Another 30 degree day and WIND!!

just a girl and her dog <3

Oh my goodness! It’s going to be another 30-degree day today. I was awakened at 5:55 a.m. by the incessant and unpleasant squawking of the magpies. Eventually, I managed to fall back asleep, and we woke up just before 9 a.m. I brewed our coffees, and we had a chat about our plans for the day. Then, I checked if the resubscription email had been successful. To my delight, 42 people had subscribed, leaving only 900 more to go. While doing marketing I published our bottle tree tutorial. S went to check the insecticide results and it is looking good as they are starting to drop/die.

By 9:30 a.m., the temperature had already risen to a sweltering 24 degrees. While I was hand watering my plants, S brought over the last three chairs from the ranger shop. I cleaned them up, along with the table base. He had gone in for lunch, so I joined him once I was finished. I made my tuna croissant, and the house temperature had finally reached 24 degrees, so I turned on the air conditioner to keep it from rising too much. Thank goodness for it! 

S was all ready to head to his new job at SLiK Services at another neighbor’s setting up a horse shelter area. He left before 1 p.m. B was out while I was scrubbing chairs. She took Bird out for a ride in the winter pasture, then popped in to eat her lunch.

helper or hoser??

B and I went out for a ride before 2 p.m. It was 28 degrees, which was far too hot to be riding. But since my horse was in a lusher pasture, I decided to cowgirl up and go for the hot and windy ride. I cut my ride a bit shorter than B’s. Maybe it was because I was essentially riding on my own, or perhaps the heat but Switch had perfect speeds when asked, or maybe since she didn't  try to surpass the other horses. I untacked her, gave her a nice brush, and let her back with the others to take shelter in the shade. I went inside and got working on today’s blog, finishing yesterday’s with all the photos and videos uploaded.

In the city, Renn is getting wiley at water attacks on her Dad

B and Cooper were off for home at 3 as the temp moved up to 29 scorching degrees. I got to work trying to sort this new email system. It seems it is not sending my recently published bottle tree tutorial.

It hit 30 as S pulled in from his job at 4. It went well. S perused his laptop with a cold glass of water. I brought in Renn's ruler and added the markings. Be damned if the fresh pot of paint did not bleed under the stencil requiring a ton of hand touch ups.  We did venture out in the hairdryer winds to see if we could source the skid steer squeal. S thinks it is a belt tension.

Back inside I cooked up a mushroom pork chop supper. This ugly windy hot weather prompted us to have a movie night. We watched You're Cordially Invited. It was ok but typical Will Ferrel. B was back out to feed around 8 but we never even saw her as blinds closed for heat but good timing.

The wind was awful all day but at 9 I looked other west and it was so dark, not long after another huge windstorm arrived with hurricane winds. It howled for hours as we started a new series called Sirens. We watched 2 shows before S was off to Lala land and I read till midnight.

We got worms - fruit worms that is

After waking up at 7 a.m., I brewed a cup of coffee and browsed Instagram. S woke up at 9 a.m. for his coffee, porridge, and reading X.

S ventured outside, putting chips under more trees. I went to give Roo her medication, then soaked cotton rolls in an ACV mix and put them in Switch’s front feet seeing she has boots on. It was quite smoky outside. After a shower, I worked on transitioning my blog to a new mailing service. The email will be sent tonight. I chose this one as it will be free and also allows subscribers to change frequency of recieving tutorials as well as use the account to follow other blogs all in one place. My old service wants $20 USD starting tomorrow to do the same thing.

See the entire area of branches that look sucked dry? This is one of the culprits!

At 10 a.m., I went out to water my plants. I tossed Roo some hay and, as I walked back, I noticed a section of the honey crisp apple tree looking terrible. I checked around and found enough green worms to catch. I alerted S, who joined me and found that all the apple trees had these leaf rollers or fruit worms. I started hand-picking the rolled leaves, but S prefers faster results, so he drug out the pressure washer. Even with caution, he was underway until further research suggested that this wouldn’t help. 

Online sources suggested BTK- a biological bug killer, so we finished up and headed to town for lunch and a cold beverage at Origin. I signed my taxes across the street, and we were off to pick up this BTK. It is $13.99 at Home Hardware. B had texted that she had taken the day off and was at the ranch with Cooper, so we didn’t need to pick him up.

We arrived around 2:30 p.m. and found B just finishing riding Roo. S got the mix made, but my research again suggested doing early morning or evening, as the sun degrades the product easily. We moved on to the island, where we pulled some weeds and S pulled rebar from the old bottle tree. I sawed multiple bigger branches and smaller ones from the Amur tree. B trimmed and doctored a cut on Mr Jenkin’s head, then put Roo back in solitary after a brief break in the house paddock where she had moved them all to before heading home for an afternoon break.

