Not really at the final print or near through selling the second edition of Peace in the Valley, but starting the next book.   First an outline of some other songs written that aren't in the first book.   The first song will be what i think is the first one written after leaving our home in West Kelowna..   not sure the title , maybe 'From Madness Comes Creativity?'    The second  song, 'Discover Magic' was written at the end of 2010 while in the Fort Socs Music and Meeting space at the Delta hotel on Water Street.   Here we go... 

• From Madness Comes Creativity

• Choices   

• Discover Magic

• Drunk on a Dream

• Riding Serandipity

• International Institute for Peace Through Tourism  

• Cowboys Don't Cry

• Cowgirls Don't Cry

• Calmitall Kay

• All About the Peace

• Won't Regret the Trying

• the Great Shambay

• Shambay, by Charly

• Winners Don't Know They're in a Race

• SuperRAM

• Alberta Rose

• Okanagan Hills

• Magic KnightMARE 

• Dreams Come Together (story by Jon Sloan told to Silverado)

• Life's a Dance  John Michael Montgomery  but with some changes

•  Justice   you just gotta believe

• note from 2011

• Fort Socs PHD

Pretty sure there are more but that is a good start to the list.  Planning to put at least one local story for every one of mine in this book;  less pics, more stories,   but may include some past Mandy and Me stickers but with the Fort Socs logo and a description of the story behind each sticker.    They have been written and most have been sung at a few open mic venues as well as to the horses, and folk riding.    Still thinking about how to present  current things while getting back in the black side of the financial track.    The BUCK Starts here, has to be more than a logo for fun.  Fun and finances don't have to be enemies to anyone, has been my way of thinking and was my way of life in general.   A stable community is a healthy community was my mantra in life too.   Was chaos at times.   Rides were slim pickings for much of the year but the slogan when it rains it pours tends to be the reality of life in a tourism town.    Will aim to pick at this over the next while.  No panic or promises. 

 This first song  of this list, came while walking to a bread discount outlet store on Kirschner from a place i was living near highway 33 and Ziprick;   I had two vehicles but normally brought my dogs Prince and King with me, but they were not able to come to work that day.  I think both vehicles were in need of repair of some sort.  In any case, i was feeling particular bitter about having lost my home of over 30 years, a place where my dogs horses and  I worked together for most of those years, sharing a lot of good memories with many people.  I had worked very hard behind the scenes and had come through many physical, emotional and financial challenges, but had believed truth and Justice would prevail.  Light would always shine after darkness, but i was not feeling any kind of fairness at the time.   I was lucky to have a friend condo to live in that winter, but the dogs had to stay the night in my truck. .. in this case, the day too.  I was having to go to Lake Country by bus or vehicle to feed the horses after working.    It was a rough time.   I started with the basic chorus and two verses but then added a verse and evolved the chorus as i worked to be better not bitter.     I worked there until the New Year, but around Christmas time, it had gotten into the double digits cold,  so i started sleeping in the store with the dogs, so that they would be warm.  I was worried i would lose my job, so started making many foolish mistakes but found a shelter near by that accepted dogs too.   I finally got some nice sleep but i lost my job as I had been in the 3 month trial period.   This was one small section of the first year of losing my home and original site of Mandy and Me Trailriding.    The place near Ziprick and highway 33 and the shelter were about the 8th and 9th homes for my dogs and I;   The horses had moved  4 ,  5 or 6 times;  depending on the horse.     Since the shelter days, the past 6 years have been where we are now and are  grateful for some sense of stability.   

       From Madness comes Creativity

I lost everything man, nearly everything.  Sanity hung on by a string man, I lost near everything. 

What goes around comes around, they say that karma does abound, but i know folk that be 6 foot underground for having their neck a rope around (for what they did)

I lost everything man, nearly everything.  Sanity hung on by a string man,  good thing that i sing!

Now I'm not one to sing and shout, but there are things I want to talk about.    When the good guy (or girl) has to take it on the chin, and the haters and the cheaters win....

I lost everything man, nearly everything.  Sanity hung on by a string man,  good thing that i sing and dance!

The only solution seems to be, we need a global epiphany;   there is one world and we share it's worth, good ideas should be given birth;   From madeness comes creativity, this is my form of levity

I lost everything man, nearly everything.  Sanity hung on by a string man,  good thing that i sing and dance and ride a horse or two, good thing that i have a few friends ... too. 

I am not sure which election that i ended up making this little ditty I now call Choices, but i think it was during my first MLA election attempt.   I had struggled to find a person to do the books, but found one in the nick of time.   I put in my papers and then left to attend a sports related get together in Victoria.   I wanted to be around people that  knew me and i didn't really want to think about the race animal ahead.  I didn't answer emails of interest or anything while away.   I did know that the first big event with the public/media would be a chamber luncheon, based on an email that i got but didn't reply to.    After getting home, I was nervous about what i would say during the introduction.   I had a lot I wanted to say, but how to do that in a few minutes?   Out comes "Choices".    I would have been prepared to speak that and it would have taken me little time to memorize it, but i didn't get the chance too.   I really should have read those emails closer.   I was supposed to RRSP!  I got the chamber luncheon and was not even able to attend it as a guest.  I did go the venue and attempted to say hi to people.  I believe I may have handed some things out, but i mostly just showed that i was prepared to be there.   Ironic and disappointing yet also was a bit of a relief.    

