11 11

November was a busy month for medicals with MRI and Ultrasound and now just the wait til next month for the results with hopefully no back surgery in the forecast but I sure hope the narrowing discs slow down or else it's me that will be doing a lot of slowing down.

Not this month though. An impromptu trip to Edmonton for my nephew and God son's 3rd birthday party turned into more than just that. A Bay City Rollers concert at Stoney Nakoda Resort outside Kaninaskis on Friday, CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo) in Edmonton Saturday and his birthday party Sunday.

Last weekend at the last minute we went to Havre for their Thanksgiving weekend just to party on the Friday night with friends and ended up partying with two other couples from near Seven Persons, Saturday was spent in Maple Creek playing music for a birthday party. Still need to nail down a name for our band. Either "Nuts & Bolt" or "Once In A Blue Moon" because we really only get together then... How about "Blue Moon" for short?

After staying the night in the Redmond B & B, a beautiful house built in 1913, we headed to Seven Persons for a Grey Cup Party. Never did see my niece Kesley, cheerleader on the Blue Lightning Dance Team for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but our sales manager did manage to run across her and get his picture taken with her AND bring me back an autographed calendar. I don't follow football at all, but I'm happy to report I do not hold it against him that he's a rider fan... nor did she :)

10 11

Oct 2nd Ray's youngest turned 18 so now all his kids are officially grown ups, well, adults now. On the 5th we were entertained by the Beach Boys at the Esplanade. Last time we saw them was in Penticton last May when we were registering Derek for training camp but all we saw was the sound check. It was great to see and hear the entire show!

Thanksgiving was celebrated at his parents with the rest of the family, and mid month we hosted a party for our social club from work at the farm. Turn out wasn't that great but it certainly turned out great. The dinner was awesome (Ray is such a great cook) and the bonfire was humungous, though next year, I think we'll have to get waivers signed, either that or hide the quad keys to avoid that foolishness again.

This month we bought a little 4x4 Ford Ranger to get me to work when it storms in the winter. Watch it be the mildest winter on record or something. lol

We also had 2 Halloween parties to attend and I can only party one night in a row these days so the birthday pub crawl in the Hat was full out fun, though as much as I drank, didn't get drunk and ended up making sure everyone was on the bus after our original counter bailed. The next night we hauled the trailer to Bow Island to host karaoke at the Tavern. I was not a happy camper that night, and not because we were camping in the parking lot, I'm used to that.. I'm just not used to the screaming drunks who abuse the equipment and don't care about anyone but them selves. Oh that headache had me cranky and 2 am couldn't come soon enough but everyone else had fun and Ray's brother & sister inlaw won prize for best couples costume. My Stevie Nicks costume went over like a lead balloon... maybe that's what I should be next year... a lead balloon.

September 11

Ray and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary with a whirl wind trip to LA to visit my son Christopher who works at deviantART. We flew in Thursday night, Dodgers game Friday night, Saturday was Disney Land, Sunday Six Flags Amusement Park and flew home Monday. 

September is also the Annual Toy Run and since Ray had to work, I had to ride alone... along with 800 other bikers. I did meet up with friends in Irvine where it all started and after breakfast at the hotel and the ride to Medicine Hat, Ray met up with us at the Cypress Centre and we rode to Dayzoff, the Boars Nest and then home.

August 11

Tuesday nights are bike night and it was great to ride with friends to Seven Persons, 40 Mile, Foremost and more.  It was also a great month for family when  all of Ray's kids, one of mine and my parents came to visit all at the same time! We camped at 40 Mile, fished, boated, bonfired and had an awesome time. The following weekend my parents returned with my Aunt & Uncle for another visit and to meet Ray for the first time. What fun playing cards, reminiscing and getting caught up after such a long time since last visit, and their first visit to the farm.

Just Jammed July

Years ago Ray was parked in the Walmart parking lot with the bikes behind the 5th Wheel when a couple of women approached him and asked if he was headed to Eastend for the Rally In The Valley. We had other plans that weekend but Ray was the first to buy that year's rally t-shirt. This year we decided to attend and talk about a blast. We met lots of new people and had great neighbours next to us in the campground. We won the balloon toss at the bike rodeo and enjoyed great music at the beer gardens and even had time to take in the local dinosaur museum.

