CRASH

As much as I love that our kids have motocross bikes and are eager to ride as often as humanly possible, I still hold my breath every time they fly over a jump until I see them safely on the other side. Every so often they crash. That's part of the game, as I understand it. It should be called Motocrash. When they do lose balance and come to an abrupt and violent stop, I always fear the worst. Last fall S damaged his ankle and spent 6 weeks on crutches. This time it was the younger fella. Crashed over his handlebars and landed on his right elbow. Broke the clutch lever right off. Three hours in the ER confirmed that nothing was broken but take a look at that arm. Ye Gads. Blue and yellow and swelling beyond description. A bit of a black eye and bruised belly too. Being a couch potato is safer, there's no doubt.

Happy Bday to ...

Such fun to celebrate a friend's birthday a few days in advance and surprise the beans out of them! He spent a while driving the ATV around the track then enjoying a cold bevvie then a delicious bbq of ribs and assorted delicacies ... followed by a carrot cake with his name on it! Well, his name wasn't actually on it, but the candles gave it away. Happy Birthday!

Scooby's Doo

This morning Scooby went to the hairdresser and got himself a new 'do! He's soft and smells good. Normally his fur is scrubby and smells like grass and dirt. Do you prefer the before or after?

Petunias on the Porch

Just last week the temps dipped below freezing and left a pretty sparkle on the grass but this week is warm and lovely and we've planted some colour in the pots on the porch. They, along with that adorable dog, add some coziness to the place.

Mr. Clean

It's not raining out and it's not particularly muddy. And yet when a certain black dog comes in from doing his biz outside, we wipe his feet ... er, paws ... And yet there are still wee footie prints all over the floors! I need the number of a good cleaning lady.

Backyard Rearrange

In the corner of the yard under the tree there used to be a big fire pit that we built with cement blocks last year to burn all the debris around this place, but over the months of huge fires the cement blocks cracked and crumbled so we dismantled it (me & J), then we got rid of the ashes and raked it all up and dug it all and now it's ready for planting ... pumpkins, we think!

But where to have small fires to toast marshmallows and make s'mores?!?! Well, we solved that one: we made a cute little camp fire area with stumps to sit on. We tried it out and it's FANTASTIC!

Tom & Huck

A city friend came to visit this weekend and he ran around the farm jumping the creek and picking up rocks just like Tom Sawyer. He was helpful, too, carting heaps of brush to the fire pit. In the afternoon, he had a motorcycle lesson and drove around laughing like a hyena. I think he liked it! Later, his family came to pick him up and we enjoyed a fabulous dinner and campfire together. S'mores and wine. Mmmm.

Holy Cow!

What an exciting and exhausting evening ...

First a neighbour came by to mention that we had a problem. When I asked him what he meant, he gestured to the grass beside the house where there were cows grazing. Huh? I looked back at him, flabbergasted. He pointed to the farm to the east of us, shrugged, grinned and got back in his truck. He wave goodbye and I ran for the camera.

A few minutes later a second neighbour came

by, explained that the cows had been loose this morning, galloping all over the motocross. Yikes! P's pride and joy, the diamond in the rough he's been polishing for weeks ... trampled?! We called the cow farm and then went to shoo the cows back home. Their son came with some grain, called something that sounded like "Ko-boss" and they followed him away lickety-split.

Number one son grabbed the ATV keys and said he's going to check out the damage on the track. I convinced him to eat a piece of pizza first and as he was chewing, the 2nd neighbour called us to say the cows were back on our track! Double yikes! I joined S on the ATV and we headed out.

In the back field we rounded up the cows and encouraged them to leave the track, guiding them around the carefully groomed burms and jumps and failing terribly. I used the walkie-talkie to tell J to call the cow farmer neighbour again, and shortly their son came to get them. Unsuccessfully. We traipsed around the field, herding the cows and looking for the hole in the fence where they'd come in. To no avail. The cows wandered back again toward the track and S ran to shoo them away. The other kid went home. I was at a complete and utter (udder?) loss. What to do? Cows loose in the field, no dinner, motocross track in peril, sun setting, stomach growling, mosquitos buzzing ... a year ago I had a nice cozy house, finished bathrooms, minimal weeds in the yard, no cows loose in the back yard ... what has my life become?!?!

