This is part two of a three part series on rural Annapolis Valley - Cows.

"We're not sure what you're doing - but we'll be keeping an eye on you - just in case you do something more interesting than what's going on here. Things are pretty hot and slow around here, and we've already had our naps for the day. Buster here is ahead on the fly kill score and we're just taking a break. We need to break out and do something more radical. "

"My grandpa used to come this way to the watering hole and so this is the way I come, and this is the way we'll go." 

"I'm coming up to see you. Just be careful I don't roll over on you cause I would squash your measly being into a pancake..."

"Aren't you going to come up and follow me over behind the tree. It's cooler over there and there might be some sweet corn for us. We can go for  swim to cool off too, except Momma won't let me go by myself because I might get lost." 

"So the main thing is that most people think we live a pretty boring life - but actually we have more to do than the Whitehouse staff, just to keep their head above water. We just spend a little more time considering the options and usually take more of the high road - because the low road is pretty dry this time of year and we prefer to get down and muddy - just to cool off and get rid of these pesky flies - which by the way are much less bothersome than that pesky media mob down there in Washington. Isn't that right little buddy - Oh can you get that little bug just over a touch.. he's been chewing on me and I can't quite reach him?"

"Oh darn, I can't quite remember what I did with my knitting. I know I had it earlier this morning before the milker started in on me. I had to hide it quickly so he doesn't catch on to what we do with our time off. Oh well, it'll come to me after a bit, I just have to consider all the possibilities, and that makes me tired."

"Well, I figure it's this way. Donald will just keep hiring and firing people until everyone figures out that working for him is the biggest career ending move imagineable - and then they'll let him just twitter away on all discussion rather than thinking things through. Now, if he can just find a way to hire all of the press corps, individually - just to drive them to drink and get them off his back and front. And don't get me wrong, and let me be clear about this - we don't want him up here when he retires to the farm - at least not this farm anyway - we have strict immigration policies here on this farm and good fences to keep out the undesirables ..."  

"Come on you guys. We better get there before Leroy drains the pond. I'm a mite thirsty and he's been there a bit too long. Good thing we had that big rain the other night. It just may get us through the summer. Need lots of water to make great milk for all the kiddies."

This is the first of a three part series on the Annapolis Valley. This one is on barns. All were taken while we were at our daughter's place in Morristown, which is between Berwick and Aylesford on the Aylesford Lake Road. I wandered the Hall Road, Victoria Road, and Harmony roads over to Greenwood, stopping here and there for a late morning/ early afternoon summer session.  

 There seems to be a lot of subject matter to shoot over there as there is in most rural communities. This was a particularly warm, cloudy summer day, with lots of humidity.  

The peace, tranquility and beauty of the idyllic rural farm life is in a juxtaposition with the reality of the difficulties and harshness of the realities that farm life can sometimes offer. Barns have a lot of charm, yet suffer the ravages of time as the barn boards take on all the weather that summers and winters and wind and rain and snow can offer. And yet, they seem to stand the test of time as very few people can remember when the old falling down barns were brand new and full of hope for the farmers and animals who inherit the luxuries of new surroundings.

I love the sight of the faintness of the old red style barn that seems to say: "You have forgotten us - look, you haven't even put a new fresh coat of red paint on my boards"...

I wonder what stories these old barn boards could tell us, if given the chance. As I stand and observe, and enjoy the peacefulness of the warm summer tranquility, I get filled with wonder and curiosity with what's inside these old structures and what their story would be.  

As the year's pass, the green grass  and hay grow and the trees and fruits and gardens flourish in the heat, sun, and rain of the lush Valley weather. But as the plants flourish, the man-made additions to the natural world take a beating. Perhaps they are not meant to remain forever - as a powerful reminder of the role nature plays in the order of mankind.

Some barns (and old vans) are closer to the end than others. It's a good thing we don't have a pool on when these old structures will finally collapse to the ground - it could take years. It has taken a long time for some of them to acquire the state in which they currently exist. 

Had a really nice day the other day - after the work was all done we had cocktails on the deck and put out some peanuts for the birds. 

We (and the birds) are adjusting to no feeders. We are so used to sitting and watching them all and now there's just a few "hangers on".

 We then finished up with a small campfire. It was a really nice Tuesday or Wednesday evening.  Enjoy...

