Ann's Weblog

Yesterday, after I returned home from the Farmer's Market, I was surprised by a visit from the owner of the cat which went missing during my watch (as explained in the last blog post). I felt so intimidated to see his truck in the driveway that I ran to get Gary to wait in the wings in case I needed "backup". What a wuss I am.

To my relief, the customer had come to apologize, pay me for my daily visits to his house, and to report that his cat had returned. I'm not sure if the situation would have been the same if the pet was still gone, but I was gracious and grateful. I thanked the man for letting me know that the cat was okay and shook his hand in acceptance of the apology and payment.

So, I'm really out of my "funk" again. Despite the blue mood I had earlier, I had a good time at the Market and sold lots of jam and a few perennial plants. A friend who cooks for "camps" (both work camps and occasionally, tourists) has a project coming up, and she wants to pick up two cases of jam on Tuesday! I'm glad that I've let go of the burden of guilt and resentment, or whatever it was, as I need to pick up some speed again. Sometimes it's just hard to keep things in perspective.

Several of we vendors at the Market were saying that there needs to be more baked goods for sale. For many years I sold spankopita and cheesecake in individual slices and made about $100 extra dollars per market day, but items such as those are not allowed to be sold anymore. I also offered bunwiches with garden tomatoes, cheese and lettuce (no meat) on homemade buns, but sandwiches are now supposed to be made in certified and inspected kitchens.

I appreciated that there needs to be more baking, but then I realized that some of my friends were looking to ME to step up to the "lunch item" plate. Not only do I not want to compete with others who bake for the Market, but I'm not sure that I can take on more work. I guess I'll have to "play it by ear". At Dunster, where I used to live, I was thought of as the "bun lady" because I didn't mind making all the dinner rolls for weddings and other gigs that the community ladies catered to, but I'm not sure if I want to bake for the Farmer's Market now.

Last night I made Black Plum Jam with gin, Black Currant and Grape Jelly with Cassis, and Seville Orange Marmalade. I have fruit and berries thawing all over the kitchen, so I'll bottle some more jam today.

In the "kennels" we now have Goldie and Bonnie, Ryder, Molly, Cowboy, Winston, Riley and Mick, Mandy and Shadow. Not much has changed, but the three basset hounds went home and I miss those comical characters. Several dogs were brought by their owners to the Market yesterday, ostensibly to visit with "Auntie Ann"... I enjoy that and I keep the pets out in the park while the owners shop in the pavillion. Of course, I bring hand washing gear with me, in case you wondered.

Time for me to run away again. I'll stay home from the Dunster Market once again; there's just too much to do here (and not enough jam with labels on...). Perhaps I'll be back with some pictures later.

Thanks for visiting here. ~ Ann

I can't believe how fast the week flies by. Last Thursday I thought I was not going to be able to attend the Farmer's Market in my town, because of exhaustion. During the week, I had worked until 9 pm. on three nights, and the rest of the hours of each day were busy too. When Friday morning came, I reflected on how many years had gone by since I missed a Market... and rallied enough to go. Then I skipped going to the Dunster Farmer's Market on Saturday, and caught up around here a bit.

During the week, a friend who had been in the hospital for some time, died. His funeral was on Sunday, and I just couldn't face going.

Some of these pictures were taken a little while ago, so forgive me if I'm sharing them twice. Here is a photo of the Bohemian glass hummingbird feeder that my daughters gave me for Mother's Day this year; I think it's one of the most elegant things I own:

Yesterday I had a grooming "cancellation", and filled the time making bouquets for friends in McBride. I only took a picture of one of them. This one includes my first ever 'Elodie' Kiss Lily... a double Asiatic Lily which has no pollen to stain clothing or noses.

I have not got my degree in flower arranging yet (joke), but I know the flowers are appreciated where I take them.


Above are the Asiatic Lily 'Butter Pixie' and Iris 'Battle Royal', and a Nasturtium. One year I made "Nasturtium Blossum Jelly" out of just the deep coloured ones such as this one, and won first prize for jam/jelly in our town's Fall Fair.

