Summer Vacation Fun and Farming

DH and I started a 2 week vacation a week ago.    I haven't taken 2 weeks off in a row in many many years…like...honeymoon time when we got married; when I took 3 weeks!!

It has been a busy week so far and we have a lot of things remaining on our 2 week "To Do" list that still lay ahead.  I was just in a conversation today with a friend, about how I have all these grand expectations of all the things I will get done in a day, or a week, or whatever the time frame and I just never seem to work as fast in real life as I picture myself getting things done in my head!

Wanda Update
She is seemingly fine from her colic incident.   We had her first ultrasound a week ago and she will go back for a second in another week.   So far she looks to have a speck in there….but we will wait another week to be sure.
In the mean time Melissa is enjoying her and will be starting lessons on her next week!  :-)

Dad and DH have been continuing the progress on the removal of the old round pen and moving all that clay to the pastures for the base platforms for the new shelters.

So far there has been a great deal of progress in Pasture #3.  Lumber has been delivered for the shelter and construction will be underway shortly.

In between the round pen removal there has been some progress as well on the trail through the woods. The marsh area is now passable by tractor and not just one horse power.

Here are the mutts getting a lift back to the house!

The view from the back as I walked trying to get the GPS on my phone to work.   (totally a different story…but I am lost these days without my running app on my phone working!  :-(  

Our first cut hay has started to come in for the winter supply.   We (Dad, DH and I) cleaned out the old drive shed someday shop for this years hay storage.   We will not get all the necessary hay in here but so far almost 500 bales are in.

This is how it looks now….

Mom and I took my nephew, Zef and his best friend to the CN Tower Edge Walk for his grade 8 grad present.   What a fun adventure!

Nothing like walking the full 150 m circumference of the highest building in Canada, on the outside 356 m above the ground!

One of our co-workers was filling in his pond so we got his fish!  They have been a fascinating addition to the farm.   Dear Lord I never thought I would say that about fish!!  But it has been fun to feed them and watch them cruising the waters.

Izzy…She is getting to be so grown up!   We had a small mini clinic at the farm with Diane Creech.

Izzy was fabulous and we are working at improving her basic gaits.   She needs more activity behind, more sitting, forehand lift and more collection.   It's getting better and better as she gets stronger but like everything in my life; I really want it now!  LOL 

I love this pony…

I spent my weekend with this creative and inspirational bunch of women…Friendships I am so grateful to have.   A group that I can be be myself with and be creative without any judgement or criticism.

Happy Canada Day!

There is never a shortage of excitement at the farm.

Since the last post Wanda returned home from the Repo vet, then we nearly lost her to a very severe colic, Izzy showed at her first provincial level show since 3 years away from the show ring and a young couple from Toronto dropped off a lost dog at our farm at midnight the other night.

From the top…

Wanda returned home after a 19 day stay in Breslau.  Dr Plante had some trouble getting her to cycle so she could be bred.   Finally after a long wait, she was bred and we will soon find out if she is in foal.  Unfortunately, between then and now the poor dear had a severe bout of colic that resulted in 3 emergency calls and a near death loss.   It was a tear filled, stressful day last Thursday as we seen the poor mare in agony and on the ground for hours at a time.   We felt so helpless as she laid moaning and we could not get her up.  The best we could do was to continue to roll her over so that she was not crushing anything internally as I stroked her face and held her tear drenched muzzle in my lap.  In the end, after tubing with 15-20 L of water and Anti Gas and several shots of muscle relaxant and banamine…she pulled through!   Thank God! 

Here is Dr Cassie tubing her at 7:15 AM…her first visit for the day.

Izzy went to another show!   It was SO hot and humid…+39º C with the humidex.   Thankfully jackets were excused as I was a literal puddle without the jacket.   It really reminded me why I have not been missing showing for the last 3 years!   DH was there for moral support and photography, as was Rona and Greta at the side lines.

Izzy had a decent day considering it felt like I was riding a giant slug!   Lots more forward and engagement is required…so I have homework and will have to ride her in the heat now and again to ensure that I don't lose all the effort I have been putting forward at 6 and 7am rides!

