My Little Gardener

It all started with a beet in the compost pile. Russell found the beet I threw in the pile and decided he would make a garden and plant it.  Since then he has planted corn, beans, cucumbers, and nasturshums (I can't remember how to spell it) in his little plot. The funny part is he can grow the plants I couldn't even get started, for the example the corn - I planted 12 corn in the house in early spring, in really nice soil, not one came up. Russ planted 2 and both are healthy and tall. Nasturshums - I planted 12 in the house again in nice soil, not one, I even tried right in the garden outside (6 more) not one plant popped up - Russ planted one and it is a happy healthy plant.  And I spent weeks digging out my garden turned the soil mixing in horse manure letting it sit, turning it again adding some dry grass to help fluff up the dirt - and Russ's garden is sand ( mostly ) and all his plants love it - he is very proud of himself and I think he has good reason - next year I will take lessons from Russ.

He asked Daddy for a sign so the deer would know it was his garden and not to come for snacks.  He made sure his plot was close to his bedroom window so he could yell at deer if they came by.

Check out those corn stalks

His little plot, with the bucket of water our neighbour brought by specifically for Russ garden. In the bottom corner is the little barn he made in case Honey needs a place to hide.

Day trip to Clearwater

Look at my apples I found!

Russ was taking pictures of the garden - I think he was secretly getting pointers

Last Saturday we took a day trip over to Clearwater to visit Larry and Sharon.  When we arrived they had a big plate of buns with all the fixins and a yummy fruit cobbler for dessert. We sat and visited for a little while before all the boys headed out to fish in the Raft River for the afternoon.  Unfortunately I didn't send the camera so I don't have any pictures, but they had a great time caught a bunch of fish (I can't remember how many and I will get in trouble if I say the wrong number) and had lots of "fish"stories.
Sharon and Tay and I went into town for a birthday present, as the kids had a party the following day, and had a drink at the local coffee shop.
When we got back to their house Tay and I helped Sharon with her salsa recipe and I got some canning tips - soon I will be making the "special" salsa and canning all sorts of things - I hope.
We had a wonderful roast beef dinner and a special Dairy Queen trip for dessert before we headed back home with lots of ideas for canning and a trailer load of stuff for Ed. 
We had such a great visit, Thank you for the wondeful day.

I love these shots of them, smallest to tallest

Beautiful sky! Though as usual the camera doesn't do it justice.

Frog Hunters

They caught - I don't know how many frogs and toads and put them in the unused sink for safe keeping.

The kids had a ball searching for frogs and toads, they were hiding all around the house in strange places.  Annika and Lauren talked about taking some home to their house in Prince George, but Mike and Sue put a quick end to that - pretty sure they didn't want loose toads in the truck on the way home - ;-)

They played with them for a couple hours when the SPCA came (aka Sue and I) and set them free! 

So great to see the kids exploring and having fun together! 

Rustic Fencing

A couple months ago I was offered a  free lease on a friends horse. The only problem is we have no fenced area for her to go. So I started trying to figure out costs and equipment that would be needed to make my dream finally become a reality.  When Ed and were talking about how and where I told him we would need fence posts, wire and post pounder - all he said was no we don't, just go get fencing wire.  So I stood there a little disappointed and he said don't worry, we'll make a fence.

Off we went around the property cutting down the dead pine, limbing and cutting it to length. We dragged the poles back behind the tractor and the quad and got to work.

Look at the beautiful fence!

Turns out Ed repaired and built many a "Russel" fence when he worked on the farm back in Ontario

Dylan loves to help build the fence - part of it is he really wants to have a horse too - I told him get in line I've waited longer ! Just kidding I'm excited they can experience horses and such a young age.

It has taken alot of evenings and help from the kids (one of the many projects they do when I am at work in the evenings) and our friend Mike, but he is almost done. It looks so wonderful and fits in with the rustic feel I want the property to have.

 One day soon my dream will become reality.

Bridge Creek Falls

A couple days ago, when Annika and Lauren were visiting with Mike, the kids and I went into town to run errands, check out the library, go to the craft shop and go see Bridge creek falls in Centennial park.

We spend about half hour in the ccraft store picking and choosing stuff for their creations, it was very exciting! We found lots of books at the library and a movie too which was equally exciting and then we headed off to the grocery store for some lunch stuff and then off to the park.

Picnic in the Park

Aren't we cute kids - Bridge Creek Falls in the background

Crafting Fun!

They had so much fun and so did I, we need to spend more days like that and we will make a point of it!

Chickens over the past month

3 weeks old

3 weeks old

The chicks have grown so much in the last few weeks, they have probably tripled in size and have grown out of their previous pad. Yesterday Tay and I brought in a new home until they are ready to go outside. Now they can try out their wings and run around more with all the space they have now.

5 weeks old and moved out - yippy

Now moving out to their new outside pad.

Yet another changet ot the coop - a taller roof - less cramped more wing space

about 7 weeks old

The chickens have been outside now for a month and a bit and they love it!

Its Soggy Mommy - not smokey

Taylor told me that the other day, when we were talking about the smokey sky. 

For about the last month we have had many a smokey day from the wildfires north of here, its a great day when the smoke clears and you can see the blue sky.  This morning the smell of smoke was so intense it woke me up at 5:30 (says alot since I went to bed around 11:30 last night) Ed and I closed all the windows in the house hoping to keep it at bay.  Below are pictures from yesterday morning when the kids and I went to town.  By the afternoon when I went to work the smoke had cleared and the blue sky was visible. 

100 Mile house, take at the north end of town, this was taken yesterday morning

More Fun with Grandma and Grandpa and GG

This past weekend my parents and GG came up for 4 days. We had great visit - full of activity! We went to town, out to Ruth Lake then toured through to Hawkins and Canim Lake. On Monday we went to the 108 Heritage site and up to Greeny lake to see where Uncle Pete camps (GGs brother).  Saturday evening Larry and Sharon came over from Clearwater for dinner and a visit.
Unfortunately we have alot of smoke right now with all the forest fires burning, so the views are limited and the air is smokey, but we made the best of it. 

Showing off Zoey - Tays riding

Swimming at Ruth Lake - see the smoke in the distance and this was a clearer day??!!!

GG and the kids at the 108 Heritage site

Taking a tour of our place