Cowboy's Wish Book 2022

Quality hand crafted hats for over 100 years.

CONTENTS

6

SLEIGH BELLS RING!

The history of sleigh bells through the ages, including traffic laws in Alberta, the first song played in space, and the true story behind the Western saying, “I’ll be there with bells on.”

8

GIFTS FOR COWGIRLS

Christmas gifts for cowgirls shouldn’t be completely sensible, so here are some fashionable, fun and great ideas! 10

GIFTS FOR COWBOYS

Hardworking and working hard practical gifts, sensible gifts, and great ideas well-worth exploring.

12

SMITHBILT’S GOT YOU COVERED

The new hat trends have Western fashionistas lining up for these custom beauties!

14

GIFTS FOR LITTLE COWPOKES

Some gift ideas for the littlest range riders on your outfit, including a train trip to Santa. 16

RANCH HELP GIFTS

Your unpaid ranch help keep the mice down, help you trail cattle plus provide some pleasant company. Make it Christmas for them, too. 18

SCRUMPTIOUS CROWN ROAST

Change up your traditional holiday meal and enjoy this spectacular feast. 20

GIFTS OF TRAPPINGS & GEAR

Everyone should have at least one piece of gear custom-made for their outfit, and here’s a good place to start.

22

MAKE-A-WISH

Behind this thoughtful charity is more than “feel good” stories, there’s science behind bringing a child hope — and it’s all good 23

STARS AIR AMBULANCE

A true tale of how STARS helped out a Canadian cowboy whose ride of his life didn’t end so well… 24

HAPPY DAYS — A CHRISTMAS POEM

Written by Irish Albertan Rhoda Sivell back when the world was simpler. 25

COWBOY WISH BOOK 2022 PLAYLIST!

We’ve selected some of our traditional favourites and added in some Western tunes to create a song list for us all.

NEW TRADITIONS

In the age-old business of ranching, outsiders think nothing ever changes. Insiders know that everything changes, everything that is, except the good stuff.

Long days, hard work, strong muscles, really good horses, handy dogs, fun kids and a lifestyle over 95 per cent of the population can only dream of. That’s what doesn’t change. What has changed is the way that we can now shop — on our phone. No more long lines or bad roads.

This is our first run at our Cowboy’s Wish Book, and we had a lot of fun

creating this. Men and women, young and not-so-young had a hand in searching out gift ideas that we think will pique the interest of the rurally-minded.

We hope you enjoy browsing through our gift ideas, and if you’d like to see more of this next year, drop me a line! On behalf of every one at Cowboy, I wish for all of us to experience a brief respite, a time to reflect and count our blessings — and we wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Terri Mason, Editor

Terri@CowboyCountryMagazine.com

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Call Marie at 1-800-943-7336, or email us at any of our emails listed on the masthead. Merry Christmas!

PUBLISHER

Rob Tanner rob@tanneryoung.com

EDITOR

Terri Mason terri@tanneryoung.com

ART DIRECTOR

Shannon Swanson shannon@tanneryoung.com

SALES MANAGER Kristine Wickheim kristine@tanneryoung.com

TECHNICAL LEAD Jeanette Petriko jeanette@tanneryoung.com

ADMINISTRATION & CIRCULATION Marie Tanner marie@tanneryoung.com

EDITORIAL INTERN Chelsey Becker

Cover image: iStock photo.com/wanderluster

CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS

Terri Mason, Max McDonough

Tanner Young Publishing Group Box 13, 22106 South Cooking Lake Road Cooking Lake, AB T8E 1J1

Tel: 780-465-3362 Toll Free: 1-800-943-7336

PHOTO: DOROTA KUDYBA

HOW TO KEEP YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE FRESH

Putting up a real tree this year? Live trees can stay inside for about 10 days only, while cut trees can stay green for 2–3 weeks with proper care. Setting up your tree too early could mean a dry, brittle plant come Christmas morning. Keep those branches verdant with these helpful tips.

1. You can cut down your own Christmas tree or buy a freshly cut one from your local tree farm. Avoid any trees that were cut weeks prior, or any place where you see lots of needles on the ground.

2. Once you get your tree home, saw an extra half-inch to an inch off the bottom of the trunk. When trees are cut, the pitch oozes out and seals the pores. By sawing off the base, you will open up the pores and the tree will be able to absorb water.

3. Place the tree in a stable tree stand away from heating vents and fireplaces. If you’re using lights to decorate, make sure they give off as little heat as possible.

4 When you fill up the tree stand with water, make sure that the cut is submerged—look for a stand that can hold about four litres of water. A funnel-type watering can makes watering your tree very easy.

5. Check water levels daily and top up as needed. Trees are very thirsty and will use up to a gallon of water a day! A fresh tree, like a sponge, contains more weight in water than the tree itself weighs when dry, so you shouldn’t let the tree dry out.

6. If you have a live tree, make sure the soil remains damp but not soaking wet. Check your water level both morning and night for that first week especially.

Supporting your local tree farms supports the local economy, so look for ones in your area!

And many local clubs offer post-holiday tree recycling services to keep the process accessible.

