No Elliptical For Me Today!!

The sun came out and actually put off enough heat to break us out of our deep freeze today!  Finally!  So I went out to start digging out from the blizzard we had yesterday.  Just as I start the neighbor showed up with his tractor and cleaned it all up for me in a matter of minutes!  Well, now I had nothing to do.  The last thing i wanted to do was be in the house.  Ah, yes, the snow shoes.  I strapped them on and headed for the hills.

I headed out back and started walking.  I quickly set my goal as the top of one of the boobie hills (yes, they are called the boobie hills, because there are two, and they look like boobies).  It was quite the walk but since the lake was frozen I could cut across it.

It took about 45 minutes to get there, mostly up hill.  But I love the view from the top.

I can see my house from here!

The pics on the iPod didnt turn out that great but considering I couldn't see the screen with the sun glare I think I did alright :)

Going back was easier but it was way more work then I thought it would be.  How hard can walking be right?  Well, it was a pretty good work out.  Next time I will know to bring some water with me.  Only saw a crow on this trip but lots of coyote tracks and rabbit poop.  I will still take that over a spin on the eliptical any day!

Yup, I get hungry too

I had lunch today in the city at Chili's.  I really like Chili's, i always have.  I was dining alone today.  Wanted to grab a bite and work on blog posts and such.  I couldn't help but notice I was getting some strange looks.  Sorry, I'm hungry and I want to eat.  Just cause I'm alone doesn't mean i dont get hungry any more.  I don't particularly mind eating alone, I get stuff done, but it sure seemed to bother other people.  How about keep your nose in your own business and your eyes on your own table and let me write in peace.  Either that or come join me.  Then you'll have a real reason to feel uncomfortable :)

The Olympics Are Here! Well, next weekend actually and in Russia

I love the Olympics, winter or summer.  Non stop sports.  The TV coverage usually isn't too bad although we will likely not get much for live coverage this year since they are in Russia.  Its kinda too bad but what can you do, Canada can't host them every year.  Nice to see hockey star Haley carrying the flag for us.  I think she was an excellent choice.  Can't wait to see what our athletes will be wearing.  I always think we are the best dressed :) I am actually just having lunch at Chili's now and then I am going to pick up some Olympic clothes for myself.  Something warm since it's not getting any warmer here any time soon.  Go Canada Go!

PS My awesome boss lent me some snow shoes so hopefully the weather will hold up this weekend and I can try them out before plopping on the couch for Super Bowl!

2013 Was a Flood Year

2013 was a very wet year.  Flooding was at an all-time high.

The front yard made a lovely, safe home for many ducks!  And the lake revealed a hidden monster!

Most of my land was adopted by the lake this year.  The entire middle section was actually unreachable which gave the weeds and thistle a year to thrive.  It also cut the amount of lawn i needed to mow down by 3/4, which was a nice break :). 

After many, many, many, many delays the lagoon construction began, even though they still haven't paid for the land they are building on.  Work was scheduled to be done by late July, then early August, then end of August, then September, then before winter, and is now scheduled to be completed in spring 2014.  It will be interesting to see what kind of clean up, if any, happens for our land and yards.  Hopefully it all works out and we can put all this ugliness and pollution behind us.  Here's hoping for a toilet-litter free 2014!  Well, after spring, or was it summer, or fall...well whenever.

Starting Over

A new employee recently reminded me that i actually have a blog and I have not posted on it in quite some time.  It a new year, I'm starting a new life, and I have a new iPad so i downloaded the blogger app to see if i can get this thing going again.

Now what to write about...writers block already!?!  This is not a good start.

March 27th

Today would have been the 25th birthday for my cousin Landon Burt.  In 2009 he died.  He had brain tumors, cancer.  This year seems oddly difficult.  Maybe because memories are fading, maybe because it is a significant birthday, I don't know.  This year my sister, her boyfriend, and I will be running in the Spring Sprint 2012.  It is raising money for Brain Tumor research and support.  Please take some time to read about what it's all about and donate time or money if you can.  Thank you for your support.

