Fall Haul.

"I'm so glad we live in a world where there are Octobers"

Anne of  Green Gables

We were so blessed this past October with amazing weather in the valley. Farmers were able to get 4th and even 5th cut hay in October. This is a rarity. I couldn't believe how much riding time I was able to get in with my horse this past October. It's the first of November today, and quite a drizzly day outside. I've spent most of today catching up on studying for my accounting class, and hopefully the weather will break for a little while so I can work with the horses today. The pictures below were taken in Abbotsford and Deroche this past October. 

A Full Circle Moment

This was my first horse, Farah. She was a sweet, spunky little registered Peruvian Paso. Unfortunately, I only had one really good riding year with her because she tore her suspensory ligament in her leg one rainy, slippery night. 

When I bought her, she was a parade horse, and so she had the most gorgeous black, blinged out saddle that I had ever seen. I had kept it for a long time after I had put her down. I finally decided that her saddle was taking up too much space at home, so I decided to put it on the consignment saddle list at the farm supply store I was working for at the time.

A few weeks went by and I didn't get any offers. Then, one night while I was working there, a mom and her daughter came in. This girl was in love with my saddle, but she was embarrassed to make me an offer just in case it wasn't enough. I was thrilled that a young girl, who was roughly the same age that I was when I rode with that saddle, was interested in it. 

Her mom stopped in a few more times into the store, and every time, she would always ask to make sure that no one had put any offers on it. She told me that her daughter was working an extra paper route shift in order to save up for it. I was impressed! This girl knew what she wanted. 

At that point, I told her mom to let her know that I would give her first dibs on my saddle. The girl was in the store the next night to look at it. A few weeks later, she came back to me with an offer, and of course, I told her that I would take it. She worked so hard to earn it and she loves horses. I had prayed that my saddle would go to a young lady who would appreciate it just as much as I did. 

I was in the store the other day to purchase some stuff, and my former coworker informed me that the young lady had come in this past summer looking for me. She wanted to thank me for selling her the saddle. She also brought in a picture of her riding in the Canada day parade with that saddle on her horse. I am so thrilled that she did that. What a complete circle story. 

Canadian Ploughing Championships 2013

Some pictures from the annual ploughing match here in the Fraser Valley that was hosted May 6 -- 11. It was held literally in my parent's back yard! So awesome to see the families and kids from across town take an interest in it!

Find out more about the Canadian Ploughing Organization Here

Prepare for Autumn

Hello Everyone! It's been far too long since I've written. This summer has been an amazing journey of taking summer classes for the first time, expanding my horsemanship skills, watching my husband work hard out in the fields, and preparing for my baby sister's wedding! Talk about a lot going on.

We also had one of the hottest summers in years here in British Columbia. It didn't rain for the entire month of July, and this past week, we finally got some much needed rain. The growing corn is rejoicing. Soon people will be cutting grass, chopping corn and harvesting vegetables here in the valley.

Fall is most definitely my favourite time of the year. It's also one of the busiest times of the year for my family. There's so much that needs to be done at the farm, my husband will be working hard doing custom work and sales, and I will be in school again.

Thankfully, my husband and I were able to get away to Whistler, BC for four days this August. It was a much needed break for both of us and we had so much fun! Here are a few pictures from our trip:

Brandywine Falls. Around 40 minutes outside of Squamish. The span of the falls is over 200 feet, and the culvert that it's in goes much deeper than that! 

One of the lookout points on the Brandywine Falls trail. 

Guinness, fish and chips from our favourite restaurant in Whistler: The Dubh Linn Gate Pub! 

Crankworks was on that week

Hiking at the top of Whistler Mountain. 

Amazing Views! 

In the chateaux at Whistler Mountain. Check out the Olympic Rings

The Peak 2 Peak tour is amazing! Expensive, but worth it. 

A view from Blackcomb Mountain

Stats on the Peak 2 Peak Gondolas. They are an engineering feat! The longest suspended Gondola in the world.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Milk Chocolate Covered Shortbread

Last night, we were watching christmas movies: Home Alone 2, Charlie Brown Christmas, and Elf. Needless to say, I felt inspired to do some christmas baking. The results was a delicious pan of milk chocolate covered shortbread.

I started out with a simple, standard shortbread recipe. Then things got a little crazy!

YAY for the Better Homes and Gardens Bridal Addition Cookbook!

