Howdy Partners... welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. Today let's talk about the West.
1. Got some favorite Cowboy or western movies or TV shows you have liked?
I grew up in an agricultural region where there were a lot of farmers and cowboys. Most men worked out on the land and wore jeans and cowboy hats. With this background, listening to country music and watching western movies or TV shows was second nature. I watched a lot of western shows but oddly don't remember a favourite movie. I do remember a few television shows I liked such as Bonanza, Big Valley, High Chaparral, Gunsmoke and Davey Crockett. I liked them all. I also remember a lot of cowboy movies starring John Wayne which I enjoyed but cannot remember the names of the movies. I still watch any of these if and when I can catch them.
2. Ever been to a rodeo or horse show of any kind?
Definitely. Without fail the entire town and several surrounding towns, would attend the annual rodeo and fall fair. Bare back bronco riding and chuck wagon races were especially popular with most people but I liked the barrel racing best. The fair had carnival rides, snack foods, baking, sewing and handcrafts and all kinds of produce and animal exhibits.
3. Can you ride a horse or would you like to try?
I have ridden a horse. Someday I'd like to try again however I am far from being a natural horse woman. In fact I had trouble getting on a horse the few times I rode one. I'm the type of person who needs a stool to assist getting on the horse and have difficulty swinging my leg over the horse's back.
4. How would a vacation on a dude ranch suit you?
Yes, it would suit me however it isn't on my 'must do' list. I grew up amongst cowboys and respect them. However this lifestyle was never really my cup of tea. Fortunately if I change my mind there are dude ranches in my province that are easily accessible.
I'm now back from my quick trip out of town to attend my late Sister-in-Laws (SIL) funeral. It was a very unique funeral. My late SIL had many interests in life and a host of friends and family members. She was a bit of a maverick and one of the MC's at her service called her one of the last true cowgirls of the area.
It is only fitting then that they opened service with a Cowboy's prayer. The MC's were and are cowboys too. Her son and other relatives also work with horses and cattle and many work on the land. Many First Nations dancers, drummers and singers were there to honour and sing to her for several days before and during the service. A fire was kept for several days and nights with young fire keepers staying awake to ensure the flame never burned out. Food was brought in by many locals and tea, coffee, juice and water was constantly available as we condoled with family in the days and nights before the service.
One thing that stood out to me is how everyone spoke of my late SIL's hospitality and kindness. Her brother was one of the MC's and he told the assembled crowd to put aside any differences and love one another as that is what his late sister was good at. Loving others and embracing people of all backgrounds. I certainly do remember her kindness and care. She was always positive whenever we interacted. I also remember her as an avid cowgirl and outdoor person, a hunter and fisher providing food not only to her family but to others. These are just a few of her unique characteristics and accomplishments.
After the service, her casket was driven to the local cemetery in a truck and was escorted there by several horses and riders including her son. Her grave marker was carved by one of her nephews. All in all, I know she would have been happy with how her family organized everything on her behalf and I'm sure she was looking down and smiling at the proceedings.
Her son (my nephew) on the gray horse.
These friendly horses came up to greet us as we parked to get photos of the riders.
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After the service, a few of us drove back to Vancouver.
About an hour into the journey home, we ran into miserable weather. At one point the weather was extremely stormy and windy while the skies poured down hail.
Other times it snowed or rained until about 2 hours from home when the sun came out.
Thankfully my brother was the driver and he is a most excellent driver in terrible weather conditions.
This photo was taken about half way through the journey home.
All this wintry weather is not terribly surprising given that much of our journey is through the mountain highway, called the Coquihalla (Coq for short). It has the distinction of being the deadliest highways in the province with 400-500 accidents during the Winter seasons. Fortunately for us, there was not much traffic on the way home given it was still early in the week.
We arrived at the dinner hour but most of the traffic was leaving Vancouver, not entering, as people headed home from work in the city. We didn't have to compete for highway space. To be honest, the traffic was lighter going into Vancouver than I've seen it for many, many years in all my many journies back and forth to visit my late mom.
This photo is taken at the highest elevation of the highway. Surprisingly it was not snowing here.
I'm now back home, recovering from the past week and trying to catch up to things.
It has been a very busy and difficult week to lose and bury a friend and family member.
I need a bit of recovery time too.