I have had a sort of "heartbreak" this week. I was visiting a customer's cats on a daily basis, and sitting with them for a little while each time, and checking the gardens, houseplants too, and watering where necessary. The cats were indoor/outdoor type, with a wee cat door. After 10 days of our routine, one of the cats didn't greet me, and I searched the house and yard diligently, calling all the while. Then, two days later, the owner got home and found only one cat, and is blaming ME. I was speechless as he berated me for feeding the cats in a large dish outside instead of the little dishes inside... and feels that some predator, attracted by the food, has taken his one cat. In the first place, the owner didn't want to "spend too much money", so he wouldn't consider boarding his cats with us. He even, at first, suggested that I just come by "every few days", and I thought that they should be visited daily by SOMEONE. Oh, how I wish I had refused the task... it was not always easy to stop by the house, and I was very stressed when one cat was missing. Now I've been twisted and unhappy because the customer blasted me as if I was a 12 year old (not that they should be talked to with disrespect); I imagine HE will not be happy when he gets my bill. Last night I dreamed, for what seemed all night, of searching for cats and being threatened by a man.

The cancellation I referred to, of yesterday, was amusing. The new customer had to drive from Valemount, a town which is about an hour's drive away. The family drove in at approximately the time I was expecting them to bring me their German Shepherd for grooming, and they had FORGOTTEN THE DOG! They were unapologetic, and I was stunned, though, in a sense, nice enough not to "lay a trip" on them for my time being wasted (I can always fill the hours...). They bought some plants and promised to reschedule. This was a first in all my years of pet boarding.

Last night I went out for "wing night" in McBride, joining friends. Gary didn't feel like dining out, so I made pork chops and rice and broccoli for him. I think the support of friends and the Corona beer really helped my mood.

I haven't had such a hectic week, so why do I still feel exhausted? I think the trauma of yesterday regarding the cat care took a lot out of me. We have a fairly full kennel again with Axel, Duke and Duchess, Molly, Cowboy, Winston, Riley, Mike, Mandy and Shadow. I'm grooming the basset hound Axel today, and Duke & Duchess will go home later (they're basset hounds too, and I'll brush them again before they leave).

If I can get it together, I'll make some more jam for the Market and to sell through the Beanery. I got the raspberry vinegar bottled this week... that is a perennial favourite.

I love you for reading my blog, and the support that some of you send. ~ Ann

Well, I don't know if I'm REALLY catching up, but I have all the dogs fed and watered and some of them walked. I'm waiting for a friend to come with her gigantic German Shepherd and her comical wee Cairn Terrier, for boarding. I have to reserve two kennels for these dogs, only because Riley the terrier would ingest a fatal dose of food if he could get to it, and he will always push Mick, his big sidekick, away from HIS food.

I'll share the few other pictures that I fixed for the 'net. Obviously I am NO photographer.


Pictured are Scarlet Honeysuckle (a hardy climber), another view of Geranium 'Splish Splash', Blizzard Mock Orange (Philidelpha some-thing-or-other), Persicaria bistorta, and Tiarella 'Chocolate Ruffles'.

This is a flower bed, mostly for shrubs and perennials, that I have struggled with for years. When I "installed" it, I dug deep, placed some sheet metal as a base, and then piled soil, spoiled hay and compost over that. It looked pristine at first; soon grasses, annual weeds and perennial weeds were thick. I blamed the hay for the problem, and I plucked and hoed and dug. Eventually I dug out the whole bed right down to the sheet metal and started over.

In the years since, my creation kept getting choked with quackgrass (the tenacious perennial grass which spreads by long roots). One of my gardening friends mentioned in a general discussion that, where she put plastic down over quackgrass on SAND, the grass died, and where she put plastic down on CLAY, the quackgrass survived and grew miles of roots. A light went on in my mind: the grass was THRIVING under the sheet metal, laid over top of clay soil.

Back to what I call my "sunset" garden (more about that in a moment)... I dug down and removed the sheet metal, which was obscuring, but obviously NOT killing... quackgrass roots! Ackkk, I dug out wheelbarrows full of the offending weed, and the roots looked like a barrow full of spaghetti. So, I have renovated the entire bed another time, and am trying hard not to let the weeds get ahead of me again.

The reason I call it my "sunset" bed is that, at one time, I was having trouble finding places for flowers that were carmine, scarlet, orange and yellow which didn't jarringly clash with each other and cooler hues. I decided to build a flower garden which had the red, orange and yellow together on purpose. In the years since, I have decided that blue is also part of a sunset sky (delphinium and globe thistle), and I can't avoid having green, obviously... so the plan is pretty much not a "plan" anymore. When I think of it, nearly any colour except, I suppose green, could be part of the sunset, including pink and purple.

