Getting Ready for Harvest

35 degrees Celsius.  Too hot to do much of anything outside so My Sweetheart and I went for a drive in the comfort of my air-conditioned CRV and looked at the crops.

This is at some of our 'south land'. The more yellowish color is a field of lentils. It will more than likely be dessicated sometime this week. Basically what that means, is that My Sweetheart will spray Reglone on it - that will kill the plant, in order to ripen it up completely to be harvested. After the Reglone is applied the field will be harvested in roughly 5 days.

This is at the west-end of the 'south land' looking east. On the horizon is where the row of bins used to be - before My Sweetheart and DS moved them to the 'south farm'.

The bare empty spot where 'bin row' once was.

There aren't too many country churches around anymore.

This country church is where My Sweetheart's Mom worshipped when she was growing up. Her family lived just a couple miles north and a little bit west of this church.  She is buried in the cemetery - if you look close you can see some headstones on the right hand side of the picture.  This church is now used on the rare occasion for weddings or special services. Our south land is very close to the church yard.

A close up of some of our durum.  It is still quite green - it has to turn a golden color before it will be ready to be harvested.

Another shot of the durum...

The lentils are starting to ripen - the heat that we're experiencing right now will really help the crops turn. However, the lentils will be dessicated.

An antelope standing in a stubble field just north of our land. I didn't see his harem until after I had taken the picture - they were in a field right beside the 1 where he is standing.

We only drove to the south land today - that is the area where the dessicating will start. We have 1 -80 acre field of lentils that My Sweetheart will likely dessicate, weather permitting, tomorrow evening. And then harvest will likely begin in full swing. Because the lentils will be ready at different times for dessicating, the harvest likely will not be rushed - at least the harvesting of the lentils won't be rushed. DS will probably combine most of the lentils himself, for that reason. For me, that is good because I am not ready, physically, to operate a combine. By the time the durum is ready we'll be running both combines, and by then I should be able to run my combine. 

The headers for the combines have been brought home today- from the north farm.  My Sweetheart and DS are getting the combines ready for action. They are out in the crazy heat, like many other  farmers, getting ready for the harvest.

Out of Nowhere

Last night I was watching a 2 hour Dateline Special. 15 minutes left of the show and My Sweetheart wanted to know if I would like to go for a walk. I debated for a few seconds and decided that I would more than likely be able to find the same program on at a later time, so I said, 'yes'.  I was going for a walk.  What My Sweetheart didn't tell me was that this wasn't going to be a nice romantic stroll down the road, just the 2 of us, but rather it was going to be a walk around the yard, individually, looking for a blade off the lawn mower. GRRR!

When I got outside I was surprised at how stormy it looked, and how quickly the storm came.  Just a few minutes into my 'walk' and the lightening and the thunder further surprised me with the intensity.  Never had I heard thunder like that - it was much like a machine gun. Very scary.  And the lightening felt very close. I felt the electricity in the air.  And the clouds - menacing. I quickly turned and headed back to the house - the 3 dogs as close to me as possible.  DS had nicely settled into the camper to escape the girls - DD and her dear friend- the girl who lives right across the road.  They, the girls, had taken over the big screen in the basement and were settled down watching a movie. So DS was in the camper with his movie, or video games, or whatever -totally oblivious to the display of nature outide the camper walls. I told him to close everything up and hurry indoors. My Sweetheart was running around the yard- not exactly sure what for- but he was running. I hurriedly ran into the house and grabbed the camera and stood in the middle of the yard, snapping pictures as quickly as possible before the storm hit.

Standing just off the deck looking towards the south-west.

I've moved a few feet away and am now facing north. As I was standing I felt the temperature cooling very quickly. This was probably the most eerie cloud!

This is looking straight south. The cloud was much darker than it looks in the picture.

Facing north again - I was too busy taking pictures to notice how much like a funnel cloud this was appearing!

Getting darker and colder by the minute...

Time to head indoors.

I was probably outside with my camera for 2 minutes. Tops. Within a few seconds of being back in the house, the storm hit with a vengeance. The sky turned black, the wind came out of nowhere, and the rain hit with a vengeance - half inch of rain in about 5 minutes. It kept raining, but not as intensely, the wind picked up even more, and eventually the blackened sky got lighter.

