Sunday, June 3/2012

It rained off and on all night and it continues to rain this morning.  The wind is also up a bit and is blowing the awnings around.  The sky looks heavy and it looks like this rain just might last the whole day.  My garden is smiling!!
While we were preparing to hunker down for the day, Dave came over and asked us if we wanted to take a trip to Bear Lake with him and Shirley.  It is Shirley's day off and they usually do something and today it is a trip to Bear Lake.
We agree to go, after all even a rainy day in the forest is better than sitting around in this bus.  with the beverages safely stored, we head out.
It is sprinkling but at least the bulk of the rain seems to have run its course.  We turn off the grid and access the trail to Bear.  It is nice to be back out on the trails and the forest smells awesome.  It seems that it is even more green and lush since we were out here last.
We finally arrive at Bear Lake and there are several pelicans floating around.  Also, the loons are swimming and all looks well at Bear Lake.  "They" (whoever they are) say that there is no fish in this lake but I would think that with pelican and loons here that the reality is just the opposite.  Also, Dave says he has seen otters here and they eat fish.  It would be interesting to see what one would catch if they took the time to actually fish this little lake.

First beverage break

Hogan - happy to be out and about

Awesome trail to Bear Lake

Bear Lake

Those tiny white things across the lake are pelican

We continued our travels to a spot where Dave has seen moose before.  It was a rather obscure trail but we eventually made it and found that the moose are indeed in the area.  They have eaten the tops of many of the trees and now they stand in a neatly trimmed row!!  What they are like nature's own hedge trimmers!!

Taking a rather obscure trail to one of Dave's moose hunting spots

All of these trees have been "trimmed" by moose.  They
eat the tops of them!!

Crossing a downed tree

Believe it or not.....there is a trail here!!

Once we are back on the main trail, we head out to the grid and then head into Vimy.  With all the recent rains, the lake is high and the creek is much deeper.  The water is rushing through the beaver damn and the sound is rather deafening.  No longer is this the quiet little stream of last week!!

crossing Vimy Creek

Vimy Lake

beaver damn

After the recent rains, the water is higher and much faster

The start of Vimmy Creek

Shirley, thinking about attempting to walk across!!  
Nothing good can come of this!!

We'll just stay back here where it's safe! and guard the beer

Hogan, ready to pounce on anything that might move!!

The Huard Lake trail is muddy and has tons of these little "potholes"

some bigger than others

bigger and deeper

Dave and Shirley

Heading home

The trail towards Huard Lake is muddy and littered with many water filled holes.  Many have a solid bottom and really provide no challenge for the trucks however, there were a couple that were long and deep.  Still no challenge for the trucks but interesting none the less.  We finally get to Vimy Tower Hill and the top of a long greasy hill.  We are headed down and the slickness of the mud should provide a bit more challenge.  As it turned out, it was a relative easy decent and we stopped by the bridge for a pic of the beaver lodge.  It has been there for several years now and I can't help but be a bit envious of the location of this lodge.  It is nestled in this wonderful little valley and is surrounded by water and forest.  Now what more could one ask for.  Peace and Beauty - Wow!!

Vimy Tower Road - heading down the greasy long hill

beaver lodge at the bottom of the hill

We eventually hook back up to the grid and head home, but not before Dave takes us on another obscure trail which eventually spits us out onto 8 mile trail.  I think we now have some forest pinstripping on the jeep!!  When we first accessed this trail, we let Hogan out and he ran for a good mile.  He certainly got his exercise for the day!!
With the final beverage stop over with, we headed back into Leoville and home.  Back at the bus, John started a campfire and we sat around it for an hour or so before it was time to start supper.  I had put some sweet and sour pork into the slow cooker earlier so it was more than ready.  All I had to do was quickly stir fry some vegetables and cook some rice.  It was delicious.
We watched some TV to end the day then it was time for me to get my beauty rest.
All in all, it was another great day spent with good friends and having fun making memories.

Saturday, June 2/2012

I am up early.  I have so much to do and I am "on the clock".  I want to get my garden planted before we hit the trails today so am up early and raring to go.
I get all my seeds ready and when I go outside, I can hear Gary in his garage fixing the quad.  Hopefully he is able to make the repairs and we can go for a ride later.......after the garden is in!!
I quickly make the rows and decide where everything is going and get down to the task at hand.  I am focused and know my time is limited because once Gary's quad is ready, we will be out on the trails.
I am 3/4 of the way done when I hear Gary's quad start up and think "damn - almost finished".  I hear him take the quad for a test run and also hear noises that just should not be there.  That is not a good thing for Gary.  He tinkers a bit more with it (all the while, I am finishing up my planting) then finally comes over and says that there will be no ride today.  The parts just won't stay together so he has found a new one and it will be shipped to him on Monday.
On one hand, I am a little disappointed that there will be no ride today but on the other, I can now relax and finish my planting.   I even put the bedding plants in and it is now sink or swim time for them.  Hopefully, there is no more frost and they can just grow and produce tons of vegetables.
John is taking the chain saw to the "man cave" and there is a ton and a half of wood chips (used for insulation - back in the day) in the wall.  He tells me that we are going to burn them in the fireplace tonight and I am rather sceptical as to whether or not they will burn or just smoulder.  As it turned out, they burned beautifully and I had to admit that John was right (I damn near choked on that one!!!).