I'm delighted to see that the lilies are blooming, finally. I took a large bouquet to my friend at the Beanery, to replace the peonies that I took last week. There is a phenomenum with the lilies that I haven't been able to figure out: I have hundreds, and it seems that more and more are "reverting" to orange! I was given a few orange varieties of Asiatics, and I had the orange tiger lily, and I bought Orange Pixie Asiatic too, but I have orange lilies now where I planted PINK and other colours.

I keep trying to find information about this on the Internet, in forums and in Chat groups, and although some gardeners suggest that the lilies are "crossing", I still don't understand what's going on. Most of the lilies are growing and increasing from the original bulbs, and not seeding themselves, so I don't get how they could be crossing. If I had the dozens of varieties planted in the same place, I could understand how an orange lily might be stronger and overtake the others. But how, all over the yard, I'm getting the change in colour, I do not know. I resent it a little and it makes me feel a little "freakish", but, at the end of the day, orange lilies are beautiful too.

Okay, enough about that... talk to you guys soon. ~ Ann

I was going to say that I was doing well to "post" in my blog two days in a row, and then realized that I haven't been here since Monday.

Above are photos of our little orchard, with apples, plums, cherries, saskatoons, blueberries and more, and the rest of our garden, which particularly includes "Gary's garlic" in the northeast corner there. Everything is slow and late except for the garlic, due to our weather this spring and early summer. These pictures were taken a few weeks ago... the garden looks "lusher" now, even though it is still not what we expect in mid-July.

I wish that I had taken a picture of Maverick, a large Golden Retriever who boarded here for a few days. He had been scheduled for grooming Wednesday, but due to a family emergency, arrived here last Saturday night. I could choose my long hours to groom Maverick up until this morning, and I was grateful for the extra time. Mav's owner was quite anxious about how her dog would look after the spa treatment, as I had (in my own diplomatic way) threatened to shave him completely if unable to remove the matts by other means.

At 6 a.m., my friend picked up Maverick and was absolutely delighted that I'd been able to save her dog's coat. I had scissored and shaved what I couldn't comb or brush, but had worked hard to be artistic. I do my most earnest effort with every pet who comes here, and a Golden Retriever who came for grooming on Tuesday did have to be shaved short all over. I'm grateful if people trust me to do my best, and accept the situation if I have to shear an animal short: they can look at it as a "clean sweep" and a chance to start over. It's very easy to keep a dog combed after one of THOSE treatments.

This week I groomed THREE Golden Retrievers. Taffy, who came on Monday afternoon, is a regular customer for grooming, day care and boarding:

This is a picture of Taffy which was already on file, but she hasn't changed.

It has been raining almost nonstop for about a week. Gary has some hay reserved at a neighbouring farm, for our horses, and it is out in the field in this weather. The moisture might benefit the garden somewhat, but since we had a long, cool, wet spring, the vegetables and flowers need some HEAT. We had about 5 days of hot weather in total this season, and most folks complained about the humidity and heat, but we NEED some more of it!

I'll share some more of the pictures which I discovered on the camera:


These would be considered very "ordinary" daylilies, but as the first few roots came from my Dad's garden, I call them "Dad's Daylilies" and they are precious to me. I wish that I had discussed lots of things with Dad more than I did. Gardening is one of the topics he could have taught me about, but he was gentle and quiet and didn't push his ideas on anyone. By the time gardening was a great priority with me, Dad's mind was ... somewhere far away.

Okay... I have to run away again. People are bringing dogs, and one new customer gets the "prize" for shortest notice (phoning at 7:30 am and bringing dog for daycare and grooming "if possible", at 7:45). I have grooming scheduled... a couple of small dogs and some of the boarders. Tomorrow is Market day again and I hope I can get ready ahead of time.

Thanks for visiting! Love, Ann

I say that to myself almost every morning; life is busy. But in the context of this blog, I'm not sure how to get back at it.

This morning while waiting for a customer to arrive with her little dog to be groomed, I did a "lap" around the house with the camera. When I plugged the camera in, I discovered pictures that I had taken quite some time ago. I can at least share a few photos with you before I get started with the pet grooming, because after that point, it's one after the other, again.

