Where the heck is Milner?

We only moved down the road a few miles but because we choose to pick up our mail at the village post office rather than a roadside mailbox our address changed to Milner. So where the heck is Milner? Well it’s a historic precinct in the township of Langley. The village consists of an historic church, two antique shops, a vintage gas station, a new gas station and a new post office that until a few years ago was so quaint the post mistress worked by candlelight. The Langley Flight Museum is just down the road so it’s not uncommon to hear vintage planes fly overhead and the distant whistle of a train takes us back in time. Many of our neighbors grow hay, some have horses and others have fields of blueberries that make way for stunning views of the Golden Ears Mountains in the distance. The land was once owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company. The soil is hard clay. I can see why they sold out early in the last century. We feel like we are in the country but in fact be are only a hop, skip and jump from serious retail therapy of all kinds. Highway #1 is just a few minutes to the north and the US border to Washington State is about 10 minutes away. So we have a bit of both worlds. Farming and gardening will be a challenge but Arleigh seems to thrive on that so we’ll see what he comes up with this time.
Pictures are coming soon…

Spring Cleaning Tip
If I were younger, I would love to start a company selling eco-friendly cleaning products, but I’m not getting younger so I’m going to share my favorite cleaning secret. Baking Soda! I mix a few drops of lavender essential oil in a few cups of baking soda and use it as a mild abrasive for sinks, tubs and even coffee cups. I’ve also used it to remove the grime from the shower floor and glass doors. Rinse and dry. Baking soda causes dirt and grease to dissolve so I also toss a handful in the tub when Arleigh comes in after working in the garden or on his precious excavator. It cleans him, the tub and it’s good for the drains to boot! How nice is that?