Appointments, Harvest Bound & A New Project

As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, I know I may not be automatically waking around 7 for much longer. This morning I was already running through my lists in my head when S’s alarm went off after 7:30. He got dressed and headed off to the city for his knee appointment at the university, followed by getting his new cowboy hat reshaped.

I made a coffee and got to work on the weekend blogs while letting the horses out to join the herd. I finally fit in my workout too, after a four-day hiatus, and then made up some pumpkin-banana loaves.

S was back from the city before noon with his freshly shaped cowboy hat and a muffin from Tim’s for me. We waited for the loaves to come out of the oven, then loaded Harley and headed to town. Neither of us had eaten yet, so I ordered Opa to eat in the truck outside of the vet clinic.

Harley had her checkup with Dr. Jodi, who prescribed Apoquel for her seasonal allergy itchiness and Tobradex for her goopy allergy eye. She also received her rabies vaccine, along with a one-month dose of Librela, the new joint-pain medication for her arthritis, and a dewormer to give her in a few days.

Harley has gained a little weight, weighing in at 62.5 kg (137.5 pounds). I'm hoping the medications give her some relief from the arthritis pain and get her feeling good enough to have more interest in walking again, which would hopefully help her shed a few of those extra pounds.

After paying the $$$ vet bill, we headed back to the ranch. S hooked up the trailer and pulled it around front while I gathered food for him to take along. He packed up clothes and coveralls, along with, of course, 30 beers, and before he headed out we enjoyed a cold one together on the deck.

The day had turned out absolutely beautiful - 24°C and full-on sunshine. Great weather for the Green group to river float, even if it is September 1 tomorrow. AND I forgot to share the big piece of information we learned this weekend from his Mom - Matthew has a middle name and it is Barry. :) Update your records family!

S pulled out of the yard as I fed Harley her supper at 4:15. He planned to stop for a few more groceries on his way east.

Meanwhile, Amanda had been tagging me in lots of free furniture, but one dresser finally caught my eye. The fellow wanted it picked up ASAP, so off to town I went.

drawers are totally in wrong order :)

I had hoped to grab my library book while I was there, but after parking I discovered the door was locked. Closed Mondays. Of course! So on to the dresser pick up.

On the way home, somehow a few turns mysteriously landed me at DQ. Amanda had been raving about the new caramel apple cheesecake Blizzard, so I figured I should give it a try. Research, obviously. ;)

I ate it while checking No Frills for pumpkin spice creamer, but no luck there either, so I continued home.

The dresser was a great size to fit in my car, and once I got home, getting it out by myself without scratching the car turned into quite the hilarious struggle. But I managed it and got all the drawers put in correctly.

It turns out the dresser is in pretty rough shape, but I really like the mid-century modern style, and I already know it can look great with some love. 

Once the dresser was safely inside, I finally got to enjoy the lovely evening. I took Harley for a walk because the weather was just too beautiful not to, and of course Stella joined us too.

I chatted with Mom while she was driving to AJ’s when B arrived to quickly feed and then head for home.

Tonight I opted for reading as my evening entertainment. A nice quiet way to end the day.

S texted that he was all set up and ready to start harvesting at 7 tomorrow morning.

Enjoy the harvest time, S. 

Games, Garden Tomatoes & a Little Scare

My auto internal alarm woke me after 7, but I managed to rest for another hour before getting dressed and heading out to finish and post the blog. I was unloading the dishwasher when Matt popped up with the rest of the company not long after.

I got the bacon going in the oven and picked the first of the tomatoes from the garden just as it started to sprinkle. Finally! After waiting and watching those tomatoes forever, we have our first one. Coffee and tea were served as everyone started waking and getting moving.

Shaina cooked the scrambled eggs and S made the toast once he finally got up—last of all, after 10! The rain sprinkles came and went, but it left behind one of those yucky, dreary days. S started a fire, so we gathered around it for some visiting before moving back to the table for more games.

Shaina opted out of the last round of Pass the Ace so she could catch Mac and work with her. Once the game ended, Matt joined her and Betty headed out for a bit too. I took advantage of the cool weather and cut a bucket of sunflowers for Shaina to take home.

