Dalton

He ran every where, played hard and had a ton of fun no matter what he did. Dalton was only 7 years old but had done a lifetime of adventures already.

I met Dalton when he was only 4 years old. An only child, he was gifted and very smart but I still felt like he was still so little to be going off the school. He started in playschool but soon moved on the kindergarten and started grade 1 when he should have just been going into kindergarten. He was so ready for life and he lived it fully.

One day he came on the bus with Carhart snow pants, jacket and his floppy ear winter hat and I was positive he was dressed like a teddy bear just waiting to be hugged. He made goofy faces, giggled, and laughed all the time.

Dalton loved hockey so he was definitely a boy after my own heart. Last year he would invite me to his hockey games every weekend but with most of his games starting at 8:30 am on Saturday mornings I declined. About 2 weeks ago he invited me to one of his games that was on Friday at 7 pm. I am so glad I took the time to go. He skated so hard every shift and tried his best.

The last Friday I dropped Dalton off at his house, he came running from the back of the bus, leaped off the top step and landed with a roll on the ground. He jumped up and ran full speed toward his house. He made me smile.

While GTing behind a horse drawn sleigh that made a sharp turn sending him flying toward trees, Dalton hit his head and never regained consciousness and passed away Sunday night. I had to drive by his place Monday morning just hoping that what I heard wasn't true, just hoping he would be waiting out there for me. He wasn't and when the principal wanted all the children on my bus to stay together so she could talk to them, I knew it was true.

I don't have any answers. All the whys and what ifs run rampant through my mind. Maybe our small community needed a reminder of what is most important in life and especially at this time of year. God only knows the answer to the why but I know I will be very thankful this Christmas for more time to spend with my family.

Open Season

Ah, hunting season. To some men this is greater than Christmas and a birthday party all rolled into one. Now, don't get me wrong here. My husband has always been an avid hunter and I as well have been convinced to get my tags a few times. It isn't all bad and I encourage Ron to go and join the men out south in a male bonding experience.

But those people who come from the city and just think that they can do whatever, where ever really get on my nerves. City folk, on a whole, are not evil people but when it comes to hunting season, they seem to really not quite get "it". Now by "it" I mean courtesy and precaution. Don't you know that when you see an animal, you just shoot an animal?

Case in point - The last few days a random service truck has sat right close to our house (about 50 yards). I am not quite sure what he is doing but he has sat there from about 4:30 until dark. I assume he is scoping the field. We have a field full of cows beside the house and this is where he is parked. The neighbours across the road have not given him permission to hunt, so what is he going to do when he sees something. That something could possibly be a cow.

The pick ups zoom up and down our dead end road all day and even shortly after nightfall. They often meet at the bottom and race up, turn around and come back meeting more pick ups.

The cattle lease has a portion that is not completely fenced and is accessed by a cattle gate. The sign of vehicles into that area is unbelievable, although 3 people have phoned to ask permission to hunt there, but this looks like a couple more than 3 vehicles.

What do you think would happen if I parked in a driveway in the city and just sat there for a while, then I would just wander into their backyard just to check things out.

Last year we had people killing moose and wounding elk around our house and just leaving them. People cut fences and leave gates open.

I think their mother's forgot to teach them to respect other people's property. But then isn't all farm land just available for access by all?

By the way, does any one want to buy any cows? The price is really cheap right now. Maybe 90 cents a pound or maybe even less. Sure is worthwhile being a cattle producer. What are you paying for a pound of hamburger? Think about it next time you buy beef. Who is making all that money?

The Whole World's Going to Hell and I'm Driving the Bus

Sometimes I have wondered why I drive a school bus. Barfing, sassy, disobiedent, bad kids can drive you insane not to mention those moms and dads who think their little Johnny can do no wrong and that I am just mean and picking on him. Bad roads, be it snow, mud, fog, animals that have death wishes are all part and parcel of this job. Making sure little Billy isn't forgotten at the school, napping teachers on field trips or leaving some kid behind after the teacher has done attendance and I've gotten the "let's go". Teachers and normal people all say "I could never do your job!" So why do I do it?

Some of my fondest memories come from doing this job. I'll never forget one morning I was kind of daydreaming and missed my turn in town to go to the high school and had to do a little detour. Some of my younger kids were quizzing me as to why we were going this way and I said "We are taking the Scenic Tour to school." They were all satisfied with the answer and not much more was said. The next morning somebody piped up and asked if we were going to take the "Seniors Tour" again. I thought that was a very suitable name for what I did as I felt like I must be getting old because I missed my turn. How true a statement!

