![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Home again.
Jun. 17th, 2014 09:08 pmI got back home last evening safe and sound. Not a bad flight. I bought a book in the airport in Ottawa, and had time to finish it by the time the plane landed in Vancouver. (It was a Stephanie Plum mystery by Janet Evanovich) I haven't read many of the series, but there was a very limited selection in the store. I found it quite enjoyable, good airplane reading.
The cats were happy to see me, and I was happy to see my own bed.
It was a good visit, the wedding went off with only minor hitches, no catastrophes or hissy fits, all good stuff. My sister Mary Anne is an organizing genius, really. She basically dedicated the last year to getting this wedding done (Allie is her only daughter, and they are very close, so it was very important to her to get it done right). I worked as directed, helping with prep work and set up; my other sister Sandy and her daughter Kim came on Friday for lunch, and we all spent the afternoon folding napkins and inserting sets of fork, knife, spoon, in all the napkins. Mary Anne made Sabayon sauce for the fruit salad dessert, and we all made up the plates of appetizers..we had quite the assembly line in place!
Wedding day was iffy weatherwise. Cloudy, occasional spits of rain..very worrisome. They waited until the last minute to decide whether the ceremony would be outside as planned, or in the big tent. Luckily the rain held off, the bride and groom stood under the arbor, and the ceremony finished with everyone staying dry. It was a lovely wedding, and I think my little sister shed a few tears.
It was great to have the chance to visit with my brothers and their wives, my Uncle Jack (who is 88, and doing well), and my various nieces and nephews.
After all the speeches and the dinner, the young crowd started the serious partying, so we left them to it. Sandy, Kim and I drove back to Kim's place outside of Smith Falls, a little town about an hour away from Mary Anne's. It was nice to be in a quiet place...I don't think I would have been able to sleep much with all the celebrating going on back there.
Sunday the three of us worked on Kim's gardens. She and her husband built a new house on two acres of woodland, basically just cut a small open area in the forest, so there's a lot of work to do on the landscaping. We were building a rock garden along the roadside edge of the property, so we hauled a lot of soil and rocks and worked really hard. Looked good when we finished. In the evening we drove in to Perth and had dinner at the Pub where Kim's son works. He's the chef there, and made us a nice meal. When we got back home, we had wine and cheese and a relaxing spell in the hot tub. I slept like a baby that night!
Yesterday Nick came and made us lunch (shrimp-mango pasta salad, yummy), before they drove me to the airport in Ottawa. Then it was back home again.
Like all trips, it seemed to go by at warp speed, while at the same time feeling like I'd been away for ages and ages. I am happy to be home, although I would have preferred not to bring all the bug bites with me. I'd forgotten how bad the black flies and mosquitoes are back there!
Back to the real world...have to work tomorrow.
ETA: I have pictures..to be posted when my phone is charged again.
The cats were happy to see me, and I was happy to see my own bed.
It was a good visit, the wedding went off with only minor hitches, no catastrophes or hissy fits, all good stuff. My sister Mary Anne is an organizing genius, really. She basically dedicated the last year to getting this wedding done (Allie is her only daughter, and they are very close, so it was very important to her to get it done right). I worked as directed, helping with prep work and set up; my other sister Sandy and her daughter Kim came on Friday for lunch, and we all spent the afternoon folding napkins and inserting sets of fork, knife, spoon, in all the napkins. Mary Anne made Sabayon sauce for the fruit salad dessert, and we all made up the plates of appetizers..we had quite the assembly line in place!
Wedding day was iffy weatherwise. Cloudy, occasional spits of rain..very worrisome. They waited until the last minute to decide whether the ceremony would be outside as planned, or in the big tent. Luckily the rain held off, the bride and groom stood under the arbor, and the ceremony finished with everyone staying dry. It was a lovely wedding, and I think my little sister shed a few tears.
It was great to have the chance to visit with my brothers and their wives, my Uncle Jack (who is 88, and doing well), and my various nieces and nephews.
After all the speeches and the dinner, the young crowd started the serious partying, so we left them to it. Sandy, Kim and I drove back to Kim's place outside of Smith Falls, a little town about an hour away from Mary Anne's. It was nice to be in a quiet place...I don't think I would have been able to sleep much with all the celebrating going on back there.
Sunday the three of us worked on Kim's gardens. She and her husband built a new house on two acres of woodland, basically just cut a small open area in the forest, so there's a lot of work to do on the landscaping. We were building a rock garden along the roadside edge of the property, so we hauled a lot of soil and rocks and worked really hard. Looked good when we finished. In the evening we drove in to Perth and had dinner at the Pub where Kim's son works. He's the chef there, and made us a nice meal. When we got back home, we had wine and cheese and a relaxing spell in the hot tub. I slept like a baby that night!
Yesterday Nick came and made us lunch (shrimp-mango pasta salad, yummy), before they drove me to the airport in Ottawa. Then it was back home again.
Like all trips, it seemed to go by at warp speed, while at the same time feeling like I'd been away for ages and ages. I am happy to be home, although I would have preferred not to bring all the bug bites with me. I'd forgotten how bad the black flies and mosquitoes are back there!
Back to the real world...have to work tomorrow.
ETA: I have pictures..to be posted when my phone is charged again.
Leaving on a jet plane.
Jun. 10th, 2014 07:14 pmHeading out tomorrow on my way back east for my niece's wedding. It's been a couple of busy days getting things organized, but I think I'm as ready as I can be.
Is
I was so tired yesterday after cleaning all the stalls and paddocks (Jack emptied the wheelbarrows for me, which really helped) that I fell asleep sitting in front of my computer. Naturally when I went to bed I woke right up.
Midnight and Rochelle are very happy together in the field. Midnight spent part of the afternoon snoozing in the sunshine. Rochelle has a few cuts and scrapes, nothing serious, and lots of bug bites. Have to keep fly spray handy.
Time to get the laundry out and choose what to pack from my vast wardrobe.
Off to see the family tomorrow. Leaving on an Air Canada jet plane.
Is
I was so tired yesterday after cleaning all the stalls and paddocks (Jack emptied the wheelbarrows for me, which really helped) that I fell asleep sitting in front of my computer. Naturally when I went to bed I woke right up.
