Mom says there's never been a year like it. The garden is a write off.
- Record rain fall has turned half of it into a rice paddy...too bad we forgot to seed
- The brand new rototiller remains idol...would just get stuck
- Weeds are rubbing their pollen-laden leaves together in glee
- Potato bugs have infested the few brave potatoes that are struggling forth
- Peter powered the bugs last night
- It rained and washed the powder away
- New potatoes were planted today...trying again
- Bulls have trampled the carrot patch
The only hope remains with the cluster of raised beds across the road. It's looking promising and Chris and I did some seeding yesterday. A little sun would be appreciated.
Looks like we'll join the masses in the checkout line at Superstore this year...
Time to go fishing.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Secure the perimeter
Coming into the yard after walk and Dad zoomed up on the quad. Turns out three bulls have busted out. They were in isolation in the corrals...guess they didn't like that. Have I seen them?
Um...no. But I heard the cows making a ruckus over there... He perked up. Zoom!! Off to the yard fence. I trudge after him - no quad hitching for me.
We peered into the field...and who did we see? Hawaiian Bulll (known for his swivelling hips) and the little black bull, who as it turns out, is actually a steer. Somehow no one noticed his lack of balls until quite recently. In isolation until the meat wagon shows up. But, apparently feisty, he was one of the escapees.
It seems they are about to cruise into the yard...they're on the people-side of the fence. Dad zooms off. I continue to watch the action. I hear a 'hey!' from Dad...I rush over to consult. Does he need help? Shall I saddle up the golf cart to leap into action? Turns out he's just telling me to move...the bulls are going to come my way. Oh.
What can I do? He has no idea what the plan is yet. Have I seen Peter? I point him in the direction of the sound of the other ATV. Zoom!
I head into the house to capture the action on memory card. I zip up to tell Julia about the drama unfolding outside her window. She's dozing...I go away.
The guys have a plan....open the yard fence gate to the pasture and let the bulls in. Brilliant!
All goes well...barring some significant hoof prints in the lawn.
Soon, escapee #3 shows up and follows his pals into the pasture.
Original bull is last seen posturing atop a dirt mound, making sure the newcomers are clear that this is HIS herd. Men.
Tomorrow...move the whole gang to a new pasture and peel off the three back to corrals. Good luck with that!
UPDATE:
Apparently the bulls left a trail of very deep, very soggy hoof prints in the garden. Right through my row of carrots. Bummer.
Um...no. But I heard the cows making a ruckus over there... He perked up. Zoom!! Off to the yard fence. I trudge after him - no quad hitching for me.
We peered into the field...and who did we see? Hawaiian Bulll (known for his swivelling hips) and the little black bull, who as it turns out, is actually a steer. Somehow no one noticed his lack of balls until quite recently. In isolation until the meat wagon shows up. But, apparently feisty, he was one of the escapees.
It seems they are about to cruise into the yard...they're on the people-side of the fence. Dad zooms off. I continue to watch the action. I hear a 'hey!' from Dad...I rush over to consult. Does he need help? Shall I saddle up the golf cart to leap into action? Turns out he's just telling me to move...the bulls are going to come my way. Oh.
What can I do? He has no idea what the plan is yet. Have I seen Peter? I point him in the direction of the sound of the other ATV. Zoom!
I head into the house to capture the action on memory card. I zip up to tell Julia about the drama unfolding outside her window. She's dozing...I go away.
The guys have a plan....open the yard fence gate to the pasture and let the bulls in. Brilliant!
All goes well...barring some significant hoof prints in the lawn.
Soon, escapee #3 shows up and follows his pals into the pasture.
Original bull is last seen posturing atop a dirt mound, making sure the newcomers are clear that this is HIS herd. Men.
Tomorrow...move the whole gang to a new pasture and peel off the three back to corrals. Good luck with that!
UPDATE:
Apparently the bulls left a trail of very deep, very soggy hoof prints in the garden. Right through my row of carrots. Bummer.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
No bull
The beef supply was getting low, time to replenish.
Peter quickly ID'd the junior bull with an ornery look in his eye as the new hamburger source.
The deed was done yesterday morning. Less than an hour from field to abbatoir...that's fresh.
Sadly Junior didn't even have a chance to sow his oats, but on the other hand, neither was he shunted into the icky feed lot system.
His days ended chewing fresh grass on a green, dew-covered field.
Peter quickly ID'd the junior bull with an ornery look in his eye as the new hamburger source.
The deed was done yesterday morning. Less than an hour from field to abbatoir...that's fresh.
Sadly Junior didn't even have a chance to sow his oats, but on the other hand, neither was he shunted into the icky feed lot system.
His days ended chewing fresh grass on a green, dew-covered field.
Updates
Well, our little highway is open again, the waters have receded and are obligingly flowing UNDER the bridge. Yay!
The swaths being mowed in the yard are gaining ground, although the front yard pond is still flourishing.
