"Well, life on the farm is kinda laid back..."

I just returned from the land of "Simpsons" skies and Saskatoon berry pies. Oh, how I love going back to my genealogical roots! One would think that a girl who was raised amongst traffic jams would feel so out of place on a rural farm with home made jams, but home is where the food is.

I was visiting my old college buddy Bonnie, and stayed with her, her fiance, and his family on their farm. With nine mouths to feed, I was impressed by how effortlessly everyone was fed until we all rolled home on Monday vowing to return to our diets. Meals went like this: The men shovelled manure outside, and the women congregated in the kitchen picking up various tasks to efficiently assemble the consumable goods. I was pleased that I had the opportunity to contribute by making a gravy for the Sunday night turkey supper. I loved being a part of this "tradition", and my heart was at peace with the fellowship and camaraderie in that kitchen.

Saturday was a wedding planning day, so Bonnie, her mom, and I drove around to four dress shops to discover that they were all closed the WHOLE weekend because Monday was a holiday! Our last stop was the only bridal store in Saskatoon making money that weekend, and Bonnie fell in love-- again. I had to choke back and conceal a tear that formed at my eye when I saw her in her dress. After meeting Pat at their engagement party, I can honestly say that she has chosen well on both counts.

The mineral spa in Watrous has "golden" waters. At least that is what they call it so that we don't feel so bad for spending $12.75 to brine in a murky, salty pool for a few hours. The salt in the water gives a weightless buoyancy and it is a challenge to try to sink. Of course, that would mean risking putting one's head in the water, and I was getting enough of a taste as it was. The minerals in the water are said to benefit the skin, nervous system, and lymphatic system. Primarily the skin. Which means that it gently exfoliates the skin. While relaxing in the water. What happens to the skin? You betcha. Like a filmy layer on top of gravy. I was reminded of this as I was fixing the gravy for that night's supper. I may have lost a lot of dead skin, but I may have gained it back proportionately. Here is a link to the website, and there are some pictures that make the water appear less than "golden": http://www.manitousprings.ca/. It DOES look "golden"... like Grey Poupon. Pardon me....

We stopped at a few of the fields to inspect the canola crops for worms. I got to taste a ripe pod of canola (tastes oily) and a green pod (tastes like greasy peas). I asked about the "yield" and apparently I sounded more like a city girl. So I asked if Pat used "genetically modified canola seed, that was genetically modified for controlling the weeds and for big old yields and margarine oil".... He did. There were wheat fields, flax fields, and barley fields all around and it was so beautiful. I considered how I would re-invent Settlers of Cataan. It would include Alpacas (of course) with whom I made acquaintance at Bonnie's mom's, and cows (from Pat and Bonnie's pasture). Oh, the cows. Holy cow, they like to poop. They were making me giggle and blush and look away because when one stopped pooping, another started. I never said that I was a farm girl, but I like that the Alpacas poop in one spot and they seem to have better control of their bodily functions.

As my plane rose above the fluffy clouds (Okay, I will be honest, it was raining on Monday...) I dreamt of one day day getting my acreage-- not necessarily a farm. I would raise Alpacas (of course), have my own sustainable vegetable garden, grow a big 'punkin patch, and farm Christmas trees. Okay, well farming Christmas trees is not much like farming cows and canola.
Hopefully I can return again before the wedding next year but for now, I will miss the golden fields, "golden" waters, and golden friendships in Saskatchewan.