One afternoon a very adorable Grade 1 girl named Sidney was standing beside my seat visiting with me. She leaned her head on my shoulder and said "Mrs. Gail (she was the only one who ever call me this) Mrs. Gail, you smell." Worrying that I had an odour problem, I asked her if it was a good smell or a bad smell. She replied "Oh its a good smell. You smell like a mommy." How can you beat that for one of the greatest compliments I have ever received.

Those are just two of the reasons I drive my school bus and well as the 26 or so other great reasons that I drive that sit behind me every day.

Saying Goodbye

Yesterday was a tough day. It still brings tears just thinking about it. My niece, her husband John and family moved to Airdrie with their jobs.

I never saw them every day, but I knew I could always see them when I went into GP. Kari would often pick me up from the bus shop when my bus was in for repairs or we would meet for lunch on another day. Kari lived around Langley from age 3 or 4 until she was 16 or so then her family came to GP for a year or so and then went back to Langley until about 4 years ago when her and John came here to work.

I know that this move is the best thing for her family and I know they will be okay, but I am selfish and liked having them near. The little girls were becoming so much fun and reminded me of when their mom was little. Angela was quite attached to "Daybell" or Darnell as everyone else calls him and "Jewya", Darnell's girlfriend Julia.

The only thing left to say is Goodbye. But I guess then I'll have to make a few trips to see them. It's not all bad. Holidays and weekends away.......

Good Fences vs. Bad Fences

Just when you think you might get a relaxing Sunday afternoon, you are on your way home from church and check over at your small hay field and see someone else's 200 head of cattle eating on your bales!!!!! Needless to say that is the end of relaxing.

You get home and phone that neighbour and find they aren't home so you hunt them down at the golf course. You also listen to a message that some friends, who own 10 acres of the same piece of land, informing you that they had to chase cows that morning out of same field and that the fence is destroyed and so are many bales.

Now you get to move that tractor and tractor-trailer to that field to save at least a few of the bales and by your count there are a minimum of 8 hay and 2 fescue straw bales unsalvageable. Now these bales are not those little tiny square type bales, these are huge solid big round ones that probable cost about $30+ to purchase.

So who is the "you"? Well, I guess it would mean Ronnie and I. Those poor cows are always out because they are hunger. The farmer doesn't have enough land to feed them. They are on the road, and in other neighbours fields as well. I totally understand and appreciate the expression "Good fences make good neighbours" because it is so true. The fence does not belong to us because we do not keep any cows on that piece of land. The fence has about every 4th post broken or falling down and it only has smooth wire on it, so the cows just walk right through, although there is an electric fencer on it somewhere which is a little of a deterrent but if they are hunger enough they will just risk getting zapped in order to eat.

The grass is always greener........

Why Are We Doing This?

As most of you know, we get the majority of our income through farming. We live on a farm/ranch that includes over 5000 acres of land. We own 6 quarter sections, or 960 acres, the government lease that we purchased has 20 quarter sections or 3200 acres and we rent about 6 quarters that is another 960 acres. We have approximately 200 head of cattle. (One can never be to sure about the number when the animals are out in the pasture or lease for the summer because some end up dying.) And of those 200 about 150 have calves.

Don't get me wrong here, because I loved raising my boys on the farm and actually life was pretty good until the BSE or mad cow crisis occured. This knocked some of our income back by at least 1/3 and maybe even close to 1/2. Yes, it has slowly started to rise again and last year we received about $1.50 average per pound for our calves. What do you pay for a pound of hamburger in the store? Or how about that steak? We recently sold some open cows. (Cows with no babys or ones that aren't pregnant.) We received about $0.35 per pound average.

Recently Ronnie and I have been in earnest discussions about the state of our farm. Can we possible continue at this rate? Then there is the grain farming. Last year's input costs were equal to the cost of our new truck and we could have paid cash. This is no tiny truck. We got a farm truck. It is a one ton, 4x4, extended cab to fit the family truck. As you all know the cost of fuel has once again skyrocketed since last year as well. This year's input cost will be at least equal if not more then last year and we only put 1/2 the fertilizer on the we should have!

I wrote a letter to our lovely new premier and received the same little form letter that we always receive. Thankfully, Ronnie has always grain farmed with his family and this cost sharing of equipment has always helped as well as they all help each other with the input. Where do we go from here? I told the premier that the family farm is dying. I will not allow my boys to farm. Ask a school kid where they get milk, cheese and meat from, they will tell you the grocery store.

Okay, now I am done with my rant.

On a lighter note, we spent about 4 lovely days a Lesser Slave Lake in northern Alberta. The weather was beautiful and the bugs were few. Tyrell came and joined us on the weekend and did some fishing with his dad and some friends. We had a good feed of Walleye one night.

Just for you Sandy!! Love ya.