Unclear as to the outcome of the birds nest. Peter made it out there to investigate a few days ago, but the nest was empty. No clear indication of foul play or successful hatch. We'll never know for sure.
There are, however, other VERY protective blackbirds around the yard. Go in the wrong area and some severe dive bombing is sure to occur. Sam has a lot of grief during the day.
Mosquitos are still ruling the roost, so to speak and continue to torture everyone all hours of the day and night.
I am trying out a new Insect Defend Patch. It appears to be a dose of B1 Thiamine that you wear like a nicotine patch to deter bugs by radiating whatever you radiate while wearing it. I know you're waiting with bated breath to see how it works. I will be sure to update you ASAP.
The swaths being mowed in the yard are gaining ground, although the front yard pond is still flourishing.
Unclear as to the outcome of the birds nest. Peter made it out there to investigate a few days ago, but the nest was empty. No clear indication of foul play or successful hatch. We'll never know for sure.
There are, however, other VERY protective blackbirds around the yard. Go in the wrong area and some severe dive bombing is sure to occur. Sam has a lot of grief during the day.
Mosquitos are still ruling the roost, so to speak and continue to torture everyone all hours of the day and night.
I am trying out a new Insect Defend Patch. It appears to be a dose of B1 Thiamine that you wear like a nicotine patch to deter bugs by radiating whatever you radiate while wearing it. I know you're waiting with bated breath to see how it works. I will be sure to update you ASAP.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Okay....the mosquitos are really, really disgusting
I hope for this to be my final moan about the skeeters. I feel I have made my point....right after this.
I when outside to secure the chicken coop last night and wondered...what is that sound? Stood still and realized it was a generalized mosquito whine thrumming through the air. All around. Everywhere. No escaping.
C.R.E.E.P.Y.
I wanted to get inside fast before I crawled out of my skin.
Did the chickens cooperate? No.
They busted out of the be half-gate across the main door. Scooped up one errant escapee...the rest were too stunned to bother.
Went around to the chicken yard to herd the later-nighters inside and they wouldn't budge.
Had to forceably pick up a dozen or so chickens and not urge them through the door...SHOVE them through the door. They were quite fine roosted up against the coop, thank you very much.
Just when you want to get the hell back inside you meet with a chicken sit-in.
Happy summer everyone!
I when outside to secure the chicken coop last night and wondered...what is that sound? Stood still and realized it was a generalized mosquito whine thrumming through the air. All around. Everywhere. No escaping.
C.R.E.E.P.Y.
I wanted to get inside fast before I crawled out of my skin.
Did the chickens cooperate? No.
They busted out of the be half-gate across the main door. Scooped up one errant escapee...the rest were too stunned to bother.
Went around to the chicken yard to herd the later-nighters inside and they wouldn't budge.
Had to forceably pick up a dozen or so chickens and not urge them through the door...SHOVE them through the door. They were quite fine roosted up against the coop, thank you very much.
Just when you want to get the hell back inside you meet with a chicken sit-in.
Happy summer everyone!
Break in the weather
That's Mom in her jaunty pink camp and Dad working the backfield.
Take that, you crazy-growing-lawn. Take that!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Closed!
Well, they finally closed the highway this morning. We went into town last night and the car was NOT pleased with it's swim through the flood zone and apparently the highway department is finally in agreement.
Our neighbour Ron, on the eastern shore, informed us of the closure this morning and claimed that the beavers were eating a hole throught the asphalt. I, like an idiot, believed him, until Mom clued me in that it was his hilarious way of saying that part of the road is now being washed away. I'm quick.
So, onto a 10 minute dirt road drive of a detour. The couple of farmyards on the way must be all a twitter with the traffic-packed roads.
The channel down the road continues to rise. The two culverts going under the road are so far underwater that a local beaver (really) chose to portage rather than be battered around with an underwater passage.
Peter reports early morning hilarity with Sam (the dog) chasing down an overly-confident fox who found his escape route thwarted by deep water. He had to dig deep for untold courage to come shockingly close to the truck to make his break for it.
But seriously, states of emergency are popping up all over the place. Highway 1 near Alberta is closed due to flooding, seeds are not even being planted. Bummer of a year all around.
Happily, there was a period of sun and wind today. Not even the mosquitoes could hold their own...yay.
However, the popular fluff was in fine form...some hit Mom in the back of the throat as she careened around the yard on lawnmower.
Never misses a chance to mow down a swath or two...
Our neighbour Ron, on the eastern shore, informed us of the closure this morning and claimed that the beavers were eating a hole throught the asphalt. I, like an idiot, believed him, until Mom clued me in that it was his hilarious way of saying that part of the road is now being washed away. I'm quick.
So, onto a 10 minute dirt road drive of a detour. The couple of farmyards on the way must be all a twitter with the traffic-packed roads.
The channel down the road continues to rise. The two culverts going under the road are so far underwater that a local beaver (really) chose to portage rather than be battered around with an underwater passage.
