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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

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.

Video Teaser

19 Aug

I’m not sure if there are any words at this moment.

Cowboy Lingo

18 Aug

In order for a dude/dudeen to fit in they need to know how to speak on the ranch.

Today’s phrase: Bear Sign
Usage in a sentence: “Hey dude, I’m hungry. Is there any bear sign in the cookhouse?”
Meaning: Donuts

Plumb Gentle

17 Aug

Commemorative Gushul Poster

This poster is 12″ x 36″ and contains a small smattering of some of the western fonts I’ve discovered in my internet research. All fonts pictured are 36 pt in size. Crazy x-heights! Not apparent, nice big edges suitable for matting and framing. This poster would make a lovely addition to any parlour or sitting room.

Embroiderin’

16 Aug

Fernando as a colt.

This is taking too long. Must stitch faster.

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.

Batchelor Gushul – Ghostly Feline Neighbour?

14 Aug

This cat used to live in the Writer's Cottage ca. 1908

This picture is from the Crowsnest Pass Art Gallery Gushul Hallway. The didactic signage labels the picture as Batchelors’ Cat (sic) and says that this Dapper Cat lived in the cottage adjacent to the Studio which eventually became an office for the photo studio. He’s an excellent model, dontcha think?

We were told by some visiting buckaroos that the cottage is haunted. (I might have known that when I opted to sleep in the big studio – sorry Dude!) The basement door prohibits visitors from venturing below the cottage. What could possibly lurk below?

It is my firm belief (without any research or evidence to the contrary) that our ghost is Batchelor, the Cat. Cats are considerably lazy and don’t particularly travel well, so it should be of no surprise that one is haunting the Jolly Ranch.

NO ACCESS

Discovered in the basement.. Kitty Litter!

Is the ghost of Batchelor in the basement?

Early Mention of Dudeen

13 Aug

I’m a research nut – seriously can’t stop gathering. Found this in the Library of Congress Digital Archives:

This is a song! Perhaps, we should learn it?

I love the cover of this sheet music. The typography and the drawing of the three dudes in the background is quite lovely. I know ‘Dudette’ is the contemporary feminization of Dude but I prefer DUDEEN. Lets eschew the use of ‘Dudette’ and embrace the non-smurfy  term.

Pony Emergency

12 Aug

Life on a Dude Ranch is not always idyllic. Yes, there is the pastoral beauty of the mountain wilderness and nothing beats riding the range surrounded by sweet pastures but Mother Nature is a fickle mistress and all those living in the Crowsnest Pass must respect her awesomeness.

Today, Frankie and Rocky went off on a quick jaunt to gather provisions for the cook house at the local general store (read Extra Foods for tortilla chips and dip.) We were enjoying a friendly stroll downtown, admiring the local architecture and signage, when dark ominous clouds started rolling above us and the wind was whipping riotously around us. We picked up our step and marched double-time back to the Jolly Ranch. But alas, we arrived too late!

Rocky checks on the status of the ponies.

The wind had thrown the freshly coiffed ponies thither and yonder. Rocky and Frankie worked desperately to bring the ponies inside before the weather became more violent.

Even in their disarray these ponies are lovely to behold.

Not to worry, we were able to bring all the ponies in and soothe their panicked souls. Tomorrow, more coiffing will have to be done to rectify some of the damage to their newly spray painted coats. And we have a new found respect for the local weather patterns.

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