Midnight and Rochelle are very happy together in the field. Midnight spent part of the afternoon snoozing in the sunshine. Rochelle has a few cuts and scrapes, nothing serious, and lots of bug bites. Have to keep fly spray handy.
Time to get the laundry out and choose what to pack from my vast wardrobe.
Off to see the family tomorrow. Leaving on an Air Canada jet plane.
Hurray, we've found someone to do the barn work! Nice young woman who has her own horse, rides dressage, and is currently working part time at a busy stable with 25 horses. She was very keen, seemed like a mature and motivated young woman. She'll do nicely. And even if she only stays til the fall, at least we've got time to work out something else. The girl who is leaving is going to stay until the 16th, which covers the time I'm going to be gone for my niece's wedding. Huge relief.
Booked my flight tonight. Gulp. Air travel ain't cheap. But it's for family, so I have to do what I have to do. Now all I have to do is figure out what the heck I'm going to wear to the wedding.
I'm working the next three days in CCU, then I'm off for 10 days! Feels like a huge stretch of time...and I'm looking forward to it.
Booked my flight tonight. Gulp. Air travel ain't cheap. But it's for family, so I have to do what I have to do. Now all I have to do is figure out what the heck I'm going to wear to the wedding.
I'm working the next three days in CCU, then I'm off for 10 days! Feels like a huge stretch of time...and I'm looking forward to it.
Smelling the Roses..
Jun. 2nd, 2014 10:16 pmWith all the bad news we're inundated with every single day, I sometimes have to remind myself of all the goodness there is in the world. I'm no Pollyanna, always looking on the bright side of life, but I believe there has to be a balance. If all we see is the negative, dark side of our world, pretty soon we'll feel so defeated we become convinced there is nothing we can do to make it better. If we close our eyes to the badness, we pretend the world is just a cakewalk and probably do nothing to make it better. So I believe we have to look at the world's problems clearly and honestly, while reminding ourselves of all that is wonderful and joyful, in order to motivate ourselves to make the world the one we want to live in and leave to our children.
So to that end, I've decided to try to find at least 3 wonderful things to pay attention to every day. For today:
The sight of the barn swallows coming and going from their nest in the big barn. One of them was basically hovering like a hummingbird, while his/her mate chattered away like an enthusiastic cheerleader. They're charming and beautiful, and make the barn a happy place.
On my way home the other day, I saw what looked like something dragging a branch across the road...as I got closer, I realized it was a mamma duck with a string of ducklings trailing behind her, crossing the road. At the curb, the ducklings hopped up and followed Mamma..except for one, who seemed to be a little more awkward. He hopped, and missed, and hopped and missed, and I held my breath and willed him on, and then he hopped, and made it up the little bank, and off he went with his family. I cheered!
Goldie won the big challenge class (jumping 3'6") at the Thunderbird Show yesterday! She was clear both rounds with the fastest time. It was a big class with some very good horses. She got a big red ribbon, a ceramic plate, and $200. Jack was thrilled to bits, as we all are. Yay!
I got my garden planted yesterday. Now I just have to get a fence up so the cats don't dig in it, and the bunnies don't eat the veggies.
We're still looking for a new worker for the barn; we interviewed someone today who looks promising. Hope it works out. I have to buy my ticket to go to my niece's wedding, and I don't have much time left. Fingers crossed.
So to that end, I've decided to try to find at least 3 wonderful things to pay attention to every day. For today:
The sight of the barn swallows coming and going from their nest in the big barn. One of them was basically hovering like a hummingbird, while his/her mate chattered away like an enthusiastic cheerleader. They're charming and beautiful, and make the barn a happy place.
On my way home the other day, I saw what looked like something dragging a branch across the road...as I got closer, I realized it was a mamma duck with a string of ducklings trailing behind her, crossing the road. At the curb, the ducklings hopped up and followed Mamma..except for one, who seemed to be a little more awkward. He hopped, and missed, and hopped and missed, and I held my breath and willed him on, and then he hopped, and made it up the little bank, and off he went with his family. I cheered!
Goldie won the big challenge class (jumping 3'6") at the Thunderbird Show yesterday! She was clear both rounds with the fastest time. It was a big class with some very good horses. She got a big red ribbon, a ceramic plate, and $200. Jack was thrilled to bits, as we all are. Yay!
I got my garden planted yesterday. Now I just have to get a fence up so the cats don't dig in it, and the bunnies don't eat the veggies.
We're still looking for a new worker for the barn; we interviewed someone today who looks promising. Hope it works out. I have to buy my ticket to go to my niece's wedding, and I don't have much time left. Fingers crossed.
Oh, bloody hell.
May. 28th, 2014 09:51 pmThe young woman who does the barn work out at the farm quit today. She has given us 2 weeks notice, unlike the last girl who gave us a whole 2 days, so that's something. I know this kind of work is not what anyone would choose as a career; it's hard physical labour, and not the best paying job in the world. That said, we pay more than most other stables, and from everything we've heard, treat our employees a whole lot better than most. It's partly because we're so hands on, and partly because we want everyone to feel like they're part of the team. We're quite stunned, because she's only been working for us for 5 months, and she'd assured us when she started that she would be there for at least the year. Well, damn. We can't force her to stay, so we are now back in the hunt for someone else. It happens, it's just the way it works out. It's such bad timing, though. We're at the start of show season, we have three of our young horses in training 4 days a week, and we have to get on with breeding one of the girls and doing the embryo transfer soon. Plus, I have to go back to Ontario for my niece's wedding in a couple of weeks, and Sue needs to go see her mother in England....
Oh, bloody hell.
Oh, bloody hell.
I have the new Dresden Files novel in my hot little hands. Picked it up on my way home this evening - I just made it into WhiteDwarf before they closed. I would have been very upset if I'd missed it, let me tell you. Now I have to settle down and start reading because people are posting about it already, and I MUST AVOID SPOILERS!! Temptation to peek is great, but my will is strong.
:runs off to read:
:runs off to read:
Proud, that's what we are.
May. 25th, 2014 10:36 pmWe're just so proud of the way our horses have been going over the past year. It's like night and day, the difference a year makes. Last year we were pulling our hair out trying to find the right people to help us with the training of these very talented horses, and this year we have people who just can't do enough for us. We're building a great team, and it's so satisfying. Jack, Sue and I are all working so hard to make the farm a success, and we have the breeding part of it down, but the training has always been the factor we struggled with. Now we've found people who know what they're doing and who are bringing the horses along. It's a very good feeling. We have the best horses and they deserve the best training we can give them.
