Sunday, September 10/2017 - Saturday, September 16/2017

Sunday is the tenth of September and that day was John's Mom's 84th birthday.  I managed to call and actually got to speak with Mom for a bit before she headed to Church.  She sounded good, said she was busy (as usual) and we had a good chat.
Sunday was also the day that Kelly had to get back to Saskatoon and I decided to get the ingredients for my relish all chopped up so that it could sit overnight in picking salt and could be cooked and bottled on Monday.  Kelly helped me chop all the veggies and we managed to get them into the food processor and then into the kettle where they would sit for the night.  The job went quickly with both of us working at it but I was a little disappointed in Kelly when it came to chopping the onions.  She didn't want any part of them so it was left up to me.  For a good old Ukrainian Girl, Kelly just couldn't handle the onions!  I'm sure her Baba would have been real impressed with that!!
Once that nasty job was done, Kelly headed back to Saskatoon as she had to make a stop in Langham to see her granddaughter.  Kayton had just got a puppy for her birthday and she wanted to stop and check this little bundle of energy out.   It is a Burmese Mountain Dog and I am sure he is going to be huge when he grows up.
With Kelly gone, John and I could settle down in front of the TV and start watching Sunday NFL football.  It is the start of their regular season and that means that it is also the start of our annual football pool.  Hopefully, I will win BIG this year!!
Monday found me busy doing laundry and then I decided to start getting the trailer into shape for the trip to Arizona.  There are a few changes I want to make and I might as well get started now as John and I do not want to be doing all the leaving preparations in the snowbanks like last year!!
The weather man is saying that there is a chance of snow to the North of us and that is not a good thing.   Damn his soul to hell for those words!!
Arlene left for Winnipeg today so Gary was gone for most of the day.  Her two weeks sure slipped past quickly.  We will not see Arlene until 2018 now as she will not be returning until around Christmas time.
The relish also had to be finished off so I managed to get that job done as well.   My Goodness, it has been a busy day!!
Tuesday found us washing the quads and of course.....finishing the laundry.   It is a never ending job around here.   I will be glad to get back to Arizona and my laundry facilities there.
I also got the rest of the potatoes and the onions out of the "garden of weeds" today.   The harvest is a far cry from the bounty that I am used to but at least we will be provided with a few meals and, there is always enough to share with Gary and Dave and Shirley.
John got busy trying to plug the gap (with spray foam) in the front of the trailer so that the rain does not get the linen on the bed wet when we are in travel mode.   We had an issue in the past with wet linen so hopefully this will solve the problem.  By the time he was finished, the bed was completely pulled apart and there were screws everywhere!!  Holy Buckets!!
On Wednesday, I harvested the dill out of the garden.  Now, the garden is ready for John's magic mower and Sheldon's rototiller!!
Thursday started out very dreary and it looked like it could rain.  It was a quiet morning while we were waiting for the temperature to warm up.  Once that occurred, it was time to get the big trailer winterized and buttoned up for the upcoming winter.  The sewer tank was emptied and the grey water as well.  Now, if Kelly decides to join us again, she will have to use the toilet and shower in our trailer but that really should not be a problem.  John blew out the water lines and sucked in the slides.  One nasty job done and that is a good thing.
Friday dawned dreary and chilly.  It got to -3 last night and yes, there was still frost on the ground when I got up.   The first frost of the season!!  The seasons are definitely changing and this bit of frost is really going to make the leaves change even quicker.
Saturday started out dreary but the sunshine won out by noon.  It was a quiet day and since it was the weekend, well that was a good thing.  It has been a busy week.  Life is Good!

The girls making relish

Sunday, September 3/2017 - Saturday, September 9/2017

Getting the turkey ready

Sunday found us entertaining the neighbours for our annual "Trash Can Turkey" supper.  Every year John likes to cook a turkey in a trash can and invite the neighbours to partake in the "eats".  It is our way of kind of "topping off" the summer and giving thanks for everything that we have done for each other and for all our summer adventures.  It is such a nice was to say "thanks for being you"!!

Kayla checking it out

Dave and Shirley, Arlene and Gary, Kelly, Kayla, Kayton and John and I settled in and ate an awesome meal.  It was a great success although  we ate a bit later than what was planned.  We had to make sure the turkey was cooked through so that was what got us behind.  As it turned out, the turkey was cooked just fine and once it was out of the trash can and cut up, we all dived into the rest of the food and no one left hungry.

