The Ranch House

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Day 352 - Grad dress success!!

Day 352 was a lucky day! Up early as we had fertilizer delivered at 7:30 am and being spread by 8:30am. Sheldon stayed home till then to get organized penning horses in small pen for the process.

Shaina took the blankets of the horses from the night before riding lessons. Sheldon pitched some hay for horses - retrieving to the right with quad and little trailer

Kate T arrived at 8:15 and we loaded up and made the great dress trip to USA at 8:30 am

Sheldon took these shots

I guess he wanted to document the field

We arrived in Lethbridge just after 10 for a appointment at the bridal store there. we were warned the owner was intense but that hardly described her :-). We managed to get out of there by about 11:30 empty handed and convinced she was indeed a loony lady.

After a quick stop at a mobile Tims for my tea and lunch for all we got gas and headed for the border arriving just around 1:30. The not so friendly "guard" allowed us in and off we raced at 75 MPH to Conrad. At 2 pm we arrived. This is where Kaylin got her dress!

this store rocks! here is a preview of some of the 500 plus dresses she has

this was so cute but remove the flower however worried what it would leave

magpie Shaina loves jewels

so pretty color and style

and this store was only one where she found 7 she could not pick between so again we went thru them

so cute!

but eventually one was chosen! we left the store 1 1/2 hours later with dress in hand!! WAHOO thanks you Jesus!! We then headed to Great falls to shop and stay the night but were done in about 2 hours so we filled with gas, tried to find liquor store but gave up and jetted back to border. We stopped at a country restaurant for supper arriving at the border by 10 pm. The kind border guard allowed us across no duty or taxes so we were thrilled!! Successful dress shopping day. For Britt we are just heading to The N Thing right away, no messing around with all the other stores here in AB.

Shaina drove from the border while Kate watched movies and we all listened. A quick stop in Lethbridge at Tims and to Strathmore we headed arriving at just after 12:30 pm. 950 kms and just over 16 hours and we have a pretty grad dress!

here she is at 1 am trying it on! So the theme indicates Britt may choose purple too :-)

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Day 351 - Hanna dentist trip and 4-H riding starts!

Day 351 was the start of a very busy week for me. Although the girls are off all week for Easter vacation we are jam packed. This am I am off to work but first grabbing gas, tea for Coreena and I and dropping Buick at the garage. On the way to the Hat we found the DVD would not work, bad news the system is pooched and needs replacing, good news they will do it as if we had extended warranty and pay a deductible.

At noon, I ran and grabbed fast food and drinks for the trip to Hanna to dentist. Shaina and Britt came to town so Shaina could have grad retakes done at the school. I picked them up at 12:30 and we were off. Britt drove to Hanna so I could read. Shaina had a cleaning and check up to show all good, Britt an ortho adjustment and an ozone shot for myself. At 4:20 we were back on the road home with Shaina driving however that did not last long, soon she coerced Britt back behind the wheel. Luckily I still got to read and was 40 pages from the end when we arrived home at just after 6.

Tonight was the first night 4-H was back in the saddle lessons at 6:30 15 minutes away so I had text Sheldon ahead to hook up trailer and he was kind enough to make the girls grilled cheese. We rushed in the door, changed clothes and rushed out to catch horses and throw them in the trailer. At the approach to turn on highway, I looked out to see Diego happily right beside the truck!! I called Sheldon who came on quad to retrieve him and take for a run, however he said he tried to follow us two more times eventually having to lock him up in garage.We were late for lessons but luckily the instructor was running behind.

It was a fabulous weather day and enjoyable night. We were back to the ranch at about 8:30. I grabbed a snack and went for a nice hot bath. Britt showered and headed to Hannah's for a sleepover. Sheldon had Matt over to BS and drink beer in the garage to plan tomorrow's fertilizer plans. Shaina prepared for a busy day tomorrow.

photo from earlier this month Shaina airbrushed her face for a local hockey game, team spirit!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Day 350 - horse day

Day 350 was sunny with a breeze. I was up early not counting Sheldon heading to work, which stunk since it was sleep in day for me. I did tidying and had computer time. Shaina and Shannon finally got up about 12:30 and then ate & got ready to go for a ride. Britt was forced to wake up soon after. She headed out to scoop dog trails then ride horses. She took Pepper out ponying Beck, after I did her feet, then came back for Bird once I was done her.

After unloading my Jeffer's Equine order Ma & Pa brought back for me, I spent the afternoon trimming Bird and Beck's feet. This is such a great site, prices are amazing!! Then Shannon headed home and Shaina helped me unload boxes from the trailer.

these are just Britt's :-)

Britt was the queen of boxes. Sheldon got home and helped move them to rooms and then he cooked up a grand supper of pork souvlaki, potatoes, cauliflower and fresh garden salad!

I unpacked boxes for the kitchen as well as stuff for rummage sale. I did post some on the facebook garage sale to see if we can recoup any money out of old Maureen,our delinquent tenant :-) I then updated the blog while Sheldon took dogs for a walk and the girls continued to unbox, actually I think Shaina spent her time online trying to find a new phone since the iPhone finally cratered.

While looking thru memory box Shaina found this note. it made me go grab a few others. This is one of the reasons I love my little sister to bits, she was the sweetest child!

Day 349 - HAPPY EASTER

Day 349 was a lovely Easter day but had wind. Shaina took Diego and Coco for a walk around 9:30 then we all got ready. Kaylin was out here at ten to 11 and quickly had a piece of toast and did the egg hunt with her sisters. She brought us all Tims and by 11:10 we were on the road to Medicine Hat.

We stopped quick for bathroom break in Brooks at Tims and refilled the cup holders :-) We arrived in the Hat just after 1. It was a nice afternoon visiting and then all the kids and families arrived for supper.

Britt drove home just after 8 with a quick stop for gas and yes.. Tims!! We made it home at 10:30, I updated the blog, Sheldon jumped in bed to watch TV, Britt checked photos and such. Shannon came for a sleepover so they took Diego for a long awaited walk in the dark. Happy Easter everyone!!!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Day 348 - Diego turns 5 & lansdcape progress

Day 348 started out sunny and warm and by noon snow blowing while somewhat sunny still then back to cloudy with sunny patches. Strange weather!

The girls were off early to work, Britt working 9:30-1:30 and Shaina working 9-3. I was up early and reading my new book Before I Go To Sleep and doing laundry. Today was Diego's 5th birthday so after a quick breakfast Sheldon and I took him and Coco for walk.

Then at 11 Wendy came to go over the landscape plan. It was a very productive meeting lasting 2 hours. A quick bite to eat and Sheldon was off with the trash and dogs to pick up Britt and go to the dump. In town, he also picked up a special grout tool. I researched some more plants while waiting and once back at 2:30 he and I got started on grouting the back splash in the kitchen.

the grout goes up

was trying to show the day outside, sunny yet brisk and needing a fire which I burned all day

and on

Shaina got home about 3:20 and her and Britt headed out to ride horses. Shaina took Julio and Britt worked alone again. she fed up the two horses and caught Beck to condition her. Shaina's friend Owen stopped around 4:30 and they played some pool.