A little rain won't stop us!

Hogan can't get wet

Rain can't put it out!

John had bought an air compressor from Shirley earlier this week (it had come into the store on pawn and was now up for sale) and he asked Gary to pick it up for him since he and Arlene were heading to Spiritwood today.  They returned from their trip with the compressor in hand while John and I were sitting around the campfire under the umbrella -ella-ella as it was starting to rain.  They said they would perhaps join us after they ate supper.  As it turned out, the never appeared and John and I continued to sit around the fire until our supper was ready.  Steak and baked potatoes, mushrooms and onions and beans.  A feast fit for a king.....and queen!!
It was a busy day but a good one.   Jace called earlier and it was nice to have a little chat with him.  They are finishing up at the farm then heading out for a fishing trip so asked me to get is fishing gear out of his trailer and have it ready for his friend Josh who will be stopping by tomorrow to pick it up for him.  No problem.  He also mentioned that the Granddog Coors has a sore leg - a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and it is a $4000.00 dollar fix.  GAG!!  I said that lots of people manage to walk around with a bad ACL and so can Coors.  Guess we will wait and see what comes of this.  Poor Pup - he is not having a good year - first the mean old porcupine and now a bum leg.
All in all, it has been a good day.  Lots accomplished and that is a good thing.

Friday, June 1/2012

It looks like it is going to be another wonderfully warm day today.  I get ready for work and head over for  my first 12 hour shift in two weeks.  I am slowly getting back into gear.
The day is busy, and I finally get back to the bus around 8:30p.m.  I am not "on call" tonight and that is a blessing because I really am quite tired.
John mentioned that Gary was over for a visit and asked us to go on a quad ride tomorrow.   Arlene wants to go so they were hoping we could join them.   Of course we are always up for a ride and if Gary can get his quad repaired, we will head out to the trails for a while.
It is nice to come home after a long but satisfying day and just sit and relax - watch a little TV and head to bed.   Oh, it feels so good to just lay down!!  I need my rest tonight for sure if I am to get the garden planted and go for a quad ride tomorrow.  NO REST FOR THE WICKED!!

Thursday, May 31/2012

Hogan and I are off once again for our walk.  I thought that it would be getting easier since I have already been walking for two days but today seems even worse.  Oh well, I guess I will just head out and see if I can actually do the two miles today.  Of course Beef will show me no mercy!!
When I stop to pick Beef up, I notice that Sheldon  (the rototiller guy) has been around and has tilled Gale's garden.  Oh Oh, that can only mean one thing ........ she will want the garden planted.....soon!!
I no sooner get this thought out when Gale appeared at the back door informing Beef and I that she would like the garden planted TODAY!!  Oh boy - no rest for the wicked.  And here I was wondering if I would be able to walk 2 miles, now, I had to wrap my mind around planting the garden!!    Note to self - you can do this!!
Beef and I head out and although I had to stop a few times along the way, I made it.  Woo Hoo!!  Beef was showing me no mercy but did mention that should I fall down on the road and be unable to get up, he would roll me into the ditch - out of harm's way.  He is too good to me!!  My question would be, what kind of a person leaves another in the ditch for the bugs and spiders to crawl on?
I did not bother to stop for the mandatory water/gossip break as I had seeds to get and a garden to put in so Hogan and I continued to the bus.
I grabbed something to eat, gathered all the seeds I had purchased in Saskatoon and hopped into the jeep and headed back to Gale's and her garden.
Gale's hip was feeling a bit better today and although she was limping, she was indeed moving better than yesterday.  Of course she holds the title  "Supervisor of the Planting Team" so will direct Beef and I as to what seeds go where!!
With Beef making the rows and me planting the seed, it wasn't too long before the job was done.  Gale even helped cover up some of the rows which helped a lot and made the job go quicker.  We are a well oiled team!!  Two hours later, the garden was done - looks awesome - and we were sitting drinking water and admiring our handiwork.  Now we get to sit back and watch it grow.
Back at the bus, John is again busy in the shop and I take another whack at the dandelions.  There is still too many happy yellow flowers out and about so I gave them another shot of killex.
We then pack up the bus and took it over to the dump station.  It is time to dump the sewer tank and get ready for the coming weekends with the kids.  While over at the dump station, Sheldon stops by and says he will be rototilling our garden today.  Woo Hoo.  Now I can plant my own garden!!
Sheldon does indeed show up and left us with a wonderful soft tilled garden.   He was the one that originally made the garden and informed us that at the time he first tilled it, there was a lot of manure used so that is why the dirt is so awesome.  It produced well last year and I see no reason why it should not do the same this year.
Gloria (Beef's girlfriend) is driving in tonight and Beef and I head into Spiritwood to do some shopping and for Beef to meet Gloria.  He is going to take her for supper and I will drive his car back while he drives Gloria's vehicle back.  It all works out - I can get my shopping done and he gets some alone time with Gloria.
When I get back to the bus, Dave and Shirley are over for a few beverages and we sit around until it is time to think about supper.  I have to work in the morning so there is no party for Marie tonight!!  It is an early evening for everyone.

