Half a Tenth and High Tech

I took Lexi out for a bathroom break shortly after 2 a.m. and discovered an Amazon parcel had been delivered while we were watching movies last night. Neither of us had heard a thing. Stella also took that opportunity to request a snack.

I was up again after 6 when Lexi had one of her reverse sneeze episodes and wanted some water. Once she settled, we both headed back to bed.

When I finally got up for the day after 8, it was raining. Excitedly I checked the rain gauge only to find we had accumulated a whopping half of a tenth. Honestly, how are we always in the dry spot when town recently had 2"+?

I made coffees and delivered one to S before settling in with my second cup and getting to work on Saturday's blog.

Later in the morning, I convinced S to join me for an upper-body workout. Afterward, I jumped in the shower while he relaxed. One task I was happy to finally cross off my list was getting my email accounts working properly in the app again. It took far more time than it should have, but at least it is done.

Lunch was grilled cheese sandwiches, with S adding a bowl of soup to his meal. Then it was back to blog work. Father's Day generated a lot of photos and videos, which always means extra time sorting, uploading, and writing.

S spent most of the afternoon relaxing on the couch watching TV while the wind continued its relentless performance outside.

I unloaded the trailer snacks then around 2:30 I recruited him to back the trailer, slides and all, into its spot on the gravel pad. Once that job was done, he headed to town to pick up some of his favourite milk, a few groceries, and Cooper.

While he was gone, a few more bedding decisions were also finalized, which meant packaging up returns. One of them required a UPS label and border paperwork, because apparently returning some Amazon parcels can't be simple.

S arrived home with the groceries and took the dogs for a walk while I put everything away and started unpacking the newest robotic vacuum that had arrived at the gate via courier.

Cooper likes being Lexi's support friend

The Roborock was drained, reset, and packed up while supper preparations happened in between. Then it was time to set up the new vacuum. Before long it was busy mapping and cleaning its first few rooms.

The technology packed into these robots is honestly confusing. Every company seems to have multiple models with endless features and upgrades. It feels very much like shopping for a new phone these days.

B arrived for her evening chores and then headed home with Coop once everything was done.

For the evening, S and I finally finished the latest season of Margo's Got Money Troubles before moving on to a few episodes of Shrinking. In between, I tweaked settings and reviewed the new vacuum's mapping results.

super relaxed

S called it a night while I stayed up a little longer watching Your Friends & Neighbors. It was nearly 11 when I realized the sky was still bright and remembered that the night before had been the summer solstice.

One of the best parts of June—long evenings that never seem quite ready to end.

A Very Windy Father's Day

It was Father's Day, so happy Father's Day to all the dads in our lives, both here and in heaven.

Shaina shared this moment in time with her Father

and Kaylin these 2 Dad shout outs <3

I bustled around first thing taking dogs out then made coffee for the prince who once was up was testing out a new pain salve in the heated recliner.

Before long it was time to pack up camp. The wind was never stopped howling and the forecast promised another less-than-lovely weather day. I washed the few dishes, packed up the inside of the trailer, and got everything ready to roll. S hooked up, loaded the dogs, and I pulled in the slides. Soon we were on the road.

A stop at Tim Hortons was required, where I ran in and grabbed S a Farmer's Breakfast Wrap, a coffee, and his favourite apple fritter for a Father's Day breakfast.

Back at the ranch, Harley made a beeline for the water trough to rehydrate after a few days of kibble and trailer life, took care of business, and then headed straight to her kennel for a nap. Lexi was equally happy to curl up in her bed after I fed the starving cats.

The biggest surprise? We received absolutely zero rain while we were away. Just six miles from where they reportedly got an inch of rain, the ranch remained completely dry.

The rest of the morning was spent researching a new dog ramp since Harley has made it quite clear the new stairs are not something she intends to use. We also went down the RV parts rabbit hole after S snapped off the oven knob while reaching for the fridge with the slide only partially open on packing day. Apparently a replacement knob costs nearly $50. Glue may become the preferred repair method.

As we dug deeper, the list of trailer repairs continued to grow. The bathroom vent gear was apparently stripped last year, a fender still needed replacing after the tire blowout, the water pump pressure tank seemed to be acting up, and there were a few cosmetic trim pieces that had decided to detach themselves. Why do they build even expensive trailers so cheaply?