Kayton and Kayla

Shirley and Kelly

Shirley

Once supper was done, John got the fire pit ready and we sat around the fire enjoying the rest of the evening.  Fun was had by all and eventually, our guests left and our company went to bed.  I was tired and headed for my pillow as well while John watched the fire burn down and then he too settled to bed for the night.  It had been a really good day.
On Monday, it was time for the lake crowd and Kelly and her girls to head back to Saskatoon.  The long weekend was over and it was time for them to get back to work.
Jace and Kimmy stopped by on their way back to the city.  They stayed for a while sharing their stories of the weekend and we enjoyed a few refreshments.
All too soon it was time for Kelly and the girls to head home as well and before too long, the yard was quiet.  John and I were on our own!!
Tuesday, Dave and Shirley headed over to Cowan Lake to visit with their daughter.  They took the camper and their boat as there was going to be some fishing over the upcoming days.  Before Dave left though, John asked him to come over and investigate the "noises" that were coming from Kelly's quad.  John thought it was the u-joints but needed confirmation from Dave before he could let Kelly know what the issue was.  Once Dave agreed that yes, he too thought it was the u-joints, he headed to Cowan and John phoned Kelly to deliver the news.
Wednesday found John and I headed to Meadow Lake with Kelly's quad.  Repairs are in order if she wanted to ride it this up coming weekend.
We arrived in Meadow, dropped off the quad and headed to A & W for lunch.  We then stopped at the Coop and the grocery store and headed back to Leoville.   We had not gone too far before we heard a rather loud "bang" and John said "What the hell was that?"
Well...dear....we have a flat tire!!   WHAT????   Shit, Oh Dear.....well that is no problem right?  We simply put on the spare and carry on........right?  Apparently that is how it is supposed to work however....that is sometimes not the way things are.     We DO NOT have a spare.......WHAT???   When I asked why we didn't have a spare I was told "what is the use of having a spare when we don't have a jack?'   WHAT ....WE DON'T HAVE A JACK?????    What the hell!!  What are we, teenagers without the proper equipment???   Holy Buckets!!  To add insult to injury, we are in a NO SERVICE area for the phone (not that it is working properly anyway!!)  Oh dear........this situation is going from bad to worse!!   I think I just got a few more grey hair!!
I voted to turn around and head back to Meadow Lake but John decided to keep going back to Leoville.  Oh Dear....that doesn't sound like a very good plan but who am I???
We travelled for several miles on the flat until we were able to get the phone working and into a service area where we were lucky enough to contact Gary and had him come and "save" us!!   While we waited for Gary to arrive, we sat in the quiet of the forest and enjoyed a refreshment.  Gary arrived before we had even finished our first one!!
We travelled back to Leoville  and John hooked up to Dave's car trailer and we headed back to pick up the truck.  Shit, Oh Dear.....this is starting to be a very long day!!
"Old Blue" arrived back in town on the trailer with one very torn up tire.  There is NO REPAIRING this one!!
The rest of the evening was spent in our recliners where we both had a little "snooze" waiting for the results show to American's Got Talent come on!!   I was in bed right after the show ended!!
Thursday found us back in Meadow Lake to pick up Kelly's quad.  We took the big white truck - it has a spare and THAT is a very good thing.   We picked up the quad, grabbed some KFC for Gary and Arlene then headed home.   Our journey back to Leoville was UNEVENTFUL and THAT was a very good thing!!
Kelly arrived later that day and we enjoyed sitting around the fire and discussing the events of the last few days!!
The NFL season started on Thursday so now I am going to have to bet on the teams and win a few pots again this year.  Unfortunately, we were sitting by the fire and didn't get to watch the game.  That sucked but I hear my team lost so that sucks even worse!!
Friday found John and I  in the side by side and Kelly on her quad back out in the forest doing more trails.  We decided to redo some of the Father's Day Rally trails to check out the changing colors of the leaves.   It was an awesome day, the weather was great and we only got stuck in the gumbo mud once.  A quick winch using Kelly as the anchor and we were soon on our way.  We took Kelly over to Bear Lake as she had yet to see this lake and were surprised when we encountered a ton of trees that had been blown over.  Man, there must have been a nasty ass plow wind at some point along this part of the trail.  Fortunately, this part of the trail is well used and someone had taken a chainsaw to the trees that were down on the trail and cut it clear.
Once we showed Kelly Bear Lake, we headed down to yet another spot on the shores of Otter Lake that Kelly had yet to see.   The scenery today was incredible and Kelly loves to travel these trails.
Before too long, we were back on the North Road and headed for Leoville.  It was time to head home and get some supper into us.
I had put a corned beef into the slow cooker before we left and it would be ready by the time we hit the yard.  Once there, I quickly got the potatoes and cabbage on and before too long. we were chowing down on a delicious meal. Kelly said she had not had corned beef in ages and simply loved it.  We all ate like little pigs, enjoyed a few beverages and then headed to bed.  It had been a very good day.
Saturday found us watching the long standing rival football game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  It was the annual "Banjo Bowl".  A name derived from several years ago when the Winnipeg kicker described our Rider fans as a "bunch on banjo picking inbreds"  or something of that nature!!  The "Banjo Bowl" was created and has remained so and hopefully will remain so for several years to come.   I had made a pot of chili for the game and had invited Gary and Arlene over to watch it.  Gale was also invited so there will be 6 of us for supper and 6 of us cheering the Roughriders on to a win.
As it turned out, the riders DID NOT WIN and we were very sad pandas!!  "The Dude" was turned
around to face the wall and that is the way he will stay until the Riders win another game.  Only then can he enjoy the sights of the man cave!!
Supper was great and Gale provided the dessert which was phenomenal.  She had shared a recipe on facebook a week or so ago and of course Kelly jumped right on that and asked Gale if she was going to bake it when Kelly was up here.  Well, to shut Kelly up.....she did and we all got the benefits of Gale's baking.  Mmmmm!!
We sat around the fire for the rest of the night and as the evening waned, our guests headed for home. Once they were gone, it was time for us too to hit the sheets and be ready to greet tomorrow.
Life is Good......despite the fact that the Riders lost their game.   With the taste of defeat in their mouths, they will be looking for a win in the upcoming game!!