Today is only 23, but the full-on sun feels warmer outside for sure. In fact, the high did hit 25 later in the day. I worked on today’s blog at the island while S napped in the big brown. Around 4 p.m., another fellow was out to load his truck with wood, and it took him about an hour to fill it. I also put a coat of white stain on Renn’s ruler.

Spanish lessons were worked on for both of us while I cooked a pot of pasta. Britt returned and joined us for a late supper of leftover chilli. She settled on the couch to read, while S went outside to spray the trees after 7 p.m. I mixed up my pasta salad and finished writing Wednesday’s blog post. Britt and I then headed out to ride. Earlier, she had ridden the smart car horse aka Roo, and tonight, she pulled out the Lamborghini, AKA “Bird.” Switch and Bird always vie for speed and winning, but today, Bird even tired Switch out.

When I came in from untacking and releasing Switch, S was in a big, brown, after his shower in a relaxing state. He sprayed the entire 33.3 litres of bug killer, fingers crossed. Britt continued horse care, feeding them before she and Coop were off around 9:30 p.m. I worked on blog posts, having to redo yesterday’s because it never saved. I published my resubscribe email and then moved to bed with a bowl of ice cream to finish today’s. Sheldon was researching equipment prices because he’s considering selling his stuff. He then moved to bed at 10:30 p.m. By 11 p.m., it was lights out.

Over 30 degree day!

I frequently wake up after 5 am, but usually, I can fall back asleep. Today, however, I couldn’t. I tried listening to multiple podcasts, playing brain games, and had two coffees before 7:30 am. It was another sunny yet windy day outside. Sheldon woke up after 9 am for his coffee and porridge. I gave Roo her morning medication and took off her fly mask. The winds were insane, just drying the earth to a crisp.

good morning from the Boysis babies

And Shaina's tinfoil alert system to release the chipmunk trapped in her house, 

poor little rascal was parched after all the snacks she had set out as bait.

I spent some time on marketing and tried to figure out how to send out my weekly tutorial emails to my 950 subscribers. Sheldon went outside and put chips under the five east evergreens. In the garage, I started working on the antique table. I stripped and scrubbed the tops, then set them out to dry in the sun.

I came in for a break when Sheldon was having lunch and relaxing in his big brown chair. I decided to just have a quick piece of bread and then go back to the garage.

<3 1 year ago today

Next up was a growth ruler for Miss Renn. I sanded the board but found a sharp gouge on one side, so I glued it down and left it to dry before moving on. While it dried, I came in to write today’s blog. S was off to town before 2 p.m. for doctor and lab test appointments. I continued trying to find the cheapest way to continue my free tutorials, but each option has a catch, of course.

My coffee order was delivered, and the 30-degree temperature was too much, especially with the winds howling through all the open windows. So, I kicked on the A/C for the first time this year.

for our little artist XOXO

Back to the toasty garage, I filled the gouge with wood filler. Then, I laid it out to seal the back. Once dry, I flipped it, sanded the wood filler, and coated the front and sides. I was out in the furnace like a weather hand watering my plants after feeding Harley.

A birthday parcel was delivered, and S was back before 5 p.m. as I was finishing up. He had picked up Cooper too while in town.

I headed back to the sweatshop, literally at 30 in the garage, and sanded the tabletop and shelf. I cooked up a pot of chilli for supper. Just before 6, Matt's worker called needing S to go with the skid steer to assist, so off he went.

my gifted bouquet blooming

We were just starting our second bowl of chili when a fellow arrived to buy our dining chairs before 7. I had moved them all to the front door this afternoon, so it was quick for me to help him load them up and set off back to Calgary. I finished my bowl, tidied up, and headed to relax on the bed and read. S had moved from the kitchen TV to the TV room to watch the hockey game.

The wind was wicked today, but it picked up even more as B arrived at 7:45. As she was feeding at 8, it got even worse. It was like a dust bowl tornado of the 1930s. Still, she checked everyone over as they ate, finding a huge hematoma on Switch’s neck and a cut on Roo’s butt. She washed it up, doctored it, all the while sticking it out the wind. She and Cooper headed home around 8:30.

Finally, after 7 hours running straight, I switched the A/C to 24, which shut it off. It took that long to go from a high temperature alert to 24 degrees inside. It was a crazy hot day. Now, if only it would rain. I read only until 10:30 tonight, but I’ve already read over half of this 640-page book. S was off to bed after the Oilers secured their place in the Stanley cup much to his chagrin.

Equine dental day

I woke up early on another beautiful day. I spent a bit scrolling through Instagram before making a cup of coffee and getting busy with marketing and sending in payroll and project sheets. S woke up after 9 a.m. and made a cup of coffee while perusing his phone in bed. I asked him to troubleshoot the pump that I couldn’t get to work.

