Sleepover

Friendship bracelets

Three beautiful, lively girls. One 16th birthday. A woman who never had children, much less hosted a sleepover for teenage girls, being asked to host the event at the ranch.

"I have never done this before," I replied. "What are you planning to do at your birthday sleepover?" 

"Oh! read our Bibles?! And maybe ride a horse?!!"

"I thought girls did their nails and stuff at things like this," I commented.

"Oh ya, maybe we could do our nails! And we want to make s'mores ..."

"Okay. I just hope you don't get bored."

"We're good. We just really want to hang out. Oh ya, and a photoshoot."

What could go wrong?!

Nothing. NOTHING went wrong! Here are a few pictures:

Swag packs ...

... which included three horse stuffies, in case

the mosquitoes prevented hanging out with the real ones!

                                                                                         Happy birthday to you! A tiny piece of cake

with the parents before they took off.

Riding in the box of the pick-up to the stack yard

 Top of the evening to you, girls!

Good night - don't stay up too late!

 Spa treatments ...

and chatting ...

Non-stop chatting!

(They sent me these.)

The next morning - I had been told to text them for

a sunrise photoshoot ...

It turns out, they were just heading to sleep!

9:45. Breakfast parfait for a bit of energy. 

The item in the back is a time capsule 

they are creating over the next three years, 

to be opened upon their high school graduation.

The ride had to be cut short because of the mosquitoes ...

... so the Good Rancher took them to visit Patches and the other pail bunters

A short trip to drop the liner off at Brad's for mechanical work ...

An encounter with a rafter of turkeys - they have their own community rules, it appears

Phew - we survived that ride!

A quick game of Marco Polo in the corn field

Then back to pack, play one more game, and get ready to say goodbye ...

Three young girls forming friendships and starting traditions as they prepare to go into grade 10. 

One last note: those girls had their sleepover suite completely clean and tidy when they left. They were grateful for everything and never made any demands. They all knew how to fend for themselves and how to be as a group. Thank you, amazing parents!

The whole event reminded me of the Vision Credit Union calendar contest and my photo entry of the three men, friendships long since forged, having a quick visit.

I would wish the same for our girls.🩷🩷🩷

And isn't that what all of us want, really, a couple of good friends you know will stand by you?

Thanks for the fun time, girls - sleep well tonight! 

Voting Day

Vision Credit Union is running its annual calendar photo contest and I have been asking people to vote for my picture daily - and the response has been remarkable; thank you all!

But! 

If you have time or energy for only one vote today, and you live in the Battle River - Crowfoot region of Alberta, don't waste that vote on my picture, as charming as the men and as endearing as the dogs are.

PLEASE go to your polling station and cast your ballot!

The people at the polling stations have had extensive training, especially in light of this travesty of a voting exercise with over 200 candidates registered.

But with Elections Canada adjusting the way we vote by using write-in ballots (along with an annual-report-sized book listing all the names in alphabetical order!), it is pretty painless.

Plus, at least in our polling station, the officers are helpful, friendly, efficient, knowledgeable and kind. (No pictures allowed, but thank you to Doreen, Betty, Wanda and Les - the ones working when we went to vote).

As I went into the polling booth I remembered the bracelet I had elected to wear as a reminder that God already knows the outcome of this election and that He knows the end from the beginning, so that ultimately we can be at rest regardless of the outcome of this election.

I wrote the name of my chosen candidate in the blank space; and as I did, I sang under my breath:

God, keep our land glorious and free -

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

The Day Before

Amy and me - my very first bottle calf heifer!

Amy's waiting for her fifth calf ...

 It's Saturday morning. I am on 10 o'clock heifer check. I pull on long johns, extra layers, flannel shirt, silk scarf. An old felt hat, a gift from my sister many years ago. Grab the blanket from the stair rail in the porch: "It looks like rain," the Good Rancher had said as he went to bring in his horses.

I drive out, through the horse pasture, through the little gate into what he calls the Storm Field. It's a haven for calvy heifers and pet cows on days of inclement weather, such as this one.

It's mizzling and extremely windy. Even the crocuses are shuttered against the onslaught.

I circle the perimeter slowly, trying not to disturb these heavily pregnant mums.

