Had a great time at the 2023 IPE... "Giddy up 'N  Go", to the IPE and rodeo was the theme and they did great.   Pretty sure that the last and only other time I went was in 1999, which was their 100 year anniversary.    I think it was perfect to have a booth  promoting the Peace in the Valley book and the Justice Magnet.    We all can use good news while all the crazy fires have gone on this year.   Met lots of new people, and saw many friends and a few neighbors  from past trailriding  and dancing days.   I was giving Justice magnets in trade for names of pets.  So many names and interesting stories!   I have asked a few of them to email me back with some pictures and stories that I would like to put in future editions of the Peace in the Valley /Fire Within book..   For now,   I will post some pics from the event and add in some of the names/ stories over the next week.   Pretty sure that i will be having to limit them due to having so many!    There were a few people that pitched in towards the cost to this point and didn't even want a magnet.     Will probably have a cost involved and  sponsors for future events.     For now,  I will just say "thank you" to Sierra from Willow Grove Riding School, for allowing me to go to the event and not have to travel each day back to Kelowna to feed the horses!   I met her while my horses were at the Kelowna Riding Stable and "The Barn" because we both moved our horses due to fires being too close to our homes/ horses for comfort.  She trailered my horses home after, in between loads of her horses traveling back to her place.     I had been going to try moving the horses in my 4 horse trailer, but it needs a lot of work before it is safe, so Elroy and Lauren from Trapalano farms helped move them to the Kelowna Riding Stables.   A lady named Lindsay helped organize this exchange as my own trailer option was ruled out.   Initially, she came to offer her truck and driving skills to move them.   Community does come together when it seems things are falling apart... and for fairs that celebrate the farms and farm life.     Strong farms  are in BC, especially around Armstrong and you can see it at the IPE! 

• Home Intro to the current Magic pet peace possee

2023 Armstrong Interior Provincial Exposition

Peace in the Valley short story/song book with illustrations

Justice standing strong and free

e

There were so many interesting animals and people at the IPE!   This is a small sample, but thought would put a taste of the farm fun up on the fort site. 

Shebaa  (Baad name!) and her person Jan.  Jan has a book out called "My Day at the Fair" and you can get it through the Okanagan library, they have several copies if not more!   I had met Shebaa and Jan about 6 years ago and hoped to see them at the fair. They had been walking the rail trail on a rainy day.  Jan had told me then, that she drove up to the fair each day.  She also told me that i could get a ride with her if i wanted, but i hadn't taken her up on it.  Turns out she is very involved all year on committees and loves spending her time contributing.  I was hoping that I would see her while i was at the IPE!

The three goats pictured are from the same farm.  Turns out that the lady who brought them is a teacher who does books on the side! It was great meeting her.   

I grew up on a few Canadian Armed forces bases, so felt a bit among family. when meeting these folk.   They are members of the Rocky Mountain Rangers , based out of Kamloops.   I think it is important to know that the armed forces isn't all about fighting... ulitmately, I am pretty sure that they , their parents and children would all like to get home to their pets, parents and children, and see that other people do too! That is a big reason why i joined the INternational Institute for Peace through Tourism- if you  are friends with someone, why would you want to fight them?   I was a trail guide provider for over 30 years, meeting people from around the world.   It was a great way to make a living... i think sharing stories of pets and people will be fun.  Hopefully one day, it helps feed my fur friends and help others feed/ keep their pets too.

 I met so many people and learned of over a hundred pets while at the fair.   I have trouble reading my own writing at the best of times, but am going to try to do justice to 10 of the papers I wrote on and make mention of some of the special stories I remember.  I am hoping that a few of the people that I talked with get back to me with their stories with the hopes of adding to the next edition of "Peace in the Valley"

 Herbie is a 14 year old Morkie owned by a lady named Susan.  Two popular breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Maltese, breeders managed to create a beautiful dog with a loving personality.   