For boarding this weekend, we had Shelby, Blue, Sally, Cowboy, Maverick, Raina, Katie, Zena, Molly, Pritchard, Belle, Flash and China. Most are still with us, staying for longer than a couple of days. Last weekend, which was a long weekend for some because of Canada Day, we had 17 boarders. It's busy and fun around here; most dogs are happy to be with us.

I groomed Leizel a couple of weeks ago. she is pictured among the flower pots I have at our door:

Here are just a few of the perennial plants I have in the garden:

These are Asiatic Lily 'Orange Pixie', a geranium from friend Sarah, and geranium 'Splish Splash'.

Pictured above are Clematis 'Jackmanii rubra', Trollius 'Orange Princess', and then a plant which I purchased as a perennial which was not otherwise labelled. I would love for someone to tell me what it is (the tallest one in the photo... Sweet William and Lily I already know.)
The other pictures that I've adjusted for Internet are:

That's McKenna, awakened from her snooze, and one of Nick's mares with her foal. Click on any photo to get a better and larger view.

Now I have to run away to groom Mickey, a poodle cross, and if I can get back here to visit with you today, I will do so. I have more pictures to "fix" in Photoshop... another motley assortment.

Love, Ann

I guess if you're reading this, you haven't decided to quit checking my blog. Thanks to anyone who visits (with one exception).

Have been busy, of course, but I have two "dream jobs" in the two businesses. Have sometimes been pushed and stressed because there is SO much to do at this time of year.

It's difficult to make a blog entry when I haven't posted in quite a while. The days and weeks melt away so fast, and sometimes I don't remember if I had breakfast let alone which pets I groomed (regardless of how I enjoyed them) or what trees I sold, even "yesterday".

I'll load a few pictures from the camera... I have not taken many pictures lately.

Below is a "late" snowfall, which in our area, is not such a freak event. It happened early in May, and people walked through snow to look at trees, shrubs and perennials for the season opening of Blackwood Gardens. Even this week, there has been new snow on the mountains above us and a chill in the air, especially evening, night and early morning. We have had few perfectly lovely days without rain, hail or strong winds, but who knows what the summer will bring... we could well be complaining about the heat.



I had an extremely busy weekend for the May long weekend... our Victory Day. There were 24 dogs boarding here at one point, but everything was pleasant and under control, and the canine (and feline) guests seemed content. I managed to snap a picture of a couple of them, Clover and Teddy. These were not the only two quiet dogs who were staying in the house, but that's all the time I took for pictures.

We are taking care of my oldest daughter's dog for part of the summer. It represents an extra bit of freedom for McKenna, and also some respite for Sh., who has been busy with university, work and other commitments.

I just got a phonecall from a friend in our town... a little dog has been found, and several people have tried to decide where he belongs. I told them to bring him here, and perhaps I can figure out which "Shih Tzu x Poodle" he is; I imagine he ran away from home during last night's thunderstorm. Even if don't know the dog, surely the rightful owner will check here (and our Town Office is aware, also) .

Gary has been busy also... so many horses to trim and shoe at this time of year. He has even been out to our friends' farm in Alberta, where Gary took care of a number of Clydesdales. One sunny afternoon, our friend Rob volunteered to help put together a pipe and canvas shelter that Gary had picked up in his travels:

This shelter is very nice to have... it's a "garage" for the riding mower and a few other items. I guess I'll have to take a picture of the actual structure for a future post (it's just an inexpensive thing from Canadian Tire, but a nice addition to the place!).

Blackwood Gardens has been moderately busy despite the unpredictable weather. I am nearly sold out of mature shade trees, and have only one apple tree left from the dozens I purchased. Folks seem to be finding satisfactory choices in perennials as well, and this year I purchased a few annuals from a friend to offer here. If a person is going to be in a "retail" business, these are nice products to offer. The whole scene fits so well with the Pet Hostel... all my work is at home and it's enough.

One of my antagonists in "Chat" says that I shouldn't expect other chatters to believe that I have these businesses, because nobody would bring their pets to "Bumf*ck Egypt". I've had the Pet Hostel for 24 years and enough people DO bring their pets here... the business has paid for itself and more, year in and year out, except for awhile while I was getting back on my feet after personal strife. No, it has not made me wealthy, but why would anyone in Chat care if I'm working hard, or semi-retired?

