love July

As seems to be normal for July its been freaking hot. Thankfully not (so far, touch wood) wildfire hot like its been in California (new normal?) and Greece where people are seriously in trouble, but definitely hot.
We have constant heat warnings as hot air masses hang around causing high humidity and temps in the early 30's. I do indeed love it.

I love walking the dogs at 6.30am. Its such a pleasure to see the neighbourhood at that time of day. Hanging out in the pool after work is also so joyous and I am so grateful we have it.
Last Sunday morning I woke early at 6.30am and it was summer dark. That kind of dark thats not really dark but does allow for all the little lights to be put on around that make the ambience so adorable. I was a happy bunny (small things please me).

Unfortunately due to the intense heat it hasnt been a good riding month for Ace and I. I just dont want to ride hard in this weather, I dont think its fair on him and frankly its not enjoyable. I may have to come to the conclusion that July isnt a riding month really due to heat. It seems so far that March to June are easy to ride in (obvs the temps change but they are do-able) and then September to December. I think August is pretty similar to July in that you really need to get it in in the early morning. Not really possible on a working day.

Happy birthday mum

A little beach photo shoot

We were fortunate enough to have a beach mini photo shoot that turned out well. We are so very fortunate to have great beaches here in NS and every year I say I will spend one day every weekend on the beach.
So far, I have failed, again, in this plan.
Its almost the end of July and the only beach we have set foot on is this one for the photos.
Must.do.better

The grass is greener where you tend your lawn

Back in April we were facing large costs to repair the drains and the resulting mess in our front garden, as documented by me, in a frustrated manner here:
The drains situation

Now its July, the plumbers were paid and the grass has regrown. It did not cost us $8k as we decided to repair the ground ourselves and with help from our friends we tillered and dug and laid down grass seed. We watered and fed that baby seed and now have a healthy flourishing front garden.. in short the $4k quote to have it done was actually $600 and a ton of sweat equity #happydays

June and July - England and Maine

Its been hot. I have been busy. I have to update this blog with my England trip, with Ace and my latest horse show (2nd of the 3) and our family trip to Maine.
So much to document while summer rolls in with a blast of heat warnings.

So... I had a visit to the UK. I saw as many people as I physically could, put 800 miles on a rental Hyundai Ioniq at the cost of half a tank of gas (hybrid car, LOVED it) and saw my grandmother who was the real reason I was there as shes sick. The weather was sweet and I memory lane tripped constantly. I went back to Nannys house and honestly, wanted to move back.

But I came back and Ace and I almost immediately attended another horse show where it was very hot and we had no photographer.. so a complete 180 from the last time but fun nonetheless. We even almost missed a class as we were lunching, with tack off, having misunderstood the loudspeaker.

A couple of weekends ago we went to Maine for a lake weekend with some friends. We decided to make the trip at night

but what should have been an 8 hour drive which would have seen us roll in at 2am turned into a 12 hour drive complete with flat tire on I95 at 2am.  To compound the flat, which by itself was a pain in the butt was the fact that no one could locate the spare until we you-tubed it (2018 Dodge Caravans have them under the car, nut is in the console) and Lily had a melt down. People went missing in the night and the mosquitos were enormous and clearly starving. I recall lying on the road in the dark with the light on my phone looking for the spare and thinking how dangerous it all was.
The cottage when we eventually limped in at 7am was blissful.

It was a true break and we loved every darn second of it.

Complete with the Nissan (thank you Enterprise, I love Enterprise) that we swapped the caravan for (spares can go 271 miles by the way, dont let anyone tell you differently!), we made it by via IHOP and chik-filet, and the lookout at Mount Kathadin and are already planning next years foray to the same place.