Long weekend fun!

We had a great weekend - starting with me not having to work Saturday morning!

We had been asked by our neightbours to help put plastic on their greenhouse. No problem you say - hah! the greenhouse is HUGE! we had 7 adults, 3 kids, 3 ladders and lots of rope but all in all it went really smoothly and we enjoyed lunch with them!

Plastic roof is on

Now we have to secure it. Eds on the short ladder and Rick is on the tall one.

Rick and Laura have lots of animals, sheep, chickens, pigs, turkeys and of course Sasha the dog. These piglets are 2 weeks old (I think)

The dogs were hilarious with the pig, they would sniff at his nose through the fence

Sunday was Russells birthday so we let him decide what we would have for breakfast - blueberry pancakes and eggs. As we were sitting down to eat Jason and Sierra came over and wanted to know if we all wanted to go on a little road trip to Quesnel Forks. He explained that it was a ghost town outside of Likely, that was being restored and they really wanted to go see it and would we like to come. So, we had an hour to pack the car, if it was nice we would stay overnight. I ran around trying to finad all our camping gear and in a little over an hour we were off!

Likely, BC - we stopped at the park for the kids to stretch their legs!

Bridge into Likely

Tayler panning for gold

We made it! the road in was gravel and not well maintained, and the hill down into Quesnel Forks was crazy steep!

Checking out the buildings

Sings Barn

Tayler in a restored cabin

Looking out from Quesnel Forks at Quesnel River meeting up with Cariboo River - they are high and ragging!

The next morning we found this little canyon and spent the afternoon there, the kids explored the bush around this little beach and did some fishing and lots of visiting

On the way home we went to see Cedar Point Park in Likely. Its a campground and musuem beautiful place and the museum was very interesting

We had so much fun exploring, its gorgeous country with an interesting past.

Running High

The Creek is up and 1 1/2 feet right now - doesn't seem like much but it is!

The post in the middle of the water is a fence post

We have been watching Bridge Creek the last few weeks, as the level has been getting higher and higher.  The creek runs through our property but it is WAY away from the house. These pictures were taken at the Forest Grove end of Bates Road off the bridge.  Normally here it is a steady stream but now it is rushing.

There are a few houses along Canim Hendrix Rd that are very close to the banks, the water is also cutting corners now and flooding lower lying areas.  Interesting to watch!

Project #2 - Chicken Run

Yep finally the chickens are in a run - though I say that VERY loosely as they are escape artists.  Everyday there are at least four out. Today I am going to try putting a roof on the run and see if that contains them - I won't hold my breath.
Mind you after a year of running free I wouldn't want to be cooped up either (pardon the pun)

The kids have been helping so there are a few extra sticks suck around and so things thrown in for them to play with. ( okedokee)
I am working on that roof, as the saying goes "the grass is greener on the other side" - they are all out except the rooster and two hens???

Projects: Hay Field

So many projects so little time!
Our newest project is a hay field. We cleared LOTS of trees (little spindly pines trees) harrowed with a homemade harrow - 7 tires cut in half and chained together with lag bolts for spikes and now the brushing. We acquired this old beast from a neighbour - it had been sitting in his back field for decades.  Ed dragged it home, pumped up the tires, WD-40'd everything on it, sharpened blades and fixed the PTO, and off she went!

Lots of elbow grease and WD-40 and she runs great

Eats everything in its path!

Cleared of wild rose brushes and other stuff, time to fertilize, seed and harrow and see what happens.

They were meant for each other

Proud Auntie!

I am so proud of my niece, Hayley, she was in her first Horse Show 2 weekends ago!

I am so upset I could not be there to cheer her on, but I wished her Good Luck that morning and couldn't wait to hear how she did!

Don't they look fabulous! And check out the ribbons 2 -seconds and a third!
WAY TO GO HAYLEY!!!

I love this picture! So cute all dressed in her show gear!

 I heard she has the bug now and wants to know, when is the next Horse Show!

Easter Weekend (Part 3)

Finally the last pictures from our long weekend at Easter.

The night before we headed for home we went to stay over at Marg and Teds on Pender Island. Their house looks great - I couldn't remember the last time I was over there - thats sad! Anyway we had a great visit and did some exploring at the beach.

Littlest to biggest - they grow so fast!

Grandma and Russ

Crab waving hello!

Looking for crabs

On the ferry heading for home through the gulf islands

Easter weekend (Part 2)

After we went to dinner at Erin and Alans, I headed out with my friend Bev for some visiting and late night shopping - at midnight I was EXHAUSTED and had to go to bed.

Sunday morning the Easter Bunny had followed us to Victoria - whew! the kids ran around looking for baskets and eggs, while Ed and I sleepily watched them race about.  At 9:30 Jessie arrived to spend the day with Tay and I left to spend the day with Hayley and Matt at the stables where Hayley rides!
It was so much fun - we brushed horses, cleaned stalls, filled the water buckets in all the stalls and swept out the barn together - it was so much fun! After all her barn chores were done she headed out to the ring to ride with the other girls - it was soooooo cute

Hayley and her pony Junebug

I love this picture she looks so small compared to the horse beside her, but she is the perfect size for Junebug

 After Hayley rode around in the ring for almost an hour she unsaddled Junebug and went off to help her friends with their horses, so Matt and I went for a trail ride - it was so much fun! I had a very fast walking horse and Matt had Bud that figured Matt would like to ride through all the low hanging branches. It was great we were gone for about an hour (or seemed like it) we laughed pretty much the whole way there and back.

Matt and Bud

When we arrived back the horse I was riding went back out on the trail and Matts horse was just hanging around so I decided I would ride a bit more in the ring.

Me and Bud

Me and Bud cantering - so much fun but, man did I pay for that for a few days! VERY VERY stiff legs!

That evening was big Easter dinner - soooooooooooooo yummy! and a few birthday presents - and this was also Dylans 10th birthday! He thought it was great to share his day with the Bunny Wabbit!

I was not quick enough with my camera and here they are waiting for the cake and candles to come around the corner.

I tried making Easter hats with Tayler and Jessie, but all the exctiement we finished one and half finished another - I haven't made Easter hats in FOREVER!  Tay modeled the finished oneand Jess took home the half finished one.

Hope your Easter was as fun as ours
Part 3 coming soon to a computer near you (sorry couldn't resist)