Everyone was packing up as Shaina finished her last things and was about to let Mac out when she suddenly noticed her choking. I went out to help, and eventually Mac managed to swallow the “cookies.”

Whew! That was a scary half hour, especially right when everyone was getting ready to leave. Good thing Shaina noticed this.

It immediately reminded me of Baby, another of Shaina's horses, choking on an apple years ago. I ended up putting a garden hose in her throat to dislodge it as per our vet, although B was quick to remind me, “Don’t do that again!” LOL. Probably good advice.

It also brought back a completely different choking memory of my own. I once had a pill stuck in my throat and nothing I tried would move it. At the ER, the doctor handed me a can of Coke to drink and almost instantly it dissolved and cleared. Funny how a moment like this can bring back memories you haven't thought about in years.

The Jeep headed off toward the city beneath dark skies, with thunder and lightning rumbling to the west. Back inside, Sheldon was napping on the couch in front of the fire while I worked on today’s blog with another half caff coffee. B popped out quickly to feed and then headed back home.

In the city, the Boysis's were serenaded during supper by a traveling minstrel <3

For supper, I cooked up some super-healthy bison liver to go with all the leftover vegetables. Not the fanciest meal, but definitely a good way to use up the leftovers and keep things nutritious.

trying out some Instagram photo tips, kinda cool picture

A hot tub and some relaxing in bed watching more Lioness with a big yogurt and frozen fruit bowl rounded out the day.

It was a quieter ending after such a busy weekend of family, games and visiting. The weather may have spoiled our plans for a campfire, but the fire inside kept us cozy, and after that little scare with Mac, having everyone safely on their way home was more than enough reason to call it a good day.

Shaina shared another Snapchat memory, these ones are 5 years ago today <3

House Guests & a Night of Cards

Early morning sunshine and the magpies started the day, which encouraged me to get up and make coffee before settling in with some marketing and a little blog time. S slept late, enjoying some extra time in bed with his coffee and phone.

I headed outside to let the horses out and fill the water troughs, treating everyone to some apples while I was at it. There are not as many apples this year, but the birds seem determined to sample any that are growing. Most of the nice ones now have at least one bird peck in them. GRRRR!

S eventually made his way out to join me, sitting on the deck in the sunshine with his devices.

Be still my <3, Shaina has this video of Renn avoiding sidewalk cracks from 2 years ago today!

He bathed Harley while I dug potatoes and onions for supper. He then mowed the little patches of grass that are growing in the shade around the fire pit while I remade our bed. Just another day of us tackling our own little jobs around the ranch.

S was soon back inside watching baseball, while I got busy with lunch and supper preparations. I prepped the potatoes for the BBQ, made the salad fixings, whipped up our favourite balsamic dressing and prepared the zucchini dish.

The Jeep rolled in after 2:30 and the visiting began. Once the sun returned after a little reprieve, we enjoyed some time on the deck while Shaina and Matt caught Mac and Jimmy and introduced them to his Mom Betty and her husband Tony, visiting from Ottawa.

S & M walked the horses to the gate and back

Britt joined us too, doing her feeding and then coming over to visit on the deck. It was a beautiful afternoon for everyone to catch up.

Shaina prepped a most delicious warm corm salad for supper too. Supper was enjoyed inside, and unfortunately the weather decided that our outdoor plans were over. The wind had picked up and the temperature cooled down, albeit with yet another amazing sunset, so instead of a campfire, we moved on to games inside.

And there were lots of card games and lots of laughs.

B eventually headed home around 11, but we weren't ready to quit. The games continued until after 1 a.m.! 

I settled down to read for a while, while Betty seemed to enjoy some tablet time. I’m not sure about Shaina, but the guys quickly drifted off to sleep.

A long day that started with sunshine, apples, gardens and chores ended well past midnight with family, friends, cards and laughter. No campfire tonight, but honestly, the sound of everyone laughing around the table was a pretty good substitute.

Shaina shared these photos of their trip to Banff yesterday

Cleaning, Zucchini & a Night Under the Full Moon

A wee bit of reading started the day before I moved on to coffee and socials. Then it was time to get productive. I set the robot vacuum going and started the cleaning while the horses were let out, taking a pile more pea plants I had pulled along the way and a bag of veggie tops with them. The horses were more than happy to take care of the garden leftovers!

