I awoke to beautiful sunshine today. Apparently it is to be in the high 20s this week and maybe even get into the low 30s. This is truly harvest weather and the farmers are busy combining their crops and getting as much done as the weather will allow. I took some awesome pics of a couple of the crops we saw yesterday.
Today, the kids and Dale are leaving. The weekend is over and it is time for "real" life to once again rear its ugly head. With breakfast cooked and eaten, the travelers are all on their way home. Jace and Kim to Saskatoon and Dale to Regina.
There is peace and quiet once again in our yard.
Gary came over and asked if I wanted to go fishing later today and I agreed to go. He wants to fish Miko Lake today. After hearing about the huge fish the kids caught at Island, he is sure wishing he was able to get his boat down there however, the trail is simply not wide enough after the plow wind tore through the area. He will have to settle for the other lakes around here.
Back from fishing and I managed to catch five jack while Gary managed to land only two. I had better watch out of Gary will be kicking me out of his boat as well!! All the fish were small so we simply did a catch and release today - there is always another day. It was a beautiful day on the lake and I did notice that the fall colors were even more pronounced today - it is coming!!
Burgers for supper, a bit of TV then bed - life is good.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Sunday, September 4/2011
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| Wheat Crop |
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| Beverage! |
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| Dave |
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| Shirley |
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| Jeff |
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| Hoppin Trees! |
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| Dale |
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| How do we get through here? |
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| More lakes |
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| Crossing a creek |
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| Deer watching us watching them! |
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| Jeff and Dale stuck |
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| Suns going down |
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| Made it home |
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| Another great fire! |
Shirley is off today so we are planning a quad ride today. Jeff (Dave's brother) leaves his quad up here all the time so the six of us will be heading down to the block for a while. Dave's shoulder is sore and I know that John's leg is sore from two days of riding so, it is supposed to be a slow short ride.
The kids headed out fishing and we headed out to the trails. It was a beautiful day for doing whatever one chose to do. The sun was shining and there was a breeze blowing (kept the mosquitoes away). The breeze was a bit more than what is ideal for fishing but the kids were gung-ho to show me up. Good Luck with that!!!
We quadded a few trails, eventually ending up at the north end of Otter Lake where Leon has his barge tied to the shore. We sat on it marvelling at the absolutely beautiful country we have chosen to retire to. We even had a brief visit by a belted kingfisher - a bird I had not yet had the pleasure to see. He was beautiful although I do not believe he was impressed by our intrusion.
As we were stopped at the cattle gate on our final refreshment break before leaving the block, we were blessed to see two deer come out of the bush a short distance from us. They did not seem to mind us being there and actually hung around for several minutes checking us out and foraging for food.
On our way home, there was one final trail we needed to check out and in fact, if it was passable, would cut off several miles of road riding. We would end up on the North Grid only 3 miles from town - bonus!!
As it turned out, the trail only had one nasty little spot in it that managed to trap three of us in mud up to our axles!! Shirley and Dave were the last in the group and managed to find a dry way around the mud so was able to winch Jeff out while Dale and John were winching themselves out!! I guess it really would not be a good day unless somebody got stuck!!
We caught an awesome sunset while heading home and I know I got lots of nice pics. Gee, I wonder how Jace and Kim did on their fishing trip - will we be having a fish fry tonight?
Back at the bus, Jace and Kim had a campfire blazing. They had arrived home about an hour earlier and had a very successful trip. They had managed to catch several LARGE jack and were both smiling like a couple of fools!! Jace said the fish were biting like crazy and they caught close to 25 fish choosing to bring home only seven - plenty for a fish fry.
Jace and I took the fish over to Dave so that he could fillet them (neither Jace nor myself are very good at that) and invited them over for a fish fry. I quickly did up some potatoes, carrots, onions and celery, all mixed together with onion soup mix and dill and threw them on the BBQ then commenced to frying fish. There was plenty to go around and it wasn't too long before everyone was full. There was still enough fish left over for Jace and Kim to take two packages home for Kim's parents and leave us two packages as well.