The storm came, seemingly, from out of nowhere. Just like that.  No warning. Fortunately there was no damage here.  No hail. No broken trees. Unbelievably no damage. We knew that here had to have been hail somewhere due to the extreme temperature change. 27 degrees C to 13 degrees C in hardly any time. I found out this morning that there had been hail damage 'up the line'. I don't know yet the extent of the damage - I heard there had been some crop damage, and limbs off trees - to be expected with the severity of the storm. I'm extremely grateful that we were spared damage. It could have been a lot worse. I'm also extremely grateful that My Sweetheart and DS had just finished their work on the south farm and were home - safely. Very grateful!

While the Girls Were Shopping

Yesterday Mom and Darling Daughter accompanied me to the city. Actually it was DD's idea to go, and I did have to drop a cheque off at the accountant's - it's the farm's year end- and Mom had  a small 'city list', so off we went.  I did not know if I would have the stamina to withstand a day of shopping, but I also knew that there were places to rest, have coffee if needed, etc., so I hesitantly headed out anyway.

As it turned out, I did have the stamina, and I had a stash of Tylenol if needed, and I did have Mom as a back-up driver if I was desperate. I say that with much love.  Really.  Mom has never, not once, ever driven in the city. But, if I needed her to she would have driven home once I got on the highway. But I was able to drive.

In the city I was delighted to purchase a blouse that was not a large size! I can't convey with words how terribly exciting that was! That made the whole trip worth it for me!  And the blouse was on sale!  Bonus!  DD got some stuff for her bedroom and Mom got, well, I'm not sure what she got, but she got whatever was on her list. She did not, however, have as much luck in the clothing department as I did, and I think, that was the first time that has ever happened. Generally, she picks out cute little tops and they fit and she buys them, and I try on big, ugly tops that don't fit and then I don't buy them. And then I'm grumpy for the day!  But not yesterday!  Surgery has proven to be well worth all the pain! Yesterday was not a grumpy clothes trying-on day for me!

While we were out shopping and eating out and getting a milkshake for the trip home on the way to my hairdressers to be pampered and colored and trimmed, the boys were working. As they have been all summer. If it wasn't for the fact that they need to eat I'm sure I wouldn't see them at all.  They have been working at the south farm. Levelling spots for bins that they need to move, moving bins,  piling dirt up to make better roads, putting in a culvert, having a well dug and building an insulated hut to put over it - it's an artesian well, apparently, and runs constantly, thus the insulation so the water doesn't freeze in the winter, and getting ready to widen out the driveway so there is better access for My Sweetheart's semi.

This is the row of bins that needed to be moved.

These are some of the spots that have been prepared for where the bins will be.  This is at the new south farm. The boys had to level the circular places and 'tamp' the gravel rings before the bins could be moved.

Just a closer-up picture of the spots.

Here is where some of the dirt has been dumped - where a culvert will be going in.

Here is a row of bins, in their new spot. The bin on the left-the skinny bin- came with the farm. However, it was a flat-bottomed bin.  Yesterday My Sweetheart rented or borrowed a crane to lift the bin on to the hopper.  The 'hopper' is the cone-shaped thing underneath the bin. Hopper-bottom bins are so much easier to work with- no crawling inside and shovelling grain out! Much safer and healthier for the farmer.  The middle bin also came with the farm. To the left, behind where Mom is standing is another circular spot....

It's empty this week, but next week we are supposed to get a water bin.  It will look just like a regular hopper bottom bin, but it has a converter thing that makes it possible to fill the bin with water, then, when My Sweetheart has to spray, he can just drive the sprayer up to the water bin and fill the sprayer with water. The water converter kit can be switched after spraying season to a dry kit, and then the bin would store grain. But we will be using it as a water bin.

This is the well....

My Sweetheart and DS built this sqare insulated thing last week, and put it around the well 'pipe' thing this week, and then they banked a lot of dirt around it. Because there is still a 'pipe' thing above ground they will be putting a metal shed-type thing over top of it as soon as they can. The insulation should prevent freezing in the winter!

