My granddaughters and I, plus two of the dogs, had to spend the day in Whitehorse, Yukon. One of the dogs, Simon, was having surgery, which meant that we had to be on the road by 6 a.m. in order to arrive at the vet's by 8 a.m. The other …( read more )

Recently, one of my dogs, Denver, had a veterinarian appointment. Normally, he rides in the truck bed under the canopy. But on this day, he was going to have to ride in the passenger front seat, something that he had never done before. …( read more )

When we are zipping along the Alaska Highway, my granddaughters love it if I open the power-operated windows in the back seat so that the exhilarating air rushes in. They yell and scream with delight, especially during the winter months …( read more )

Last Christmas, Ade was four, and she was obsessed with watching the movie, The Grinch, over and over again, even after Christmas had long since come and gone. The Grinch's heart was changed as he witnessed how all the evil which he …( read more )

As we walk through the store aisles, the girls scan the rows for all the latest toys arriving for the Christmas season. Their anticipation of what lies ahead in a few more weeks is piqued high with excitement. They are waiting — waiting …( read more )

As the harvest was gathered in this fall, many of us discussed our gardens — their successes and their failures. As we did so, I was delighted to discover that where certain vegetables had failed throughout town, all of our plantings had …( read more )

It was there, lying upside down on the ground. I stopped to check it out. It was a bird's nest. Earlier in the summer, my daughter had pointed it out to me. High up in the pine, it was home to a robin and her fledglings. Now that fall …( read more )

I put my mitts down for a matter of seconds while I was working on the deck. Out of the corner of my eye, I spied Simon, my five-month-old dachshund, nip one and take off with it. Oh, well, I thought. I could see the direction that he …( read more )

The English meaning of the name "Kayley" is "keeper of the keys; pure". In regard to keeper of the keys, this suits my collie, Kayley, very well. Right from the beginning, she has had a habit of lying in front of the dog door. Whether …( read more )

On Labour Day weekend, we went for a two-and-a-half-hour ride on our quads (four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles) — and what a ride it was! Donning jackets, wind pants, gloves, boots, and helmets, we mounted our quads and away we went. My …( read more )

Our gardens did amazingly well this year. The cauliflowers, however, were just not producing. Their leaves were truly gigantic but there was no fruit. The celery was harvested, and then, the broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, corn, and cabbage …( read more )

I have resurrected my fanny pack, a small leather pouch with several zippered pockets, which belts around my waist. Within it, I now carry a bear banger to frighten off bears. The device looks a lot like a fountain pen. At one end, it has …( read more )

Have you ever had one of those days? Well, I had one today. It all started when I had to remove a sheet of plywood and screw it back onto a wall. The sheet came off easily, but lining all the screw holes up to put it back on was more …( read more )

As much as I look forward to the return of rain after the heat of summer. I dread it at the same time, as I hate the mess of mud. With the dogs and small children running about, there always seems to be an overabundance of it. Take the …( read more )

There is a dog door into my front porch so that the dogs can come in to get out of the wet and cold. I also have a large, comfortable dog shelter on my front deck where they may take refuge in a storm. Yet, when I am away for the day, …( read more )

Bugs, bugs, bugs are everywhere this summer: in our hair, in our eyes, in our mouths, in the house, in the car, under our clothes, in the bed. A person just can't get away from them! I have therefore been using a prodigious amount of bug …( read more )

In our area of Canada, we have been inundated with bugs this summer. Having received record levels of snow during the winter and torrential rains amidst the spring, there was standing water and flowing creeks, rivers, and ditches …( read more )

Outside, finally enjoying the spring weather, my family and I were standing by the greenhouse, discussing repairs that needed completing. As we were chatting, a resounding metallic thunk split the air. We all knew immediately what it …( read more )

Living in northern Canada takes its toll upon one's skin, especially during the long, cold, dry winter. Thus, sixteen months ago, on the spur of the moment while I was doing my monthly shopping, I grabbed a bottle of a new, foaming face …( read more )

My four-year-old granddaughter was at my house, eating her breakfast, when she decided that she didn't want the regular spoon that she was using. She wanted her Disney "Frozen" spoon with Princess Elsa on it. So, she reached under the …( read more )

My son-in-law made a trip to Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, to pick up supplies for their business. While he was there, he also picked up a small tent trailer that I had purchased online a year previously and had left with friends until …( read more )

During the long winter months when we had so much snow here in northern Canada that we were forced to stay indoors most of the time, my four-year-old granddaughter decided that we should do science experiments. Once she had decided on …( read more )

My little granddaughter sometimes has a problem coordinating what she is thinking about doing with what her limbs are actually doing. Right now, the struggle appears when I am trying to help her get her boots or her jacket on. She will put …( read more )

In my opinion, whoever invented the roof rake deserves not only all the money that they have made through this invention, but a medal as well. The amount of snow that we have experienced this winter has been phenomenal. Keeping ahead of it …( read more )

There had been so much snow that I was now able to walk over the corral fence, instead of having to open the big gate to go in. Interestingly enough, however, Frank, my gelding, and the three goats had made no move to cross the boundary …( read more )

The heavy weight of the immense snows that we have had this winter has brought destruction upon many of the region's trees: limbs have been snapped off, huge trees have been felled. Others have been bent so low by their icy burden that …( read more )

It was time to deworm the livestock again. This is a task that either goes well or it doesn't. Dealing with the goats is relatively easy, but coping with Frank, my gelding, can be a totally different scenario if he decides to balk at the …( read more )

Coming home from sorting at the Thrift Shop, I carried with me several pieces of very tarnished silver. It had been agreed that these lovely showpieces would sell so much better if someone polished them. I volunteered, and the job became …( read more )

One is three-and-a-half, the other one is one-and-a-half, and they certainly know how to get themselves into a jam. Every day, I hear those little voices calling out, "Grammy, Grammy, come help." One has climbed from the floor to the …( read more )

Fortunately for me, the lock on the outside of the laundry room door is high enough that my two little granddaughters can't yet reach it, because if they could lock it, I couldn't get out! They love nothing better than to run and shut the …( read more )

Seven dogs bring a lot of the outside in with them during every day of every season. During the winter, the snow comes in stuck to feet and legs. It's mud during the spring, bugs and dust during the summer, and dry leaves and sticks …( read more )

As usual, Frank, my gelding, was standing against the corral gate when I went out to feed and clean. As I opened the gate, I asked him to step back so that I could get myself and the cleaning toboggan through. He did step back, but just …( read more )

It was time again — though I dreaded it — to break in the new winter work mitts, before the temperatures dropped below the -20s. The old mitts were so comfortable and had formed to fit my hands so well, but the linings were worn, and it …( read more )