Back on the farm!

Howard by a snow pile pushed up by Jeff's dozer.

April snowfall brings May flowers?

We have actually been back for almost a week but the computer didn't get back until today when Clare finally made it down.  So I have some catching up to do!

We left Weyburn last Tuesday, March 29.  The Jeffery's arrived back about three that afternoon and said that the road south of Weyburn was all dry. I picked Howard up at his Respite Day, took him to get a hair cut and then we were off.  The road was great all the way and we could drive right in the yard almost up to the house.  We were busy hauling in boxes and bags and wondering how we ended up with so much "stuff" for our three months away.  I guess we brought a little back with us each time we were home plus we had to shop for groceries to bring home too.  I left one big box and the computer for Clare to bring so am enjoying being back in circulation again.  Clare told me one day that Dad was paying him $50 a day not to bring the computer down!  It was proabably for the best as there was lots to keep me busy without spending time at the keyboard.

Wednesday, March 30 was our last day of quilting for this year.  We tied quilt number 150 with yellow crochet cotton to match the three tablecloths that were used to make this top.  Then we boxed up the spools of cotton and the squares that are ready to be sewed into tops and packed them in boxes to put under the stage on long trolleys.  Vi and Narrie sorted through the leftover fabric before sending it under the stage to wait for next year's quilting sessions.  The quilts are all displayed on the pews in the sanctuary.  They were dedicated last Sunday and will be on display for our Ladies Night Out this Friday.  Some will be sold and the funds used to help pay the shipping costs for Lutheran World Relief as well as for quilt batting and other supplies.  We buy batting in big rolls.  We will miss our weekly fellowship and the bountiful potluck dinners that show up every week.  It was fun to hear a knock on the door that evening and have Hartley and Louise drop in for a visit.

On Thursday I finished the unpacking and washed up some clothes and bedding.  We visited Ron and Gail in the afternoon as it was their 33rd anniversary.  We also bought four dozen eggs so now I can do some baking.   I mixed up ginger cookies for Todd after grinding some wheat and some flax.

On Friday afternoon we went to Ambrose for the mail.  There were several parcels at the elevator where UPS drops off mail.  The post office also had a bag of flyers, magazines and a few parcels waiting for us.  We make good use of our box at the Ambrose Post Office!  Shopping online works great for me, no need to spend the day in the city when I can browse through the shops online right from our home office.

On Saturday John and Charlie dropped by to pick up a package from Ambrose that had parts for their snowmobile.  Then they were off to their cabin at Kenosee and may have even put those parts to good use as it started snowing later that day and during the night!  We didn't even attempt to head out to church on Sunday morning.  No travel was advised on many highways in southern Saskatchewan.  Winter wanted to have one last fling!  The snow is melting even if temperatures are not much above freezing.  Water is running in the coulee just north of here and also south of the farm.

On Saturday afternoon Todd and Kristy landed in Philadelphia!  That is their first stop on their one month holiday.  We talked to them at their hotel and were glad to hear they'd had a good flight and made their connections, along with the luggage.  On Sunday afternoon they fulfilled one of Todd's dreams - to see his favorite NHL team, the Philadelphia Flyers, play a home game.  It was a very exciting game which ended in a 2-2 tie.  Following overtime and then a shoot out, the NY Rangers scored the winning goal.  Regardless of the result, it was a thrilling afternoon for Todd and Kristy.  It was topped off with Todd having his picture taken with a former Flyers goalie, Bernie Parent. It was Bernie's 66th birthday that day as he was born on April 3, 1945.

We went to church via radio and TV on Sunday as roads were heavy with new snow.  We were watching the Flyer game that Todd and Kristy were attending when our power went out.   The game had just tied so we had to get the final results from Clare and couldn't watch the afternoon curling game from Regina either.  We were glad it wasn't out more than four hours!

The Men's World Curling is on in Regina with the championship game next Sunday.  Todd and Kristy fly to Regina on Wednesday evening.  Their timing is perfect as Team Canada plays Team Norway on Thursday evening!  We are hoping to be there too, along with Clare's and Laurel's.  Kirk will be going up on Wednesday.

Well, I think this is enough blogging for one session so I'll close for now.  I have a birthday blog to catch up on too, for Michelle Erickson who celebrated on Saturday.  Marion Sanford's birthday is on Wednesday so I might have to do a double M blog for them both.

Howard is doing very well back on the farm.  This morning he drove uptown, took our newspapers to the recycling bin, got the mail and had coffee at the Fifty and Over.  He's been doing some ditching in the yard and finds odd jobs to do.  He always makes breakfast for us, often a boiled or poached egg along with toast and coffee.  Life is good and we'll enjoy every day.