WHERE'S THE SNOW

(this picture was taken years ago when my three kids were quite small. We love snowmobiling and this is one of our favorite runs. this is me and the three kids)

Well it certainly was a strange but nice weekend. Here it is the end of November and it feels more like September. We usually have snow at this time of year. We got a small dumping last Friday night and it has managed to stay somewhat. All it has really done is make things miserable. After the snow, we got rain, not just a little bit but the most rain in November in over 50 years. All this managed to do was make the ground very slippery. After suffering with a headache for four days and sitting through two long meetings, I was really looking forward to heading out to the cottage and spending some time with my ponies at the farm. Well went to the farm on Saturday and hubby and I helped Sherry and Martin feeding the animals, moving bales etc. Since her house is in total chaos from the renos we had them over for supper, homegrown steaks, shrimp, scalloped potatoes. Thought we would play one game of scrabble before calling it a night. Sherry was kicking our butts until the last round. I added a 2 letter ending to an existing word and pulled ahead of her by 15 points. She'll get me next time for sure. Sunday started out quite dreary, overcast, warm and raining. Still wasn't feeling good though. I think I have a touch of the flu. Decided to stay away from the farm and try and get some decorating done for Christmas. After all it is just 25 days away. Felt really quilty though driving home as the sun was shining, +6 and I didn't get on my horses this weekend. Convinced myself that the footing was probably still really iffy. I guess I could've used the round pen. But my stomach feeling the way it did for most of the day, it was propably a good thing that I didn't try and ride. It was anyway a very nice relazing weekend. Where is my title in all this. I love the snow. It creates a different painting all the time. The cold temperatures I don't like, but I love the snow. Sure hope we get some soon as this in between brown on brown and ice is the pits. Thought I would add a couple of pictures from around our cottage during the winter.


(this is out our back window of our cottage)


(annual Christmas/New years hockey game on the lake)

ANOTHER BIG STEP

This past weekend was another great adventure and full of excitement. Angela and I returned safely from Saskatoon so on Friday morning we head out to the farm to see the boys. We saddled up Blue and Digger and went for an amazing ride even though many of our favorite trails have been fenced off now due to the quad/skidoo trails being promoted in the area. We did find a nice trail though that is usually very boggy and unpasable with the horses. Been so dry this year and with the cold weather, the swamp was dry and hard and we had no trouble crossing it. We were out for about an hour and a half. Was one of those cloudy, damp cold days but we didn't feel the cold. Came back from there and Angela helped me with my filly Peps. Rode in the arena for awhile, she brought Blue in to get Peps used to working with other horses. After about twenty minutes, we ventured out of the round pen and went on our first trail ride. Just a little ride, but Peps was great. Wanted to be in the lead all the time. That way Blue couldn't giver her the evil eye and intmidate her. Sherry was surprised we went the way we did. She calls it the rabbit run. She had a bad wreck some years ago on her mare Get Rich Quick when a rabbit darted across the road and spooked Richie. I felt we might as well get it over with first but no bunnies so all went well. Then after finishing with Peps, Angela pulled out her baby Eurus, all 16 hands of him I'm sure. he is one big two year old. After a short coffee break with Sherry we headed home and the partying began in ernest for Angela and her brother and sister. It was really nice seeing the three of them head out together for the same event. It was a sisters weekend and the only boy allowed other than for dancing was their brother. After Friday, and then again Saturday till the wee hours of the morning, we celebrated Angela's 21st birthday on Sunday with Brunch and tea and cake before she headed home to Saskatoon. It was a great weekend and now I'm counting down the days until Angela is home and we are all together again. 26 days and counting.








This picture was taken many years ago. Angela was a horsewoman right from an early age. My old mare Schiroc was a good teacher. Can you also see a pattern here with my horses. I seem to be stuck on blue roans. This is my boy Blue's mama and Sherry's old stud Chile Poivre, pictured on her latest blog is his Dad.

I think I will add old photos with every post I do just to make it interesting.
What do ya think?

BACK FROM SASKATOON

I'm back from Saskatoon. Helped Angela drive back. Had a great two days. Although the bus ride seemed like the trip from Hell. This bus stopped at every small not even on the map town in Saskatchewan. Had to laugh though. Since the incident last summer on the greyhound bus in Manitoba, their security measures have supposed to be vamped up. At your originating city, they check all your bags, and all your carry on, which is supposed to be limited to one small bag with reading material etc. No clothes, weapons, sharp objects, no glass bottles. Okay I'm with this. Safety is paramount. What seemed ludikrist to me was at the first stop, 10 mins long, a woman gets on the bus with a full duffle bag and takes up the whole seat beside her and another woman gets on with a glass bottle of ice tea that she purchased in the store. Now both of these women were harmless but what is the use of security measures when the bus makes several stops and anyone can get on and bring on anything including weapons etc. Seems rather riduculous to me to go through all of these increased security measures and then let these things happen along route. Any way enough on this. My visit with Angela was great. We went to the barn to see Classy and she let me take Classy for a ride around the arena. What a blast. I felt so comfortable and at home on her. These abilities have been hiding now for some time and I think I have found them again. She is a great young filly with so much potential. she will make some lucky person a very good friend and partner. Check out the video. I also went for some great walks, stopping at the local Timmy's for coffee and checking out the two huge book stores, McNally Robinson and Indigo. Bad place for me to be. Can't go into a book store and not buy anything. Found some great Christmas presents. We went for dinner to a great Mexican restaurant and then headed to the local 50 some flavours Gilato shop for dessert. It was really great having some time with just her and I. Enjoyed our drive back and now she is home for a couple of days partying and visiting with her old friends from the U of A. The phone has been ringing off the hook all day. Before she leaves for Saskatoon, we are going to celebrate her 21st birthday which isn't officially until the end of the month. We had a great day today, but that's for another blog. Hopefully this weekend I will get to it.