The next weekend was the Clearsky Radio camping weekend that I convinced them to have at nearby 40 Mile Park so Ray could attend since he was on call, and boy did he get called! 3 times in 24 hours but was still able to grab a few hours sleep and a few hours on the boat as well.


We also spent a weekend at Quonset Days, a fundraiser for ALS and rescued a young lass who lost her purse and cell phone and ended up bunking on the couch for the night and I gave her a ride home the next day. Always mothering someone :)

We also went on several day trips on the bikes with friends who just got new bikes and a toy hauler so we now have our own new motorcycle group.. the Sunflower Gang! lol..Our logo has a lady bug and we plan on getting tattoos to honour our honourary president Lanabana!

One of the 2011 Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Night Shows was REO Speedwagon. I liked the band before but after seeing them live, LOVE the band now! I have a few new white guitar picks to add to my collection. Walked away a happy camper! After the show we headed to friends in Seven Persons for a 75th birthday party and jammed the night away!





This month we also go a few new kittens, the Jesse named the male RJ (for Rootbeer Junior) so the female I named PJ for the lighter brown on her that looks like the colour of peanut butter, so peanut butter & jelly she is! Though not farm cats any more, I over feed them and they are spoiled deck cats now that want constant attention that I am more than happy to give!

June 11

The road to Radium was awesome as we towed the bikes to Radium Valley Vacation Resort with a stop in Fernie and spent a week riding, golfing and soaking in hot springs. The stay in the 3 bedroom house was a surprise and the riding in the mountains for the first time was scarey. I had to remember to breath when we went around corners on our way up to Panorama but after 5 days of experience up and down the road from Radium to Invermere to explore (and sing at open stages and karaoke bars) I finally felt comfortable and look forward to riding all the way to Penticton rather than towing next trip.

The trip home was though Golden where we stopped at the Glacier Raft Company to do a double run of the Kicking Horse River and what a rush that was! Next time we hope to do the lower half that is supposed to be even more challenging!


Mid month was another milestone celebration when Ray's parent's celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. With 4 generations in attendance, it was a good time had by all! End June was the 5th Annual Dead Hog Boogie. This year was once again at the Manyberries Rodeo grounds. Did not successfully defend my rodeo game title but Ray won the slow race so still came home with prizes and met a new friend, pictured below.. HARLEY!

Mmmmm May!

From Ray's birthday dinner to a mini vacation to Radium Hot Springs it was a wonderful May! Mother's Day was spent at a branding party a friend's farm. I have been to one before and saw the branding, and even the culling of semen from a bull...ew...but this was the first time that I was there for the castration and even was involved hands on! Hands on the other end thankfully and left the rest to the experienced. I love animals and have my way with dogs, cats, a few horses I am far from a cow whisperer. I did help reunite a maimed calf with his mama and spent the rest of the day taking pictures and enjoying prairie oysters and beer popsicles on the porch playing with kitten and watching the sunset before riding our bikes back to the Hat!

On the ride home, I had to stop and take pictures because the sky was so gorgeous and it reminded me of my book that sits on my coffee table back home. "If you're not from the prairie..." by David Bouchard & Henry Ripplinger. "If you're not from the prairie, You don't know the sky, You can't know the sky.....If you're not from the prairie, You don't know the sky." And that began a string of photos just taken on my iphone that shows just how much I love my prairies too.




"You don't know the sun."



















You've never heard grass."



















"You don't know our trees."

 "You don't know what's flat."


















Cold, snow and me coming to a prairie girl blog real soon!

Another Awesome April

This month, Ray's daughter graduated from Lethbridge College with a diploma in graphic design. It was a rush to make it to the ceremony to see Chelsey graduate but thankfully made it in the nick of time and then went for lunch after to celebrate with Japanese cuisine and rice wine. Good thing I didn't have to drive home! So proud of the girl who starts a new job on the Monday after grad with Data Boss to help launch a phone app called Mutranium! Can't wait for the release of the game so please buy it on your smart phone to help the girl's profit sharing!!!

