Britt turns 27!

Happy birthday Brittany and little Twinnie Aislyn <3

The new plants pushed out part of the garage routine was done when feeding Har. The cats are now staying outside at night but J comes in for his soft food as soon as the door opens. Outside once the morning routine was complete, I started with picking poop in the septic paddock then raking gravel off the grass edges around the yard. Handpicking dreaded quack grass and dandelions in the island was another task. S got hoses together and wet down the grass seed in the new dirt areas. He had a bale sale couple arrive at 11:30. They will be back next week for the second one. He ran to the pit while skid steer was out to scoop a bucket of compost. I made him a huge spinach salad and the rest of the ham bean soup his Mom brought. After half the news he was off to town for shinny. Only 2 more ice times after today for the season.

Switch has taken to snorkling in the water trough ;)

I had the other half of the borscht Mom K brought for my lunch then back out to work on planters. New metal blind seed markers were cut. I hauled out 5 topping them up with compost. Seeds were planted around the outside with hopes of my dahlia tubers in the centers. I moved an iris plant to front flower bed and transplanted an elderberry tree to the yard. The last of the summer decor was brought out along with the bug zapper.

I took a break on the deck at 2:30 for a diet root beer and some miss Vickey’s chip as feeling a bit faint. The day started with a headache that has not subsided with 2 rounds of meds, boo. Then it was back to gardening tasks. I planted another row of spinach. The seeds I planted awhile back have spinach and radishes coming up. The planters had a combo of marigolds, cosmos, dianthus, larkspur, nasturtiums etc ….  The dahlias package was opened and set in moist soil as per a YouTube video. DO NOT soak, bury till sprouted. I planted a pot of beefsteak tomato seeds. 

S was back home around 4. He repaired a break in the back flower bed soaker hose and hooked up a hose to the front so I can water the planters. I went and pulled nails from the far paddock. S checked all shelters for repairs needing to be done. The garden waterer had issues that may require a new one after all. I sorted the wood pile under the deck and hauled water to the elderberry. S read the mail he picked up on the deck with a cold beer in the 18 sunshine.

The wooden plant carrier was given a coat of white stain. I text the birthday girl if she might like to go for a ride seeing they were not planning on going out for supper. She was at work late but that did include wings out with the boss. Of course the horses were now at the winter pasture gate so I walked to catch them. S had went out and started picking poop in the house paddock running a load to the pit. I took them into the barn and brushed them, swept and tacked up Switch. Britt arrived in time to tack up Roo. Dave joined Sheldon picking poop while we road. It was the first ride of the year for me, Britt’s was yesterday. All was good of course until Harley thought she needed to lope along and pester. But it was all and all a nice ride. I waited till B brought Roo’s food out then let Switch go and went inside.

The fellows followed with B feeding her horses then came in. S had taken out bacon so cooked up bacon and tomato sandwiches for our very late supper after 9. Fancy birthday supper for our B! The townies headed home before 10. I hit the shower then to bed to write today’s blog. S had a hot tub, shower then on his phone. Still having a headache I took a sleep pill to get some sleep.

15,000 step day

I woke before 7 am to lovely sunshine. The planters were rolled out early into the sun and no real wind. After our coffee the clouds rolled in making it dreary looking but forecasting 19 today. I had some troubles with airdropping videos but after chat to apple support it was all sorted and the post went live. S ran the vacuum around quick while I did the trouble shooting. Britt stopped to drop off Cooper and Gulliver and put Roo’s grazing mask on. She was then off to the city.

First project of the day was to clean out the fire pit. Not sure if we have ever done this so there was tons of nails and 4 feed bags full of ash. I edged the stones and swept all tidy. It is ready for many more fires now. I also got the water going on the back flower beds that are really dry. Craig called so he and S chatted while I moved on to digging up and weeding the peonies by the garden shed. 

Once off the call, S found an overhead sprinkler that worked to soak the straw in the garden. I had tried the big circulating one we use for the trees but it blew to far missing the garden. I started weeding the back flower bed. We stopped for a late lunch at 1. 

big dog needs big brush :)

Little miss had her first swing today and not to sure about it ;) *sorry video refuses to load after 25 attempts all different ways

Then it was back at it weeding the flower bed. Sheldon ran to the pit and brought back compost and top soil to fill the low gate areas. 3 were done here and the 2 far ones he did from the winter pasture side. Some was brought to the garden area where a few low grass areas were filled and some added to the raised beds. The temp was warm hitting 21 according to our weather station (watch says 18) but with off and on clouds it didn’t seem it.

