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Radio Silence

25 Aug

Gettin' ready to wrangle some Dudes!

We’ve been a little slack in our postin’ the past couple of days. Thats because we’re getting ready for the Jolly Ranch / Dr. Sketchy’s / Trap\door traveling caravan planned for Sunday. A dude ranch has to be prepared to receive the tenderfoots and show ‘em a good time! So we hope you’ll stop by on Aug 29th at 11:00am to participate in the fun. We’ll have our historical drawing tour through the pass and then come back to the Jolly Ranch for the souvenir store, dude lessons, maybe a ghost story or three and some grub.

If you want to know a little more before you come out, be sure to catch Trap\door Radio, Thursday at 2pm on CKXU. If you can’t pick up the channel or don’t have a radio you can listen on-line too! http://www.ckxu.com  The Dude and I were interviewed today by Magoo via skype.

I think we gave good radio.

On a trail ride up to Jolly Ranch

Dude Disco!

19 Aug

Dude Disco!

Dudes and dudeens need to get down. It’s an old fashioned ranch rave happen’ here.

Samples from Virginia O’Brien’s Dude Ranch Serenade (1944).

View on Vimeo, or click image above.

Download MP3 here…

Historic Gravy

19 Aug

The Crowsnest Pass is full of significant world changing history. Did you know that the very first KFC in Canada was in the CNP? And Colonel Saunders himself came to visit! During his visit he sampled the local chicken gravy and was smitten. He took the recipe and instituted it across the entire the company!

Of course, a good researcher knows that they must verify their facts. So off to the local KFC we went to sample gravy.

Confirmed the historical nature of the Gravy

Dippin' Fry into Historical Gravy

Thick, Luscious Gravy

Samplin'

Why Thank-You, Colonel Saunders!

I would like to point out that the Dude is vegetarian so all meat related investigations are left to me… I’m very full of gravy right now.

Day 14: ‘Stache and Search Terms

16 Aug

From tenderfoot to dude:

Day 14 of the Moustache Project

Day 14 of the Moustache Project.

Surprise visitors today at the Jolly Ranch!  Jesse, Jill, Milo, and Jesse’s mom popped by for a short visit and trip to the Stone’s Throw café.  It was such a lovely diversion–I hope that Milo cooperates on your way back from Fernie next week.  With a small heads-up, the dudeen and I will whip up a fancy spread in the cookhouse.

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Recent search terms that have lead visitors to this site:

Search Terms

The dude pants! Outstanding work folks–keep it coming…

Spa Day at the Sanatorium

16 Aug

It was spa day at the ranch. In honor of visiting the site of the Rocky Mountain Sanatorium (now a parking lot,) we decided to indulge in some pamperin’. Life on the range can be hard on a Dudeen. The Rocky Mountain Sanatorium was built close to one of the many sulphur springs throughout the pass between Frank and Blairmore – about a 10 minute walk from the Jolly Ranch.

Doomed to be a parking lot.

The sanatorium specialized in treating consumption (TB) when it first opened. It eventually became a hospital for war veterans. The application of sulfur (immersion or fumes) is generally thought best for the treatment of scabies and acne. Given that the smell of sulphur reeks of rotten eggs and I don’t have scabies and the acne is mild; it was thought best to use an over the counter form of mud exclusively available to drug stores throughout Canada.

From bleary-eyed to photoshop in one episode of Project Runway.

Infact, the mud reeked of vanilla-y cake batter. This was a special kind of torment but one must pay the price of beauty. The directions indicated to apply the mud in circular motions and then let it sit for 15 minutes. To be extra sure, I let it sit for an entire episode of Project Runway, which unbeknownst to me, is now 90 mins long. During this time, my eyeballs never sprouted maple leaves or honey combs. Very disappointing. I must have applied it wrong. After removing the mud, my face felt soft and dewy but un-capturable using modern day photography. So with the help of photoshop, we can express the radiance of my skin.

It is truly glorious.

Day 13: The Sunday ‘Stache

15 Aug

From tenderfoot to dude (en route to mountain man):

Day 13 of the Moustache Project

Day 13 of the Moustache Project.

I am very pleased with the recent facial growth.  However, the dudeen believes that the camera adds 10 pounds, making the ‘stache look fuller, thicker, bouncin’ and behavin’.  Josie and Leila claim that I resemble Yosemite Sam–you decide:

Sam!

[preceded by a hail of gunfire, Yosemite Sam enters the Gunshot Saloon]
Cowboy #1: Yosemite Sam!
Cowboy #2: It’s Yosemite Sam!
Yosemite Sam: Yeah, Yosemite Sam – the roughest, toughest he-man stuffest hombré that’s ever crossed the Rio Grande. An’ I ain’t no namby-pamby.

From Bugs Bunny Rides Again (1948)

Promoting the Pass

14 Aug

In an effort to learn a bit more about the local community, I  picked up a copy of the Crowsnest Promoter.  Below is a selection of the top headlines and features:

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Day 12: Hirsute; Ponies

14 Aug

From tenderfoot to dude:

Day 12 of the Moustache Project

Day 12 of the Moustache Project.

All the dudes and dudeens in town have been giving my “the eye.”  This facial hair is simply irresistible, and I feel my testosterone levels rising.  Or not.

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On the riverside walk back from Frank to Blairmore, the dudeen remarked on the appropriateness of my footwear:

Pony!

“It’s all gone now.”

14 Aug

Today’s post is all about history and reportage.  The dudeen and I learned a great deal about the heritage of the Crowsnest Pass, as well as the contemporary community.

This morning, the dudeen and I ventured along the CP tracks to Frank to view the exhibit at the Crowsnest Pass Public Art Gallery.  Here, we stumbled upon a historical walking guide for the area, which lead us on a brief journey of vacant lots and “former” somethings.  Featured below are the significant sites highlighted by the tourist literature:

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The wonder of the Pass never ceases to amaze us…

Day 11: Whoops! I’m a Cowboy

12 Aug

From tenderfoot to dude:

Day 11 of the Moustache Project

Day 11 of the Moustache Project.

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From Betty Boop (1937): “Wiffle Waffle proposes to Betty Boop, but she tells him that she wants to marry a “bronco busting” cowboy. He heads off to a dude ranch to learn how to become a real cowboy.”

Whoops! I'm a Cowboy.

What to dude and what not to dude. Youtube Link.

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Not much to report today.  1.5 hour walk to the Hortons, followed by afternoon foraging for thimbles, cottage cheese, and tomatoes.  All-day stitching while listening to back-to-back podcasts of This American Life.  Buffet dinner at Ben Wongs (Chinese and Western cuisine).  Sore heads and stomachs…

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