I have spent time doing so many wonderful things with wonderful people that I have just not had enough time to update my blog along the way. So here it is the last few weeks jammed into one blog post… Happy reading!

The last few weeks have been phenomenal. In particular we said good by to my sister in law Nicole as she ventured out on her very own journey to South America. Not that saying good-bye was a happy moment… but knowing the adventure she is embarking on is so exciting! You can follow her on WordPress as well!

Check out her blog From Coast to Coast at:

http://nmeurs.wordpress.com

Going away Parties:

For the first night of her going away parties on June 20th we had a FONDUE

PARTY!!! In the full heat of the summer we turned on the oil pots and began to cook an incredible meal together! We played some great games and enjoyed each other’s company that evening. For the second time in my life I learned and fully believe Fondue is a wintertime activity!

The next night we all got together once again including some more family members and friends to celebrate night 2 of Nicole’s going away party… we indulged in a delicious steak dinner!

By Saturday morning June 22^nd I was ready for a sleep in with all the food fun and late nights over the past few days I was tired and ready to start my morning with a late wake up and a relaxing coffee on the deck! The animals however had other ideas! I received a call from the owners of the baby horse and the mom still was not letting the foal eat, I was up and out early to milk LB and deliver her milk to the baby horse, so cute! I had a wonderful visit and breakfast so it was well worth the early morning. After breakfast I went home to spray for weeds and do some cleaning in the house. It was a slow afternoon and extremely relaxing!

Museum Fundraising Gala

Later Saturday evening my wonderful hairdresser and close friend came by, as I was getting ready for the ball. I was so grateful for her stopping in, she did my hair for me and I was able, with her help, to get ready in under an hour, which was necessary after I had taken too long on chores that afternoon! As we left the house an hour after I had been out milking LB and sloping the pigs, and half an hour after Steve arrived from work I had

another chuckle… me in my ball gown and Steve so dashing in his tux we drove in to the Gala.We arrived and waited inside the lobby and out of the heat for the other couple we were meeting there. Once we were all together we walked in and were greeted at the door in French, as the evenings theme was Paris. We had our complimentary photo taken before walking in to the ballroom. Once inside we checked out the silent auction items while enjoying champagne and hor dourves.

We found our table and sat to enjoy a delicious 5-course meal and complimentary wine. The program started with the founder of the museum speaking of his work and thanking everyone for their generosity and donations at this fundraising event and through out the years leading up. There was a live auction with a fashion show and a very old and beautiful necklace. There were 2 fantastic bands who played during supper as well as after for the dance portion of the evening. When the evening came to an end we stepped out in the heat of the night and headed back to the farm to hang our lavish attire up and change into cozy loungewear. It was a beautiful night and we felt particularly fortunate to have been invited to such an incredible event!

Trail Rides:

Sunday Morning after the Ball Steve left for work and I awoke to prepare for the day. Steve’s uncle would be by soon to pick the horses and myself up to go out trail riding for the day and to check on his cows. We met his girlfriend and her family on the road and all traveled to his land 100kms away. We unloaded the horses and got ready to head out on the trail. Once we got going Willow was bound and determined to be out front and lead the way, she did so well! Even going through the deep swamp she was steady and we got through on the other side dry! It was a wonderful day and very warm and sunny! Once we got back to our house we were met by Steve and his mom and dad who helped to unload the horses and tack, Steve had lit a fire and we all gathered around to enjoy a Weiner roast together relaxing by the fire and talking about the days events!

After everyone left we quickly did chores and headed to bed, it had been a long weekend and I had to work the next day, I needed my beauty sleep! Another fun filled weekend was fast approaching and I wanted to be ready!

Lake Weekend Fun!

On the 28th, we decided to go out to the lake and spend the Canada Day long weekend with my family, we had initially intended to go out and spend Saturday there and come home on Sunday afternoon, but Steve got off work a little early on Friday and after we finished up chores and asked some friends if they could check in on the animals for us we left Friday, arriving at the lake just in time for a few beverages and a warm fire. We visited with wonderful Family for the remainder of the evening and went to bed rather early. The next morning

I was so glad we had arrived the night before and I could wake up already at the lake, bright and early. We set out on the lake in the canoe for some early morning fishing and relaxing as the sun rose over the horizon. It was a beautiful morning and Steve and I enjoyed one another’s company and a quiet coffee while casting for fish. No fish were caught in the end but the morning was magnificent and so I think can be labeled a success! After we ran out of coffee and the fish were no longer even biting we decided to paddle in and cook breakfast. After breakfast my mom and I went for a leisurely walk in the nearby trails, losing our shoes to a mud bog. Steve chose to stay back and get the Jet Ski running, once it was running he jumped on and went out for a cruise around the lake checking to see if any of our lake neighbors were home and then playing out on the water practicing his victory rolls! When he came back to shore it was my turn to get out on the water and as I was out playing on the Jet Ski jumping waves and doing rolls it suddenly quit running. This was not good. I was going wait for a minute and see if I could get it to fire up again; then a boat came along full of people also out enjoying the long weekend warm weather and beautiful day. They pulled up to see if I was okay, I let them know it wouldn’t turn over and asked if they had a tow rope to drag me to shore with, they did and after throwing it to me I tied it around the handle bars, silly to do as the jet ski has a clear label sating not to do that, but I’ve done it before so what could go wrong… Ha… as the boat began to pull me the Jet Ski began to pull sideways and proceeded to tip over dumping me in the water and landing upside down in the lake. There is a certain way to tip the Jet Ski back upright and if tipped the incorrect way it could flood and sink. One of the guys from the boat jumped in the water to help me flip it back up but neither of us remembered or could think logically about it in the cold water as to which way to flip it, so we took our chances and lucked out it didn’t flood we tied the tow rope up correctly this time and climbed in to the boat and they took me to shore. We untied on shore and I thanked the group for their assistance. They left and I loaded the Jet Ski onto the lift. Steve was waiting on shore for me and immediately started trying to fix it. He and my dad worked on it for hours and it wasn’t until the next day (Sunday) that we managed to get it running again!

