Ann's Weblog

Busy and fairly productive day around here. I had a shipment of "bareroot" trees and shrubs: product that I had either sold out of already or had been unable to get in pots from the big nurseries. As I searched for large pots and mixed soil for all this work, I wondered, "WHY did I DO this to myself again?". I guess I bought what I believe people are going to keep asking for, but OH, there was already so much to do.

I groomed a dog named Boomer but didn't get a picture. She's a dear dog who looks a lot like a Bearded Collie thought we clip her short every Spring. Some dogs went home and another one arrived; tomorrow there'll be four more new guests. We had a friend come to level a spot for the new kennel:

Before they went home, I took a picture of Wally and Colleen playing with our dog Lady, and one of Wally, doing what he does best: smiling!

When it was really too hot to work hard, I dug out a "shelter" that I had bought from Sears a few YEARS ago. I can't remember why I packed it up and put it away... I think it was because the wind was blowing too hard while I tried to assemble it. Or I was puzzled by the instructions. At any rate, I managed to put together this inexpensive shade for where we've put some lawn chairs, amongst the trees that are for sale.

Okay, day is done. I'm ready for shower and chatting online. Thank you for reading my blog. HUGS ~ Ann 

...ANOTHER 10 days have gone by without a post to this blog. The days have been busy and tiring still, and though "it's all good", I just don't seem to have enough groove left for writing, reading or even THINKING very much by evening. I go to bed much earlier than I have all winter, and wake "raring to go" early, also.

Here are pictures of a couple of guests:

Pictured on the left is Shuster, who is a 4 year old Akita. He had never been kenneled, but fared very well during his stay here. I "conned" him into eating at first, crooning to him while feeding him hamburgers (which his owners provided) and other tasty treats. He was on three medications but he was too intelligent for the likes of ME... he would sniff each burger or piece of cheese or whatever I hid the pill in, and reject these. I ended up gently placing the pills at the back of his huge maw; luckily he wasn't grouchy and swallowed them that way.

On the right is Jasper, a gorgeous Chesapeake Bay Retriever. She stayed with us yesterday because she's in heat, and, if left at her rural home, might have been bait for coyotes (either bred by or injured by). She had never been in a kennel such as ours before either, but she was quiet and composed, simply waiting for her beloved owners to return.

We have had many dogs staying at the Pet Hostel in the past few weeks that I haven't taken photos of, and they are ALL important and unique. My time is better spent caring for their needs and providing customized loving than going around with the camera; I hope folks who check this weblog and DON'T find their animal friends here will realize this.

Of course there is the business of looking after the little wannabe garden centre too:

This is a picture taken last night; since the last photo was posted in my blog, there was another shipment and now many of THOSE trees are sold. I'm waiting for a smaller shipment of "bare root" trees and shrubs; they'll need to be planted in pots or in the "vegetable" garden. Those will either sell as very young nursery stock, or hang around here until they're sellable size.

Above are the tulips at the end of the vegetable garden. They look sort of... modest... compared to in real life. On the right side of the tulip picture is part of Gary's garlic plantation. While I was at it, I took a pic of our driveway, facing south to the Rockies.

A "girlfriend" (she's 33) and I went to pick up this kennel yesterday. A friend and former client was selling it, and it was a fair deal. The run is only 5 feet high, but will be very useful, and is in "almost new" condition. My friend who helped with this project wouldn't hear of getting paid, so I gave her a coupon for the local golf course, and bought lunch. Thank you, Dearie.

I'm going to run along and make Hubby a ham 'n' cheese omelette, as he has to go horseshoeing very soon.

Take care everyone. ~ Ann

Ah, what can I tell you? We had the kennels almost full to capacity on Friday, but then a few of our guests went home... it's ALL GOOD. We have Missy, Wally, Colleen, Makalu, Shiloh, and Belle at the moment.

This is Colleen who is gentle and quiet in the house. Her buddy from the same home is "Wally", and at the moment he's outdoors. He hasn't been any trouble either, but as this is the first time that Wally has boarded with us, we keep him on a leash, in the house or in a kennel in case he would decide to explore too far or start out for home! Colleen is treated like our own, as you can see. I'll try to get a picture of Wally up in the next few days.

I was encouraged by friends to participate in the Dunster Spring Farmer's Market, where many people gather to buy or sell bedding plants and perennials. It is also a wonderful visiting day, and some folks bring "yard sale" type items, then there isn't another Dunster Market until early in July. This "Spring Market" is always held on the long weekend in May, our Victoria Day weekend.

I just couldn't face packing up the truck for the event, and I had posted signs for my own perennials, trees and shrubs, indicating the hours that I'd be open. So I stayed home, and it turned out to be a good decision, as I sold quite a few nursery items during the day and did some free grooming on some boarding dogs as well. Because I had received a large shipment of trees on Friday night, I still had much pricing and sorting to do, so it was good to get THAT done.

