new age farming...

I hear a lot of tractors working in the fields around here these days...

but this was a different sound.

There was a helicopter circling in the skies over the cranberry fields nearby...

so I went to investigate.

I wasn't really sure what it was I was seeing at first.

But it turns out...

they farm with helicopters over there instead of tractors!

The fertilizer spreader is like a giant basket hanging beneath the helicopter.

(I took the photo from the top of overpass...

through hydro wires...

in case you were wondering why there was a cable attached to the helicopter.)

In our fields they are using the old-fashioned method...

tractors and organic fertilizer!

I'm not sure the helicopter would work for that...

but it would be one way of covering the low spots without getting stuck.

We still have lakes...and wet spots where the tractors dare not go!

We are promised a half-day without rain today... 
and are actually aiming to get a little corn seeded this morning.
We'll see.

time stands still for no one...

The moments slip through our fingers like sand.

The days and weeks rush by...

...and like a 'poof in the wind' the years disappear into the distant past.

But the memories...they linger on!

On Friday night we met for dinner with a group of friends that go back a long time!

We were all part of the church youth group way back then...

and likely all at the campfire pictured above 'back in the day'.

We hiked the mountains together...

explored the lakes...

crossed the border to go roller skating...

and drove all the way to Shakey's Pizza in Bellingham.

Now we compared notes on grandchildren...

and our aging parents.

And we remembered the 'good ole days'!

Where did the years go?

On Saturday our niece stopped by for coffee.

It seems not so long ago that she was the wee lass pictured above...

and now she is the mom of teenagers.

We discussed the joys and the challenges of parenting teens.

I think she is doing a fine job of her role.

Again...I was struck by how quickly that role comes and goes.

Time stands still for no one.

Not even Corinne...

who was the winner of my cookbook giveaway last week.

After giving her a week to come forward...

I am moving on to the next number.

And the winner is...#26!

The 26th commenter was Janine VM.

Janine...send me your contact info and I'll make arrangements to get you a cookbook ASAP.

Time...it waits for no one.

Make the most of your day!

our children's children...

Children's children are a crown to the aged...

Proverbs 17:6

Children's children...that would be our grands.

The aged...that would be me.  (Really?)

The grands have a way of making the aged smile.

Maggie has a new obsession.

Everything seems to be about Mickey and Minnie these days!

Ranen celebrated her fifth birthday a few weeks ago.

Since her dad is laid up these days...

I thought Operation may just be the appropriate gift for her.

I was sure he would be more than willing to teach her a few surgical skills.
 I haven't heard how that is working out!

Micah...always with a ready smile.

Though we have noticed he is beginning to show his independence...

and even stands up to his sister from time to time.

And on the farm...the grands are only too happy to spend quality time outdoors with each other...

and with Bentley!

(For the record...this photo was borrowed without permission from Broni's facebook page.)

They will hold your hand only a little while, but will hold your heart for a lifetime. 

I have a new Grandma tool that I am loving.

I was in need of a new Bible...and decided this was the one for me.

It includes 365 devotionals...by the likes of Ruth Graham, Jan Karon, Corrie Ten Boom and Emilie Barnes.

It also has a place to record milestones in the life of my grandchildren...and suggestions on how to pray for them at each stage of their life.

The Grandmother's Bible...yes, that's the Book for me!

 Have a wonderful weekend!

playing with colour...

We are back to grey weather over here.

But the Canon knows how to add a little colour to a drab landscape!

Since my camera was set to accent the colour purple...

I took a few pic's around the house of purple posies.

The wisteria are just beginning to bloom.

And when I tired of purple...

I figured out how to change the accent colour to green.

(If I played with my camera a little more often...

I might actually know how to use all these features!)

May you all find something to brighten your day...

whatever the weather.

game day...

It seems we have had many 'game days' this past month!

Other events get rescheduled...

while the all important Vancouver Canucks hockey team takes centre ice.

Young and old...

the jerseys are worn proudly.

