The Year 2010...A Field Workers Reflection

Personal Discoveries

Moss won't grow on a rolling stone.  The first 5 months of 2010 found moss growing on my ass.  Keep moving.

If the time ever comes when you feel you are left with no hope and you feel so totally immersed in your sorrow that you stop believing it will get better get in the car and drive to frickin Canada.  Ok, it doesn't have to be Canada.  Just change your seat!

Working in an organic garden is very hard work and picking green beans really sucks.  But I can live with it.  For awhile more maybe...

I prefer the sun rising at 4am and it staying light out until 10pm over these crazy winter hours of darkness.

One can never say they will never fall in love again because one never really knows when never is. (what?)

I really never want to help clean the ducks and geese! That's what I know about never!

Family and friends really do stay in your heart.  No matter what country you may find yourself in they still seem to always be with you.

My Garmin (GPS) was a great investment.  As was the block heater I had installed.

Two lives can be infinitely altered by the simple sentence, "I never thought my knight in shining armor would be a woman." Thank you Sam.  Thank you Universe.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Ya'll down in Texas be careful and watch out for those falling bullets!  See you in 2011!  And remember as you start the new year what you put out into the universe will come back to you.  Believe and always keep the faith!

An Inside Look at Outlook

Welcome to Outlook, Saskatchewan.  And look...they even have a rainbow on their sign to greet visitors.  Coincidental you may ask?  Hard to tell, but I like to think it's there for....well you know.  Although the indigenous population of Saskatchewan has existed in the province for possibly 6,000 years settlers declared Outlook a village on August 6, 1908.  A huge railway station was soon established and on November 23, 1908 citizens welcomed the first train and Outlook became a gateway to the west.  On November 1st, less than 1 year after being settled Outlook was officially declared a town.  Population statistics differ, however, I did find a number of 11,114 which was as of November 10, 2009.  I suppose now it would be 11,115 with me here, but no one is suppose to know.  There is your history lesson.

Outlook is the home of Skytrail which is Canada's longest pedestrian bridge.  It measures 3000 feet across and stands 150 feet above the beautiful South Saskatchewan River.  Have any of us crossed it yet?  No. As the farmers say, "there's always next year."  I will cross that bridge this summer!  And I will raft the river.

Let's see.  What else...this is part of Saskatchewan Ave. one of the main streets.  There are banks, stores, the credit union, the Co-Op grocery store, the AG grocery store, a tire place and of coarse most important the liquor store. 

The liquor stores are all controlled by the government.  No independent owners in Saskatchewan (not sure about any other province) and all prices are the same in all of them.  This location had a sudden increase in their brandy sales upon my arrival (go figure) and they had to start ordering it.  Previously it wasn't something they sold much of. 

This next picture I love.  Competition can be pretty tough in a small town so why not just all open up next door to each other?!  Here we have 3 restaurants all in a row.  The K&S Restaurant serving Chinese and Canadian food, The Golden Dragon serving Chinese, Japanese and Canadian food, and then there is the Modern Family Restaurant.  They just claim to be a "licensed dining room."

And also on this street is where you will locate the men and women who protect this town.

 

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

It is my understanding that there are 3 vehicles that operate out of this RCMP building.  When 3 vehicles can be seen here speed limits on the roadways have a tendency to fluctuate somewhat.

Just around the corner from Saskatchewan Ave. is a street called Franklin.  This is an equally important part of the town.  Here you will find the post office, the hardware store,  Sasktel Electric, a florist, insurance office, a bakery and even a coffee shop. Not to mention one of the best meat markets I've ever been in.  The family that owns it has been there since 1975.  The cute little movie theater I showed you in an earlier post is directly across from the hardware store.



