Day 333 - massage clinic

Day 333 was a lazy starting day. Sheldon had called in sick and spent most of the day in bed. I got up and checked emails and such and then made the girls chocolate pancakes after they walked Diego quick. It was a foggy cool morning. By 12:30 the girls all caught rides home and soon after Sharon and Shelby stopped to load horses at 1:30 and go to the 4-H massage clinic. Shaina met us there for the clinic then headed to work at 3:30-9.

the clinic was a great introductory course to equine massage. There was a bit on saddle fitting and energy work as well. Wendy was the gal who worked on Bird before and she brought a helper named Carissa. We have Wendy coming for a series of massages for Bird before the season begins and hopefully this gave the girls an area where to start on helping the horses warm up and cool off better in the future.

While I was gone during the week, Sheldon managed to harrow the 2 small fields on Monday night and finish the overhaul of maintenance on the skid steer on Tuesday night. And rested on Wednesday with sickness.

We arrived home around 5 after dropping food off for Shaina at work. I whipped up hamburger goulash, shower supper and everyone just relaxed watching TV. Shaina came straight home from work and went to bed.. on a Friday night!

Day 332 - final day of the course

Day 332 - was my last day in hotel paradise. The tea, papers and shined boots arrived and I was again up before the wake up call and ironing pants.

 this breakfast, I added sausage. The food offered each day was incredible both breakfast and happy hour.

 blurry shot capturing me enjoying my last breakfast

and outside the snow started to fall. The course started at 8 sharp and by 11:40 I left to check out :-(. We girls hauled the bags to the car and headed back to the pizza lunch offered. The course wrapped up early, just after 3 allowing us to get on the road before rush hour and while light out. By now the snow had stopped which was good but it sure was dreary. We stopped to grab a Tims for ride home and we were off. I was home at 4:30 just as Sheldon was driving to town to pick up Britt from badminton practice. I cooked up a good home cooked meal of steel head trout, rice and veggies. The sun finally peeked out, oh happy day.

 I took this of the sunshine and the harrowed fields in back ground

think it is time for new bale, Bird had to giraffe stance it to get the hay that blew out fence line. Before I took the photo she was almost doing the splits, then she heard the door open.

Shaina had stayed in for a spring dance and stayed the night at Emily's while Britt had Hannah and Brooke over for a girls sleepover that went on way into the early morning. Sheldon was not feeling well all week, today he was getting worse so it was a relaxing night to catch up on missed TV shows via PVR.

Day 331 - day 2 of the course

Day 331 was another early start to the day and more ironing, tea and penthouse breakfast :-) This day I ordered honey and lemon as my throat was starting to feel scratchy. I also had Coreenas' boots shined.

The course offered burrito, chips and salsa with cookies for lunch and we were lucky enough to finish up by just after 4 on this day. This had us off trying to shop a bit but no one was in the mood so we came back to my room for happy hour and more snacks.

 little room tour.. bathroom all granite and heated tiles, plush towels, and supplies including a scale!

 comfy seating area

turn down service each night, they place a weather card for next day and a bottle of water, not until the last day did we find they even filled the ice bucket, this bed was so comfy, it has inspired me to buy new down filled pillows

 the well stocked fridge left nothing to be desired

 an expresso machine, all kinds of snacks, kettle and teas etc filled the cabinet

the bathroom supplies were all in silver containers including a ring holder.. but of course! :-) and the old fashioned looking bottles set the mood for the famous old hotel

 bath salts?? heavenly and they smelled wonderful

 the impressive lobby had 30 foot ceilings and grandeur everywhere

the front of the historic hotel right beside Calgary Tower. I snapped this on our way back from shopping for drinks. At 6:30 we headed to Murrieta's for a fabulous steak supper. Highly recommended it did not fail us. Seeing it was our last night, we ventured to find a pub. We checked out the Palomino club but decided it looked to "seedy" for us, Flame's Central as closed :-( but further down Stephen's Ave we found a bustling Earl's bar. We enjoyed a couple drinks here then the frugal side of us had us going back to the hotel to enjoy happy hour in my room again until just after 11. Then we all started the packing up ready for tomorrow's check out.

Day 330 - first day of safety course

the spa day was so very enjoyable yesterday. We checked in late to the hotel just after 8 and decided to eat in the lounge. It was an ok steak sandwich but good paralyzers. All us girls hit our rooms and watched TV at 10 and tried to get a good nights sleep.