Choices

I'm a runner, I'm a rider I'm a soldier I'm no saint

  I live for what I love and I won't be what I ain't

Some people say I wear my heart upon my sleeve

I say I put my heart into anything I believe

I won't put any labels on you, I expect just the same

Give me half a chance, you'll see what great things we can gain

I have led many trailrides but first learned to ride them on my own

 had many nervous riders and taught them to go on

Lets take the reins out of democracy and lead eachother a new way

with role models of gently guidance for those who go astray

these lines are kind of random but what am I to do

  I have had over 40 years of choices to simplify for you. 

It seems, that i last edited this Jan 5, 2012.   I submitted my GST info for my business about Jan 4th, 2024.    Early this year, partly because i plan to be busy and partly because i will get money back!  2023, was the first year that the cubes i buy, have a GST amount that is paid too.   Between that and the GST on the cost of the first and second editions of the Peace in the Valley Book,  my input tax credits are more than the money the business made in book sales, rides and working at another stable part time.   I bought a black agenda book with the sale of the first book of 2024, and hope to be in the black for 2024.  Time will tell, but found this and still believe it to be true.   This was originally written when HST was a reality that was a tough pill to swallow.  I had been inspired by someone involved with provincial tourism that was speaking in Kelowna a few years before.  Hearing someone who wanted tourism to double yet having this thrown at us, for me felt like asking your soldiers to run and adding weights to their pack.  It had been inspiring to hear Bill Vander Zalm speak about it.  I happened to be travelling to Victoria for a combination of a provincial AGM meeting for CFUW and a running awards event of some sort.  I read about the talk in a newspaper while on the ferry to the island.   I caught the first day of the provincial AGM and then caught a ride to Victoria with a family that i had met while watching some sporting event at the hotel we stayed at.   Pretty sure i had stayed in my sleeping bag on the floor with someone from CFUW Kelowna.  I was later able to stay in Vancouver a few days with a friend and former tenant who was teaching a business course of some sort in Vancouver.   Not only did a catch the Mr. Vander Zalm speech, i caught some interesting talks at the local downtown library and was invited to give a talk to his business class.  I think I rolled with the opportunities pretty good.   Talking to Mr Vander Zalm, i could see why he became premier.  He was very passionate and he genuinely listened and thought about what people spoke to him.  

second writing for the Peace Pontiacs "autographs"; (first is war is expensive, peace is priceless)

If you don't want HST or violence, if you want less chaos and gore;  

you need to stop & smell the roses and open your eyes more;  

The secret is all around us, we just have to realize;

 that peace does not have to be someone else's role of the dice;

  That's the power of concentration, it's simple and it's fun;

 One only has to appreciate, what's right in front of one

 Be grateful everyday for those that cared for you,

 those that were a shining light to a brighter view;

 be the same to others and we will have  less of the other kind

 we dont need to shut down our senses; we need to open up our minds!

peace pontiac will be heading to green drinks tonight and welcomes new autographs of a peace and positive nature.  funny how when your car radio doesnt work your imagination can turn can on.  I really dont know how folk can be bored.

Discover Magic   

I made this song while renting space at the Delta Grand on water street, Kelowna.   I called it the Fort Socs Trading and meeting post, so makes sense that i would make at least one song while there!  I had been trying to think of a way to interest people in the  IIPT organization or "International Institute of Peace through Tourism".   This was about December of 2010 and I had been operating Mandy and me for over 20 years but had a sign of Fort Socs Trading, home of Mandy and Me Trailriding for about 10 of those years and still do.   Mandy and Magic have been part of both since the beginning of both, as a logo or as a leader of the herd or both.   Magic's smiling mug had been in pictures with people from around the world, but the idea of peace is one that is more than a smile or a logo.. it is a feeling that i hoped to capture.  Thanks to the help of a few more voices,  a great studio, a wonderful piano track, and some great musicians, i think that feeling came together in the polished published final track.    Thanks Keith and Del from Breakthrough Studios,  the Fichtner family, and Neville Bowman!  Garth Everett magically put it into a video he made while i was in Victoria a few years later.   I feel so lucky to know and have worked with so many talented people...    but it all started with this song, made at the Delta after learning about this amazing organization that was founded in BC, in the 1980's yet had no BC chapter over 20 years later!  I felt this had to change, as i felt and still feel that if you are friends with someone, you shouldn't want to hurt them, and tourism is a great vehicle for learning to be friends.    Will put the basics of the lyrics here..  the chorus is repeated a few times in the song, with a few extra voices.   So much fun!   

   I was able to have a recorded version of the song while i was in Lusaka, Zambia, Africa for the IIPT world conference of 2011.  I would meet someone who would introduce me to a teachers of a school in the smaller community of Kasama.    The school was next door to a guesthouse i was staying at and the owner of it, would later let some youth from the school and the community do a video of the song on his beautiful property.   They did a great job and would later also record my song Peace in the Valley at a  waterfalls a couple of hours away.   The youth singing and the young adults helping later said that they enjoyed the experience of working together, promoting peace and having fun sharing some of their own local places and talent. 

 Discover Believing in Magic,  Discover the magic of you and me, discover the beauty of we, free to be anything we want to be. 

Some get shot down by adversity, with you by my side, we'll fly anything;

no mountain to high, no valley too deep; no river to wide no hillside to steep.

Discover believing in Magic, Discover the Magic of you and me, discover the beauty of we, free to be anything we want to see

we'll ride it all and have time to burn;   you've set a life on fire and it's now my turn

 to admire you and to set up free, to live a life of hope and  honesty.   