Spanky was the name of an Englsh Golden lab- I was reminded of the LIttle Rascal  comedy show days- Spanky was a regular character that had a dog named Pete that was also a regular member of the cast.  

Lisa used to have a horse named Apache.  Appache seemed to want to help dig posts and pawed as people dug! THere was also a time where they had a bit of a wipe out... both were able to get up and shake themselves off and they did so in synch!   I wish i could say the same.  Justice wiped out in 2022 while i was riding him.   I had been distracted by something and he was too.   He fell, and i fell off the left side.   I reached down with my right arm to lift myself up while he was getting up.   I say we arm wrestled but I lost.. .. I was able to get his lead rope and walk up to the fence, then sat and got myself together with him and his brother Serandipity standing above me.   Justice had been anxious to get back to the other horses, paying more attention to them, then where he stepped!  He broke my arm, but can only blame myself and am grateful he didn't break anything.  

I got to meet some of the venders though my Justice Magnet trade.  One vender next to me had the pet 'Fluffy" and Gabby was originally from Jamaica.  Terry and Greg sold solar panels and had a pet Mishka.  

Mica, is short for Amica, as in friend.  She was fox like and her person informed me about a Canadian author:   Dennis Beynon Lee OC (born August 31, 1939) is a Canadian poet, teacher, editor, and critic born in Toronto, Ontario. He is also a children's writer, well known for his book of children's rhymes, Alligator Pie. 

Darrell was a very interesting man who was in his 80's.  He told me of how it was a mile for him and his family to get to school.  He would often go to school with a horse drawn cutter and that there was a fire going to keep them warm.  He was more into cars as a teen, but his father rode and trained horses throughout his life.  HIs father grew up in the Cypress hill area.  I am hoping to learn more of some of his and his sister Audrey's childhood memories some day. 

Mat had a horse named Captain Morgan who was originally a wild horse from the Westside

SirCostALot was the named Betty and Gooch gave me.  They rode Harley's and horses, well mostly Betty rode the horse.  Pretty sure they live in the Kootenays and it was through them that i learned about Jake and how he made some noise when his tusks were removed due to abscesses.  

Not all the pets were the furry fur legged kind.  One family had a Bearded Dragon  name Snickers and a Gecko named O'Henry  plus a fish named Tuna  

Ruby was a 3 yr old French Bull dog Cross with person Trevin.. but Trevin might be the 3 year old!  I really have bad writing. / notes

I think Jena gave me at least one names and shared that ibuprofin helped her dog.  I've looked into this a bit, ,because King seems to be having issues with swelling and i am potentially wanting less expensive anti-inflammatory relief.   Seems it can cause major damage, so am holding off.   In andy case, Karma was a 13 year old Black pitbull / bull mastiff that was loved a lot.   

Fox, looked like a fox;   Ginger was a cat that recently passed on.   

Mya and Rex;  Neza  = 9 year old but had since a kitten. 

Cooper had Jack 

 Oreao is a rabbit who's person's name is Ever. 

Chester / Cole's English Cockerspaniel

  Archie, Pipin and Toby the jumping mule are some pets i hope to learn more of, but there is so much to do at the IPE, so that is all I have for now.  I am not sure if their person was Jimmy or Charlie or both.  

Jefferry Beta is the fish of Ronan; Boats is the name given by Mayli .. guessing a fish too. Bear is the name from Anaya.   Anaya means God Answered, which is pretty cool.  -

Caesar is a 15 1/2 German sheperd that was owned by a gentleman named Charly.   I met Charly while he was waiting for his ride to pick him up and bring him back to Lake Country.   Seems Caesar won a trophy in Germany for his skills.   Charly has a picture of him still from over 40 years ago. 

Kiki- 16, Maureens pet.   

Fabiola Reci ; Apollo -Polo     

Norman, Laura;  Cypress and Jennifer; Bella and Drew

Teddy Jed and Hammer Head - Victor's pets ?   really fun figuring my notes!  They could be Tara's too!

talkie Rottie,  Shireen's dog ?