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=3279902&langPref=en-CA

Now I just have to get in shape :o) 

Green Wall

This is pretty cool:

http://www.florabylaura.ca/2011/06/the-semiahmoo-librarys-sky-garden.html

The Rural Crafter

Hey, check it out!

http://wanderlustandwords.blogspot.com/2011/05/flavourful-saskatoon-may-23-2011.html

The Dilution Pond That Used to be Our Land

Here is some video of what used to be our land and is now a dilution pond.  We know that it is about 3 ft at the edges and are planning on taking the canoe out as soon as my better half's back heals. 

The Environment Ministry Meeting

So I went to the meeting at the Village of Prud'homme.  This was the first time I have been to a meeting with the council.  I arrived before my neighbors but I saw them coming up the road so I just went in to get a seat.  When I walk in the door I am greeted and asked what I need.  I said "I am Jennie Hooper and I am here for the meeting with the Ministry of Environment", "Oh, I don't see you on the itinerary" was the response I received, followed by "If you are not on the itinerary I don't know if you can come in" followed by "You can't speak if you are not on the itinerary".  At this point Mayor Margret interrupts and says that I can sit in on the meeting.  Really?  That's how you want to start a relationship with me?  Fine, you want it, you got it.  No wonder anyone I have ever talked to who has had to deal with the council for the Village of Prud'homme has nothing but bad things to say.  I did not spend 9 years in a trailer in Hawarden to find my farm and let it become a sewage dump site, forget it!  I'm a grownup now, my words matter too.

Anyway, so everyone gets a seat and Mayor Margret starts the meeting.  First a diagram of what needs to be figured out: the design of the lagoon, the location of the lagoon, the cost of everything, and the timeline.  Boy, thanks for the diagram, I would have had a hard time following that (yes I am a little wound up after the whole thing).  Anyway, I digress.  So they continue to talk about moving the lagoon closer to the highway but keeping it on our neighbors land.  This gets me confused because I'm pretty sure they don't want the lagoon on their land anymore.  And it goes on and on like this.  They have diagrams and sketches and everything all going with the plan that the lagoon will still exist on our neighbors land.  Okay, well maybe things have changed (I found out after the meeting that no, things have not changed, the village has not signed any permits with the neighbors to build the lagoon on their land). 

So the main problem the village is having is that they don't have any money.  Ahhh, that's too bad.  Me neither after putting in a +$10,000 septic tank.  Which is basically what a lagoon is for a town, huh, funny.  I guess we could have just bought a couple hundred dollars worth of pipe and just pumped our crap out into the lake too.  Dang.  Oh, I'm digressing again, sorry.  Okay, so they had originally applied for help from the Disaster Relief people or something and they had said they could only get up to $500,000.00 but now they have found out that there actually is no limit but they need to get a new assessment done.  The following was in a letter sent to the village from the Minister of Municipal Affairs:

Further, CPSP (Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing) advises that under current PDAP (Provincial Disaster Assistance Program) Regulations, there is no maximum payout for municipal claims.  Payment to municipalities cannot be made until the following has been completed: a damage assessment and subsequent final report from an assigned engineer which documents damages directly caused by the event and submission of paid invoices for completed work from the municipality.  To help reduce the financial burden of major expenses for the municipality, PDAP can provide progress payments in order to assist the municipality with cash flow.  Please advise PDAP officials if you would like assistance in this regard.

There ya go, and you just found this out?  So if they need all the engineering stuff to be done then why haven't you started getting permits and all the paper work from the government that has to be done?  Their response, they don't have any money.  They don't want to start anything until they have secured the financial support.  Well, no one is going to give you financial support unless you start something!  Just start something, anything!  Please!  You need help getting attention from the government?  Let us know!  We're already writing letters, doesn't hurt to write a few more!

