tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337955642024-03-07T03:03:43.590-07:00Scratchings in the DirtThe Schraefel Farm is a 2400 acre organic farm in Saskatchewan which grows small dry grains such as wheat, barley, flax, peas, lentils and oats. This third-generation farm is operated by Clem, Chandra, Adam, Stephen, and Derek (The Straw Boss). We are "My Three Sons" meets "Green Acres". These are the happenings around the family and farm.Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-63435589274128177772018-12-16T08:33:00.001-07:002018-12-16T08:33:20.287-07:00<a href="http://pami.ca/crops/storage/">http://pami.ca/crops/storage/</a>Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-36104260050126899502013-10-28T07:28:00.001-06:002013-10-28T07:28:20.955-06:00HomeI've just returned from a trip to Vancouver for a work-related training course. I flew out Tuesday evening, spent three nights in an upscale water-front hotel, was wined and dined in fine fashion, took advantage of the spa in the hotel, and flew back Friday afternoon. We had (almost) six hours of training. Yep, six hours. It was fun, but I will never understand the corporate world. And I am very glad to be home in mine.<br />
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These were the views from my hotel room.<br />
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Some of the sights on my morning walk. <br />
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I thought that with our older two boys out on their own and Derek off to boarding school that my world would slow down just a tad. It hasn't. Firstly, "out on their own" doesn't necessarily translate into "out of here", and so Adam and Stephen are often around on their days off. Don't get me wrong - I love getting to see them, but I do change the sheets pretty often in what is now the guest room! (They both helped out quite a bit for harvest, so Clem only had about a week on his own.) Secondly, kids in boarding school these days are a LOT more connected to home than in previous times. Texting, Facebook, and emails all mean we keep in pretty close contact with Derek, and I love it. But again, that whole "gone" concept has a different meaning. <br />
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Suffice it to say that they are all doing well and staying busy. Adam and Stephen love their job (singular - they both have the plant operator position at the camp, shifting each other off), and Derek seems to be fitting in quite nicely at Notre Dame. He had five days off over the Thanksgiving weekend, and spent most of them with his friends, not us! He enjoyed his break, but seemed OK with heading back. He has been plagued with a rib injury since his second day there, so that has put a bit of a damper on his sports, but he played a few games of football (one in Mosaic stadium which we watched in our living room via live streaming!) and has now started hockey (they won their first league game last night). He has a tournament in Saskatoon in December, so we hope to spend that weekend there and watch him play. We drove down to Regina to watch one of his football games, but there were crossed wires and the other team didn't show up! But we did get a couple of short visits in with Derek and met his coaches before heading home again!<br />
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This is a screen shot of Derek's team playing on Taylor Field. He's #65. <br />
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We had another successful harvest on the Schraefel farm this year. The peas didn't do well - they had root rot and didn't produce - but the lentils, wheat, and barley did very well. It was probably the best crop since 1996, the year we moved home. The garden did well this year, too. I think Clem only watered it a couple of times. We are just finishing up the fresh tomatoes now, and the cold room and the freezer are full of goodies for winter enjoyment.<br />
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The neighbour's new well. <br />
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Even wild oats can look rather pretty. <br />
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Clem straight-cutting barley. <br />
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A big load! <br />
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Love the skies in these ones. <br />
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A friend of ours held a little combine demo with a couple of old SP combines. It was fun to see some old farmers reminiscing about days gone by.<br />
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Hi-tech recording of old-tech machinery! <br />
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Those of you from God's country will be interested to know that Redge McKenzie is operating the combine here! <br />
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We had a rather different Thanksgiving this year. Mom and Dad were on their way back to Alberta from a visit at Dad's sister's in Manitoba, and we were quite busy with hockey, so Mom decided we should try the restaurant in Luseland for our Thanksgiving gathering. A friend of mine, who was on her own for the day, joined us for the yummy turkey meal. Adam was also around as he was flying out to work the next day. The meal was excellent, we didn't have to cook, and we didn't have to do dishes! I probably wouldn't make a habit of it (no turkey leftovers, after all!), but I sure enjoyed it.<br />
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Our Junior hockey team, the West Central Rage, is having some success this season. It has been a long haul - five years of begging for money, scratching together a team, and trying to fill the rink - but, knock on wood, we may be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. The team is 7 and 1 so far, and really playing well. The games have been well attended, and we see lots of young Rage fans coming out and bringing their parents and friends. It's always lots of fun!<br />
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And that's about it in a nutshell. I've probably missed quite a bit, but you get the drift!<br />
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Thanks for stopping by!<br />
Chandra<br />
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<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-14715791834807254882013-08-24T08:08:00.000-06:002013-08-24T08:08:39.910-06:00Another missing pieceI stopped at the local cemetery the other day, just 'cause it was a quiet, peaceful day, and because I was in an introspective mood, I guess. There are many stops to make there. My mom's parents, four of her siblings, two of her brothers-in-law, Clem's parents, his grandparents, his great-grandfather, various aunts and uncles, some cousins, and quite a few close friends. So many memories came literally hurling back, so many fun times, sad times, difficult times, all of them a part of me, of us, and of who we are now. I cried a bit when I got to grandma's grave, as I always do, cause I miss that amazing woman every single day. I also took a few extra minutes at the grave of mom's sister, Bea. She was one of a kind, and larger than life, it seemed. They lived in BC when I was young, and often came home to visit. She would always grab us kids and hug and kiss us - so annoying, but man, would I like one of her hugs right now. She worked hard, partied hard, was always dressed to the nines, always smoking, and grabbed the center of attention wherever she went. She said whatever was on her mind, and had a wicked sense of humour. She was always great fun at whatever family gathering was happening, and let me tell you, this family gathers at the drop of a hat. I was shocked to realize she's been gone for 27 years. I thought of all the gatherings we've had since then, and how many times she's been missed. The ties with her kids, my cousins, have loosened, too, as is natural, I guess. I have forty-five cousins on my mom's side, many of them quite a bit older than I, so I've lost touch with some of them, as happens in life. But I was still shocked to learn last night that Aunt Bea's son had died of a heart attack at 61. I haven't seen him since I was a teen-ager, so I really don't know him, but still, he is my cousin. Blood is thick. Another piece of our huge, boisterous, loud, annoying, loving, giving family is gone. I'm happy for him that it was quick - that's how I want to go - but heart-broken for his siblings, who were in the midst of preparations for their dad's 90th birthday celebration. And for his aunts and uncles and cousins who are mourning not just his death but all the missed time with him. But I can just hear his mom: "What the hell, Rod? What are you doing here? I was expecting your dad!!" And it makes me smile. Laughter through tears. It's what keeps our family going. That, and anticipating the finished puzzle when all of the pieces are together again. Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-5947508438689514322013-08-12T20:32:00.002-06:002013-08-12T20:32:16.635-06:00After the mist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The mornings have been so damp and dewy this summer. Sometimes there
is a mist in the distance and hovering over the dugout. Feels a little
like Scotland! One morning after the sun chased away the fog, I looked
out the window and saw a fairy garden - so out I went with the camera! The dill looked particularly amazing!<br />
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The hostas were just starting to bloom, as well.</div>
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And here's that lovely-coloured begonia again! </div>
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Saskatchewan is truly a beautiful place to live!<br />
