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Diane Stringam Tolley's Blog – April 2012 Archive (13)
Public Manners - or - "Oh, I can clean out a room!"
They look normal to me . . .
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There is a scene in the movie, “Over the Hedge”, in which the skunk, using only those talents with which she was blessed at birth,…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 30, 2012 at 10:55am — 2 Comments
Boys
It had been a tough day.
And we had three boys.
Those are my excuses . . .
The day had started out slowly.
Mark had sleep-walked and nearly mistook the closet for the bathroom.
Caught just in time.
Because I am superwoman.
Shortly thereafter (oooh, good word), Mark and Erik had staged an argument/battle over the TV remote.
I should explain, here, that the word 'remote' was largely optimistic at this point.
There was a…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 29, 2012 at 11:46am — No Comments
Grooming - Not for the Faint of Heart
Head Gate.
Oh sure. It looks harmless here . . .
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Washing and…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 28, 2012 at 10:00am — 2 Comments
Cattle Shows, Cookies and Cutlets - or - Me and My Big Mouth
What can I say but mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . .
My Dad taught me manners.
I was a slow, but well-fed, learner.
Maybe I should explain . . .
Dad and I were on a cattle show tour.
I say, 'we' but I was mostly useless.
I had injured my hand in a grooming accident…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 27, 2012 at 7:37am — No Comments
A Yarn About Yarn
So small - to cause such big problems . . .
Dad was running an errand.
For his mother.
It was 1937 and the family had just recently moved to Lethbridge from Glenwood, Alberta.
He enjoyed the independence of being able to walk the few blocks…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 25, 2012 at 5:39am — No Comments
Rainy Days and Poker
The ultimate in 'chips'.
We are not gamblers.
We’re not.
But we taught our kids to play poker.
Maybe I should explain . . .
We have a timeshare condo in Banff, Alberta.
Every year, for one week, that beautiful corner of the…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 24, 2012 at 10:49am — No Comments
Ruby. Not Your Ordinary Sheepdog.
Okay. I admit it. She's cute.
We raised Old English Sheepdogs.
A wonderful breed.
Shaggy.
Smart.
Protective.
Affectionate.
Did I mention shaggy?
We had raised them for years.
Long enough that anyone remotely…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 23, 2012 at 11:00am — No Comments
Bunnies in Church
What do you wear to Church?
As a rancher, during the work week, Dad was usually seen in work shirts and pants.
Heavy boots.
Leather gloves.
But on Sundays, all of that changed.
He would appear, dignified and tidy, in 'church' attire.
Suit.
White…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 22, 2012 at 8:00am — No Comments
Are You Really Going to Drink That?
Del Bonita, Alberta
Where the Jones Family lived.
The Stringam Ranch was situated on the Alberta/Montana border, midway between the town-opolis of Milk River and the village-opolis of Del Bonita.
My father elected to send…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 21, 2012 at 11:30am — No Comments
Bringing Families Closer - One Dance At a Time
Husby and middle son, Duff
Spinning Music
Every weekend for over twenty years, Mikey’s Music Machine entertained groups of families.
It was a DJ company.
Catering particularly to school, church, community…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 20, 2012 at 8:00am — No Comments
You Can Dress Them Up, But . . .
I was kicked out of a restaurant.
Once.
Oh, not literally.
It was more a politely-worded, “Would you please leave.”
But it amounted to the same thing.
Only with less violence.
But it was the irony of the situation that’s most memorable.
Maybe I should explain . . .
My Husby and I were out with a group of family/friends.
All parents.
I thought I should point that out.
Moving on . . .
We had just finished a…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 19, 2012 at 9:45am — No Comments
Spare! - or - When the Supervision Gets Lax, the Creative Get . . . Creative
What did you do during Spare?
Spare.
The best part of the school day.
The period when one catches up on things.
Gossip.
Flirting.
Sleep.
Okay, I admit it, one could even catch up on school work.
If one was so inclined.
I, however . .…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 18, 2012 at 9:38am — No Comments
More of Mark's Marks
Dad was attending school in Glenwood Alberta.
Sixth grade.
The school building had been constructed when there were far less students.
Every available space was pressed into service.
Every available space.
Dad and his classmates were meeting in what had originally been the foyer.
The big front doors had been fastened shut and covered with several layers of ‘train car paper’.
I’m not sure what that is, but it sounds tough.
And…
ContinueAdded by Diane Stringam Tolley on April 17, 2012 at 11:07am — No Comments
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