Britt was back about 2, she caught Roo lunged and rode her. Harley got her exercise trying to help with the lunging too.

Sharon arrived with Zelos before 3:30 as she was finishing up and into brush her. I was watering my raised bed and planter seeds. Sharon put Z in the round pen and visited as I watered. S finished up the dirt work then spread grass seed. He then came into the house to rest in big brown and start hockey viewing.

B examining Switch's teeth and then floating the top ones, very carefully ;)

Dr Ashley and her tech arrived at 4. I caught Switch who was first up for dental work. B had caught Bird and had both her and Roo inside too. Brittany actually floated Switch’s top teeth under the supervision of the vet. Ashley did the lowers and fronts. 

Timba was up next. While he was being done S and I had a bowl of soup to hold us over till later as I have customer going to look at the dining table at 7. I was back out to move Switch outside to the hitching post with Roo and Bird now the sun was back out. Zelos was done as I caught Beibs. Switch was let go now more awake after her drugs. When Z was done Ashley did chiro outside in the sunshine on Bird, Beibs then Roo. I helped Sharon putting Timba back in the pasture with Switch and loading Z who she took back to his boarding place. He will be back here in June.

I came in to tidy the main area and have S help me move the table to the door. I chopped up all the veggies for supper and put in fridge. Compost was buried n the garden. The chiros were just being finished up when the customers arrived at 7. They are family friends so came in for a visit. Britt loaded her pets and followed vet Ashley and her tech out where they met in town for supper. The visit lasted almost 2 hours with them checking out the table quick on their way out saying they will take it and come back next week to pick up. 

I cooked up the pork stir fry which was so yummy. Good food is definitely the better food service company. S took a break from the game and we hit the hot tub. The wind has picked up now. My body was very happy for the soak after all my digging and bending. We hit the comfy king after our showers to 1 -watch the Oilers lose and 2 - to write todays blog post. 15,000 step for me today! The moon had been crazy full last few nights (last night official full moon) but tonight it still looks big and full.

Wind ceases for part of the day!

There is NO WIND!!!! when we woke today. Praise the Lord. How different it makes a day without it. We had planned a skeet shooting day together with Cole’s but had postponed for a 2nd time with the wind but maybe it would work. After our usual start I lifted my planters onto the furniture dolly and cart and moved outside What do I have to lose - the cannas are not sprouting and the seedlings are dampening off. I also moved out the 2 mandevilla planters. Let’s see how they enjoy today. Shower and get ready for the beautiful day ahead. 

for all the birthday wishes friends <3

We headed to town around 11 with Harley in her back seat to drop off the BP monitor and S put the lights in the mail. Next was recyclables sorted the to HH to have paint shaken. All the paint was good to go which is fantastic news. Next we circled thru Can Tire and grabbed 2 soaker hoses and a cute wooden childs kitchen we bought for Renn for Xmas.  Speaking of Renn, she is feeling better today. Here is your cuteness fix.

and she has a new method of helping in the dishwasher

A stop at the cat sanctuary had no trap so I emailed her and we picked up Cooper next. Opa was picked up for lunch on our way to the cat lady over in west view to grab the trap from her car. Back to the ranch to eat our wraps. Our Good Food box was waiting at the yard gate- yay supper for 4 meals!

After I hauled the paint to the garage, and brought in the play kitchen, I donned my garden gloves and went to plant seeds. Be damned if the wind is now blowing yet again. Not hurricane but definitely blowing. I planted zinnia, cosmos, purple lupin, purple columbine, anchusa, nasturtium, calendula, morning glory, and ??? In the flower raised bed and 2 planters. I also planted 8 potato plants - 2 red in raised bed and 2 each of red, white and fingerling. S hooked up the hose and timer so I could water my front raised beds, thanks!

the sun worked wonders, I have a canna leaf coming thru!!