Not so Mundane March

Boy oh Boy was it ever boring this month other than celebrating Ray's eldest son's daughter's birthday. It was a wonderful day at the Family Leisure Centre swimming and a family party at Ray's Mum & Dad's. Monroe is so talkative and her personality so vibrant she was the star of the show at her 2nd birthday party!!

Mid March we headed to Cabo San Lucas for a weeks stay at The Solmar at the same time 8 other friends were there to celebrate a few of their 50th Birthday's so as a birthday present to Ray, I arranged for the flights and time share exchange and stayed right on the tip of Baha California on Thunder Beach. After 2 nights of barely being able to sleep because of the noise from the aptly name beach, we requested a different room and moved further back into the resort to get some well needed rest. It was a wonderful experience with time spent on a catamaran with our friends, dancing up a storm at Cabo Wabo, winning a Mexican hollering contest at a Fiesta and winning a bottle of tequila, getting a tattoo, renting a car to Todo Santos to see the Hotel California, touring a glass factory, free booze cruise and meeting a great couple from Alaska that we plan to meet again next year to do it all over again! Can't wait!

Fabulous February

February was full of birthdays; Ray's son Brad and his mother Mary (80 years young) and our friend Dave who is pictured to the right. That was taken the weekend we went to Empress for to raise funds for a their friends who's house burned down. After the potluck dinner at the hall we headed to the local tavern and set up our gear there and entertained the townsfolk. First time I ever worked for wine! Too Much Fun!!!!

Jumpin' January

Holy Snow Batman! Talk about a brutal winter so far. Apparently it hasn't snowed here this much since 1978! Travel is preceeded by checking the AMA road reports and it may be fine on the way but that could change midway or on the way back. With an approaching storm, we still traveled to Lethbridge for Rob's 50th birthday party.

Arriving a day, early we checked in and went to dinner at El Comel Mexican Restaurant before heading to the Sound Garden and then to Ezzies to dance the night away with Ray's daughter's friends and partied the next night away at Rob's birthday bash. I even got up on stage with the band to sing Me & Bobbie McGee. Even though I was the only one to bring cheat sheets, the manager loved what she heard and was ready to see a repertoire to hire me to sing in the lounge. Quite flattered, but not quite ready to turn professional, Won't be quitting my day job any time soon.

Nor will I be a card shark even though my first ever 24 hand on January 20th allowed me to stomp on the competition with ease! Sorry Ray, Just the way the cookie crumbles!

January 28the was a busy night cramming as much in as possible. After dinner at the Schiles', we went to the Esplanade to see Rich Little! He brought back so many memories of the family watching the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson! I would post a photo but no cameras were allowed! After his performance we gathered back at the Schiles' along with the Beierbachs, who were in town for hockey tournament then headed home in dangerous weather. We were supposed to go back into town the next day but Old Man Winter would not allow. I would miss out on emceeing the Tongue On The Post Folk Festival  and Ray would miss out on a night of too much tequila with Evert! Thankful for at least one miss!

Damn Good December

Canada Cup came to town and the Alexander Keith's Patch was the party at the Medicine Hat curling club. For a change, more time was spent at the Arena watching games than in the Patch! It was a great experience and we met lots of curling fans from across the country. I even won a prize this time around. Not first for my impression of Marilyn Monroe's Happy Birthday where as Ray won first prize at the Continental Divide during the Continental Cup in 2007

Ray's son Brad spent most of the month at the farm working on a huge doll house for his daughter Monroe and his dog Hot Rod became a regular part of the family. I know the red neck rules of etiquette state never allow a dog to eat from the table no matter how good his manners are, but it has to happen at least once, at least for the photo op!

We once again headed to Chestermere for the Beierbach's Annual Christmas dinner and I did eventually, sort of put up a Xmas tree. It may be only a 6" pre-decorated punk and the presents were bigger than the Charlie Brown mini me. It was a quiet Christmas Eve with Ray & I at the farm, Christmas Day was spent with family in the Hat and then it was a shooter party at friends in Seven Persons on Boxing Day. Back to Seven for a New Year's Eve Dance. Ringing in the new year with the one you love is the best!