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Thanks for checking in!<br />
Chandra <br />
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<span id="goog_523724569"></span><span id="goog_523724570"></span><br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-48533388430297052352013-08-01T11:33:00.000-06:002013-08-01T11:33:11.844-06:00Progress??I'm grumpy this morning. I got up early to work in the garden before going to work (haha - catch that? Work before work??). I've always loved working outside in the early morning (once I actually get out there, that is - my bed is awfully comfy!) - the quiet, the birds singing, the ducks floating on the dugout, the sun coming up and warming the earth, everything green and peaceful. Today all I seemed to notice was the noise of trucks on Pipeline Road. Oil traffic, pipeline traffic, but probably not a lot of farm traffic. Later, as I pulled out of the driveway, I again saw the annoying stakes for the new well that is going in right across from our yard - on our neighbour's land, but it is a horizontal drill and will go under our farm. You know, like, where our water well is. The same company was supposed to drill on our land, too, down-wind on the other side of the farm (another horizontal drill going under our farm, and well), but I guess we raised too much fuss over silly little things like noise, and air and water quality. Silly us. So the neighbours get a big fat cheque and we get a lawyer's bill. Silly, silly us. I'm not blaming the neighbours. Perhaps you didn't know that oil producers can pretty much drill wherever and whenever they like. Well, they can. And they do.<br />
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I guess I'm just feeling a little conflicted. I'm all for progress, and I know the world needs oil (mostly because we're not too interested in checking out other forms of energy!). But I'd really like the world to get that oil in another place, in someone else's backyard. Or on our land that is farther from our house. Yes, that would be best. Because we moved here for a reason. Clem's grandfather broke the land we farm, and there have been Schraefels on this land for over a hundred years. When life was getting too crazy in the city, we knew it was time to bring our little boys out here and give them the freedom we had when we were growing up. It was so quiet then - I remember them being able to ride their bikes for a mile or more and we didn't have to worry about them. Now we can't even take a walk down our road without fear of being run over or choking on dust from the oil traffic. (And let's not even get started on the roads when it rains and the 4x4s have lots of fun!!) That makes me sad. I really did hope that our boys would have the opportunity to raise<i> their</i> children in this peaceful little spot. Alas, I do not think it is meant to be. I'm not really sure if any of them even want to farm, but if they do, it will be a different way of life than they will remember. <br />
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And so it's off to work I go, to pay for the private school Derek wants to attend (because our small population - bigger farms, transient oil workers, etc, etc - can't offer the educational opportunities he desires), and for the new vehicle I need to navigate our lovely roads (did I mention there's lots of oil traffic?).<br />
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Hmpff. Progress.<br />
Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-20498171204574321382013-07-07T09:47:00.001-06:002013-07-07T09:47:10.032-06:00Quick Takes1. I am a working woman. Like, a real job, where you get a paycheck and benefits and things like that. I am the new office administrator at Arrow Reload, a new facility in town that transloads oil from trucks into railcars. I wasn't exactly looking for a job, but a friend told me about the opportunity and with Derek heading off to boarding school (a rather expensive boarding school, I might add!), I thought I'd give it a whirl. Turns out I like it. (I really like the paycheck I just received!) And I seem to be handling the whole "work eight hours there and then come home and try to do what I was doing before I was gone eight hours a day" thing. So far. Well, there's been one little meltdown - ok, maybe two - but all in all, we're managing. Clem, of course, is being a dear about it all, and Derek doesn't seem to mind being parentless for most of the day. Who am I kidding? He <i>loves </i>being parentless! What 14-year-old doesn't??<br />
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2. I got the garden in, and it is doing very well, thank you very much. We've had oodles of rain, so I haven't had to water at all. The weeds are pretty amazing, too, but I go at that a little bit each day. I must say the yard is looking quite nice this year. Since I'm working, we don't get to the lake nearly as often. Had we known, we probably wouldn't have booked the seasonal site, and may not next year. Besides, with the birds singing, the dugout full, and our peaceful little piece of the prairie, it's almost like being at the lake anyway! We just need a screened room to keep the mosquitoes out so we can enjoy it!<br />
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2. Clem's nephew graduated from high school. Clem is the local sound guy, and usually gets asked to take care of that for the ceremonies. This year, the graduating class sent us two supper tickets as a thank you, which was very nice. Plus, the sound room is up on the mezzanine, so you get a pretty good view.<br />
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The class was a little short of females, so Dylan's partner for the first dance was his buddy, "Shrimp"! <br />
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Pretty dresses!</div>
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Dylan dancing with his momma. </div>
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Hugs!</div>
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Family friends - we both had three boys, all buddies - and we have done a lot of </div>
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commiserating over the years! You can't tell from this picture, though!</div>
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3. The lease on our van is done, so I decided to switch things up a bit. This is the first time we haven't had to choose a vehicle based on how many hockey players and their equipment would fit in the back. After the harsh winter we've had, and all the rain this spring, our roads have taken a beating. Something with 4WD and a service department closer than Saskatoon was definitely in order! So now I am sporting a fancy new Ford Escape. And loving it!</div>
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4. Clem, always the innovator, devised a great way to clean out the old combine. He used his trusty lift and a power-washer. You'll also note his right-hand-man, the golf cart, which gets him around the yard with ease! (I use it, too, for gardening and yard work. It saves my back, and a lot of steps!)</div>
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5. Stephen was home for a few days. He switched a couple of shifts around so he could have a month off and take in the Schan reunion happening in a couple of weeks. (Rather fortuitous timing, as he broke his wrist his second day off. I am NOT putting that story on here. Or the picture of his scarred face!) This will be the first time in many months that all three of our boys will be here at the same time. I'm looking forward to it. I think I'll have someone take a picture, too!<br />
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6. Derek successfully made it through Grade 9. It's been a bittersweet month for him - and us - as he was anxious to be done the school year but knows he is off to unfamiliar territory in the fall. It will be an experience, for sure! <strike>All</strike> most of his teachers told me that they are really going to miss him in the school, but they think he will do very well at Notre Dame. Good to hear!<br />
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7. Clem and I spent yesterday afternoon attending first a memorial reception for the father of one of Clem's classmates (she is also our boys' work boss) and then the 80th birthday reception for the mom of one of Clem's best friends. Amazing how life changes! An afternoon like that would have been scoffed at a few years ago, but it was really quite enjoyable. <br />
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And that's all for now, folks. Thanks for stopping by!<br />
Chandra<br />
Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-40219096760257558452013-06-16T08:49:00.000-06:002013-06-16T08:49:13.958-06:00My dadMy dad gave us a scare the other day. His heart apparently decided that beating at a normal, regular rate was just not cool, and adopted a rather fast and syncopated rhythm. Turns out that's not very good for you. After a few days of good care and doctoring in the Lethbridge Hospital, he is back home, but taking it easy. It could be that he was just jealous after all the attention Mom received for Mother's Day and was taking it up a notch, but I can't confirm that. We are just so very glad that he is feeling better and still with us!<br />
