Monday, June 10, 2013

Wonders Never Cease...

Finally, today, roofers arrived to put new roofing on the back of the house, you know the spot, the place where the water came in and dripped into my bathroom,  It is not finished yet, but I am hoping that when it is done, I won't have to wear a raincoat to the bathroom any more. (That might be just a bit of an exaggeration.)

I thought I would share a few pictures. You will probably think me a bit 'tetched', but I thought it would be cute to put some teddybears in the garden. Perhaps I missed something in my childhood, and am just catching up, or not.

 

A little chipmunk has a hole here. He looks so cute when he pops his head up.

Sneezy isn't a bear, but he's cute.

 

Proof, so I'll know I wasn't dreaming it. Roofers at work
 
In the morning, I'll be off to the hospital,
Where a surgeon will be waiting for me,
And when the dear doctor is finished
It will be the end of cataract surgery for me.
Hooray!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

How High's the Water Momma?

          Well, the latest post tropical storm has just passed through my part of Nova Scotia, and it has rained pretty hard. I didn't think the wind was too bad, though it might have been in other parts, that were harder hit. The sky is still heavily overcast, but there is a bit of a brightness, that tells me that the worst is over.
          Here is a picture that Dawn took yesterday morning. I noticed the strange, yet beautiful clouds too, but wasn't prepared to go out in my jammies to get a picture, and didn't want to take it through the window.

 
 
 
 Here is a shot of some of our raspberries, being worked on by Kayley, who is far in the distance.

It's amazing how many blues there are in a sky.
Every day is different.
The clouds never look the same.
 
 
Heavy rain means showers in the bathroom
As once again I set out the pots.
Filled a litre ice cream container,
I would say that's lots.
Buckets here and towels there,
Until the raindrops stop.
Then empty the pots,
pick up the towels,
And grab the big ol' mop.
 
 
Rain......... nature's was of forcing me to practice patience.
I'm learning.....
I'm trying........
I'm tired of trying...

Sunday, June 2, 2013

It is time for another post, if I don't melt away before I am done. Since I did so much belly-aching about the cold, I dare not complain about the weather we have had this weekend, but I will just say that it has been hot, hot, hot! Did I mention that it has been sweltering hot? I am not complaining, but rather giving a true description of the weather in the valley. It has been a great weekend for the Apple Blossom Festival, so that's a plus. It is going to cool down as the week moves along, and rain is expected. After being baked, the gardens will be refreshed.

The blossoms didn't last long on the trees. The wind took care of them. It would be nice if they lasted a bit longer, just because they are so pretty.

The beginning of Dawn's dream garden.
Naturally a bench is needed after the weeding.
(which I volunteered to do)

I noticed my first Lupens flowering.
Soon the ditch will be full of them.

I usually take a shot of the barn from the house,
but this is a shot of the house from the barn.
 
..................................................................................
 
 
I took a trip down memory lane on Friday, when I delivered Lindsay to Girl Guide Camp. When my daughters were young, they were involved in Guides, and so was I. I stayed longer than they did. When I think about it now, I don't know how I did it. That happens quite often when I look back on things. I was probably a leader for 10 or 11 years. We had such great fun at this camp. It's a little ways back in the woods, and in those days we had the old ridge tents, a big boiler fire for dishes, and this lodge in the picture below was where we cooked on rainy days, ate, and did crafts, and had fun.
 
 I remember one night, there was going to be an eclipse of the moon, and most girls wanted to stay up and watch it. That was the way it started, but gradually the watchers thinned out, until there was just one girl left, and me. That was a very short night. We would usually go for a week, and Dawn, another guide and myself always seemed to spend our birthdays there.
Campfires were always a fun time too with guitar, singing and skits. It was just a wonderful time.
Lindsay is a 3rd generation camper at this guide camp, and taking her there brought all these thoughts.
I am sad to say, that the camp area is not as nice as it was way back then, although, trees were cut to allow for a view of the lake. There were always loons on the water, and it was so neat to listen to their calls.
The other thing that made me sad, was the logging that has been going on along the road into the camp. It looks so ugly.
 



 
 The "lat", though this is a new one.


This is just one area. It looked like this most of the way in.
I guess times change, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
 
Well, all this walking down memory lane has tired me out,
so I'll say,
so long
for now.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
 

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Blossoming Trees

Despite the weather, the trees have bloomed and everything is going along as it should.

Sadie and I took advantage of one of the rare days when the sun shone and the wind was not chilled, and we took a slow walk down into the orchard. It is always so beautiful when the blossoms cover the trees, and you can hear the buzz of the bees as they do their job of pollinating.

The raspberries are awaiting their turn

close-up of McIntosh blossoms


Looking through the branches

The flowering crab tree, on the lawn

Sadie and another view
 
There are lots of things happening on the farm now, and Dawn has some plans for a garden.
I will share those as we go along.
The Captain is no longer farming, and the orchard is now under Dawn's loving care.
She is doing a great job.
I can't wait for her garden to come to life.
 
Have a great day

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Oh my. It is cold today, I mean chilly. No, I really mean cold. A brrrrrr kind of cold. It is 6 degrees Celsius , or 44 F, and the wind is blowing. I even heard that word,......snow...in a forecast on the radio. Somewhere in the Maritimes there is a possibility of the white stuff......not here...I hope.

I was able to spend a few hours in the garden this past week. Wednesday, I spent too much time bending over, (I never learn) and so my back was not pleased, nor my legs. Thursday, no garden work, then spent a bit of time yesterday. I have a very small flower garden, with perennials, so it was more a case of pulling weeds and transplanting a few things. I really like to get out there and do a bit. Even though it is not the best garden, it is my garden, and I enjoy the flowers. One of my bird friends has planted a sunflower seed, I see. I'll leave it there and see what happens.

Yesterday, the first hummingbird of the season visited the feeder. It must be shivering today. This morning I heard a tap, tap, tapping on my door, and looked out the window to see what it was. I saw, what I think was a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. Beautiful red on the head and throat. First time seeing one of these. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of either bird.

It ain't much, but it's mine
 
The sun is actually trying to shine right now. The sky is very cloudy, but every once in a while
a blue patch makes an appearance. Come on sun, come on warmth.
Lots of things to do.
 
Hope  springs eternal!


Friday, May 10, 2013

Sky

I just took these shots, and thought I would share.
          Such a strange but beautiful sky.
                     It has been showering off and on all day,
            and there have been thundershowers all around.

                            And then this beautiful rainbow.




Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Full Bloom

The last few days have been beautiful, with lots of sun, and a bit of wind, but so nice. The lawn has been mowed once, but the grass is growing fast and soon we won't be able to keep up with it.

The trees are greening and the work on the farm picks up as Dawn tries her hand at running the whole kit and kaboodle. She has her dreams of what new things she wants to try, while at the same time, doing all the regular things that keep the orchard going.



The magnolia tree is in full bloom, and some of the petals have even begun to fall. The pink colour does not show up well in this picture.

I spent a little time working on the garden, such as it is. There are some weeds, but not nearly as bad as last year. I just have to go at it slowly, a little bit at a time, which is better than nothing.
 
Hope the sun is shining in your life.