Canada Geese and Mason Jars..........

When we lived in the city we were over run with Canada Geese.  Since we moved to the country we don't see that many, which is surprising.

Where dh works in the city in an industrial area, they are over run with Canada Geese.  I got dh to take some photos Sunday morning at work.  They curse them around his work area, as many of you know Canada Geese crossing the road do it at their pace regardless of how many cars and trucks there are.

I got the Rona newsletter in my inbox over the weekend and there was this article below on 5 different uses for Mason Jars.  Must say do NOT like the lamp idea.

http://www.ronamag.ca/news/mason-jar-5-ways?utm_source=bulletin-ronamag&utm_medium=email&utm_content=EN-ronamag&utm_campaign=ronamag-Courriel

So I decide to have a look around the Internet and lo and behold, there are lots and lots of things you can do with Mason Jars, who knew?

Here is a link to 50 different uses for Mason Jars, some would make some great gifts also.

Here is another link, which has some great ideas in it, including salad in a jar idea.

Makes me re-think the whole Mason Jar idea, as so far all I use them for is jam making.

30th Wedding Anniversary Gift.............

My mother and step-father sent us some money for our 30th Wedding Anniversary and said to treat ourselves to a night away or something.  We were going to buy a couple of trees for the garden, but if we move (which we will at some point in time) we couldn't take them with us.  So we decided to get a mantle clock.

I found the most magical old fashioned clock store in Cookstown, Ontario called Timepiece.  You feel as though you have stepped back into time when you enter the store and there are clocks all over the place.  Everywhere you look there is something new to discover.  Bogdan has a wealth of knowledge about clocks and watches and will explain everything you need to know.

I had called in around 3 weeks ago and he showed me a mantle clock and I loved it right away, but wanted dh to see it to see what he thought.  We finally got to the store on Saturday and the clock was still there.

The clock is British and from the 1930's.  It has a Westminster chime and chimes on the quarter hour and hour.  It is such a lovely chime, so delicate.  The detail on the woodwork is lovely.  Even the ticking is so relaxing.

 We have put it on the mantle of the fire.  Which is fine at the moment, but when we have the fire on we will have to find it a new home.

It fits in perfectly with our home and will be loved. 

Look who is finally home.........

I picked her up on Thursday night.  They have put a new fuel pump in her.  Took her out on Friday and she worked fine.  Fingers crossed she doesn't break down again.

When we were at the garage dh was talking to another guy sitting there and what we had wrong with our car was nothing compared to this poor guys.

He had a 2011 Lincoln MKS (I think that was the model) that he had paid $65,000 for.  Since he bought it, it has been in the garage a total of 17 weeks.  He normally buys Honda's but when he retired he thought he would treat himself to a luxury car.  He told Ford's head office he wanted his money back, but all they offered him was $3,000 off a new car.  Suffice to say this poor man is not a happy camper.

I'm just glad to have Betsy home.

Storm and Spec (photo heavy)

The farm above us is a true farm and he has a couple of Belgians and a miniature horse which I have mentioned before.  The miniature horse and the Belgian both had foals a month ago and I finally got over to take some photos yesterday.

This is Storm and his mother.

 This is Linda, she is 23 years of age.  She is a fine old lady and very gentle.

This is Spec, which is short for Special and he was a little skittish.  That is Jim and on the right of the photo, just below the red building you can see a grey/white driveway, that is where we live.

Spec is a tall boy; that's his mother's head in the photo.  The father is from Indiana......or at least that is where the sperm came from!

 Jim and Spec's mother.

Spec's tail was docked at birth which is a normal thing to do apparently.

 A closer look at Spec.

 Spec trying to find something to eat!

 A close up of Storm; he was named Storm as there was a storm when he was born.  By the way he may look innocent enough, but he's a biter........ask me how I know!

 Another shot of Linda.

This one is to show you the height difference in the horses.  By the way Storm has discovered he is a male and is "humping" everything in sight!  Ask me how I know!!

Love this shot, the woods on the fence line are on the south end of our property.  The road you can see is the lane way to the house behind us by the red cattle building.

Horses and Crows........

Had some crows handing out on Wednesday, guess they thought it was too hot and humid also?

 The one on the left was perched there forever just taking in the view.

Went over to talk to the horses.  Zelda wouldn't turn around to say hello at all.  Elle is in the pen as she has thrown a shoe, so she is not allowed to run around.  She is also in "season," and was artificially inseminated and the vet is coming on Friday to do an ultrasound to see if it "took."  They do it at 14 days so if it's twins they can snip one away, as it's both dangerous to the horse and foal carrying twins.  If it hasn't taken I think Heather said they will try once more this year, but then that's it until next year.  So fingers crossed there will be a baby foal in the paddock in 11 months time.

 Uti did a least look up when I called his name, but again wasn't fussed about seeing me.  He is looking so well and his coat looks so much better.  I think he's enjoying living with the two girls.  I sound as though I know  lot about horses now don't I?  Heather just answers the seven hundred questions I have when ever I see her!!

I took down the newspaper from the windows as it was like living in a dungeon.  Pleased to say haven't seen the male cardinal since.  Took me forever though to get the scotch tape residue off the windows.  Had to use Goo Gone and then clean all the windows again!!

It's an anniversary of sorts today.  32 years ago dh and I went out on our first date.......to the pub of course, even though I was only seventeen at the time.  I am quite sure I only drank lemonade....wink, wink!

A little more about the kitchen......

When we were out and about on the weekend we called into Lowes and picked up one of the light fixtures to try out in the kitchen.  These are the ones I want and they were even featured in the "This Old House" magazine July 2013 issue on page 38.

Now we cannot put up a back splash until we have had the upper cabinets redone and that won't be happening until September.  I have been on the lookout for tiles though.  I love the look of Subway tiles, like we did in the laundry room here:

Dh isn't keen on having them in the kitchen.  So I found these mosaic tiles.  I am not 100% convinced, but do like them.  Just a little worried they may be a little dark.  They work out to under $6 a sheet, one foot square, so they are a good price.  The glass mosaic tiles which are all the range would look much too modern in our kitchen.

We are having the kitchen island picked up this week to get painted so will show you that when it comes back.

Interesting to say the least............

On Sunday I went out to cut the grass.  Within half an hour I was rushing into the house, stripping of my clothes in the kitchen, shouting and carrying on.  Dh was on the phone with dd and was looking at me in complete amazement at what I was doing.

As he said to dd, "your mother has just ran into the house and stripped off her clothes."

I ran upstairs and got into the shower.  I had scratched myself red raw in some places and no I hadn't been bitten but it turns out I am allergic to the bloody grass.  I went off my allergy pills a week or so ago and I had barely been outside since that time.  However cutting the grass in the field which was long and flying around was "the straw that broke the camels back" as they say.

Suffice to say a trip into town to get allergy pills was in order and no more grass cutting for the day.  I was out yesterday cutting grass with no problem, other than I ran out of gas!  I can cut the grass in a fraction of the time with the new mower, so that's a good thing.

The newspaper on the window is working at keeping the red cardinal away, however it still attacks the patio door every now and then (no newspaper on there); will keep the newspaper up for a few more days.  Also had no birds fly into the picture window yet either which is good, but that doesn't happen every day normally though.

Do I dare hope that I may get my car back this week?  Stay tuned for news on that front!

Have a good day everyone!