Moments later S went home for provisions but I stayed to protect the track and the other kid came back with what appeared to be a sack of grain over his shoulder. He called his mysterious "Ko-boss" mantra again and they began to follow him! First around to the east, then north a bit towards the road, then back to our farm field. He led them along the creek in the direction of the south end of his farm. But incredibly, they found the hole in the fence that we'd searched for and they came right back into our field. ARGH! Eventually, we decided to shoo them up the laneway, onto the road (are there laws against this?) and down their driveway. The cows were less compliant. They'd discovered that the bag of grain was really sawdust. ("Are you crazy?" the other kid said. "Grain would weigh 35 kg!") The cows meandered off the path, weaving insane paths through the long grass. Once on the main road, the veered north into yet another neighbour's farm. Stopping to graze here and there. Apparently cows don't like to move very far without stopping to eat. Kinda like most Americans.

Finally, the other kid's dad came in his truck. Once those cows heard him coo "Ladies, come here" they trotted lightly after him, most of them across their field and some down our driveway, popping over the fence by our house, leaving a trail of wet brown patties behind them. Whew.

We hung up our coats and I went to put the walkie-talkies away, but when I gave my coat to Sam it must have fallen out of the pocket ... back outside to re-trace our steps. S had the idea to use the first WT to call the missing one, so I went back home to ask J to do it and I hear his voice coming from the garage ... it had gotten lodged in the foot peg of the ATV. We packed them away and looked at each other We'd been chasing cows for two hours. A fantastic excuse for not getting homework completed. What an evening!

Adirondak or Muskoka?

I love the look of these Muskoka chairs! Or are they Adirondak chairs? You'd think that a chair by any name would be as comfortable, but not true! Having shorter than average legs, I find my feet don't touch the ground in most chairs of this ilk. But these are the most comfortable. Ever.

And don't they look fabulous?

Next job: painting them.

Warm Wishes on Mother's Day

The morning dawned crisp and cold with a light dusting of ... wait! could it be?! no way!

YES! SNOW!! In May?!?!

I've got the pictures to prove it. Incredibly, this white stuff lasted till well after 9 am this morning. I can't ever recall snow on Mother's Day before.

I hope your day is full of warm hugs and hot tea. (Ignore the cold outside!)

Fleurs

Flowers are the reward for a colourless winter. They brighten up the farm considerably and give promise of more growth and colour, and in spite of a dreary and cool weekend these beauties are blooming.

These flowers are also the treasure at the end of our long and extremely muddy driveway. It's worth the drive to Hawthorn Creek Farm.

The Music Man

It's spring concert time at school! S plays the bass clarinet and has been practising with the band for months and months and last week they performed for the school and assorted parents and grandparents. I was impressed and loved when they played We Will Rock You, with all the little kids on the floor stamping and clapping. Terrific!

S

This past week we've had some welcome visitors (GT & B!) who have been luxuriating in the sunny south these past months. Now that they've migrated north again, we're hoping to see them often before they're called south again. B helped burn a gargantuan pile of brush and GT attacked the weeds in the yard. They both tried out the new shower and gave it rave reviews. Scooby will miss them and is eagerly (droolingly) looking forward to seeing them soon.

Ridin'

The bikes are tuned up, the weather is clear and warm, and the boys are eager to get out and ride! It's been a long time since we had a good soaking rain and the dirt is a bit dry and dusty, but that didn't stop them from donning their gear and heading out. There's rain in the weather forecast and hopefully the track will be a bit grittier next time.

I'm a Big Fan

... of this FAN! It's a Hunter brand and it has a remote control and the motor is whisper-quiet and best of all, P won't need to stand on the bed to adjust the speed with chains. We'd been looking for just the right one and this is it!