All in All, it was a good day!!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Saturday, September 3/2011
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| Kimmy getting ready |
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| Who catches a clam! Marie does |
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| Where's the big ones! |
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| Jace should have brought lunch! |
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| A awesome Sunset on the Lake |
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| Fish stories! |
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| All the fallen trees from the big wind storm |
I have decided to go fishing with Jace and Kim today. John will quad with Dale. Dave and his brother Jeff will also fish and we have decided to go to Island Lake. Unfortunately, Shirley has to work today so that totally sucks for her.
Dave assured Jace that he could get into Island with Kim's new Lincoln truck (no scratches allowed) so off we went. Jace towed the fishing boat he brought and Dave towed his fishing boat. There were a few "tight" spots along the trail to the lake and Jace got out of the truck a couple of times with the chainsaw and made the trail a bit wider. We made it down to the lake in time to see Dave put his boat in and apparently break something on the truck so that the four wheel drive mechanism no longer works. Now that might be a little tricky come time to pull the boat out of the water.
The plow wind that went through this area took an incredibly wide swath in this area, extending from the grid road all the way down to the lake's shore line. I would use the term massive devastation to describe the area and I can certainly see why heavy equipment was needed to clear the trail. I took pictures so I hope they were able to capture the enormity of the devastation.
Once in the boat and ready to fish, Jace and Kim told me about the "fishing game" they play. Something about getting Money for the first fish caught, the most fish caught and the biggest fish caught. I was recruited into the game simply by being in the boat!! No choices there!! As it turned out - I WON and was $40.00 dollars richer by the end of the day (I even managed to hook a clam - not sure how I did that though)!! Happy Birthday Jace - hand over the money!! Of all the fish we caught, we only brought two home which we decided to keep until the next day. Jace and Kim will be fishing again tomorrow and they may have better luck and we can then have a fish fry.
We arrived back in camp just before John and Dale arrived off the trails. In fact, we actually passed them sitting at 8 mile corner (didn't know it was them though).
With everyone back in camp, it was time to cook supper (steak, baked potatoes and Caesar salad) then sit around the campfire and share the day's stories. It was fun!!
PS - We heard from Casey tonight while we were sitting around the campfire. Apparently all is fine with him and he seems to be enjoying his job. Hope it continues!!
Friday, September 2/2011
Well God decided that I did not have to sleep last night so needless to say, I am a little tired this morning. I wandered the bus and sat in the chair, looked at facebook and read from the kindle and finally about 4:30 a.m. fell asleep!! God, I hate nights like that.
I am now sitting here (8:30 a.m.) bright eyed and ready to greet the day. It is chilly in the bus this morning so I have the electric heater going. I put the coffee on (forgetting about the heater) and blow the breaker!! Oh, so this is how the day is going to go!!!
With the breaker back on and the coffee finally made, I get to sit for a minute and have some quiet time. The blue jay is once again trying to get into the little bird feeder and has once again settled for the seeds on the ground. It is funny how this little creature always has to try the feeder first before finally admitting defeat and eventually eating off the ground!!
The guys finally awoke and I cooked breakfast. They will be going out to the trails today. Dale needs to "break in" his quad as he has very few hours on that fancy new machine.
I will be staying here getting ready for the kids. I have left most of the things that need to be done to the last minute (as usual) so today is the day to get everything done. Then I can relax and enjoy the weekend.
The guys came off the trail and the kids arrived about an hour later. It is good to see them again. Dave and Shirley came over soon after the kids arrived and we all sat around the campfire chatting.
I had cooked potato salad earlier and everyone was getting hungry so I threw the pork chops on the BBQ and we all ate - Dave and Shirley included. It tasted great!!
Shirley has to work in the morning so it wasn't too long after we ate that she and Dave were headed home for the night and I soon followed. I am tired!!
I am now sitting here (8:30 a.m.) bright eyed and ready to greet the day. It is chilly in the bus this morning so I have the electric heater going. I put the coffee on (forgetting about the heater) and blow the breaker!! Oh, so this is how the day is going to go!!!
