Happier early September fun

 On a happier note, I was able to squeeze some trail riding in this week.  First I rode with Elaine and then today with just Mago, Harley and me.  Mago was put out because on Saturday Anne helped me with some hoof trimming - it was fine when we worked on Mago, but when we got to Angie, Mago did not approve.  Mago and Princess were turned loose, so he reached out of the pen and retrieved first a cotton quilted saddle blanket, then a neoprene girth, then Anne's water bottle - each time tossing them into or at Angie's stall to get our attention.   When this did not work, he leaned over the door and wall and blew his hot breath on us, contributing to the already very hot day.    There was no getting away today when I came back from my overnight camping to clean the barn. After getting his vitamins and hemp meal, I let them all back out.  He scooted out to get a drink of water and then right back into his stall to nibble hay and wait for me to pay attention to him, the girls were long gone in the pasture.  I left his stall door open and brushed him, and he still was not leaving.  So I popped the saddle on and snuck off into the end of the pasture without Harley, thinking that I might take Mago for a little gallop and Harley may not be able to keep up with us.  I also wanted to try a more challenging bush trail for the first time.  We worked our way through the meadow and down a trail that is partly washed out from spring flooding.  We needed to track through a little slash to avoid some bad spots.  Once I was not sure which was the best way so I got off and led him, he trooped along even when there was actually no trail to follow.  I mounted back up and took him on a section of trail that is very steep and rocky, requiring careful weaving to get good footing.  Not only did he truck up there at a steady pace, working around trees and rocks as I asked him to, but he also stopped halfway up a particularly steep section to look back and show me that Harley had tracked us down.  Now at this point we NEEDED to keep our momentum, so I grabbed some mane, leaned well forward and gave him a slap on the flank.  He returned to surging up that hill and I stopped him at the top to catch his breath.  It was a long hard climb but he was not even puffing!!!!   We sent Harley on ahead and carried on for the rest of the ride.  Interestingly, Harley caught up to us about 20-30 minutes into the ride, so he must have gone over to the barn looking for me and then tracked us by smell, so maybe he can add being a tracking dog to his set of skills.   On our return I got Bob to snap a picture of us, me very happy with our progress.

 I let Mago graze a bit and Harley seemed to think he should participate and chewed on the grass to, they are pictured together grazing.  Our animals all seem to have most peculiar personalities.   Don't in any way consider that this is a request from me to know why, I think I already have an inkling that their caretaker is a contributing factor.

Ivan goes to heaven

On a sad note, I had to dispatch Ivan, my orange and white feline chum of 10 years to heaven this week.  He was fine at his annual May checkup, but over the last two months developed a growth in the large muscle of his left hind leg.  Although cheerful, he had a rapid loss of weight and so despite being able to get him eating soft food again, the prognosis for him was that he would soon begin to suffer. It is a difficult but necessarily compassionate requirement to help our little furry friends when this happens, so we let  him go.  He is buried here at home and I'm sure that his spirit is in heaven playing with his old friend Widgy.

Parging done

Early September brings more progress with the west-walkout side of the basement. The masonry parging was done to the exposed west walkout side of the basement.  Dieter provided expertise so that he and Bob could do this together, and it went well.  We used a product called Sika Topcoat Seal 107, it is a polymer cement which adheres directly to either brick, concrete or polystyrene.  The latter was the surface that we applied it to, meaning the outer styrofoam part of our insulated concrete form (ICF) foundation.   Although more expensive and tricky to use than regular parging material, it adheres and sets up very well when applied correctly.  We were glad that we used the expertise of a stonemason for the work because we heard of another general contractor who applied it to all four exposed walls on a local house and it flaked right back off.  As in handling most of this kind of product, surface preparation and between coat preparation are critical, as is mix ratios and thorough blending.  Dieter has some physical limitations these days but he is very knowledgeable and has all the tools for this so it was an interesting learning experience.  I am happy to put regular parge on the block at the barn but was glad that I did not tackle this job.  The surface must cure for thirty days and then it can be painted.  That is the next challenge, finding a good quality compatible paint.  The Sika technical rep has only data for cosmetic finishing using their own products, although it is not a foolproof method for success, I am a big fan of research.

Labour Day celebrations

The ceremony for the practical (as opposed to official) end of summer took place at my chum Deb and Mike's camp on Bright Lake. There was great food and lots of music.  Pictured is Paulette and Bob singing "Jeremiah was a Bullfrog" with Patty, Deb, Fern and others providing backup.  Bob stayed behind to finish up some floor truss work in the loft and I camped the night in Anne and John's tent, having had a few beers it was no time to drive.  I was prepared with my sleeping bag and wooly socks.  It was my first time camping in tent since when I was in my twenties.....that's right, over 30 years ago....  Compared to my old canvas tent, this new style nylon vented one was very comfy.   I was alarmed at first that it had the appearance of a sultan's tent, but John assured me that the arrangements were all very respectful, which they were as well as comfortable.  I had a great time, thanks to Deb and Mike for the gathering and to Anne for giving me some barefoot horse hoof trimming tips while she was here.

Prep to parge

On the progress front, we took delivery of a propane fueled gas furnace this week in an effort to catch up a little with modern technology.  We received a good price from Bob's golfing partner who is a ticketed sheet metal installer for the local fuel supply facility. We are also proceeding with the masonry parging of the west basement wall.  By good fortune we have connected with a neighbor who is a semi-retired stone mason and who will do this for us for a very reasonable fee. Harley is looking on at the "before" for the west side of the house where Bob is prepares the wall for the parging.

Little herb garden

My little herb garden is still growing with the mild days and cool (but not freezing) nights.  The dill, sage, marigold, sweet grass and lavender all did nicely in my hillbilly old tire planters.  The sweet grass is nice when braided and drying in the house, plus it also imparts this nice sweet herbal smell when burnt like incense (in a non-combustible bowl!).   If I can salvage some topsoil from the pile and a few cedar posts, I will make a little larger raised garden next year for tomatoes and other northern friendly vegetables.   It seems the trick to this is a solar powered 3 to 4 wire electric fence, this keeps the creatures who also like these crops from indulging in domesticated gardens.

Geese are gathering

The Canada geese are gathering and starting to collect in V-shaped flocks, so summer is winding down.  Already one of the maples is starting to turn at the septic-bed-disguised-as-a-putting green, which caused Bob so much distress that while whacking defenseless golf balls at the weekend's club tournament, one of his favorite clubs (a Ping 7 iron for those who know what this is) broke right in half.  This lead to a VERY BAD GAME, so a little return of summer sizzle would make him feel much better.  This blog is dedicated to Gil Jurchison, a former colleague of many years who passed away suddenly. Thanks for all you taught me.