The skid steer was returned as I was hand watering and S troubleshooting the pump. He drove the guy back to Matt’s. After I set up the soaker hoses, I watered the garden. B was out, she and I caught the horses and brushed them for their vet visit. S was off to do something in the ranger.

Dr. Jordan and her tech arrived just before 10 a.m. They accessed Roo, who received a great diagnosis and a check-up. Bird was up next. She didn’t need dental work, but she did get acupuncture with Dr. Ho’s treatment. Switch was accessed next. It seemed she was sore on her front right, so we decided to inject her hocks in June with irap (similar to PRP for humans). She also had her teeth floated but required three doses of tranquilizers.

Sharon and Darren arrived with Sharon’s new horse, Titan, who hadn’t had his teeth done in at least 14 years since the other lady had him. Titan was up after Switch was tied up to wear off her drugs. B and I trimmed her bridle path, which was a challenge even with her sedated. It seems the buzzing near her ears and head may indicate a tumour, as it has worsened over the years. Tomorrow, she turns 13.

Titan was done, and while his drugs wore off, everyone visited and watched B do Beibs’ teeth. She did the heart check, tranquilizer injection, and teeth float all herself. Jordan checked everything out at the end and made sure everything was good, as well as removing a bean. Surprisingly, he wasn’t happy that B had done this while tranquilized either. 

Stouts were off with Titan, and the vet mobile was off to a nearby farm to X-ray a foundered mini. As B and I put the horses into the barn paddock, she ran to town to get her FreshPrep food put away and change. I had lunch and then hydrated the wood again on Renn’s art easel. Sheldon was doing research and, after eating, headed to Matt’s again to work on a sprayer.

B returned an hour later, bringing us ice caps. They were perfect on this day, which feels hotter than 25 degrees Celsius. Thanks, B! I helped her catch the horses and put them in the barn. Jordan and Megan returned and drew the blood for the injections for Switch and Beibs. This didn’t take long, and they were off. B and I put out the hoses. She put a grazing muzzle on Roo and let her out with her buddies for a while while she cleaned all the poop out of that pen. It was about 15 minutes later when she saw Roo had the muzzle off, LOL.

Kaylin sent these adorable videos of renn at school with her BFF Yara, look at her dance moves

I had gone to the house to relax on the bed and read a book. B was in to chat for a bit, then took Cooper out to bathe after he rolled in poop. She was off to the city at 4:30 p.m. for an appointment. The wind and heat made it uncomfortable to be outside, but it was a nice day to read inside—something I hadn’t done in a very long time.

S was back and forth between Matt’s and home. He made a potato pack and put on the BBQ, along with ribs in the instant pot. Of course, he was watching hockey. B returned around 8 p.m. to feed the animals, put Roo’s fly mask on, check on the others, and then took Cooper home. I took a reading break and went for a soak in the hot tub. After I tossed some of the hay S had dumped on the road for Roo, I returned to my book and read until late. After hockey, S had a hot tub after emptying the water tank on the new evergreen and ash trees.

Skeet shooting day

It was a beautiful day at 7 am with no wind and full sun. I perused Instagram until S woke up, then he made his coffee and we headed to X. I made mine and hopped in the shower. Glen and Roxy are coming this morning to shoot skeets, so I did some quick marketing before giving Roo her meds and letting Beibs out. S was out shooting his gun after his porridge. I made lemonade and tidied the bathrooms quickly. If only I had made a banana loaf! Last-minute plans do hinder good hostessing, for sure. We always have cold beer, so that’s good. It’s already getting hot out.

horses curious as to the fellow sitting in the grass with a gun

While S mowed the septic paddock, I hand-watered my planters and raised beds.

They arrived at 10 am. Roxie and I carried the rocking chairs over as the guys set up and the visiting and shooting began. Roxie had picked up scones on the way for a tasty treat, thanks! The guys took a couple of beverage breaks and wrapped it up after two. We pulled together a BBQ burger late lunch before they headed home at 3:30 pm. S jumped in his truck and took off to his rodeo work bee. I headed to town to pick up Cooper.

Back at the house, I helped a customer with refinishing questions and then took the dogs for a walk in the balmy 24-degree weather. It felt hotter, but the lack of wind made the day magical. I tried to start the pump, but it wouldn’t work. Harley ate, but Coop was on strike. I was just coming in when some of Matt’s workers unexpectedly arrived and took the skid steer. They couldn’t get ahold of Sheldon, but Matt said it was okay. Well, that’s great if Matt said it was okay.

B was out at 7:30, suggesting a ride, which was perfect in this weather. We were just untacking when S returned after 8:30. B fed the horses and then left for home. I made a yogurt bowl for supper because S hadn’t brought anything home while in town and was off to watch some Netflix in bed. S had a couple of burgers while watching the hockey game and then went for a hot tub. I switched to reading a book and again read until midnight.

