Family BBQ

Despite all the rain that was in the forecast we carried on as planned for the get together BBQ on Saturday. The forecast said 70% chance of rain and/or thundershowers. Well for once the weather man was right on. We had intermittant showers and thunder/lightening most of the day. That didn't dampen any spirits however! We had good company and good food and it was absolutely wonderful to get together with the family! We roasted a turkey in one of those oil turkey roasters. Some of us were a might scepticle about the oil factor and the greasiness of the meat. We were all really pleasantly surprised....the 18lb turkey was cooked in less than an hour and was so tender and moist and no oily taste!
Here is part of the spread will some diggin in!

Thumbs up!!! Ryan gives his approval!!

Socializing...chit chatting...whatever you want to call it....it was great!

We also got to meet our newest member of the family...our great niece Denay. Just over 2 weeks old in this picture.

Here is another great niece Mya with her buddy Kole.

The Wii was certainly a hit!!! I have no idea what game they were playing but by the hoots and hollerin, it was certainly an intense game!

All into it...
Victory...for Trevor...
Our great nephew Kyle ....
In between the rain...the pool was fun too! Here Brittany and Brice have some laughs.

Sheenah and Mya...

All in all we had a great day! It was so wonderful to get together with family and just hang out and catch up. My aunt and 2 cousins came out too which was so special! It has been too long in coming! I would love to make this an annual thing but that may be stretching it. However will take what I can get! Had fun with all you guys!! Come back again soon!

Happy 60th Anniversary!!

I think very few people reach this milestone.....in fact I was told that they don't even print "60" on the anniversary cards!!! So for 2 people to be celebrating their 60 wedding anniversary is quite rare.
My brother in law's parents were married in 1948 and had a celebration for the occasion this past week. We were invited to attend!
Unfortunately I didn't know a whole lot of people but I could see that there were lots of family and friends who joyously gathered in honour of this quite rare event.
Here is the happy couple!



My sis and her lovely soon to be daughter in law.

The head table enjoying a really good meal. The kids and grandkids...

Congratulations!! Wow...what an accomplishment!!! These folks are both in their 80's and still live at home and look after one another. Makes our 18 years look quite measley!

The Summer is just flyin by!!

Just a written post today to say that I'm still alive but have been incredibly busy!
I cannot believe how fast the summer is just flyin by! We have been so swamped with farm stuff and working that we have barely even stopped long enough to enjoy some of the gorgeous weather we have been having!
Last weekend we brought in all our hay and had all our sheep sheared...both jobs that are a must to do. I am currently doing a stretch of 7 shifts in a row and trying to keep up with dog grooming, housework, farm work, chores, yard work and anything else that comes up. I knew I would be over doing it but I thought some of the extra shifts would come in handy for the whatever that is sure to crop up!
Dave has his usual 55 work week plus he has been selling firewood on the side but he gets so tired doing nights that I try and get some loads split for him so he can just deliver it! I don't know where the time all goes but I would really love more hours in the day.
I am probably my own worst enemy as I can't sit still long enough and I do enjoy to be kept busy but sometimes being over busy really gets to me!
The last 2 days in between working and wood splitting we have been trying to get a shelter/ chicken coop up for Casi so she can get her chickens out of the barn. Her and I attempted to get something up just to get them out but Dave comes along with his ideas of something grander and this whole big lean -to slash shelter is being erected.
I do very much appreciate his carpentry skills as saws and me have never been best friends but this project has taken on a whole bigger dimension and the chickens are still in the barn!!!!
Anyway enough of my complaining right!!!
I just wanted to catch ya'll up on what has been the craziness in our household the last while...ok for a long while. On a brighter note...we are planning a "girls weekend" this weekend with some of my co-workers. Should be really cool to just chill with some buddies for a couple of days at a local trailer park!
Next week should be interesting around here! I am doggie sitting for a very very good friend her 9 dogs while she vacations across the pond. That would put in total the number of dogs here to 12 yorkies, 2 poodles, and 2 shepherds...going to be a lively house!!!
Also next week we are expecting the arrival of my sister and almost all of her family for her in laws 60th wedding anniversary. Will be great to see everyone!
Will come back with pictures and more blogs about all the craziness!!

Congratulations...

A big congratulations go out to my BC family who welcomed a new member into their family last evening. My niece Christy and hubby Trevor are proud new parents of a wee baby girl. "Denay Catherine" I see snipits of both of them in this picture.

This pic snatched from facebook...sorry too far away to take my own!!

Congratulations to all out there on the west coast and especially my sister who became a new grammie yesterday!! Welcome Denay!!

Surprise visitor!

I had the unexpected visit from my niece yesterday! We havn't seen Sheryl in a long time! She moved to Barrie a few years back and before that she was living in the states. She brought along her little boy Kyle who is just approaching 7 mos old! Sheryl has recently moved back to town so hopefully this will be one of many visits!!

Kyle is checking out Echo....perfect size for him!!