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It did get me in a reflective mood, though, and prompted me to dig out some old photos. This may be the first one of me with my daddy, many, many moons ago, back in that much-too-short period when I was the center of their lives. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pPIa2-uOlqNyeBnWHqGgwoX2o-Bia_TRwH0gIZUjbI_C24H1ivEFTLVG4tWPC6dHmohrpXwiZ2dJ5yA_eW2c-QFxlEBorPGdzP52WMi72-o2KoZRfdQ1_TvNVkOJt4_vXbUK/s1600/Dad+with+me+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pPIa2-uOlqNyeBnWHqGgwoX2o-Bia_TRwH0gIZUjbI_C24H1ivEFTLVG4tWPC6dHmohrpXwiZ2dJ5yA_eW2c-QFxlEBorPGdzP52WMi72-o2KoZRfdQ1_TvNVkOJt4_vXbUK/s400/Dad+with+me+001.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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My dad's dad lived with us then, too. He was such a wonderful, kind person, and even though he's been gone for 42 years, I still really miss him. I think, though, that I can see what kind of grandpa he would have been by watching my dad with our boys and my sibling's children. Shoot, that just makes me miss him more!!<br />
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Here's a scene that has not been uncommon in our family over the years. My dad played and sang to us, Clem played and sang to our boys, and now I watch my brother playing and singing to his boys. <br />
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I really miss seeing, and hearing, this! I guess I may be somewhat biased, but I do have a bit of experience and expertise on the subject, and I believe my dad had one of the best singing voices I ever heard. (His timing, however, is another story!) Others thought that, too, and he was forever pestered to sing for whatever occasion - or non-occasion - as the case may be. He entertained a lot of people over the years, and it was a sad day when he wasn't able to sing for us anymore. I think that's why I so much love this picture that was taken by my sister a few years ago.<br />
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This isn't the best picture of Dad, but it is the most natural, and iconic, I think. One of his more common poses. <br />
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Dad is a super Grandpa. He loves spending time with his grandkids, and they love him, too. Derek has always been his grandpa's boy. Last summer, when he was considering playing AA hockey, he made up his mind after an hour-long phone conversation with Dad. I wasn't allowed to even listen in. And now our little perogie adores his "papa", and even sings songs about him! I love this three-generation shot. <br />
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Ah, here's another favourite shot - my dad bringing me wine. Doesn't get much better than that!! <br />
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I've learned so much from my dad. His lessons were mostly by example, not a lot of preaching. He was pretty busy when we were young - you know, making money so we could eat and have clothes, that kind of thing - but he always had time for an after-supper wrestling match on the living room floor. He taught me how to ride a bike. He taught me to love thunder storms. He taught me that you have to swear when you're chasing cows. He taught me that doing your own income tax isn't that hard. He taught me that it doesn't matter what others think of you, ("Who are <i>'they'</i>, anyway?"), and that it's OK to do things for yourself sometimes. He taught me to make decisions with my head, not my heart, and that those decisions don't have to be written in stone. He taught me to add in my head sometimes, so that I won't come to rely on a calculator to think for me. And he taught me that he loves me, and his whole family, and that it can be true without being spoken.</div>
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Love ya, too, Dad. Happy Father's Day!!</div>
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Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-7893595585764627252013-06-05T23:01:00.001-06:002013-06-05T23:01:19.141-06:00Hangin' with the boysNot my boys. Cute little precious bundles of joy boys. They belong to my brother and his wife, and the latter invited me in to the city for the afternoon to accompany them to the annual Children's Festival. This was the last day of a four day event held on the shores of the beautiful Saskatchewan River in downtown Saskatoon, with the stunning Bessborough Hotel as a backdrop. It was a gorgeous day - not too hot, with a bit of a breeze (she said with her tongue in her cheek - come on, this is Saskatchewan!), but it is quite sheltered on the riverside.<br />
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Anyway, I got up a little earlier than usual and headed out for a nice morning drive. (Props to the highways department for fixing some of those huge craters in good ole highway 51 - hardly spilled any coffee!) The perogie started talking as soon as he saw me, and never really stopped. (He reminds me a lot of another little boy I once knew.) And, he says "auntie" really well, which melts my heart. Once Sammy was up and ready, we took off for the festival.<br />
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Rogie absolutely loves music, and was enthralled with the author/entertainer who told stories and sang songs for us. <br />
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After the show they buckled up in this snazzy double seater and we went for a little walk through the park. </div>
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There were various play centers set up for the kids, who were having a ball. The perogie found this tent, and spent quite a little while going in and out, and playing peekaboo - such fun! Who needs expensive battery-operated toys?? I was not allowed in, though.<br />
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He also enjoyed some time in the sandbox. I must say he was not always this careful with that shovel!!<br />
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And happy Sam took it all in stride, smiling all the while! Next year he'll be running around with the rest of them! <br />
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One of the best parts of the day was listening to the boys chat and make each other giggle in the back. <br />
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I love being an aunt, and I am so lucky to get to spend time with these little darlings and their mom! <br />
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Thanks for checking in!<br />
ChandraScratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-24466753430394756862013-05-26T12:10:00.002-06:002013-05-26T12:10:23.467-06:00What's new?Seeding is progressing. We (meaning Clem and Adam) are half done. All the legumes - peas and lentils - are in, and they are trying to get going with the barley and wheat. As you may already know, it's been a tad damp. If you didn't know, here's a visual.<br />
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Adam has been here for over a week. He and Clem are tag-teaming. Clem gets up early and goes out for the day. Adam starts a little later and works into the wee hours of the morning. Seems to be working!<br />
Derek does the gopher jobs and picks rocks. Not as much fun, I hear, but shit flows downhill, so to speak!<br />
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Derek did have <i>some</i> fun. He was lucky enough to get some tickets to a couple of the Memorial Cup games in Saskatoon. I took him and a buddy in one night to meet Rob and the perogie for a game. Also got to visit the Heidts at the game. Fun times! The perogie was pretty darned excited to see the hockey players and the goooalies, in particular. A nice young fellow found a puck and gave it to him, too, which doubled his excitement!<br />
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Derek hides his excitement a little better. (But he did have fun!) He also got to go in a couple of days later with some friends for another game. <br />
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I was <strike>stupid</strike> lucky enough to participate in the town-wide garage sale. Our local junior team used it as a fundraiser. We had lots of lookers, and quite a few things sold. But I will state for the record that nobody is ever going to get rich by having garage sales. I did, however, get to spend the day outside and visit with lots of people! Plus, Clem took pity on me and we went out for supper after church. <br />
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I'm sure there is more news, but I'm also sure that I need to get outside and make a little more progress on the yard work. We are trying to learn to love the colour yellow (you have no idea how many dandelions we have in the yard!), but I also need to get the garden in. I am attempting to downsize a bit this year. Hopefully I can stick to my guns! <br />
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Thanks for stopping by!<br />
Chandra<br />
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<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-14469780689597423052013-05-26T11:32:00.000-06:002013-05-26T11:32:32.552-06:00The end of an eraLast weekend many of my dad's relatives gathered to bury the ashes of his uncle and aunt. Ed and Mary were the last survivors of their generation, and their deaths have prompted much introspection. I think it affected other family members as well, judging by some of the comments and topics discussed. My brother is the only Huck descendant still living in the area settled by our great-grandfather. Amazing, with so many male offspring! But mostly it was just heart-warming to see and be with everyone again. Many of dad's cousins were there, and some of their children, as well. I was particularly pleased to see three second cousins with whom my brother and I used to spend a LOT of time. And again, I was amazed at how easy it was to pick up where we left off. Those family ties are very strong. The five of us made sure to have a picture taken, and it was NOT in a bathtub as were some previous ones!<br />
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Loren, the baby of the family, did a great job conducting the burial service. It must have been very difficult for him. <br />
