Horse ride and trims

I had another restless sleep and when I looked out around 12:45 as the coyotes were howling I saw a deer chowing down in the apple tree. I could not get a really clear picture so crept out on the deck to get one but he took off: a big buck. I took a sleep aid and crawled back in to bed. S was up and made coffee after 7 delivering one in bed to me, thanks. He drank his cup and made a lunch then unloaded the ranger and unhooked the trailer. He was off for his hand gun course in Cheadle.

I had gone and fed H and J who had spent a quiet night in the garage (well H did scratch to come in once at midnight) J is only happy in the garage if he has a buddy. Marketing was up next while I uploaded a passle of photos from yesterday.

Laundry got going then it was on to writing a tutorial to post for the gold stenciled chair that has yet to sell. This then has to be sent and posted in all the required spots. I decided to head out and take some stuff to the trailer and was VERY happy to see Stella come running to the door (with Gully close behind). YEAH!! I am not sure how this cat triangle will play out; it has its challenges and stresses for me and her only I think.

3 horses racing video

I ran the wagon full of apple branches to the pit and let the horses out to roam the hay field in the full-on sunshine. What a beauty day even at only 12 out. I put stuff in the trailer, emptied and scrubbed up the cooler from yesterday, watered my planters and last 2 zucchini plants, put the sprinkler on "Britt" tree then Harley got a good bath. Her bed was vacuumed, and her bedding washed and changed.

Pepper makes his way to the herd

I had a yogurt bowl lunch while writing the blog and keeping the laundry going. The day is just so lovely with zero wind or clouds and now up to 19 degrees. Makes me want to be camping right now but Sheldon's gun course is running over time. I was finishing up watering all indoor plants when B arrived just before 2:30 with S right behind her. He heated up a big dish of ribs and veggies having ate all his lunch and still hungry. Dave arrived not long after having his first Sunday off racing in Lacombe in a long time. He visited for a bit before heading out to help Britt who was trimming Beibs feet.

S and I headed out, S helped Dave hook up the dump trailer then jumped in the tractor. These two headed off to the neighbors to load 5 more of the bales Dave had there. Britt and I caught horses, tacked up and set off for our ride in the amazing weather right behind them. She and I and the dogs of course looped our pasture then went thru the winery and back where I went out mid pasture to retrieve the orange ball the coyotes stole again. Back at the barn we just were untacking as S pulled in from loading bales with one on the tractor.

B and I trimmed Switch and Roo's feet which caused allot of sweating. S sat on the chair perusing his phone for campgrounds with hiking but he did drive ranger to house to get us a cold drink. B fed the other 2 and Roo then all were put back in the paddocks. It was now after 5 so I fed H and moved my sprinkler to another batch of shrubs. B trimmed Bird before she headed home. I packed up clothes and took to the trailer then S moved it to in front of the house for me to load fridge items.

I cooked supper along with some hard-boiled eggs to take along camping. Seems hockey has started so S was happy to flip between ball, hockey and the news. I continued to load items in the trailer... this may bite me in the butt when I have to unload in a few days. The sunset was yet another amazing one. Dave was back to load the bale S brought back after getting another load at 8.

Found a new off road area

It was wonderful to wake to no wind and sun, today is our ATV day. I let out Stella fed Harley as S made coffee. I put a few swipes of wood filler on the dresser top. 

See how the primer dries clear? And the circles all over the top were filled.

S packed beverages while I packed snacks and after 10 we had Harley loaded and on our way west. There was a plan to leave H for the day as B would be out and had offered to take a Paetz child along but they were busy so H was in. As I was letting B know I asked if she might want to join us which came back as a surprising yes as long as Cooper could come. Well sure but dogs in the dogs will have to ride in the back. We picked up B and Coop and moved the windshield to the ranger. I had been saying my gut says not to do that but rather leave in quilt and B just have to fit her legs behind it. S chose to put it on the SXS so we rearranged H's thick bed and blankets, coolers etc for all to fit in the back seat.

We headed off at 10:45, we were just about 15 minutes down the road when B looked back to see the windshield was cracked in 3 lines!!!! OMG that was a huge ball sucker. I called a dealer and found out a new one was $1065 plus GST! This was not a great way to start the ATV trip at all but we carried on after stopping to pull out H thick bad to put it on in the back with her quilt over it and ratcheted down. 

We arrived at Waiprous South Ghost staging area before 12:30. Ranger was loaded up with snacks, drinks, dogs and people. B chose to ride in the back with the dogs on the cushy thick bed. Off we set with a photo of the trails on my phone. The trail north was designated for all ATV vehicles including trucks which really makes for lots of ruts and open dry areas.

heading out video

There was a group of bikers that would pass then us pass them and so on. One of the times they had a fellow broke down and required our assistance and tool kit. S helped the guy fix his bike and we all were off.

we stopped for a refreshment break

break was in the shade for the backseat crew to cool off

S wanted to see the campground, so we took that route. There was a huge open view at the top of the hill to stop and check out and eat more licorice.