Moses was also known as Mr Mosie Mousetachio  sword was Paul's SPCA rescue.. but it has been awhile.  Had from 5-13 or so and was a Collie / Chelsie dog.   Pretty sure he has some cool stories about him...

Daphnia and Smithers with Pat 

 Fun to see some friends at the IPE, and learn a bit more about them

                  Crystal, Cindy's Cat and Rock was Mark's dog-  friends from music and farmer's market

                   Alex Jessica; and Corral are the children of Glen and Jane from my water polo days, nearly 30 years earlier!   They have pets Charlotte, Poppi and Onyx ... but i might be getting some names mixed up.  

Golden Retriever Tia had 7 pups in Egypt sometime this past year.   Mo is from there!

Phil  (Colin) and Laila; Hopper and Talia; Nate and Hale   not sure if there was formerly a Colin.. i think so, but so many names and stories!

Maggie was Sherry's pet and she and her husband were parents of someone who used to work at Mandy and Me.. they saw the sign's and made a point to say hi.  So glad they did. 

Doll and Mack - Irish Bulldogs of Deidrra and Cal;    Eva -Jalon

Winston Chaps was Susan's cat that had markings like chaps

Tawana Luna Lilly  Lilly, Zela are from Dog Pound Ranch.. Russ and Tawana told me (again, rough notes.. may not honor.. if you are them or know of them... I do remember that there was some great story potential here... 

Herher is a Shih Tzu of Bonnie's;   Jasper is a German Shepherd of Al's

Frank and Beans= McKenzie;  Mapleden= Kayla;  Nakayta Bruce    German Shepherds

Boss- Wilson

Bandit 1 and 2- Susan    This theme happened a few times and I appreciate that.  I also had 3 pairs of pets that shared a name.   Prince , Sheba  and Charming.   The first Prince was white and was 1/4 wolf, 1/4 husky and half Blue Heeler.  He started off with the name Blue... and cost me $100.  Was tied up or kept in a truck.. first thing I did was let him free and he followed me everywhere, except vehicle rides.   He was shot while i was away for a trip.  My running comeback was cut short in large part because of this and other things.. i had gone away to go in a race.  Plans change, life moves on.  Then next prince was black and a lab/collie/pitbull/ rotweiller cross.  He loved vehicle rides and lived to be 13.  I had him from a pup.    The first Sheba was white.   She had cancer when we got her in her late 20's.   She died after colic complications within a couple years later, in 1995.   She was a great horse while we had her, but the Sheba we named her after is amazing too.   Our Sheba is bay, was aborn in 1996 and is 27.    Charming was an amazing golden lab that we got in the early 90's.  He had been wandering around so we adopted him, after placing some ads that no one seemed to claim him.   He loved rides and loved fetching sticks- especially those thrown into the water!  The second Charming was actulally Char and Ming, two rats.  I had wanted to get one and call him Charming but was told that they should have a companion.  I am not sure that the need for a companion is a real thing for them.. but that would involve another story.  They both had sad endings, unfortunately.  It had been a rough time and sometimes the smaller pets are the first to feel it both mentally and physically.    

Boss-  Wilson

Hope things went well at the ipe…. We left when it got busy before all the rides opened. Our daughters names are Lottie and Hannah …. Their dogs are zippers and Ollie….enjoy the fall weather 

Connie

Zippers, and Ollie, - Eric Connie Lottie and Hanna.   They run dog sleds and I hope we can one day arrange  to trade horse rides for some!   Their place is Revelstoke Dogsled adventure..  

Maui   jack Russel of Jessie

Lucy  cute little protector   Barkly;  Opal Hope

Moreove  (dog);   Hecan   oat Ben;  Cruiser, Lilly,Hammer, Quincie      first horses

Brett, Pepper Church

 Oscar was a  golden retriever spaniel  who went all over BC via quad.   He would run and then jump on the back of the quad. Sometimes he would wear a back pack and /doggles.  I think Sally was his person. 

