Oh such sweet rewards!

So far this is our sweetest bush this year and again it's nature's own. They are just about the size of big blueberries and you can get about 10 to 12 in one clump.

Cherry pie anyone

I'm just about to finish off the last of the 20 lbs of wonderful cherries I got last weekend. Will make 2 pies I believe. I made a blueberry pie, the first one of those I've every made, and was it goooood! If I don't say so myself. Shared with Eileen and Phil.
I worked 2 full days on Mon and Tues. but felt the need to only work 1/2 day today so am inside trying to get a few household things done. Haven't seen our deer lately but am confident they are nearby. Monday night just before bed Phil and I were both reading in the living room and we could here it calling Momma, just so sweet.
Sudha and Harj have the house to themselves as girls are visiting family in Toronto. They leave for 2 weeks in Italy on Sunday. This is to celebrate 20 years of marriage. We went and had chai and sweets with them, saw the reno's on their kitchen, new counter and back splash. Very nice!! I certainly hope Sudha buys her hat in Italy and not WL. ;.)
Last 2 days we had a chance of rain and TS, but still nothiing. We could sure use a day or more of rain. Bring it on.

Spottings and visitors

We actually saw Momma D with baby behind but only saw the rump and tail. Also had Eileen drop by and we drank some of my homemade sun tea and then Dennis and Charlene came by with a few beer so we sat on the covered deck then got to hot and went to shaded area on the long side lawn. Must go to do the chores with Eileen at Karen and Kim's.

Deer talk...

I still have it. Much to my surprise, as I was walking by the pond in back yard Momma Deer was coming up long side lawn and so I stopped. She cautiously carried on over our low brick wall and stopped by the first yellow rose bush. I was able to quietly get Phil and Diva to come witness this. Phil didn't think she should be so welcomed so we let Diva chase her but only off the lawn.
I had moved a cement birdbath, thankfully it came in 2 pieces, from an area where it seemed to get lost and moved it to lawn area by the horses paddock. It has the raccoons peaking out of it and does hold water. We inherited this with this place. I'd heard that to attrack birds you should have water dripping into it. Luckily we also had a heavy metal hanger that you "fork" into the ground. So I found an old ice cream bucket, put too big a hole in it, so Phil now had to use his magic plumber goo to slow the dripping, which it did. I sat and read my book in the shade and pleasantly awaited the first visitors. No takers. I tried my secret deer caller and within 5 minutes Momma Deer appeared below horses paddock. She noted that Diva was with me and looked to left of house, likely where baby is then headed the other way over the fence to Arduini's. I won't call again; just had to see if I still had the touch.
I bought beautiful sweet cherries from Beaver Valley today and still have blueberries to put up so am working in the cool of the house. I went to move top sprinkler and went on covered deck and there was Momma deer once again by yellow roses.

You know you've been relaxing too long when....

the red ants go up your shorts. The silver lining to that is at least they aren't biting yet. I've been busy with yard work which consists of cleaning up one flower bed area, laying landscape fabric and putting bark mulch down. I hauled two trailer fulls so are. Went to the WL farmer's market this am and got this terrific olive buns that I must make, not cheap but tasty!! Also got "no spray" blueberries from the coast, $35.00 for 10 lbs.
I've also been to Curves 2 days in a row. I am out of shape, way out. Feels good. Go with Eileen so that's my conscious. Phil put up her clothesline last night. It was almost a pole dane for Phil. The pole isn't that heavy duty and the ladder he was on wasn't either and the ground was uneven. Oh did I mention that pole was also round so no flat sides for the ladder to sit up against. So Phil's leaning one way which causes the leg on the other side of the ladder to lift up, Phil has bare hands on a wood post and he weighs over 180 pounds and he's now about 5 feet off the ground. It would've actually been better if it had been metal, he could've pretended he was a fireman, pole dancer, and not hurt his hands. So gravity took over when the ladder twisted and Phil did a flying dismount, and thankfully he was ok. I can't believe I didn't laugh for the next hour but I restrained myself and we carried on with the job.
Eileen and I are housesitting and pet feeding for friends of hers, 4 draft horses, 2 donkeys and 3 dogs. Should be fun. Ok back to work.

Now that's what I'm talking about...

can you believe that. Hence the name of our properties, in Cherry Creek it was just for all our chosen pets now here in WL it's for natures rascals.

After my tour of the gardens and seeing all the flowers she has eaten I'm not at all surprised, what a brave lil momma. Here she is caught in the act of eating the chickens food. This is at supper time, no kidding, Phil had just gotten home from work and saw her standing beside the hen house. I came out hoping to get a picture of her; never expected to catch her here. She just came out and walked on. It wasn't until a bit later, when i was spot watering, when I found out how many flowers she has been enjoying. She's eaten my dahlia, tiger lily and autumn sedum buds. What a brat!

The "rascals" of our flats.

Riding with nature....

just came back from a lovely summer morning ride, with cool breezes in the forest and warm sunshine enough to make every one happy. Didn't take Diva today :( as she seemed a bit sore after yesterdays romp where we disturbed a family of grouse or something, about 5 flew out. The saskatoons are so sweet, tender and plump what a feast to enjoy. Rode with Eileen, Kidd, and Baxter, but no Luigi as he's still leary of getting stepped on again. When we rode a while back with Eileen, Luigi some how got tangled in Midge's feet and scrapped him up a bit. Other than that we had a lovely ride with Cathy. The three of us are planning on hauling to the River Valley trail to ride out to the Fraser.
On setting up the vegetable garden this morning I was dismayed to see the deer have been enjoying many of my autumn sedum buds. Not impressed! Lo and behold who was back by the hen house on our return from our ride. Momma, eats my flower buds deer, I got within 8 to 9 feet of her as she was also enjoying our bird seed straight from the bird feeder. Arhhh. Ok off for my massage and sushi, man am I enjoying this holiday.

Our twin fawns....

are now a year old and still tear around our place. About a month ago Diva and I were half way down our lane on the ATV taking down old temp. fences that we'd put up last year on the new grass areas. Diva was sitting on the ATV when all of a sudden she sat upright as tall as she could and was listening when all of a sudden the twins came tearing out behind us. They were darting here and there, not doing their bouncing/jumping type of runs and were in the trees and bushes, one darted out onto the road right in front of us and ran down the driveway until it noticed the other one wasn't following. Meanwhile the 2nd one had stopped, frozen and was about 15 feet to our right and was staring straight at us. Diva hadn't moved and I just said "stay", started the bike and slowly backed up about 45 feet, to the next fence area. The 1st fawn came trotting back to where 2 was and then they were off running again. They ran to the fence, one went over then back and went back to grazing on our side in the underbrush. What a sight to behold, those 2 still chasing and running with each other. It took me back to last year when one day we saw them about 5 times in different areas each time just running and jumping and enjoying their lives, knowing no one was going to chase or hurt them. I feel so lucky to have them.
This year we believe we have one 2010 fawn in the underbrush right below the horses paddock as mama deer has stopped just over the fence on Arduini's side and Diva has been as close as 10 feet and just stayed there. Diva listens so well so doesn't chase them and understands to leave them unless we encourage her and we only do in the new spring to get them a bit farther away from the house.