This is what Dear Son was doing last evening - moving dirt. The pile on the left- the dirt pile, will be used for building up the road some more - the road that the back hoe is on. The gravel piles - in the foreground of the picture will be put on top of the dirt.

Proof that it is, indeed, Dear Son, at the helm.

This durum crop is still quite green, but it is lovely. It is to the west of where the south farm yard is.

Oh, how did this picture get here? These are the kittens that Lady, the golden retriever, brought up to the deck the day before yesterday. I guess she figured it was time for them to be up here with the other 10 or 11 cats.

So, that was our day, yesterday, in a little more than a nutshell. I was played out after a day in the city, and a tad sore, but glad that I was able to go and do a little shopping with the girls while the boys were busy working!

Early in the Morning

Typically I am not an early morning person. But, on a morning like this, when I awoke early and got up, I am glad. The house is quiet. The birds are singing. DD and DS are still sleeping. My Sweetheart was up before me and is now at the south farm, working. The animals have all been fed. I've had my breakfast. The air is still cool. And it is still early. It is a beautiful morning.

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation."   Psalm 5:3

There's something refreshing about that particular verse in Psalm 5. There's something wonderful about laying my requests before the Lord and leaving them with Him. If I request peace from worry - I have a worry-free day.  If I request forgiveness - it's given and the day is free.  If I request strength - I am renewed for the entire day.  If I request to be loving and kind to people I come in contact with, either in person or on the phone - than I will more than likely have a great day.

It doesn't matter how harried the day may be.  I have not an inkling right  now of what might transpire today, but I am glad I got up early, glad  I spent time in God's word, mulling over early morning prayer, and glad to know that, for Him, there are no surprises. He knows exactly what today will bring. And He has promised to be with me throughout it. I am glad that He has heard my voice early in the morning.

The Celebration

We celebrated My Sweetheart's birthday today! His special day began with a brunch of home made waffles, pan fries and fruit smoothies - followed by the gift giving!

Here he is holding the gift from DD - a jumbo deck of cards!  and the DVD - clash of the Titans.

After brunch My Sweetheart and DS went out to the shop to work. They are building some sort of hut that will fit over the well on the south farm.  While they were doing that DD and I -mostly DD- cleaned out the fridge. Then, just before we were going to start on his birthday cake I developed a nasty headache. One quick phone call to Mom, and 5 minutes later, she was out to help with the cake while I retreated to the recliner with a cold cloth. My cousin came out shortly after that for a visit and before I knew it a few hours had passed.  My headache disappeared, the cake was cooling in the basement fridge, the guys had come in from working in the shop, DS went into town to pick up My Sweetheart's Dad, and the barbecue was grilling burgers.

After a supper with dear family it was time for the cake- well, it was really a fruit pizza....

Can you guess how old he is?

It would have taken too long to light 51 candles!

As the dishes were being cleaned up, the guys were looking at Charlie, the bunny...

Grandpa is holding Charlie while...

Mom tidied in the kitchen.

After Mom and My Sweetheart's Dad left, the 4 of us watched DD's gift for My Sweetheart. Popcorn is now being popped before we settle down to watch a gift from DS for his dad - another  DVD. By the time we're finished watching that the birthday celebration will be over.

I'm grateful for the gift My Sweetheart is to me! It feels like it is my birthday!

On the Other Hand....

So, last night when My Sweetheart, DD and DS and I went out for supper in the big city, we were wondering, or rather I was wondering, 'who are the people who will be sitting at the table right across from us?' It was cleared, the restaurant was super busy, and we were waiting to see.  The host brought in 2 couples to be seated across from us. They had come into the restaurant about 15 minutes after we had (we had to wait a while for a table), and they had chosen to wait in the bar as opposed to the lobby. They looked very wealthy. I am figuring this out by the designer clothes the men were wearing, and the gold chains the paunchy man was wearing, and the gold diamond ring the skinny man was wearing. The women were wearing flashy jewels and 1 of the women was wearing a top that had obviously been purchased at a destination hot spot. The 2 couples were, I'm thinking, in their 70's. And boy, were they mad at the host. He even had to bring the restaurant manager over to the table. "We've been waiting over half an hour....!!!"  -big lie right there - we had only been in the establishment for half hour and they came in way after we did..... "and our names were scratched off the list...."  Another big lie.  Big paunchy guy was the worst.  And the maddest. "and what are you going to do about it?" he demanded.