A LOVELY HOLIDAY?

With the new sensation/fascination being facebook, I have ignored my blog. But here you can type a lot more about what is happening in your life. (Is that good or bad, I'm not sure.)

We spent 4 days in Jasper last week and camped at the campsite called Pocahontas which is located on the road up to Miette Hotspring. When we pulled up to the little booth to pay and get our campsite assignment, Ronnie rolled down his window and then it began, a constant hum followed by hundreds, no, thousands, no, definitely millions of them. Anyone who has lived in northern Alberta can understand what I'm talking about. Mosquitoes. But, never in my life have I seen so many.


We quickly got the trailer set up, but first we doused ourselves at least 2 or 3 times with Muskol Repellent. After we got set up we raced into the trailer and stayed there for quite a while. We were afraid to step outside. The repellent worked a little but not much. We attempted to go for a walk but they followed in huge swarms.


Camping with us were several friends and their families. The normal protocol for the evening is snacks and visiting around the fire. The two nights we spent there we never had a fire or sat outside for very long as you would be carried away if you were stationary for too long.

After 2 days of this fun, we pulled up and left for another campsite close to Jasper called Wabasso. Our logic was it has to be better, but even if it isn't better there is no way it could be worse. We pulled up the booth and rolled our window down and let a good 100 mosquitoes out of the truck, none were flying in. We had a wonderful next two nights with few bugs.


While there one of the kids camping with us posed this question. Which would you rather be - eaten by a bear or eaten by mosquitoes? The unanimous decision was eaten by a bear because it wouldn't compare to the slow torture of the mosquitoes.

So What is Next?

Now what mom wouldn't be proud of two such great boys as this. They have great manners and are real gentlemen, using hankies and shaking hands with everyone they meet. Maybe you won't want to shake their hand after seeing this picture. Only their mother could love them, right?

Well, I do think that a few people kind of like them and, even though I am their mother, I do feel that they have grown into pretty good men.

Now that high school is almost finished, what do I do? I am a mom. I know that they still need me because Darnell still phones to ask questions or get help, but the day to day interaction is done. I think of when they needed me to help put on their coats or tie their shoes. I love them beyond all imagination, but I have to give them their own lives to live. They really are two great guys, most of the time they are such better people then I am.

Graduation


The day turned out to absolutely beautiful for us. We probably haven't had a day that great since last summer. It was a little hot for the boys in their tuxes. Tyrell was a little grouchy by the time we were done.
Tyrell is on the left in the red vest with a few of his buddies.






Tyrell's escort was his girlfriend, Megan Hegglund. She is Ashley and Dorothy (Dahl) Hegglund's daughter. She is in grade 11 and Tyrell has known her since they were both little.
Exams are next in June then Tyrell will continue apprenticing welding for now, although he is not sure that is what he really wants to do.
Because I'm on dial up adding pictures here seems to be very slow. So I will try and add more to baddogradio.com because for some reason they load faster there. I will probably work on that tonight or tomorrow.

Motherhood

On the farm, there are about 3 different kinds of mothers.

The best kind are the ones that immediately clean and feed their calves after having them. They gently love them and allow us to give them vitamins and tag their babies so they know who they belong to. They often moo gently or beller loudly for all to hear. "See my wonderful baby. I am so proud of him."

Then there are the mothers who would kill you if they got the chance and do not want you to touch their babies. They can go berserk, charge at you or try to maim you, even at the expense of possibly hurting their calf. They just want to keep their baby to themselves.

days ago, a young heifer (a 2 year old cow, who has never had a calf) had her baby. This mom hardly noticed her calf and when it tried to drink, she kicked and stomped it. Even though the calf persisted, she quickly moved away and started eating, ignoring the calf. Because the calf has to drink to live, we had moved her into a small pen and had to put her into the squeeze to get the calf to drink off her. Last night as I was chasing the mom around to get her into the squeeze, I wondered why on earth she wouldn't or couldn't love her baby enough to stand and let it drink.

Being a mom is one of the best parts of life. How could a mom not love and nurture her child. I can't imagine having to be forced into caring for my children. Anyway, just a little thought today as my youngest is going through his graduation ceremonies today. I am proud, full of love and want to show him off to everyone. MOOOO!!!!! Pictures to follow.

Whewww!

Thankfully, all is well on the tuxedo front. I was pretty sure it would all work out in the end, but you never know. There was a young man in there getting fitted for a vest to be altered for a grad tomorrow. That could have been us.

Tyrell will be very handsome tomorrow, although he looked a little uncomfortable. Pictures will be posted here or most likely at baddogradio.com.

What Next?

