We are rejoicing that we finished harvest on Thursday so we celebrated by going out for our annual harvest dinner this evening to Hanna. The Kerr family & we 4 Sankeys enjoyed a roast beef dinner.

After the frost we had here earlier this week my Amur Maples turned a brilliant red. I am hoping to enjoy them for awhile before the leaves fall.
Unloading canola into the grain cart.

This is our harvest lunch wagon. It goes from field to field & when I bring out a hot dinner it sure beats eating on your lap! Murray bought it for $300, 5 years ago over my protest but it has turned out to be just the niftiest thing. I don't mind it getting dragged out in the dusty fields. This field was 10 miles from home.

Today Murray finished combining our last canola field so he was rejoicing over our last meal in the trailer for 2007. We still have 160 acres of wheat but that field is only 1 1/2 miles from home so it is easier to come in for meals. Hopefully we can get all done harvest early next week.

A couple nights ago I woke up near 4:00 A.M. to close the window because I was cold. After lying there for a long time and not being able to go back to sleep I decided to get up, get dressed and go for my daily walk. It was still dark out so I took a flashlight and started off. My biggest fear was running into a skunk in the dark! After awhile I got to thinking what would I do if my flashlight quit & I was a mile and a half from home? So I turned off the flashlight to see if I could tell where I was going. Surprisingly I could make out the road quite well even without a moon. The stars were shining brightly & I could see many constellations. I only turned the flashlight on occasionally to check for skunks! I wouldn't want the experience every night but I must say it was rather pleasurable to be out there alone with the millions of stars. Made me think of the verse " What is man that thou art mindful of him?"

Even though it was cool on Sabbath we went to the lake (Gray's). Notice the nice sandy beach kids! We enjoyed hearing the waves lapping on the shore and the beautiful sunset over the water.

Yesterday & today I have been tending to my trap line. Who would have thunk I would turn into a ruthless trapper, but when the moles starting invading our yards a couple of years ago I took mole trapping lessons from a friend near Balzac and although they are coming in fast I have had some success at keeping the moles out of my immediate vicinity at least. Yesterday afternnon I set one trap in my yard & a couple hours later had caught a mole. Then in the evening I set 3 traps & this morning discovered I had caught 3 moles! To have success you have to find the run into their most recent molehill, dig it out & put the trap at the entrance to the hill. When they see the light coming in at the end or top of the trap they run to fill in their run and are caught in the trap.

I have pulled the trap out of the hole so you can see the back end of the mole in the trap.

This is a different, but just as effective trap. It is about 6-8 inches long so you can see the size of the mole. This is a smaller one.

They are squished with the spring around their head or middle when caught in the trap. I hope you can see their teeth and claws.

Move

Murray carefully packing.

On Wednesday, August 22, Murray & the Kerr crew brought the stock trailer to Red Deer and moved our possessions from one house to the other. Many thanks to them & Debbie Letniak who came & helped out and made the day more efficient. So our "stuff" is mostly in the garage of the city house awaiting carpet cleaners and then more help to put everything in place. This week I clean the farm house for renters Sept. 1. Rain on the ranch has Murray anxious to get the combining back under way.

Remembering

On August 15, friend and former highschool classmate, Lorraine (Uniat) Gallagher passed awauy after struggling with cancer for some time. Murray & I were able to attend her funeral in Edmonton Sunday, August 19. A number of our class were there to honor Lorraine's memory. Knowing her faith was strong makes it easier to say " Until we meet again".

Whirlwind August

From August 1-3, my dear friend Sharyl (who came all the way from Portland to help me) & I brain stormed, furniture shopped, chose paint & area rugs & had a ton of fun. Her expertise proved superbly valuable and I will post pics when all the firniture is delivered & put in place. We got an amazing amount done in a short time but I still wish she were closer to help me with the odds & ends. Thanks heaps, Sharyl!

Sharyl taught me how to paint posterboard so you can see more of a paint sample than those impossible tiny squares.

Here is a sample of a few of the things we actually brought home with us. As you can see it is my "red" year! Stay tuned to see what else I ordered in red.

On August 8 I met my Mom, Kim, Yan & Nicholas in Red Deer to show them our new home and then we came out to the ranch. We cuddled Nicholas all we could and think he is the most precious grandson.How does one choose from the zillion pics taken over 10 days but we sure did enjoy Nicholas' smiles so here is one of them.Nicholas found his legs while he was here and enjoyed standing ramrod straight.Here he is standing alone at 4 months. If only he could find his balance he would be walking!!!Scott & Patricia came out on Aug 10 and Amy, Karis & Zachary arrived from Orlando on the 11th so we had a wonderful houseful of young adults & kids. Here Zachary is getting to know his second cousin Nicholas.
Zachary visiting with Scott.

While here Scott was able to to get in the swather (with some strong help) and if you look closely he is in the operator's seat with dad as co-pilot!

Yan enjoyed the big machines and learning about farming.

Zachary getting up close & personal with the bison!

Amy & Kim (first cousins) enjoyed a ride on the quads.

Kim on the hill overlooking Little Gem.

Zachary & Karis. Zach came outfitted with a darling denim jacket so he would fit in at the ranch!

My mom and her 2 great grandsons.

Grandpa telling Nicholas a secret.

Grandma & Nicholas in the rocking chair.

Another one of those precious smiles.

Nicholas & his Mom taking perogy making lessons from Baba!

Unfortunately on August 17 we had to hug & kiss our grandson & his parents good-bye as they headed back west to Courtenay. What a silent empty house. We sure did enjoy the visit from everyone. Can't wait til Christmas!