Hot and WINDY

Today promises to be a beautiful day with a high of 28 degrees Celsius. I woke up early and started making lists in my head, but I couldn’t seem to get back to sleep until 8. After coffee and taking my Roo meds, I got to work on marketing. The fellow sent the remaining shipping, so I labeled and prepared it for shipment to Ontario.

S had breakfast and chatted with Candace while I finished up yesterday’s blog. Unfortunately, the wind is still blowing, which is a real bummer. Hot and dry weather isn’t ideal for the hay field, grass, and gardens. I went outside to hand water my planters and garden. S mowed the laneway ditches while I was back at work on accounting and marketing. Shaina FaceTimed me for a nice catch-up.

I drove to town at noon to pick up Cooper and drop off the Etsy parcel. My car indicated 30 degrees on the way home, but the rest of the weather forecast predicts 28 degrees. Regardless of the temperature, it’s like a scorching hot windstorm outside.

Back home, I began dark staining the two chairs. A severe thunderstorm warning had been issued, so I alerted S, who went outside to put the fireball in the shop and other items. He also finished mowing the laneway, as it seemed he had only done one pass each way earlier. Afterward, he ran the grader down the road.

I finished staining the chairs and then moved on to a quick bit of marketing and blog work. While my riding videos uploaded, I took the dogs for a walk in this crazy hot wind. Back at the house, they were fed and went inside to nap. S sent me photos from yesterday’s ride, so I cropped, edited, and uploaded them, and the post was published.

Sausage was cooked on the BBQ in the wind. We watched the music awards until S ran to get mail and stopped at a neighbour’s for a work quote. I put on a second coat of stain on the chairs. B didn’t make it out to feed and give meds until after 9, having a board meeting after work. The winds had lessened a bit but at least no hail arrived. I was planting up my rooted basil plants. She did a quick horse care and was off before 10. I started a new book in the “Court of Thorns” series, lent to me by B while S watched hockey. I read until midnight :)

Big dresser sale!

I woke up early again, as sunny days tend to do. I spent some time scrolling through Instagram before making a cup of coffee. I took it to my desk and started working on marketing and catching up with the vintage bar case guy. A couple of people were interested in the large black dresser and headboard and have planned to come see it today. I also responded to a few other inquiries about pieces.

This was actually yesterday morning but it got missed. Big girls breakfast time.

I got dressed and headed outside to water my pots and raised beds. This required moving hoses, but I managed to get it done. I also turned on the pump in the back yard, where the tire marks remain. S was up with a coffee in bed, doing Spanish before having breakfast. I fed Harley and was giving Roo her morning medication when S left for church. Matt came in to return the dump trailer after 9:30.

I worked on tutorials and blog posts while moving the sprinkler. The chair was brought in, and I love the darker colour. The other five chairs will be hauled in to scrub and stain. Our current chairs were posted for sale. The wind picked up stopping the sprinkler moving.

S returned home from church with a few groceries after 11:30. He had lunch while I waited, having already had two PB&H toasts earlier. 

Nathan sent pictures from his and Renn's adventures at Granary Road. This is the family active learning park that was 5 minutes from where B used to live over near Millarville.

Nate titled these "Renn Deere"

S helped me move a couple of pieces around in the garage to make room for the black dresser viewing. He then went outside to hook the truck to the little trailer with bale on it with the broken strings, making it easier to unload for buyer later. Another person was at the gate, whom he met and loaded up with some of the poplar wood we have stockpiled. While waiting for the couple to arrive, I tidied the garage.

They arrived after 1 with their dad. They loved the dresser and loaded it and the mirror up. Then, they all came in to see the coffee table I have for sale. They will go home, measure, and decide on it. They will also follow my page as they need more things. And they paid in cash—win-win!

Oh No! half this big tree winter killed!

I hauled down two more wooden dining chairs as S tied baler twine around the bale. S started mowing the lawn while I moved everything off, including 300 feet of hose and the sprinkler. His bale guy arrived, stopping his mowing, but that’s fine. I scrubbed up the chairs, wiped them dry, and set them outside in the sunshine to dry. Then, I hosed down the garage floor.

B was out before 3 as the bale guy finished cinching down his load and headed off. She gave Roo her meds, S returned to mowing, and I continued organizing my stock. B suggested a ride, so we all headed out for a bug-free ride in the hurricane winds. 

B pulled this splinter out of Roo's hip!!

My view

Sheldon took these photos while riding

I wore my hat to keep the sun off but it was a challenge in this blustery winds for sure

After our ride, B trimmed Switch and Bird's feet and did her horse care including feeding and meds, S finished mowing the grass and I prepped burgers for supper. B headed for home before 7. I vacuumed the main floor while S gave Harley a well needed bath. We watched a movie called Another Simple Favor. We started another movie but S was asleep in short order so I watched more LIB. The wind continued to blow.