We spent the rest of the day relaxing and visiting with family, finally ending up by the campfire againafter a wonderful seafood dinner!

Canada Day!

After deciding to stay yet another night at the lake we knew it would be a quick good bye in the morning and a long trip home early to make it back for the Canada day celebrations scheduled for the 1st of July. We just couldn’t resist one more night at the lake it was such a wonderful and warm weekend we got to spend with everyone. We had a magnificent weekend and cant wait to go back again! I had volunteered to be a part of the Canada day Parade with a local group, we had a horse drawn wagon as a float and stilt walkers whom had been practicing for weeks and weeks leading up to this day.

Cell Service is not available at the lake and as such we did not know that Vera had her babies until Monday morning when we got to the small town I grew up in.

Both Steve and I got text messages from our friends who had been looking after our animals while we were away and who had sent us pictures of the new babies on the farm. It was pretty spectacular and of course would happen while we were away! I had just enough time when we arrived home to see the new babies before I had to get ready and travel to town for the parade!

While I was in town Steve’s cousin from out of town stopped in for a visit with her children and they got to see the babies the little girls named them for me which is great because I have such a time figuring out names! Sera and Nina are Vera’s babies. Oh How Cute are they!

After the Parade activities and +35 Degree Weather walking through the streets with a banner I was ready for a cool down! As exciting as it was and as much fun as we had watching the children’s smiling faces as the stilt walkers high fived them from an extra 4ft height it was time for home… I cranked the AC and rolled down the windows to drive home and relax in the shade watching the baby goats play!

Not long after arriving home we completed chores and headed to Steve’s mom and dads to roll grain and have a burger bbq. Steve made some incredible burgers thick, juicy and delicious. His brother and a couple other people stopped in for a visit and burger and afterwards we headed out to roll some grain for the pigs! It was late when we arrived home and I was more than ready for a shower and bed!

Whirlwind weeks…

The following two weeks were a whirlwind of fun and activity. We spent time with friends and family barbequing, horseback riding, and relaxing on the deck! By the 9^th July 2013 it was Steve’s birthday and we had a relaxing evening at home with Pizza, Ice Cream Cake, and Duck Dynasty! As the week came to an end I completed all my work stuff and got amped up for my vacation! Time away from work and time to spend on the farm enjoying the summer!

Rodeo Action!

By the 11^th the Rodeo was in full swing and at only 6 miles from our house we spent the whole weekend there!… We went over to take in the chuck wagon action for the Thursday evening. By Friday morning my first day of vacation I was on the road to a neighboring town to pick up my Mom and Dads puppy Emma for a weekend of dog sitting while they headed off to a wedding!!

When I arrived back home Steve was ready with the trailer we were borrowing for the weekend (from his mom and dad) and we did chores and headed over to the rodeo grounds. That night we took in the first concert of the weekend – Mark Chesnutt; he was rather late arriving but was an amazing concert once he arrived! A late night had by all and such a fun night! The next afternoon when we rose from our slumber Steve and I went home to do chores arriving home we saw the dogs were missing we called and called and searched for them but with no avail decided to go back to the grounds and check in with the neighbors the next day if they were not there the next day. That night we went to the barn for night 2 of concerts and saw David Lee Murphy; another great concert after a fun filled day of rodeo action. By Sunday morning I was anxious to get home and see if the dogs had arrived home. They hadn’t; when we pulled in the driveway they were not anywhere to be seen, but a note left in the door lifted my spirits! A neighbor found them and left a note for us. I called and they made their way to our place to return the lost puppies! Emma was tied up promptly as I was taking her back that day at 4 to my parents. We went out to the barnyard after that to do chores and had a sad moment Nena had jumped in the water trough and drown.

RIP Nena

I was really upset about losing her.

After I had a moment and we finished chores, we headed back over to the rodeo grounds to take in the show for the afternoon; I left after the Rodeo to drop off my parent’s dog with them in the neighbouring town when they returned from their travels. I didn’t stay long, we had a quick visit about their trip and the wedding and I was back on the road again making it back in time to see the wagons race. As the weekend wrapped up and we cleaned up camp we went home to get some rest before the new week started.

What a fantastic last few weeks, so full of fun family and friends, I cant wait to see what the next adventure is!

And now we are spending our days slow and steady, cleaning the house and building a green house. I hope that for the next few days I can spend time getting caught up on all the things I have fallen behind in while working full time, and taking care of the farm!