Sheryl says he recently discovered that he has a tongue...apparently he wants to show it off!!!
Wonderful seeing you, Sheryl and Kyle...!!!!!

Summertime on the farm

There is quite literally nothing that takes me back to my childhood than the smell of fresh cut hay. To me, this is the definition of summer. Many, many summers were spent cutting, baling and bringing in our hay. I love the smell of the hay first cut!!! I do remember though all the hours and hours of dusty labour putting all those bales in the barn! In those days, the big round bales were not very common yet so year after year we filled our barn with the smaller square bales....Thank good ness for the invention of the round baler!!! Our hay being cut....a little later than in previous years but we have had so much rain that we likely wouldn't have been able to get on the field, that and you need a certain amount of days without rain to be able to dry and bale it.

We should have a good crop of hay as we did have so much rain last month. Hopefully today or tomorrow we should have all the hay rolled up into bales and we can bring it in. We do the big round bales so we just load em up and bring them to the barn and the tractors do all the slugging!
There it is......all wrapped up!!! Now we just need another nice day to bring it all in!!!

Baby update!

My ladies here are definitely starting to show classic signs of being pregnant! They are more tired and are sleeping more. One of them even had a "morning sickness" episode yesterday. Yep..... dogs get morning sickness too! Sienna has been oh so sucky, which is not usually like her. She is a sweet girl but extremely independant so for her to come and seek out a belly rub is not like her at all.

The puppies should be about the size of a grape at this point. Sienna is a week behind Sadie, so hers are a tad smaller. Their gestation is only 9 weeks..how lucky are they huh!! This week puts Sadie at 4 weeks and Sienna at 3 weeks along. So they are approaching their half way point.

I don't see any belly thickening yet...that is likely to start to happen in a couple of weeks just after they hit their half way mark, we see some changes in their belly size. Keep your fingers crossed for healthy puppies and a safe (non-vet preferred) delivery!! Will keep you posted!!!

Doggie Sitting

For the long weekend we had an extra pooch with us. This is the 2nd year that we have watched Shelby, a Jack Russell Terrier. She is a sweetie. Having always heard that JRT's are a hyper breed I was reluctant last year but she is a love bug and no problem to have! She especially loves Brittany who took her out for some walks.
She should go into some agility as she has a big spring in her step! I was sitting one morning having my coffee and up on the chair beside me she came. These are the high pub style chairs and when we sit, our feet don't touch the floor. So for her to jump up there is quite incredible!

She quickly learned how to get in there and beg like the rest of the yorkies!!

From Berries to Jam...

Yesterday before work, Cass, Britt and I decided to go berry picking. We are in the height of strawberry season and we always try to go so we can make jam. The berries were loaded on the plants and it didn't take us long to get our baskets full.


For the jam, I use the quickest easiest method. There is no boiling or cooking whatsoever. I use the Garden Fare Gelling Powder made by Club House. The recipe actually calls for less sugar too than Certo.
:::You take 4 cups of fruit, this can be any combination of fruit, I have tried strawberry/rhubarb and also have tried strawberry/rhubarb/pinapple...this one was really good!
:::Next you stir in your sugar and time it.
:::Stir in the gelling powder
:::Time it
:::Stir again for the required length of time and Voila!!! Pour into your jars and you have jam!

I should mention as well that this is freezer jam. I have used these packets for many years and the kids love it and really don't like the store bought jams anymore. You can also make your berries purree or leave pieces and chunks, however you like it! You can use any fruit, raspberries, blueberries, I have also made peach jam with this too.

Canada celebrates #141!!!!

Happy Birthday Canada!!! I try to be patriotic to my country... I hung my flag and let the girls go off to the Canada Day celebrations! I on the other hand had to work. Not exactly my favourite thing on a holiday but the time and a half sounded pretty good! They attending the festivities at Wilson Fields here in our town and watched the fireworks..

Way to go Canada!!!

Workin' on the deck

Our project for the past few weeks has been putting up a deck around the pool. Dave has put up sections in between working and trying to get things done around the farm. Here is how it started....

Dave being the wood man...only uses eastern white cedar...no pressure treated for this guy!!! I do have to admit I love the look of the white cedar but it always stumps me on how to keep it looking this good. Cedar naturally repells anything so a stain will just peel off. I have resorted the past few years to using a Thompsons Water Seal, only clear....no colour in the seal at all and have been quite happy with the results.


We plan to extend the original deck that we put up 3 years ago to the new pool deck with steps going up with some sort of gate so the dogs cannot get up to the pool. Here you can see the original deck and the new deck. The steps are still kind of primative but we can only get so much done with Dave doing a 50 hr work week!!! He is the master planner and builder and I, only the lowly assistant.

In between working and other stuff I have been trying to pressure wash the deck and reseal it as well. The cedar looks great for a while but naturally greys and I really don't like that look. So every couple of years it is a big task to pressure wash it down and redo the seal. Lots of work but it looks so awsome when it is done! I have been hard pressed to find enough sunny days to wash, dry and reseal and let dry for 48 hrs without rain!! Its getting there!!!!