The poor manager. I thought about calling him over to our table to point out the lies, but didn't. Paunchy guy might have chewed me out too.  Anyway, much to his credit, the manager offered to pay for the drinks from the bar. "And you better throw in a bottle of your best wine..." - paunchy man.  The poor manager threw in a bottle of wine for 3 of them, not the best wine though - the kinder woman of the group was fine with her beer. Fortunately all this took place before the waitress came to take their order.  She acted as though she didn't have a clue what was going on, although I suspect she had been filled in. She - the waitress- was exceptional.  I hope the rich people gave her a big tip.  She certainly deserved it.

I wonder how many friends paunchy guy and his wife really have.  Does he treat all people like that? Is that how he got ahead in life?  By demanding the best and trampling over whatever and whoever he needed to in order to get it?

I have to admit there have been occasions when my words and actions have been not the best. I cringe even to admit it, and after witnessing what I did last night with the rich people, I hope and pray that I will always treat all people with dignity and respect.  I hope and pray that my actions will be selfless.

On the other hand, this morning when we went to the lobby of the hotel for the continental breakfast, every table was filled. There were 4 big easy chairs and rolling tables in another area near the food place.  3 of them were vacant. There was a woman in the other chair- she was reading. When she saw that we were scouting the place for a table for the 4 of us, she kindly offered up her chair so we could sit together. "On, no- I insisted - we can double up on this one chair."  It was a double sized chair. But she, graciously, and selflessly, insisted, nicely, genuinely nicely, that we take her chair.

What a difference, in a 12 hour period, of the 2 sides of humanity.  On one hand - selfishness and greed.  On the other hand - selflessness and humility. Putting others first. Treating others how Christ would. On the other hand.

The Bed

Last night I decided that I should forego the reclining chair for the bed knowing that tonight I would have to sleep in a bed at the hotel in the city where we would be heading for an appointment with the surgeon.  So we put a pillow down the middle of the bed - My Sweetheart didn't dare cross the line! Then, after I arranged myself on the right side of the middle-of -the-bed pillow, My Sweetheart propped pillows strategically around me and behind me.  I lasted 1 hour tops.  Then I had to trot off to the recliner.

Comfortably surrounded by pillows we headed off to the city this morning. A quick stop at Timmie's for an iced cap and we were off. First stop at the big city - guess? So after the shortest trip to  Costco we headed to the mall. I tried on 1 top in a new smaller size- didn't like it- and was exhausted! A bench near the store with the blouse I didn't like offered me relief while the others did the mall thing. And then, finally- the hotel. After checking in and resting a bit we went out for supper and are now back at the hotel. And I am ready for the bed.

I'm thinking about Granny on her rocking chair while the Hillbillies were driving down the freeway on their way to their new mansion. That probably wasn't such a bad idea - it would have been great to have been able to bring the recliner along!

Those Pesky Aphids



With the help of a special butterfly-type net,the aphids in the lentil fields were spotted. Everywhere. That was yesterday morning. And they need to be dealt with immediately. But the chemical can't be sprayed if the temperature is 25 degrees celsius or more.  That proves to be a dilemma when there is a heat wave. But last night, just before it got dark, My Sweetheart was able to spray out a tank. And so the battle began. You see aphids not only can put viruses into the lentils, they also eat on the plant. Both conditions are not good.

This morning he was up before 5 in order to get more lentil fields sprayed before the heat got too extreme. 3 tanks were sprayed out this morning.  Now that it's hot My Sweetheart is hauling some of last years lentils to the commodity place. Hopefully it will cool off this evening and he will be able to spray yet more lentil fields. It is supposed to cool off though, and that will also be problematic. Because we're in the middle of a heat wave,the cool air mixing with the hot air could produce storms. And right now we're under a severe thunderstorm watch with the potential of heavy rain and hail.

