Summer’s End…
This morning it seemed as though someone had just reached over and switched off the summer! There is new snow on almost every mountain top that we can see from here, and the temperature has dropped dramatically. It rained a lot last night.
I haven’t spent much time blogging, but have had a TERRIFIC summer. We had more visits than usual from all of our daughters, and of course the highest point of the summer was the marriage of my oldest girl, in Newfoundland, in July.
For the wedding, we were together as a family… daughters, inlaws, outlaws, ex-laws, new family and friends too. The weather in Newfoundland during our too-short stay was wonderful… just warm enough, with lovely breezes off the ocean and bays. We also managed to fit in whale-watching with Gary’s daughter and her man, and we stood at Cape Spear, the most eastern point of the continent. We all had some fantastic meals in the various locations, including the wedding feast. There were 19 of us who were “Screeched In”, that is, we survived the ceremony which made us “Honourary Newfoundlanders”.
In August we also hosted a wedding reception for Shelly and Merv… a “garden party” with all kinds of finger foods, a build-your-own-sandwich bar, and plenty of dessert. The newlyweds had a chance to show wedding pictures, and to visit with folks who couldn’t go to Newfoundland, and many with whom Shelly hadn’t seen in many years. About 70 came, during the day and half the night.
This is a photo of Gary and Rob putting up the party canopy (under which the party canapés were served…). There are many pics of the party itself viewable through Facebook; you can add me as a Friend, if you like. For some reason (perhaps because I was running around being a happy hostess, and also sharing the “spirits” of the occasion!) I didn’t get a picture of the party tent with its mini-lights on: it was magical!
There are pictures of the two occasions all over the place on the Internet and on various computers and discs. I think most people who know the happy couple have seen those, and other pictures of our beloved family members.
Last Friday was the last Farmer’s Market in McBride. A couple of people complained that the vendors should extend the “season”… the Market season, and I listened patiently, but remarked, “I’m TIRED…”. There is a lot of other work to be done before winter sets in, and between pet care and yard work, jam-making and harvest, I haven’t even begun to do what could be “getting ready for snowfall” preparation. The Pet Hostel is my dream work… if I am fatigued on any given day, I always think that I should cut back on something ELSE.
I’ve been blogging so irregularly that I’m not sure what pictures I have shared, without spending some time looking over my own blog. So maybe I’ll start at “recent” pictures and work back! I’ve also been very sporadic at taking photos of our wonderful pet guests, but that’s just the way it is.
I had a lovely visit with a young friend last week, and she helped me to groom a couple of dogs (not pictured), and then we had a little break on the deck. Rob-and-Ruth’s dogs are pictured with my friend, and Lady couldn’t be left out…
Last month I ordered chainlink dog kennel panels and we expanded our row of runs…
This only increased our number of runs by two (for over $2000), but it is convenient and efficient and I have wanted to do this for a long time. The new kennels are 5 feet wide and 20 feet long, manufactured by Phoenix Fence in Edmonton.
We were busy at the Pet Hostel this summer… it was not uncommon for us to have between 15 and 20 dogs. There is a limit to how many pets of any kind that I wish to have here, as there are only so many hours in a day for their care, including special needs.
Okay, now what else can I share with you? I’ve been picking and delivering big bouquets of large lilies all summer long, spreading the cheer like little Sally Sunshine. I do this for nothing, because it brings me joy. I sold almost 40 dozen jars of jam and jelly this year, between Farmer’s Markets and sales through my favourite coffee shop. Gary harvested nearly 600 heads of garlic in August, and most are already sold and the money put into general revenue (for house insurance, etc.). We had a fair bit of other produce such as cabbage, peas, beans and chard… and then this special gift from the garden… “Cheddar” Cauliflower that I grew from seed. It seemed tenderer and sweeter than the regular white cauliflower… and isn’t it pretty?
Pictured below are Cinder, a “Silky Pom” who has been featured before in my blog, and Pasha, a very special “special needs” cat who always used to have to wear a diaper in the house but who has regained her continence…
Here are Shelly and Merv shelling peas that Merv had picked. Oh, okay.. Shelly is working at her computer, but occasionally helping test the quality of the produce:
And I took a picture of the vine-covered arbour, with the sun peeking over it. This was constructed of rebar and old copper pipe with stucco wire over it, now covered with Virginia Creeper on one side and Traveller’s Joy Clematis on the other…
Sharps’ beautiful Havenese dogs, young adult brothers, Tucker and Jack:
Okay, I really have to run along now! Love, Ann