CJ's Java Joint and Outlook Bakery further down



But wait.  We're not done.  Here is a picture of the Outlook Museum.  Dwayne and Alton volunteered to paint all the trim of the building this past summer.  They did it as their civic duty.  Isn't that nice?  Now I couldn't live with myself if I didn't mention the Yang to this.  Their mother's house is in dire need of painting. Kind of like the cobbler's son who had no shoes.  Her house seems to fall into that ambiguous category of "there is always next year".  Sorry guys.  It's the truth.  I know you take such excellent care of her in so many other ways...but her house.  You will see that while her boys are away Maggie's got Mavis' back.

Outlook Museum

Hotel/Restaurant/Bar (w/pool table!)

Hospital and Medical Clinic

Speaks for itself...

Why there is even a Sears catalogue center in town! 

So, there you have it.  A quick look into Outlook.  There is quite a bit more to it.  These are just a few of the many important places that keep this town alive.  There are many apartment buildings and many nice new areas with big beautiful homes being built.  This province is experiencing a tremendous boom.  I hope that you have enjoyed seeing this town as much as I have enjoyed showing it to you.

Blessings for the new year.........

SOS...FRUIT FLY INVASION

I'm not exactly sure why, but the TempleRoseth Organic Garden's kitchen has seemed to have become a winter vacation destination for quite a few fruit flies.  And at this moment there are no fruits here (HA-HA-HA-HA-HA)!!!  I just had to zing that one in there!  Any suggestions for the elimination of these moochers would be ever so appreciated.

Cletis Ann seems to be having a great time chasing them, however, I really don't think she's is actually doing anything to control the population.

Well Hello Again.

A few nights ago (actually it was Thursday, 23 December, how can I forget) I was pulling into the farm driveway after coming home from the store in Outlook when something very unexpected occurred.  My plan was to get into the house and start some serious baking to take to Saskatoon with me the next day.   I wanted a variety of holiday treats that might thoroughly impress my new extended family. It all looked great on paper.  But then it happened.  Backing into the spot I use for parking so that I can make an easy forward drive out I somehow totally misjudged my positioning and ended up sliding ever so gracefully down the small hill that sits besides the driveway.  I know!  Don't say it.  I immediately had visions of no baking being done and of coarse, no way to get to Saskatoon the next day.

I went into the house quite disheartened and called Mavis. "Mavis, I'm stuck."  "Call Albert!" was the Roseth family matriarchal command.  Well, I already knew that, but since never having met Albert I was kind of hoping she would do it for me, but no such luck.  The guys had already spoken to Albert and he was prepared for helping out if needed.  He is also responsible for plowing the drive-way so that I can get out, and hauling water in for me when the cistern runs out.  Bless his heart!  I picked up the phone and made the call. 

Not 15 minutes later this huge John Deere tractor, lit up like a small city, came cruising down the drive-way.  Now where can I get me one of those?!  And so I had the great privilege of meeting Albert.  I have yet to meet his wife, Alice.  After doing a few quick drivebys with his big plow and a bit of shoveling I  managed to drive right out of my very embarrassing parking spot.  I felt like such a girl.  I couldn't even blame it on Max for sitting on my lap and getting in my way because I had left Max at home.

I believe that Albert might be a little concerned about my winter on the prairie.  Oh, he didn't say anything outright, however, even though I have their home phone number, Albert made sure he handed me a slip of paper that had his cell phone number clearly written (LOL).  On top of the 20 bucks I slipped him I also sent him home with a dozen fresh baked pecan finger cookies and a bag of "nuts and bolts", or as some call it cereal mix for him and Alice to enjoy.  Thank you Albert.

The really sad part?  There's not but maybe 3 inches of snow here.  Maybe this summer Dwayne will teach me how to drive "his" John Deere with a shovel and I'll get myself out.  Although his is not all enclosed like Albert's and it doesn't have all those great lights!

11 December 2010 - Two Weeks Until Christmas...

Only 13 more shopping days until Christmas!  I get special weather alerts on my laptop for the weather in my home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin.  Seems they have been getting quite a bit of snow the last few days.  However, today they did cancel the winter storm warning advisory.  It's now a "blizzard warning".   Ho-ho-ho!  There is more snow there right now then there is here in Saskatchewan Canada.  It is early though.  We can still catch up!