Drunk on a Dream

Drunk on a dream, don't want to sober up

People are dying for a drink I want to fill their cup

Not talking about a fluid that is easily served

Talking about a vision that is not too easily blurred

Talking about a culture, that leaves no one behind

that respects those serving on the front line

what we like will one day be us, arm in arm with no fuss

To give a buck for the common good can be the only way

if we are to live beyond today.. we have to do more than just pray

That, We can build a future, that leaves no one behind

that respects those serving on the front line

what you dislike will one day be you      ashes to ashes is everybody's preview

To give a buck for the common good can be the only way

if we are to live beyond today..  I want the world to say

 Let's get Drunk on a dream, we have to sober up   People are dying for a drink we can fill their cup

Not talking about a fluid that is easily served   Talking about a vision that's not too easily blurred

Talking about a culture, that leaves no one behind    that respects those serving on the front line

what we like will one day be us      arm in arm with no fuss

To give a buck for the common good can be the only way     

(This story is in the first edition of Peace in the Valley...may not be in second but it is a short one, so maybe..)

Riding Serandipity

Riding Serandipity, all day long, Riding Serandipity

If I could be, doing anything, I’d be

Riding Serandipity, all day long, Riding Serandipity

..                                                                           International Institute for Peace Through Tourism

  My housing fiasco of  2009 - 2011  had been an incredibly expensive lesson in more ways than i can possibly start to write about.   My trip to Africa in 2011 had been a much less expensive one and one that I am sure I could have gotten financial support for if i had marketed why I was doing it more and if i had been more comfortable with the social media or had some people supporting for the same reasons I was going.    Tourism can be fun, and profitable for tourists and locals alike, especially if managed through a filter of peace.  It can build sustainable  long term health and wealth.    Looking back, I am sure that Rotary Groups could have definitely been supportive.   Instead, i just used my own funds and sold my quad to be sure that the horses had enough feed while I was gone.   The quad had been equipped with a plow to make winter driveways a lot easier to manage, but shovels had worked before...  but to me it was a no brainer of the value of what the International Institute for Peace represented.   I was determined to form a chapter in Canada and knew that going to the conference in  Africa was the way to do it.   By 2012, i had gotten about ten cents to the dollar back of my housing projects but it went quickly to past bills and i was concentrating on rebuilding the busy business that I had let slow down while dealing with other things.   I was excited to go into the summer with some new people helping, but could never have imagined that people helping could help themselves to some of the horses.   It became a great foundaton for a song later, but the reality of facing the rumors that they made was not possible when the police would not entertain the real crime committed.   I still shake my head to understand how it is not obvious that people that steal often lie.   It is not enough to speak the truth.  I feel a need to sing it.  I don't want to fight anyone, but the energy has to go somewhere.    I was slowly building the business back up and starting to see headway.  It seems so ironic that i was finally able to pay my property taxes without borrowing money when i got informed about a foreclosure happening.   Seems someone in the relatively new  West Kelowna city hall gave notice to the bank that the tax wasn't paid and that the home would go to tax sale.   It took over a year and the next year i was able to pay the property tax early and was able to pay for badly needed new roofing on the house.   Hindsight tells me that i probably should have had a better relationship with some people in the bank and informed them of these things and tried to arrange a new mortgage payment.    So many possibilities, but the reality is someone got a steal of a deal, paying less than $400,000 for about 5 acres, a house and a barn.   Just when things were finally getting more stable on the income and home front.  

Music is a great distraction.   I had lost my home of over 30 years.   I had been given something like a month to move.   I think it was in 2015 that I was staying with a friend close to Christmas and trying to not think of all the challenges ahead.    It is a bit of a nightmare i don't want to remember, but about 6 horses were being boarded at my cost locally with friends and 5 out of town with incredibly nice people.      I am not sure how i first thought of changing Honky Tonk Bar Association to International Institute for peace through Tourism   but soon I realized that i would love to have someone help me with performing it.  Someone who was much better at guitar and performing in public than I am,  I remember thinking  this minutes before coming down the stairs of the downtown Kelowna library, maybe even as I was coming down.   After getting to the bottom and walking a few m meters, I remember looking back because i had noticed the check out place was not where it normally was.  I wondered where it had been moved to.  There was Dale walking down the steps.  He is a great guitar player/ performer!   Talk about Serendipity, right?  In any case, I asked him about helping and said it went the same as a cover song.   He not only was open to helping, he said that he was booked to do a set at the next open mic that would be happening at the Benvoulin Church.     We ended up doing a very short practice of it at the break or just before the start of the evening and then performed it together somewhere in his set.   Another very good performer in the audience, John Anderson, later told me that he hadn't heard me play before.   I was surprised because I had heard him jam at Riley's in the past and would try once in a while.   In any case, I told him that i wanted to record the song Dale and I had done and wondered if he would be open to doing flute or piano.    He was open to this.    John and I practiced together and he helped me get a much smoother rhythm.   The term walks to their own beat is me.. i am used to just singing on the horses or on my own so have had challenges when it comes to keeping time with others.    I am not a pro by any means, John is and I am very grateful he helped out with this.     We eventually booked a date with Frequency Winery to do a recording of the song, and I was able to coordinate a time with Dale to practice with John and I before we did.   There were some huge challenges going on in my life at the time.   I was staying at a shelter and my phone had been stolen just when we were in the process of coordinating the practice time.   Luckily, there was a computer available for me to use at the Inn From the Cold shelter, so we were able to confirm the time / place with Dale.      Thanks Guys, and Frequency Winery! 

My motivation for singing this song is a combination of frustrations with inspiration.   The main cause of heart disease and cancer is stress yet we spend millions in research  to combat these things yet our government doesn't seem to be spending near as much time/money in the fields  promoting peaceful living.    Music, is healing to listen to but writing can be a great healing tool too.   There are many pathways to peace.    Hoping this can be a fun way to open some conversations towards it.   

