Extra Dog

Had extra company for the walk today. Gunnar's dog Tank, the English bulldog, made it the first 40 minutes before turning into our driveway as I passed it in order to continue on my merry way with the usual companions. He seemed to enjoy the space and freedom outside the city but was tuckered out and chose not to proceed with the pack.

Glad I went around noon when the sun was shining and there was some heat, because as the afternoon ended a wind came up and I've been unable to get warm. The thermometer claims it's 72F in here but I don't believe it. Might have to climb into bed just to conserve body heat!

It doesn't help to be sat on my butt all afternoon to work. I put a heating pad, set to low, on my lap. I know, it's ridiculous. I do it on hot summer days too; our house remains cool. I think it's just me — have a hot drink, all the extra clothes and the heating pad come off instantly; a cool one, and I have to add layers.

Would be nice to maintain an even, comfortable body temperature. Maybe if I started taking ginseng capsules or something?

The Hard Life of a Holidayer

Holidaying is hard work. 

Gunnar, our eldest boy (Scott's son), arrived from Calgary around suppertime yesterday with his girlfriend Melissa.

They didn't sleep all afternoon; just a catnap.

I was busy chatting with my server's tech support guy because, as seems to happen so often with computers, all of a sudden everything goes to the dogs and you wonder why and it takes a while to figure out the fix. I  had to call twice and bet it wasted two hours of my working day. So here it is, almost 10 p.m., and I've just finished my work for the night.

Scott and Co. took supper to his grandma in Kelvington and I stayed here to make up my hours. Next: whip through the kitchen so I don't wake to a mess in the morning. And when they get back, I'm betting it will be movie time.

I'm told that at 6:30 this morning there was heavy frost on the ground. By the time I dragged my sorry ass out of bed around two hours later, none of it was visible. Most of my flowers still look perky. But it's been cold out there. I went and fed the cats, and that was the extent of outdoorsing, for me.

Tomorrow, a three-mile walk.

What's Goin' On

I was walking here when I heard a moose grunting in the bush. 

Went to see my friend Joanne on Wed evening to close up her house, and noticed a bird had been too hoity toity to build inSIDE the birdhouse.

Joanne dropped off apples at her granddaughter's daycare; such a cute name for a daycare, isn't it? It's in Colonsay, Sask

We are down to four kittens now.

Tonight it's really, really cold. Supposed to freeze. I collected flower seeds and harvested my herbs.

September Garden

What?! It's today already?!
And there's a frost warning for tomorrow night. Guess who will be out collecting flower seeds and herbs in the afternoon.
Go ahead, be amazed at the sight of lupins in bloom in September. I know, it's peculiar, isn't it? And Mom's roses are blooming too. One last blast, I suppose, before the frigid cold of winter in Saskatchewan.

Yonder She Blows

"The wind is blowing the crops away," says my Man on the Move.

6:54 p.m.
My sister Karen stopped in today for tea and to take some daylilies for her new flowerbed. I took pictures but she threatened my life if I should put one on my blog. Mean, isn't she?

What Have You Done for Your Inner Child Today?

This is Birdie. She is one of last year's brood of barn cats, and this spring she had two kittens that look just like her (Cara and Clementine; note my alphabetical geneology carefully adhered to).

My farm chores consist of feeding and watering one dog and umpteen cats.

Watching the playful antics of kittens delights my inner child.

What delights yours?

Stick to Your Ribs

Harvest time around here means those working in the field have one thing on their minds: getting the crop off while they still can. It's a race against rain, frost, snow, and the inevitable machinery breakdowns, and one of the results, if you aren't fortunate enough to have someone cooking for you or aren't organized enough to do it yourself, is that you eat on the run, poorly, if at all before you're falling into bed at night.

Scott eats cold leftovers from the fridge all the time as he makes a pass through the kitchen on his way here or there. I try to help him out by bringing a lot of meat in from the deep freeze to thaw and then cooking it up for supper, which he often doesn't eat till 9.

The other day I brought in something labeled "chuck rib" but, not knowing just what to do with it, I threw it together as the recipe above. I usually like the look of this local columnist's recipes (not to mention his storytelling) and have tried several, but rarely are the results palatable to me when they reach the table. This ribs and lentils one I had made before though and liked (only could get orange lentils in town; if you try it and that's what you use, cut the amount in half or you'll have no liquid in your stew at the end).

When the meat went into the roaster, it filled it, end to end.
After an hour, I was shocked to discover it had shrunk almost in half:

I left the ribs for Scott because frankly I can live without most red meats (unless they're prepared on the barbecue or marinated or otherwise doctored up in some way, I'm not crazy about the flavour; around here we cook a lot of beef roasts because Scott raises organic cattle; but let's just say he eats a lot of it); and the veggies and lentils were delish.

***

We've given away three kittens and one mother cat so far. If you need some mousers, call me! We have all kinds, all sizes.

***

Scott's dad Ivan had a pacemaker "installed" on Thursday and is spending a couple days in Kelvington Hospital while they monitor his medications. Scott came in off the field, wolfed down leftovers, cleaned up, picked up his brother and went to visit tonight.