Last night I decided the farm needed a little Christmas.  I have been helping Mavis (Dwayne's mother, Alton's mother-in-law) with putting a few things in her windows and plugging in a cute little tree (that's about all it entailed). It made me realize I needed something here too.  I hopped in my car (which now only takes minutes to warm up due to the new block heater I had installed last Monday in Saskatoon) and I drove over to the co-op.  I just love the co-op.  I went ahead and splurged on a set of 100 multi-color lights which were on sale and here is my decorating!  What do you think boys in Houston? You will see that I am watching Charles Dickens, "A Christmas Carol".  It is the version released in 1938 which was the earliest screen adaptation.  It remains my favorite although "Scrooged" with Bill Murray takes a close second.  One the screen is Scrooge along with the Ghost of Christmas Present. 

Now, I gave up my oak electric fireplace when I moved up here (it now sits in Mike and Courtney's apartment and I must say it looks very nice) and I was a little forlorn not to have it this Christmas, however, when working with the universe and not against it things have a way of working out.

 This one may not blow heat like my old one but it does play Christmas carols!  So, I guess all is good in Canada.

Cletis Ann has decided that since Max doesn't want to play her little kitty games I'm the next best thing.  I can be just sitting there minding my own business when out of nowhere she springs out and attacks my hand.  She has figured out that "the hand" is good for a bit of war!  She's so cute with her ears pinned back in pretend anger.  And then there is that cute huffing noise she makes before each attack.  Here she is during a quiet moment looking very cute and calm.  Don't be fooled.   She seems to have adopted this empty basket that is sitting on top of "my" dresser.

 

I have a very good friend, Jan Wein, who draws "Soul Portraits."  This is mine.  It's hanging here on my wall and  I was just looking at it and thinking it would probably be a great Christmas gift if anyone is running short on ideas.  You can find out more about her at http://www.soul2soulinpirations.com/.   She also does Tarot readings and she is simply amazing.  Just a really neat lady....

Well, speaking of Christmas.  I suppose I'll maybe try to write a few cards out and see if I can get them to the states on time.  But then there is always the http://www.hallmark.com/ cards.  Decisions, decisions. 

December 2010

It's so very quiet here now.  The first few days were a bit rough, but we all seem to be falling into a new winter routine now.  I find it hard to believe that Dec.1st marked my 6 month anniversary in Canada.  Why does time seem to go so much faster as you get older?  What's up with that?  And where the hell did everyone go?!  I have discovered OUTtv and have watched the movie Bad Girls: The Musical 3 or 4 times now.  It was filmed in London's Garrick Theatre back in 2007 and is a fun show.

Well here he is.  Max. Are those not the cutest little boots you've ever seen?  He really only asks to wear them when it's really cold (yea, right).  Most of the time he doesn't need them.  He can run in them now, and hike his leg.    I don't know who's prouder him or me.  It still makes me laugh.  Now he thinks he's all cool.



And sticking to the black and white theme is Cletis Ann.  If Max and I go out she's not about to stay in the house!  However, being outside now just doesn't hold the same old thrill as when there were little unsuspecting things to kill.  Doesn't she look totally bored?  Smile for your dad's Cletis...ok fine don't smile.

I rejoined Facebook last night.  It seems I have the same problem with it this time as I did when I signed up the first time.  I have no idea what I'm doing!  LOL!  I'm going to try harder this time though.  Be patient.









Here is a beautiful sunset from the other night.  The snow so far has been minimal, and the cold has been quite tolerable.  So far so good.

Anyway....

So.  We woke up this morning and it was  -27C with a wind chill of  -38C.  Now you may think that sounds really cold, BUT that's in Celsius.  In Fahrenheit that would be......hold on.  I have to refer to my TexLoc Quick Reference - Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion chart.  Yes, I'm one of "those" Americans who refuses to learn the metric system even though the rest of the world uses it! Ok. First, the "actual" temperature was -16.6 degrees Fahrenheit.  And with the wind chill it would be -36.4F...................................OMG.  What have I done?! LOL!!!!  Actually, I guess once it's friggin cold, it's just cold because for some reason the only extremities showing any great protest to this whole endeavor would be my fingers.  So far I am actually able to handle this.  My car even starts and I haven't had the block warmer installed!  I KNOW!  Let's just give a little plug for KIA!