              International Institute for Peace Through Tourism  (sung to tune of Garth Brooks  'Honky Tonk Bar Association'

If your paycheck depends on

the weather and the clock

if your conversation calls for a little

   more than a coffee pot

    if you need to pour your heart out and

    try to rectify some situation ... that you're facing

          contact the International Institute for Peace, Thru tourism

Verse2: when the man dips in your pocket

for most things you don't mind

but when your dollar goes to all of those

promoting war of any kind

rejoice you have a voice

if you're concerned about the destination ...  of this great nation

it's called the Canadian chapter for Peace, Thru tourism

Chorus: 

it represents the pass the hat, low tax, high taxed, don't pay tax, flag-wavin', fun lovin' crowd

   our heart is in the music and we love to play it loud

                                                                                  there's no formal applications

 there's no red-tape administrations

                                                                       it's the  International Institute for Peace, Thru tourism

Verse3: we're all one big family

throughout the cities and the towns

we don't reach for handouts we

reach for those who're down

and every local chapter has a 7 day a week available - consultation

for your frustration

it's called the International Intitute for Peace, Thru tourism  

Chorus2:

it represents the pass the hat, low tax, high tax, don't pay tax,  flag-wavin', fun lovin' crowd

our heart is in the music and we love to play it loud

there's no formal applications

there's no red-tape administrations

it's the  International Intitute for Peace, Thru tourism

go join your  International Institute for Peace, Thru tourism

do not delay -  contact today -  your IIPT --- ASAP   

Roy Rogers was my hero growing up.  I would rush home on my bike during the lunch hour, to watch his reruns on tv.   I mostly loved watching him ride his horse Trigger, but he would sing in each episode too, including the opening song "Happy Trails to you."   I started making this song at least a decade ago, but recently (June 2022) gave it a big makeover, including some chorus changes and added verses. 

Cowboys Don’t Cry,

When my first horse bucked me, and my bruises turned black and blue;  I’ll tell you I hurt, for a minute or two!    

the pain did not end, the fact that he threw me!   Did he not know I was his friend?

Since then I’ve had, many more falls.  You can bet , I can’t remember them all                                  

Most weren’t from his being mad at me, they were more from  his being happy or scared of some thing a magiggy!

Cowboys Don't Cry, when there is work to be done,  but they might make a song  when they want to have some fun!

                            My memories are hazy,     I fell on my head a lot; you could say that I paid for what I got;                       

275 dollars for him and his tack;      I later paid about the same amount to only get a near same saddle back

Cowboys Don’t Cry, with work to do   but they may make a song  if they have a mind to

The girl who sold Shel  to me was  probably afraid of him so sold him for a song;    I like to sing, so in between falls we mostly got along

I think there is only one time I didn’t get back on after hitting the dirt.       That is only because practically every inch of me hurt!

He could be sweet but he had a wild side that could sprout from the blue.    He was not reliable for paying trailrides so I sold him to someone who learned to love him too!

Trailguides Don’t Cry, when there is work to be done;  but we may make a song, when we want to have some fun...

He grounded me in many ways, I learned from him a lot.              You don’t get a degree for the education that I got

Trailguides Don’t Cry, with work to do,   But we may make a song, hope I entertained you too!   

  In June of 2023, I was a week or two into the process of learning this song, but it was an extra tough go for me... my father had passed within the month.  He hadn't taught me to ride a horse, but did help buy my first one and paid most if not all his board.  I had put in about 1/4 the cost of him and his saddle with work done shoveling snow and mowing lawns and later collected a lot of beer bottles while riding him along roads that would contribute towards my  next horse Dreamer (babysitting money helped too).  My father often loved to sing on rides that he joined me on though, so was a huge part of why i like to sing on rides.   I had knocked over a glass of almond milk and made a swear word, but laughed soon after thinking that we are told not to cry over spilt milk, but we aren't told not to swear!   This humor after painful events was largely due to my dad's influence too.   I got thinking that i should change a verse to the song... I own the second verse, and it did help me to learn to be able to do the song without crying!   

  I want to add,  that i remember a time that my father had wondered out loud if my horse would come check on me after i fell.   

Cowgirls Don't Cry  (Original by Brooks Dunn  with Reba singing last verse, I've made some words changes to the second .. in case you didn't catch my intro)

Her daddy gave her first pony

Then told her to ride

She climbed high in that saddle

Feel I don't know how many times

He taught her a lesson that she learned

Maybe a little too well

Cowgirls don't cry

Ride, baby, ride

Lessons in life are going to show you in time

Soon enough, you're gonna know why

It's gonna hurt every now and then

If you fall, get back on again

Cowgirls don't cry

She grew up

She got married

It never was quite right

She wanted a house, a home and babies

He started coming home late at night

She didn't let him see it break her heart

She didn't let him see her fall apart

'Cause cowgirls don't cry

Ride, baby, ride

Lessons in life are going to show you in time

Soon enough, you're gonna know why

It's gonna hurt every now and then

If you fall, get back on again

Cowgirls don't cry

Phone rang early one morning

Her momma's voice, she'd been crying

Said, "It's your daddy, you need to come home

This is it, I think he's dying"

She laid the phone down by his head

The last words that he said

Cowgirl, don't cry

Ride, baby, ride

Lessons in life show us all in time

Too soon, God lets you know why

If you fall, get right back on

Good Lord calls everybody home

Cowgirl, don't cry

Calmitall K (special K?)