With the breaker back on and the coffee finally made, I get to sit for a minute and have some quiet time. The blue jay is once again trying to get into the little bird feeder and has once again settled for the seeds on the ground. It is funny how this little creature always has to try the feeder first before finally admitting defeat and eventually eating off the ground!!
The guys finally awoke and I cooked breakfast. They will be going out to the trails today. Dale needs to "break in" his quad as he has very few hours on that fancy new machine.
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| Dale's new Can Am MR |
The guys came off the trail and the kids arrived about an hour later. It is good to see them again. Dave and Shirley came over soon after the kids arrived and we all sat around the campfire chatting.
I had cooked potato salad earlier and everyone was getting hungry so I threw the pork chops on the BBQ and we all ate - Dave and Shirley included. It tasted great!!
Shirley has to work in the morning so it wasn't too long after we ate that she and Dave were headed home for the night and I soon followed. I am tired!!
Thursday, September 1/2011
WOW - it is the first of September already and it already is a bit chilly in the mornings!! Feels like Fall - or is that just my imagination.
When Gary and I were on the water yesterday, I noticed some of the trees already starting to change color.
I have spent much of the morning texting Casey. He has finally got a job on one of the oil rigs in Northern Alberta. He spent the last two days getting all his clothes bought for the job then left for Calgary at midnight last night. He made it to Calgary and found the airport and the hangar where he is to leave from. His bags are now checked in and he is waiting for the flight. My, how our children grow!! This child had trouble finding his way around the streets of Saskatoon and here he is sitting in the airport in Calgary (only got lost once he says) waiting for a flight to take him to some place called Red Earth. Now my question is - is that a place or is it the name of the rig?
I went into work for 1 o'clock and once back home found out that Casey had made it to the rig safe and sound. Not much of a message, but enough for me to hold on to.
Dale arrived tonight from Regina. I didn't even know he was supposed to show up tonight but Oh Well, he is here. It is a good thing John actually cleaned up the trailer because he would be sleeping in amongst tools, and general disarray.
It is chilly tonight and I soon headed to the heat and safety of my bed. Jace and Kim come tomorrow and the weekend of fishing and fun will begin.
When Gary and I were on the water yesterday, I noticed some of the trees already starting to change color.
I have spent much of the morning texting Casey. He has finally got a job on one of the oil rigs in Northern Alberta. He spent the last two days getting all his clothes bought for the job then left for Calgary at midnight last night. He made it to Calgary and found the airport and the hangar where he is to leave from. His bags are now checked in and he is waiting for the flight. My, how our children grow!! This child had trouble finding his way around the streets of Saskatoon and here he is sitting in the airport in Calgary (only got lost once he says) waiting for a flight to take him to some place called Red Earth. Now my question is - is that a place or is it the name of the rig?
I went into work for 1 o'clock and once back home found out that Casey had made it to the rig safe and sound. Not much of a message, but enough for me to hold on to.
Dale arrived tonight from Regina. I didn't even know he was supposed to show up tonight but Oh Well, he is here. It is a good thing John actually cleaned up the trailer because he would be sleeping in amongst tools, and general disarray.
It is chilly tonight and I soon headed to the heat and safety of my bed. Jace and Kim come tomorrow and the weekend of fishing and fun will begin.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, August 31/2011
The sun is shining this morning and it looks to be an awesome day. Shirley and I are going into Spiritwood later to do some shopping then Gary and I are supposed to be going fishing this afternoon at Miko Lake. Who knows, maybe we will have fish tonight for supper!!
Shirley and I did indeed head into Spiritwood for all the sales at the grocery store. Then before getting home, made a quick detour to the butcher shop outside of Leoville and found it Closed. Now what the heck is with that!! It is a good thing I bought steak in Spiritwood!!
Once back from shopping, Gary was ready to go fishing so I quickly put things away and we headed over to Miko.
Back at home again where I had a good day on the water and three fish in the bucket. We will have fish and chips for supper and they will taste awesome ...... and they did!!