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The granddaughters each laid a rose in the grave.</div>
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The grandsons who were present sprinkled soil in the grave.</div>
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My dad and my brother looked very much alike to me that day. They also apparently don't like me taking their picture. <br />
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My dad and his sister. This may be my favourite photo of the day. </div>
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Some of went on a little tour to visit other family graves. This one is my dad's grandparents, the ones who came from Russia to Saskatchewan. </div>
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Then it was visiting time at the Pioneers' Club. The best part of the day! This photo shows two of dad's cousins, Oliver (with his wife Sharon) and Roy, who we don't get to see often enough!! <br />
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I love this photo of Roy catching up with a childhood friend, Valerie Onerheim Finley. She is one of my very dear friends, as well, and my elementary music teacher! <br />
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Here are Roy and his sister, Darleane. Love them both to pieces.</div>
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The "Huck boys" provided a few musical selections, and were joined by Jerry's daughter, Kathy (of bathtub fame!!) She looked and sounded very much like her mother here, and I shed a few tears. <br />
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Romber brought their precious little guys out for a visit, too. Sammy was happy, as usual, but the perogie was not having a great afternoon, not as usual! <br />
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Curiously, many of the pictures I took of Aunt Ginny seem to have a wine glass in them. I think she would blame the Saskatchewan highways. Yes. Right. Because she never drinks wine at home!!<br />
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The perogie sure likes hanging out with Uncle!</div>
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So even though a few tears were shed, it was a wonderful weekend full of stories and laughter and hugs and re-connecting. Methinks another reunion is in order. After all, the last one was nearly 25 years ago!</div>
<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-80631796378450989522013-05-26T11:29:00.000-06:002013-05-26T11:29:06.885-06:00Mother's Day with my mom.That doesn't happen too often. We are usually smack dab in the busyness of seeding, and Mother's Day is normally mostly a non-day here. I decided to switch it up a bit this year when a friend, who was planning to visit her mom in Medicine Hat, asked if I wanted to tag along and go see my mom. What a grand idea! Clem was very accommodating as usual, saying "Of course! It's Mother's Day and you should be with your mom!" (Isn't he great?) So off we went. I dropped Debby at her mom's and continued on to see mine. It was such relaxing weekend, as we had no set schedule, with nothing to attend and nowhere to be. We had coffee on the patio in the morning and wine on the patio in the evening, and toodled around a bit in between. Oh, and hockey games to watch every evening! Not sure why I don't do that more often!!<br />
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Jason and Terri drove down with their two cuties, too. What fun! We even had time for a few photo shots. Here's ma with (I'm certain) her two favourite children.<br />
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And blowing raspberries with "Cousin Eddie".</div>
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He is one of the cutest nephews I know!! </div>
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And he likes his food. A lot. A true Huck.</div>
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As I said, Mother's Day has never been that big of a deal around here, but I did get a text from all three boys. Derek's was to ask when I was going to be home - likely because he needed to know how long he had to do the chores I had assigned before I left three days earlier. But hey, he remembered me! Stephen's text said he left me a car. Which is a pretty incredible gift, until you know that he needed us to take it in for a bit of work while he was at work. I did manage to put a few miles on it, though. Ssshhh.<br />
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Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Love you!</div>
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Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-31638615147570919962013-04-17T11:03:00.001-06:002013-04-17T11:03:38.745-06:00(Not exactly) quick takes1. Hockey is over!! The exclamation points are only because I can now do all the things that I should have been doing when I was watching, going to, or organizing hockey. It is really a rather sad time of year for me. Fortunately, like our summers, it doesn't last long. Derek is attending a camp at Notre Dame (Wilcox) this weekend, and is booked for another camp in Weyburn in July. So I will get my fixes before it all starts again in September!<br />
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2. Derek had a grrrreat hockey season, the most fun he's ever had, he says. I guess he's forgotten about the bus trips from hell - on roads that should have been closed in weather that was definitely NOT from hell. But hey, this is Saskatchewan. His team lost out in the provincial and league semi-finals, but that was a pretty good run considering they started without a goalie in October! Derek ended up getting the top defensive player award, as well as MVP. He is a very happy kid. He had great coaches, too. <br />
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He was the biggest kid on the team. Heck, he's bigger than the coaches. </div>
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This is his favourite picture - a slapper from the blue line, his signature shot! </div>
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3. The biggest news around here is that Derek has been accepted as a Grade 10 boarding student at Notre Dame, Wilcox for the 2013-2014 school year. It is totally his idea - "Mom, I need to challenge myself and see what I can do" - but I think it's a great idea. We tried to talk him into it last year, but he obviously wasn't ready. Some days I just start crying for no apparent reason; other days I'm planning how to reconfigure his bedroom and doing the happy dance because school lunches are coming to an end! It will be very different, and quiet!, around here, that's for sure!<br />
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4. Easter at our place was very much like Christmas - quiet, white, and cold. Terri and the kids made the long trip (she's so <strike>crazy</strike> brave!), but Mom and Dad decided that the weather and roads were too unpredictable and stayed in Lethbridge. Adam, who has just moved to Saskatoon, brought his hair and joined us for the day. Here's a shot of my baby playing with my brother's babies! Note the abundance of snow outside!<br />
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Cousin Eddie is such a wonderful little boy, so happy and content. And he gives the absolutely best baby snuggles! We're so glad he came to visit! </div>
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He sat right up at the table with us, and never complained once! </div>
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Derek is getting way too cool to hang out with little kids, so Copper has a new favourite "big" cousin! <br />
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"Hurry up and get that chick going, Gerald!" </div>
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Pure joy! And looking a lot like her momma! </div>
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5. Adam and I got to visit with the perogie and his family for his second birthday. Such fun. I took pictures with my phone, and now can't get them to upload here. Of course. Anyway, take it from me, they are cute and we had a great time. And Adam is loving being in the city. A new adventure for him, and it's so nice to see him so happy and excited about life.<br />
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6. My baby brother recently got another year older. I'm not telling you how old, cause that's just too depressing for me. I used to change his diaper, for heaven's sake! Here's a shot of him celebrating with his two precious boys. See how cute they are!<br />
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7. I talked Clem into <strike>applying for a passport</strike> letting me apply for a passport for him. That is huge, let me tell you. There may be hope for a trip for the two of us yet! Babysteps, people, babysteps. I had to renew mine anyway, and Derek needs one for our trip to Ireland and Scotland next spring (yes, he is still able to go even though he'll be in a different school), so I just worked it in there. I'm hoping Derek and I will be able to meet up with our wonderful Scottish friends, David and Lorraine, while we're there. Lisa and I stayed with them on my first trip in 2007. </div>
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Thanks for stopping by!<br />
Chandra<br />
<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-80173138691045365542013-02-26T10:18:00.003-07:002013-02-26T10:18:51.004-07:00I wasn't one of them.Wow. I guess I took a little break! Based on the last post, you may have thought that perhaps I was amongst the perished. But no, I've just been trying to dig myself out from under this pile of tasks I've taken on. Hockey, choir, hockey, travel club, hockey, farm books, hockey...well, you get the idea. Have no fear, I will prevail. It's just that sometimes something has to give, and this was it, my friends.<br />