Today we went for breakfast as usual for Sunday, and I had a few customers this afternoon. I'm having the time of my life, so to speak (although I always miss my daughters, and raising THEM was really "the time of my life"!).

Dunster was the social scene this weekend (including the Market which I didn't get to). This evening we went out the the 25th Anniversary party of the building of Dunster's Community Hall. The Hall has been the venue of hundreds of events from regular ol' country dances, to memorials and weddings, meetings and emergency gatherings, and regular (much loved) parties and markets. There was a phenomenal pot luck dinner tonight and a few speakers, door prizes and good fellowship.

Last night, also at the Dunster Hall, there was a concert: Mamaguroove . Check it out. This band, led by a man who grew up in Dunster and is close to MY childrens' ages, has gone from jammin' to significant success: please check out their website. Mamaguroove's "home" is host to an annual event called the Robson Valley Music Festival . Visit their sites, please; the Music Festival website has a spectacular photo of our valley. YouTube also has a short video of Mamaguroove.

Above is the picture I just took now, at 9:30 pm., of the wannabe garden centre. I artificially "brightened" the photo in Photoshop. On the right is a picture of one of dozens of Rufous Hummingbirds which visit this feeder daily. I'm a poor photographer, but you get the idea... they are wonderful to have around.

I guess I'll pack it in now, and maybe see who is online and chatting in the Yahoo Garden Room. Thank you for reading this weblog. ~Ann

Sorry it has taken me so long to post the pictures of your four-legged "best friend.

This is Pal, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who gets clipped short once per year. He feels like a puppy again afterward, and gets relief from his heavy coat. We think he looks cute this way, but Pal appears to be sticking his tongue out at me. ~ Ann

Hi everyone. Gosh, it's just 7:30 am. and I'm already exhausted. I think I just have a meeting, and then one small dog to groom, other than the necessary "chores" and maintenance and gardening.

I wanted to share a web page... many of you have seen the sporadic pictures of the greenhouse-in-progress; I am NOT "smug" about this project, but I am damn DELIGHTED! I made this page to share with the distributors of the woven poly greenhouse covering (who invite folks to send pictures and testimonials):

The New Greenhouse

It's overwhelming, but all enjoyable. I got through my season opening day for the "plant business", which was Mother's Day. Not as many people attended as I'd hoped, but then, I only had two small ads out in the local papers, NO posters, and no sign on the highway. There just isn't enough of me. Gary has been busy both helping me and with his "own" work.

The pet business, which comes FIRST, has been quite steady also. I've neglected to take pictures of some of our wonderful guests, but then, I always hope they'll return; then I'll have another chance at portrait-taking.

Pictured are Bobby (left), and Tim, with our Lady. They are playmates, and a good match for romping, barking at ravens, and ball chasing! Click to enlarge the photo, because you can't see all of it in the "thumbnail".

Gary built a frame into the back wall of the greenhouse so that all I had to do is tack window screening to it. Then I (after all these weeks!) finally got the plastic nailed down at the back, also. I've since made a cover for the little window; one night the temperature was well below freezing and some plants were damaged. Gary built a "Dutch door" for the entrance to the greenhouse... it is charming and functions very well to be able to have the bottom half closed and top open as the front vent. I'll get you some pictures soon. Also above is a pic of the first shipment of nursery stock; since then I have unearthed the trees and shrubs which overwintered here.

Some other darling boarders who stayed with us:

Mika and Rinka's owners came home with a set of goggles to protect Rinka's eyes when she travels with her head out the vehicle window:

I'll try to catch up to picture taking. We have one large husky cross dog, named "Spud", boarding with us. When Spud's owner dropped the dog off, I thought the man didn't look well; this week I heard from a nephew, who says that his uncle is fighting for his life in Vancouver General. The family will keep me informed and will pay the boarding fees, but they didn't sound optimistic. It's so sad to handle the dog, knowing that he might not be reunited with his beloved owner, even though "Spud" seems happy here.

I have a couple of small dogs to groom tomorrow and at least three new guests to stay. I told a friend tonight that every day seems like a holiday when you can do what you love.

Goodnight, my friends. I'm sure everything will seem EVEN MORE fun if I get enough sleep! ~ Ann

Am busy and tired, but "Hey, it's all good!" Haven't had more than a few minutes per day to keep fastening the poly onto the greenhouse, but it's coming along. I'm so proud of our friend's engineering of the basic structure; it's so solid and true.

Gary got home from his trip to Winnipeg to see family, and his detour to shoe horses in Alberta. Yippee! It's good to have him home. He arrived bearing gifts: a great cart for the plant business and a stunning piece of jewellery and some other stuff.