Anyway... the little lost dog has arrived and I'm afraid I don't recognize him. At the same time, I believe when the mystery is solved, I will know that I SHOULD have known who this one belongs to. It's a small town and I'm sure I'll find out by the end of the day; in the meantime, he is safe, warm and fed.

I had a little challenge last week... the infamous Mickey. Everyone who knows Mickey's family says that the dog is vicious, and in the past when I've groomed him, he tried hard to bite me. I have so far managed to out-maneuver him. This year I had a new soft muzzle in his size. I picked up Mickey at his home and let his owner place him in the cab of my truck with the leash still attached. When I got home, I just led the dog to my grooming shop, lifted him to my table while the dog gave me the "Make my day" look, and slipped the muzzle on. Now, I wouldn't say the the dog felt defeated or oppressed, but he seemed to resign himself to the grooming procedure without much fuss. I know that the muzzle probably prevented one bite, and we got the job done.

Because the man of Mickey's family is in hospital, I asked the nurses if I could bring one very clean little dog to see him. The nurse remarked that she was amazed I could handle such a ferocious dog, but to come along. I took Mickey to see my friend, along with a bouquet of lilacs, and both dog and owner enjoyed a visit. After that I took Mickey home, led him to his own back yard... and as soon as I reached to take the leash off, the dog came AFTER ME with teeth bared and unbelievable temper! I guess at that point he was protecting his territory and family again, so I just left the leash on and told him to keep it for now.
This is Mickey avoiding eye contact with me and with the camera...

This is Pickles, and she has been here a few times, and fits in just like one of our own:

The dogs that I will groom today have arrived, and after lunch I have a matted cat to shave.

Take care, one and all. Thanks for visiting this blog. ~ Ann

It has been so long since I posted that I think EVERYTHING went into archives, or so it seems. I can't get the main page to load so that I can read the last thing I wrote.

At any rate, things continue to be wonderful and hectic around here. People in the area seem to be catching on to what I'm doing out here in the "garden centre", despite the fact that I don't have a big-assed sign on the highway. Word of mouth advertising is invaluable.

On Victoria Day weekend I had, at one point, 24 dogs boarding, but the situation was under control and quite pleasant for all. I am loathe to turn anyone away, and since I'm "home" full-time, having that many guests was manageable.

The weather has been changeable, but for the most part, pleasant. Today I must buy a new propane tank and get it filled for the "mosquito magnet", as this perennial Robson Valley scourge has returned.

The daffodils and tulips have been phenomenal; one year the weather was too nasty to inspire most people to plant fall bulbs and I got "stuck with" 1200 bulbs. I haven't had any bulb sales in the autumn since then... I don't have ANY room to plant leftovers!

I must run... will try to get back here later. I keep threatening to do that, and then leaving the blog for weeks at a time. Think of me and I'll think of you, and hope you're having a pleasant spring.

~ Ann

After more than a month of me not getting a blog entry posted, I wouldn't blame you for giving up on me. Truth is that, rain or shine, the days have been busy; I often think that I'll manage to "blog", but then sit down in the evening and feel too tired to write. Sometimes I sign into Chat (Yahoo Garden Room #2) and promptly fall asleep in front of my laptop.

All is well here. It's Victoria Day Weekend and not only am I hoping for good sales in my little garden centre, but there are NINETEEN dogs boarding and a small cat. I'm just on my way out the door now to take care of the guests who are in the outdoor kennels and the indoor kennels in my grooming shop. All the pets seem quite content here... most have known us a long time.

Staying with us are: Clouseau, Ash, Nelson and Archer, Shiloh and Cleo, Beowulf and Chester, Taya, Marley and Sheila, Tia, Ty, Missy, Teddy, another Teddy, Pickles, Duke and Duchess, Bourbon, Clover and McKenna. Oh, okay... so I can't count... that's twenty two. McKenna is Shelly's dog (so really, one of our own), and we have Lady and little Buddy. Our own four cats are very little trouble to us, and neither is the boarding cat, Heidi. This weekend, there are no birds, hamsters or lizards.

