2025 snapshots

A few images from the past year

Amanda & CC were dressed for the Season when we held our Winter Solstice Celebration

Christmas morning the stockings were filled to the brim!

Christmas Dinner with old friends and international guests.

Boxing Day Ride through the forest.

Mook's slobbery eating habits earned him a new "feed bag"

CC got her "going to town boots" and had to try them out.  ;>)

The volunteers dress warmly but even still, many find Saskatchewan is COLD! 

I'd had cats in boxes before BUT cats in bags?!?!

Note: It is necessary to ZOOM in on the top two photos to see who is "helping."

The flat deck made a very handy place to control the drone for aerial footage.

Possibly Joker has a new career as a hair dresser?

CC's new boots were put to use as she visited the Lodge.

Drones have made the old airplane photos obsolete.    

The crew at Winning Ways loves a bonfire and when volunteers from other farms visit we try to give folks a chance to do something new.

Janet brought lovely tulips for International Women's Day.

The Winning Ways crew rode in the Dorintosh Winter Festival parade.

Even though it was March It was a nice day and these girls went for a ride.

Dixon and Herbie were certain that the creatures in the woods were predators.  It was just the mares coming for a drink--silly fellows!

At the beginning of April there was an Old time Fiddle Workshop and the instructors put on a Dance in the evening for all who wanted to come.  The McLeans were here at the Ranch, and along with the Winning Ways crew and some friends we made a big contribution to the party.

The ground thawed out quickly and we were able to put posts in where needed.  There is usually at least one moose living in the cow pasture and they are not always careful when crossing fences.

At the end of April we prepared to take our critters on the road and halter trained two young sheep as well as refreshed Reggie's (our little black goat) and CC's leading skills.

Our new Juliana piggy, Gregory, also got some handling, although we did not try leading him at that event.  He subsequently did become "sorta" leadable.  (If it was his idea!)

Lots of volunteers from around the world and across Canada to help with all the chores in May. You can see in the picture below that we were busy predator-proofing the sheep pen so our lambs did not go missing. Volunteers always love to cuddle the little lambs.

Branding was one of the adventures in May and here, one of the gals who had never roped before coming to Canada, got to try her hand and she caught a couple calves!

See if you can figure out which country's flag is emblazoned in the maple leaf. It's not European!  Our crew rode in the Stampede Parade at the beginning of June and I thought this artistry was very impressive on a horse's hip.

I could not resist taking a picture of the wild roses climbing up the Quonset wall.

Kelton found Ranger a satisfactory mount when he visited. They look like a real Cowboy and his horse!

We still had a few cows calve in June.  We try to tag all the calves before they are branded so we know which calf belongs to which owner.  It is my job to sneak up and "rope" the calf.  Then the wrestler holds the calf down while the tag and vitamin A and Se are administered.  The guard keeps the upset momma from running over the rest of us who are busy with the calf.  

The first photo is from the July 1 Canada Day Parade in Loon Lake.  We had six riders, I drove Loretta's decorated truck and two more volunteers waved to the crowd from the truck. Later we went to the beach and had a picnic.

About a week later we moved the second herd of cows and calves to the North Ranch in a Cattle Drive.

Note: you can see the smoke in the air in the bottom two pictures.  Forest fires were a big concern in Western Canada and I believe the smoke carried to other parts of the world.

The two young ladies, practicing their stretching exercises, were participating in one of Winning Ways' Summer Schools.

The other two young ladies were enjoying the view from The Lookout at the north end of Nesset Lake.

ZOOM in on that knife wielding gal and check what it says on the cake.  It isn't a birthday cake!  Al thought his family and the WW crew deserved a treat.  mmm

We attended a Gymkhana where you could ride right up to the booth and order your lunch!  I did and enjoyed it.

The picture in the hall is not well lit, let's say the lighting left something to be desired. However, the music these folks played was AWESOME. They were some of Saskatchewan's finest fiddle players and I enjoy toe tapping music. :>)

The lonely guitar player waiting for the horses to finish their supper, as the land of living skies paints the sky yellow and shades of mauve.  Who needs photo shop when the environment gives you colors like these?

I always enjoy photos with a "thread" or in this case web!

2025 saw Winning Ways calve out 10 cows in the fall and this was the first calf born in September.

The heavens turned green one night in the middle of September.

You can ZOOM in to discover who the two swordsmen are. Or perhaps I should write swordswomen?  We had a Play Day at the end of the month and invited some friends to play games. One of the popular ones was "Cross Swords."

Pearly Whirly, as she sometimes is called, was supervising what the humans were doing in the fall sunshine.

Bob Brown still has his Model T parked in the yard.

I love the feeling of spaciousness when you look up at the sky through tall trees. So much the better if they happen to be decked out in yellows and oranges.

This is an iconic photo of the rainbow over the rider.

November is my birth month so lots of pics from that celebration.

I spent the actual day riding and learning about my new horse Milline.

Janet gave me the neatest gift ever.  Please ask me about the significance of the carving someday.

My talented volunteer created a gluten friendly Black Forest cake for me!!

Jackie had a Peacock Party, (she does raise them) and told us to dress up.  She wore her peacock pants, and decorated with all things peacock.  I made sure I was in blue and green.  I even have a feather in my hat.

The Cowboy Christmas Parade held at the beginning of December is another fun event for the Winning Ways crew to participate in. This year Carrie Arlett from Just Enjoy Photography took the lovely picture of the bells.  Even though it's not a Winning Ways crew member's photo I could not resist displaying it here.

ZOOM to see Santa's elf who rode Scout in the parade. Kinda dark photo.

Jackie invited us back to her house in December for a gingerbread house making party.  The Winning Ways crew made a whole village of gingerbread buildings, we even had a chicken coop! 

The photogenic cat is back on the screen. What can I say about such an innocent looking face?  "She's not innocent!!" 

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