Marge is sporting her Luonga jersey...

signed by the goalie himself for her 80th birthday a few months ago.

I don't think she will be giving it away anytime soon.

My dad came to the farm to 'work' the other day...

and I smiled to see the Canucks flag flying proudly on his car.

Ryder and great-grandpa...

Canucks fans and proud of it!

Yesterday was game day...

and everyone seemed to be flying their true colours.

Unfortunately...the guys working here on the farm all but missed the game.

Did you know that 'making hay while the sun shines' takes priority over hockey?

They cut grass until the game 'should have been over'...

but made it in just in time to watch double overtime.

All was not lost!
They saw the winning goal...

and now the Vancouver Canucks are headed to the Stanley Cup final.
That is the first time in 17 years!

So...there will be more game days.
Go...Canucks...Go!

and the cookbook goes to...

Thanks to all of you for your response...to the Mennonite Girls Can Cook cookbook giveaway!
 

I wish I could send one to each of you...and you would tell your friends and they would tell their friends...and a few less children would go to bed hungry as a result.  (As you know, the author royalties from the sale of the cookbook are going to feed hungry children in the Ukraine.)    But...unfortunately...I am only giving away one cookbook today.  And so I called in my most unbiased assistants to make the draw.

However...they seemed quite befuddled by the whole process...and were quite concerned that they would miss their connecting flight.  And so...in the end...I used the on-line random number generator to pick my winner.

And the cookbook goes to...commenter #52...Corinne!

Her comment...I don't have one yet!! I would love one!! My very Mennonite grandma owned a bakery called Grandma's Baking in southern AB and made her own cookbook. Problem is, all her recipes are so huge that by the time I try to split things up, it's not quite the same! So I am always coming back to your site to find the many of the same favorites, but in a smaller quantities...would love a hard copy of the book! Wonderful work ladies!

Corinne...please send me an e-mail with your contact info, and I'll get your cookbook in the mail ASAP.  If any of you know who Corinne might be...give her a nudge.  If I don't hear from Corinne by Wednesday night...I will choose another winner. 


Also, in response to the readers who are wondering if the cookbook is available in Australia...I understand the cookbook can be ordered on Amazon UK with free shipping to Australia on orders over 25 GBP. You might want to check that out.

And that brings my cookbook giveaway to an end.  I so appreciated all of your kind comments.  Thanks for stopping by...and may you all have a cookbook in your hand one day soon!  (If you hurry over to Vee's blog...you have a chance to enter her cookbook give-away today.)

Victoria Day...

Today is a holiday...

so they say.

We won't be straying too far from the farm today...

as the spring work has barely begun!

And just to be sure we won't have problems with dust anytime soon...

we had a few more days of rain this weekend.

Today promises to be a lovely day.

So we will make the most of it!

And thanks to each and every one of you who have stopped by and left a comment on my give-away post this weekend. It is so nice to hear from all my blog readers.  Thank-you! 

The entry deadline is at 6:30 tonight...and the cookbook winner will be announced tomorrow.

Happy Victoria Day!

a holiday give-away...

It's a holiday weekend here in Canada.
  

Victoria Day.

On the farm, it's not much of a holiday...

since there is much to be done at this time of the year.

So I'm thinking I'll celebrate with a give-away.

 And the prize is...

 ...a Mennonite Girls Can Cook cookbook.

I think everyone I know already has one.

From these gals in Manitoba...

who thought it made great Sunday afternoon reading material...

to family in the Okanagan...

...and those close to home.

Even my musician nephew decided he needed to have a cookbook all his own...

...and my niece in Australia has a copy.

But here's the thing...

whether you have one or not...

doesn't matter to me.

Just leave a comment on this post sometime over the long weekend...

and tell me why you might possibly want another cookbook...

and your name goes in the draw.

I'll be announcing the winner on Tuesday morning.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend...

and if it's not much of a holiday for you...

have a wonderful weekend anyhow!

seeding, swathing and sunshine...

Sunshine....and warmth...at long last!