The lovely old German Shepard that was left at our farm the other night has been returned to his worried sick family.   Shane enjoyed a cross country tour and an overnight in our barn!   Thank goodness there are enough people out there that have good hearts and don't just drive on when they see animals that don't look like they belong on a road!

As for projects at the farm….the old round ring is getting dug out one trailer load at a time.  My Dad and DH have moved countless loads of clay in to the pastures for the bases for the new shelters.  There is hope that Pasture #3 will have a shelter built after our July vacation!

I have spent some time in the gardens and around the house mulching all the trees.   My mom did the mulch on all the gardens and the place is looking like people love living here!   

My mom and I also have worked on new planters for the front driveway circle.   I think these new creations are an improvement from the old pot last year and the newer pot from this year that really didn't work in the new location.

I also put the pump back in the pond for the waterfall.   The helpers are always willing to get into the water and get in the way aid if necessary.

The pots need a bit of TLC with fertilizer but so nice to have the water running as I sit on the pergola typing this post!

My Dad between boredom of digging the round pen has also spent some time working on the trail in the woods.   The impassable wet spot is nearly fixed!   xo thanks Papa Bear!

All for now!   I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Canada Day!

Planted Fields, Farm Clean Up, Horse Showing and Kayaking

Where has the time gone?   It's already half way through June and time seems to be just zipping right along; waiting for no one and not looking back!

This blog post will be a picture view of our month so far.

First thing…Our darling Wanda has left the farm to go for AI at the vets.   She has been gone 2.5 weeks now and the farm has a different feel to it without her here.
Here she is leaving for Guelph!   Thank you Diane for trailering her there when you went to pick up Wiona!   She will be bred to the young stallion Sporcken from Germany.   You can view a video of him here.

My new clothes line is erected and the for the last 2 weekends all the laundry has been dried outside!

The winter accumulation of the manure has been cleared from near the barn and added to the back 40!

 DH giving the 'new to us' spreader my Dad got for us last fall a test run!

 Ready to start over for another year!

My friend Theresa and I ran in a trail race at Brant Conservation Area.   I am not sure how all of these years I didn't know that such a wonderful conservation area with trails was so close and right in our backyards.   It was a fun run with single lane trails through the woods, steep climbs on dirt and rocky footing and some gravel roads.   Lovely view over the Grand River foot bridge that also runs through the park.   I ended up finishing much better than I expected, winning my age group and 17th from 128 entries!

Mom and I have been trying our hand at cement work with these moulds she bought awhile back at an auction.   So far not 100% success but pleased with the results.

My new internet service has been installed….Saying good riddens to Bell and their price gouging for cellular internet!   I am hoping that xplornet treats us like customers!

My friend Laurie brought me these lovely tulip trees for the farm.   I really love tulip trees and these are perfect specimens!   Thank you Laurie (and Larry too)!!

DH and I did a little farm shopping one Saturday in the town of Paris.   Lovely little town and such wonderful shops to nose about in.

I got a new table for the barn bistro set.

And 2 new large scale metal flowers for around the pond.

Mom always seems to work her magic on the farm.   She sent over this lovely window basket that I thought made for a cheerful entrance to the barn on the entry fence.

I spent some time working on scraping the old paint off the windows on the house.   

This was my view from the roof...a very sleepy Marley!

I also spent over 5 hours weed whacking the fence lines and didn't get finished!

Here is the BEFORE

AFTER

Of course, on the farm food is never too far from our thoughts…here is the first rib BBQ and first fresh salad directly from the garden!

Our back 40 is planted in soybeans.   It's nice to see the field worked and planted and being fertile!

Lately my riding time has been best in the early morning between 6-8.   I have found that time of day to be so perfect.   The light is bright and low, the air is still and my horse is keen.   Several lovely early morning rides already this June!

Izzy made a trip back to the show ring after a 3 year hiatus.   It was a bit of a tense and spooky ride but overall I am pleased with her score and now know I have homework to improve the scores and be competitive.  Love this little Horse!  She ended up winning the Sr 3rd Level Test 1 but I feel it could have been better ridden by moi!

DH bought me kayaks for my birthday this year.   They finally arrived and we took them out for their maiden voyage on the Grand River.   Lovely time out on the water seeing the sites from a new perspective and also the local Bald Eagle.

Cheers Friends!   Until the next time.

xo