"Gasp!!!"

Day 2 of Motocross for our boys and both did great but their Mom's nerves are rattled!  Our oldest loves 'catching air' and was pushing hard today!  However, seeing the rider beside your son about to land hard on his front tire and possibly head over the handle bars while your son is right beside gave this Mom quite a few extra grey hairs today!  Needless to say, there were quite a few gasps but sighs of relief as both landed and carried on ...

Our youngest loves the 'straight-aways' and although he is more cautious with the jumps, he too, was starting to catch some pretty good air today!  If he keeps riding the way he is, it will only be a matter of time that he too, makes his Mom gasp and instantly sprout grey hairs!

Flying Dirt!

Our boys are racing down at DORVA (Drumheller Off Road Vehicle Assoc.) this weekend, in the AMSA Championships Series Round 6 and 7.  They got off to a slow start on their first race but most definitely improved on their second!  The dirt is flying and their Mom's heart is still pounding but I do love to watch them and see their big smiles when the day is done!

June Meanderings

Miss Me?  I kind of disappeared without notice!  Well ... I can't really claim disappearing, as I was still here and taking pictures BUT my computer and I separated!  Yup ... after a long, cold winter it has been rather difficult to keep the love affair alive when the sun is shining, the days are so much longer and there are a zillion things to do!  SO, having already taken and posted pictures everyday for approximately 1200 days in a row ... I was a REBEL and took pictures but didn't post them!  That being said ... Here is what has been happening on 'My Lil' Piece of the Prairies ...'

June 1, 2014:

A 5:00am a road trip to Southern Alberta!!!  The most painful part of that equation is watching a GORGEOUS sunrise out of the dirty truck windows and not being able to talk the *pilot* into 'QUICKLY' stopping for a photo (hmm ... I sense the pilot knows better than that!  LOL!).  Needless to say, travelling at that hour is always glorious, especially in the spring time AND the *pilot* does stop long enough for a fresh cup of coffee (He has different priorities I guess!)!

Two hours later, we arrived at the Brooks Motocross Park with two excited boys ready for race day!  Yes, the boys have started their motocross racing season once again!

June 2, 2014:

Our local Great Horned Owl family is growing!  There are actually 3 owlets but on this day, only this feathery *fluff* was inquisitive enough to peer over the side of their nest!

June 3, 2014:

The prairie is BURSTING with colour these days!  Certainly a welcome sight after such a long winter!  These magnificent Dark Throat Shooting Stars or Saline Shooting Stars (Primula pauciflora var. pauciflora) always add a delicate beauty to a saline flat or wet meadow!

June 4, 2014:

The innocence of a wild babe that will soon have to fight to survive in this human tainted landscape and world!  Often viewed as a pest, I am a firm believer that coyotes play an integral role in the prairie ecosystem and love 'em or hate 'em, I don't think we would ever want to see the outcome if they were completely removed.

Our youngest attended our school division's Track n Field day for the smaller grades!  Everyone there was blessed with a beautiful, sunny day!  All you could see was smiles gleaming from the kids!

The heat of the day (which was marvellous!!!) always seems to cook up some interesting storm clouds!  Racing to get the final few acres of barley seeded, my husband managed to finish our spring seeding just as the wind, lightning and rain hit!!!  Yeah!  It's nice to be done!

June 5, 2014:

Brrr... those storm clouds the night before carried in single temperature digits and a very brisk, cold wind the next day!!!  Not exactly the warmest day for our oldest to compete in his Track n Field day!  However, he had a blast!!! I on the other hand FROZE!!!

June 6, 2014:

Much of our birds have finally returned and it wouldn't quite be the same without our Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica)!  Always cheerful and on the fly, like the other swallows that visit us, they EAT FLYING INSECTS!!!!  Any bird that does its part to reduce the flying insect population is golden in my books!!!

June 7, 2014:

Out on a late Saturday morning adventure to check cows and scour the pasture for old relics from the past, the boys and I found ourselves taking cover in one of the old buildings and patiently waiting for some storm clouds to move off!