Back inside, laundry was on the go and the robot moved on to more rooms. We headed outside where S loaded up all the recyclables while I did some hand watering. I also found four perfect-sized zucchinis ready to pick. My hand-pollinating is working!

With the onions, dill and cilantro now all pulled from the big raised bed, I reworked the soaker hose and got it watering properly again. I did the same with the in-ground bed. It feels good to get things rearranged as the garden changes through the season.

Linens were changed on the beds and the bathrooms cleaned while S made grilled cheese for lunch and caught up on the news. I was once again a few days behind, so after lunch I uploaded the videos for Wednesday and finally got that blog posted. A little more tidying and a few more loads of laundry and we were ready to jet into town.

S dropped me off before 2 to get my nails refreshed while he dropped off the recyclables and ran a few errands, including picking up some last-minute weekend necessities like milk and eggs. While waiting for him to pick me up, I grabbed us a couple of Tim’s iced coffees.

Back at the ranch, it was back to laundry and directing the robot around for some spot cleaning while S caught a nap in Big Brown.

The winery was having a party we had been invited to, with food trucks planned for supper. This was yet another thing I would have been perfectly okay with missing, but S had his heart set on going… so off we went!

We took the Ranger and found lots of people and plenty of dogs enjoying the event. There was a bit of a hiccup with the food truck—it had apparently been double-booked—but thankfully it finally arrived around 7:30 because by then we were both starving!

Mexican food it was for supper, along with live music from a young girl who was very good. There was also birthday cake for owner Phil’s 48th and, of course, lots of cold refreshments.

Thanks, guys, for the fun night!

We headed home under the full moon, settled in for another episode of Lioness, and eventually called it a night.

A day that started with cleaning, laundry and garden chores ended with Mexican food, music, birthday cake and a party under a full moon. I may have been perfectly happy to stay home, but sometimes the prince knows when it’s time to get out and enjoy ourselves—and tonight, I'm glad we did.

Bull Riding, Pumpkin Spice & Another Summer Scorcher

S said he was aiming to be back in town by 10, but as I was up making us coffees at 8:30, he changed his mind. It was suddenly, “I better get there.” He showered and was tapping his toe, ready to go, while I finished my coffee and got myself ready too, with the off chance of staying to watch the bull riders again. I fed Harley and let the horses out just in case, because you never know where the day might take us.

When we got to town, there were water puddles everywhere. Turns out they had received rain and hail overnight while we once again got absolutely nothing. Of course. It also turned out S had forgotten his truck keys in his haste to get going. So I drove him to the rodeo office, where he brought me back a pumpkin spice muffin—worth the trip! I then dropped him at his truck, where at least he could use the door code to get his gloves for cracking chute gates today.

I came back home and got busy marketing my latest tutorial and working on the blogs. It was only 20°C when I dropped S off, but already 27°C by the time I was home. Looks like another scorcher ahead.

Hank's new pony rasp arrived in last nights parcel

I also chopped up some bison tongue and liver to make Harley a few meals, along with some broth I had made for her. She certainly isn't lacking for homemade food around here!

After noon, I packed up some cold drinks and headed back into town for the second day of bull riding at rodeo school. The improvement in the riders from yesterday was immense. You could really see them gaining confidence and getting better with each ride.

Once the riding wrapped up, we once again gathered for cold refreshments and visiting with the group. Lots of laughs carried on for another hour or so at Boreham’s trailer before the five of us headed to Road House for supper.

Once again, supper came with plenty of laughs, stories and good company. These spontaneous rodeo-school days certainly weren't what I had planned when I woke up, but they have turned into some pretty great days.

After supper, we headed back to the ranch, passing B on her way out from feeding around 8:30. S headed straight for the hot tub while I fed Harley and the cats and watched a bit of Surfer Girl until he came in.

Then it was another episode of Lioness, checking one more off the list before calling it a night.

Two days of bull riding school, friends, cold drinks, good food and more laughs than planned. My little “just say yes”challenge is definitely paying off. Sometimes saying yes to an unexpected invitation gives you a much better day than pulling weeds and yard work.

