The Saskatchewan Embassy in Hinton.

The weekends around here are pretty boring so the guys usually have to create their own excitement...

One of them collected 162 empty Pilsner cans, it only took him a couple of days, in order to have enough to cover the door to Room 204.

As you can see from the sign Room 204 has been designated as the Saskatchewan Embassy. Ever since the first month of training the Saskatchewan recruits have been hanging out in Room 204 and drinking Pilsners, the national drink of Saskatchewan.

Shane & Brock, our loyal ambassadors, checking out their new door.

Inside the embassy on any given night! That would be Ambassador Blair sitting on the throne.

Last night some of the boys enjoyed a challenging game of Risk in front of the fire. I sat and read in my old man chair in the corner while the rest watched Jarhead.

Sheep Watching!

Yesterday me and some of the fellows drove up to Cadomin to see if we could see some Bighorn Sheep ram their heads together.


When we first got there lots were right on the side of the road.

A few rams where pushing and shoving themselves trying to get at a couple of the ewes but there was no ramming!

This was one of the bigger rams we seen, this was as close as I wanted to get. We had the van parked only 10 feet away with the doors open, just in case!


The big guy following after a ewe.

This was another big ram that was headed over to check out the same ewe that the big guy was with. They are such short stocky animals that at first glance it looks like a bear crossing the roadway. Again there was just a bunch of pushing and shoving between the rams along with a few kicks to the balls, but again no ramming!

Dance Party

There was a High School Musical Dance Party at the Zimmer Ranch the other night!


Look at those hips moving!

Look at them go!


Erinn did some singing...

...and some dancing!

Even Blair got in on the singing action.

Mom looks thoroughly entertained.

Kirby back on the computer.


According to Blair he drank some freckle juice and this is what happened.

The Pincess Is In!

"The Princess Is In"

Sleeping Beauty that is!

Another Weekend Without Dad!

I headed back to Hinton on November 14th, via Pincher Creek, and was back in class the 15th, leaving the family for the last time (to go to Hinton)!


The next day the family woke up to a skiff of snow, much to Blair's delight and the girls dismay. What can I say, he takes after his dad!


Blair kept himself busy doing some crafting, yes, his older sister's influence no doubt.


Kirby on the computer, her usual spot now since she got her Hotmail account.


Erinn was feeling under the weather so she spent the day on the couch watching movies and taking it easy.


Carolyn took advantage of the kids being off in their own little worlds and watched some curling.

Coyote Calling!

The kids and I ventured out once more the other evening to try and rattle in our buck.


Here's our hiding spot; a big buffalo rubbed rock.

We weren't there very long when I sensed we were being watched, when I looked over the hill behind us I seen this coyote, not more than 10 meters away, staring right at us. He slowly walked across the little valley in front of us and stood on the adjacent hill and watched us.

The kids were thrilled to see a coyote this close, Kirby was scared it was going to attack us and Blair was disappointed that we didn't have a gun to shoot it!

Still waiting patiently for the buck that never came!


I love this picture, it looks like a painting! Other than the lone coyote the only thing that we seen in the valley were 3 white-tail does, a big black cow and a couple of horses.

Birthday Supper

Since Dad missed the girl's birthdays he had to make it up to them by taking them out for supper. It was Erinn's choice and she picked Montana's!


Here's the only reason she picked Montana's!


Blair eating his favourite food - ribs!


Happy Birthday Carolyn!


Erinn showing us how she can still eat ribs without her front teeth!

Blair and I went out on Saturday morning to see if we could rattle in a buck. There has been one rubbing the trees in the front yard and doing quite a bit of damage. When we were walking along the edge of the valley we could see a nice white-tail buck and a doe, they ran off before we got set up by our observation post beside a big buffalo rubbed rock. We tried rattling anyway but without any luck, instead we watched 3 coyotes trying to get themselves a white-tail from a small herd of does and fawns.

After watching the coyotes and deer for a while Blair wanted to go for a hike along Bullshead Creek. We came across several cow and bull carcasses and collected these two bull skulls, which we brought home to add to our collection.

This was the bigger of the two skulls.

For her birthday Erinn got a Sleeping Beauty DVD and with it came this sign for her door. It makes me laugh everytime I look at it! When she goes to her room she turns it to show that The Princess Is In and when she leaves it says The Princess Is Out!

WCLEA Update

Since I left three weeks ago things have been clipping right along in Hinton. I completed the 4x4 and ATV courses and started the Investigator Course, which will run until the last week of November. My final two courses will be Ice Rescue and the Snowmobile Course.


Graduation is on December 9th. I have 4 days off just prior so I will be coming home to pick up the family and bring them back up for it.


Last weekend we went for a drive down to Cadomin and than up to the Cardinal Divide.




It was a beautiful fall day, the temperature was around 19 degrees and there wasn't a whisper of wind.


Winter finally arrived the middle of last week, you can tell by the smile on my face that I was happy with the arrival of the white stuff!


Here I am collecting evidence from our mock crime scene at Cache Percotte during the Investigator Course.


No snow at home and the acreage is still up for sale!

Happy Halloween!

The kids celebrated Halloween at school on the 30th.


For school Erinn dressed as a witch.


Blair made a good pirate.


Kirby was a rocker chick.


Since the kids had no school on the 31st Carolyn took the day off to tour them around. In the morning they went out to Bow Island to visit mama & papa and the Van Ham relatives. Slight change in costumes here!


That night the kids went into town and toured the old crescent, again note the slight change in costumes! As you can see the weather was great - no coats needed...


Trick or Treating with the some of the neighbours - Kevin, Suzanne, Claire and Lindsay!


Some Trick or Treaters that come to our house; neighbour - Sheri, Prue, and Ava.