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But I'm back. Where to start? Our junior hockey team, the Rage, lost out in the first round of playoffs. Our billet is still here, but the wind-up is this weekend, so that should change shortly. Now to get the books in order and come up with a financial statement to see how they really did!<br />
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Derek's team has been quite successful this season. They ended up second in the league, and are currently one goal up in their first round of playoffs. They are also in provincial playoffs, and will meet neighbouring Macklin on Sunday for the second game in the third round. We've seen some good hockey. We've seen some bad stuff, too, but they seem to keep squeaking by! I just love how they all hustle and work together. Other than one really, really bad bus trip to Naicam, it's been a great year!<br />
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I ventured to the wild side and got myself the new Blackberry Z10. Wow. Nice phone, but huuuuge learning curve. I feel like a real greenhorn, but am consoled by the fact the the forums are full of people in the same boat. Again, I will prevail. Eventually.<br />
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Christmas was great. (Yes, it's been that long.) It was much quieter and smaller than usual, and I kept looking around and wondering to myself, "Where is everyone?" Adam and Stephen had cross-shift on Christmas Day, so Stephen joined Clem, Derek, Mom, Dad, Mark and myself for a quiet Christmas Eve. (Honest. That was it.) Stephen flew out Christmas morning, and Adam arrived just in time for a humble Christmas supper at our place with the same people except Mark, who wasn't feeling well. (I know. Six people at the table. It just didn't feel right!) Rob and Amber and their incredibly cute kidlets joined us on Boxing Day, and we had our real Christmas supper then - turkey and all the trimmings. It was so nice to have little ones around again. The perogie is just the right age to start catching on to the whole 'present' thing, and it was fun to watch. And of course we all got our turn snuggling little Sammy. And speaking of Sammy, his mom sent an email yesterday that made my day. Check this out - it really doesn't get much cuter!<br />
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We also received some photos of the other cutie patootie nephew. This auntie really needs a trip to Calgary!</div>
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So that is definitely the Coles notes version of life at the Schraefel farm for the last couple of months. I'll try to keep it more current from now on, OK Carl? </div>
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Thanks for checking in! </div>
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Chandra</div>
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<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-14762572593099898392012-11-29T08:25:00.001-07:002012-11-29T08:25:10.438-07:00SomberYou know the saying, "a rash of deaths"? Well, that's what we've had here lately. I've heard of at least eight people dying in this area in the last week or so. I'm starting to avoid talking to people, because they always seem to know of someone else who died. I go to my fair share of funerals, what with having to play piano and all, and have become somewhat "hardened", so to speak, but it's really getting to be a bit much. Some have been expected, like the 102-year-old mother of my godfather, Helen Behm, who is finally where she has been yearning to be for some time. Others, not so much. The last was a 41-year-old guy from God's country, who died of a heart attack a few days ago. Those ones really get you. I know it sounds a little selfish to be whining about how I feel, when none of these deaths have affected our family, but that's how it is. Enough already!!<br />
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So I am totally ready for the birthday party planned for my twin aunts, who are now that age where they get a cheque in the mail each month, just because they are that age!! Mom and Dad are coming, and my brother with his adorable family, so that will be good for my soul. <br />
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Take care out there, and remember to treasure each moment, and tell those you love that you do!<br />
Thanks for stopping in!<br />
ChandraScratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-25632327317687754222012-11-20T10:47:00.000-07:002012-11-20T10:47:17.169-07:00VisitorsRomber brought two of the cutest little guys ever to visit auntie and family. It took the perogie a bit of time to warm up, but we sure had fun after that! <br />
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Sam is such a happy little guy. The smiles just bust out of him! Warms the heart!<br />
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A rare serious moment. He was probably wondering who the crazy lady was behind the camera. </div>
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He looks like Ashley to me in this shot. </div>
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The Calgary kidlets weren't able to drop in to visit, but their dad sent an awesome photo via email. Auntie may just need to make a road trip!! <br />
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The other morning we woke up to discover that Jack Frost had visited. I just had to take the camera for a little walk! <br />
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Clem somehow manages to back this tandem truck into a dark shed and end up inches from the bagger. I am in awe. <br />
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Derek's team has gone undefeated in their first four games. Not bad for a rag-tag group of "leftovers"! We have a great group of parents, too, and we are really enjoying the season so far! I especially like our Monday practices in God's country, where I feel very at home and am able to renew some old acquaintances. If you'd like to keep up-to-date with the KDL Bantams, go to our website <a href="http://www.kerrobertminorhockey.ca/">HERE</a>. </div>
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For those of you who remember Lil (Guintaut) Body, you'll be sad to hear that she passed away last Friday. I went to school with her daughter, and will go and pay my respects tomorrow. Sad.</div>
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I better get off the computer and do some other things around here. Clem has informed me that Stephen will be stopping in shortly. Which makes sense - it's almost lunchtime!!</div>
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Thank YOU for stopping in. Always a pleasure chatting with you!</div>
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Chandra</div>
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Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-58953905654672003142012-11-05T10:34:00.000-07:002012-11-05T10:34:15.999-07:00This is what love looks like<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My great-aunt Barbara died yesterday. She was 91, and the last of my mom's aunts and uncles. She was married for nearly 64 years to my grandpa's youngest brother, Joe. He died last year. They lived in a care home, and although in different rooms, were able to be together each day. They would often sit and hold hands, like in this photo. She was unable to communicate for the past eight years, except with her eyes. I remember when <a href="http://schraefel.blogspot.ca/search?updated-max=2008-08-26T08:02:00-06:00">Mom and I visited a few years </a>ago, how Aunt Barbara would just sit and look at Mom. I know she knew her, and wanted Mom to know that. <br />
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Uncle Joe and Aunt Barbara had five wonderful children, who took exceptionally good care of their parents. Their daughter, Debbie, wrote in an email yesterday, <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>Mom and Dad are together once again. I've missed
her laugh these passed 8 years and I'm smiling now just thinking about the
laughter and joy she is experiencing today.</i>" Such lovely thoughts.</span></span></div>
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So forget all those mushy airbrushed photos of young couples walking hand in hand on a beach. This is what love really looks like!</div>
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Thanks for checking in!</div>
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Chandra</div>
Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-44780848658206490452012-11-03T13:30:00.000-06:002012-11-03T13:30:43.087-06:00October in (mostly) photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is Sam, who was dressed as a bear for Halloween. Isn't he just the cutest?? And I bet he gives great bear hugs. Or will, in time. His godmother (that would be moi) cannot wait!<br />
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And here's Sam hanging out with his dad and his big brother. They're all pretty cute.<br />
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Rogan Halloweened as his favourite, Elmo. Too cute!! <br />
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And here he is with his "tar". This guy loves music. <br />
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I also received some photos of my newest nephew, Edison, from his family in Calgary. He's awfully cute, too. <br />
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Earlier in October, Mom and Dad and I traveled to Saskatoon for Sam's baptism. It was a great day of family and laughter and visiting. <br />
