Val Fox Writes

Hi everyone!  Last autumn we purchased a new-to-us trailer so we could continue to enjoy camping in the summer.  It's a major job to move a tepee around so we usually used tents and roughed it for the most part.  Now that we're older the bones creak a bit more than they used to, especially if they get cold while camping.  This last weekend we took the trailer out for the first time, camping close to home in a provincial park.  We enjoyed it so much we decided to stay the week.  The kids can go to school for the day and return to camp later, completing homework before it gets dark.

There is no satellite signal for phone or computer so I will be off line for much of the week.  I'll spend the time hiking, reading and writing.  We can drive home to shower and feed the animals, when necessary.  The weather is unusually warm for May in this part of the country and the sun is expected to shine all week, including all of Canada's three-day Victoria Day weekend.

Look forward to a variety of interesting blogs, music and images in the coming days and weeks.  Here in Blackfoot country it is the time of medicine bundle openings and Sun Dance preparations.  The first thunder of the season signalled this recently.  The new foal was attacked by some sort of canine the morning of his birth (probably our resident coyotes) but with some medical attention he is healing and gaining strength.  At first I thought it was a filly but it turns out he is a tiny stallion.  I'll keep you posted on his progress.

Have a great week everyone.  I'll be back again soon with more news from southern Alberta, east of the Rockies, from the Kainai First Nations reservation.