Britt graduates and Shaina turns 23 - lots of pics

Big day at the Kuhn palace; today princess Shaina celebrates her 23 cake day and Brittany officially graduates from her Animal Health Technician program. We were up early (Britt by 6) to get ready and be out the door before 8:30.

The first order of celebration was the AHT brunch and celebration starting at 10. We made it with about 20 minutes to spare scoring good seats with the Johnson family.

 isn't this sweet, monogrammed stethoscope charm

good bye 1 year of residence living


Following it we all headed to the botanical gardens for a couple photos.

Then to the Ralph Klein center where the big celebration was being held. Again we were among the first to arrive and scored front row seats. With then secured with my kimono we were able to head out into the sunshine for more photo ops for the grads.

 Britt really wanted a cap so Nana Karen thought the program might work

 with Dr Dave

Gran & Grandy arrived in Olds as the brunch was ending so went for lunch then met us just after 1 as we all headed in to our seats. Shaina and Kaylin (who still thought it started at 2:30) arrived just after 230 but in time to cheer on Britt's walk across the stage. By 4 the program was over (largest graduating class ever with 892?, not all were there luckily) and it was out into the near 30 degree sunshine. A reception of fruit, cake and beverages was enjoyed and yet more photos.

the grads were piped in

Now it was time to head south, the girls headed out to Airdrie to find an eating establishment. We eventually guided Gran and Grandy to the McClellan arena for a quick look then drove south to meet the girls. This took had a round about way of getting there but eventually we all made it and had a great visit, drinks and celebration supper with Brad joining us too. Happy cake day Dude and congrats B.. XOXOXO

this is the photo when daughter # 2 says get in the picture and daughter #3 thinks otherwise ;)

Shaina, Kaylin and Brad were off to the city to continue the birthday celebration. Britt now back with us helped transfer some treasures from Grandy's truck then both vehicles were off to our respective homes. Coco survived her 12 hour day home alone, good girl! Britt was tuckered yet again. I went down to see why lights on and she was sound asleep with Netflix running. Again Sheldon was close behind while I caught some Sense8 but had to shut it down by 11 too.  Fabulous day of celebrating was had. Big Thanks to Mom and Dad for making the long drive to join us and Shaina for taking time out of her big day to come join too and to Kaylin for always being such a great supporter.

tipi in the wind

Another work day at the ranch. We got to work burying wire under the gate to connect the south side rather then have the east-west rails hotted up.

the inspector

Then it was onto the leaning shelter walls; I was the skid steer operator who held wall in place while the Prince pounded in small posts around each post to tighten it up. Worked a bit but really need to consider moving to more solid ground as the water pooling there softens the pasts holes.

Before coming in for lunch we moved a pile or posts in the Sanford area over beside the rails keeping all neat and together and making my mowing area easier.

Now after lunch was a bit more of a challenge. Once we got focused on work again we chose to set up the tipi. The first step was to find the 3 tripod poles and lash them together. Ok so far so good. Then to set them up.. this proved to be a 2 hour gong show during what seemed like a hurricane wind that picked up.

tripod poles

lashed together

laid in place but not working manually so skid steer time, I am the driver getting my instructions from boss man

who is going to pull the rope as well and hold door leg in place.. so go

pull HARD.... and SNAP

ok lift with skid steer and tie on a new rope

finally over 2 hours later it is up but it is in the wrong door direction and placement at the cradle ;(

As it got worse and we finally had 3 poles up and measured as per diagram, we headed into the barn where I googled set up details. It seems our door should be facing east and cradled between the 2 longer n/s poles which it was not. We tried to move around but the wind and the pole placement was not working with us. Time for a break.. to wash up brushes I still had from projects then a road trip to the plumbers to pick up PVC pipes for the polox goal posts. While we were passing thru town we grabbed Vietnamese takeout and headed home to eat late at 7:30. Britt pulled in soon after having ran to town for a spray tan after her work day.

It seems she had fallen asleep right after supper last night and awoke at 6:08 this am in a delirium as to where she was at and what time it was having no alarm set. Thank goodness for her internal work clock ;)

post and rail complete

There was a thunder and lightening show at midnight last night that had Coco in a tizzy. I put her in her kennel but she was not pleased. Finally I took her outside at 1 for a pee and show her it was ok but just after we got back in rain came down. Not allot but some so thanks to the big guy for that.

I did not even hear Britt head to work today, perhaps because I had closed my door from the pacing Coco. Sheldon had coffee on the go by 9 and set to checking the internet while I snapped some pictures of the now put back together magazine rack I painted.

Not long after he was off to town to exchange the crappy rails and take the cardboard to recycling. I took the "boys" out of the round pen and let all the horses out in the winter pasture for some group exercise time and cleaned ANOTHER full wheelbarrow of crap out of the pen. They sure did a good job of mowing it down evenly.

I then hauled the self propelled push mower over to even out the new paddock grass they had worked down but the sucker would not start. Off to watering garden & trees, hand pulling weeds around the trees and yet more pruning and trying to chop the weeds down in the new grass area with the manual push mower but it is a pain is longer then an inch.

and we thought the Grandma tree was dead, crazy new green candles, what the heck?

Sheldon was back at noon so we ate lunch quick and before 1 headed to finish the last of the rails. He rode a bike Shaina was selling to the gate while I drove the fencing unit over. Kinda had to ride side saddle on the rails ;)

 In not long we had the corner complete!! Fantastic. The horses were pleased too as I could now open the gate from the winter pasture and let them in for water and inspection

The next couple hours we spent pulling all the staples and insulators from the old posts and moving the 4 wires - 2 up and 2 down to keep out of the horses curious nature. We have a family coming to roll up the wire and another fellow in line to come get the posts once we pull them and it will be totally barb wire free in the paddock areas.

Even though it was only 25 it felt as hot as yesterday because there was mainly sun and much less of a breeze. Time for a frosty margarita on the deck before we headed out to put the last 2 rails at the yard entrance. I put ribs on to simmer so had to check now and then. Boss man says the ride mower can go in the paddock (after I said I had done 3 rounds a few days back lol) so he brought it out and cleaned up the scraggly stuff. Having missed all the mowing or probably inspired by the fresh frosty beverage I delivered him, he carried on mowing the rest of the yard.

I found the dandelion spike we had been searching for in the shed where I got Shaina's bike from so gave it a test run around the yard. I moved all the horses into their designated paddocks (2 per paddock) and checked and filled kelp then got busy inside finishing supper prep. We ate once Britt rolled in at 7 then everyone enjoyed a chill evening. (B was asleep before 9 and Sheldon soon after) The big check list is getting smaller ;)