Craven (almost)

The last few days have been lovely July days. We've had temperatures ranging from mid 20s up to mid 30s, summer storms, and all manner of lazy to extreme summer weather. I've been doing my best to get my work done outside in the mornings  before it gets too hot out. This tiny furnace inside my basketball-shaped belly seems to really take it out of me in the higher temperatures. All in all my lists for the week have gone well though. I spent one afternoon on the phone booking pretty much everything I can book for July, have been able to go for lunch dates, get the last few baby things on our list, and I even got my coffee table done.

I think my first week of maternity leave was a success.

I attempted to plant a small garden this year. Some things are working out, some not so much. I didn't plant tons as the weeding is really no fun whilst pregnant. And I'm hoping that next year I can plan things out a little better and have better success. My thumb is nor green, nor black, for now I think I'm somewhere in between.

However.

I'm very proud of this strawberry and I'm pretty sure it's the most perfect strawberry I've ever seen. And it just so happened to come out of my garden. Keith and I cut it in half and shared it. And it was not only the most perfect looking, but also the most perfect tasting strawberry my taste buds have ever had the delight of knowing.

We found this impressive thistle along a seasonal back road.

Craven is a small place. It is very much just one of those teeny little Saskatchewan towns that has a general store and a gas station and one or two streets with houses along them. However, every summer for a weekend in July, it is flooded by about 20,000 people for the Craven Country Jamboree. This is a pretty big deal in Saskatchewan. It is like the province's ultimate summer party. People get very into it. They line the highway with their campers to get in, do their best to get through all kinds of muck (the fairgrounds happen to be in a flood plain), and for most people I believe the 4 days is spent partying like crazy.

The music is right up Keith and my alley, this year the big names brought in were Tim McGraw, The Dixie Chicks, and Kenny Chesney. However at 9 months pregnant I said I really didn't feel like investing in a ticket and spending much time walking around for hours amongst the drunken Craven crowds. So instead we opted for a more peaceful option.

We took some back roads and walked through some fields to find the perfect little spot overlooking the valley. To our surprise no one else had this bright idea and we had the edge of the valley all to ourselves. It was lovely. We sat with the dogs and had a little look and a little listen. Once we doused ourselves in mosquito spray the entire experience was wonderful.

Nova enjoying Tim McGraw.

We found an actual cactus beside where we were sitting. Glad I didn't choose that spot - ouch!

The sun went down and we (well I) got cold, so we called it an early night. I wouldn't change any of it though. Next year we may splurge and actually get a ticket for a day, now that our interests have been sparked by our quiet little adventure.

And last but not least. A glimpse at my coffee table. Of which I'm oh so proud. And so glad that my first "big" furniture building project was a success. Keith and I are now formulating a list of all the things I need to build to outfit our house. I hope this baby is content being out in the shed with me, because it looks like we have a lot of work to do in this maternity leave!