We got some exciting news about one of the horses who has gone on his career path; Socrates is the son of Phaedra and Odyssey, who were both born on the farm. He was Phaedra's first foal, and turned out to be an awesome jumper. He was just bought by the great American rider Beezie Maddon! Apparently she has had her eye on him for the last few years, and really wanted him. It's such an honour to have one of our own kids bought by an internationally renowned rider, a testament to the quality of our breeding program. I know, it's tooting our own horn, but dammit, we deserve to do a little back patting. Yay, Socs!! Your grandmothers, Jubilee and Kandance, are proud of you too.
Goldie has done us proud at the Thunderbird show this week. She has won a ribbon in every class she's been in, and only knocked down one rail all week.
We have had a very good week.
We got some exciting news about one of the horses who has gone on his career path; Socrates is the son of Phaedra and Odyssey, who were both born on the farm. He was Phaedra's first foal, and turned out to be an awesome jumper. He was just bought by the great American rider Beezie Maddon! Apparently she has had her eye on him for the last few years, and really wanted him. It's such an honour to have one of our own kids bought by an internationally renowned rider, a testament to the quality of our breeding program. I know, it's tooting our own horn, but dammit, we deserve to do a little back patting. Yay, Socs!! Your grandmothers, Jubilee and Kandance, are proud of you too.
Goldie has done us proud at the Thunderbird show this week. She has won a ribbon in every class she's been in, and only knocked down one rail all week.
We have had a very good week.
Lesson learned
May. 20th, 2014 07:41 pm-Sometimes you shouldn't say what you're thinking out loud. For example: the other night at work one of the patients kept pulling his CPAP mask off and demanding to go on nasal prongs, then five minutes later wanting to go back on CPAP, which meant the RT had to come back over from ICU. At the nursing station I said something to the effect that he really needed to just settle down and stop being so annoying. A few minutes later his daughter came out and said "you know we can hear you, right?". OOOPs. I apologized for what I'd said, explained why I was feeling frustrated, and why it was important for her father to wear the CPAP mask. Things were smoothed over, a plan was made, and I learned that sometimes I should keep my thoughts in my head and not let them leak out into the open air. Easier said than done, in my experience.
In other news, I need to book my flight to Ottawa ASAP. My niece's wedding is coming up mid June, and I haven't done anything about a)the flight b)the wedding present or c)a dress to wear. Procrastination is another thing I need to work on, it seems.
I have to take my car in for a tuneup this week. These new cars have fancy reminders for us dumb humans...yesterday a little picture of a wrench popped up on my speedometer panel with a message: Oil life 15%. Now if the car would only tell me where the parking spots are.
LOL
In other news, I need to book my flight to Ottawa ASAP. My niece's wedding is coming up mid June, and I haven't done anything about a)the flight b)the wedding present or c)a dress to wear. Procrastination is another thing I need to work on, it seems.
I have to take my car in for a tuneup this week. These new cars have fancy reminders for us dumb humans...yesterday a little picture of a wrench popped up on my speedometer panel with a message: Oil life 15%. Now if the car would only tell me where the parking spots are.
LOL
Time flies..
May. 16th, 2014 08:24 pmI just don't know where the month has gone; all of a sudden, May is half over and I haven't done half the things I had on my list! The days just aren't long enough. Plus, the whole working for a living thing just takes up way too much of my time. LOL. Still, being busy is better than sitting around being bored, I guess.
I worked nights the last three nights, and I have to work another one tomorrow night. I was busy all night last night, had a sick patient who was quite unstable and needed lots of my attention, so the shift flew by. I had brought a book with me to read, on the off chance that it would be a repeat of the previous night when I basically watched my patient sleep all night. I read one page and that was all! On the whole, I would rather be kept busy; the time goes by a lot faster.
It's been a nice week weather-wise here, so I had hoped to get some more work done in my garden. I need to get that thing planted. Just have to make time, and get organized, or it's going to be harvest time and I won't have anything to harvest!
The horses are enjoying the nice weather too. Midnight got to go in the field a couple of times this past week for a few hours. The grass is so rich we have to be careful, and let him get used to it. I don't want him getting a tummy ache! Once he's settled down out there, I'm going to put Rochelle out with him. She will love having all that space to run in, and I think the two of them will get along fine. They know each other, and I hope Midnight won't be a bully with her. He went out with Kyra, and she kept him in line because she was an old mare who knew how to deal with his pushiness. We'll see. I have to get Rochelle started this summer, and she's on Maya's list of horses she's going to work with, but not until later this summer. I just don't have time at the moment, and once we start, we're committed to keeping on with the training. We have four horses in training right now, and that's a lot for the moment. It's really busy out at the farm these days. Feels like old times when we showed a lot and had people coming and going all the time. The past few years were tough, when all our energy was just focused on keeping the wolf from the front gate and keeping the farm going. Now we're through that tough patch, and it feels like there is so much good stuff happening now. It's very exciting, and very motivating to keep going. Then one of the horses does something amazing, and it just gets the juices going even more.
Like Sera's first big adventure. Maya has been riding her in the arena, and out in the field, but she's never been off the property. So on Tuesday Maya brought her truck and trailer over, to take Sera to her farm for the day. Sera is pretty inexperienced, has never been in a trailer, so we weren't sure if she'd load or not. We have to start somewhere, so we went for it. Sera took about 15 minutes to figure it out. She almost hopped in first time, but the trailer moved a bit and scared her, so it took a bit of encouragement, but she went in without too much fuss. Amazing. We've seen horses who were twice her age with lots of training go nuts loading. It can be a real challenge. We wanted her first experience to be a good one, because it sets her up well for the future. She loaded, was very good on the trip over to Maya's place, spent the day there, got ridden in the outdoor arena, hung out in a paddock, loaded in the trailer again, and was back home for dinner. We are so proud.
The big jumper show starts on Tuesday at Thunderbird, and Goldie is entered. We're so excited to see her go. It's going to be fun.