Have been grooming more dogs, but took yesterday "off"... more or less. I groomed this wee one on Friday:

That is "Brandy", a regular client for "beautification" as her owners refer to her visits here. Today I clipped down a Golden Retriever; now she has a short coat for spring/summer and acts like a puppy. I wish I had taken a picture.

Have a full day again tomorrow for grooming... a large border collie, a small border collie, a terripoo and a shih tzu.

I didn't tell you that, on Friday when a friend came by and I moved the ladder to show off the greenhouse... the hammer that I had stupidly left on the top rung... fell on my head! I felt a bit stunned and shaken (and embarrassed), and had for most of the day, a bump, bruise and headache. But hey, it could have been worse! I was pretty peeved at myself, as, when I was "interrupted" two days before while tacking the plastic down, I thought, "Now I will NOT forget that I've left the hammer up here!" Ah, whatever... I hope some sense got knocked into my skull.

Am winding down for the evening... dogs all fed and petted, Gary too, in a sense. Will check in with my chat friends. I haven't had as much time for that, much as I WANT to chat, and many nights I fall asleep in front of the computer until I give up the fight.

Thank you for visiting this blog. I feel like I'm talking directly to my friends. ~ Ann

Have been too busy to work on the greenhouse for two days. Will get back to it soon.. I just MUST.

Yesterday I had two matted cats and a matted dog to groom.

Click on the images to see a larger version.

Yes, "Stewie" looks cute and fluffy before his afternoon at the "spa", but he was very matted and in need of a short clip. His owner had been on a crew doing highway work both last year and this year; I'm delighted to be asked again to give the dog HIS spring maintenance.

I didn't take pictures of the cats that were shaved yesterday; they were not happy customers, but this needed doing and they MUST feel better. It was a real challenge to groom those pets, couldn't even get the clippers to run smoothly. It took HOURS on each cat even to get started under the hard "shell" that the matts had become on their backs, but we got through it.

Here is an absolutely REGAL dog which I brushed thoroughly and shampooed today: Austin. Click to view a better picture or to print out.

Well, I just can't seem to stay up as late as usual these days. Take care everyone. Oh! I almost forgot... this is Lady, waiting for Gary to come home (keeping his place warm, on the sofa):

~ Ann

Didn't get back to the blog yesterday because I was too busy grooming pets, which is still my first "love" when it comes to work & business. I didn't manage to spend very long tucking the plastic over the greenhouse yesterday, and when I had free time in the evening, my hands were so sore and swollen that I couldn't attempt the project. Am better today, with painkillers, but I have two cats to groom, for starters.

One of my friends in Chat lost her husband to congestive heart failure this week... he had been home, diagnosed with pneumonia. This is doubly tragic, as perhaps, had he been in hospital, they would have got the acute episode turned around and he'd have many more years of life: he was 47 years old! My friend had just been saying, "He'd better get well soon, as I sure can't handle all the work around here." One of the marvels of the Internet is that I can send flowers across the continent with a few mouse clicks... another wonderful thing is that I even "know" someone in New York because of Chat.

Back to the greenhouse:

In order to gather the plastic neatly at the ends, I did a sort of "girly" thing (perhaps others have done this, but the idea came to me as I laid awake too excited about the greenhouse to sleep). I used strong CORD in a "farmer's needle" (a big long sucker) and made a running stitch along the lengths of plastic that needed fitting on the ends. I know that I could have FOLDED that material to fit, but felt that the GATHERING did a neater job.

The nature of the woven plastic is that you can make some extra punctures where the material will be secured and it won't rip as you work with it. I do realize that holes in the poly would weaken it where it's not supported. At any rate, I was satisfied that the gathered ends appeared tidier than any way I could fold the extra material, and I think I've gone on about that enough. I'll try to get back here with a picture, later.. but now there is a news article about PET SPAS... and I must go watch.

~Ann

I painted the wood parts of the structure with the tan coloured porch and floor enamel, and also painted the wooden benches that Gary built for me. To reduce wear on the woven poly, I ran a strip of "sill gasket" down every "hoop" of the greenhouse, and padded any place where the plastic would contact the wood frame. It was easy, fun and fast to use "Liquid Nails" adhesive with my caulking gun to attach the foam, and it all held fast when I had to pull the plastic covering over the structure.

It doesn't look like much in the above picture, but with herculean effort I managed to drape the woven greenhouse poly over the frame. That was last night, and I was lucky that there was very little wind, as I simply abandoned the project when I got tired: this morning things were just as I'd left them. I managed to tack the plastic down in a few places before my first dog came for grooming, and I did a little more after the last dog went home. I'll tell you more about this tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by. Love, Ann