And the winner is......

I put all the names on a piece of paper; and cut them and folded them and put them in the hat;

I tried to get a little help from Foose to draw the name.

Not my job!

OK, Tess- maybe you can help?

Not my job either!

So I shook the hat and one by one the names popped out, until there was only one left.

Tess is making sure that there is only one left- and that one is..........

Prairie Runner! Linda, you can claim your prize - I'll email Kit and let her know that you won, and a Merry Christmas to you and Bossman!

I went hunting....

And bagged my tree! I finally got a chance to get my Christmas tree today. I took my dogs and went for a walk up a steep hillside and after trudging around for a while, there it was- the perfect Balsam Fir tree, just waiting for me to take it home! That's how I like to do it, spend some time out in the bush, getting to see the deer tracks and where they had bedded down, looking out over the valley at the beautiful scenery, and watching two happy dogs romp through the snow. And you should smell how beautiful it is in my home with the tree in the living room! Sorry, no photos as my husband absconded with my camera this week, so I'm trying to get decent ones on my cell phone. Then I gotta figure out how to get them on my computer.......

Still looking for more entries in my Christmas Giveaway in the post below- come on folks, it's a great gift, cause you get to pick it!

Christmas Giveaway Contest

Hey everyone, its giveaway time again! I wanted to do something for my loyal readers, and at the same time support some of the wonderful talent of our fellow bloggers. I've really enjoyed the photos over at Gizzards and Calf Fries, and know that Kit has a business selling prints, notecards, mouse pads, mini framed photos, etc.-so I am offering a $30 gift certificate to Crazy M Photography; the winner can pick out whatever you like, and Kit is kicking in to pay the shipping.

Here's the catch- (you knew there had to be one, right?) You have to leave a comment telling us about someone who makes Christmas special, whether for you or for someone else.

Contest closes Saturday at 9 A.M. my time (Mountain Standard Time). I will draw for the winner.

Grab a box of Kleenex and listen....

I first heard this song at a Christmas Concert in Turner Valley, Alberta, performed by pastor Paul Rumbolt, and it silenced the noisy, drinking crowd; there was not a dry eye in the place when he was done. This video is performed by the man who wrote it, John McCutcheon. I send this out to all the families who have sons and daughters who are serving their country, far away from home, and for all the soldiers who won't be home for Christmas.

A couple of new blogs

There are a couple of new blogs I'd like to mention. There is Cheeky Mare at Jump on and Ride, who lives in Belize, and Crystal at Ranch Riding who lives in Alberta and probably wishes she lived in Belize right now with all the super cold weather they are getting. Stop by and say howdy!

Sunday Stills- Technology

I must admit that I wasn't going to do this one, because photographing gadgets just isn't my thing; but then I thought of something that is run by technology and is very helpful:

These signs are used for everything from road conditions to Amber Alerts to PSA's- like this one:

A Tale of a Mouse....and a Donkey... and Day 2 at School

I brought Chickory out and tied her at the hitching rail; that is when I noticed Foose pawing at some grass. Grabbed the camera and this is what Foose was looking at:

Silly mouse was hiding under a leaf.

C'mon, lets play!

Mice are very aggressive when they are scared- it is leaping at the very jaws of death here! I grabbed Foose and put him in the house, I figured any mouse that brave deserved to live; at least until Kitty Bob finds it!

Meanwhile, Chickory was waiting.... I sacked her out again with the saddle pad, and put the saddle on her, led her around with it uncinched, then gently cinched it. She was calm with that, and I flopped the stirrup leathers, let the stirrups bump her sides, etc. all of which was fine- she was more interested in getting a mouthful of grass.

Day two in big girl school went well. Now I need to find a round pen to work her in. I can use the indoor arena where I go team sorting, they have public riding once a week, so that might be my best option for her. No round pen, though.

She will be two years old at the end of April. I'm happy with how stout she is , just need her to get a little taller.

I went over to get some eggs, and got to visit with Poco the baby donkey- remember him? He's just over two months old now, and has plenty of donkitude!

His fur is so thick and woolly, you wonder how he can see!

It was hard to take his photo because he had to check me out !

Eye can see just fine, thanks!

Papa, mama and baby. Too cute!

For Nuzzling Muzzles

Nuz Muz, this is for you. It is Chad Matthews, the son of the people who own Anchor D Outfitting, a song that he wrote and was filmed at one of their camps. I always think of your situation when I hear it!

Wordless Wednesday

Evening Shadows

Since the girls got to model the morning shadows today, Beamer gets to model the setting sun. After all, he figures he's the star around here, so I have to give him equal time!

Custom striping, supplied by mother nature!

Good night, everyone!

In the Shadow of... the Morning?

When I was out doing chores this morning, I noticed how long the shadows were, which means that the sun is very low in the sky, and approaching the day of Winter Solstice, Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year, now less than 2 weeks away (yay!) It is also our coldest day yet- minus 16 C., or 4 F. These photos were taken around 10 AM.

Sparkle appears to be checking out how long her legs look; ain't that just like a girl!

Velvet was napping in the sunshine; I had a hard time getting her to look at the camera, instead she was giving me this:

**Snarl** Quit pestering me!**

Chickory, ever the inquisitive one, was busy checking out a water tub that I was moving.

Who me? Ya want me to pose? Whyn't ya say so?

'Zat work for ya?

Make sure you get my best side!

Sparkle reminds me of Beamer when he was a baby. He was a little stand-offish, you'd never know it now though. She's starting to hang around with me when I'm in the pen now. After I weaned her she was really cranky with me, but she is finally over that. Velvet is the laid-back, couldn't be bothered type; Sparkle takes everything personally. It will be interesting training them.