I'm having a quiet evening, just some down time for myself. I'm almost finished rereading the last Dresden Files novel, in preparation for the release of Skin Games this month. Have to watch the season finale of Elementary, and maybe another episode of The Hundred, if I can stay awake long enough. I didn't sleep much today, because I knew if I did I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. Shift work messes up my sleep cycle for sure.
At some point soon I have to book my flight to Ottawa. My niece is getting married on June 14, and my sister has asked me to come a few days early to help her with the preparation. My sister has taken on a lot, including making the bridal gown, and the wedding is going to be in their back yard, so I know I'll be put to work! And that reminds me, I have to shop for an outfit for myself, and a wedding gift. Time, I need more time!
I worked nights the last three nights, and I have to work another one tomorrow night. I was busy all night last night, had a sick patient who was quite unstable and needed lots of my attention, so the shift flew by. I had brought a book with me to read, on the off chance that it would be a repeat of the previous night when I basically watched my patient sleep all night. I read one page and that was all! On the whole, I would rather be kept busy; the time goes by a lot faster.
It's been a nice week weather-wise here, so I had hoped to get some more work done in my garden. I need to get that thing planted. Just have to make time, and get organized, or it's going to be harvest time and I won't have anything to harvest!
The horses are enjoying the nice weather too. Midnight got to go in the field a couple of times this past week for a few hours. The grass is so rich we have to be careful, and let him get used to it. I don't want him getting a tummy ache! Once he's settled down out there, I'm going to put Rochelle out with him. She will love having all that space to run in, and I think the two of them will get along fine. They know each other, and I hope Midnight won't be a bully with her. He went out with Kyra, and she kept him in line because she was an old mare who knew how to deal with his pushiness. We'll see. I have to get Rochelle started this summer, and she's on Maya's list of horses she's going to work with, but not until later this summer. I just don't have time at the moment, and once we start, we're committed to keeping on with the training. We have four horses in training right now, and that's a lot for the moment. It's really busy out at the farm these days. Feels like old times when we showed a lot and had people coming and going all the time. The past few years were tough, when all our energy was just focused on keeping the wolf from the front gate and keeping the farm going. Now we're through that tough patch, and it feels like there is so much good stuff happening now. It's very exciting, and very motivating to keep going. Then one of the horses does something amazing, and it just gets the juices going even more.
Like Sera's first big adventure. Maya has been riding her in the arena, and out in the field, but she's never been off the property. So on Tuesday Maya brought her truck and trailer over, to take Sera to her farm for the day. Sera is pretty inexperienced, has never been in a trailer, so we weren't sure if she'd load or not. We have to start somewhere, so we went for it. Sera took about 15 minutes to figure it out. She almost hopped in first time, but the trailer moved a bit and scared her, so it took a bit of encouragement, but she went in without too much fuss. Amazing. We've seen horses who were twice her age with lots of training go nuts loading. It can be a real challenge. We wanted her first experience to be a good one, because it sets her up well for the future. She loaded, was very good on the trip over to Maya's place, spent the day there, got ridden in the outdoor arena, hung out in a paddock, loaded in the trailer again, and was back home for dinner. We are so proud.
The big jumper show starts on Tuesday at Thunderbird, and Goldie is entered. We're so excited to see her go. It's going to be fun.
I'm having a quiet evening, just some down time for myself. I'm almost finished rereading the last Dresden Files novel, in preparation for the release of Skin Games this month. Have to watch the season finale of Elementary, and maybe another episode of The Hundred, if I can stay awake long enough. I didn't sleep much today, because I knew if I did I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. Shift work messes up my sleep cycle for sure.
At some point soon I have to book my flight to Ottawa. My niece is getting married on June 14, and my sister has asked me to come a few days early to help her with the preparation. My sister has taken on a lot, including making the bridal gown, and the wedding is going to be in their back yard, so I know I'll be put to work! And that reminds me, I have to shop for an outfit for myself, and a wedding gift. Time, I need more time!
I've been looking forward to the season finale of Once Upon a Time all week, so I rushed out of work at 7:15, eager to get home and set up for the big event. Tempting fate, that was. Went to open my car and saw a little sign on the window: you have a flat tire. Sure enough, the rear tire was totally flat. :Giant sigh: Open up the hatch to get the spare...ohh, this car doesn't have a spare tire. Instead it has some weird kind of kit that inflates the tire long enough to hopefully get to a garage, if you can figure out how to use it. Well, shoot. What to do? Call BCAA. So I called, waited on line for about 20 minutes to speak to someone, then waited for another 40 minutes for a truck to arrive. It finally did, and the nice man fixed the tire. He couldn't find any leaks anywhere, no reason for the tire to be flat. No idea why it happened. I hate those kind of mysteries.
I got home in time to watch the last hour of the show, which was a bit confusing without the previous hour's information. I did enjoy it a lot, must watch it again online to get the whole story though.
Just keeping my fingers crossed that I don't find a flat tomorrow when I go out.
I got home in time to watch the last hour of the show, which was a bit confusing without the previous hour's information. I did enjoy it a lot, must watch it again online to get the whole story though.
Just keeping my fingers crossed that I don't find a flat tomorrow when I go out.
Week's end
May. 10th, 2014 08:13 pmBeen something of a busy week, but I've managed to get things crossed off my to-do list:
I have:
-had the snow tires removed from my car, and the summer ones put on. I figure I'm pretty safe from snowstorms by now.
-had my glasses adjusted and new non-slippy nose pads put on. I was getting tired of having them slip down to the very end of my nose whenever I got a bit sweaty. Now they sit on the bridge of my nose like good glasses should.
-done the laundry. Clean clothes, Yay!
-bought a new pair of sneakers. The old ones are raggedy. The new ones are dark blue with bright pink trim and lime green laces. I am so cool. ;P
-carted several wheelbarrows full of old manure to my garden and dug it under. Now I just need to find some topsoil to add. I'm hoping that the builders are about ready to bring in topsoil for the front lawn, since they've leveled the giant pile of dirt that was there.