Soon S was stretched out in Big Brown enjoying a Father's Day nap.

Meanwhile, I finished and published Friday's blog and started working on the next day's entry.

After his nap, S resumed troubleshooting trailer issues. He tried filing the edges of the vent operator gear but no real luck.

I tackled a project of my own and completely disassembled the Dyson vacuum heads. The amount of hair and gunk trapped inside was honestly embarrassing, but everything was thoroughly cleaned, washed, and ready to go again. PSA - check yours :)

B and Cooper stopped by during the process and delivered us a tea. Thanks B! She braved the hurricane-force winds to feed her horses before heading back home.

S eventually located and ordered a replacement trailer fender. I suggested swapping the bathroom vent operator with the one in the main living area that we rarely use. Off to the trailer he went while I served as tool runner, flashlight holder, and cleanup crew.

During the repair, S discovered mouse droppings inside the main room vent. How a mouse managed to get up there remains a mystery. While we were at it, I replaced the dryer sheets I keep in the floor vents to help prevent debris from dropping in and add a nice scent. Unfortunately, one of those vents also contained evidence of mice. Grrrr. They are awful little creatures.

new and old

The wind continued rocking the trailer the entire time we worked. Good thing it was still hitched to the three-quarter-ton truck.

Once the repairs were complete, we headed inside so I could make S's Father's Day supper request—creamed chicken. Thankfully it turned out exactly the way he wanted.

Sun seeker

After supper, S settled into Big Brown with his laptop while I washed pots and pans and tidied the kitchen since it was his special day.

I moved to bed afterward to continue my blog catch-up. Once S joined me, we watched the thriller Echo Valley and then attempted to finish Margo's Got Money Troubles. Unfortunately, with about twenty-five minutes left in the season finale, I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

Cowboy Boots and Cold Winds

It was a crazy early morning with me awake several times listening to little Granny Lexi having coughing episodes. I even took her outside before 6 and replied to a text from Mom, only to discover she was awake too but planning to head back to bed. The skies were already dark to the west, matching the weather alerts we'd been seeing. Once back inside, I tucked Lexi into bed and we both drifted off for a little more sleep.

Coffee was definitely needed today. S made and delivered our cups to bed where we enjoyed a leisurely social media scroll. I took Lexi outside a couple more times and switched her to raw food for the day, which she absolutely loved. The poor little blind 90-plus-year-old granny deserves a soft delicacy now and then.

While she toddled around the house, I tossed Roo her hay, finished and published Thursday's blog, and squeezed in my weight workout. S spent part of the morning on the phone and working on his Running With The Bulls volunteer list.

The vacationing Boysis family hit the hot springs!

B and Cooper arrived around noon as S was hooking up the trailer. She enjoyed her Tim Hortons lunch and we trimmed Lexi's nails before braving the wind to feed the horses and move them back into the middle and far paddocks. Meanwhile, we continued packing. It's amazing how many things are needed for a one-night sleepover, even when the trailer is already stocked with most of the essentials.

Lunch was a giant salad made with spinach from my own garden along with the usual fixings. S grilled the last two cobs of corn on the BBQ, although this batch turned out disappointingly gummy. Then it was back to packing.

By mid-afternoon the sky was getting darker. B and Cooper headed out (to best the hail she said), and not long after, before 3, we pointed ourselves toward what looked like the eye of the storm.

The rain started near the dump and intensified quickly. By the time we arrived and parked, it was coming down in buckets, complete with hail.

In Montreal it seems Shaina and Matt have similar weather before their concert too

We sat trapped in the truck for a while hoping it would ease up. Eventually S changed into his old cowboy boots and made a dash for the trailer to open it up. I followed with Lexi, pushed out the slides, grabbed a beverage, and ran to a neighbouring trailer where several people had taken shelter.

Eventually the rain let up enough for Harley to get out of the truck and join us. The sunshine soon returned, the picnic table dried off, and the water soaked into the ground surprisingly fast. Before long we were all sitting outside enjoying the sun again. Leonard reported they had received a full inch of rain here in town. Hope some made it to the ranch.