If the storm and rain stays away and the cooling temperatures come, then My Sweetheart will be able to srpay out a couple more tanks this evening. And then a couple more tanks tomorrow morning. If that happens then he will be able to accompany me to the big city for a medical appointment.  If not, DS will drive and DD will come too!

Aphids, storms, heat - all potentially harmful to our livelihood. Thankfully our hope and trust is in the Lord.

The Lord is My Shepherd

Last Wednesday, as the anasthesiologist started the IV that would magically put me to sleep, I remembered reciting the 23rd Psalm.  My goal was to finish it before I was "out". I met my goal. I remember saying the word, "forever", and waking up after  a long, successful surgery.

Friday evening, when I thought I was feeling pretty good, a friend phoned me. Her mother had passed away a few days prior and the funeral was going to be in our church today - Monday. My friend asked me if I would be able to sing. I thought about it and really felt like I should be able to. I wanted to.  I wanted to be able to minister to the family.  And so I said,'Yes.' The song I would sing was a song I wrote and recorded based on the 23rd Psalm. I Will Follow. That is the name of the song.

On Saturday I was feeling pretty miserable. The swelling from the bruising, and the bruising itself, was painful enough, but I also suffered through a headache for most of the day.  Yesterday was not much better. I was physically exhausted, sore, achy. I had barely been up from my chair, and so reluctantly I phoned my friend back. I had to tell her that I just wouldn't be able to sing at her mom's funeral. I felt bad about that and I still feel bad. My physical pain is mild in comparison to the pain of grief that she is going through. But still, I know how important it is to take care of my health. And reluctantly I bowed out.

But, I still sang at the funeral. My song was shared via my CD. My prayer is that I was able to minister is some small way. My prayer is that the words of my song, from Scripture, will continually speak to their souls in the way that only God's word can. I hope my friend and her family will experience the leading, the refreshing, the guidance,the Presence, the Comfort, the Anointing, the Goodness and the Love of the Great Shepherd - the One whom I follow - the One who Leads beside quiet waters. The One who refreshes weary, thirsty, tired souls. The God who leads beside the right paths. The One who is the Shepherd of my heart.

The Walk

Little by little I'm improving. Before I left the hospital on Wednesday I needed a nurse to help me to the bathroom, and even with her help it took me a long time to walk from my bed on the ward to the door on the right near the nurse's station. That might have had something to do with the IV pole that was attached to the IV in my hand. I was being careful not to move my hand the wrong way, careful not to swing my arms, and careful not to run over my toes with the pole. I had the same nurse help me to the bathroom after the IV was removed, and I had noticed a slight, very slight improvement since the first walk.

The first night and day at home I needed help out of the chair and into the chair.  I couldn't move the pillows by myself.  I couldn't use the lifty mechanism thing on the chair to raise the foot part of the recliner. I couldn't get out of the chair at all without help.  It was rather quite funny in retrospect- I was amused listening to My Sweetheart figure out how he was going to get me out of the chair. It's not like he could put his arms around me, nor I him. Anyway, we got it figured out, and for the first 24 hours I was given help. I asked My Sweetheart yesterday morning, when I called him at 4:30 because I needed to go to the bathroom, if it felt like there was a baby in the house. Poor guy! Roused out of a peaceful slumber to take his beloved to the bathroom.

But the next time I had to go, I surprised myself and was able to get myself out of the chair. I had watched Dr. Oz a few months ago and he gave a neat little hint about how to get out of a chair - you just put your hands on your thighs, push down, and voila! And, it worked! I was able to walk the 15 or so feet to the bathroom, but I needed help getting back in the chair.

This afternoon Darling Daughter assisted me in a much longer walk - to the gate. We made sure the dogs were inside so that they wouldn't barrel me over outside, and then we headed out. It took a while, but I'm still not swinging my arms, and I'm a little unsteady on my feet.  DD held on to my elbow and off we went - to the flowerbed at our gate. I admired the flowers and then we headed back! I was as happy as if I had run a marathon. And I was played out. I came in and had a little nap, but I feel so much better than I did this morning.
Little by little, day by day, I'm noticing my strength increasing. And I am extremely grateful!