-made arrangements with my landlord's son to come help me lift the planters with my hostas into my car so I can take them out to the farm. Since said landlord has decreed the patio area to be a no plant zone, I'm rehoming the plants I can move. My front balcony is filled with my roses, herbs, clematis and strawberries. No room there. I checked on my fig tree, which is next door in their little courtyard, and it's doing okay. The rosemary and the bay leaf tree are toast, I'm afraid. The patio looks so bare and sterile, but there won't be any nasty dirt to get into the drains. Jerk. I will be very happy to leave here. It's just not the same, not like it was a couple of years ago. Time to move on.
-Completed and mailed my income tax return!!! Big load off my mind. Plus I get money back.
-gave my horses a good grooming. Midnight gets so dirty. I spent about 30 minutes finger combing his tail. It's gorgeous when it's clean and brushed, but that doesn't happen often. It's usually more like dreadlocks.
All in all a good week. Yesterday I had a day off, which I spent taking it easy.
I found out that the new Dresden Files book is coming out May 27th! I feel like I've been waiting forever to get my hands on it. I have instructed my friends at WhiteDwarf Books to set a copy aside for me the instant it arrives.
Watched this week's episode of Orphan Black and continue to be blown away by the show. Dark and twisted and very compelling.
Can't wait to see the season finale of Once Upon A Time tomorrow night! Luckily for me I get off work at 7p.m. so I'll be home in time.
Not a bad way for the week to end.
I have:
-had the snow tires removed from my car, and the summer ones put on. I figure I'm pretty safe from snowstorms by now.
-had my glasses adjusted and new non-slippy nose pads put on. I was getting tired of having them slip down to the very end of my nose whenever I got a bit sweaty. Now they sit on the bridge of my nose like good glasses should.
-done the laundry. Clean clothes, Yay!
-bought a new pair of sneakers. The old ones are raggedy. The new ones are dark blue with bright pink trim and lime green laces. I am so cool. ;P
-carted several wheelbarrows full of old manure to my garden and dug it under. Now I just need to find some topsoil to add. I'm hoping that the builders are about ready to bring in topsoil for the front lawn, since they've leveled the giant pile of dirt that was there.
-made arrangements with my landlord's son to come help me lift the planters with my hostas into my car so I can take them out to the farm. Since said landlord has decreed the patio area to be a no plant zone, I'm rehoming the plants I can move. My front balcony is filled with my roses, herbs, clematis and strawberries. No room there. I checked on my fig tree, which is next door in their little courtyard, and it's doing okay. The rosemary and the bay leaf tree are toast, I'm afraid. The patio looks so bare and sterile, but there won't be any nasty dirt to get into the drains. Jerk. I will be very happy to leave here. It's just not the same, not like it was a couple of years ago. Time to move on.
-Completed and mailed my income tax return!!! Big load off my mind. Plus I get money back.
-gave my horses a good grooming. Midnight gets so dirty. I spent about 30 minutes finger combing his tail. It's gorgeous when it's clean and brushed, but that doesn't happen often. It's usually more like dreadlocks.
All in all a good week. Yesterday I had a day off, which I spent taking it easy.
I found out that the new Dresden Files book is coming out May 27th! I feel like I've been waiting forever to get my hands on it. I have instructed my friends at WhiteDwarf Books to set a copy aside for me the instant it arrives.
Watched this week's episode of Orphan Black and continue to be blown away by the show. Dark and twisted and very compelling.
Can't wait to see the season finale of Once Upon A Time tomorrow night! Luckily for me I get off work at 7p.m. so I'll be home in time.
Not a bad way for the week to end.
Checking in, catching up..
May. 8th, 2014 09:32 pmI don't seem to be getting any less busy, but I thought I'd best check in before someone sends out a virtual search party. Now that I have my new phone and can check email with it (and check LJ too) I haven't even turned on my computer for the last few days. There has been a lot going on the past couple of weeks: I've been doing a lot of night shifts, which makes me less sociable, and then we've been crazy busy out at the farm.
We now have 4 horses in training. Goldie is getting ready for the big show next week; she's jumping well, and her trainer is happy with her progress. We hope she'll have a great time at the show. Dusty is back in action again after some time off due to her rider's injury from a fall off another horse, and as he said yesterday, "the Rocket's back!" Sera is going well, and looks fabulous. She has an amazing trot, very fluid and huge.
And then there is Flori. We've been anxious about getting her started, because she is big, and very athletic, and a bit quirky at times. We figured she'd be difficult and opinionated and need lots of time....boy, we were so wrong!
A friend of ours who used to keep his horses at our barn, and who has been away on the dressage circuit in Florida with his media business, just came back. He offered to help start Flori, and we were delighted to accept, because he really knows how to lunge and long rein, and is really good with young horses. He and Flori have bonded, and she follows him around like a puppy. She has turned out to be a superstar.....it's like she came already trained. First lesson on the lunge line ever, and within five minutes she was out on a twenty metre circle, walk, trot, and cantering, like she'd been doing it for years. Five lessons later, she's an old pro. No bucking, no attitude, just a fabulous work ethic. Andreas is over the moon and we're so excited. We always knew she was a great horse; we just had no idea what a great mind she would have, and how she'd take to this like a duck to water. It's thrilling, and worth all the work we've been doing.
I'm still trying to get my garden ready for planting, in the spare five minutes I have. Did a little bit this afternoon before the heavens opened and the rain came pouring down.
The house is coming along. They're almost ready to put the siding on; the doors went in yesterday. It's beautiful! So many windows, and French doors, lots of light and white.
Oh, new episode of Elementary is on now. Gotta go. Later!
We now have 4 horses in training. Goldie is getting ready for the big show next week; she's jumping well, and her trainer is happy with her progress. We hope she'll have a great time at the show. Dusty is back in action again after some time off due to her rider's injury from a fall off another horse, and as he said yesterday, "the Rocket's back!" Sera is going well, and looks fabulous. She has an amazing trot, very fluid and huge.
And then there is Flori. We've been anxious about getting her started, because she is big, and very athletic, and a bit quirky at times. We figured she'd be difficult and opinionated and need lots of time....boy, we were so wrong!