TIME TO CATCH UP

Excuse the quality, Sherry used her cell phone for these



I think I almost have the seat and position. My line is almost straight.


yes I know I said that after my trip to Calgary that I would post. I know it's been a week or so but honestly, my life is a blur right now. I should fill you in on the darker side of my life. I don't know if I have ever talked about this part of my life or not but this is what has been taking all of my time lately. I am the CEO (chief Elected Official) for our small summer village. We may be small, but we face the same challenges as do the bigger communities, only with a much smaller revenue. Our Council meetings have the same procedures and importance as the larger ones do. We've been having alot of trouble lately with a small organization within our village. Needless to say this has been causing much stress and contention. Well I finally had enough and had one certain person removed from our meeting. Boy it felt good to actually use the powers that be and are entitled. It is a three year term and I would say that 90% of the last two and a half years has been a great experience and I am proud of what the three of us have done. It is an election year in 2010 so don't know yet whether I will run again. Anyway enough of that. On to the brighter side of my life, other than my family. My horses. I have been quite envious of DVM 2012, and her success with Classy. The weekend was finally nice and nothing much else to take me away, other than going to get hay, help with feeding etc. but I love doing that so I don't find them chores. Saturday, helped Sherry with chores and then brought in my young mare Peps and lunged her and saddled her up. She hasn't had alot of attention lately so wasn't sure how she would take to things again. Don't know why I worry. She was an absolute doll. Well it was getting late so thought better of getting on her and set Sunday as my goal. Well after helping with hay and stalls etc. brought Peps in again and did the same routine, only this time I stepped right up and all went well. With Sherry's guidiance and encouragement, she helped me over a couple of small stumbling blocks. Near the end of our ride, I must admit I felt good and Peps was again a doll. I realize that it is not her, that I am afraid, but myself. I need to convince myself that I CAN ride. The accident was just a blip on the radar and that if I just relax and let my inner self take over that I will be out on the trails with her real soon and that our troubles are over. At my age, I guess my brain overthinks and takes control. I've ben letting it tell me what I can and can't do. I can't wait to get on her again and continue building a solid relationship of trust and confidence. I leave for Saskatoon tomorrow to visit with Ange for a couple days and then we are driving back together on Thursday for the big BAR NONE weekend. This will be the first time that all three of my kids have gone. The youngest Cara has worked them before but never been able to partake in the festivities. She and Angela are having a sisters weekend. No boys allowed. The last time they went out drinking together was when Cara turned 18 and they headed to the Darwell fair and the Aaron Pritchet concert. I won't say any more other than Angela owes her sister. big brother Rob will be there too. Hubby and i are staying in the city this weekend to be the taxi service. also Ange has to head back to Saskatoon on Sunday. Hopefully Ange will let me try Classy. Talk to you all when I return from Saskabush.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Been a very busy week and another next so thought I would update now before I leave.
Enjoyed another great weekend although shortened out at the cottage. Got a new ride on Saturday. No it's not another horse FV so don't worry. My hubby bought me a new bicycle.We rented these great bikes in Vancouver before we went on our cruise. Haven't enjoyed biking much over the years as it has always put a strain on my back and my wrists. I have had carpal tunnel surgery and now have arthritis pretty bad in my hands. And my back, well that's another story. This bike is called a comfort bike. I sit farely straight, not hunched over and my wrists are relaxed and it has great shock absorbers for the behind. I know it seems kind of silly to be getting a bike now just before the snow comes, but you can't beat end of season sales.
I still prefer horses to bikes, but can't have a horse in the city so a bike will have to do. My husband and I used to do alot of horseback riding when we were first married, but once the kids started coming, someone had to stay home. He's ridden once or twice a year just to say he rides. After last weekend, not being able to ride my horses, and being stuck around home with yard work and the weather I declared that this weekend I was either going to work Peps, take my boy Blue for a ride or both. Saturday was another miserable cold damp dreary day so no working with horses. But today the sun shone beautiful so I asked hubby if he'd like to go riding with me and he said he'd love too. Used DVM201's great gelding Digger for myself and put my hubby on my boy Blue. We had a great ride for over an hour and we want to make it a regular habit. He's not alot of help when it comes to the young horses so can't expect much help with Peps, but for riding I'll take his company any time, any where that he wants to go.
I'm off to Calgary for a convention for four days starting Tuesday, so life should be interesting on the home front. Won't see my ponies for two weeks but they're in good hands. Talk to you all when I get back.

BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND SORT OF

Got my new van on Friday. Spent the day cleaning it inside and out. The fellow we bought it from was not the neatest person so there was alot of build up on swirches, handles etc. I'm abit of a clean freak when I buy something from someone else. No one can clean it to my standards. This way while I'm cleaning every nook and crany, I can check things out as well. There are a few minor fix ups, but other than that, my new van is awesome. Just love it. Rose loves her new bus too. Got in it on Friday afternoon, and wouldn't get out. Bought the coolest seat covers for it. If you're familar with Mossy Oak design, this is what I bought. So I have four captains seats covered in trees, leaves etc. Looks way cool.
With all the success that DVM2012 is having with Classy, I had every intention of getting on my young mare and trying to catch up. Well got to the farm on Saturday, and the weather was miserable. Gale force winds, cloudly, damp and just plain awful. Helped FV finish Eurus's and Phoenix's winter pen. Brought Peps out and spent some time with her. Went for a little in hand walk up the road to the top of the hill. The wind was jsut howling and she wasn't too impressed. She needs reminded sometimes of her manners and to listen to me. It went well.
Sunday woke up to a beautiful day, so thought this will be a great day to ride peps.
Look out the window and what do I see but my husband out raking. Thought oh well, here goes my day. Now we live at the lake, on a double lot with lots of trees and a forest reserve behind us. Needless to say, there are a ton of leaves. We usually get our kids to help us but none were available, so it was just the two of us. This was our last weekend to clean up as the weather is suppose to change by the weekend and there is nothing worse than cleaning the leaves in the spring after the snow and ice have left. Horrible job. So I spent this beautiful Sunday outside, raking and picking up leaves. By the time we were done, 5 hours later, my whole body ached and although there was still time in the day to do so, there was no way I could have longed or climbed aboard a horse. So Peps sits again and another good opportunity gone by the wayside. I don't think Sherry would have been able to help me much with Peps any way as she was quite tired from painting her house, which by the way is looking so great.
Today I am in the office, barely able to lift my arms, looking forward to going to the Rascal Flats concert tonight with FV and her neice Deanna. Next week I spend 3 days in Calgary for a convention.Doing this post at work, so unable to attach some pictures. Will add some tomorrow. Very busy this week, so hopefully will post again after my stay in Calgary.

OKAY OKAY I GET THE HINT

Hi everybody. I know it has been some time since I last posted. My excuse is that I have been very very busy. This is the truth. I usually only get about 5 minutes just before bed to check emails (which sometimes can be up to 40 a day)and my favorite blogs. Thought tonight the rest can wait and I'll catch up. Where to start. At the beginning I guess. After our trip to Alaska, had to prepare for Thanksgiving. The Monday before, FV had an Osteopath out; Kevin and his wife Siegrid to look at by boy Blue. She'd seen him work on other horses and he also works with people, and she has had hands on experience with him as well. Needless to say, I was a little skeptical. He took one look at him and knew what was wrong. Worked with him for about 45 mins and the results were amazing. Long story short, Blue was back to being the horse he was before his fall. He was walking out, spinning on haunches and stopping square for the first time in years. I was so happy with him. Kevin heard my history of my fall ect. and took one look at me and knew what was wrong. Said I was crooked. Again after 45 mins. I haven't felt this good in years. I can toucgh my toes, do-up and undo my own bra, which you know ladies can be a little awkward having someone else do for you.Getting out of bed isn't a 10 minute adventure. I just feel amazing. So on Thanksgiving, Ange (dvm2012) and I went for a ride. Blue was feeling pretty good so gave him his head and he opened up. I think he really enjoyed it as much as I did. That feeling of the wind blowing in your face and the rush you get on a galloping horse;there's nothing better.
I am very busy these days with my position on Municipal Council. Between conventions, meeting with the Minister, the Premier etc. I am on the road a fair bit. It has been a very educational and for the most part very informative and enjoyable time. It is an election year this summer. Still trying to decide if I will run again.
As I mentioned in my last post, our daughter had an accident with our Montana Van. Well they wrote it off so we've been using our old 97 Safari van in the interm. We just finalized the purchase of a newer (06) Montana SV6. Pick it up on Friday. So excited.
My son got a job finally. After the cruise, he started applying. there is nothing really in his field so he became part of the Wholesale Sports family and is working at the new mega store in South Edmonton. Working in the Optics department, GPS, scopes, binnoculars, etc. They get alot of environmental/conservation studends so they know come spring that he will be flying the cope to work in the field again for the summer.
After our somewhat early bout of old man winter, the weather improved enough to melt the snow which meant yard work. We live in an older neighbourhood with lots and lots of trees. We spent last sunday raking and bagging leaves, cleaned out my gardens and cut back perennials. Was a beautiful day. Would of rather been enjoying it from the back of a horse, but it had to be done. At least I got to spend the day outside



New van


Me and blue

Angela and Digger

Well must go as one cute golden named Rosey is eyeballing me to go for a walk. She knows the time of day long before I do. I won't promise but I will try to blog more often.