Glorious Sunshine

I stepped outside and was enveloped by the glorious sunshine.  After spending 2 days and 2 nights in the reclining chair, with a few brief bathroom breaks, and a 'sitting at the kitchen table' break last night, I experienced a couple minutes of normalcy. Lady was happy to see me, the cats, I think, could have cared less. But for 2 minutes on the deck, feeling the sunshine, revelling in the breeze, and enjoying my few summer flowers, I was surprisingly refreshed.

The morning had not been great. My Sweetheart helped me shower, but I couldn't get all of me wet. But the shower stream felt delicious on my back. I was shaky and a little nauseous from standing about 3 minutes in the shower, then I had to drip dry. Nothing was allowed to come in contact with my front. So after 3 minutes of showering, what seemed like 10 minutes of dripping dry, blow drying my hair and getting dressed I was ready for the chair. And because of the wind I had a horrible headache.  The nausea from standing in the shower was still unsettling. My Sweetheart brought me ginger ale, DS brought me the soda crackers, DD brought me a cold cloth for my forehead, and then I tried to sleep.

Eventually the headache dissipated, as did the nausea. So after a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and cut up apples (trying to get all the fiber I can to rectify the constipation from the medication) I stepped out onto the deck. I enjoyed the sunshine. Now I'm ready for a nap. But I'm also feeling a little guilty because I'm not able to do anything, and am relying on my dear family for everything.

Home From the Spa

When I woke up in my room, after spending maybe an hour or more in the recovery room, I felt like I was in a spa. I had a nice warm blanket on me and the bottom of my legs were in some sort of machine that would  squeeze the muscles, then release the squeeze. It was wonderful! And, when 1 of the many friendly nurses on the ward helped me to the bathroom, I could look down and see my stomach. I had not seen my stomach for many, many years!

I truly was pampered and gushed over yesterday, not only by the incredible staff, but by My Sweetheart, and then when I arrived home, by the rest of my very loving family. And what was such a gift to me was walking into a spotless home. Apparently while I was being pampered in the hospital DD and my blue suede brother were vacuuming and mopping and scrubbing the tub, my cousin who is like a sister dusted, my brother's lovely lady friend scrubbed the bathooms, and Mom and my beautiful niece did the laundry. Beds were stripped and bedding laundered. Dishes were washed and put away. I am extremely blessed. And happy to be home.

The pain is minimal- nothing that a little medication won't help. I slept surprisingly well last night, propped up with pillows- 3 pillows, all around me. I would have slept the night through if I wouldn't have had to get up for a bathroom break, but by then it was time for a pain pill anyway. My Sweetheart willingly helped me!

Today will be a day of rest and a day of gratitude.  It will also be the day I say goodbye to my brother. I am so  grateful that they were able to come, and so glad they were able to stay here and hang out with DS and DD while I was in the hospital. I'm happy to be home from the 'spa'. And I'm grateful for all the people who have been praying for me!

Hope and Joy

Just before Marlene, the friendy nurse, came in the room on the 2nd floor of the hospital to ask me a slew of questions and take my blood pressure and check my oxygen level, just before that - I noticed a couple framed pictures on the wall!  I hadn't noticed the pictures beforehand because I was, more than likely, gazing into My Sweetheart's eyes.

"joy", "hope" - the names of the commissioned pieces of art - painted by Wilf Perreault, who I discovered just tonight is a Saskatchewanian- brought me extreme peace. What did it for me, maybe even more than the artwork itself, were the Scripture verses printed.  On the 'joy' painting - "Be joyful always.  Pray continually.  Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The painting depicts a few houses and garages on a typical street in a typical town, but what is not typical is the manger scene on a garage door.  I didn't notice it at first.  But when I did I was encouraged.  Here was a home where the presence of Christ is evident. And in the painting there was light shining from the garage door onto a darkened street. I was reminded of another Scripture verse from Matthew - "let you light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." The light of the Lord was shining from the garage door. 