Calmitall K, Calmitall K, She'll save the day, Calmitall K Calmitall K,

 Calmitall K hip hip hooray, for Calmitall K 

Kay was a lady who wanted to ride a horse we made it to be a self paying course

 She'd help clean up and get the rides ready

 Taking rides out is fun, but the work load can be heavy

 Her favorite horse was one named Ebony

 when Kay rode her, she would sing happily

 She would ride the trails, though it meant working off her tale Not a dime would she take, she rode for riding's sake

 Calmitall K,,Calmitall K She'll save the day, Calmitall K,  Calmitall K Calmitall K, hip hip hooray, for Calmitall K

 One day she went beyond the call of duty walking thru the mud, she lost her booty.    Later as she pulled in the rear Suddenly Noah did appear. She grabbed his chain and carried on without fuss but then Prince Buffy added himself to the trailriding bus!          Noah wrapped his chain around ebony, Leaving Kay hanging to the horn with the inside of her knee      When the three with 4 legs settled down Kay climbed off, calm as a clam By the time I/ the lead guide looked to see if things were all right Kay had Noah in tow and Prince Buffy was out of sight                                               

 Calmitall K,,Calmitall K She'll save the day, Calmitall K,  Calmitall K Calmitall K, hip hip hooray, for Calmitall K

For her helping beyond the call of any mortal whims at all.    We made an award in her name now she has eternal fame...  Calmitall K, you are quite the dame, thanks my friend!

bonus poem.. found this in a facebook memory, July 4th 2022

 I had a vdeo riding Alexander, singing and then picking and eating saskatoons. 

"The power to pause is a powerful thing, too bad there's not more of it in the West Wing

that's when Trump was around, seems that he liked to hear his own sound

then again who am i too say, seems that i do it in a different way." 

then i went saskatoon picking.       The first person that worked full time at Mandy and Me, used to joke that the saskatoons put a great dent in the food bill.  Not sure about that, but I know that there were many summers that i had my teeth stained due to having eaten so many!

another bonus

We are the underdogs, my friends.   Seems there are underdogs to no end.   Some people beat them, some people bat for them, let's bat for eachother and we can live forever and then.. but should do some change at end.  Basically was daydreaming of better days for all.  No need for losers to die or starve or feel they are worked to death.  Was spence ding time thinking while the horses grazed- cutting down on their feed bills.  Imagining better times but also a very tough time when i had vertigo after a bad fall from my bicycle.   There was a crazy ride experiene during my vertigo days where i was very lucky to not be badly hurt.  Sambucca saved the day by stopping in the nick of time.   He was the hero that day!

https://www.facebook.com/741605467/videos/3266514820161965/

two more in the bonus department... i found these and don't know i will see them or when again.    The one gives mention and tribute to another great person/ Mandy and Me guide from the past.  Pretty sure Miriam came as a child when visiting from Germany the first time i met her.   Her family later moved to the Okanagan.   Their family often referred visitors to ride at Mandy and Me.     I have been so fortunate to have amazing people from around the world both as an athlete and as a tourism operator.   

From a young age, I have been inspired from real people in stories i have read.  Initially, it was sports people like Johnney Weismuller and Babe Didrickson.  I am still an avid reader, but i am inspired by everyday folk as well... there are so many canadian heroes that may never make their stories in print.

Amazing People  Silverado Socrates

Amazing people all over the world,

All over the world I see,

Amazing people all over the world,

and they are looking right back at me,

Amazing people all over the world,

All over the world you’ll find

Amazing people all over the world

Once they realize, it is just a state of mind

do you realize it is just a state of mind

Bear Bones    

Sometime when guiding around 1998                                                        

Mirjam smelled something foul a half mile behind the orchard gates

When she took a closer look to find the odor’s lair                                  

She came upon a great big bear!                                                                 

Maybe it was a rattlesnake bite, maybe old age                                  

Could have been shot but the bear sat as if on stage                        

Propped with his back against a tree, 

One might have thought he had been resting and having tea...       

There are some theories we supposed                    

Compiled from evidence that was disclosed            

There had been an empty box of beer off the trail  

And this is the premise or our beer bear tales        

Theory 1

There was a bunch of bear drinking beer in the bush

When “Billy” drank the last one and got ambushed  

Theory 2

Billy the bear was drinking his beer but drank the bottle too

This is a beer bottle belly theory number two                          

The path where our Billy bear sat beside is called the Bear Bones trail

And the story behind it never goes stale,                                                       

Most of the bones have been scattered by one and all                              

But our nasal memories know this tale isn’t tall                                          

Won't Regret the Trying

Thought he was a hero, turned out he was more of a heel;  Had to put the boots to him and i don't know how I feel.   My knight in shiny armor, turned out to be a dark;  the roller coaster of emotions really was quite a lark.   The problem is I'm not laughing, 'cause i felt what could have been.    Don't regret the trying so I'll keep and upper chin.    No time for reminiscing, there's too much to be done;  too many depend upon me, my mind/ spirit must be one.  

Third time the charm, that's what they always say.   After all it was his friend's that made him go astray..... 