The boys left yesterday morning.  My heart was sad.  Sam and I went out to the farm on Saturday and we all hung out until Monday morning.  Then we headed back to Saskatoon, and the Dwayne and the Alton headed somewhere warmer....so, Nancy, June, Nicki, Dale, look out!  They are headed your way!

I'll be headed back out to the farm in the next day or two.  Garth is flying out on Saturday.  It just goes to show "where ever you go, there you are".  My spirit sojourn is about to begin.  Three months on the prairie.  Max, Cletis Ann, and me.

Pictures of Max in his "boots" and sweater to follow.  Talk about funny!  I wish you could see him try and walk in these things!  Sam tells me I shouldn't be laughing at him, and she praises and pets him for being so handsome (whatever).  Look how we balance each other.  Have I truly found the Yin to my Yang?

Love and blessings.

Unsolicited Book Review

The Shack . Published in 2007. Written by Canadian author William P. Young.  I didn't know he was Canadian until just now.  I had read about The Shack when it first came out and even put it on my Amazon Wish List, but never selected it for purchase, though I really wanted to on several occasions.  Well, I was sitting at Sam's one day and there it was on the desk!  Not only that, but she didn't remember how it got there or who it belonged to.  To me it was a sure "sign" to read it.

The writing is superb and the story is thought provoking.  God is a heavy black woman who loves to cook.  That's all I'll say.  A spiritual tone runs through out but does not dominate.  I want to read it again.

Sweet November

HAPPY VETERANS DAY to all of you in the States, and HAPPY REMEMBRANCE DAY to all in Canada.  Remembrance Day is taken very seriously here.  I was no sooner out of bed this morning before Dwayne had a red poppy pinned to my Green Bay Packer sweatshirt!  The eleventh hour of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.  Everything closes here. And I'm not just talking the banks and post offices.

This handsome man in uniform is my dad at 18 years old.  He survived 33 bombing missions over Germany in WWII.  He was a gunner who sat in a little bubble attached to the aircraft.  I can't even imagine.  I feel for any and all veterans who survive war and have to come back to "society" and fit back in...

My dad was the greatest man I have ever known.  He dropped out of school in the 6th grade to help with the family farm. His parents were immigrants from Croatia.  He fought in WWII.  He took a job in a foundry where he would stay for 39 years.  He hated every minute of it, but he never missed a day.  Except when he had a disc fused in his back. Upon retirement he was given a luncheon and a watch.   He never made much money, but he and my mother managed to raise 4 kids very successfully.  He loved kids and kids loved him.  His granchildren were no doubt his greatest joy.   He never ever seemed down and out.  When he discovered 2 of his 4 children were gay he found a way to get around all the trash that people and religions brainwash  people with on this subject, and he loved us even harder.  OH, it wasn't easy at first!  But he worked at it until he actually told us, "you are our children and we love you no matter what."  He was comfortable among the rich and poor. He could talk to anyone, and everyone loved talking to him. He did crossword puzzles in ink.  And perhaps the greatest virtue...he was able to put up with my mother for all those years (back when people actually stayed together).  My mother was the baby of her family and a little high strung .  It wasn't always easy.   I'm just being honest.