This painting had a passage from Romans - " We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how deeply God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love."

What an amazing gift this morning! Proof for me that God loves me and is holding me in the palm of His hand. Even while we were waiting in a hospital room, He reassured me of His goodness.  Hope. Joy. While preparing for surgery I was given hope. I received joy. I experienced immense peace.

And 2 hours later, after a visit from a doctor - who asked me another slew of questions, and a doctor in training -she listened to my heart and lungs,  after Ben did my cardiogram, and after the bubbly blood taker took my blood,  I was declared healthy and ready for surgery tomorrow!

While filled with peace, instilled with hope, and experiencing joy, I went to Costco with My Sweetheart. Celebratory?  Well, I forgot to bring a pillow to the city, and I knew a pillow would come in handy to cushion myself on the way home from the hospital, and Costco had a great deal on pillows, so it just seemed like the place to go.

After Costco and a quick bite we began our 'date' at the Science Center and Imax, followed by a short walk around a lovely park.

After our walk, we headed  back to Costco, just to wear off some time before supper. Really.  For our date night we decided to go to the Keg. We had never been to the Keg, so thought that would be a great place to go.  And it was. We were pleasantly surprised while waiting for our table when my other brother - my brother who was not going to give me 2 bits for jumping into a hole 30 years ago- and his friend walked in! So we ate together! A great evening - a great way to end the day! A day that has been filled with joy and hope!  And peace...

Last Meal

Well, hopefully this won't be my last meal, but it will be my last meal at home with my family until I get home from my surgery.

So this evening, with My Sweetheart, DS, DD, my handsome blue suede brother, his lovely lady friend, my beautiful niece, my sweet pumpkin of a great niece, and my cousin, we will be dining on lasagne, garlic toast, caesar salad, and  ice cream and strawberries - my last meal at home until my next meal at home with the new me. The new smaller me!

I am excited, but that excitement might change to fright Wednesday morning when I check in at Admitting and later, get prepped for surgery.

I've had many friends assure me that they will be praying for me, so I have peace. My brother et al will be here, at the farm, manning the fort, and , making sure that DS doesn't starve! DD wouldn't starve - she'd cook something to eat; but DS was a little concerned this morning - about the food issue. My brother's lovely lady friend put his mind at ease with the reassurance that she would cook!

My Sweetheart will be with me - what more could I ask for?  My Lord has promised to never leave me nor forsake me - all is well!

The Legacy of Love

"She loved." or "She was loved." Either one would be a great epitaph on a headstone. If I were to die today and my family had to pick out a saying that summed up my life and if they chose either one of those quotes, without any coaching from any notes I might have left behind saying what would be a great summation of how they perceived me, I would be thrilled if that was on my headstone. Wouldn't that be a great legacy to leave behind?  A legacy of love?  Could there be anything more powerful?

We had a potluck here last night in honour of our Ontario guests. Cousins from Alberta, and relatives from my home town were here.  They came, not only because they were invited, or because potlucks around here are so fantastic, but, I'm thinking they came because they love my brother and his daughter and his granddaughter.  And they love family.  And they wanted to meet my brother's lovely lady friend. And hold my new little pumpkin of a great-niece.

We are blessed, incredibly blessed, both My Sweetheart and I, to be members of families that love.

I was thinking last night, after everyone had gone to bed, and the lights were all turned off, about my little great-niece. I wonder if, when she's older, she will treasure just how much she is loved. If last night, or the night before when my cousins popped out, are any indication as to how much she is loved and treasured, she will treasure being loved.

Great-Grandma treasures her...

DD loves her....

Grandpa, unquestionably, treasures her....

Cousins love her...

Love is instantaneous....

 

My brother's lovely lady friend treasures her....

her great-great uncle loves her right from the first time he held her....

Her mother's love is powerful....

We have each been given a legacy of love.  The Bible clearly states this - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  A legacy of love that is unmatched, unequalled and undeniably gracious. I am loved. You are loved. Let's pass that legacy of love on.....