Each is settled in her chosen spot.

They are all quiet.

At rest.

Waiting.

Tomorrow's the official day that new life will start to be seen, the GR says. It's the official heifer calving launch.

But it's the day before. All is quiet in this garden. All are at rest.

I back the side-by-side into an unobtrusive spot and let my mind drift back some 2,000 years ago to that "day before" where there was little to no activity on the streets of Jerusalem in honour of the Sabbath. 

Rest day.

Waiting.

Tomorrow - little do they know - will be different from any other day anyone has ever known. A massive stone will be rolled from a brand new tomb. The broken body, placed in it so tenderly by friends just days before, will not be found in the cave. 

Angels will attest.

The ladies will come. Peter and John will come. Friends walking to Emmaus in bewilderment and sorrow will speak to and break bread with Him. 

Death will have been defeated.

Nothing will ever be the same.

But that's tomorrow.

Today the sleet spits in my face.

The thunder rumbles.

We rest.

And we wait.

'Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas

Calendar Girl

They had been together for over 60 years when he said his final goodbye to her. Together they had created a busy, productive, satisfying life. They finished stronger than they began, loving each other to the end.

And then she carried on. She moved to town, as he had wanted; but she kept the farmhouse ready and welcome for the many family members and friends who come to see her. She arranged for an annual floor curling bonspiel in his honour, full of laughter, reminiscing, family members and, oh yes, some sizzling curling.

"I have the best of both worlds!" she exclaimed to me just today. Her silver linings dwarf her clouds, thanks to her courage and indomitable spirit.

We were on our way to Stettler, to the County office. I had received a phone call a couple of weeks ago saying that two of my photos had made it into the shortlist round for the 2025 county calendar. I was allowed to bring a guest to the unveiling of the calendar and the luncheon following.

I chose Eleanor as my date.

Council was still in session when we arrived so we waited in the room where we would eat lunch. King Charles hangs on the wall now - his 75th birthday is tomorrow.

Today he had nothing on Eleanor.

We were all called into the council meeting room and they announced the Grand Prize winner: Delaine Stewart, with a truly magnificent picture of combines perfectly situated under a double rainbow holding back the looming, thunderous sky. 

This picture actually took my breath. Get a copy of the Stettler County No. 6 calendar and turn to September to see for yourself.

Someone else was announced next; but I was watching the screen that was supposed to be showing the picture being discussed. However, the order had gotten a little confused and I saw something else that also took my breath.

I saw Eleanor. And Ken. And my picture, which I called "End of the Summer." 

I remember the day I took that picture. We had gone for a walk in the garden and they had shown me their shed with all the onions carefully laid out to dry. Then they asked me if I liked beets. Upon "Yes indeed!" Ken went and got a white plastic bag and a spade. I got out my phone and took what has become one of my favourite captures.

End of the Summer

I heard lovely Michelle, the Legislative Assistant who spearheads the Calendar contest each year, call my name and say I had two pictures in the calendar. She also said that I had brought the subject of one of the pictures as my guest today, and would Eleanor please come up too. 

Eleanor was met by County Reeve Larry Clarke who presented her with a framed copy of her picture and told her that hers was June's picture. She replied, "I never once thought that I would become a calendar girl, and look at me - 88 years old!" 

She brought down the house.

Eleanor and I were honoured to be joined for lunch by our own Councilor, Les Stulberg. After a delicious roast beef feast I asked if I could take their picture:

We left shortly thereafter, as another meeting was due to start at 1 pm. Our hostess said that Eleanor should take calendars as stocking stuffers for her family and friends, so sorry, gang, you know one of your presents!

"End of the Summer," she mused, almost to herself. "In more ways than one..." Then she straightened her shoulders and gave me one of her beautiful smiles. 

I had a couple of errands to run and then we pointed the truck back toward home.

But first we called the Good Rancher. "Did you ever think you would have a neighbour who was a Calendar Girl?!" Eleanor asked him.

"I don't need a calendar to know you're a beautiful girl!" he retorted immediately.

So there you have it. My neighbour and beloved friend is Miss June. 

"I will remember this day for a long time," she said as we hugged goodbye.

Congratulations, Calendar Girl!