This is a picture of the old chicken coop (that will hopefully be fixed up and used for chickens again next summer) that the boys used as the "bird cleaning station".  I was so hoping to get a picture of the silhouette with a hatchet in the air! LOL!!!!!!  Come on!  You have to find some humor in a job like that!  Speaking of!  IT'S OVER.  The bird cleaning season has officially closed.  Not only that but Dwayne and Alton have the north section of the garden cultivated (roughly 4 acres), the new 5 acre potato patch cultivated, and the spot for the new and improved greenhouse is cultivated.  The new greenhouse will be 14 x 90 (Steve C.!)  Approximately 200 bales of hay have been brought in which will be used as mulch this spring.  And last, they only have a few more days left on the deck they have been building.  I will make sure we post a picture of the finished product.  The time remaining for them here in Canada is passing quickly.  They will soon be packing up the Honda and heading south.  Garth seems to be preparing at a quick pace himself.  Packing, sewing, laundry...I know that the time is rapidly approaching when it is going to get very quiet here.

Double Click on Me

How about this little guy?  Alton was the first to hear him down at the dug out, and having been totally programmed now to stay away from the moose, don't go near a moose, "fear" the moose he ran diligantly into the house and told Dwayne to get the camera and get a picture.  I'd only ever seen a moose on "Northern Exposure" when it walked through town in the beginning of the show.

Here's our little Cletis Ann!  I had to put something in showing how busy she stays all day, everyday.  Come winter she will stay in until sometime in spring.  To burn off energy she likes to chase Max all over the house and put him in kitty headlocks.  Honest.  I look forward to her keeping me entertained all winter!

OH NO!  LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!  Actually we've had a couple of snowfalls already.  Maybe an inch both times.

Anyway, the only thing that I have left to mention at this time, is that I have met someone here in Canada.  Surely you didn't think it was only this country I was so "smitten" with?!  After 10 years of living the happy life of a lone wolf, and looking for nothing different, I went and crossed that Canadian border!  Her name is Sam.  What's really ironic is that she's Dwayne's "other" best friend and over all these years the two of us had never met.   I think we honestly tried to ignore it a couple of times, or perhaps "run away from it" would be more accurate, but then decided that we owed it to ourselves to explore what was happening.  And so we are.  When I asked Dwayne if he was ok with all this he simply responded, "just don't come running to me when you have a fight!" Gotta love that boy! And that's all I have to say about that.

Honor yourselves!

Peace

To Our Canine Soul Mates

It seems to have been a very hard year for our 4-legged friends.  Dwayne and Alton lost Newt back in June, and then I heard from one of my best friends that her dog, Lucy, passed while she slept next to her.  And then a day or two later I heard that Nicki and Dale in Houston have lost their Elliott pretty unexpectedly.  The stars in the heavens are brighter at night now...

 I think losing a pet is a type of ceremonial passage.  We welcome and embrace these little lives into our own knowing our time with them is so limited.  Yet we love them, and spoil them, and boo-boo on them and  hope for as much time as we can be blessed to have before they leave us.  And when it does happen, whether it be in a couple of years or after a whole lifetime, we can be proud to know that we stayed there with them and saw them through this experience called life, and that they had a good life because of us.   And for that brief period in time we had someone who totally loved us, unconditionally and without reserve, and who actually thought we were absolutely perfect just the way we are!  That doesn't happen too often.  I'm really sorry for your loss.

Oh Canada......

"Oh, Canada....".  That was the response of my brother, John David, when I eventually told him that I had extended my stay in Canada.  He also said, "I'm sooooo surprised."  I'm not so sure what he exactly meant by that!

So, the saga continues....in amongst a time period that no one seems to really remember exactly,  I returned to Waukesha, Wisconsin.  After having a quick yet thorough breakdown over considering what I was preparing to do, I "pulled up my big girl pants" (quote courtesy of Jan Krueger) and started making decisions.  What would I sell, what would I possibly keep, what would I donate, and what would get thrown away.  And of course this was during the same time as I entered many tearful heart to hearts with very special people and friends regarding my upcoming departure.  Somehow, with their help and with their help only, I have found my way back to the farm.

This is one of many bluffs you see in the central western part of Wisconsin.  This really doesn't do it justice because there are gazillions of them.

