Butchering Day on the Ranch

One day; two cows, and two pigs… busy day.

Thanks goodness we have lots of helping hands on the Ranch because we did two cows and two pigs in short order.  Hubby and I drove the meat into the butcher toot sweet because it was way too warm to hang ‘em.

Mike, Brent, and Hubby.

Pops sharpens his knife.

My BIL, Mike, runs the tractor.  Bonnie, a first time watcher, takes it all in.

Grandma and Aunty Helen work side by side.

Brent, a friend who used to live at the Ranch long before Grandma and Pops bought it, always helps.

A good day’s work for all of us (although I mostly just ran my camera) but I did pitch in for one of the pigs. :)

The Empty Canal

I’ve lived in Lillooet since I was about three years old (over 40 years!), except for a short stint in Pritchard (near Kamloops) and I’ve never seen the Seton Lake Canal empty!  On Saturday Hubby and I drove in and I took some pictures.  They are doing repairs and will reopen the Canal on May 6th, I’m going to try to be there when they open the gates.

On the way in we passed a few deer hanging out close to the road near U-Pick Gardens.

This one has a mosquito near her nose.  The deer are pretty ratty right now while shedding their winter coat.

They ended up hiding behind the trees and bushes so we moved on.

A view of Cayoosh Creek from high up on the Duffy Lake Road.

A view of the empty canal.  The water in the Canal carries a very strong current and it’s dangerous to go near the water.  When I was a kid I remember the day my Dad fell in, and it was only the grace of God and my Uncle Jack who saved him!  It still gives me goose bumps when I think of that day!  I might not have the story too accurate as I was pretty young, but I remember Dad telling me he had just bought new boots and had the laces tied up so he was desperately trying to get his boots off and clawing at the sides of the Canal.  His fingernails were almost gone and he couldn’t get a grip when Uncle Jack threw him a rope and pulled him out.

The Bridge over the Canal.

The next few pics I was standing on the bridge.  Here you can see the gates holding back a massive amount of water.

Workers down in the Canal.  (To see a close-up of the workers visit my flickr site).

Before heading up Texas Creek we stopped and took a pic of a lone goat high up on the mountain.  I curse myself for not bringing my tripod and this was the best pic I could get.  The white goat is lying down under the small tree.

A few pics from Mitchell’s corner on Texas Creek Road.  Ainsworth Lumber (recently bought by Aspen Planers) is in the background.

I call this bridge Texas Creek Bridge but I was recently informed the official name is “Turnbull Bridge.” (Thanks Gale).

I snapped this one while we were driving across the bridge.

It was quite the interesting day and I do hope to be there when they open the gates on May 6th… just got to find out the time. :)

For more pics visit the Canal collection at my flickr site.

No Goldilocks but 3 bear cubs and a Mama

Another drive into Lytton to pick Sydney up from rehearsal tonight.  Just as I was coming down into Izman Creek I remembered Alleshia, my niece, telling me about the three bear cubs she had seen in the same area two days ago.  I was keeping an eye out when 10 seconds later I come around the switchback and there’s all three cubs with their Mama standing near the road!

I quickly pulled over while grabbing my camera, I then noticed I only had my 17-55mm lens on, darnit!  I snapped a couple of quick pics through the windshield in case they bolted, and then fumbled to get my telephoto on.

The 17-55mm pics aren’t great but you can see all three cubs and Mama.

One of the cubs is quite a bit lighter except for his dark brown face.  The other two cubs look black and the Mama looks brown… quite the colour differences. :)

By the time I got my telephoto on and stepped out of the truck they were starting to head over the hill but Mama gave me a quick look.

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Very Low Cost Easy Homemade Laundry Soap

The last time I bought laundry soap I went to Costco and, as usual, bought three jugs.  Two are Tide HE for my front loading washer and one is Tide Cold Water Wash for my top loading 2nd washer (yes I have two washers but if you know the washer troubles I’ve had you’d have two too, and remember the nearest Laundromat is a looooong ways from me.)

Total cost for those three jugs was just over $75.00!  And then you have to lug the three bottles home all the while taking up precious space in the truck for other groceries.  What’s a girl to do?

The first thing I do is go to Tipnut.com.  There are so many tips and tricks there you’ll surely find something that will make your life easier and I knew I’d find something. :)  I found this: http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

The post was very long and detailed, especially with the amount of comments, but well worth the read.  I didn’t use a specific recipe but rather combined a few different ones to come up with an inexpensive homemade laundry soap.

Here’s what I did:

Grate one bar of pure soap into a pot.  MUST be pure soap, not Dove or a body soap.  I found Sunlight in the detergent aisle of our grocery store; 2 bars for $2.79.  I’m betting you can pick it up much cheaper than I can.

Grate one bar in the pot, saving the other bar for next time.

Finished grating.

Add enough hot water to cover it and place on the stove MEDIUM-LOW heat.

Eventually it will all melt, don’t worry about the little bits still in there.  Just before adding it to my jug I used my Braun hand mixer to whirl it smooth.