Just Say Yes: Bull Riding, Backyard Carrots & an Unexpected Evening

Mornings are definitely getting cooler, with the windows open all night, and of course the sun is up early along with the dang magpies. Today I opted not to scroll Instagram with my first coffee but instead curled up with my book. A much nicer way to start the morning!

S woke, made his coffee, got dressed and shaved, and was off to rodeo school by 9, hoping to get in on the Tim’s promised coffee and donuts at the grounds.

I published a blog post as well as the tutorial for Kaylin’s IKEA organizer, then shared it up on the various sites before heading out to release the ponies. I pulled more pea plants and sunflowers, both of which the horses were very happy to help dispose of. I also harvested a few of the first carrots, with varying degrees of success. Dang! They may not win any beauty contests, but they’ll be eaten, odd-looking and all. :)

Back inside, I turned my attention to marketing, something that has been neglected for far too long. After a bowl of leftovers, I headed back outside because it was simply far too nice to stay indoors. I scooped poop, pruned some branches and was pulling weeds in the island when S texted that I should come watch the bull riders at rodeo school.

And there it was—another impromptu decision in my personal challenge to just say yes.

I quickly changed and drove into the rodeo grounds. I met up at a friend’s trailer, and she and I walked over together and found seats under an umbrella, which was absolutely perfect on this 29°C day. The agricultural staff were videoing each ride, while Donny Jo and Scott Schifner critiqued each one.

It was quite the challenge for the riders, ages 16-21with varying levels of experience taking on different bulls, steers and cows. There was even one girl brave enough to ride three!

Scott talking to the young girl with Sheldon just off to the right 

Once the clinic ended for the day, we all enjoyed a few ice-cold refreshments at the rodeo office. Somehow that morphed into heading back to our friend’s trailer, where the fellows had Caesars while Bev threw a pasta casserole in the oven along with hot garlic bread and tossed salad.

THANK YOU!! It was so tasty.

There were lots of stories, laughter and visiting, and before we knew it, it was time to head home. I was the designated driver and safely got us back to the ranch around 10.

Once home, I settled down with my book after finally forcing Harley outside for a pee following her long quarantine inside. Apparently B hadn’t even popped in while she was out feeding, so Harley had been holding it for quite some time!

S was sound asleep almost immediately, while I squeezed in a little more reading before calling it a night. The winds picked up and thunder rolled but nothing happened.

Another day that didn't quite go according to plan—and another reminder of why I'm enjoying this little “just say yes”challenge. I could have stayed home pulling weeds, but instead I ended up sitting under an umbrella watching bull riders learn their craft, sharing laughs and stories with friends, and enjoying an unexpected supper.

Sometimes the best days are the ones you didn't plan for.

Cool Mornings, Rodeo School & a Birthday Helmet

The open windows bring much colder air in the mornings. They also seem to amplify the annoying magpies raiding the apple trees and gardens while making their racket. Nothing like being woken up by a flock of feathered thieves!

S was up, made us coffee, ate some cereal and was out the door by 8:30, heading to the rodeo grounds—otherwise known as his second home. It’s rodeo school week, so I suspect I won’t be seeing much of him around here for the next little while.

I did the usual morning routine of blog posting, pet care and housekeeping while a beautiful day was getting underway. It really is amazing how much no wind and sunshine can change your energy and outlook. After all those blustery days, the calm felt wonderful.

My workout followed, then I got ready to meet Sharon and Coreena for C’s birthday lunch. I headed to town after 11, and Coreena and I had a good visit for over half an hour before I finally called Sharon, who had completely forgotten about our lunch! LOL. She made it over, and by 1:30 we wrapped things up and all headed our separate ways.

I did a grocery run before heading back to the ranch.

Once home, I was watering the tomatoes and planters when S arrived before 4. I dug potatoes and pulled onions for the Calgary kids and hosed everything off, getting their veggie load ready to box up.

Shaina and Matt arrived after 5:30 and brought S the right size hockey helmet for his birthday. He was pretty excited about it and immediately got it fitted to his noggin while enjoying a beer and visit with Shaina and Matt.

Then it was time to head out and catch Mac for her evening lessons and walk, with a very helpful Harley along for the adventure. Thanks for walking her too, guys!