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Grandpa seems to like this newest grandson. <br />
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Grandma likes him, too, especially the smiles! <br />
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The next day was Thanksgiving Sunday, and we all gathered at our place. Edison and Copper and their parents came, as did Rogan and Sam and their parents. We threw in a few more "hangers-on" and had a great day. We missed Lisa, though! However, we really have lots for which to be thankful! </div>
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Derek's football season ended abruptly with a 51-0 loss to Hanley in the provincial quarter finals. The players were all quite devasted. However, Derek is looking forward to next year, as he sure loves his football. He's the big 22 in the following photos. (Look out for the rookie haircut!!)<br />
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Here he is with cousin Dylan. <br />
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Harvest finally came to an anti-climatic end. We had just about everything happen this year, except maybe for locusts. Torrential rain, hail, and wind did quite a bit of damage to the quality and the yield. We did manage to get some nice peas before all hell broke loose, though. (That would be the royal "we", as Clem did most of the harvest on his own.) And the buyers are still knocking at the door, so I think we'll be OK! Clem was a huge help getting the garden stuffs gathered and stored for the winter. We are now fully stocked with potatoes, carrots, onions, tomatoes, corn, beans, beets, peas, and applesauce! And, the garden is worked and ready for next year! Love it!<br />
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Hockey is in full swing. Derek announced after his practice last night that he is the captain of his Bantam team this year. I think he will make a fine captain. They have a home tournament tomorrow, and begin league play on the 9th. Some of his former teammates have gone to Kindersley to play AA, so it will be an interesting year. <br />
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We still have a junior Rage billet, but it's a different one now. Scott is a very nice young hockey player from Chestermere Lake, near Calgary. He is sadly not a Flames fan, and without any NHL this year, it may be hard to convert him in the few short months he will be here. We will do our best, though. <br />
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I am currently taking in the three-day provincial One-Act Play Festival being hosted in Kerrobert, and appropriately named "One Hill of a Show". It has been great entertainment. I am in awe of the talent and hours of work that goes into something like this. Our community is very fortunate to have such hard-working and dedicated individuals. It should be noted that I am even missing hockey games to attend this event!!<br />
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And that's about it. If any of you hear from Adam and/or Stephen, let me know how they're doing!!<br />
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Thanks for stopping by!<br />
Chandra<br />
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<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-56349516803782368772012-09-28T20:22:00.000-06:002012-09-28T20:22:01.236-06:00Quick takes - September edition, part 2!I swore I would do more than one post in September, so here it is!<br />
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1. Harvest is still dragging on. After hail and wind took their toll, Clem was still fairly satisfied with the yield. And we are relatively lucky - some places around here got hit with hail three times this year. Yikes. He has about 250 acres of standing wheat left to do. It is still tough, but he's taking it slowly and putting it in air bins. Many farmers are waiting for the wheat to cure. The weather man said something about that four-letter-word that starts with "s" coming next week, but hopefully we can finish up before then.<br />
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2. Stephen, who celebrated his 19th birthday a couple of weeks ago, has moved into his place in Edmonton. He seems to like it there, but I did get one text this week saying that I should make some lasagna and casseroles and freeze them for him and his roommate. Ya, cause I have absolutely nothing else to do. I'll get right on that, Stephen, just as soon as I put away the cookbooks that I bought you and you left laying here on the counter. Hmmm.<br />
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3. Adam is still alive. I know because sometimes I see that he has left a comment on a friend's Facebook page. That is the only reason I know.<br />
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4. Derek is a football-playing fool. He just loves it. Almost as much as the game itself, I think he loves hanging out with the older guys. They all definitely have a team mentality, which is good. I will get some pictures soon, especially of his darling new haircut, courtesy of one of the clipper-wielding veterans. His initiation is tomorrow. Pray for him. And for me.<br />
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5. We have our new billet, a very nice young goalie from Edmonton. He moved in the night I got home from my college reunion, into the room Stephen had been using while he was here. Let's just say there was some wild cleaning going on for the hour between the time I got home and when he arrived. <br />
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6. We did NOT buy a rental property in Kerrobert. Now I have so much more free time! So I have been canning tomatoes in my spare time. 14 quarts down, and probably that many more to go. I know I am going to appreciate this in a couple of months!<br />
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7. I have another new nephew! Edison Jay Huck was born on the day before Stephen's birthday. Grandma says he is perfect, and she's not biased at all. We get to check him out at Thanksgiving, when he takes his first road trip so they can join us for the holiday. Mom and Dad will be around, as well, since we are attending the baptism of little Samuel in Saskatoon on the 6th. By the way, Sam's pretty perfect, as well. My brothers seem to excel at making cute kids, although I think their wives have quite a bit to do with that.<br />
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That's about all there is. I grabbed the camera and went outside after supper tonight, because the light was just beautiful. Here's a bit of what I saw.<br />
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Thanks for checking in!</div>
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Chandra</div>
<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-3176210528390595272012-09-11T22:30:00.001-06:002012-09-11T22:30:12.050-06:00Quick takes - September edition1. We are still here. Try as it might, the wind was not able to blow us to Manitoba yesterday. Some of our land, and swaths, may be there, though. It completely cleaned off 40 acres of lentil swaths. And someone's pea swaths blew through our yard at one point. We fared much better than areas close to the land of my birth, however, as many farmers were completely hailed out and my beautiful little town is littered with trees, branches, and leaves. Fortunately, no one was hurt.<br />
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2. Derek is loving football. He was even up at 6 am this morning for practice - ON. HIS. OWN! Only football can accomplish that, folks. Take it from a seasoned mom.<br />
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3. My garden continues to amaze me. There is another crop of strawberries ripening right now. They are big and tasty and plentiful. Didn't see that coming. The corn is done, and I lifted the onions yesterday and pulled out the bean plants. The tomatoes are covered tonight in fear of the predicted frost. We are loving the wonderful taste of them, and I am trying as many tomato recipes as I can.<br />
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4. We put an offer on a rental place in Kerrobert. We will probably use it to house junior hockey players this winter, and go from there. That's if our offer is accepted! Not sure if I really want that to happen...<br />
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5. Parish Council, hockey registration, choir practice and football parents' meeting are all this week. Can you say "busy"? Better question might be, "Can you say 'NO'?"<br />
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6. I am preparing to attend my College of Commerce 25-year reunion. Think I can lose 50 pounds in a week? No, me either.<br />
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7. I had the best visit with two of the most wonderful people I know - Bernie and Jackie Etcheverry. Bernie was the principal at AGCHS (before it became Luseland Composite School!) and Jackie was the Kindergarten teacher. They left Luseland in 1988 (wow! that long ago?) but we've stayed in touch, and just recently became "friends" on Facebook. We ended up at the same wedding in Tramping Lake last weekend (don't hear that very often, do you?) and had a great time catching up. In case you are interested, the bride was a Senger (whose grandmother was a second cousin to my mom) and the groom was a Wack. Clem was one of the groomsmen at his parent's wedding, and his dad's brother is married to my cousin. His mom's dad was the principal of the elementary school in Luseland - Red McGregor. Ahhh, connections again!<br />
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That's about it. Thanks for stopping in!<br />
ChandraScratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-91825301540820916752012-09-01T08:04:00.000-06:002012-09-01T08:04:55.420-06:00It's raining in my heart.It's overcast, cold, windy, and raining. Which suits my mood perfectly. Yesterday we learned of the sudden and tragic death of a young man from Kindersley. He is Stephen's age, and they played AA Bantam hockey together. In fact, he was apparently on his way to North Battleford to try out for the junior team. <br />
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We were stunned. I mean, it literally stopped us in our tracks. I immediately and instinctively began gathering my own boys in my mind - where are they, what are they doing, are they safe? Irrational, I know, but that's what I did. I think it's because deep down I knew that it could have just as easily been one of them. It could have just as easily been us receiving that awful news. And what then?<br />
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We get so caught up in the small things in our lives, complaining about our little inconveniences and petty irritations. Yesterday morning, we woke to find that our dog had yet again found another porcupine, and that I would be spending the morning at the vet clinic. I was annoyed. Derek and his friend had been up late, and loud, the night before, and left a mess in the kitchen. I was annoyed. We can't always rely on Adam and Stephen for help on the farm. It's frustrating. Suddenly, none of that really matters. Suddenly, my heart just aches for those parents who will no longer have those annoyances and frustrations. Their lives are forever changed, and the pain must be almost unbearable. I had trouble sleeping, and woke early with all these thoughts swirling in my mind, but what about them? I can't even imagine what they are going through. <br />
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I guess what we take from this is to try to hold sacred each moment, each breath, each touch. Smile more, laugh more, hug more. Because what else can you do? These things are so out of our control. <br />
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So rest in peace, Jeff. You were quite a kid - friendly, with a quick smile and a twinkle in your eye, always ready for a laugh. And you loved your hockey, always working hard and giving it your all. You will be missed. You touched many lives in your short time here, and my thoughts and prayers go out to all who are grieving right now.<br />
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And to all of you who stop here, thanks for letting me vent. I find this blog quite cathartic, and I'm so grateful that you tolerate my rambling! Or maybe you don't - how do I really know how much you read???<br />
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Hugs. <br />
Chandra<br />
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<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-9871503697778165282012-08-30T11:27:00.000-06:002012-08-30T11:27:11.871-06:00Welcome to my roller coaster life!Apparently Derek is just happy to know he could make a AA team, and that's all he needs. Yesterday, after much deep discussion (and you know how he likes to discuss. And discuss. And discuss...) he decided he doesn't want to play AA. He says he is not committed to working that hard, and just wants to have fun playing at home. Pretty hard to argue with that. Plus, it's going to save me a pile of time and money. <br />
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So, if you need me this winter, I'll be at the Kerrobert rink. Until then, it's football, folks!<br />
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Thanks for checking in!<br />
ChandraScratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-26416236088734102572012-08-27T09:47:00.003-06:002012-08-28T07:40:15.290-06:00ConnectionsFriday night I was lolling around the house hoping to either die or have my cold magically disappear when Derek announced that he would like to go to tryouts for the area AA Bantam team. That started on Saturday. For two whole days. Now keep in mind that he has been deliberating about this since then end of the last hockey season, and had firmly decided this summer that he was going to stay home and play hockey and football. AND, that he has done zero training, has a terrible cold and, earlier this week, narrowly escaped an asthma attack after an allergic reaction while unplugging the combine full of peas. So, off to the new Kindersley arena we went, both of us hacking and coughing and sniffling and sneezing. Fun times. However, in true Derek fashion, he quickly began renewing acquaintances and making new friends. He looked not too bad, but I could see him getting slower and slower until he suddenly left the ice with about a half hour left in the session. Yep. Asthma attack. Off to the hospital we went, where we were met by the most efficient nurse I have ever known. She grabbed a mask and the ventolin, told us to leave the health card on the counter, and led us into a room where she hooked Derek up to the nebulizer and said she'd be right back. Which she was, just as the ventolin was done. She took his vitals, asked if he was OK, and let us leave after Derek said he didn't want to wait for the doctor. Now that is health care.<br />
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Anyway, after a bit he decided to try the second skate, and did much better. And after two more sessions yesterday, was told that they'd like to see more of him, and to come back for practices and an exhibition game. For someone who wasn't going to play AA, let's just say he's "pumped". Time will tell - there are some very good defensemen there.<br />
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Which brings me to the title of this post. I knew a lot of the parents there from, you know, spending most of my life as a parent in a hockey rink. Like my second cousin, Colleen (Hoff) and her son, Keegan McBride. And my sister-in-law's cousin, Scott McGrath and his son, Dallas. But some faces were new. Like my dad's cousin's grandson, Brent Bacon and his son, Dawson. (That's for you, Roy!!) And the son-in-law of one of my dear friends from Calgary. It is such a small world, and I love making the <i>connections</i>!<br />
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In other news, Adam began his new job operating wells near Fort Nelson, BC, with the same company for which Stephen has been working. They work two weeks in then have two weeks off, and stay in a camp there. They are on opposite shifts, so I won't have all my boys home at one time for a while, I guess. On the flip side, we always have a hired hand on the farm! Although Stephen has informed us that he is going to share an apartment in Edmonton with his good buddy, Travis Turnbull. Just love keeping that Schraefel/Phillips <i>connection</i> going - look out Edmonton! Stephen will stay here on his days off to help with harvest though, thank goodness.<br />
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My garden has been bountiful yet again this year, and I don't think I've watered it once. I was just about to the other day, as the tomatoes were looking a little droopy, but we got 2.2 inches of rain on Friday. It was a little more than we would have liked at harvest time, but you can't do a thing about it. And the tomatoes look much happier now.<br />
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The guys have about 400 acres of peas in the bin. They look really nice, and busheled fairly well. The next 160 acres apparently don't look as nice. There wasn't as much rain on that land, so Clem is hoping to start combining there tomorrow. Then the lentils will have to be cut, and the barley is coming in fast, too. Such a rush at this time of year. The rain has given Clem some time to work on the swather, although they don't even make some of the parts for the old thing anymore. I'm sure he'll come up with a "farmer fix", though. He usually does! Never a dull moment, that's for sure!<br />
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And just before I close, I have to tell you about the cutest little store I found in Saskatoon. They sell only olive oil and balsamic vinegar, but they are to die for. The have over 160 different flavours, and they let you taste them before you buy. I can't remember the last time I was so excited about shopping! Check it out for yourself next time you're in the "City of Bridges" - it's called the <a href="http://www.olivtastingroom.com/sitecontent/OURSTORY.aspx">"Oliv Tasting Room"</a> . You won't be disappointed!<br />
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So that's about it for now. Thanks for stopping in!<br />
Chandra<br />
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<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-50076968329405535572012-08-10T11:04:00.004-06:002012-08-10T11:04:56.506-06:00Sam, I am.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have a new nephew, and he's just adorable. Sam decided to enter the world about a week early, but he's so cute we totally forgive him. </div>
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The happy family!</div>
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The perogie is pretty pumped about his new little brother!</div>
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Of course, he likes his Elmo chair a lot, too.</div>
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Grandma enjoying her new grandson!<br />
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Sam looks quite a bit like his big brother, so maybe he'll get these gorgeous brown eyes, too.<br />
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Yep, he's got toes just like me!<br />
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Grandma had fun with the perogie, too. You just have to remember not to show him a cell phone or camera, because he does NOT like it when you put it away!<br />
