Thanksgiving Weekend

Last weekend we spent in Kalispell Montana for the Thanksgiving weekend. I was a nice time for our family. We got to shop a lot and swim in the pool at the hotel as well as see the beautiful country side of Northern USA. Our kids have never drove through a boarder, poor things have only had the opportunity to go through customs at the airport. That started off our new experiences for the weekend and from there, we seen great country, glacier parks, moose in the back of pick ups, park rangers with hats like you see on t.v., different restaurants and the list goes on.

One of the weirdest things to me is, how does the accent change just 10 mins inside the boarder. We stopped to have a bathroom, (or should I say restroom) break and they all talked we an accent.

I didn't get a chance to take as many pictures as I wanted when we went. I drove the whole way there and my family isn't nearly as excited about picture taking as I am. Destiny did however afford me the luxury of a few one afternoon, while her brother sat in the truck and had no part of it, for then anyway. He did break down the next day for a few.

I will add them when I get a chance. Destiny and I are on our way out to dryland training for her hockey team. Have a great weekend.

It Is In The Eye

Its amazing to me how they are all so different.

Their eyes can tell a story, and I never really realized it until recently.

This particular horse is a bit of a wild spirit. After a recent storm she

became our best friend and had eyes a stressed and as scared as mine.

The other thing so amazing is that animal lovers and horse crazed people can tell a horse apart by their eyes. I spent a hour or so out taking pictures of the horses one day not telling anyone and when I started editing them, Destiny came right up and said, oh I like Brahma's eye.

Really, because I couldn't even remember which horse it was.

Patchy

These were a couple of my favorite "eye" shots from that day.

I tried to make this one sepia, not nearly as effective with that blue eye.

Lefsa

Lefsa, is a tradition in our family. It is basically a potato tortilla, however we just put butter in it and eat it with our turkey. or it is the best with bacon in it in the morning but different Norwegians do different things.

This is the dough, made up of mashed potatoes, butter, cream and flour. ( room temp, before you add the flour)

Roll it out as thin as you can get it, I had to use a lot of flour so that it wouldn't stick.

That is my moms rolling pin.

Now, I don't have all the fancy lefsa making tools such as a lefsa griddle, flipper, or any other paraphernalia. I just used my electric frying pan and a regular flipper. That worked too..

This is only my second attempt at making lefsa, so I didn't think it warranted anything to fancy.

I must say, this is a two man job and at least 2 griddles. I was a little over excited and made a lot of potatoes, and only used half of my mashed potatoes for the lefsa, so we will be eating mashed potatoes all week.

It tasted great. It actually even looks like it should.

If you would like a recipe. Just let me know and I can try and help.

Bringing Home the Hay

Well it is that time of year to get ready for the season ahead. The snowy rain came just two days after we got our bales home for the winter.

We had a lot of help for this evening of bale moving and it went very quickly.

I supplied the supper, the boys did all the work.

You can see the weather rolling in just behind Jim in this picture.

That is our friend Kody, Hayze and our nephew Gerrick. Gerrick loved watching the bales fall.

Awh, too wicked! Was the saying that got us giggling.

The boys were an excellent help.

Helping Uncle, Gerrick had a great time

The boys on the top of the stack, ready to go home.

Really Looking

Well, I am really looking for something to share.

I haven't done any neat projects, haven't completed anything new.

Haven't seen any great movies, or ventured really to far from home.

But what I have been doing is:

• Volunteering at the kids gymkhana's
• Attending meetings to plan the year end banquet for the kids gymkhana
• Designing a email/mailout for the kids gymkana
• Attending hockey conditioning and tryouts
• Attending hockey practices
• Co-coaching Destiny's Pee Wee girls hockey team
• Putting on a parent meeting for the girls hockey team
• Eating a spaghetti supper at the school tonight
• Watching the kids rope and ride at the riding area
• Watching the new Greys
• Watching the new House
• Watching the new survivor
• And spent an evening with the "girls" at a very cute Italian restaurant last Friday.