 King Toot and Rambo

 Shay and Baker

 Jasmine ,  Mykya  -  Jen has a tattoo of J and M who were Siamese... 

Sierra Tim- Sierra would climb fences on the 5 acres .. reminded me of an Akida dog I knew named Sierra who looked at her person from the top of a roof top as if 'what?' as he yelled out looking for her.    She survived a fall in a pool as a young pup and would climb over a 6 foot fence and get out of her pen as a bigger pup.

Buddy Brenda from grade 4 ; Danny Bolt

Keisha is a boston Terrier pub  Ben  --no idea what these notes mean'  

Hugger   Dawn... no idea what i meant from hear but.. 

Koko was a chocale lab owned by Hugh who used to chase coyotes and come back running.     reminded me of  my first big dog Candy.  She used to run from coyotes, then she would race between the horses with the coyotes chasing her,  then  (next i remember) would have a stick and be chasing the coyotes!

Sam and Lucy from Salmon Arm

 Dale was the nephew of Kenny McClean,, wish i could have talked with him some more!

Isaac had Bandit, a blue heeler mutt

 reschue horses Kate Malamute from Falkland Alex

 over 70 die to fires

 Elvin - Aim

ok.. my writing and memory is bad..   and may or may not get better... just saying... i am trying to read and remember.  (now thursday September 7th;  have lots more papers to try to decipher, but more to do each day too)

Riley was the gal on her ten year old Batman, who i have pictured about in a couple of places.   Her  proud mom is Serena and shared a bit with me about how Serena's journey.   My memory is a bit muddled now, but seems to me that one of her instructors was a judge at the IPE and is one I have heard that has been a mentor to Sierra from Willow Grove Riding Stables, the person who moved my horses back from Kelowna Riding Stables  this year and the angel who fed my guys and gal while at the IPE.  Small world.     Jody... something .. To be continued.... maybe with a story in the next book.

Emma was the Mountie in the above pics, with the miniature horse  Hose who was dressed as a moose.   Her mom Sharon walked in front.   The idea was that the carriage ponies and horses might bolt with so much going on, so a person was supposed to walk along.   I had asked about this.   They felt that Hose would have been ok, but were following protocol.   

 Kim had  a 1/2 Belgium  1/2 Morgan/ Arab in a driving competition.  I think her horses name was Flower or Kate...  Not sure if it was her or Sharon (Emma's Mom) that told me about the BC Carriage association- definitely something i would like to look into a bit!

Pepi Roo was Brenda's.;   Husky Matamute gentleman

I was told about Chilo by someone and i think that person was one who told me of rattlesnakes in Kamloops being killed by pigs.   I had a note about Grandsy and Cobra too.. no idea on that one!

Hideaway Horse Camp sounded interesting' Psidon Michail; Beauchamp Shepherd; loki crazy cat; Emma robert linzy ;   Victor Jessica MS TIndle Sal Justice