Just a few girls relaxing in the sunshine

Fresh herbs and the picked veggies, darn scab, thankfully it is easily removed.

I had supper ready just after 7, with Britt joining us after her work day. After eating and more visiting, B headed out to feed, with Shaina going along to help before they caught Mac again. Jimmy was also brought into the barn, where B kindly did her front feet even though her back is still killing her from doing Hank’s feet a few weeks ago.

Matt found a little time during the golden hour to simply sit and watch the horses. There’s something about that time of day at the ranch that makes even a busy evening slow down for a moment.

B headed home first around 9, with S and M soon following with their load of vegetables. S headed for a hot tub soak while I watched some Surfer Girls, and then we wrapped up the evening with Lioness.

Only this time, I was the one who tucked out first.

After a day of sunshine, friends, family, horses, garden produce and plenty of visiting, I think I had earned it.

From Windy Drudgery to a Golden-Hour Evening

The wind blew through the night and right into today. Yuck. After my coffee, I finally published the last vacation blog—whew! That feels like a pretty big accomplishment after all those vacation days to catch up on. The ponies were released and cats and dog fed as per every morning.

grass cut always looks nice and the rain gave it some green again

S pressure-washed the Fireball and then his truck before putting the Fireball back up on the lift, while I tackled the drudgery laundry. Glamorous ranch life!

He came in for lunch before heading to town for a doctor’s appointment, hockey and his usual coffee klatch. I had a sandwich and then got busy in the garage, rearranging my furniture under the lift after sweeping the floors.

From there, I somehow wandered down an Ancestry rabbit hole after Vance had me share his login information. Many things needed updating, especially with new DNA connections and deaths. :( 

After 3:30, I loaded up Harley and off we went to see Murray, our horse chiropractor. He was kind enough to fit her in after hearing that the dog chiropractor had some issues that required a vet referral. A couple of adjustments later and we were on our way.

I stopped at McDonald’s so I could get a pineapple refresher, although that turned into more of an ordeal than expected. I had somehow been logged out of my app, then discovered I was out of phone storage, all while Sheldon happened to pop his head in the window because he was arriving to meet his hockey buddies for coffee. He continued inside while I battled with my phone, eventually gave up and headed home. Sometimes technology just isn't worth the aggravation!

I let Harley out at the gate and let her wander home while I made her supper, then picked some more zucchini for ours. Thankfully, by then the wind had finally settled into just a breeze. I gave Harley her Cartrophen shot too now that she was adjusted.

While Stella ate, I managed to cut quite a few mats out of her fur with the scissors. Not a pretty look but I bet it feels better. S was home after 5:30, and we soon got supper underway.

It was delicious—salmon on the BBQ with all the little zucchini I could find, onions and garden-fried potatoes. B popped in to enjoy some of the extra veggies before heading off to feed her herd.

And then, just like that, the day redeemed itself.

The evening had turned absolutely beautiful. The wind was gone, the sunshine was glorious and everything was bathed in that warm golden light that makes the ranch feel extra special. Sitting on the deck was completely tranquil after the blustery day we'd endured.

The hot tub came next as the sun continued its slow descent, followed by a shower and another couple episodes of Lioness.

A day that started with yucky wind, laundry and frustrating technology ended with garden supper, a calm deck, golden sunshine and a beautiful sunset. I'll take that ending any day.

Cake, Catch-Up & a Windy Birthday Visit

Happy cake day to my little (but taller) sister Amanda! Hope you have an amazing day filled with family, fun and lots of reasons to smile. ❤️

After coffee and S heading off to church, I settled into a morning of blog catch-up and accounting, with a couple of ranch breaks in between to feed the pets and let the horses out. I published Friday’s blog, finished up the last vacation day, and also completed yesterday’s medieval adventure. Slowly but surely, I’m getting caught up!

The day was overcast but horribly windy. Boo. The kind of wind that makes everything outside just a little more difficult.

I was finishing up my workout when S rolled in around 12:30 with Opa, which I had ordered after what turned out to be a lengthy after church visit. S ate his wrap watching baseball then hit the couch.