Yesterday

Yesterday My Sweetheart and Dear Son were busy with the plate-tamper. The plate tamper 'tamps' or packs the gravel,making it really hard- cement like- in preparation for the base of the bins. My Sweetheart got up bright and early  so that he could be down to the city, at the rental place, to rent the tamper. So while they were down at the south farm, tamping, Mom, my handsome blue suede brother's lovely lady friend, my beautiful niece and I went on a road trip. (My blue suede brother stayed back at the farm with my sweet pumpkin of a great niece, Darling Daughter, Bentley, Chico, Lady and all the cats)

The destination on our road trip was the Hutterite Colony.  Jason, the 'new' gardener, the one who replaced Arnie, the previous gardener who had received a promotion on the colony, phoned me the day before to let me know that the strawberries were ready, and 'would I like some?'

The drive was beautiful.

This is south of the colony - almost right across the road from the colony.  The colors of the verdent green durum crop, sunshine yellow canola and cloud-less blue sky were vivid. What you can't see in this picture is the water that the trees are in.

After finding Jason, the new gardener, in the garden we headed to the root cellar - an interesting nook built in the side of a hill- for the strawberries. I bought 6 pails, so about 24-30 pounds of luscious, delicious berries. Mom picked up a pail full too. And then we headed home!

Before coming to the farm we stopped at the house where Mom used to live - the house with the big long driveway that she didn't want to have to shovel anymore- before she moved to the senior unit. Brenda, the friendly woman who bought the house from Mom was in her yard and invited us to look around. She even took a picture of the 4 of us by the fragrant Russian Olive tree that Mom and Dad had planted around 26 years ago.

Not the best picture of the 4 of us - you can barely see the lovely lady friend of my handsome brother - but y ou can see the Russian olive tree to the left of us!

Brenda then invited us into her home. I hadn't seen it since it had been emptied of all Mom's and Dad's possesions. It was fun to see Mom's and Dad's 'dream' home- the home that Dad had sold a quarter of land in order to buy- lovingly inhabited by someone else who has made the house into a  home. Brenda asked me how it felt to be back in the house- it didn't bother me at all. It hadn't been the house I had grown up in; rather it had been the house that I had come home to after I had left home. So while there were some good memories that had been built in that house, they weren't the same memories that had been built on the farm where me and my brothers had grown up. 

After our unexpected, yet very treasured stop at Mom's old  house, and after dropping Mom off at her unit so she could take care of her strawberries, the rest of us came back to the farm. DD and I stayed home while the rest of the clan went to the city.

My brother ran some errands for me - I needed a few things at the store, and I wanted a different camera. I had picked up a camera for my brother on Sunday, so he returned the favour for me yesterday and picked up the same camera for me. Here's a picture of my brother trying out his new camera- the identical camera to the one we now have...

He even got my camera all ready for me - putting on the straps, installing the batteries, putting in the memory card! He did all that a lot faster than I would have!

So, because it was 'new camera' day, yesterday was a day to take as many pictures as possible!

Here is my dear mother...happy to be out at the farm...

my sweet niece....

my brother and his lovely lady friend!

DD, Mom and my sweet pumpkin of a great-niece...

trying to sit up!

father and daughter...

Bentley is wanting some attention too!

enjoying jumping around!

a day on the farm isn't complete without a game or 2 of cribbage!

She wasn't overly excited about having a bath in the sink..

But she sure is all snuggly and sweet-smelling for a snuggle with 1 of my cousins who popped out for a visit...

and a bottle from another cousin who popped out.  actually the 2 cousins in these 2 pictures are sisters, and have also been like the sisters I never had!  I love my cousins!!

DD was pleasantly surprised when 1 of her dear friends from the city showed up unexpectedly....

with her Dad. He and his wife are dear friends of My Sweetheart and me. DS and their oldest daughter are 16 days apart in age, and DD and their youngest daughter are 8 days apart in age. Their pet, Molly, and Chico are sisters!

Bentley stole a sock from somewhere yesterday - My Sweetheart likes to put it on his nose then, for a brief discipline- I use it as a photo op!

Yesterday was a glorious, sunshiny, wonderful 'memory-making' day!