Baby Girl -1/4 horse Julia;  maggie Sylvier;  Lad  was an Arab welsh that was half broke that was with Diane and Doug with Spice when going to Camel's Hump.   I am not doing justice here, but sounds like the horses were ridden part way to an area known as Camel's Hump.  The people tied the horses up and continued by foot to the top.   They weren't sure where the horses were on the way back, but Dianne called and her horse Spice whinnied back, sharing where she was so that she could get untied and go home!  This story reminded me of a time when Ebony called to her person when she was tied.      This was close to the year 2000 and a gal named Kay was helping out one morning.  I had gotten a horse ready for some people that came regularly to ride one of the horses as a form of therapy.  I had asked the care provider to tell Kay about a horse tied up on the trail when they returned.    I had a note ready to leave with Ebony, that shared that she was a present for Kay.   Kay came to help and by this time I had left Ebony along the trail, with the note.   I told Kay that the mom of the girl i told her about that also loved Ebony, had come by and bought Ebony for her.   I also told her what horses needed to get ready for a large ride that was coming, and then left for a run on my own two feet- I had to get out of there before I broke the surprise by breaking into a laugh.  I was being super mean, in one way, because Kay loved Ebony and she had been hoping to be involved with a trade of Ebony for a Mandy and Me website.  Thing is, she had been helping so much, i felt she had earned Ebony on her own, so wanted to surprise her.     Ebony kind of blew the surprise by starting to whinny before i got back.  Kay followed the sound, and found her pony prize!  It be fun to one day have Kay make a story of her Ebony adventures.    Ebony had once been a carriage horse.   I had gotten her from a gentleman named Dusty and he taught me how to drive.   I took Ebony and a chariot on many trips up and down Bear Creek rd while getting my experience.    I know that we already had the chariot, because i will never forget my fail at driving it while in Highschool with Faith's grandma Breeze.    i think that I bought the carriage with Ebony but her name was Wilma when i first got her-i was reminded of this from Linzy who was a teen or preteen at the time.   In any case,  Ebony pulled the carriage  many times too, including a wedding at Benvoulin church!  

Colin the fish; Eddie  and her lab sister Lacy- i learned about Sibling Syndrome where sometimes the younger sibling can be really tough on their older one .. and the older one will take it, getting quite injured sometimes.  Eddie's sister had to be re-homed.  

Murphy and Ollie; Rufus was a rescue from the reserve when about 3 and was around for 7rl years ;  Bentely is a 10 and a half lab husky

Pat and Amigo a red roan;   Sam Rick and Echo;   Parole (??) Lady1 and 2l   Ginger and Lois, many memories;   Anita freckles rooster and a horse that was blind but ridden at camp.  Reminded me of Cool Momma and how she was still good to go for rides;  

Gizmo the iguana of Christa ;  Lure an Arabian Fjord;   Grey Wolf ClearWater Dorothy and Granddaughter

Tika Alaskan Malamute and Bryce;  Fin  and Murphy    pets of Jen, a friend from the Ok Corral

Ziggy , Kengal dog of Mandy Jolie  "magical';   Onyx  Topaz  are cats of Hazel .. she told me of the Spynx quarry Cattery- you can check it out online

Bongo is a brown white pet of Laurie and Dan;  Sounds like Buddy was a dog but also Alex's dad's horse.. I think he was named after the horse;  Dolly Maddeson Jes

R2  Jay Bella and Michelle;  trixie dog of Lisa and Clive 3 cat of Paton;

Nita (as in Bonita, the world beautiful in Spanish) Ryan's dog Kamloops; Ernie 14  Joanne  Celina 17

Dobbie Spynx cat Kelly   Zolah 

Lola Yorky 2  Everly

Daryl Harper;  Jake and June Moly Kurt and Kirsten;   Nakida and Ari; Krownose Elleana Indie and Owen

Tony King Borden;  Dianne and Daisy

Richard and Farlie .. told me about the Woodward history of the Douglas Lake Ranch... very knowledgeable about it and was very interesting to listen to.   I looked into it a bit and learned:   

"To western Canadian shoppers, the Woodward name was synonymous with department stores. To retailers, it was the introduction of the shopping mall to Canada. To Canadian investors, it was a tale of commercial real estate, the effects of 1980s interest rates and Alberta’s oil bust. But to livestock producers, Woodward means cattle and horses.

While the Woodward retailing family had owned farms and ranches as early as the turn of the 20th century, it wasn’t until Charles Nanby Wynn Woodward bought the then 87-year-old Douglas Lake Ranch near Merritt, B.C., in 1957 that the name began to stand for ranching."

Doesn't do justice to the names and stories I tasted a bit of over the IPE, but hoping it is the start of a lot more of bringing the past to the present in a way to build a better future for more through farms and story!