Brother Lloyd and I started with the first of the trees coming down on May 22. The building took about 6 weeks with days off and since I was in no hurry, I didn't hurry. I had lots of help and really appreciate that. The kids will too. It was certainly a labour of love and is now in good enough shape I can leave it alone for a bit while I get some other stuff done. The end result looks better in person than on any drawings I made up to try and make sure it all went together well. There are no major issues with the construction, although I did have a few days that questioned my sanity when things didn't go as smoothly as I had predicted or wanted.

 Here's the latest of the treehouse pictures. This is from the deck.  

 The steps aren't perfect - these were done in a hurry quite early on and I needed to get them together so I could save time. But they work OK for now. I may need a little more challenge for the kids to crawl or climb up to the house. 

Here's what you see from the walkway coming over from the garage.

WaxWings and Turtles

Our neighbour Beagle Ken was telling me about these birds he hadn't seen in about 5 years and they were at his place eating his holly bush berries. So I told him to call when they reappeared. He called and I ran down, but only managed one sequence of one bird - there were about 10 about but most were under cover. The berries are almost gone. I was happy just to get any. This was on Wednesday April 20.

On Friday My brother Paul and I headed for the Valley for a fishing trip on a very warm spring day. On lake one we were fairly unsuccessful fish-wise - but very successful fun-wise. We then switched over to lake number two and before we loaded the boat we checked the local turtle log to see if any were out and about. There were six on the log originally, but they disappeared rather quickly when the alarm goes up. Three reappeared after things settled down. Here's Turtle One and Turtle Two telling Turtle Three to come on up to practice the synchronised sunning routine they were working on ...

The little guy was swimming around the log and finally said "I'm coming on up ... I'm just getting my energy up for the big climb."

OK, so here we go - ahhh made it .. that sure is a long way to pull up a heavy shell like mine...

OK, so synchronized practice over - then what do we do ? How about some balancing practice.

Look guys, no hands or feet !!!

 We got the turtles, we got a deer, two pairs of ruffed grouse, some red-tailed hawks, two beavers, and then a mystery bird that must be a lightened up eagle - further research required. Oh, and by the way we did take enough trout home for a great breakfast for three on Saturday morning. Great day on the water with lots of heat and interesting things going on... No bugs, and no sunscreen - forgot that. Summer can't be that close !!! Some of the stories are for another time... 

The Paw Patrol Easter Egg Rescue

"Hi I'm Ryder(Grammie), I just got a call from the Easter Bunny saying the wagon I borrowed from Grammie to deliver Easter Eggs has turned over and needs to be rescued. We need two teams to set out and try and find the wagon with the spilled eggs... Skye (AJ) and Marshall(Holden) will be PawPals 1, Everest (Norah) and Rocky (Eloise) will be PawPals2.
"PAW Patrol, to the Lookout." …  " All paws on deck"...

Everyone get your badges and baskets to gather the missing eggs and instructions from Ryder.

Here they are at Clue #1 - the big yellow mountain. Marshall just wanted to slide: "I'm fired up! Pups Away"..

Off to clue #2: Where the fairies live near the Fairy Door: ROCKY: "Green means go!!".

Clue # 3: Off to the Dragon Cave where the dragons live... Skye:"Let's take to the sky!"

Clue # 4: Off to Nikita's Garden. Everest: "Ice or Snow I'm ready to go!" .

Final Clue: Near the Big Boat and the Wood Pile:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: YOU HAVE LOCATED THE TURNED OVER WAGON!!! PUT ALL THE EGGS IN YOUR BASKETS …

Perrfect Paw Patrol Participation... Now PUPS - go find your rewards in the house: all is set up in Grammie and Grampie's Room...

Eloise was happy to get a carrot, but she also got a three wheel scooter (below).

Norah got just what she always wanted - a skate board !!! Here she is showing Daddy ...

The girls put together the scooter for Adeline (Grampie's AJ) ... 

...and Holden came away with mitfull of trucks - a dump truck with even a plow on it !!!

Here are the scooters - Holden also has a blue one like Eloise's... all awaiting patiently for the Paws to go have some fun on the driveway - with helmets of course...

Hope everyone had a beautiful Easter. We then headed off for a marvelous turkey dinner with home made apple and blueberry pie and ice cream ...