Gary has gone out to Alberta to shoe some Clydes at the home of a veterinarian friend. When I met those friends (the vet and his wife) I found that I had not only gone to the same high school as Mrs. vet friend, but that I had gone through high school with Dr. Vet Friend's close friend... someone who had attended Vet school with him. THAT friend, Bob, had become a veterinarian and afterward became a preeminent specialist in human medicine. Anyway... after that long anecdote, I'm sure your eyes are glazing over, even if I made my point (did I HAVE one?).
Here's a picture of some of the "girls" at our friend's farm...


I'll have to come back to this, if I'M lucky, because I do like to talk to you folks. Many of you have become friends through comments to my blog, or things said to me in chat, or even in "real life!". I'll try to have some pictures for you.

~ Ann

Usually I don't schedule grooming for Saturdays and Sundays, other than for the dogs who are boarding here. However, today I have little Brandy, in addition to two guests, to groom. We ended up with a very full house again, despite that some went home yesterday. Staying here are Bourbon & Sadie, Missy, Chester & Beowolf, Timo, Ranger, Annie, Molson, Pritchard, Jade, Sophie and Teddy. They are all great dogs and seem quite content.

Yesterday Gary and I both worked hard outside. Gary's garlic is several inches tall already, and it looks like every clove sprouted! Last year we sold so much, therefore he planted twice as much for this year, and we have some orders for 10 pounds here, and 5 pounds there... garlic "keeps" so well.

Yesterday after the pet chores were done and I'd visited with you who read my blog, I tried to make a list of all the new perennials, trees and shrubs, and then I would have added all I have left from last year. I had planned to post that list on the internet somewhere, so that potential customers and other friends could see what was available. Perhaps I've lost what's left of my mind, because I could NOT get along with old familiar word programs or the newest incarnations of programs, in order to make a simple web page with those lists. I remember the basics of HTML, and I have quite a few "templates" of my own design that should have required few changes. However, I just seemed unable to build such a page for the Internet, and will tackle this another day. It is very quiet around here at the moment, but I'm too fatigued to attempt the task this morning. Perhaps it will simply occur to me what I'm doing wrong there.

All is quiet outside the house, also, so I'm going to try to have a little power nap before Brandy gets here. Evidently, no amount of coffee is going to "wake me up" today!

See you later today, or tomorrow. ~ Ann

Yesterday I went on a road trip by myself to the wholesale nursery, as my trees and shrubs were ready for pickup. The trip was 1200 km. (about 740 miles), and by leaving before dawn, I made only a day project out of it. I had no problems even though I had some anxiety over handling even a small trailer... I didn't want to get into any difficult parking or maneuvering situations. The traffic in the Okanagan is dreadful by any standards.

As I drove all those hours, I listened to such disparate artists as Paul Potts, Nickleback, John Hammond, John Reichman and a local sweetheart, folk singer Arlene Charlton. I have a 10 disc changer in my truck, so I can drive many hours without hearing the same song and without swapping CDs in the machine. I just enjoyed the scenery and had all that "thinking time", ate cheese and crackers and didn't spend time or money at a restaurant. Part of the reason for picking up nursery stock was to save on freight... last year the same amount was delivered for $650, and yesterday the fuel cost me less than $300. Also, I was able to obtain the goodies at my "own" time instead of waiting anxiously for a truck to show up here. It's funny how, now that we can afford it, we're more careful with the dollars than ever.

I didn't visit (apologies to my chat friends, family members and other friends) or shop (didn't have room left anyway) and today it seems like the trip happened in a dream. But here's the result:

Gary and I agree that it doesn't appear to be "that much" even though both the trailer and the truck bed were packed solid. There are another few dozen plants that I unloaded into the greenhouse, so they're not visible. I have several dozen trees and shrubs and quite a few perennials that I still have to dig up from the vegetable garden where they have overwintered. It'll be a nice variety when everything is brought out, and I'm now SO excited that Spring is here.

It was good that I didn't spend much time getting the new stock for the garden centre. We already had almost a "full house" at the Pet Hostel, and several more are arriving today. By this afternoon we'll have Missy, Foxy & Morag, Beowulf & Chester, Roxie, Molson, Pritchard, Timber, Jade, Sophie, Ranger & Annie, Kimo, Teddy & Bud. All of these dogs are great friends and many are repeat customers, some from quite far away.

So today, other than unload the truck and trailer, I have done nothing but feed, water and walk the canine guests, and now I'm drinking coffee with YOU. Love, Ann