A patch is not going to get it done!

Loaded up and headed home

Thurs nite fire

Booko chilling by the fire

Kelly being camera shy

Wolf track

Our Friday ride

A little bit of a plow wind went through here

Bear Lake

Gotta have a selfie

Another tree down

Beverage at Otter Lake

sunset in the mirror

Time to head home

Oh that finger

The smokey sun Sat morning

Booko chilling in his chair in the mancave

Sunday August 27/2017 - Saturday, September 2/2017

Cruise to Utah Lake

This week finds us heralding in the month of September which means that Fall is just around the corner.  The leaves are already starting to change and there is definitely a chill in the air in the morning and again at night.
Sunday was a scheduled night shift for me so I started off the work week....working!!  Monday of course was a sleep day so it was pretty much a bust and Tuesday was a "quiet" day.  This week has started off very slowly and that is always a good thing.
On Wednesday, we headed off for a truck cruise to see how the leaves were changing.  The North Road did indeed display signs of the changing seasons.  The leaves are starting to turn yellow and a bit of a breeze has some of the dryer leaves dancing in the air.

Utah Lake

Cruise to Otter Lake - leaves are starting to turn color

We met Dave and Shirley on the North Road (they had left for their cruise earlier) and when they heard that we were heading to the end of Otter Lake, they turned around and joined us.  It is a pleasant drive down the trail to the lake and Booko gets to run from the grid to the lake.  It is good for him and I think he enjoys stopping to check out all the sights and sounds.  The last time we were here, he put the fear of God into a squirrel that happened to cross his path!!  Actually, I really do not think that the squirrel was too worried about his dumb old ass!!  Booko thought he was sure something though!!

Dave and Shirley in their Jeep

We arrived at the lake's edge and was immediately struck by the color of the setting sun.  There is a lot of smoke in the air from forest fires to the north of us and it has turned the sun's color to orange.  It was actually quite pretty and with the combination of the water and its reflection, well, it was a "Kodak"  moment for sure!!

The setting sun

There was a bit of wood along the trail and we stopped to pick that up as it would burn quite nicely in the fire pit.  Once the sun set, it was time to head back to town and call it a day.
On Thursday, Jace and Kim stopped here for the night.  They are headed up to Clearwater for the Labour Day weekend but decided to spend the night in the yard before heading up tomorrow morning.  John started a fire and we sat around it visiting with the kids before the BBQ was fired up and burgers were cooked for supper.  We had an awesome visit but they failed to bring the Grand dogs and for that I was a bit mad at them!!  Kim's Mom kept them at the farm so I had to reach out to her and mention that I did not appreciate her not sharing the Grand dogs!!  She laughed!!
On Friday, the kids were up early and gone from the yard by 10:00 a.m.  I was foot loose and fancy free for a few hours so decided to give the man cave a good cleaning.  It was long past due!!
Kelly, Kayla and Kayton arrived later in the day and spent the long weekend with us.
Saturday found me back at working a day shift and John, Kelly, Kayla and Kayton headed out for a quad ride. Somehow this just not seem right!!  I'm working and everyone else is having fun......Hmmmm!!
I arrived home at my usual time and the quadders were back in the yard shortly after I got there. They were covered in mud but seemed to have had a good ride.  Booko rode "shotgun" with John in the side by side and even he lookied like he had a great time.