This afternoon the flowershop phones and leaves a message for Tyrell to call them back. They actually get a hold of him at school. (It must be important.) They inform him that they ordered the wrong size of flower. Not a total tragedy, but just another foul up. They are making his bout out of 2 flowers instead. Not a big deal right?

Naked or Not??!!!!

Okay. We got the call on Friday to come to GP and try on the tux. We specifically make a 140 km round trip to the nasty city to try it on.

We get there and the gentleman opens the suit bag and the jacket is there, the tie is there, the vest and shoes are also there. But wait, where is the shirt and, oh no, where are the pants? The girls check over each suit bag as it is received and all has been checked off on the receipt. The gentleman asks, "Did you rent pants and a shirt?" I reply, "Ah, yah".

Now the gentleman makes a phone call to Vancouver to Black and Lee Tuxedos. They are closed on Saturdays at 1 pm. But we can reorder them first thing on Monday morning, no problem. Wait!! It's a long weekend. So make that first thing Tuesday morning.

On holiday Monday, Tyrell is chillaxing at home when he gets a call wondering when he is coming in to try on his tux. HELLOOOO!!!!!

Anyway, being the cautious mom, I double check with the store on Tuesday morning that they have in fact reordered pants and a shirt for us. The young clerk says, "Oh, yes. " I say, "great, we will be in Thursday afternoon about 1 pm to try on and pick up the suit." The lovely young clerk says, "well, it is a busy time for our couriers, so if the suit isn't in on Thursday, it will be here Friday." I, being calm, NOT, say, "no, I have to have it on Thursday as grad is on Friday." The wonderful clerk says, "Oh my, maybe we better put a rush on it." DO YOU THINK!!!!!!!!!!!! I did not sleep well last night, and just writing it here is making me anxious and I'd like to think I am generally a fairly calm person.

Tyrell could be dressed alot like he is in the picture above, although that picture was taken about 17 years ago when he was about 5 months old. He still is my baby. Wish us luck!!

"Preecy"

This is Caprice or "Preecy" as her big sister calls her. She is so totally different from her sister. Its pretty cool having her around. You can check out more family pictures at www.baddogradio.com then click on Friesen Family and page down to Ron and Gail Jones Family album to see some of my photos. I am still on dial up, so it all takes a while to add photos.

Aahhhh.......

Finally, after 3 weeks without my computer, I have it back. Wow, I can't believe how much I missed it. Good to be back.

The First One

It has been 2 years since Darnell has graduated and I remember feeling like I wasn't ready to let him move out. It was okay when the time came and I am more than happy for him. He is in Grande Prairie working as a cleaner and he wants to upgrade to possibly go into Pharmacy.

The Baby?

Here is my baby boy. I can hardly believe that it is already time for him to graduate from high school. Life flies by at such a rapid pace and time does more then march, it races like the Indy 500. I remember the days when I was wiping noses, bums and walls and wishing they would hurry up and grow up. Those days are now just a distant memory.

Anybody Out There?

Just curious if anybody is reading this. Will you let me know if you are?

Winter is still going on. Last week we missed 2 days of school because of drifting snow. That makes 8 snow days this year beginning in October. There can't possibly be more can there?

The cows should be calving any day now. There will be some struggles because of the amount of snow. There is no grass showing anywhere. We pushed back our due date to April 1 so there was better weather for them. Huh!!!! We processed the cows on Tuesday. It was a long day giving shots and pouring medicine on 170 cows just Ron and I. Darnell would have came but he can't get his car down the street he lives on because of the deep ruts in the ice and snow. The topic of snow removal (or lack there of) is a major point of discussion on the local radio stations.

Tyrell's minor hockey career has come to an end. What is next for him is to be seen. He got a letter from the Okotoks Oilers Junior A and has been invited to the GP Junior A club as well but he isn't to sure what to do. He may just go to a hockey showcase in Burnaby in May, or he may just stay at home and play Jr B in Beaverlodge.

Just waiting for winter to end.

Hockey, snow and wind.

We have had 2 storms since going back to school on January 8. We only had 3 days of school that week because we were drifted in for 2 days. Snow drifts were 4 to 5 feet high. So much fun. Last week we had alot of wind that drifted some roads shut although we still were driving our buses, some were stuck 2 or 3 times in one day. Not me this time.

Ronnie is running a tractor plowing snow for the oil companies and has been busy on and off.


Tyrell's team still hasn't won a game in their league, but we knew going in we would be against the toughest teams around. We didn't want to drop down a Tier because we wanted a challenge and the boys have come really close. We are considered a "B" team and play against mostly "AA" or "A" teams. They need a win badly to lift their spirits, but dedication seems to be a bit of a problem for a few of them. Tyrell had a 6 point weekend which made him happy.