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Where's Sam??</div>
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Storytime with Grandma.</div>
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Mr. Bright Eyes, waking up to visit just before I had to leave.</div>
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Myles and Jean came to visit, too. It was so nice to see them again!</div>
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Thanks for stopping by!<br />
ChandraScratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-91251171093627452482012-08-10T09:09:00.002-06:002012-08-10T09:09:35.478-06:00"Wanna ride in my lift?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI-Fiq8QfY8sv7aTh11buGQojdeXvg4VSCnR2UGVWO6dal_lv0kXifZdtmTrw9ZNnqJZAry2Uank_FRNdqh252J1jKIJqZhPqHPdMH6lt-AdfjcnjRVZPnjO-KoQlktVVhFjb/s1600/IMG_5496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI-Fiq8QfY8sv7aTh11buGQojdeXvg4VSCnR2UGVWO6dal_lv0kXifZdtmTrw9ZNnqJZAry2Uank_FRNdqh252J1jKIJqZhPqHPdMH6lt-AdfjcnjRVZPnjO-KoQlktVVhFjb/s1600/IMG_5496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI-Fiq8QfY8sv7aTh11buGQojdeXvg4VSCnR2UGVWO6dal_lv0kXifZdtmTrw9ZNnqJZAry2Uank_FRNdqh252J1jKIJqZhPqHPdMH6lt-AdfjcnjRVZPnjO-KoQlktVVhFjb/s1600/IMG_5496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI-Fiq8QfY8sv7aTh11buGQojdeXvg4VSCnR2UGVWO6dal_lv0kXifZdtmTrw9ZNnqJZAry2Uank_FRNdqh252J1jKIJqZhPqHPdMH6lt-AdfjcnjRVZPnjO-KoQlktVVhFjb/s1600/IMG_5496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI-Fiq8QfY8sv7aTh11buGQojdeXvg4VSCnR2UGVWO6dal_lv0kXifZdtmTrw9ZNnqJZAry2Uank_FRNdqh252J1jKIJqZhPqHPdMH6lt-AdfjcnjRVZPnjO-KoQlktVVhFjb/s1600/IMG_5496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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You don't hear that line very often, do you? My extremely resourceful husband was working on his combine the other evening. He has it all torn apart and I'm pretty sure it is going to be completely rebuilt when he is done! How he knows how to do all that is beyond me. I'm pretty sure it's not just the Youtube videos he finds, either! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI-Fiq8QfY8sv7aTh11buGQojdeXvg4VSCnR2UGVWO6dal_lv0kXifZdtmTrw9ZNnqJZAry2Uank_FRNdqh252J1jKIJqZhPqHPdMH6lt-AdfjcnjRVZPnjO-KoQlktVVhFjb/s1600/IMG_5496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Here he is with one of his generators - it's for sale, if you're interested, and the oil has just been changed!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI-Fiq8QfY8sv7aTh11buGQojdeXvg4VSCnR2UGVWO6dal_lv0kXifZdtmTrw9ZNnqJZAry2Uank_FRNdqh252J1jKIJqZhPqHPdMH6lt-AdfjcnjRVZPnjO-KoQlktVVhFjb/s1600/IMG_5496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI-Fiq8QfY8sv7aTh11buGQojdeXvg4VSCnR2UGVWO6dal_lv0kXifZdtmTrw9ZNnqJZAry2Uank_FRNdqh252J1jKIJqZhPqHPdMH6lt-AdfjcnjRVZPnjO-KoQlktVVhFjb/s400/IMG_5496.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's the combine, all torn apart. I'll try to remember to post the "after" shots.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcG0tmWCzvDsnZxL0fD5Ln-5C0vuI0i4aZmg-dU2IXisJx-UmmF-JTuutSxfsvBfYeNB1EI3Gd2lGz0Za9RJeVtqCkAPTT8VHN0jt9lUDdTkv2SCecobRlpjRojgtlb-6EdzH/s1600/IMG_5498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcG0tmWCzvDsnZxL0fD5Ln-5C0vuI0i4aZmg-dU2IXisJx-UmmF-JTuutSxfsvBfYeNB1EI3Gd2lGz0Za9RJeVtqCkAPTT8VHN0jt9lUDdTkv2SCecobRlpjRojgtlb-6EdzH/s320/IMG_5498.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqVZYHXu0Lf3J_onHAASr-ACpc34qg8MneU_BqM4osVLx3tq3Lh34fBCZYYSTlCKd49Df6w4M5rNWbfHB4SVG9xQH_5x7DV9EJp8zk3Scy4x9NQmtpqFblLkaHRpdXxDmr51d/s1600/IMG_5504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqVZYHXu0Lf3J_onHAASr-ACpc34qg8MneU_BqM4osVLx3tq3Lh34fBCZYYSTlCKd49Df6w4M5rNWbfHB4SVG9xQH_5x7DV9EJp8zk3Scy4x9NQmtpqFblLkaHRpdXxDmr51d/s1600/IMG_5504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqVZYHXu0Lf3J_onHAASr-ACpc34qg8MneU_BqM4osVLx3tq3Lh34fBCZYYSTlCKd49Df6w4M5rNWbfHB4SVG9xQH_5x7DV9EJp8zk3Scy4x9NQmtpqFblLkaHRpdXxDmr51d/s1600/IMG_5504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqVZYHXu0Lf3J_onHAASr-ACpc34qg8MneU_BqM4osVLx3tq3Lh34fBCZYYSTlCKd49Df6w4M5rNWbfHB4SVG9xQH_5x7DV9EJp8zk3Scy4x9NQmtpqFblLkaHRpdXxDmr51d/s1600/IMG_5504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqVZYHXu0Lf3J_onHAASr-ACpc34qg8MneU_BqM4osVLx3tq3Lh34fBCZYYSTlCKd49Df6w4M5rNWbfHB4SVG9xQH_5x7DV9EJp8zk3Scy4x9NQmtpqFblLkaHRpdXxDmr51d/s1600/IMG_5504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqVZYHXu0Lf3J_onHAASr-ACpc34qg8MneU_BqM4osVLx3tq3Lh34fBCZYYSTlCKd49Df6w4M5rNWbfHB4SVG9xQH_5x7DV9EJp8zk3Scy4x9NQmtpqFblLkaHRpdXxDmr51d/s1600/IMG_5504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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I was walking around the yard, and stopped to check out Clem's new manlift. He and a couple of friends bought it and put a new motor in it. It comes in very handy for changing yard light bulbs, shingling, and seeing your yard from a great height. That's when I heard him say, "Wanna ride in my lift?" So that's what we did. And I took my camera. Fun!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqVZYHXu0Lf3J_onHAASr-ACpc34qg8MneU_BqM4osVLx3tq3Lh34fBCZYYSTlCKd49Df6w4M5rNWbfHB4SVG9xQH_5x7DV9EJp8zk3Scy4x9NQmtpqFblLkaHRpdXxDmr51d/s1600/IMG_5504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqVZYHXu0Lf3J_onHAASr-ACpc34qg8MneU_BqM4osVLx3tq3Lh34fBCZYYSTlCKd49Df6w4M5rNWbfHB4SVG9xQH_5x7DV9EJp8zk3Scy4x9NQmtpqFblLkaHRpdXxDmr51d/s400/IMG_5504.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's our house from on high. I think he said we were about 30 feet up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckhoRXwrxYsEpoomJCc74DtNEaouJ3efDrFaERRZWk2LW-UJKt7zCvZUa9K3_Li4X4yI0NTcrRmJlRY_G7TwxN7NnHZtAiLTvDvSvT1QJQfD0r5pZKA0vCGp0OIGerN_sroX-/s1600/IMG_5511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckhoRXwrxYsEpoomJCc74DtNEaouJ3efDrFaERRZWk2LW-UJKt7zCvZUa9K3_Li4X4yI0NTcrRmJlRY_G7TwxN7NnHZtAiLTvDvSvT1QJQfD0r5pZKA0vCGp0OIGerN_sroX-/s400/IMG_5511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here's my garden. Much more impressive from up here, and you can't see the portulaca!<br />
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We were also able to see the drilling rig setting up on our land, about a mile away. They are done drilling now, and I never did get down there to snap a few. And no, we don't know yet if they found oil! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAC7EQ5F283uQGvadfYGKaAYohE8w-qTLEwuiEPNbdv89lS9hNOVZdPyb3yqZU0ATgWGsmaKBuPXVycvlMpI1uqn_HKaLcAx1Vc0t8eb0R1GQho6aBid1u9IVoq2MXNEkk10v/s1600/IMG_5515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLNXjC-aRfkRUm0eM-3OD_hApHk4D3TSMXZwQLzq982h31vKheRvv9fKc99T9vX1BMDLt7ul0cZjQ4-dFlq0QunrwND0ZdChszudphC_TqXCVtfqeyXp6Bvh70whug7h4gXGn/s1600/IMG_5512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLNXjC-aRfkRUm0eM-3OD_hApHk4D3TSMXZwQLzq982h31vKheRvv9fKc99T9vX1BMDLt7ul0cZjQ4-dFlq0QunrwND0ZdChszudphC_TqXCVtfqeyXp6Bvh70whug7h4gXGn/s640/IMG_5512.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking east over the shop, with a couple of shadowy figures!</div>
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While Clem went back to his combine fixing, I wandered around and took a few shots of the beautifully coloured flowers. I love this time of year!</div>
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Funny how nice an old swing that desperately needs painting can look in a yard that desperately needs trimming when the light is right!!</div>
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That's all for now. Thanks for checking in!<br />
Chandra<br />
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<br />Scratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33795564.post-56559887421049113722012-07-24T12:28:00.001-06:002012-08-07T21:30:31.401-06:00What I found on my PHONE (not camera!)I often use my <strike>camera</strike> phone (<i>phone</i>, not camera! sheesh!!) to snap pictures, and then forget that they are on there! So when I went looking for photos for the last post, I stumbled on some that should be shared!<br />
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1. Derek giving Roxy a bath in a very small tub! Still makes me giggle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrwu7DqdaCGvvRJZmtBYEC-g5rJKcNLjqFAYVVfcCzMZR2I0vjSkBs_JHQD6FGvIFATlTzFu7AZxo13JOTw2yS-pqMB46kozH9LxaN8LxjgMnaxLDoFVqJbxrS7RI5SIKii28/s1600/IMG-20110811-00229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrwu7DqdaCGvvRJZmtBYEC-g5rJKcNLjqFAYVVfcCzMZR2I0vjSkBs_JHQD6FGvIFATlTzFu7AZxo13JOTw2yS-pqMB46kozH9LxaN8LxjgMnaxLDoFVqJbxrS7RI5SIKii28/s320/IMG-20110811-00229.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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2. An item of clothing, normally worn by women for support, adorning a power pole at Attons last year. Also made me giggle.<br />
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3. My mom and some of her siblings, gathered to celebrate a couple of birthdays. Sweethearts, all.<br />
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4. My sweet perogie, playing peek-a-boo with auntie. <br />
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This is how he sits in his highchair. How I wish I was that flexible, though I question the hygiene around having one's feet so close to one's food, especially when one uses one's hand to eat <i>and</i> to play with said feet! <br />
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5. Clem tying Derek's tie. He was getting gussied up for a provincial hockey game. He cleans up not too bad. </div>
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That's it for now. What - two posts in one day isn't enough??? Sheesh!<br />
ChandraScratchings in the Dirthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01042139702176090095noreply@blogger.com0