Saturday quad ride, Kayton and Booko

They had lots of stories to tell me and while I was listening, John got the BBQ started and we were soon dining on steak and potatoes.  Kayton eventually fell asleep with Booko in the chair and that seemed to signal that it was time for the rest of us to hit the hay as well.

Kayla and Kelly

There is  that finger again

Short people and selfies

Washing the quad before heading home

Kayton and Booko had a big day!

All in all, it has been another week of adventure and awesome sights.  With the long weekend upon us though it looks as it our busy summer is about to continue!!  Life is Good.....

Sunday, Aug 20/2017 - Saturday, August 26/2017

The morning after the day before, milk?

Sunday was indeed the "day after the night before" and Kelly and I were both NOT "feeling the love"!!  LOL   It was a quiet day and that was a good thing.  Holy Buckets......I say once again....."We are too old for this nonsense"!!  LOL

Shelling peas

Eventually, we did rally and I picked peas and Kelly cooked brunch.  Perhaps the two of us were going to survive the day.  No guarantees though and certainly, No Mercy from anyone!!  We really did not expect any from John who seems to be able drink until the "cows come home" and not suffer any ill effects!!

Kelly cooking breakfast

By Monday, we were sufficiently recovered to do a road trip with Dave and Shirley to Vimy.  The dog needed a good run and we needed to take some solace from the forest.  Who knows what sights we would see!!  It was a lovely day and we sat by the lake shore enjoying the day.
Monday was also the day of the Solar Eclipse and John managed to find a welding shield and we got to see some of it as well.  It was quite interesting but we were not in an ideal location to see the complete eclipse.  Apparently the State of Kansas was the place to be!!  Kay said she was able to look through one of the welder's shields at her job site in Utah and saw some of it as well.
We also managed to empty the black water tank in the big trailer and during the process, John managed to somehow break the cable to the sewer closure so that was not a good thing.  I guess that repair is on the agenda for next year.

Booze cruise to Vimy Lake

Our bar setup - the trunk area of the jeep!!

Dave's highboy

Vimy Lake

Dave and Shirley

Kelly and Mason

Tuesday started out slowly but we finally got our asses into gear and headed to Utah Lake to do some fishing.  Kelly's boat has been here since June and we have only been fishing once.  What the heck is with that!!   John hauled it down to the lake with Casey's jeep and backed it into the water.  Kelly remembered to put the plug in this time and that was a good thing!!  We headed out and John headed back to the North Road where he saw some fire wood just waiting to be picked up.

Girls went fishing at Utah Lake

We caught several fish by the time John arrived back at the lake but only kept eight.  That would be enough for a good fish fry.  Kelly is the premier fish filleter and was just getting the last one done when we heard a vehicle coming down the trail.  Well who do you think showed up.......Dave and Shirley!!  We had enough fish for all so invited them back to the house where Kelly fried up the stove and we pigged out on fish and coleslaw.  It was delicious and we all ate until we were full.

Kelly is cleaning again

Beverages before we head home

Mason in the sky

John had started a fire while Kelly cooked and we all sat around chatting and eating.  Life is indeed very, very good!!

Fire while we have a fish fry

On Wednesday, Kelly headed back to Saskatoon and Thursday found me travelling to North Battleford with Gale Wourms.  She is a good friend that lives here in Leoville and we usually go shopping at least once during the summer to North Battleford.  It was an awesome day.  We spent a ton of money, had a beer at Boston Pizza, chinese food for lunch and brought KFC home for supper. All in all,  a really fun day.  I was glad to be home though as my legs were tired from all the walking we had done.
John had advertised my quad for sale and today we sold it.  A young fellow from Prince Albert was the lucky one to take my baby home.  He will be really happy with it I am sure.  I am okay with the sale because the last ride I took on it made me realize that I really was unable to sit astride and enjoy the ride so, selling it was the right thing to do.

Another great day

Friday found me back to work and day shift and Saturday was a night shift.  It has been a busy week but a good week none the less.   Here we are, almost through the month of August.  Soon, it will be time to start thinking about getting packed up and heading South!!   Life is Good!!