You’ll need 1 cup of Washing Soda (NOT baking soda).  In the detergent aisle it was $6.99.

And 1/2 a cup of Borax. I’ve had Borax forever and I don’t have a clue what a box costs??

I also put in 1 tablespoon of Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing to whiten whites and makes clothes brighter.  Detergent aisle: $2.99.

I recycled a cleaned out 5 gallon vegetable oil jug and filled it about a quarter way full of hot water.  Add the Washing Soda, Borax, and Bluing and shake until all powder is dissolved.  Add the melted soap, and shake again.

Fill with hot water.  This will be heavy!  I had an extra empty jug of Tide and poured off one bottle to keep at the washer and I’ll store the big jug away.  I think I’ll get at least four Tide jugs from this one jug.

I now have five gallons of laundry soap for well under $10!!  1/2 a cup is all you’ll need in your washer.  It’s low sudsing and it will be perfect in my front loading washer which requires that expensive He soap but I’ll also use it in my top loader as well.  This will gel over time so be sure to shake it every once in awhile.

I’ve done two loads of laundry in my front loader and the clothes smell ok and look clean…. I’m sold.  Your results may vary depending on your water, experiment and save lots of dollars.  Come back and let me know how it works for you. :)

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Deer on the Highway

Tonight I drove into Lytton and picked Sydney up from her Shakespeare rehearsal; Romeo & Juliet.

For quite some time I’ve been trying to get decent pictures of mule deer grazing along the highway… with no luck.  Either they are too darn quick or I don’t have my camera ready or (insert a reason here lol).

But tonight, coming home, I was finally able to get some decent shots!  I pulled the truck over and tried taking pics through the windshield but a car came up behind me and another towards me and all the deer bolted, some over the bank and some up the hill.

Frustrated, I was going to head off, when all of a sudden the deer came right back out on the road!  I quietly stepped out of the truck and started nonchalantly walking towards them, hoping they’d stay.  They were so interested in eating they hardly paid any attention to me, other than quick glances.

Here’s some of the pics:

In total there were about six of them.  As I was running back to the truck Sydney was frantically pointing because another one had come up from the bank and was walking behind me, but it hopped up the hill, joining the herd, and then they were gone.

For more pictures of the deer visit my flickr site:

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Lytton Walking Bridge

Until yesterday both Hubby and I had never seen this bridge… and until just a short time ago we didn’t even know it existed.

The bridge is about 3.5 miles out of Lytton on Highway 12 and carries water in a large pipe beneath it.

I got about a quarter way out and when one looks down at the Mighty Fraser… well there was no way I could get any further.  The height doesn’t scare me… it’s the river that had me on edge. :)

Hubby walked out halfway and tried to convince me to come further but I was content snapping pics where I was. :)

Before finding the bridge we did a tour of the area.  There’s quite a few abandoned buildings all over the place including a yurt and old cabins.

We then came across a Quiggly hole.

Inside it was a bit dark and scary and I wasn’t sure if it was going to cave in any second!

The doorway leading out was very low and even I had to duck my head (and I’m short!)

After coming up from the Quiggly hole we still hadn’t found the bridge so Hubby stopped and we decided to walk across a large draw.  He was supposed to be following me but when I turned around I see him still standing at the truck!  I hollered at him to drive around and meet me on the other side because I could see there was a road on my side.  He some how turned right and I went left (or he went left and I went right… not sure) and it took a bit before we found each other again.  Mind you I was packing my camera, gear, and tripod… and he was in the truck, so I was a bit “heated” when we finally did hook up!

One of the places I ended up.

After walking a bit more I found this quiet spot…

And when I got here I couldn’t even hear the truck anymore!

It was a great day for exploring but I think next time we should pack the two-way radios. :)

For more pictures of the bridge and Quiggly hole visit the “Lytton Exploring” collection at my flickr site:

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Gymnastics

During the two days Sydney and I spent at the Science Fair in Kamloops, LES also had a gymnastics meet in Kamloops.  While Sydney was on lunch we met up with Jevan at the Gymnastics building after he had come from swimming at the YMCA.

Parents were told to head up to a viewing area to watch the kids.  I was not impressed with the distortion and dirtiness of the windows!

They started out with a quick warm-up.

The kids then headed to the trampolines.  Jevan jumps high!

Sydney jumping in her rolled up pants because she didn’t have her shorts with her.

Here’s Sydney in the foam pit after falling off the bars.

Jevan was over at the balance beams trying to stay steady.

Sydney’s time was limited at the gymnastics event and we had to leave a bit early.  What she wanted to try most was running fast on the long trampoline and jumping into the foam pit. 

Jump Sydney!  She got her wish after the Instructor let the three girls from the Science Fair jump ahead of everyone in the line. :)

The kids really enjoyed the time spent.  After a quick good-bye to Jevan Sydney and I walked back over to TRU to the Science Fair.

For more pictures visit my flickr site:

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