Another excerpt from the letter to the Village of Prud'homme from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs:

The Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing (CPSP) has advised that there is a six month deadline from the date of the disaster to submit a registration claim for the municipality and a one year deadline from the date of the disaster to complete all cleanup, repairs, restorations and replacements.  Nevertheless, CPSP has been very receptive to providing extensions on these Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) deadlines due to weather and other extenuating circumstances.  Please advise PDAP directly if you require an extension to one of these deadlines.  You must ensure that this request includes the reasons for the request and a date in which you feel that the tasks can be completed.

Well, it's definitely been 6 months since our area was declared a disaster area.  It could even have been a year now.  They had better hurry up or they won't be getting any money from them!

I don't even want to get into what the rest of the letter said, they're just lucky they sent it to me after the meeting.  Not that it would matter, I wasn't on the itinerary so I couldn't speak anyway.

Not much else happened.  The Ministry of Environment guys seemed very adamant about getting going on something (although I was told later that it was only because we were there).  They said they can issue a Protection Order if the project stalls.  I guess that's why they keep having meetings.  I asked my neighbor who was on the itinerary to ask who will be responsible for cleaning up our land and one of the Ministry of Environment guys said that it would be the town who would be responsible and said that it would not be unreasonable to request that someone from the town do a walk down the road to pick up all the garbage that is washing up from the lagoon (I think the count is somewhere around 10 tampon applicators, nice).  Mayor Margret did not look impressed.  Suck it up, it's your mess!  Make the villagers do it, then maybe they will quit flushing them!  Anyway, the guys from the Ministry of Environment confirmed that the solution will be in place in the next 5 years.  Wow, that fast hey!  No, I'm not really impressed, that was sarcasm.  The engineer from BULLEE said that they could get the earth moving done this year but it would take at least 6 months to get a pump in and designing and building the lift system will take a while. 

So we asked about temporary solutions.  The engineer from BULLEE suggested pumping some of the water out.  That is the first time in a year anyone has even offered that.  The towns argument is that they looked into it 40 years ago and there was no where to pump the water because it's in a "catch basin".  I'm sure you could pump it somewhere.  When the town lost water for 5 days a little while ago water was trucked in.  Why couldn't they truck our water in.  Or put us on town water.  Even the letter from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs suggested that, but nothing from the town.  They say they care but I have a hard time believing it.

So basically we got no where.  Well that was worth missing an afternoon of work.  At least they let me talk at work (even though they may not like it some times).  So on with the letters to anyone who will read them I guess.  Well, I was going to send them anyway, I guess I just have more information for them.  If anyone know anyone who can help, please let me know!  Share the story!

Water Update

Someone from the Ministry of Environment is coming to Prud'homme today for a meeting, at 2pm.  Really, 2pm, obviously not interested in other people actually being able to attend.  Well, we'll fool you, we'll take time off of work to go!  Ha!  Better watch out now!

Our neighbor has taken some wonderful photos of what is going on out here.  Here are a couple of them:

The Fight Continues

So two weeks ago we got a call from the Village of Prud'homme informing us that we needed to register with the Watershed Authority to get assistance with the flooding situation.  Thankfully my better half was home that day so he called up the Watershed Authority and registered.  Great.  He then also talked to our RM Councilor Travis.  Travis came over to take a look around (Travis has already talked to our neighbors and at this point in time it was believed that they were getting a berm built around the end of their yard that would protect not only their bins, house, and yard but also our well from the poop water (yes, we are calling it the poop water now so we can distinguish it from the regular flood water)). 