Forgetting much of this past song/story.. may upload more as the words come back, but the traintrack is stopping for now.  I know that i  said it publicly once.     I did it on a Valentine's day open mic at the Rotary Center in Kelowna.     For the record, the "hero" and I  did become friend's after.  He could be incredibly encouraging and was often very fun to be around.   He learned to ride horses and already had great social skills.  Unfortunately, he seemed to hold no real remorse in his constant  habit of taking what didn't belong to him.   He would often work or pay off a token cost of what he had done, and then do some other form of it again! There are many people that have this habit, unfortunately.    Ultimately, society pays for it... no need to blame anyone... seems the trade of theft/ deception has been going on since time began.   Time tells all,  but the oldest of us die off and  the memories are often in the care of these same traders (traitors ?)   There are many honest folk though, and time helps pan /point/ paint them up too.   

the Great Shambay

Shambay,the great Shambay
was a polish arabian who loved to play
he would run around with his tale held high

he was magestic - near seemed to float or mayby fly

                                                                                                                the great Shambay

now a vet,  examined him thoroughly

said his heart was odd, beated differently

only a matter of time, before it would not chime

better to put him down now, rather than suffer with no one around

sad to say,  of the great Shambay

his mom couldn’t bear the thought

of putting him down,  because he seemed to love life lots

she wanted to find him a home where he could live out his life

get him a home where he would enjoy his days      and live ‘til he died, in a natural way

her farrier told Mandy and Me

of how Shambay could be given for free

(we talked to his mom and she felt we would be the one)                      to give him a home

for his last days to roam

he made friends fast both 2 legged and four

taking some pony rides and some trail ride tours

 (though he started losing weight and his energy to fade) when he got put by himself and on special feed

he picked back up the weight and had energy and speed

a new horse came to join the herd

 she also was in a pen by herself for food and into the same arena near every day was turned

                                                   Shambay chased her at first but loved her in time

the two would run around then lay together getting along mighty fine

Mae was her name and she was a five year old paint

(Shambay was 29 )                he was acting so young, everyone was amazed

                                                       to learn that he was not a young horse

but one who’s life was nearing the final course

He died quickly one day

After running up and down getting ready for his hay

Suddenly Savannah heard a ka thump.  No more did he breathe

 ...his heart was at peace.

Shambay March 10/6 by Charly (Mae's mom)

Nothing ails you now.  Ride and race into the wind.  Greener pastures on the other side.  Goodbye to you old friend, for we did not expect this day to be the end.  Your last days were plentiful with love and companions.  In our hearts you will remain a champion.  You run now on endless sands, to a horse whisperer with gentle hands.   Your spirit free and no fences to bind.   Go with grace, gentle steed a better world you will find.  Go in peace, sleeping Prince.   

Savannah is now a vet!   She was a great help to the stables through a few of her teen years and is still a friend.   Mae was staying for a winter while her person (Charly) stayed to help look after the horses. Her person is a great singer / songwriter who is still a friend too.  Beautiful people.   

In 2007, the area that I had lived in for about 16 years was incorporated.  My residence had been in the regional district but it became the last area along Bear Creek to be included in the area.    This would later mean that we would  have our garbage picked up at the end of our driveway and there would be a school bus stop at the bottom of our road (ironically the corner of where i lived and i used to walk about 2 miles to get to the bus, but it helped me get in shape and neighbors on their way to work would sometimes give a ride. ) I had a truck and did not normally have alot of garbage and didn't mind doing trips to the dump or transfer station, but we gained some taxes and got the service.  

    In 2008, there was a referendum on choosing a name for the newest Okanagan municipality.   I ended up making a song and an ad sharing my feeling about which name we should have.   Looking back, I probably ruffled more feathers than i will ever really know, but we live in a democracy  (too funny... i accidently wrote democrazy!  Almost as good as the time I accidentally wrote econemic!) and i was able to spend my money to share my feelings.   Probably the worst thing about the changes ( for me)  was that my mailing address changed.   My mailbox was still near the corner of Bear Creek Rd and Parkinson, but the address changed from one on Bear Creek to one on Petterson.    Before that, if I had put the Petterson rd address, i would get some kind of note on my mail to make it Bear Creek .      I was only given 6 months to change any correspondence, despite 16 plus years as the other and not having moved. 

Let’s Sing together... Okanagan  Hills

     In the Central Okanagan I’ve spent most  of my days

In the valley’s hills and orchards I have and do  play

Okanagan Hlls BC is a name I could say with pride

any other name  would only serve to divide.

As a community, we have to learn to  listen

To the strong sense of pride of every local citizen

Where we  are from, is where we are from, that isn’t going to change

We have to  find a name of common ground for our community to gain.

Most  aren’t from Westbank, Lakeview, nor are they from Glenrosa,

Many aren’t  from West Kelowna Estates, but we are all from the Central  Okanagan

Okanagan Hills, has got my vote,

Come on fellow district  members, lets get on the boat!

A community working together can do great  things.

LIfe's a Dance, by  John Michael Montgomery  (with some word changes)

When I was 14 I was fallin' fast for a blue-eyed  boy in my judo class    (girl in my homeroom class)

Tryin' to find the courage to ask him (her) out was like tryin' to get oil from a waterspout

    What he (she) would have said I can't say

   I never did ask and we moved away

But I learned somethin' from my blue-eyed (boy) girl

Sink or swim you gotta give it a whirl

Life's a dance you learn as you go

Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow

Don't worry about what you don't know

Life's a dance you learn as you go

The longer I live, the more I believe

You do have to give if you wanna receive

There's a time to listen, a time to talk

And you might have to crawl even after you walk

Had sure things blow up in my face

Seen the long shot win the race

Been knocked down by the slammin' door

Picked myself up and came back for more

Life's a dance you learn as you go

Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow

Don't worry about what you don't know

Life's a dance you learn as you go

Life's a dance you learn as you go

Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow

Don't worry about what you don't know

Life's a dance you learn as you go

Life's a dance you learn as you go

Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow

Don't worry about what you don't know

Life's a dance you learn as you go

Life's a dance, life's a dance

Life's a dance, take a chance on love

Life's a dance, you learn as you go

Justice KnightMARE 

                                                               Rhinestone Cowboy  by Glen Campbell   original has been played with

I've been riding this trail so long

Singin' the same old song

 want to go on the whole of the rail to trail Okanagan

Where slowing down is the name of the game

we get stronger in every way, going day by da

There's been a load of compromisin'

