Secret garden hike & more Ottawa photos

Archie and Sheldon went to church, while I focused on the blog posts, taking occasional breaks to stop by the girls' store. Sharon returned Britt's bute and, after a brief visit, she was off to Medicine Hat awaiting her 3rd grandchild. We were tending to the horses when the boys came back from church, snacks in hand. Ada and I also tidied up the hay scattered in the mezzanine and down the stairs.

Sheldon managed to get into his skid steer with some help from me. Meanwhile, I watered the planters and gardens as Aislyn skillfully caught moths, nabbing eight in quick succession. The other two retreated indoors to use their devices. We had lunch while FaceTiming with Shaina, who is missing her visitors who left early this morning. She was on her way to pickup Matt's Mom's dog and exchange cars they had used for the "family" wagon.

WTH?? The hydraulics lifted while settling and covered the door

Getting the back window out took all kinds of maneuvering and hooking techniques

but eventually he got the rubber seals and window out and inside to get door accessible

SOOOO many tomatoes, now for them to ripen to get eating

I put Italian chicken pasta ingredients in the instant pot slow cooker. Then we headed out to the garden while the kids enjoyed playing with the horses and chasing moths. Kaylin sent a text confirming their safe arrival home. It was an early start, waking up at 5 am, but everyone had a wonderful time and is excited for more adventures in the future. Britt was out riding Roo around the perimeter in the breezy warmth with Cooper following along as usual.

The children and I, accompanied by two dogs, embarked on a 2km walk through our hidden forest secret garden walk. It was another warm day, with temperatures reaching 26 degrees. After circling the tree line, we returned to the deck where Sheldon joined us for a freezie, while I chose a cold drink. 

He then resumed reinstalling the window rubber seal, and the two older children retreated to their devices. Ais and I assisted Britt, who was trimming Switch’s hooves for me. I persuaded her to complete the trimming outdoors due to the heat, similar to Sheldon's exertion. Thanks, B!

Aislyn assisted in feeding the horses hay after holding Switch while I retrieved her leg cream. I then proceeded to cook noodles to accompany the crockpot supper. S contributed by shredding it, after which everything was combined and savored by all, receiving ratings from 9 to 12 out of 10, and even one 40 :) Britt even requested the recipe linked above.

I set up the kids with the Harry Potter 3 movie, but Aislyn quickly grew bored and went upstairs to socialize. Meanwhile, I cleaned up supper, and Sheldon took a nap and browsed his phone in the big brown chair. It wasn't long before the other two were up losing interest in the movie, playing games on their devices at the island. Aislyn and I played numerous rounds of Concentration with the Marvel cards Sheldon had picked up from the grocery store. He also bought watermelon for a bedtime snack, along with an assortment of baked goods. Later, I took the dogs out for a bathroom break and harvested two more kohlrabis. It was brushing teeth and relaxing in bed time after 9 today for all. S and I finished watching the 'American Playboy' series. At 90 years old, he's still the life of the Playboy mansion.

In Ontario these 2 are needing it up at a gaming pub. Could you imagine access to all those games my gamer friends?

Kaylin sent more photos from their visit east

They went to the science center too

Renn loved all the coloured lights 

and the golden poop .. not sure now how potty training may go :)