The following actions were discussed:
- building a berm around the back of our yard to protect us from the poop water
- building a trench from where the fresh water flood is happening, through our field (pretty much right across the middle) over to where the poop water is to hopefully prevent flooding in our yard
- building a trench through an approach that goes into our field to allow our ditches to drain down to the poop water
- tear out our entire yard (not the house) and bring in 2 feet of top soil to raise the whole place to avoid further flooding (that would be done by the watershed, and sounds very scary)

Alrigthy, well at least ideas are being tossed around, that's better then nothing.  The same day a lady polling for Brad Trost calls and asks if we have any issues we would like to raise, well, you picked the right day to call for issues lady.  She gets the whole story.  At the end she says we have to talk to our MLA first and gives us the phone number.  Fine, we can do that (been meaning to anyway but we didn't know who she was). 

So, a week goes by and pretty much nothing happens.  We keep calling people for updates and nothing.  A guy from the Watershed Authority was at our house and Jaxie tried to bite him (not exactly helping our cause) so he had to take pictures from inside his truck.  But still no news.  Alright people, the ground is thawing and turning into mud, if we're going to do some of this stuff we had better get it done!

3 days ago we find out that our neighbors are not getting a berm.  The Watershed Authority decided that they would not build a berm to protect them (and our well) from the poop water.  What?!?  That sounds like total crap to me!  And if they aren't going to build them a berm are we going to get any help!  The poop water is practically in their yard (yes, our yard is under water but at least it's the clean water, not the poop water, for now anyway). 

So I guess the plan is now to get an email together with pictures and video to send to the MLA, call the Watershed Authority and the RM Councilor Travis to see where they are at, and start considering contacting local news crews.  And now you know what I know.

PS. The town of Prud'homme had a water main break on Saturday night and could not find it.  The town has not had water since!  They had to start trucking water in for the village people!  Karma, I think so!  To try to track it down they asked the villagers to report an "suspicious" puddles!  What the hell is a "suspicious" puddle?  And how can you tell it apart from all the regular puddles laying around since it is the middle of spring.

A Message from the Mayor

Prud'homme puts out a monthly newsletter.  This letter from Margret the Mayor was in our March issue (I am quoting this as it appeared in the newsletter, mistakes and all):

Flooding of Prud'homme Sewage Lagoon and Ducks Unlimited Wetland

As you may be aware the sewage lagoon and Duck Unlimited wetland located south of the Village of Prud'homme are flooded due to the high rainfall and run-off over the last two summers.  For all intents and purposes, the sewage lagoon no longer exists and the combined area now effectively functions as a dilution pond.  There are two main impacts of this situation:

First, because the sewage lagoon is no longer functional, Prud'homme's untreated sewage effluent is entering the entire flooded area.  The Village is not in the position to rebuild the lagoon in the short-term.  While we are eligible for $500,00 in disaster assistance, the full cost of rebuilding the lagoon is $1.5 million (based on an Engineering Assessment).  If we wish to rebuild in the short-term, our only option for financing is to borrow about $1 million, we are not in the position to do.  Giving our tax base, this loan would have to be repaid over 40-50 years, a move that would significantly impact our ability to undertake other projects, such as work on our water treatment plant.  However, we are exploring other avenues to allow us to rebuild in the medium or long-term.  In the meantime, we are looking at a number of temporary, shorter-term measures to reduce or eliminate the impact of the untreated sewage.  Both the Province and Ducks Unlimited are aware of the current situation and we will work closely with the Ministry of the Environment as we try to address this over both the short and long-term.

The second impact is the overall flooding of the area, something over which the Village does not have control.  The area is a catchment area and there is nowhere where this water can be drained.  Even rebuilding the lagoon will not eliminate the potential for flooding in this area if rain and runoff level continue as they have for the past few year.

Council is working hard to determine our options for dealing with this situation to reduce impacts on both landowners in the area and the wildlife in the wetland.  We will keep you posted.

On behalf of Council,
Margret

Guidelines for What Should (and Shouldn't) Go Down the Drain

Given that the Village's sewer lagoon is currently not working, Council suggests that you consider following these guidelines for what should, and should not, do down the drain.  These guidelines are good to follow at anytime, but are especially important now that the lagoon is not able to treat the effluent before it makes its way into the wetland.  Consider these recommendations a courtesy to our rural neighbors as well as to the wildlife that relies on our wetland.