I got a call from one of the girls at the home wanting me to work the last half of her shift tomorrow and since I am not really doing anything in particular, I might just as well. I might just a swell get a seven hour paycheque as opposed to no paycheque at all!!
Shirley and I did indeed head into Spiritwood for all the sales at the grocery store. Then before getting home, made a quick detour to the butcher shop outside of Leoville and found it Closed. Now what the heck is with that!! It is a good thing I bought steak in Spiritwood!!
Once back from shopping, Gary was ready to go fishing so I quickly put things away and we headed over to Miko.
Back at home again where I had a good day on the water and three fish in the bucket. We will have fish and chips for supper and they will taste awesome ...... and they did!!
I got a call from one of the girls at the home wanting me to work the last half of her shift tomorrow and since I am not really doing anything in particular, I might just as well. I might just a swell get a seven hour paycheque as opposed to no paycheque at all!!
Tuesday, August 30/2011
It rained during the night and I left the clothes out on the line!! Totally unintentional but none the less, God chose to re-wash them!! Hopefully the dull grey clouds will leave and we will get some sunshine or, I may be taking a trip to the laundromat!!
It is a good thing that I didn't get to the window cleaning yet as that rain just may have made a horrible mess of them. Of course the same can not be said of the blinds. That, I am afraid is pure laziness.
The sun did come out and the outside (and inside) of the windows are now clean and sparkling. While I was doing the outside, someone from the town office came by to measure the lots so that John and I know where to build the fence. That is a good thing as we also found out that there is no sewer or water hook-up on the other lot so now it will have to be trenched from this side of the property which in itself is not really too much of an issue according to Denny (the town guy).
With the lines now clearly marked, we discovered that the row of beautiful evergreens at the edge of our property (which we were told belonged to us when we bought) are actually on Gary's property. It really makes no difference to us unless Gary decides to cut them off which he says he will never do as he loves them too. We will be putting a shorter four foot fence along this tree line to keep the dog in the yard. It will be made out of wire so that we can still enjoy the splendor of the trees.
The sun finally got the clothes dried and with that, I folded and put them away and took down my fancy clothes line so that John could get the quad out and dump the sewer tank. With company coming this weekend, it was a necessity. When Denny was here earlier, he told me that the town dump station had been fixed so that there will never be the issue of backup again. It is now safe to dump without the risk of having a horrible mess everywhere!! Once that nasty little job was done, it was time for "happy hour".
Gary came over for a while and he has now ripped his entire quad apart and believes that it will be a thousand dollar fix as opposed to a three thousand dollar fix. Apparently the engine did indeed heat and that was the cause of the catastrophic failure. It affected the"top" of the engine and not the bottom so that is the difference in price.
The sun did come out and the outside (and inside) of the windows are now clean and sparkling. While I was doing the outside, someone from the town office came by to measure the lots so that John and I know where to build the fence. That is a good thing as we also found out that there is no sewer or water hook-up on the other lot so now it will have to be trenched from this side of the property which in itself is not really too much of an issue according to Denny (the town guy).
With the lines now clearly marked, we discovered that the row of beautiful evergreens at the edge of our property (which we were told belonged to us when we bought) are actually on Gary's property. It really makes no difference to us unless Gary decides to cut them off which he says he will never do as he loves them too. We will be putting a shorter four foot fence along this tree line to keep the dog in the yard. It will be made out of wire so that we can still enjoy the splendor of the trees.
The sun finally got the clothes dried and with that, I folded and put them away and took down my fancy clothes line so that John could get the quad out and dump the sewer tank. With company coming this weekend, it was a necessity. When Denny was here earlier, he told me that the town dump station had been fixed so that there will never be the issue of backup again. It is now safe to dump without the risk of having a horrible mess everywhere!! Once that nasty little job was done, it was time for "happy hour".
Gary came over for a while and he has now ripped his entire quad apart and believes that it will be a thousand dollar fix as opposed to a three thousand dollar fix. Apparently the engine did indeed heat and that was the cause of the catastrophic failure. It affected the"top" of the engine and not the bottom so that is the difference in price.
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