Surprisingly there was an off-road fair going on with maps, stickers info and even free chili lunch with bun, drink, cookies etc. This was where our luck turned around yet again seeing we did not pick up lunch in Cochrane as planned as our minds were a bit frazzled after the windshield incident. After the stop we loaded up and headed across the bridge and up to see the campground. 

The luck turned bad once again as the fish police stopped us. Sheldon's good acting did manage to get us off the threatened $600 plus in tickets (B riding in the back, no helmet/seatbelt nor did S have his seat belt on) the one officer said he would not give seeing S looked like a nice guy. Good thing they did not check the cooler :) 

B now moved to the middle seat giving the dogs more room to stretch in the back. Change of plans to not loop around the east side but head back the way we came. At the option of taking a green trail we voted it would be better than wide bumpy dusty trail. Our choice gave us winding challenging but oh so scenic options. 

check out these 2 videos of the bushwacker

There were 2 areas where things got a bit hairy and sure enough if the biker brigade did not help us with them. It was yin/yang karma kinda day. This view was so worth the ups/downs of today, it truly was a $1000 view.

Just look at this video view

We made it safely back to our truck at 6 pm having travelled 50 kms. Everything was unloaded/loaded and 5 dusty passengers made the journey back west. We stopped in Cochrane so I could run in and get us burgers and sweet potato fries for the ride home. We dropped B and Coop at their door 10 hours after picking them up and we were back to the ranch at 8:30.

I took a load in and fed the hungry H with J coming in to stay the night with her too. Then I went to find the other 2. Gulliver was found but no Stella. S did come out to help look for a bit but at 9 I gave up and came in to take a well needed shower. The barn was left open for her to go in as well as G. It was then into bed to relax and watch my iPad while S drifted off to sleep.

Lots of projects on the go

No horses to let out today as they all get to be together. H was fed and we enjoyed a cup of coffee in bed with a facetime from Shaina who was hiking in UK in a beautiful lake area. Great way to start the day <3. The month has past fast as she will be home Monday.

After the call I moved on to marketing and S researching a SXS trip down Coaldale way. In the end thought the 5+ hours driving there and back alone had the trip postponed till later in the healing journey but does sound like lots of trails and options. In the garage I pushed glue into the bubbling drawer front veneer and clamped in hopes of flattening a bit.

S went out to pump the last of the diesel out of the tank seeing gas goes up tomorrow then remembered that doesn't affect farm fuel. I was working on the blog when Kaylin arrived with the pups. We walked for a bit then B and Coop arrived. Lexi needed an anti-itch shot from nurse B. A short visit ensued before K and the pups were off back to the city for another appointment at noon.

the other 3 played in the usual chaotic games

I grilled us up some chicken and cheese melts on the homemade bread for lunch with B joining us. After lunch she was off to ride Roo, me to sand the dining table top I hauled back out and S to nap on the couch.

the table was very sticky to slide so added some "grease"

the wood chipper hard at work

After her ride B helped me carry the tabletop back in then fed and headed home at 2:30. Once S was awake, he went out to mow the longer parts of the grass and put mowers away for the season. I hand sanded the dresser, filled chips in the veneer and glued more lifted veneer areas.

The sun went behind clouds midafternoon. S was back in to get in another nap after mowing. I browned up some bison short ribs and put in the oven, picked a basket of apple as and made 2 fresh pies then bottled and brewed a batch of kombucha.

The sun was back out but the winds picked up. Burying compost and feeding the horses the cores led to pulling the yellow zucchini plants and more spent flowers. S got the skid steer after his nap and we put the big stack of vines in the bucket and he drove them to the pit them back for a load of all my garden plants. He then loaded the SXS on the trailer that he hooked to the truck as I trimmed the thunder hill apple tree and cut off all tree shoots popping up around the yard.

Back inside I cooked up the fresh potatoes I dug from the garden and chopped the tiny yellow zucchini I picked off before tossing the plants. Supper was delicious. I vacuumed and washed the floor while S washed the pots up.

After supper S ran to get the mail as it has been weeks since we got it and I was back working on the dresser clear coating it to prevent bleed thru after sanding wood filler and wiping. Once back he put the boys in the barn and Stella followed him back to the garage then he was in to watch baseball.

this is the veneer flat and dry from this am

the primer is clear.. but goes on white to help with coverage

I finished up the dresser around 8:30 and came in to try the Dutch apple pie: yummy def will make that again. Blue jays lost so S joined me for a hot tub. After a quick rinse he read emails and I watched more Designing Miami. The winds continued to howl, hope they are gone by morning.