***

I spent the entire afternoon sleeping off a migraine. Four hours in the bedroom, and two out on the swing under shady trees. Feeling fine now, but with residual fatigue. My friend Cathy, who is a massage therapist, advised me to stop carrying heavy water pails to my flowers because it was exascerbating the knots in my upper back and neck that cause these migraines. So I've stopped doing that in the garden, but haven't completely figured out how to avoid the lifting when it comes to water for the house. We get our cooking water and drinking water in 10-litre jugs and when I'm lugging them to the house I carry one in each hand. That's what I did yesterday with four of them, but paid for it today. And I have to lift them to the countertop when they're full, too. Ah well ... I'll be more careful from now on, and try carrying/lifting only one at a time, and with both hands. I hope that helps. It will mean yet more trips between vehicle and house on grocery days, but if it makes a difference then it's worth it.

Today was a gorgeous day and I hated to "waste" it asleep. Emil spent the entire afternoon outside, either walking around the yard and back and forth down the driveway, or sitting in the shade.

How's That for Apples?

Our crabapple trees (we have two) didn't produce much this year. One has fruit as tiny as cherries, and the other yielded very little. So off we went last weekend, Luanne and I, to pick crabapples at the inlaws' place. You see a couple tomatoes there; they also come from my mother-in-law's garden, and I threw them in with the crabs in hopes that the apples might ripen more. I think it's actually the other way around though, isn't it.

Smoothie-girl that I have become, I am coring all these little apples and freezing the resulting tiny wedges in baggies. There are four large bowlfuls to get through, and I'm not pushing myself. A few cups here, a few cups there. Meanwhile the bowls sit expectantly on the livingroom coffee table, the chair at the piano, and the chair in front of the picture window; they would fill the kitchen counter and that would drive me nuts. I'll get around to them. Eventually.

Readers originally from Margo may not have heard that we lost one of our schoolmates to heart attack a couple nights ago. Kim Kulcheski was in the same grade at school as my younger sister Karen, so only about 50 years old. It's sobering, of course, and one feels for his family.

Happy Birthday to The Canadian Encyclopedia

sand sculpture at BC annual competitions

The Canadian Encyclopedia's birthday is today.
I've worked with the editorial team for 10 years already. Wow, the time has flown.

When I tell people about my job, I'm still surprised by how many -- Canadians, all -- are not aware of this incredible educational resource.

"You sell encyclopedias?" I've been asked.

No, no! Oh, once upon a time there were printed editions for sale, but now all the articles are free online, easily accessible. Do you have kids or grandkids in school, writing reports for their social studies class? Then the Canadian Encyclopedia is a website they want to use. Teachers love it.

Anything you want to know about Canadian culture, history, music, people ... on and on it goes ... look for it at the website and bookmark the page for future reference. It's http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com.

And here's the story: CLICK HERE.

Cool windy days are not to my liking but I walked anyway.  That was yesterday afternoon. Today the sun is trying valiantly to cut its way through the grey.

Joanne has managed to get her email working from the lodge in Canora so has sent a brief blog entry for her page, Out Margo Way. I hope she ends up closer so we don't have to change the name to Out Canora Way. Heh.

I've stopped to see her twice — once at the hospital, and once at the nursing home, where she's been settling in for several weeks. She is the spring chicken there. (BTW Joanne, I told Dad about your acquaintance saying she is Mr and Mrs Foste's daughter. He asked, Is her name Ann? Then he went to school with her.)

Speaking of Dad, he texted this morning that he's on his way to Osoyoos for a day of golfing. Ah the life o' Reilly that he leads as a retiree.

Labour Day Drive

On Monday, the Labour Day holiday, Emil and I decided to take a leisurely drive down some of the country roads near Golden Grain Farm.

We saw many old farmhouses like the one above, where no one lives anymore.

We saw this miniature replica of a one-room country school, where the real school once stood:

This old windmill, out of use for many years, would once have been like many other hardworking windmills providing electricity to individual farms:

We've had a couple of cold, windy days. Scott is finding it pretty chilly out on the swather. And me, for a change I'm happy to stay in at my desk, although I went for my walk today wearing a wool scarf on my head.

Long Weekend KaLUha

Ever since Cathy mentioned bringing back a texas-mickey-sized bottle of kahlua from the States, I've had a hankerin' for a Brown Cow. So in honour of Luanne's visit, I threw a batch of kahlua together (if you try it, cut the sugar in half, otherwise it's sickeningly sweet).

Then we only drank one each. However, it was a large one.

When Emil was at his dad's this summer, they went to a bookstore and Emil bought this:

And he likes to read a couple stories from it to all the girls.
Luanne had her turn:

How do you like that fine puffy quilt Shelly sent home with me? It took two large garbage bags to pack it. And it covers the couch perfectly.

The Canada geese are flocking up for their southward travels.

September!

My friend Skip-to-my-Lu is on her way from Flin Flon, and I expect her little red wagon (she drives a bright red truck) to pull into my driveway in a couple hours. I've just gotten out of bed (11 a.m.), having been up before 7, drank a cup of coffee, faced the fact that my "cloudy" neck (as Virginia Woolf might have described the early symptoms of a migraine) wasn't going away on its own, downed a Gravol and an anti-inflammatory, and gone back to sleep.