• No Plastic of Latex Products
  Plastic and latex products should not be flushed or drained into our sewer system. Put them in the garbage. These products do not break down in nature. Because our lagoon is currently containing these products, many of them are washing up on the land of local landowners, which is very unpleasant. In addition, these products are hazard to wildlife. There are many documented cases of wildlife mistaking plastic for food and subsequently dying.
• No Hazardous Products
  Hazardous products such as ethanol, methanol, gasoline, automotive oil or solvents should not be dumped into the sewer or any bodies of water.
• Bio-degradable Cleaning Products
  Consider using cleaning products that are able to break down in nature more quickly. Detergents, soaps and cleaners may contain ingredients that do no break down easily and can impact wildlife and plant life. For instance, cleaners derived from vegetable-based fatty acids break down more easily that those derived from petrochemical-based fatty acids. Look for the "Eco-Logo" label -- these are cleaning products that have been tested by a third party to ensure that they break down quickly in nature. The Soap Factory is a local company that sells biodegradable cleaning products in bulk. It is located on 8th Street in the same mall as McNally Robinson. These products will be easier on our wetland while our lagoon is not able to do its job. An added benefit is that these products are also better for your family.
• Use bleach and chemical drain cleaners sparingly
  Products like bleach and drain cleaners are very useful when used appropriately. For instance, the Village treats its drinking water with chlorine. However, large quantities of substances such as bleach and drain cleaners can kill the naturally occurring micro-organisms that help to break down organic waste. Right, given that the lagoon is not functioning, we need all the micro-organisms that we can get. We need these products but sometimes it is good to remember that more is not necessarily better.

Really?  That's what we get?  Gee, thanks.  What a bunch of bullshit.  They ask people to think of us before flushing garbage and toxic waste down their toilet.  Yeah, right, more like think of us and laugh (an evil laugh of course)!  Oh, and don't forget the poor wildlife. You know, I never even thought of all the chemicals that are going down the drains of the townsfolk.  Gonna have to make sure to keep the dogs out of the water! 

So that's it.  Our land just becomes a dilution pond.  Well, that's just awesome.  Why did we just spend $10,000 of money out of our own pocket to put in a new septic tank when it turns out we have acres upon acres of our own dilution pond?  Maybe everyone in town should put up $10,000 of their own money to fix the lagoon.  Sounds fair to me.

Lucky Dog

SaskLotteries is having a contest for their new lottery ticket called "Lucky Dog".  Check it out and vote for my dogs :o)

https://luckydogphotos.sasklotteries.ca/default.aspx?p=r&r=c_pup_photoviewer&c=PUP2&pid=5d4e089f-e949-400e-a5bf-0cbdc78910dd

https://luckydogphotos.sasklotteries.ca/default.aspx?p=r&r=c_pup_photoviewer&c=PUP6&pid=3a4133c7-e420-44c7-868e-851eb8945036

https://luckydogphotos.sasklotteries.ca/default.aspx?p=r&r=c_pup_photoviewer&c=PUP7&pid=6295ef44-9e53-4e5f-8628-83a9356b9550

https://luckydogphotos.sasklotteries.ca/default.aspx?p=r&r=c_pup_photoviewer&c=PUP6&pid=a97e5dd1-2b5f-48f2-bd84-8b2bb844a21d

https://luckydogphotos.sasklotteries.ca/default.aspx?p=r&r=c_pup_photoviewer&c=PUP3&pid=38133445-c26b-414d-afef-945035b34093

https://luckydogphotos.sasklotteries.ca/default.aspx?p=r&r=c_pup_photoviewer&c=PUP3&pid=3f80188d-1cab-427a-886b-0cfad282e318

Thanks!