A friend of ours who used to keep his horses at our barn, and who has been away on the dressage circuit in Florida with his media business, just came back. He offered to help start Flori, and we were delighted to accept, because he really knows how to lunge and long rein, and is really good with young horses. He and Flori have bonded, and she follows him around like a puppy. She has turned out to be a superstar.....it's like she came already trained. First lesson on the lunge line ever, and within five minutes she was out on a twenty metre circle, walk, trot, and cantering, like she'd been doing it for years. Five lessons later, she's an old pro. No bucking, no attitude, just a fabulous work ethic. Andreas is over the moon and we're so excited. We always knew she was a great horse; we just had no idea what a great mind she would have, and how she'd take to this like a duck to water. It's thrilling, and worth all the work we've been doing.
I'm still trying to get my garden ready for planting, in the spare five minutes I have. Did a little bit this afternoon before the heavens opened and the rain came pouring down.
The house is coming along. They're almost ready to put the siding on; the doors went in yesterday. It's beautiful! So many windows, and French doors, lots of light and white.
Oh, new episode of Elementary is on now. Gotta go. Later!
Why hello, sunshine!
Apr. 29th, 2014 08:47 pmWonderful sunny day today, feels like almost summertime. Cheers me right up it does.
Kisses is settling in very well. We've had her for a week today, and she's just a great horse. Very calm and quiet, easy to handle, loves attention, and the other girls just love her. We are so pleased.
My garden is making progress. Jack got out his old rototiller and went over the area, so now I just have to haul in some of the old rotted manure from the back of the manure pile to work into the soil and get it ready for planting. I have some plants already volunteering in the pile, LOL. I bury my kitchen scraps there, and so far I've got some squash plants coming up, and I'm sure I spotted a potato plant or two, and what I think is probably kale. Maybe I should just toss seeds onto the manure pile and stand back! :P
Got my taxes done today. Whew. Thanks to the heartworm computer bug that got into Revenue Canada's site, we have an extra week before the last filing day.
I hate doing the taxes, but I get some money back, so yay.
I got called in for a shift tomorrow in CCU, which is great. I haven't worked much this past two weeks. I've enjoyed the bit of time off, but I do need to work some to keep up my extravagant life style, LOL!
Kisses is settling in very well. We've had her for a week today, and she's just a great horse. Very calm and quiet, easy to handle, loves attention, and the other girls just love her. We are so pleased.
My garden is making progress. Jack got out his old rototiller and went over the area, so now I just have to haul in some of the old rotted manure from the back of the manure pile to work into the soil and get it ready for planting. I have some plants already volunteering in the pile, LOL. I bury my kitchen scraps there, and so far I've got some squash plants coming up, and I'm sure I spotted a potato plant or two, and what I think is probably kale. Maybe I should just toss seeds onto the manure pile and stand back! :P
Got my taxes done today. Whew. Thanks to the heartworm computer bug that got into Revenue Canada's site, we have an extra week before the last filing day.
I hate doing the taxes, but I get some money back, so yay.
I got called in for a shift tomorrow in CCU, which is great. I haven't worked much this past two weeks. I've enjoyed the bit of time off, but I do need to work some to keep up my extravagant life style, LOL!
Just call me Grumpy.
Apr. 26th, 2014 08:45 pm'Cause I am today. Feeling out of sorts for no particular reason, just one of those days when I try to keep to myself and not get into trouble by verbalizing the grumblings in my head. I sat in the sun and pondered over my garden, which made me feel somewhat better. Still have lots of work to do there, if I ever want to get it planted.
Came home, made a nice salad and pasta for dinner, and watched this week's episode of Orphan Black.
Now I'm going to continue the work of getting myself back into a better frame of mind.
Came home, made a nice salad and pasta for dinner, and watched this week's episode of Orphan Black.
Now I'm going to continue the work of getting myself back into a better frame of mind.
(no subject)
Apr. 18th, 2014 10:09 pmI just watched the pilot episode of "The One Hundred" on Netflix. It's actually pretty good, if a bit on the typical CW side, aimed at the same crowd who like The Hunger Games and The Vampire Diaries, I think. I was entertained, and not just by the story. I kept seeing familiar faces from shows of yesteryear and also current shows..hey! there's Alessandro Guiliani from Battlestar Galactica! there's Theseus from Continuum (can't remember the actor's name) there's the guy who plays a future cop on Continuum! Several other actors I recognize but don't know who they are. TV shows filmed here in Vancouver tend to be a bit like a lot of British shows, filled with familiar faces. Guess there are only so many actors here.
Watching Netflix is in so many ways so much better than network TV. I can binge if I want to, catch up on shows I've missed, and see shows I never would get to see on TV. I'm a convert.
Watching Netflix is in so many ways so much better than network TV. I can binge if I want to, catch up on shows I've missed, and see shows I never would get to see on TV. I'm a convert.
Fashion Advice?
Apr. 17th, 2014 09:58 pmMy niece is getting married this June, and the invitation says that the dress is "semi-formal, with lawn friendly shoes advised." Ummm,okay. Perhaps that means I should wear my good jeans and clean tee shirt. Or not. I see shopping in my future, and I do not like shopping for clothes, especially "semi-formal" clothes.
The wedding is going to be held on my sister's back lawn, followed by a "semi-formal BBQ". Should be interesting.
I looked in my closet, and realized I do not own a single dress, or even a skirt. Never mind lawn friendly formal shoes.
I'm delighted to be going to the wedding and to seeing my family, but I now have to shop for an outfit, and for a wedding present.
Clothing stores will never make their fortune from me, I'm afraid. Still, it will be nice to have one thing I can wear to a fancy restaurant or such without feeling like the country cousin. I'm just not thrilled about shopping. It's hard to find something that is not old ladyish or too young for a woman of a certain age.
Maybe I should hire a personal shopper!
The wedding is going to be held on my sister's back lawn, followed by a "semi-formal BBQ". Should be interesting.
I looked in my closet, and realized I do not own a single dress, or even a skirt. Never mind lawn friendly formal shoes.
I'm delighted to be going to the wedding and to seeing my family, but I now have to shop for an outfit, and for a wedding present.
Clothing stores will never make their fortune from me, I'm afraid. Still, it will be nice to have one thing I can wear to a fancy restaurant or such without feeling like the country cousin. I'm just not thrilled about shopping. It's hard to find something that is not old ladyish or too young for a woman of a certain age.
Maybe I should hire a personal shopper!
I've been so busy lately I haven't had much time to hang out. I have been checking in with the flist, but haven't been online a whole lot this past week or so.