I spent the afternoon taking care of plants inside and out while S mowed the yard. Watering plants and digging in the garden with that wind felt like having a hairdryer blowing in my face, especially once the temperature climbed to 27°C. Not exactly ideal gardening weather!

B was out to ride and do her horse things, finishing up and heading home before supper. I had a roast beef sandwich while S took the Ranger out for a drive, then I settled back in with my new library book, tuning out the heavy winds.

I dug a couple of hills of potatoes and pulled some onions for the Paetz family, then cut a big sunflower bouquet for the birthday girl. Nothing says summer quite like a giant bunch of sunflowers!

S changed his clothes, had a sandwich and then we headed to town, stopping at the liquor store to pick up some refreshments before heading over to visit Amanda and the family for her birthday.

And of course, there was ice cream cake—which was delicious! Thanks! 🎂

We eventually headed home around 11, where I settled back in with my book for a little more reading before calling it a night. It was raining in town when we left but of course not at the ranch!

A windy day, but a good one. A little blog progress, some garden and ranch chores, homegrown vegetables shared with family, a birthday celebration and ice cream cake. Sometimes the simplest celebrations are the sweetest.

Knights, Jousting & an Unexpected Medieval Saturday

While having coffee this morning, S happened to notice a reminder that the Medieval Festival was happening in Strathmore today. Another last-minute, impromptu event! I quickly published our last full day of vacation blog, jumped in the shower, fed Harley and the cats, and we were out the door after 10:30, hoping to make it in time for the 11:15 jousting.

As we got closer to the rodeo grounds, it became pretty obvious that half this following was way bigger than we expected. Traffic was backed up to the lights and the line to get in was just as impressive. Eventually we parked way out in the boonies, walked all the way around and then down the long lineup to get to the end rather than going straight there. LOL. By then the line stretched down 817 about a quarter of the way down the high school football field.

It took more than half an hour to finally reach the gate, where the medieval experience really began. There were people in costume everywhere, and I would easily say 85% of the crowd was completely committed to the costume role-playing. It was quite the sight!

There were areas showing all sorts of medieval skills and activities—a stew being cooked over an open fire, metal being forged with bellows, a wooden boat with its sail, hand carving, sewing and all kinds of demonstrations. The marketplace was another whole adventure, with real swords, helmets, costumes, crystals and every sort of role-playing item imaginable.

We did manage to buy some very expensive coolers from a distillery we have bought from before. We probably should have asked the price first, because we bought eight bottles for $41! Oops. Apparently we were feeling medievally reckless.

The food truck lineups were about 50 people deep everywhere, so we decided food could wait and headed to the beer gardens for a cold drink instead. We sat in the grandstands and watched the armed skills demonstration before heading to the truck to meet Leonard and Ina for a late lunch at the Roadhouse.

 

 Full challenge video

The day had started out pleasantly cool at 20°C, but just as forecast, around 3 o’clock the sun came out and the temperature climbed to 28°C. Beauty!

We made our way back to the festival around 3:30 to get a seat for the 4:30 jousting performance. Good thing we went straight up to the grandstands instead of getting caught in one of those 30-deep beer lineups, because the stands were already almost full and people just kept coming. Before the show started, the “herald” even had everyone scooch over so they could squeeze more people in.

Then came the main event.

The knights came out in full armour and put on quite a show. Horses, armour, weapons and jousting—it was a pretty unique spectacle and worth the effort of getting there.

Once it ended, we picked up our coolers and made our way home. Chips and dip were had while we played a couple of games of crib, but S soon got hooked on the Jays game. I took advantage of the quiet time to work on today’s blog.

I was just taking Harley out for a much-needed walk when B arrived. She headed out to ride Roo in the dimming golden hour while I continued my never-ending battle with the weeds, pulling away at them one small chunk at a time. As I keep reminding myself, you eat an elephant one bite at a time!

Once back inside, we started Lioness again while B finished her ride, fed up and headed home. We made it through a couple of episodes before S was out.

I started a new surf-girl series instead, enjoying the tropical views and a little armchair escape before calling it a night.

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday that wasn't even on the agenda when we woke up. One minute we were having coffee, and the next we were dodging traffic, watching knights joust and wandering through a medieval village. Sometimes days you jut have to try something unexpected.