B arrived at the trailer around 5 but was disappointed to learn the concert itself wouldn't start until around 7. The two of us wandered over to the grounds, sourced supper, and brought it back to the trailer. She and I ate inside while S enjoyed his meal outside with the gathering of friends.

Boysis's in BC have much better weather

B headed home for a bit before returning after 7. By then we had made our way to the grounds for the opening act, George Pippen. The wind was bitterly cold and made standing out in the infield miserable. We took shelter behind the grandstand before eventually retreating to the trailer to add more layers. B even made another trip home for extra clothing. The fireplace and heated recliners in the trailer felt pretty wonderful.

Once everyone was sufficiently bundled up, we headed back just in time for Owen Riegling's concert at 8:45. The wind continued to howl. Without it, the evening would have been beautiful, but Mother Nature had other plans. I couldn't help but wonder how some of the scantily clad concertgoers were surviving while we were dressed in multiple layers. Even some of the guys were walking around in T-shirts.

Across the country in Montreal it seems the weather was better now

The poor weather combined with low advance ticket sales reportedly resulted in a crowd much smaller than expected. Rumours around the rodeo committee suggested a loss of about $75,000, and there was concern this might be the last June concert.

Naturally, as soon as the concert ended, the wind settled down considerably.

We headed back to the trailer while B made her way home. After I took the dogs out for one last walk, we settled into the heated recliner, connected my iPad, and finished the Noah Kahan documentary.

We attempted to start a Clarkson's Farm episode in bed, but S was asleep almost immediately, so it didn't last long. Goodnight to a cold, windy, stormy day in Strathmore.

Errands, Weeds and Wasted Miles

The usual 7 a.m. start for me began with coffee and Instagram before the day got underway. Happiest of birthdays to Nathan Michael. They are off this morning to Invermere - the secret weekend away to celebrate his birthday and Father's Day, ENJOY all!

My first job was tossing Roo her hay and removing the bandage she had managed to work halfway down her leg. Then it was shower time and on with the day.

I spent the morning outside watering and weeding while Lexi sniffed her way around the yard and S raked up the branches from the magpie nest he knocked down yesterday and put in fire pit. H was headed out on a road trip to Brooks to pick up swather parts by 11.

The dogs and I headed back inside where I resumed the usual routine of marketing, cleaning, and tackling a few household jobs. Today Shaina is flying to Montreal to meet Matt who has been out in Ottawa since last Wednesday. They will attend a concert there and then head home Monday. Have fun.

By late morning I was off to town with a list of errands. I picked up a prescription, dropped off a box of goodies at the Take It or Leave It, and finally tried a chicken wrap from the new Greek place that also happens to be run by East Indians. A couple more Amazon returns were sent on their way before I dropped off a gym bag full of clothes at the homeless project.

Lunch was eaten at B's while I picked up Cooper, and I grabbed a Father's Day gift on my way home as well.

Back at the ranch around 2:30, S was already home and back at work on the swather. I headed straight to the gravel area around the raised beds armed with determination to tackle the dandelions and thistles. One full bucket later, Roo was thrilled with the harvest. I also added fertilizer and straw around my strawberry plants, which are absolutely loaded with berries.

S eventually came in looking frustrated. After driving all the way to Brooks, every part he picked up was correct except for a 70-cent O-ring. The wrong parts meant the whole trip was essentially wasted, and another road trip would be needed to return parts and get the right ones. He settled into Big Brown to track down what was needed while I moved on to watering the houseplants. Eventually he ordered parts in Calgary and will get them next week.

My search for new bedding continues, doesn't this down filled duvet look comfy? It is big enough for sure but not winter to try it out. Now I need to decide the cover color.

In BC, the birthday boy and his girls enjoyed supper at The Station - but not free birthday dinner like ours :)

Outside again, I installed a new soaker hose in the large raised bed and moved the old one over to the garden so both areas could be watered more efficiently. They're calling for rain this weekend, but around here that doesn't always mean much.

I also chopped all my spinach down hoping for regrowth but will see. It turns out horses are not fans of spinach leaves or stalks.

I finished the Every Year After series while S enjoyed a soak in the hot tub. After B arrived to feed and take Cooper home, I started watching a Noah Kahan documentary.

When S came back inside, we wrapped up the night the way we often do these days—finishing Season 3 of Clarkson's Farm together.