I probably shouldn't call it carriage driving, since I was driving my cross country cart, but we did go out and have fun at the local show, with dressage, cones, and a mini marathon. Artist was such a good horse, and we came home happy and tired. Did a few driving classes as well, and won the reinsmanship class which is important, since Rose won the last one we entered, so we kept it in the Sisters Creek family.
Not many posts this summer, so here is the up date. Hot, fires, smoke, more smoke, more smoke from forest fires in the area for the last half of the summer. Put concrete foundations under the horse waterers, went to a few driving activities including a combined driving competition in 70 Mile house which was a blast. We had two entries from sisters creek, the team and my single horse. We both got eliminated but it was an honor to show under Muffy Seaton. She was just great, and gave us extra help and was so concerned when we got eliminated. We weren't able to complete hazard one in the marathon phase. Artist just didn't like the cut out moose and we had to be excused from that hazard.
So now we are working to renovate our house, to create a master suite at one end of the house, and put new windows in that area. Actually they are new to us windows, as a friend of ours was replacing what we consider to be beautiful, perfectly good windows, so we got the windows. Our old windows will go into our green house, so we will be going on with our philosophy of recycle when ever possible. Hopefully will start replacing the windows this week, as the frames for the greenhouse walls are ready. Unfortunately gh strained his back on the carriage with the team this weekend, so we will see how he does tomorrow.
Got most of the potatoes up today, tried two new varieties this year, Blush and Ptarmigan. Haven't got the Ptarmigan up yet, but the Blush potatoes got a good yield. We should have hilled them a little better, and one row got water and the other didn't, but not too much difference in the rows. It was a very dry year. The red burbanks were the star of the potato patch though; bright, bright red and huge with no scabs. The russet burbanks were smaller than we would like, although a good yield. The Shepody did well. All in all, the potatoes were very good this year with the dry weather. The red burbanks were planted at the edge of the garden, in a row that gets planted with potatoes every year, so I was surprised that they did so well. We try to edge our garden with potato plants as it seems to keep the weeds at bay just a little.
A rest day for the horses, although the six pack of standardbreds; Nron, Gerry, Buckley, Outlaw Rob, and the other two did manage to get out and wander around. Max is in with them now so he probably got the fence panel down. We found him in his favorite place this morning, outside the west side of the house, munching on the lawn. He was happy to go back in though, and for the most part they stayed in their pasture, so we just left them. They can't get anywhere as long as the gates are shut.
Rose drove Buckley(Pump Handle) this weekend and had a good time in the dressage. We were going to pair him up with Outlaw Rob, but Outlaw Rob seems to be a roarer when he is exercised, so Buckley will go back to being a single driving horse. I think he would prefer that, although he does like Rob.
Rained this afternoon, so no more potato digging. Managed to get all we dug today into the basement to dry. Put a fan on down there to circulate the air so hopefully will dry any moisture off them. We have a very good yield. Only one more row to dig, and I think some carrots still to get out of the ground. Our corn did well this year as well. Most cobs manged to mature.
Will try to keep up with the renovating so people can see what we are up to.
Coconut Prawns
6 hours ago