On day 330, I was up early before the wake up call and even ironed my pants! What the heck :-) But I had a tea tray delivered by 6:45 and once ready I stopped at the penthouse lounge for a scrumptious breakfast. By 7:45 I met the girls and off to the course we went from 8-5. They served lunch in the course of wraps, veggies, fruit and desserts.

 along with the tea tray was 2 newspapers and my boots shined!

healthy at its best, then found the course offered breakfast too

 the list of gold room features

 and the personalized welcome card

 After the course ended, I returned to the penthouse where hors d' oeuvres were served

not once but twice where I filled these plates and took to the girls where we enjoyed snacks and cold refreshments after our first long day of learning. We then went out shopping, I found 2 dresses and shoes for graduation so felt relived. I brought the purchases back to the hotel room then we set out for a late supper at the Saltlik. It was very delicious but after a day of great dining and being so late, we all opted for a light salad and soup supper. Back at the hotel Sharon made her way to bed still feeling her cold effects, Coreena and I visited and enjoyed night caps in my room till just after midnight.

Day 329 - Safety course for me

Day 329 found girls off to school and Sheldon work, today was the start of break up for us at work. I only will be going in now for 2-3 days a week with Monday and Friday being days off for sure. Good time to get the list going for spring work. Dawning Sheldon's coveralls over my pj's and adding coat and mitts, the dogs and i took off for our morning walk. HOLY COW it was brisk. We made it around in half an hour. Then it was time to get packed for a safety course held in Calgary. Sharon is planning on picking me up at 4:15 and then we stop to get Coreena and we are off to Swizzlesticks spa for a spa treatment. This has been put off for almost a year and a half so we are all excited to go. I am having the body and sole ritual.. YAHOO!! Then we will go check in to the famous Palliser Hotel for the next 3 nights!! Yes this is a big perk and the most job excitement in forever.! It seems the last hotel rooms were full and I am slated to get a fancy high end room, will post photos if I do!

Until, I am home, the blog will be very quiet! Have a great week! See you back here Friday!

Day 328 - sunny Sunday

Day 328 I awoke to a lovely sunny Sunday around 9. I fed the dogs, let them out and with a hot tea, sat down to enjoy the blogs I follow. Sheldon who is still not feeling 100% slept until 10:30 and then moved to tub for hot bath. Last weekend, Lesley suggested oregano oil will cure any cold like symptoms, so I bought some and gave some to Sheldon last night. Upon giving him more this am, I tried it, BEYUCK!! that tastes crazy. I did manage to ease it with my tea and now it tastes like pizza in my mouth so lets see how it really works.

Britt was slow moving but eventually by 11 or so she was up and went and took the blankets off horses.

 

After a hardy lunch of toasted bacon and tomato sandwiches with fried eggs made by Sheldon, I headed out to trim feet. First up was Julio which took an hour to fine tune his feet. Thank goodness the snow softened them up. Yesterday I worked on them too but they were sooooooo hard. Britt then came out to assist me. She caught Pepper who was an easy trim since his feet are really coming along and he stands so well.

 and off she went to fetch next contestant Daisy

 Sheldon got up from his after lunch nap and loaded up the old  bale/ tree pile

 which was a real eyesore

Kevin stopped out and hooked up the phone jack in the computer room. Sheldon also filled in the sink area around septic tank and future garden area.

Britt and I continued with Daisy and then KD. Diego was on constant alert and sat well with the horses. Coco on the other hand spent her entire outdoor time cleaning up crap! on her face! :-) It clouded over and was a bit chilly by late afternoon. At 4 I came in to put the roast on and shower up. Shaina and Kaylin had gone to the city for the day on phone and shopping run. They arrived at the house around 5 and we all enjoyed a nice family Sunday supper.

After supper, the girls cleaned up and we relaxed by the fire watching TV. (all at different TV's but none the less :-))

Day 327 - Happy St Paddy's day!!

Day 327 as the luck of the Irish would have it brought well needed moisture to the ranch. It started with a lazy start and dreary overcast day.

 it was funny to see some geese settling in on one of the horse shelters

 and the horses being lazy, Hawk had just got up and I missed the shot of KD's full out downward dog stretch

Once up, Sheldon multitasked taking Diego for a run and harrowing the big field, this really had D perplexed. Britt was much later getting up but finally she got out and helped catch and load horses just before noon and off we went to polocrosse practice. It was wear green day. Connie managed to wear the most though and Lesley always finds a hat.

during practice the forecast snow did arrive. So after practice we enjoyed our refreshments in the arena while Britt practiced her bareback riding and jumping.

About 5 we made the long trek home :-), unloaded and blanketed the ponies and enjoyed left over tacos. Shaina who had slept over at Emily's and then worked at Target from 9-5 arrived home then to to join us.

 and the snow comes down

 and Britt takes dogs for a walk. It was actually very lovely with big fluffy ski snow falling softly and warm

and near sunset, the sun peeked out like this while still snowing! Again sunsets at this place are amazing even in a snow storm

I enjoyed a warm bath and spent the night catching up on PVR'd shows. Since it was snowing outside and spring is on its way, good time to try and catch up. Sheldon watched a hockey game and Britt went to Hannah's for movie night around 7-12. Shaina after having a nap got ready and headed to a party at 11 and then stayed at Emily's overnight again.