I smacked what I assumed was a mosquito on my upper back last night, and got stung. While at Shelly's a wasp stung my shin when I unknowingly disturbed its nest, and the area swelled up, as did my ankle, and stayed that way for about three days. Last night I came into the house and took an antihistamine right away, in hopes that the same wouldn't happen to my hand.  It hasn't so far but I must remember not to scratch the spot, which seems to be what started the swelling last time.

And now ... with a freshly brewed coffee in one hand, deadheading clippers in the other, and my fluffy bright green housecoat on my back, I am going to the front yard to commune with the flowers. And will practise not smacking any insects unless I can see them and know for sure what they are.

P.S.
Aunt Reta, I got your message and will give you a shout after my company has left, tomorrow or Monday.

If This is Fall, Bring it On

An evening's stroll included neighbours' kids on the road.

Harvest is swinging into gear.

I did not Photoshop this sunset. Honest.

The Great Outdoors

Crop damage in a neighbours' field during big wind and rain on Saturday

Since when do lupins bloom a second time in August? Since I'm a lucky wench, that's when.

My rainwater-holding system, complete with floating rest/escape platforms for frogs, et al.

Another Big Job Done and Dusted

Taking off the old shingles

Putting on the new ones

Babette and Baby C

First-time mother Babette gives unnamed Baby C a tongue bath. Orange sibling Carsten seen behind.

I am running out of C-names here. Need three more for three little blacks.

Heh. I'm not looking that hard. But —

Thought I'd post a quick photo before getting back to work.

Plain Old Livin'

On an evening walk this week; that's a neighbours' farmyard about two miles across the fields

Unfortunately it no longer looks so peaceful and warm outside. Scott turned the furnace on before going out this afternoon, and I'm about to bundle up real good to make sure the kittens have enough food on the tractor shed floor. There is plenty on a table but every morning I refill the two dishes on the floor for them, and haven't seen them climb up on the table yet. Time to put it all on the floor anyway, as the dogs never manage to make their way in there. (Anyone need cats or kittens? Plenty to share.)

My morning was spent in bed with a migraine, but a phone call roused me just before noon so I got up to see if the day could be salvaged. And it has. After going outside and coming in half-frozen and probably soaked, a nice soothing bath to warm up my old bones should be just what the doctor orders.

Now what the heck was I going to tell you? There was something on my mind, but it's vanished. Hmph.

Oh yes, last night's supper at Grandma Viv's café in Archerwill. We ordered quickly and off the daily specials board because Scott was starving by the time we arrived, about 8:30, and needed to order immediately, so I didn't hold things up; I asked for fish and chips (pronounced excellent by my sidekick, who usually eats half my meals) because it looked like the smallest thing on the three-item chalkboard list. Fish and chips all taste pretty much the same to me, though, so I ate only half of the rather large piece they served. Scott ordered a combo of dried ribs, chicken wings and Caesar salad. It was a heaping plate of well-spiced grub, so he was happy, and I taste-tested it all and agreed it passed muster. We brought some of it home as a midnight snack.

I wish I'd remembered to check out the actual menu though, to see if it's worth going a second time; as it is, an hour-and-ten-minute round trip and driving home after dark with a snoring man beside me means their menu will have to offer something splentastic before I'll want to do it again. However, they've built a pleasant atmosphere and Mr Fussy says the food is good, so when locals are looking for someplace different to go for a meal, it's a suitable option.

In other news, I am trying to identify the water bird that sounds like a cackling witch out on the slough west of the yard, at night. I went to All About Birds and listened to the sounds made my our habitual dwellers: northern shovellers, American coots (we call them mudhens) and blue-winged teals. No success. I know it isn't the sora's springtime call, but maybe later in the season? Must go try that one although I have my doubts.

*** Yep, I was right. It's not the sora. But listen to the sora anyway by clicking here.
Is that not a lovely call? We hear it all night here, in the spring.

Hm. Must find the answer. I may have to sneak up on dem boids with night-vision binoculars and rubber boots!

The Last Weekend in August

Calendula petals are used to make face cream; not that I've made any.

Readers of Joanne's letters from Out Margo Way are wondering where her entries are. She's gone AWOL!

I saw her the other day when Scott needed a ride to Canora for a chiropractic treatment. He limped up the clinic sidewalk and I went and found Joanne's room in the hospital. Her laptop hasn't been working there and I haven't received entries she's sent via smartphone. 

She was getting packed up for a move to the community lodge. 

So, with luck, technology will work for her over there and we'll soon be updated on "the life of Jo Bo."

Back here at Golden Grain Farm, it's cooler indoors than out. You have to go outside to warm up. The sky's turning a weird smoky colour and rain is forecast. 

Emil decided to stay at the group home this weekend ("I think I'll watch my Such-and-Such video. There's no point in keeping them if I'm not going to watch them!"). Scott's got a couple social functions lined up for the weekend, and I'm leaning toward taking a little jaunt northward to a new restaurant for supper.