On the road to our horizon

But we're gonna be where the lights are shinin' on us

As Fort Socs members

Hanging out with friends and promoting community

As Magic KnightMAREs

Sharing songs and stories of pets and local history

and sometimes a joke or three;

Well,  really don't mind the rain

And a smile can ease all the pain

It's easier to stay sane when your takin' the long way

we want to say to folk how are you?

and stop to enjoy the view, along the way.

There's been a load of compromisin'

On the road to our horizon

But we're gonna be where the lights are shinin' on us

As Fort Socs members

Hanging out with friends and promoting community

As Magic KnightMAREs

Sharing songs and stories of pets and local history

and sometimes a joke or three;

As Fort Socs members

Hanging out with friends and promoting community

As Magic Knight MAREs

Sharing songs and stories of pets and local history

and sometimes a joke or three;

    Dreams Come Together a story Jon Sloan told to Silverado

I met Jon at the hospice in Kelowna in May of 2023.   He was wearing a cowboy hat, while waiting for his family to come and bring him somewhere.  I chatted with him for a few minutes before going in to visit my father.   Over the next few days, I would look to say hi to him, because he was staying in the room next to my dad’s.   He was there the fifth day in row that I had come to visit, but my father had left the building, never to return in physical form again.  On one of the visits, I asked if I could share my song “Cowboy’s Don’t Cry” with him.   He agreed and gave the best compliment by asking me to leave him a copy of it one day. 

From day one, I wanted to learn more of his life and hear a few stories of horses he knew. On one of my visits, he gave me the name Nugget, but was not up to talking about him. The next week, when I came to see him for a few minutes, I was a bit shocked and sad to see his room was clear of his things!   I waited a few minute before deciding to ask a nurse when he left.   When I got close to the nursing station, I saw him in his wheelchair with a big smile on his face. He was with his brother Leroy, who had come from Alberta to visit him for a few days!  We returned to his new room and I was happy to see that he still had the copy of my song.   At some point I asked about Nugget.  His brother told me part of the story and Jon added some more.   I was so lucky to have met his brother because his brother would get out one of the guitars that was in Jon’s room and play a few songs.  Jon sang along with him on a couple tunes too.  It was beautiful to hear them together!  I learned that Jon taught Leroy how to play guitar and that some of the first songs Leroy played were from the Beatles.  I also learned that Jon had been a teacher but played music on the side.   The next visit, I would learn about the horses Farmer and Shane.  I am so grateful to have met Jon and some of his family.  He is a wonderful person. .

Nugget was the horse of Jon’s sister. They were from an area between Livelong and Maymont, Saskatchewan.  Nugget was a six year old wild mustang buckskin stallion when she first got him.  Nugget did get gelded but even though he was under a thousand pounds, he was still a lot of horse!  She had a few good falls.   Jon worked with him to get him rideable but the family figured that it be better to sell Nugget and find a more trustworthy mount for her.  His sister would literally go to bed dreaming of getting a perfect pony.  One day, she found a horse wandering near their farm.  She used a piece of baler twine to catch and guide the pony home.    Turned out this black pony was for sale and she got him for about the same amount that Nugget would sell for!  They called the horse ‘Farmer’.   Farmer and Ruth would travel the area from morning ‘til night many weekends during the school year and over the next few summers with her friend Ester and her friend’s horse Peanut.  They would often pack a lunch but sometimes be invited in by neighbors to have a bite to eat   Later, she would get a bigger  horse that was part draft and one that she trained from scratch.   She would call this bay mare Shane but she kept her dream pony Farmer too.

Isn’t this a great story?   Jon has so many!   He has written a book that I look forward to reading one day and to hearing more of his stories.

I have believed in justice before i knew what it meant.  After all, I loved Roy Rogers as a child.   Serandipity and Faith are brothers of a buckskin named Justice.  I have had him since he was about 2 years old.   Ironically, his person was named Mandy !    Seems that he was meant to be part of Mandy and Me.     I am not sure if I met him before being asked to go to my neighbors place, where he was being kept.  He could not get up at the time and I lived a lot closer than Mandy did.      We have had quite the adventures since meeting him there in 1999.   This story is part of our story.   He is such an amazing guy.    Thanks for entrusting him with us Mandy!   

A Story of Justice

Justice is a horse, he’d taken a bad course of events.   The vet thought he may have broken his spine (or pelvis to be more defined)

He jumped a fence over 20 years ago now, 2 days later he couldn’t get up, malnutrition and worms contributed to his bad luck.

 But he’s going to make it;  you just gotta believe; he’s going to make it, no other thought you must conceive

We’d been massaging and feeding him twice a day;  at the place where his mishap preyed.  We would run, ride or drive to get to where he was at.   Twice his sling did break  (getting the new one was not a piece of cake) Neighbors and friends helped us, do the lifting to get him back up.  The caring of new and old friends makes me want to sing.

he’s going to make it; you just gotta believe; he’s going to make it, no other thought you must conceive

Diamond H made a sling overnight, meanwhile he had to lie on the ground;  The next day he was in the new sling and everything was relatively sound.