S jumped in the skid steer and started grading the yard trying to get the low spots level and smoothing the trenches he made for water run off. He also smoothed the gate area B turned around in when gooey. It looks so nice when smoothed. I move the truck so he could grade his parking spot too. I held the junipers up while he raked out the gravel before circling the island and leveling. Quack grass was pulling in the island and around raised beds but lots to go. Why cant veggies and fruit plants be as hardy as quack grass and dandelions!!??

We stopped for a hydration break then on to the shop area. I moved the pipe and such from the storage area for S to level it out too. I raked the edges he cut that went over on the grass. Things are looking very tidy. It was time to feed dogs supper and come in to prep our supper. The first meal from the box I made was shrimp and roasted chayote taco bowls. Have you heard of chayote? It was the most delicious unique dish we have had in awhile and a real learning lesson on the chayote squash.

have you?

Of course hockey is on but I did trim S’s back on the BBQQ deck when he took a break from watching. B was out before 8 to feed. We were just getting in the hot tub. She did not lunge her chubby horse but tried the grazing muzzle again. Again Roo stood sulking so even after trying to show her how to eat with it she took off and headed home with Cooper. It was the usual 3 hockey game watching for S from island, big brown then bed with me watching Netflix in bed after blogging.

Happy earth day

The wind is STILL howling and from what I heard yesterday it is southern Alberta wide. The recently disced fields to the east have top soil blowing away in huge clouds. We had our coffee to motivate us. I got laundry going and an earth day post on my business page. S took H out for a bath while I changed her bedding and vacuumed. Today Renn, Kaylin and Beans were coming to visit but Kaylin text they had Shaina's sickness and feeling awful. Awe, poor girls, being sick is no fun especially if you're a baby. Sad we won't see them but hope they get better fast. Shaina says felling tired but better after her bout.

I transfered laundry then grabbed my returns to take to town. S went to check the trap and sure enough the cat was caught. He loaded it up in the back (if it wasn't windy enough without riding in the back), I jumped in after opening gate and we were off. I made it to my 11 am appointment just a few minutes late. On the drive to town I messaged the cat sanctuary. Even though they were closed the lady met me after my appointment and she kindly took it to her shelter. We will pick up the trap tomorrow when the BP monitor is dropped off.

Next stop was to pick up some seeds and egg cartons (for Matt) from our "jar" gal. She left me a sweet mug for my birthday with them too, THANK YOU! Next we picked up Cooper for the day then to Walmart. The 2 fellows waited in the truck while I did returns and grabbed some gifts to add to Aislyn's gift. We looped thru Dairy Queen next picking up lunch and gift cards for the Paetz girls birthdays.

The new mat is Harley approved

Back at the ranch we ate quick. Harley had scrumpled up the door mat to make a bed and the disintegrating rubber back was everywhere. I took out mat and vacuum and put down the new one I bought. S was resting in big brown perusing the net. I suggested today might be a good day to get up in the attic to survey where the new lights we ordered could be installed. This project turned into huge challenge and puzzle for S with half the attic roof area spray foamed blocking access off. 

Cooper knows the word WALK and gets so excited. This was after his crazy burst of excitement.

I bundled up with a toque and wind proof winter coat and took the dogs for a walk at 3 while S pondered the light install.  It is insanely windy even at 15 degrees but we did it. Back at the house we tested the brightness of one light and decided to can the whole project. I printed a return label and got it ready to mail. While on Amazon, I resent Christmas and Birthday gift cards to my Goddaughter Olivia that she never found in her email.

The corso slime indeed has lots of acidity that eats the rubber where drooled. But the rug looks good out with the grey garage steps. Especially since the rack was scrubbed down too.

Hockey games started keeping the prince entertained. We had left overs for supper which made it easy. I then took the dogs for another walk to the gate to hang the huge stack of yogurt containers a teacher was going to use for a school seedling project. Be darned if there was not a parcel left there. The 2 cases of wood filler were like wearing weights on the way back. The blood pressure monitor going off every half hour is getting old too.

The cat sanctuary posted the strays close up in hopes of finding his owner or eventual adoption. Poor guy seems to have lost the tip of his ear in his winter survival.

B was out at 8 to feed. She also lunged Roo out in the east hay field. The wind even let up quite a bit, finally. Without wind the world is a better place ;) We did the usual move to bed to watch the late hockey game with me watching YouTube videos. I had to juggle this BP monitor, tubing and cuff along with my liver pack and eye compress. A real cacophony of health aids LOL.