And here it is.  Me driving out of Wisconsin.  No more apartment, no real belongings to speak of...just me, my dog, and my car.  Oh look.  I was speeding.  Not only that there is a date!  I headed back to Canada on October 8th, spent the night just outside Fargo, N.D., (Devil's Lake - it's a growing lake that is slowly sucking in everything around it!  Really.  I heard it on the news that night in my motel room.  OH, my motel room...nevermind!  It was a bed.).  So I made it back to Saskatoon on the 9th around 6 or 7pm.  Whew!  Look how that just all unraveled itself before us?

I spent time in Saskatoon when I first arrived here.   I ran out to the farm for Thanksgiving, and a Sunday ham dinner, but now I have come back to spend time.  And just like when I came here for the very first time, the second time is no less awe inspiring.  It's now full blown fall in Saskatchewan!  And so much is happening...

The bird migration has been incredible.  There is no picture (that my camera can take) that would ever do this justice.  The entire sky can be filled at any given moment with hundreds of flocks of geese, ducks, or cranes.  Whole fields will look like they are covered in snow as the snow geese land to feed.  It's so amazing.  And the sand hill cranes!  These are all cranes not geese.  And just one little itsy bitsy piece of what has been stopping by.

Dwayne and Alton have been SO busy!  They are building a huge deck for some folks around here and at the same time cleaning birds for the hunters who come in from all around Canada and the States.  They work with a gentleman who works as a hunting guide.  The hunters stay in a lodge type place and eat and drink and hunt.  Although I find these birds to be much more beautiful alive, I really try to understand the thrill of the hunt, and I realize  the boys have created a very lucrative side job for themselves.  These two boys are not afraid of work I'll tell you.

So, I am back.  Stay tuned as I prepare to take you through my first CANADIAN winter!

Alas....

And so to borrow a quote from Fried Green Tomatoes, one of my favorite movies, "Miss Ruth was a lady.  And a lady always knows when to leave."  I don't believe it ever appeared in the book.   And I'm not sure why I'm using it right now.  I just always wanted to!

Actually,  my time on the prairie has come to an end.  I know.....it all went so fast!  Since my last posting I caught Dwayne's cold, and the weather has rapidly deteriorated.  AGAIN with the rain(!), and to add insult to injury the cold.  Farmers who were late getting crops in due to all the spring rain are now not able to get them out.  With everything already 2-3 weeks behind the fields are too wet to harvest anything ready, and the not yet mature crops could use more hot sunny weather and drier conditions, which doesn't look like is going to happen.  The first freeze is expected tonight...

Everywhere there are tractors with combines waiting to go to work.  These pictures are for A. Beth!  They're all John Deere!

What about our little "gardeners" you ask? They are out there right now working their "bums" off trying to pull in everything that's ready.  It's cold and it's extremely muddy!  Where am I?  In the warm house blogging!  Yup!  Oh, I'm feeling all guilty and everything, but not enough to join them out there.   OK, so my enthusiasm for this great gardener life may have waned a bit towards the end here.  But I will certainly be prepared to do it all over again next summer! 

I have to thank Dwayne and Alton and Garth for letting me be a part of their Canadian life and for being so very hospitable.  And thank you Sam for so many things...What an adventure!  I would have to say one of my favorite parts of all this was the Macy Gray concert we  attended on the 2nd day of July (so long ago!) and the dinner we went out for afterwards!  I know I will never see a better concert, in a better venue, with better friends.
 
I believe the "boys" might miss me for a bit, however, when it comes right down to it I think they are going to be happy to just be boys again.  I may have reminded them too much of "mother"at times as I gave gentle reminders to pick up those dirty socks or get that weight bench out of the living room.  You know,  little things like that.   It was all out of love!

Isn't this a great picture?  Alton took this and since taking it the barn has collapsed.  Go figure.  You see things like this quite a bit.  Families used to live on the prairies and go to  little prairie schools in the area.  Now it seems more and more people live in the small surrounding cities and farm their land from there.  Homes and barns stand in various stages of decay as illustrious reminders of how things used to be. 

Did I ever show you the movie theater in Outlook?  Check out the show times.  How cute is that?  I wonder how big the concession stand is?  We never made it to the movies.  As the farmers say around here, there is always next year.