We are expecting a wet weekend so I won't likely be going far afield.
I'm hoping the weather will improve before all the cherry blossoms disappear so I can get more photos.
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Thank you to everyone who made inquiries and kept good thoughts and prayers for the family.
Another week has zoomed by and I hardly had time to catch my breath.
We had 3 snowfall warnings over the past week and the temperatures got quite chilly. I'm not sure but I think it must be some kind of record.
I didn't take a photo today (Thursday) but the snow was all gone and the sun came out. The temperature felt very comfortable. I'm sure the weather should be gradually getting better from now going forward.
I had an appointment with the Sleep Lab. It was really just a follow up concerning an overnight sleep oximetry test I had done earlier. I already knew my oxygen levels appeared normal and the doctor confirmed that. Good news there. I've been referred to the "other side" of the clinic where they will try to help me with my ongoing sleep issues (unfreshing sleep). I don't hold my breathe over real answers from them but it will give me some peace of mind to follow through with it. I've already put it off for years. I guess I'm concerned that the solution will be to recommend medicines and really I don't want to go that route. In the meantime, I continue doing everything I can to achieve better sleep, that is restorative sleep.
The view outside the UBC Hospital where I went to see the Sleep Specialist.
I've also done some shopping at a far place about an hour from my home. I often purchase on line but since I have problems finding pants to fit properly I thought I'd go out and try things on. I came away with some purchases but when I got home I realized they gave me one wrong item (right colour, wrong size). Now I have to return to get the right size. I also have several other purchases I made a few weeks ago that need to be returned to a different store.
Just over a week ago I lost or misplaced my mailbox key and I don't have a duplicate so I had to call a locksmith. The mailbox key was attached to the storage lock key so the lock had to be cut off and a new lock purchased. Altogether these two tasks cost a fair bit. At least this time I will have spare keys so there will be an extra set put aside. There are still some minor bathroom things that need to be done; changing out the toilet seat cover in one bathroom and upgrading the shower head in another bathroom. Like my cushion projects it feels good to finally get some of these outstanding tasks done or nearly done.
Another long awaited event finally happened this week. The telephone company had indicated it is upgrading the fiber optics which deliver internet to my home. Right now the telecommunications company is gathering consents from homeowners in the building. I have spoken to their project contact on the phone and he also came to my door to get a signature. Once 80% agreement has been reached, the builders will come out to do what is necessary to bring the faster speeds to my home. I understand in another month I can possibly have access to the fast speeds. I can't wait to get this done as I have already waited years for this service to be available. In the meantime my internet speed has become one of the slowest speeds available in the area.
At long last one of my cousins arrives tomorrow for a brief visit and I've been
busily cleaning, tidying, getting small jobs done and thinking about our
menu. I haven't really decided on a menu and she is no help as she said
she will eat anything. So I purchased different things to have several
options on hand and will decide what to do when she arrives. In fact we
may go out to eat since it is her 60th birthday we are celebrating.
My eldest nephew had his birthday yesterday so I called to wish him a very happy birthday. I'm giving him money as a birthday gift and he was very happy about that. That way he can do what he wishes with it and have something he enjoys. I think I mentioned once long ago that my nephew is a cowboy. He is constantly developing his skills and amongst other things, he and his wife train horses. His wife is also a gifted photographer whose specialty is photographing horses and their owners. People love her work. The video below is already a few years old but you can see him at work with one of the horses. There is no sound, only video.
Early in the week I met up with a younger nephew at his work place at the university. I presented him with one of my handmade afghans for his (latest) graduation gift. He graduated in November and I attended the ceremony but hadn't yet given him a gift.
He loves hand made afghans and I gave him the blue one in the photo above. It will coordinate well with a fabric quilt I made him years before.
My nephew (in the photo below) has a BA and an MA in Psychology and is now working on his Ph.D. He is researching and examining how neurosteroids, such
as testosterone, regulate different aspects of executive function,
particularly behavioral flexibility.
I snapped this photo of him in the lab when I visited a few weeks ago. I am very proud of him because he has won numerous awards and scholarships and currently holds a 4 Year Doctoral Fellowship from my alma mater, UBC. When he finishes he will either continue on the research track or transition to medicine.
It's also been very busy on the missions front but I will end here. Perhaps Kenyan missions will inform the next post.