Treasures!

We had a great time at the Back Country Horsemen's Christmas party. I forgot my camera, so did Janice, so when she gets some photos emailed to her, she'll do a post and I'll link to it. The things in the photo above are a gravy boat that I bought in the silent auction; an elk-antler table setting, also from the silent auction- napkin rings, salt& pepper shakers and a toothpick holder-and the Amaryllis that was the gift from the Santa table. The food was great, speeches were nice and short, there was a big bonfire, the only thing missing was snow so they could do their sleigh ride. Since we traveled an hour and a half to get there, it was also a bonus that the roads were good. Thanks, Janice, for inviting us!

Sunday Stills- Pets

Family portrait- it wasn't easy getting them to all sit still at the same time! Foose is 8 months old, and Bubby is 11 years old. Tess is 3 and Reba is 8.

The pathetic look.

Tess always gets the ball first, Reba doesn't even try any more, Tess can outrun her.

Smile for the camera!

Evening with the girls

As the sun was setting yesterday, I couldn't resist taking photos in the beautiful evening light. This week's Sunday Stills is pets, so I was getting a couple of dog photos, and thought about how long it's been since I got some good shots of the fillies. Sparkle and Velvet are growing rapidly, and are nearly as tall as Chickory, who seems to have stopped growing up and is bulking up instead.

Sparkle is still reserved, but is starting to let her curiosity take over. I was trying to get some photos of Velvet, and next thing I know, both Sparkle and Chickory are tugging on my jacket.

Velvet was basking in the sun, not at all inclined to get up; in fact she let me sit on her as she lay there. She is such a mellow girl.

The sun started sinking behind the mountain, and the temperature was dropping too, but I couldn't go in without a couple of parting shots.....

As the cat world turns.....

It's getting like a soap opera around here with the cats. Kitty Bob literally scares the crap outa poor Foose, but not Bubby! When I went out to feed, this is the sight that greeted me.

The cat up top is Bob; Bubby had him treed. When I went out, Bubby, showing off for me, yowled and dashed a little higher in the tree, making sure Kitty Bob knew that he was in control!

Then Bubby proceeded to climb down, having attained his goal of terrorizing Bob. Now, those of you who read the 7MSN Ranch blog are familiar with Deets- one of my favorite cats ever!-and how gracefully he climbs up and down just about everything. Bubby could take some lessons from him.

Bubby tries to exit in a dignified manner,

only to have both back feet slip off the branch- high centered! Very undignified!

After a few moments of recollection (he was probably using kitty cuss words!) he gathered himself and leaped onto the roof of Beamers shed.

Bubby exits, stage left.

Kitty Bob stayed up the tree for a while, making sure Bubby was really gone , then climbed carefully down.

Bob exits, stage right.

Wordless Wednesday

Going to be a great week!

I spotted Kitty Bob on top of the pile of old honey barrels today, so I went out to visit with him. (I'm assuming it's a him; might be Kitty Bobbi!) Then I noticed that Foose was on the barrel pile too- trying to be invisible.

That's Foose on the left; he was glad to see me; it meant he could exit gracefully without having to concede defeat. I think Bob quite intimidates the poor little guy; Foose is only 8 months old, and Bob is definitely a mature cat.

I'm not trying to tame him to the point of being a house cat; just want him to hang around and do varmint control without being afraid of the dogs- and without putting the run on poor Foose! I think Kitty Bob really appreciates the catfood I've been putting out for him. I've always liked Manx cats.

The mountains to the west had a pretty pink tinge to them this morning; I managed to capture a little of it as it rapidly faded with the rising sun- yes, sun! The rain clouds have gone, and the north wind and full moon brought clear skies for this week. Of course, that also means it's a little colder too, 4 degrees below freezing is still not too bad for December first in my books. Guess I'll just have to dress a little warmer when I ride Beamer this week- gotta keep him in shape for sorting on Dec. 12th.

This weekend should be fun, we are joining Janice and Dave for the Back Country Horsemen's fundraiser and Christmas bash. Wagon rides, potluck supper, and silent auction, to help raise funds to keep the trails open for riding in the back country; the mountains and lakes around here make for some fantastic rides, as you can see from some of Janice's posts on her blog. We really would like to have a "blogger ride" next year, so check out my post below, and let us know!

An invitation

Edit: Please leave a comment on this post if you would like to come on a trail ride in the Canadian Rockies with Janice and I; we will pick the area to suit the type of riders we get. We need to know when would suit you best, and if you want to bring your own horse make sure you check with your veterinarian as to what papers are required if you are crossing the border.

Any time in July or early August would be the best time to be in the mountains.

Dogs are welcome!

December already! What a lot of change this year has brought me.... but that's a whole different post that I will save for the end of the month. I will say, however, that I am thankful to be living in this beautiful valley. I am meeting new people, and I love being this close to my family.

This is Creston, and the view from our place. Those are the Skimmerhorn Mountains, Tara at High Performance Quarter Horses could probably tell you the names of the mountains as she used to live here. If you haven't looked at her website for a while, go check out the photos she has of the gorgeous foals they have this year.

I love the mountains, as I spent my childhood about 60 miles from here on the other side of Kootenay Lake. I will say, however that the mountains in Alberta are spectacular, and I spent years living in the foothills west of Calgary, with the amazing panorama of the Rockies to gaze upon every day.

My friend Janice and I would like to know if any of you bloggers would like to get together next summer for a mountain trail-ride/camp out. There are plenty of options, including bringing your own horse or finding you a mount here. Please think about it, and either leave a comment, or email either of us if you would like to do this. It takes a lot of planning, so now is the time to start. I think it will be a lot of fun!