Apparently the rain and rather large but soft (thank goodness) hail didn't really bother some of the gals but the boys and I thought otherwise!  So we took turns gazing out of the old doorway!

June 8, 2014:

The 'hay and crop' tours are in full swing!  It happens when you are married to a farmer and it happens OFTEN!!!

June 9, 2014:

... The moment you get over to the pasture and start checking cows ... the cold wind picks up and the clouds roll in!!!

June 10, 2014:

Happy BUZZING honey bees!!!!  Mmmm ... HONEY!

June 11, 2014:

Another new BABE!  But a few more to come!

June 12, 2014:

Yes, this beautiful, old prairie continues to blossom but not every lil' native, perennial forb is as delicate as it looks!  Meet Death Camas (Zigadenus venenosus)!  This meadow beauty can certainly wreak havoc especially to livestock (its a favourite among sheep)!  Its toxic alkaloid 'zygadenine' is present throughout the entire plant!  Some believe its more potent than strychnine!  Sometimes referred to as a 'wild onion,' this plant should be considered poisonous to all livestock and humans.

And with that ... I think I'm officially caught up!  

Weekend of Wheels and BIG Noise!

After helping their Dad most of the day on Saturday, 'Mom' quickly packed and headed into Calgary to meet up with the boys Uncle!  What was supposed to be an 'ALL BOYS' night out ended up having a 'girl' tag along, since Dad was still in the field.  The boys' Uncle bought tickets to the 'Monster Truck Jam!'  Despite being very LOUD, even with ear plugs, the boys were thrilled and loved that they got to see their favourite trucks including 'Northern Nightmare!'

Sunday morning 'Dad' showed up in Calgary with dirt bikes in tow for the boys LAST AMSA (Alberta Motorsports Association) Motocross Race in Calgary.  The boys were excited and ended the year with smiles.  They had such fun, made some great friends, really improved and are looking forward to next year.

*I am slowly catching up on my posts since last week and I have yet to catch up on comments ... SORRY!  Here's hoping I get everything caught up soon!*  Have a great week ... what remains!

Race Day ...

My boys headed south early Saturday morning and this morning, I ventured through the fog soup to meet up with them.  Of course I had to test my camera on the way ... you know me, I can't resist a hawk!  

The boys were at their 2nd last CMRC race of the year at the Brooks Motocross Track.  After the fog lifted, it was a perfect day for racing!  

This is the first year the boys have raced and they continue to improve and have a blast!  I'm not sure if my nerves will ever subside when they race but it does make me smile to see them enjoying themselves.  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  

Miss Me?

Hmm ... I've been off the radar!  I was still snapping photos but somehow I did't get to posting them until now!  So here we go, a long post recapping what happened this past week:

SUNDAY:

The boys were involved in the AMSA Rounds 6 & 7 this past weekend in Drumheller, AB at DORVA.  It was a fantastic weekend, the kids had a blast and they had some great rides.  They have really improved since just starting back in the spring.  

MONDAY:

Somehow, watching our boys in the 7-11yr old class is easier on this Mom's nerves than it is to watch the 17yr old you know making some serious 'whips!'  This was Justin's first weekend back riding since May and he did a great job on his Yamaha YZ250F.

After escaping the rain that kept to the north of Drumheller most of the day, we headed home to the rain!  

TUESDAY:

Tuesday found the boys out checking the pea crops ... and not only filling their faces but stuffing their pockets full of peas for the remainder of the evening!  Who said kids don't eat peas?

As the sun was setting, we checked on the flax as well.  Hmm ... almost done blooming.

WEDNESDAY:

Wednesday found the boys and myself back in the hayfield, raking and baling the last of what was cut.  We managed to bale it all before the rain returned.  It's amazing to see how the fields are beginning to ripen.  *sigh* ... our greens are starting to become golden.

THURSDAY:

The boys and their Dad out checking the canola.  If you don't know much about canola, it is certainly worth educating yourself about it. Canola Oil is the healthiest oil available!

  

FRIDAY:

Aaaaah yes!  It's finally Friday and I am once again caught up!  

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  

Cheers!