Oh and I can't forget the pictures I took, I edited the whole batch on Monday so that I could get them to her prior to the baby coming. LUCKY, the baby came 13 days early and arrived on Tuesday.

Ready to Arrive

I was so blessed to be able to take these photos.

The baby is due to arrive in about 3 weeks.

This photo shoot took us 3 hours and many wardrobe changes. We had a great time and I learned a lot about taking pictures inside. I am more of a outdoor shooter, however I really enjoyed this experience and may now have to buy a few lights. Thanks to Shawna for the use of her lights and backdrop.

Editing is in the early stages, but the pictures so far are amazing.

Cutest Helper

Destiny has recently lost a few privileges at home due to some wrong choices, so she has plenty of extra time to help me around the house. Yesterday, she helped cook supper, do laundry, cleaned the front entrance, and even straightened the shoes in my closet with out being asked.

She is a great little helper, and a great little conversationalist with out the T.V on.

I took this picture to finally show you the beautiful apron that the kids "aunty Marlene" made them. This is Destiny's and it is made out of recycled jeans. Thanks Kim.. Hayze's apron is made of recycled denim as well. Just a little more masculine. I will share a picture of him in it, if he ever actually helps in the kitchen.

A couple of pictures for you to look at. I am just trying to get my pictures to look bigger on my posts. I am not sure of the proper way to do this.

I went in and manually changed the pixels on html screen. That seems like a very tedious way to do it, and if I am posting a lot of pictures, not practical at all.

So if you are reading this and you have any idea how my pictures can be big and not so grainy and have to do it manual please let me know. ( bloggers help)

took a couple nights ago. Can't believe the September weather we are having.

A sailors sky is a sure sign on more hot weather.

Destiny and Mic

The kids, I had to snap this one, Can't believe they are in the same room and getting along.

(see how grainy, yukk)

I will keep trying. Have a great weekend.

Weekend full of arenas.

The Regehr family hosted a team roping jackpot and a pig roast on Saturday.

Jim took part in the team roping as a heeler .

Pig roasted to perfection

Jim after the roping, I took no arena pictures for this reason and due to the fact that I was running back and forth to the hockey arena with the children.

After supper they had a dummy roping for the kids.

Hayze won the heeling, and took home a buckle donated by Trina's dad Jim.

Jim was so proud that both Hayze and himself won something.

Jim took 4th place in the jackpot, and won a $50 gift card to K&K livestock.

All the kids from the Dummy roping

Yes, I even got in on the action.

$2.00 entry fee for the adult dummy roping.

notice there is no "victory" photo for me.

We had a great time at the Regehrs, I love getting together for functions like that with friends.

Sunday found us at the gymkhana area in Strathmore and then back at the rink for Hayze's conditioning. Another great day for the kids at the arena. I don't have any pictures because I was helping time and announce. Another great weekend.

As fall continues on and the sports start up, I am getting excited about all the things to come.

Hockey teams will be picked for Hayze after next weekend and their winter series gymkhana starts in Okotoks. Gitty UP.!

Crazy Hair Day

This morning was all about crazy hair day.

Destiny went like Pippy Long Stocking and Hayze just had crazy hair. Hayze enjoys crazy hair day and is confident to pull it off. He will even wear a crazy mohawk not on crazy hair day if him and his buddy's decide that is what they want to do on a certain day. Now pajama day is another story, no pj's to school for him.

Destiny was in her glory this morning, she spent a lot of time looking in the mirror at her new hair do. She loves it.

How We Did It: We took a firm wire hanger. Cut the ends off, molded it to the shape of her head and left 6 inch pieces on either side. When it came time to attach it this morning, I just got her to hold it on top and I braided the sides around the wire and wolla! You have this CRAZY hair do.

She said she looked like pippy long stocking, I was surprised she even knew who she was, but she had seen books.

I am going to pick up our new (used) bedroom suite today. I am so excited, Jim and I have been sleeping in the guest room while he was painting and fixing up our space. Now today the furniture, and I will hang some pictures and we are done that part of the house project.