I wanted to add chocolate to it, and lots of it! Time to break out the mini fondue crock-pot and melt it up! 

Here is the results: 

Delicious, buttery melt in your mouth chocolate covered shortbread. 

Here's the Recipe:

Milk Chocolate Covered Shortbread

1 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour

3 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter 

Melted Chocolate -- As Much Or As Little As You Want! 

***In order to fill a 9" by 9" pan, like I did, you will have to double the shortbread recipe***

Preheat the oven to 325. While preheating, mix flour and sugar. Slowly cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs and starts to cling. Knead and form into a ball. Place in an ungreased 9" by 9" pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the bottom starts to brown and the centre is set. While baking, begin to melt your chocolate. Make sure to stir it constantly so it doesn't burn. Once the shortbread is done, let it stand for about five minutes, and then coat with the melted chocolate. Set in the fridge overnight. 

Enjoy everyone! 

Winter Greetings

Hello One and All!

It has been a little while since my last post. It's funny how the school semester catches up with you sometimes and can keep you from doing some of your favourite things (like writing and recreational reading...I have so many good books to catch up on!)

Here is my little thought for the day:

Yes, I might be a little crazy, but  I LOVE being outside in this windy, cold and sometimes really wet winter weather. I love the feeling of the fresh mountain air on my face. I love a good North-Easterly wind that howls and whistles through the valley. I love living in town and seeing the streetlights reflect off of a rain glazed side street. Its comforting to know that my horse is tucked away in his stall, happily munching on hay in his winter blanket during a cold snap. 

Although the weather outside is frightful (I'm in full on Christmas song mode here!) it's so delightful to get outside and enjoy the winter beauty. 

I'll have another post soon....possibly with a recipe for some yummy shortbread that I made last night...and some pictures of it! 

Renewing An Old Barn Window

My husband is a wonderful man. He knows how much I love old farmsteads, and a few months ago when he was working at a dairy farm, he came across an old window frame. He thought of me, and asked the farmer if he could have it to give to his wife. It was the best surprise ever, and I love it.

It's full of character, crackling paint, and a rusty latch. None of this is prefabricated. This window earned its marks over its years.

When he brought it home, it was covered in cobwebs, dust, bugs and dirt (lots and lots of dirt.) Today, I pulled it out of the storage room and decided to clean it. I leaned it up against the kitchen island, found a soft rag, and began to wipe away the dust. At first, I was apprehensive; afraid that I would take off too many pieces of the crackling paint. I was getting braver, as I realized that my gentleness would do nothing to get the cobwebs and dust off of my beautiful window frame. While I was mindfully wiping it down, a verse popped into my mind:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God......

Romans 3:23 

This verse played on a loop track in my mind while I was wiping, and rinsing clean, then wiping again. As I was wiping clean this glorious structure, I became more and more satisfied in it. I was delighted to discover that on the back of the frame, someone had painted one side of it hunter green. It was hidden under all of the grime. I thought that the window was beautiful before. Slowly, this frame was becoming a masterpiece. 

I continued to be more brave while wiping it down. Some of the paint chips floated freely to the ground as I did. At first, I was horrified. I was ruining this piece by changing its original state as I cleaned it. Then a thought crossed through my mind: 

I'm not ruining it, I'm instilling it with some of my own character. 

I will now be a part of what it is,

and what it is becoming. 

I smiled to myself, still replaying the verse above over and over in my head. Then, I got the idea to actually wipe down the individual paint chips that were still attached to the window. My level of appreciation and satisfaction in this window deepened even more as I took the grime of at least a decade off of the creamy, white paint. I discovered that some of the paint had faded into a lovely, light pink shade over the years where the sun had touched it. I was thoroughly delighted in this frame now. 

And that was when He spoke:

My child, this is the same satisfaction that I have in you. 

I looked at the frame, then at the ground, where all of the cobwebs, paint chips and dust were lying. Anything that wasn't meant to be on that frame had been removed. Yes, there is still dirt on it in some spots. The latch is missing it's other piece. There is no glass in the windows. One corner of the window has seen the effects of rot. But this is the most beautiful thing that I have ever had to call as my own. It is salvaged, but it is so delightfully, gloriously beautiful. 

And now, it is saved. Just like myself. Every single day, His satisfaction in me will grow as well as His delight. 

And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by 

Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:24