After casing out the garden shop frequently this past while...

it was finally time to make some purchases.

My little garden boxes are planted.

And on the farm...

they swathed down grass yesterday.

It was decided that they would drive around all the lakes...

and take what they could while the sun was shining.

So that will keep everyone out of trouble around here for the next while.

Oh...and we are diversifying at the dairy.

It's not all black and white anymore!

We have a cage of turkey babies...

which the grands will enjoy over the summer.

They are lounging in the red light zone for now...

since they are still quite teeny.

I have made it quite clear that I have no intention of being involved in the turkey 'harvest' come fall. 

I am hoping there is a plan!

Today...I'll be hanging out on the front porch.

The cedar decking needs a new seal coat.

Why does it seem like I just did that yesterday?

Time flies...when you're having fun!

of flowers and being hospitable...

As a young mom...

I clearly recall one of the older women giving a talk about being hospitable.  

I don't remember much else...but will never forget her advice about having flowers in the home.

"If there are guests coming...

and the house is 'not quite guest ready'...

run to the garden and bring in some flowers."

Her theory was...

the guests will notice the lovely flowers and not the 'imperfect' house.

I clearly remember her sample arrangements...

flowers from her garden mixed with greens from the vegetable garden.

Did you know that daisies look quite lovely paired with carrot tops?

Yesterday morning, Marg and I shared a feature on hospitality for the Women's Breakaway group at church.

Naturally, I passed along the flower tip that was given to me so many years ago.

I ran to the garden...

picked what there was...

added a few chives for interest...

and took it along as a demo.

I came home at lunch...put the flowers on the table...

and went out to garden.

(Did I mention, we had sunshine, at last?)

In the early afternoon...

 family and friends dropped by unannounced on their way through the valley.

I invited them in...

and I'm thinking maybe my flower decoy worked.

They noticed the flowers on the table...

and maybe not the clutter around.

We had a nice visit.

They refused any refreshments...

and they carried on their way.

My advice to you...

plant flowers.

Bring them in.

You can't go wrong!

when hearts are sad...

One moment we received good news...

and were rejoicing with our granddaughter.

And with the next message...

came extreme sadness...

as our hearts went out to our friends.

Their son passed away on Sunday afternoon...

after hanging on to life by a thread for the past few months.

We met our friends when their two boys were teens...

and in those years there were happy times...

and lots of laughter.

Then the boys began making bad choices...

one after the other.

The parents watched helplessly from the sidelines.

The eldest son suffered a massive stroke...

brought on by his lifestyle.

He was not expected to live...

but recovered to the extent that he now lives independently...

though he is not able to talk.

He is a totally different person now...

happy and loving...

and willing to help others.

He volunteers where he can at church...

and loves to play video games with my son-in-law.
He adores Maggie.

His joy is contagious!

The younger brother continued in his old lifestyle...

not learning from his brother's experience.

Eight years to the day after the eldest son had a stroke...

the younger brother suffered the same fate.

How hard for the parents to go through this once more!
They wondered if they could handle this...

how they would face each new day.

They had one prayer...
that their son make things right with God while he still had a chance.
We pray that he did!

Our hearts go out to our friends.

May they find comfort in the good memories...

and strength for each day!

Death leaves a heartache only God can heal, 

love leaves a memory no one can steal.  

something to smile about...

I know...we all have something to smile about...every day. 

But some days it's just easier to smile than others.

And today...I have a granddaughter that will be carrying a very big smile.

She spent the weekend in Nelson, B.C....

over a few mountain ranges and eight hours from home.

Her team was participating in the provincial jump rope finals.

She was somewhat nervous last week...

to the point of being sick.

She had nothing to worry about!

Emme was one of six girls in her age group that made the provincial team...

and the only one from her skipping club.

She will now be skipping at the national competition in Alberta this summer.

She has reason to smile...

and we are so proud of her!

Edited to add:
Guess who stopped by this morning?

Still smiling...

and carrying an armful of ribbons and medals for me to check out!