I will share before and afters when it gets completed. Feel free to remind me to post those pictures, it might keep me motivated to complete my bedroom.

Have a great day.

Cowboys

click to make bigger and read

Count Your Blessings

I had a pretty exciting night with the kids at the arena last night. Hayze "spun" his first steer (dallied). He as been roping since early spring, but we have not allowed him to dally or tie hard to his saddle horn for safety reasons and their really is a lot to learn in a quick hurry. Last night Hayze caught a nice slow ster and make it all happen just perfect. We were so proud of him.

Picture quality low, arena was really dark last night.

Jim healing one for Hayze.

Destiny wanted to practice going out of the box, so I thought she was going to do just that.

I turn around and she is Hazing a steer for Hayze. She came out of the box like a seasoned veteran and full of confidence. She got a bit more practice through out the night and was pretty confidant that when ever her dad needs a hazer for steer wrestling she would be the one who could do it. Way to go hunny..

Destiny and Hayze.

This is a picture I edited a couple nights ago, I think the technique gets lost on my blog but it is very cute. ( you can click on it to make it bigger)

Just about 1/2 hour before this shot was taken Destiny got dumped on you but. She went out to catch her horse and her and her brother decided to jump on and come in with them. They were still with the herd of horses and it all went sideways when one of them took off.

Mic (Destiny's horse) started kicking and bucking and dumped her off the front. Her back was all grass stained and her leg is pretty bruised up but she got back on and finished the night.

Peachy Friend

PEACH PIE

Michelle Stewart brought me the best peach pie yesterday and I want to share it with you so you could enjoy it too. According to facebook they are a popular item and I was lucky enough to get in on the experience so I thought I would share the recipe so you could enjoy the bounty of peach season as well.

Doesn't it look so nummy.. it was still warm in this picture. (thanks again Michelle)

Heaven knows I can't make pies.

Ingredients

• pastry for a double-crust 9-inch pie
• 6 cups fresh peaches, sliced
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/3cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1tablespoons butter
• 
  

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. 2

   Stir together flour, 1 cup sugar, and cinnamon and set aside.

3. 3

   Wash, peel, and slice fresh peaches.

4. 4

   Mix together peaches with the combined dry ingredients.

5. 5

   Turn into pastry-lined pie pan and dot with butter.

6. 6

   Cover with top crust, cut slits in it, seal the edges.

7. 7

   Sprinkle top with 2 tablespoons of sugar.

8. 8

   Cover the edges with foil to prevent over browning; remove foil for the last 15 minutes of baking.

9. 9

   Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through the slits in the crust.

10. 10

    Pie may be frozen for future use.

3876

That is how many visits I have had to my blog in the last year.

3876

Thank you everyone for stopping bye..( dots represent where you all have visited from)

It's funny that Sept 1 brings my blog counter on cluster maps to a new year.

With back to school/work, I too, feel like I have started a new year, now more than New years I want to put routines in place and get organized for another year.

I would also like to get my blog organized.

Let me know what you would like to see on my blog. I have always had a wide range of things on my blog, may it be scrapbooking, pictures, cooking, links to other blogs, family stuff..

Let me know what has caught your attention in the past and that you would like to see more of.

I have added the "follow this blog" on the side bar. If you are interested please sign in.

I love to read everyones comments, please click on "comment" and leave a note.

thanks for following our happens, have a great long weekend

Friends and Family in Bloom

Well, do you remember this Party? We hung Destiny's name on the drive way gate sign and everyone let balloons go. We call it our family and friends party.It was two years ago already (in June)

It was such a great time and we have such fond memories of the time with all of our family and friends..

Just to refresh your memory, we asked everyone to bring a perenial flower rather than a gift for Destiny. Here is some pictures of the flowers from that summer.

Well this year the flower garden had produced quite nicely considering our weather. I wanted to share this mornings bouquet. I encourage you to celebrate in this way at some point in time. What a wonderful way to remember people, picking flowers!. Now this bouquet is not perfect nor do all the colors match, but isn't that who we are as people, and each one of those blooms is from someone different.