Another Week Gone By

Its Sunday evening. Another week has passed at the Bar MW Ranch. This morning at church a very dear person told me, “I follow everything you write on Facebook.” I was so warmed by how sincerely she said this. It strengthened my resolve to share at least a few things more often. Pictures speak volumes. Words can overhwhelm. So here is some captioned pictures to tell you about the week that has been.

I had my eyes examined this week and picked out new glasses. I did not choose these ones. But if I had money to throw around I would have chosen these as a second pair. I love how zippy they are.

Grandma Shirley came with me to the eye doctor in Estevan. Then we went to lunch and then some shopping. I asked her if I could take this picture to send to the kids, because they miss her. She agreed. I was only partly telling the truth. I wanted the picture for myself. I am crazy about this friend of mine and I want all these souvenirs of our adventures together.

Jill is into her last two weeks of preparation for the musical she is in. This past week they added the orchestra to the practices. Jill loved it. She sent us this photo of her taken when she and some friends came across a poster for the musical, “Seussical.” Russ and I are thrilled she has created this opportunity for herself.

Gina sent us this selfie. It meant alot to us. She has been off work with a concussion. We love seeing the sparkle in her eye as she is back to work. I told her it reminded me of Pippi Longstocking, as it seems she is walking a horse on the streets of Toronto. She liked that connection.

I am loving being Morgan’s Mom at home. He is so interesting and fun. Here he is using a bug gun. It projects salt at flies to take them down. At the same time he is playing with his dog. Some will remember that Coffee had 3 broken toes earlier in the summer. Her healing has not been seamless but thanks to our vets she is doing great. She warms my heart immensely.

Our friend Jen arrived for a short visit. She brought me a bunch of headbands, because I had been admiring hers on her last visit. We did a photoshoot and included dogs, ropes and kitchen tools lying around. Headbands for all!

Thursday morning we went to Chopper K to sell last years late calves, we call them “grassers”. It was a weird morning. We were paid prices higher than we have ever seen before. The market is so strong right now. Instead of feeling elated I just felt odd. I am grateful, no doubt about it, very grateful, but living through the cycles of the markets brings about interesting knowing and feelings. How can anyone afford to eat when we get prices like this? How long will this last? What will the downward swing of prices look like when it happens? This extreme doesn’t represent bonus money, just some to help us recover more fully from the terrible ranching year that 2021 was. And then a lingering worry, how will our long term expenses be affected by such short term price surges? The price is partly a response to the fact that there are just less calves to be bought. The drought which is being seen in so many places has pushed many people out of the business. It is others suffering that has contributed to the prices we saw this week. So, yeah, it was a complicated feeling kind of morning.

We make it a tradition to get a picture of Kim from the auction mart passing us the cheque.

Thursday afternoon I had my hair cut. I had about 4 inches taken off I think. The next day Russ and I went to Estevan for a dentist appointment for him. We got to have breakfast out in the big city. This was taken at that breakfast.

Morg called me that afternoon and said, “come out to the barn I think I got something you will love.” I whined. I was working at my desk and wanted to focus. He walked this yearling colt to the driveway and called me again. He had me, I walked out and indeed enjoying petting and scratching this beauty he is working with.

The reason for Jenn’s visit earlier in the week was to leave us with her dog as she headed away to a wedding. We have enjoyed having Paisley around, for this week our dog census has been two German Shephard or part GS, and three collies. It has not been dull!

Just for laughs……when I suggested earlier this year that these socks were ready for the bin Russ resisted. He has some connection to them. And so…..they remain in rotation.

We received a gift yesterday. A print from an artist who is Russell’s god-daughter. She created this piece to honor murdered and missing indigenous women. We are grateful to have this in our home.

Russ has made it his habit lately to capture some pictures of me leading worship in the different places I find myself. This morning at Alameda we had the sacrament of communion. Morgan assisted in the serving. There were some hilarious moments that were a part of church this morning as some things didn’t go as planned. A whole blog post could be made describing some of the reasons we laughed today.

This is just silly. A record Russ made of me with my new “recipe.” Slices of apple, dipped in a shotglass of maple syrup and then dipped in whipped cream. Delish!

Russ, Laurie and Morgan checked some of our herds this afternoon. Russ reports the animals are looking okay, but the grass is really getting affected by the lack of rain and the grasshoppers. Its a worry.

Before Laurie went home we had a beer and some chips and a darn good visit. Russ commented again today, how much he appreciates that Laurie is so close, both distance wise and friendship wise. Our cat enjoyed being part of the refreshment hour.

After a week that had us whipping up and down the highways and eating in restaurants alot (3 meals at Chopper K Steakhouse in 2 days….eek, plus other meals out) its nice to wind this post down in the midst of some rain, tucked in our own comfy corner of the world, together with our dogs. I think its hard to grasp how truly blessed we are.

4 Comments

Sandra Dalziel says:

August 21, 2023 at 4:38 am

Thanks for sharing Kathy, I love your posts.

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1. David Detwiler says:
  
  August 21, 2023 at 4:32 am
  
  I enjoyed this picture-y recap. God bless you!
  
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Sandra Robertson says:

August 21, 2023 at 10:05 am

Kathy, we are truly blessed when we are shown the devastation happening all around us!! You have a very interesting , full life and thank you for sharing it with us!

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Donna George says:

August 22, 2023 at 10:20 am

Thanks for the posts Kathy & many thanks for keeping Paisley. It was nice not having to have dog kisses all the way, for the 6 hour trip! It’s raining here today, so hopefully you are getting some there.

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