But he’s going to make it; you just gotta believe; he’s going to make it, no other thought you must conceive

Burt got his truck and we loaded him carefully, into the back of his chevy S10, not sure how long after but it  has been many years since;

We hung him to a pole under a barn, saving us a lot of work and time; later he was able to get some exercise when Burt made him a zipline

I remember having quite the thrill on his first zip,  I was hoping that he would not do a flying lesson at the end of his first rip!   The line held his weight when he first tried to walk but couldn’t.   He gained speed as his body travelled to an end with a swivel unit.   He was able to walk and learned to rock and roll that line as he did.   He would rest as if it was a hammock, giving him support and keeping him from needing to do a full body lift from the ground.

People would see him or hear about him and a few wanted to help.  Some people learning horse healing skills got to practice on him and we were grateful for any assistance.

Probably the greatest asset was Kay and she would joke that the sling always would break when I wasn’t around but seemed to manage.    There came a time where winter was coming and it made no sense to continue.   Gave him a chance to walk to our arena or.. not.   He got about half way there before falling, but was able to get up with some help.  He walked the rest of the way so we figured he was going to be okay. A couple of times during this period he would fall and get stuck.  Sometimes it took at least a couple of people to help him, but he always got up.  

 One lady  thought acupuncture would be a good idea and contributed to its cost.  $100 a treatment is expensive, but it may have helped. I shared with her that we had the treatment done and that he later was walking without the zipline.  She sent a cheque for another $100 and we booked another time.  

Over the winter we would exercise him, but it took two of us.  He wanted to play with other horses but we didn’t want him jumping up on them.  If we kept him in the middle things were ok and we didn’t have to worry about him getting kicked.   There was a time we would walk him in the orchard because the road was too slick.   He was such a cheeky guy.  He liked to lie down in the fresh snow and jerk the rope from one of us. I remember one time when he got up and then took off before the rope was retrieved, tearing loose the other rope and eventually racing both of us on our steeds!  It was funny at first, but the icy road was coming up.   We didn’t want him to cross it and then potentially really get messed up!   I don’t remember what happened. Did he slow or did we catch up?   That was one of many times that he would show his cheeky side.  Could write a book about him but will just leave a few more short asides.

In the spring it became apparent that he needed to be gelded.  The natural steroids may have helped heal him, but his trying to get to the mares by getting over the fence was sure to cause damage to more than the fences.    Later we added a few times in the lake to try to help him gain strength.   There was a point where his original person came to visit him.  She was happy that he was still around but lived a couple of provinces away, so was not able to take him. In time, we were able to ride him and he mostly did well.   That is not saying we didn’t have a few challenges.  I remember one time riding him solo and thought I would take him for his first trip down to the creek.  Not sure what got into his head, but he gave a jump to the side and next thing you know, I had to get off and had to encourage him up the bank.  Only his front legs were on the trail… I couldn’t let him fall after all we had been through though.  It wasn’t all roses, he did have some falls. Truth is on at least two of them I was hurt and one of the falls was because I tackled him after he slipped through the gate.  He may have learned some of his stubbornness from me... I think as we rolled, he stepped on my face, hand and leg.  I can only blame myself for anything.   Not like I could or would ever sue. There are a lot of memories and he is a friend true and true. 

Note from past still present  (originally Sept 2011, i think)

Not asking for a million $

 not asking for a hand

 wanting to make the world a better place

 dont you understand?

  but if you want to be a part

if you care to try

 we will gladly take your tips

  i dont want to lie

this isnt a sure thing

nothing ever is

 but we have a track record

in the caring biz

 we've been helping people help themselves

   for over 20 yrs

we need to train up new recruits

 in releasing others fears

 helping create worlds of laughter and learning

is the way to go

 lets get rid of the war and drama

 and create an inspiration show!

Aaron Tippin working man's blues with twist

Aaron Tippin/Bobby Boyd/Philip Douglas)

You get up every morning 'fore the sun comes up

Toss a few bales (box of lunch) into a pickup truck

A long, hard day isnt always (sure ain't much) fun

But you've gotta get it started if you wanna get it done

You set your mind and roll up your sleeves

You're workin' on a fort socs (working man's)  Ph.D.

With your heart in your hands and the sweat on your brow

You do (build) the things that really make the world go around

for service and memories that (If it works, if it runs, if it) lasts for years

You bet your bottom dollar they were (it was) made right here

With pride, honor and dignity

From a pal (man) with a fort socs (working man's)  Ph.D.

Now there ain't no shame in a job well done

From herding cows to milking one

As a matter of fact I'd like to set things straight

A few more people should be pullin' their weight

If you wanna cram course in reality

You get yourself a fort socs Ph.D.

When the cold wind blows (quittin' whistle blows) and the rain comes down (dust settles down)

There ain't no trophies or cheering crowds

You'll face yourself at the end of the day

And be damn proud of whatever you've made

Can't hang it on the wall for the world to see

But you've got yourself a fort socs (working mans) Ph.D.

Now there ain't no shame in a job well done

From walking ponies to driving one

As a matter of fact I'd like to set things straight

A few more people should be pullin' their weight

If you wanna cram course in reality

You get yourself a fort socs  (working mans) Ph.D.

heard the song today (Nov, 6th 2011)  and couldn't help changing a line or two.  seems appropriate as the folk working seem to be driven to work harder by one force or another while others get paid to do nothing and feel responsible for no one but themselves.   been feeling the frustration of seeing it so much but cant let it bother me, only motivate me to help the good work horses get rewarded and recognized.  Hope some of their passion can light some fire under some of the other and build some bridges to the gap.