Wednesday, May 30/2012

The sun is shining again today and Hogan and I are off to pick up Beef and head out for our walk.  As soon as I start putting on my runners, Hogan is dancing and excited to go.  He knows we are off on another adventure.
With the rhubarb coffee cake for Beef and Gale in hand, we are off.  Hogan has to be on his leash until we are out of town and then we can let him run.  He is so busy checking out all the smells in the ditches.  I am sure he travels an extra half mile while on these walks just criss crossing from ditch to ditch in front of us!!
Another two miles behind us and we are finally back at Beef and Gale's.  Such a lovely break after the two mile trek.  Today, Gale did not join us as she is having some issues with a painful hip and finding it hard to walk today.  Hopefully that settles and she is feeling better soon.
Back at the bus,  I have a whole mess of potatoes to get ready to put into the ground.  Oh, I can hardly wait to raid the potato hills and pig out on new baby potatoes with dill!!
With that in mind, I get busy and start planting.  The area of garden that Shirley has left me is plenty big enough for the amount of potatoes that I want.  There will also be room for my herbs and the zucchini so I am even more pleased that this will free up even more space in my own garden for other things.
With the potatoes planted, I then decide to attack the dandelions in the lawn.  I soooo hate those damn things.  I mentioned to Shirley that I was on a mission the rid the grass of the evil yellow empire and she asked if I would spray hers as well.  Being the good neighbour that I am,  agreed to do this (after all she did let me use part of her garden).  With my Killex bottle in hand, I started to wage war.  Take That You Lousy Weeds!!  My inner Commando came out!!
John was busy again inside the "man cave" while I was doing the dandelion thing.  It was soon happy hour and time for all work to stop.  It was that time of day to sit and relax and simply enjoy..... life.
Supper was simple fare, nothing elaborate (not that we ever do elaborate) and TV for the evening.  Life is Good.

Tuesday, May 29/2012

Today, I started walking again.  It is long over due and with Beef already a week ahead of me, I had some catching up to do!!  I wasn't sure if I would be able to actually do the two mile stretch that we had established last year but I would certainly give it the old college try!!  Beef and I have a standing date for 8:30 in the morning so off I went.  Hogan was more than excited.
I did manage to get the two mile stretch under my belt but my hips and ankles were sure feeling the effects.  Man, it sure doesn't take long to get out of hiking shape!!  You would think that with all the other activity one does, it would help but really, take my word for it..... it doesn't!!
We stop at Gale's house for a mandatory gossip session after our walk where I can catch up on all the town news.  Today I see that the rhubarb is ready for use and when I leave, I have enough for two rhubarb coffee cakes.  Mmmmm  I will be baking today!!
Once back at the bus, I finished one cake (for Beef and his Mom) and had it in the oven and find that I am low on sugar for the second one.  I am headed to the store to get some supplies but stop at the town office first to pay for Hogan's dog license.  He is once again a legal part of this town!!
John started ripping the wall down between the two rooms in the "man cave" today and finds that the walls are pretty darn tough.  It is constructed with old hard fir and is nailed in a million spots.  This is not going to be an easy task but a necessary one to enlarge the whole area.  It is a good thing there is an "old" chain on the chainsaw as I am sure it will be toast by the time we are done.
Happy hour arrived and I for one was more than happy to sit and relax.  It has been a long day and I am still sore from this morning's walk.
I talked to Shirley (our next door neighbour) and she says she will not be using all her garden and I am welcome to use what she doesn't.  I am thrilled and will put all the potatoes over there.  Last year, she had someone else sharing it with her and I think the weeds were taller that the vegetables!!  I can guarantee you that this year, will be different.  You will be able to see the rows this year and not the weeds!!  I will plant potatoes tomorrow after the morning walk.  Woo Hoo!!

Monday, May 28/2012

Casey was up early as he had to hit the road to Prince Albert to drop off his quad for repairs before heading into Saskatoon.  All this had to be done before he was scheduled to work at 2:00 p.m.  No problem!!
He quickly went to the car wash to get some of the mud off the quad then loaded up and after a quick breakfast, was gone.  Hopefully the quad can be fixed for next weekend.
With Casey and Roxy gone, John and I chose to spent another one of our infamous "quiet" days were we do absolutely nothing!!  Retirement is good!!