nightstand and affixed the new back to it and once dry hauled in to stage and post for auction. I really like the aged teal look, lets see how others do.

Sheldon had picked up some new push brooms so I gave one a try in the garage along with my daily tidy making it look so much better. Julio nickered out side the window so he got his bowl of senior feed as I headed to the barn to try the broom he bought for there. I hauled the saddle stands into the tack room and organized the are making it look fabulous. It is really coming along nicely.

Britt got home from work and hit her bed, the late night, day of work culminated with her blindsided face plant via one frantic horse made for a sore tired girl. She even skipped the ride Shaina and I took after she finished up her official last day in town at the Roadhouse. She even brought her Mama a chai tea, thanks lovey! Breezy but lovely plus 16 ride with her riding Baby and ponying KD and me on my trusty stead Hawk. Sheldon finished up the last light fixture as we were heading out off to the house for a cold beer.

Once back, the horses were hot so after a roll in the arena Sheldon went to close the small pen gate. I was bout to open the arena door to let them in the field but they got a better idea, go back thru barn to freedom. A frolick across the lawn and down the lane way ensued, Shaina jumped in her jeep to shut yard gate an pushed them back past walking me to the house. Luckily they ran into the pen where Shaina closed them in until after a scrumptious roast supper.

She and I trimmed Pepper and Baby under the new lights, only 1 pony left to trim before starting all over. We swept up, closed up the barn and headed back to the house. Thanks for your help Shaina, it is most appreciated! Shaina enjoyed more mashed potatoes/gravy and roast before she ventured back to the city around 10. Sheldon & Britt had already headed to bed so I showered up and called it a day too.

green day

Saturday started out dreary and just like the digital forecaster predicted, rain started as a drizzle soon after awaking, early at 8, go figure on yet another could be sleep in day. It was not long before it was a bit heavier. Sheldon took the truck to unload the lumber sitting in the back and he and I then ran back to neighbors and got the rest of the cabinets they tore out. Britt was off to work for the day.

Once we unloaded them up in the mez, I hit the garage to paint. Today's projects started with a couple top coats on the coral jewel box, trying AS wax for the first time on the nightstand after I painted another coat on, dark waxing the inside frame then adding more of the antique white again, I am not sure I like it. I LOVE the outer frame AS color I painted it so put on my page for opinions.

 what do you think?

Sheldon worked on putting up the 2X6 walls in tack room. He came to garage to have me help him rip one just as I was getting my goodies from junk picker, Julie. The sun finally peeked out after the rain stopped as she arrived. Seeing the saw was out I cut a new back for the nightstand too.

 I should have just enough insulators now!

 insulated and board up!

I then got started on the other jewel box, this one in treasure box, a soft mint green

I also tried dark waxing the AS florence but it went greener so repainted

Britt was home soon after and after a bit of convincing too the dogs for a well needed walk. On her route she scouted quite a few gophers out and gave Ju some food. Since I had supper in the oven, she and Sheldon set off to pop a few while it finished. I snapped a couple pictures. It was not long after she came thru the door with dirt all over her face and moaning. It seems just after I took the photo, Sheldon asked her to distract the horses while he shot into their pasture. The sudden bullet noise caused Switch to panic racing forward smashing the unsuspecting Britt face first into the ground. As none of us witnessed it, this is the story she recalls. She also added Sheldon was not too concerned and kept shooting as he claimed she was up and talking, or was it just crying. Dad of the year goes to Sheldon!

 the before shots.. if I only watched for a bit longer ;)

As I was cooking a call came from an old friend of Sheldon's so after supper he headed to town to meet him for a couple beer while I continued on projects and Britt recuperated on the couch watching movies on her laptop. The nightstand got a coat of black glaze, the jewel box a 2nd coat and the blog all updated. Sheldon brought us all a Tims when he got home just before 10!

flex friday

Another flex Friday and not quite as they planned, warm at 15 but no sunshine. We had thought today we might test drive some cars later in the afternoon however after a bit of thought I decided to keep the Buick and even cancelled my XM radio as it hardly leaves the garage to even listen too.

Sheldon took a load of rails out later in the am and finally Britt got up and out there by 11:30 to help put up. They finished  bottom row in 2 hours! I worked in the garage on a metal bottle holder while scrubbing up 2 more jewel boxes, a mini mug tree (for bracelets) and a night stand I just got.

this one got delayed due to repairs

Afternoon was spent with Britt and Sheldon hanging a few more pieces of plywood in the barn while I painted one jewel box coral. The sun was out by now so I did more dog crap pickup too. Sheldon rushed to the aid of some Oyen ladies out of gas on the highway and grabbed wood while he was in town. Amanda and the kids stopped out for a visit while he was gone. They had gone to the zoo today in the lovely weather. It reached a high of 20! and 22 in the city, but tomorrow they say back down and the digital forecaster says rain, WTH!

Sheldon finally arrived back, bearing teas and an ice coffee and we got supper under way but it took almost an hour to barbecue, so again a late supper. Sheldon and Britt hurried down their meal and were off to town for a Bison hockey game so I went out to paint ;) I tried Annie Sloan paint for the first time. Again a different consistency and learning curve.

This frame got scrubbed and I painted the inside portion antique white

surprise!

Even thought Thursday was a potential sleep in day it did not happen really, however it was a slow start. We were on the last tsp of coffee creamer Sheldon said but earlier in the week when I was sorting thru a box of my office items I found a lovely surprise. Martin had given me a bottle of baileys for Xmas and after enjoying a Xmas cup I must have stuck it in this box under my desk for safe keeping. Now when it was most opportune, it was found so coffee today had a tasty shot of cream! Thanks Mart!!

Britt headed off at her late start day and as I was washing my face I heard the dogs bark. Looking out I saw a face that looked familiar but couldn't be, sure enough after looking harder, I saw a good friend Tammy pulled up in the sunshine. The next couple hours were enjoyed catching up. They too left Hanna and built a new house in Red Deer so there was lots we had to share. However Cliff was done his sale earlier than planned and she had to run but we hope to get together sooner again. Looking forward to next time, thanks for the great surprise Tam!

The afternoon was finishing up the projects I was working on Tuesday and staging them while Sheldon ran to town taking the overflowing recyclables in and other errands.

Once back home we took the dogs for a walk in the PLUS 18 day. Sheldon was happy to see the moisture in the turned land and hay fields. I had ribs on as Shaina is joining us for supper after another work day she picked up out here. Craig stopped to pick up eggs joining us for a rum as we ate supper.

A neighbor is redoing her kitchen and offered us the cabinets, perfect for the tack room and shop so as Shaina head for home at 7:30 we went over to pick up and visit quickly before bringing back and unloading to mez. Sheldon headed to town to meet a friend for beer and wings while I did ..accounting .. where did March go? Britt was home late after work and she spent the night looking for a car of her dreams yet again.. car frenzy at the ranch.