Just finished a set of 4 night shifts, which pretty much means I've been working and sleeping and working and sleeping, and not much else this week. Things should settle down in the next week or so; I don't have any shifts booked for the last part of April. Be nice to have some time to get some serious work done on the garden. Now that the nice weather is here, I have the gardening itch!
Yesterday I went out to the farm after I woke up. It was so gorgeous out I didn't want to be indoors. I got out the trusty garden fork and started digging up the ground where the garden is going to be, picking up nails as I dug. I think I've picked up at least 1000 nails so far! I think I'll be picking nails out of the garden until I'm old and grey. :P I managed to get about half of the area dug out. Lots of clay in the top part of the garden, probably left from the excavation for the barn foundations, so that's going to take some work. The bottom 2/3 of the area is much loamier, so hopefully it won't be too hard going. The adventure of starting a garden from scratch.
Speaking of scratches, we moved the old rambling rose today. It predates our arrival at the farm, so it's at least 25 years old, and has given us years of gorgeous blooms and fragrance that is just intoxicating. When the old house was pulled down Sue insisted that as many of the plants and bushes as possible be saved, including the rose. It's been sitting at the edge of the driveway by the fence all winter, its roots just barely covered. We knew we had to plant it ASAP, so today Jack dug a good sized hole with his tractor and moved the rose. It has a giant root structure, practically a tree root, so it was heavy. We got her planted in a lovely sunny spot by the garden shed, where we can see it from the driveway. I think it's going to survive; there are green shoots coming from the old wood of the base, and it looks healthy.
While we were standing by the hole waiting for the rose Alyssa said she kept smelling onion! Lo and behold, when we looked down at her feet, there was a clump of chives. I think it was in a planter that we'd emptied in the fall, and those chives just dug in and survived. I transplanted the chives into the patch of garden I've already made, where the rhubarb and the lilac shrub and the peonies and Jack's father's rose are all planted. It's looking so pretty out there already, and it's just getting better with every addition.
Speaking of additions, we're getting a new mare. Our Vet has found us a lovely Standardbred mare, 6 years old, retired from racing, who has already had 2 foals. Her name is Kisses. She's going to be our surrogate mother. We're breeding one of the mares who is starting her show career, and Kisses will carry the baby. We are extremely fortunate to have as our Veterinarian one of the top reproductive specialists in the world, and he is able to do embryo transfer and freeze embryos and all sorts of high tech stuff. This way our girls can keep training, and have babies too. Win, win. The first horse show of the season is next weekend at Thunderbird. Goldie is going, and we're very excited. She's jumping 3'6" jumps and going fabulously.
The house is coming along very well indeed. It's so exciting to watch it grow and change into the home we've planned for. My friends picked out the appliances for the house yesterday...Sue is going to have a gorgeous kitchen! It's huge, and the stove will be appropriately large. I'm going to have very nice appliances too, but on a smaller scale. Also I'm getting a gas fireplace in my living room! Still quite a ways to go before we all move in.
There's certainly enough stuff to keep one person occupied. I just have to find time to do the other stuff too, like keeping up with my favourite TV shows, and reading the books I have stacked up, etc.
Good think I have lots of energy.
Just finished a set of 4 night shifts, which pretty much means I've been working and sleeping and working and sleeping, and not much else this week. Things should settle down in the next week or so; I don't have any shifts booked for the last part of April. Be nice to have some time to get some serious work done on the garden. Now that the nice weather is here, I have the gardening itch!
Yesterday I went out to the farm after I woke up. It was so gorgeous out I didn't want to be indoors. I got out the trusty garden fork and started digging up the ground where the garden is going to be, picking up nails as I dug. I think I've picked up at least 1000 nails so far! I think I'll be picking nails out of the garden until I'm old and grey. :P I managed to get about half of the area dug out. Lots of clay in the top part of the garden, probably left from the excavation for the barn foundations, so that's going to take some work. The bottom 2/3 of the area is much loamier, so hopefully it won't be too hard going. The adventure of starting a garden from scratch.
Speaking of scratches, we moved the old rambling rose today. It predates our arrival at the farm, so it's at least 25 years old, and has given us years of gorgeous blooms and fragrance that is just intoxicating. When the old house was pulled down Sue insisted that as many of the plants and bushes as possible be saved, including the rose. It's been sitting at the edge of the driveway by the fence all winter, its roots just barely covered. We knew we had to plant it ASAP, so today Jack dug a good sized hole with his tractor and moved the rose. It has a giant root structure, practically a tree root, so it was heavy. We got her planted in a lovely sunny spot by the garden shed, where we can see it from the driveway. I think it's going to survive; there are green shoots coming from the old wood of the base, and it looks healthy.
While we were standing by the hole waiting for the rose Alyssa said she kept smelling onion! Lo and behold, when we looked down at her feet, there was a clump of chives. I think it was in a planter that we'd emptied in the fall, and those chives just dug in and survived. I transplanted the chives into the patch of garden I've already made, where the rhubarb and the lilac shrub and the peonies and Jack's father's rose are all planted. It's looking so pretty out there already, and it's just getting better with every addition.
Speaking of additions, we're getting a new mare. Our Vet has found us a lovely Standardbred mare, 6 years old, retired from racing, who has already had 2 foals. Her name is Kisses. She's going to be our surrogate mother. We're breeding one of the mares who is starting her show career, and Kisses will carry the baby. We are extremely fortunate to have as our Veterinarian one of the top reproductive specialists in the world, and he is able to do embryo transfer and freeze embryos and all sorts of high tech stuff. This way our girls can keep training, and have babies too. Win, win. The first horse show of the season is next weekend at Thunderbird. Goldie is going, and we're very excited. She's jumping 3'6" jumps and going fabulously.
The house is coming along very well indeed. It's so exciting to watch it grow and change into the home we've planned for. My friends picked out the appliances for the house yesterday...Sue is going to have a gorgeous kitchen! It's huge, and the stove will be appropriately large. I'm going to have very nice appliances too, but on a smaller scale. Also I'm getting a gas fireplace in my living room! Still quite a ways to go before we all move in.
There's certainly enough stuff to keep one person occupied. I just have to find time to do the other stuff too, like keeping up with my favourite TV shows, and reading the books I have stacked up, etc.
