Random Post

It's time for one of those random posts that I so like.  Where you can just blab on about anything...


I took a quick trip to town this morning.  I have to time things just right because the Big Slide is currently being worked on (another bandaid) and it's only open before 9:00 AM, between noon and 1:00, and after 4:00 PM, five days a week.  I had an appointment at 10:20 so was able to squeeze a quick visit in with Dally and a quick run to the grocery store before the slide closed after lunch.


On the way home I stopped after going through the Big Slide.  I wanted pics of the crew working but it was pretty unsafe to park anywhere so I drove through and parked on the other side.  I couldn't see any of the crew and ended up just snapping some pics of the river.  This is looking towards Lillooet, on the right side you can see the road I just travelled to get here.

On the way in there was a few sheep at the bottom of 9 Mile Hill.  When I first pulled up they were in the middle of the road licking the salt, there was no one behind me so I was able to hang around for 10 minutes or so snapping pics.  As I inched closer to them they took off up the hill.

This one looks like it must be about a year old, a real cutey.

This one is a bit older and it's missing one of it's horns.

I think he was getting bored with me and started nodding off.

When you turn off Highway 12 (the road I live on) the first thing you see when heading into town is the mountains.  The building in the picture is the Forestry Office, although I think it's closed up due to government cutbacks but I'm not sure.

Dallas had totally forgot that I was coming to town and hadn't had a shower yet so I went up to her place instead of meeting at a restaurant.

No visit to town would be complete if I didn't see my precious granddaughter Lexi.  Dallas took her to the doc regarding her birthmark (although I do not remember this mark when she was born!) we're hoping it doesn't get any bigger or she will have to have it removed when she's older.  It's cosmetic so the doctor said Dallas would have to pay for the removal, I think that's crazy, our medical services plan should pay for something like that!!

Oh one last photo, I almost forgot.  Here's Dal's cat Shady.  She is the most vicious cat I've ever run into... well she's good with Dal but man alive this cat does not like strangers, or dogs, or bears,... or... anyone except Dal. :)  Okay I admit I'm not a cat person but doesn't this thing look mean?

Look at the whiskers!  Maybe the longer the whiskers the meaner the cat (our cat Billy has short whiskers and is pretty friendly).

Snowy Horse

Well all I have to say is I'm thankful I have two legs and a woodstove.

I tend to feel bad for any of the animals out in the snow.

But this is actually a good sign, OJ is holding in his heat and he doesn't feel the cold.  He has a nice layer of fat insulating him... yeah that's my excuse too :)

Shootsac Contest

If you aren't into contests then skip this post... but if you are, and you love deadlines (there's only two days left!) then keep reading.

You have to come up with a reason why you need a new Shootsac camera bag, I figured this picture says it all :)
You can enter the contest here at the MCP Actions Blog.
 

You've got to be kiddin' me?

Yesterday Sydney and I were out on the field snapping pics for the photography course I'm taking.  The sun was shining, it was somewhat warm, and we were all enjoying the nice weather.

Even the dogs were getting in on the action.  This bird, not sure if it's a crow or a raven, was frolicking with the dogs.  Even though it wanted to play, Annie put the run on it pretty fast :)

Then I get up this morning.  Do not adjust your monitor, do not wipe your screen, can you believe this??  That's snow!  And it's coming down heavy.

Everything is a covered in a blanket of white, and when it's going to quit is a mystery.  You all realize this is probably coming from New Brunswick, right Jackie ? ;)

I had all intentions...

I signed up for an online photography course and had all intentions of completing lesson 4 today.  I did, I did!  But... well the weather was so nice and we're all feeling a bit better so we headed out to the field and had an impromptu picnic.  Did I tell you all that Sydney missed her first day of school? :(  Sad day around here.  The school called on Monday and said that Sydney was in the sick room with a bad stomach ache.  I couldn't drive in because Jevan was home with a touch of the flu himself, and there was no way I wanted him in the truck with the ailments that come along with the flu!  Sydney didn't have long to wait before the bus came, and by the time she got home she looked real bad.  She missed Tuesday but was able to go on Wed & Thur.  Friday was a no school day and both kids are great.  Anyway... Sydney is adamant about not missing anymore days (she only missed one day last year) and Jevan, well he could take it or leave it lol!