 Well, it's getting late.  I need to get a good night sleep as I prepare to head south tomorrow and back over the border to the States.   First I need to stop in on the Canadian side to turn in my Visitor's Visa, and to hopefully  be able to get more detailed information on how often I can visit and how long I can stay in this great country.  And what it would take to actually work here.  One can never have too much information you know. 

What I do know is that it is going to be very difficult to get in my car tomorrow morning and to leave here.  I'd better bring some tissues.  You see,  I will be leaving a very large piece of my heart here in Saskatchewan....

Thank you to those of you who followed along on this most excellent adventure,  and to those who left comments also.  I wish you all happiness, love and peace.

To be continued at a later date.....?    One never truly knows where life may take them.

 

Saturday, 28 August 2010

Dear Diary...

Oh wait this is something different!  Hello to the sisters in Houston!!!!  I know that Alton is a little slow when it comes to updating his blog and that you have been referred to this site.  And he started out so strong!  I need to ask you ladies if Dwayne and Alton talk to themselves incessantly everywhere they go or if it's just up here?  I never know when I should be listening!  Then they look at me like I'm stupid if they are talking to me and I'm not responding appropriately.

It is almost the end of August.  I have watched the landscape turn from the bright fresh greens of  spring, to the deeper hues of summer and now I look around and see more and more browns and rusts pushing in.  I can't even believe I have been here for 3 months already.  I can't believe this will all be over in a month...

Our days are pretty routine.  Up, out to the garden, in for lunch, out to the garden, in for a break, wash veggies, in for dinner (usually 9 or 10'ish), and then bed. 

On Thursday the temperature was 93 degrees and I think I broke.  I found myself despising every bean, green and yellow,  in that garden that needed picking!  If the fence had been electric I really think I might have thrown myself into it! Then the guys turned on the irrigation and life got a little better.  My feeling for beans has not changed and I doubt it ever will.  If you can see the look on Alton's face you will understand how very hot it was.  He looks almost orga..., I mean euphoric as that cold canal water hits him.

Now it's time to visit one of the markets!  This is Sheila.  She works for the BC Okanagan Fruit Truck and she's incredibly nice and so funny!  I think I've mentioned we always try to get a spot next to this truck as everyone seems to buy fruit.

On Friday morning Dwayne and I were scheduled to do the Attridge Market, however, upon waking that morning Dwayne was starting to come down with a cold.  Alton immediately gave up his "day off" and got ready and the 2 of us were off to Saskatoon by 7am.  Dwayne's body was calling for a break.  We took off today to rest and get ready for Dwayne's sister, her husband, and Mavis to come for dinner.  I had not met Janice or her husband, Heinz, but now I have! 

We have a schedule devised where we rotate who goes to market and who stays home to pick for the next day if needed.  Sunday and Wednesday are our days off, but that doesn't always happen.  It's all in the hands of mother nature.

This is Jerry.  We call him "Jerry the Fish Monger" (above).  He sells fresh sockeye salmon, gourmet mustard and marinades, as well as fresh wild blueberries and chanterelle mushrooms.  And this is Chantalle.   She sells "stuff".  Another genuinely wonderful person.The gardens, the growing, the picking, the hours, the physical and mental exhaustion, the people I've met...I don't think I will soon ever forget this summer.

I HAVE ARRIVED! MY OWN ISLAND!

I found a little gem that was too good to pass up. Since I was able to dig up enough to buy this little beauty I did! I now own my own little piece of southern Saskatchewan. Ok, it's a little tricky. The water has to be entering the estuary just right because otherwise my island disappears.

Doesn't this picture just say it all?  (That would be the boot picture).

Here we are again playing in the River!  (Don't these kids ever get any work done!?)

Dwayne wants to know if this lesbian makes   him look fat?

Oh my.  It's raining today at the farm.  We're all trying to catch up on everything that gets so far behind when we're so busy.   Dwayne keeps going to the greenhouse to pick cucumbers.  Cucs anyone?