Good think I have lots of energy.
Ahhh, April.
Apr. 1st, 2014 09:23 pmWhat a wonderful start to April, all sunshiny warmth and blue sky. It was warm enough that I took off my sweater and worked with arms exposed to the air this afternoon...ahhh, feels good. Everywhere I look, things are showing signs of growth, of things hurrying to get a move on and welcome the warm season. I need to get going on the garden, so today I kind of mapped out the area I'm planning to use. I've been watching it to see where the shade and sunshine fall, to make sure the surrounding trees aren't going to throw too much shade over it. I think it's good. Time to get digging.
The house is coming along like gangbusters. The windows arrive tomorrow; we're so excited! I was able to walk around my new apartment on the weekend; the walls are up and now I can get a sense of what it's going to look like. Big window here, gas fire place there, kitchen over here...I'm having fun making mental maps of where I'm going to put stuff.
The horses are enjoying the sunshine and the lack of blankets..they're all so fuzzy now, they really want to roll and rub off all that winter fur. It's going to be fun tomorrow when we have to clean them off and put the blankets back on. It's supposed to rain starting Thursday, so this nice spell is coming to an end. Briefly, I hope.
Still, spring!
The house is coming along like gangbusters. The windows arrive tomorrow; we're so excited! I was able to walk around my new apartment on the weekend; the walls are up and now I can get a sense of what it's going to look like. Big window here, gas fire place there, kitchen over here...I'm having fun making mental maps of where I'm going to put stuff.
The horses are enjoying the sunshine and the lack of blankets..they're all so fuzzy now, they really want to roll and rub off all that winter fur. It's going to be fun tomorrow when we have to clean them off and put the blankets back on. It's supposed to rain starting Thursday, so this nice spell is coming to an end. Briefly, I hope.
Still, spring!
Birds want to fly, seeds want to grow...
Mar. 29th, 2014 10:18 pmIt's in their nature. Gardeners know this, and it's proven to us over and over. Stick some seeds in the ground, give them a little TLC, and hey, presto! a plant is born. Of course it's not always this easy, but in my experience given a little encouragement, seeds will almost always grow. It's a lesson in the tenacity of life, the will of Mother Nature to keep things producing, a lesson any good gardener takes to heart. This is the time of year when the dormant plants, roots and seeds wake and rise up towards the spring sunshine.
I stuck a bunch of bulbs in a small plastic jar last fall when I was moving all the planters from the patio. One of the big planters had lots of bulbs that had reproduced and spread themselves throughout the soil, and when I tossed all that old soil I saved the bulbs. Put them in the jar and stuck them on the table on my front balcony and forgot about them. The other day I was tidying up and found the jar. A hyacinth bulb was actually flowering, and the little daffodil bulbs were sprouting! The jar had a couple of inches of rainwater in it, so the bulbs started growing. I was quite thrilled, and immediately planted them. Volunteers!
When my neighbour moved last December she left a planter in a dimly lit corner of the parking garage near my car. It was covered with stuff; a cardboard box, an old bird feeder, etc. I kept meaning to move it, but never got round to it. A couple of weeks ago I noticed some green leaves, so I took the junk off the planter, and lo and behold, there were daffodils coming up. The leaves were all pale and spindly from lack of light, but they were growing. I took the planter up to my balcony, and with rain and light, these pasty plants turned into strong green stems with lovely yellow flowers! What a delightful sight, and it pleases me greatly.
Today I was raking the manure pile at the farm, and I was surprised to see little green shoots and leaves poking through in a spot where I had buried some vegetable scraps......they look like squash. Last year I had a huge squash plant grow on the pile, and it produced over a dozen of the tastiest acorn squashes I've ever eaten. I have hopes for this year. :)
I've started clearing the area where my vegetable garden will be, and it's going to be a job for sure. When the new barn was built the carpenters burned a lot of wood scraps there, and now I have to pick through the soil and pull out all the nails that were left behind. It's amazing how many there are. It will be a great spot for the garden though, lots of light, close to the tap on the barn for watering, and the soil should be good because years ago we had a small manure pile there. I already have some of the plants from the flower garden beside the old house transplanted there; a rose that was Jack's father's favourite, some lavender, a flowering shrub, and rhubarb..which is coming up now.
Like I said, seeds want to grow. Now all I have to do is get them planted!
I stuck a bunch of bulbs in a small plastic jar last fall when I was moving all the planters from the patio. One of the big planters had lots of bulbs that had reproduced and spread themselves throughout the soil, and when I tossed all that old soil I saved the bulbs. Put them in the jar and stuck them on the table on my front balcony and forgot about them. The other day I was tidying up and found the jar. A hyacinth bulb was actually flowering, and the little daffodil bulbs were sprouting! The jar had a couple of inches of rainwater in it, so the bulbs started growing. I was quite thrilled, and immediately planted them. Volunteers!
When my neighbour moved last December she left a planter in a dimly lit corner of the parking garage near my car. It was covered with stuff; a cardboard box, an old bird feeder, etc. I kept meaning to move it, but never got round to it. A couple of weeks ago I noticed some green leaves, so I took the junk off the planter, and lo and behold, there were daffodils coming up. The leaves were all pale and spindly from lack of light, but they were growing. I took the planter up to my balcony, and with rain and light, these pasty plants turned into strong green stems with lovely yellow flowers! What a delightful sight, and it pleases me greatly.
Today I was raking the manure pile at the farm, and I was surprised to see little green shoots and leaves poking through in a spot where I had buried some vegetable scraps......they look like squash. Last year I had a huge squash plant grow on the pile, and it produced over a dozen of the tastiest acorn squashes I've ever eaten. I have hopes for this year. :)
I've started clearing the area where my vegetable garden will be, and it's going to be a job for sure. When the new barn was built the carpenters burned a lot of wood scraps there, and now I have to pick through the soil and pull out all the nails that were left behind. It's amazing how many there are. It will be a great spot for the garden though, lots of light, close to the tap on the barn for watering, and the soil should be good because years ago we had a small manure pile there. I already have some of the plants from the flower garden beside the old house transplanted there; a rose that was Jack's father's favourite, some lavender, a flowering shrub, and rhubarb..which is coming up now.
Like I said, seeds want to grow. Now all I have to do is get them planted!