PS.  Jodie is booked in for her spay tomorrow.  Yikes!  I'm definitely not ready for this.  It's going to be a long next couple of days!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Just killin' time at work :o)  Don't tell the boss :o)

Everyone be safe, and try to practice some patience

Shaw :: Together is Amazing :)

Shaw :: Together is Amazing :)

Water Woes

Background Information:

This summer saw our land (~100 acres) almost completely under water.  We basically had a moat and you could only cross through the hills at the West end of the land or though the driveway.  On the North part of our land is a small body of water that is rented by Ducks Unlimited.  Contained with berms in this body of water is the lagoon for the town of Prud'homme.   This body of water is also on our neighbors land (actually closer to them then to us).  We share a well for water with these neighbors.  The well is about 100 feet from this body of water.

The Story:

After 20 some-odd years of neglect, the berms that contain the lagoon have given way.  Also, the lagoon has been completely submerged in water.  This means that everything that every person in the town of Prud'homme flushed down their toilet is released onto our land (ex. dental floss holders, toilet paper, tampon applicators).  Now when I or my neighbor goes out back on our land with our dogs, we have this wonderful view of garbage.  The second issue that this is causing is it is messing with our well water.  We have had it tested and there has been no jump in bacteria but the Nitrate level has made a significant jump.  Nitrates can not be removed by boiling and can cause Nitrite poisoning or cancer.  It also causes build-up in your taps, drains, dishwasher, clothes washer, etc. which can actually break many appliances.  It leaves a film on dishes and makes your skin REALLY dry.  And gives you a rash!  GROSS!  The Health Ministry recommended chlorinating our well and that young children and babies should not bath in our water until the nitrate levels go down.

The Problem:

So, we call the town up and ask what they are going to do about this.  "Oh, nothing right now" they say.  They have a grant from the government right now and they would rather upgrade the town's water purification system then fix the lagoon.  Ummm, I don't think so.  So they say "alright, we'll get someone out to look at it".  So a guy from Sask Environment comes out and says, "yup, it's broken".  Gee, thanks, didn't catch that one.  They also plan a meeting with an engineer to draft a repair plan, after which I was supposed to receive a phone call, which I never did and that was almost a month ago now.  I eventually called them back and the lady who answered said "oh yeah, the mayor wants to talk to you, she has some questions for you, please call her at home in the evening".  Uh, okay.  If she wants to talk to me why didn't she call me back?

So fine, they want to be like that, I'll get some government or some committee or something on my side.  Yeah, good luck!  I emailed Ducks Unlimited, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, and the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and they all said they were not responsible and to talk to one of the other ones.  Although Ducks Unlimited at least tried to help, there just really wasn't anything they could do.

And now it's winter and everything is under a thick layer of ice and snow and is just silently poluting where people can't see.  Next step, I'm not sure yet.  Maybe start drinking the water so I can get sick, get time off work, and sue the town?  Sounds like all winning to me :o)

Seven Summits Coffee Company

My cousin and his wife have started their own coffee been company.  If you are in the Warfield, BC area then check them out!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Seven-Summits-Coffee-Company/110758325605835

Dishclothes and More for Sale

Looking for something hand-made to give as a gift?  Have to get something for the one who has everything?  Why not order a hand-made cotton custom dishcloth or hot-spot.  Or maybe a nice easy-to-wash bag for going to the market.  Check out the photo's for a couple examples (I will try to get more posted).  I have tonnes of patterns to knit or crochet.  Text is very doable, as long as it's not too long.  Color is completely customizable (as long as I can get my hands on it!).  Obviously until I get some more pictures and patterns posted it will be kind of difficult to "pick" out your custom cloth, but if you are interested just send me an email with a description of what you are looking for and what time frame you are dealing with and I will see what I can do!  Or if you are interested in designing your own I can send you the grid sizes and you can design it and I will bring your creation to life (within reason :o) )  Pricing will vary depending on size and number of colors.

What Are You???

If anyone out there knows what this is or knows someone who might know, can you please let me know?  Thanks!