Peter reports early morning hilarity with Sam (the dog) chasing down an overly-confident fox who found his escape route thwarted by deep water. He had to dig deep for untold courage to come shockingly close to the truck to make his break for it.
But seriously, states of emergency are popping up all over the place. Highway 1 near Alberta is closed due to flooding, seeds are not even being planted. Bummer of a year all around.
Happily, there was a period of sun and wind today. Not even the mosquitoes could hold their own...yay.
However, the popular fluff was in fine form...some hit Mom in the back of the throat as she careened around the yard on lawnmower.
Never misses a chance to mow down a swath or two...
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Spring shots
Nice shots of the farm. This was pre-monsoon in the first week on June.
Lovely lilacs
Dexter leaving.
Running into Grandma on our walk
Rolling bedding plant nursery.
Lovely lilacs
Dexter leaving.
Running into Grandma on our walk
Rolling bedding plant nursery.
Energizer Mom
With her attempts at gardening thwarted, Mom has now refocussed her not-inconsiderable energy on deep cleaning the house.
We are hiding downstairs listening to the roar of the vacuum.
Think of us.
We are hiding downstairs listening to the roar of the vacuum.
Think of us.
Bird nest...update
No update.
Boot-sucking, quagmire mud conditions have rendered the rhubarb patch unreachable.
The best we can report is that the birds still get pissed off when we get near and the last known location of the nest still appears to be above the waterline.
Chirp, chirp.
Boot-sucking, quagmire mud conditions have rendered the rhubarb patch unreachable.
The best we can report is that the birds still get pissed off when we get near and the last known location of the nest still appears to be above the waterline.
Chirp, chirp.
True Blood - Saskatchewan Style
The local population is facing a very real fear of exsanguination.
Merely stepping outside your house or car results in being blanketed in swarms of huge, thirsty mosquitoes. Gross.
So, rather than enjoying the lovely (if somewhat soggy) summer weather, we are huddled indoors slapping at buzzing infiltrators.
It's that, or go outside and come back in feeling like an itchy raisin.
Decisions, decisions....
Merely stepping outside your house or car results in being blanketed in swarms of huge, thirsty mosquitoes. Gross.
So, rather than enjoying the lovely (if somewhat soggy) summer weather, we are huddled indoors slapping at buzzing infiltrators.
It's that, or go outside and come back in feeling like an itchy raisin.
Decisions, decisions....
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Blub blub...
Record-setting rainfall here this year. The most in a million years or something like that.
The house is now waterfront property with the appearance of a pond in the front yard and our little highway is awash in flood waters by the bridge to the 'big' highway.
Meanwhile Dad is doing a "told you so" to the local watershed committee from which he resigned in protest several years ago. He was ignored in his insistence that the local lake's water level was being kept way too high...lining everything up for a big mess if wet weather continued.
Four more days of rain expected. Strap on the water wings.
At least one segment of the population is very pleased...the mosquitoes.
The house is now waterfront property with the appearance of a pond in the front yard and our little highway is awash in flood waters by the bridge to the 'big' highway.Mom can be heard muttering "this is stupid" as she crams the bedding plants into any non-mud dirt she can find and laments the yellowing of leaves as she careens around the yard in the golf cart (she just sped by the window inspecting the north-east corner of the yard).
She tries to find Chris to help push her out when she takes the lawn mower into too-soggy land - she's trying to avoid Dad's stink-eye for not having heeded warnings to stay away. But "goll darn it" the grass is like hay already!
Well guess what? There are reports of sandbagging underway to try to protect waterfront cabins and the do-hickey to drain the lake into the channels is WIDE open, but nowhere close to keeping pace with the water rising. A lot of eye-rolling going on. Never mind the long-disappeared beaches, now the potential for uncontrolled general flooding is very real.
Four more days of rain expected. Strap on the water wings.
At least one segment of the population is very pleased...the mosquitoes.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
'Sree' year old Dexter!
Huge celebrations yesterday for the youngest of the clan. Many balloons, decorations and a horse added a festive note to a gathering of the exact same group of family that gets together each weekend. :)
Horse rides, plane flying, many perogies and gift opening made for a lovely afternoon.
Happy Birthday big boy!
Eggs in the nest
Peter spotted a nest in the "old rhubarb" patch. Alerted by a really pissed-off bird, he knew something was near by...and he was right!
Aunt Julia was called in for a consultation. She will be researching it in her bird watching manual and will submit her findings when she gets around to it.
When asked what kind of bird was nesting, Peter said it was a "shpock", which apparently is a Ukranian term for generic, little, black bird. Helpful.
Aunt Julia was called in for a consultation. She will be researching it in her bird watching manual and will submit her findings when she gets around to it.
Photo is from a few days ago. Egg count is up to five as of yesterday (excursion during Dexter's birthday festivities). We'll keep you posted
Dexter will also be updating you on the state of the dandelion fluff, which is clearly more interesting anyway.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
Beauty fades...
"Shhhhh!" Dexter learning to not yell around the chicks.
Two-and-a-bit weeks old. The awkward phase.
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