I didn't get any shots for the photography course but I did take these.  I made the cross about seven years ago and I can't believe it's holding up so well.





Another shot:


In colour:

I truly hope that Sydney is asking God to wipe out the flu!

Jevan looks as if he's posing for some girlie magazine!

Two best friends.

The horses quickly discover that Sydney has apples, carrots, and grapes in her backpack!

Happy Birthday Dally!

Just a quick message to wish my oldest daughter a Happy Birthday!  A quarter of a century can sure fly by :)

Where's Spring?

I would think that seeing this bird, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, it surely must be a sign of spring, but I think it's been here all winter.

We had snow, oh not much but still!  I knew that would happen, I should never have mentioned "where's winter?" because it snuck back when I wasn't looking!

Where's winter??

There's one horse on the ranch that no matter what settings I put my camera on he comes out blurry.

The way this horse's hair colour is and how twisty it looks there is no way I'm going to get a good pic but then actions like this don't help.

Another blurry pic... Blue chasing Jumbo. Don't think that Blue is being mean here, Jumbo did about three runs around him daring him to run after, Blue was happy to.

Remember I was telling you about the horses gathering around you anytime you walked into the field? Well today I had three carrots with me and this guy was determined to get at least one of 'em.

Running to the opposite end of the field I manage to get a couple of shots without someone nudging or bumping me.

Out of breath I find a fence to lean on and get my wind back :)

The carrots have run out and everyone is pretty much ignoring me now, well except one who is out of the picture because he's standing so close to me.

Once the dogs and I get around the fence it's smooth sailing... no horses following us now.

Teddy enjoys the heat of the sun and has a nap before we head in the door. It was a beautiful day today and I'm really starting to believe our winter is over. (Ooo did I just say that? Please don't come back to bite me!)

A few things you might see on a ranch

When I first moved here I found myself saying "What's that?" more times than I can count.  I've gotten better but still scratch my head wondering what some things are, homemade things are the worst... and we have a lot of "use what's on hand to make what you need" items around here.

One of the first things you might see is a gate, a cow, and some baler twine.  I think I pretty well covered all that in this one picture.

This gal was a bit nervous and backed off when I got too close, but cows are curious and they don't go too far before they stop and watch you.

And when you have animals you have feeders.  Pops moved this feeder from Black's Field into the horse pasture today.

Here's a close-up.  The feeders are mainly used for the bulls, and the horses when they are in a corral.

Then there's this thing.  Any idea what it is?  I never did figure it out and had to asked Hubby.  It's a "cow scratcher," the cows rub themselves on it, and sometimes it has medicated liquid in the top of it that runs down onto the cows as they scratch themselves.

These heavy logging truck tires are tied together so they can be used for smearing.  After having the cows in a pasture for awhile it gets covered in manure, you hook the tires to a tractor and drive 'round and 'round until the manure is smeared and smoothed down on the field.

And of course you'll see fields, pipes, old trucks (that still run) and a ton of hay.

Speaking of things that still run... you'll often see old pieces of equipment that surely must be abandoned.  But they're not, this thing still runs... sometimes.  It's a 1950ish (I'm guessing) combine for doing grain. 

A kid & his bike

Do y'all remember what it was like trying to ride your first bike? It was hard! You thought you'd never figure it out. Sydney gives Jevan some pointers and holds him up.

We start out with a smile.

He struggles with the pedals and most likely is thinking "Where's the pavement?"

You can almost hear him groan and push those pedals.

He leans left.

He leans right.

He thinks "Is this all worth it?"

My poor little man gave up, yup he pushed his bike back into the shop and said he would "try another day Mama." I can't say that I blame him, the driveway is covered in mud & rocks and it's hard to pedal... when Hubby gets home I'm informing him that our next paycheque goes for a dump truck full of pavement!