Sunday 24 July 2016

A Month has Gone By…Really?

Time sure does fly on the farm in the summer.
Hard to believe it has been over a month since my last post.   There has been so much going on here that it's going to be hard to not miss something!!

Let's start with gardening...
The weeds have over run the property this year!   Even in the midst of a summer drought the weeds are prolific!
The weeding projects have over run me...but my mom has come up with a test solution that we will use on the veggie beds for this season.  We have laid straw over and around the plants.   Very thick straw!   So far it's working out pretty good.
The weeds around the pond are still a complete pain.   Not sure how to get rid of them and not add any nasty chemicals to the pond water and kill the fish!   I tried the horticultural vinegar and salt solution last year.    It worked for about a week and then all the weeds sprung back to life!   Pretty sure if I messed up and sprayed the hostas they'd have never made it!!

Pond  - Before

Pond - After

The lilies in the pond have been blooming and look lovely.  
I was even photo bombed by a frog!

I borrowed waders from a co-worker and was able to tear some of the grass from the pond.   This grass over takes the entire bank on the south and west sides of the pond.    It closes it in nicely from the pergola but it's so incredible invasive!

The waterfall is back to life with the planters and the pump now running as well.

The front flower beds now have many plants and shrubs added.   The irrigation system is complete and now the last step of adding the mulch is remaining.
A special thanks to all my friends (Terry, Terrie, Donna, Mary Ann, Karen, Pat, Sandra) and my mom who gave me perennials to full this massive bed.   They're still some space yet but I will leave the remaining openings for next season to fill and replace whatever doesn't survive the drought and heat of this year.

Front - Before

Front - After

The weed whacking has also began on the farm.   Hours of mindless labour as I clear the tall weeds from touching the live lines on the electric fence.  Worrisome a bit this year that the weeds might actually be dry enough to start a grass fire if they short against the fence!
Cleared lines always looks so good and the visible evidence of my hard work is quite satisfying.   Even my papa bear has taken to clearing the fence lines this summer!

And not to mention the view of the farm from the hill top in #5 at the back fence line brings joy.


Food
The garden this year is quite a bit smaller than in previous years.   It was a late start with the rain in the spring and them life kinda took over at work.   I planted several rows of seeds but they all never took.   Then many of the tomato plants got left for dead with no water at the early stage of their tender life as I worked some nutty hours at work.   Things are looking up now that mom has put her touch on things and got the weeds cleared so the food has a chance to actually yield a bit at harvest time.   Thanks mom...xxoo
Fresh salads and asparagus have made it to the table.   Smoked salmon as well from the new smoker.


Horses
With the heat and humidity taking the temp for many of the days in the last month into the 30's and at times the low 40's...I just haven't been able to tack up and ride.  I certainly give kudos to all my friends that have saddled up and even shown their horses in some of the extreme heat conditions.   One of my last shows with Izzy I rode in high 30 degree heat and I realized how much that really wasn't fun anymore for me!!    I can only presume that I have turned into one of those fair weather riders I thought were crazy when I was a little girl!   I guess in all honesty...my heart still hurts a tad for what was lost and to start over when that wasn't yet in your plan hasn't completely vanished from my consciousness.
I have ridden some...here is Erl and I near the pond.    I know she is dreadfully over weight.   It's hard to ration her even in this drought!!   She has become the herd boss of the tiny group here...so food has become the right of her kingdom!

This is a fun one of her shadow on a working night…

And one of her rock star mane!

Stewy has had a couple of session in the new round pen.   The fencing is all in place now and the footing is in.    Still need to paint the fencing but at least it's useable now.

Running
Many races completed since last post!   Theresa and I have been lighting our shoes on fire this summer (weather pun intended).  Both of us have been suffering through some of the hottest races yet this summer with temps into the 30ÂșC without the humidex at race start.

We ran the Toronto Waterfront 10K with Olympians Krista DuChene and Eric Grillis.  I ended up 29/331 from women 40-44.  I had a PR time to boot!

Next Theresa, Mel and I ran the Burlington Canada Day 5K.   We all had fast times...I was off my PR slightly but still ran in under 25 minutes.

With this crazy hot weather the crew I run with in Dover (NSR) did a water run to forgo our Tuesday Speed training at the track!   Way fun and was a tough 2 miles in thigh deep water.

The last race to catch up...Theresa and I ran the North Face Endurance Challenge at Blue Mountain.   WHAT A TOUGH COURSE!!!   This was hands down the hardest 10K I have ever ran let alone raced.   The elevation gain and the vertical decent to the finish were treacherous.   I was pleasantly surprised by my 3rd place age group finish from 17 other crazy trail running women my age!

The view from the summit was amazing tho looking out over Georgian Bay!



In reflection...as I have had many people note that I have been running more and they have seen less of me with my horses.   This observation is accurate.   It's not that horses have disappeared.   They are still a big part of my DNA and always will be.   I am still working through the loss of Izzy.   The addition of Erla has been a wonderful distraction.   She is truly a precious horse in many faucets of her being.   Starting over with a green horse is a special time.   I am hoping that she will be my 3rd horse to make up to the PSG/FEI levels...but the difference here is; the element of choice.   My other green horses came at a time when I was in a mental and emotional space ready to start over.   Ready to have a new beginning.   This time ...I didn't get to choose.   It's been a struggle of the heart to catch up with the reality of the situation.   I am wise enough to know that I don't have to have it all figured out to move forward and that new beginnings sometimes look like endings.   So right now...as I carve out a new beginning through a place I haven't had to go before...I run...because walking just doesn't seem to be fast enough.