SLEIGH BELLS RING

The History of Sleigh Bells

By Terri Mason | Reprinted with permission

laborate bells and orna ments have adorned horses worldwide from at least 800 BC through today. Horse bells were thought to attract good luck, protect against disease, injury and “the evil eye,” flaunt the owner’s wealth and status and enhance the horse’s natural beauty.

In Britain, horse bells dating to Roman times (55AD-AD410) have been unearthed and authenticated by archaeologists. In the 1500s and 1600s, gold or silver-plated horse bells were engraved with coats of arms and inscriptions and presented as gifts and awards. In North Ameri ca, makers manufactured horse bells as early as the 1700s. In the very early 1800s, William Barton pio neered a thriving sleigh bell industry in East Hampton, Connecticut and in a short time, the city earned the international nickname “Belltown” or “Jingletown.”

By the end of the 1800s, a process

of stamping sleigh bells out of sheet metal was developed, jumping the production rate from 500 cast bells a day to an astounding 25,000 bells in the same timeframe. By the late 1800s, the many bell makers of East Hampton provided 90 per cent of the world’s sleigh bells. Almost all U.S. bell manufacturers went out of business by the early 1900s. The only North American bell manufacturer established in the 1800s that is still in operation is Bevin Bros. Mfg. Co. in East Hampton, Connecticut. Horse bells are still used to set a festive tone for a pleasure ride in a horsedrawn sleigh, carriage or wagon. Today, all cast brass sleigh bells are made overseas.

One of the most extensive private bell collections in North America was amassed by the late Al Oeming. The collection features every conceivable type of bell designed, including open, jingle, rump and saddle bells.

Highway Traffic Laws

In Ontario, sleigh bells are mandat ed by law, and persons breaking the law are subject to a $5 fine. The law states: “Every person travelling on a highway with a sleigh or sled drawn by a horse or other animal shall have at least two bells attached to the har ness or to the sleigh or sled in such a manner as to give ample warning sound.” Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter H8

In 1906, Alberta’s first attorney general, J.J. Boyle, made sleigh bells mandatory.

Teamster Pride

If a wagon needed assistance from another teamster, it was common to hand over the bells in thanks. It was an embarrassment to arrive at your destination without your bells, so much so, that some teamsters would refuse help rather than lose their bells. This was the origin of the saying, “I’ll be there with bells on.”

How NORAD Started Tracking Santa

to the various sizes that emit various sounds. Smaller bells make a high er-pitched tinkling sound; larger bells emit a deeper rumble.

Rump Bells

Contrary to what most people think, rump bells don’t go on the horse’s rump but are draped over the horse’s back and buckled between the back band and the breeching top.

Bells in Space

“Jingle Bells” was the first song broadcast from space, in a Christ mas-themed prank by Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra, December 16, 1965. The two astronauts contacted Mission Control with this report: “We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit… I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wear ing a red suit…” The astronauts then produced a smuggled harmonica and sleigh bells and broadcast a rendition of “Jingle Bells.”

Smithsonian Magazine December 2005 pp25ff

The tradition of the North Ameri can Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracking Santa began in 1955 when Sears- Roebuck placed an ad in The Gazette in Colorado Springs telling kids to dial a number if they wanted to talk to Santa, but the num ber was one digit off. When the first call came in, Col. Harry Shoup told an eager child he would check the radars for the jingle bell-ringing Santa.

Last year, the multi-lingual track ing website at www.noradsanta.org received 912 million hits from 181 countries, and the Santa Tracking Operations Center answered nearly 55,000 phone calls on Christmas Eve. Wikipedia

Shaft Chimes

Shaft chimes are made with open bells, called ice cream bells with a clapper inside, mounted steel straps attached to the tongue's bottom or under the shafts on both sides. To give a fuller, more musical sound, they generally consist of four or more bells of graduated sizes.

Saddle Chimes

Jingle Bells

The term refers to round cast bells, each with a jinglet inside. The rich musical sound of jingle bells is due

Saddle chimes are made with ice cream bells held in an arch containing three, four, five or six bells, and are attached to the t errets on the back pad. On a sixhorse hitch, the lead team had the five lighter bells, the swing team the four-bell arch and the wheel team the three heavy bells. c

Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot, and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, pose during a suiting up exercise in prepa ration for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Gemini-6 two-day mission. Wikipedia

GIFTS FOR HER

ARIAT

From rodeo scene to the mainstream this gorgeously handcrafted bootie from the Ariat® New West collection fits right in. ariat.com

SHACKET

THE BAY Layer this “Allison” checked shacket to your outfit to feel comfortable and look stylish, featuring a classic spread collar and chest and side pockets. thebay.com

‘DRAFT UP CUFFS’

HONOURING ORIGINAL HORSE POWER CATTLE CAIT

These harness leather cuffs, with decorative stitching and snap enclosures, each feature a brass bridle rosette from the past. cattlecait.com

STYLIN’ TOTE FRONTIER WESTERN SHOP

This Nocona tote is from the Sandra collection and features a beautiful southwestern pattern. Leather straps and trim. Snap closure to keep all your belongings safe. westernshop.com

LADIES SUNFLOWER SPURS

Ride in style with these gorgeous brown iron spurs encased with silver sunflower overlays. cowboystuf.com

STYLIN’ TOTE

Fashionable and multi-functional accessory totes featuring Shannon Lawlor art. A great compliment to your West-inspired lifestyle. shannonlawlor.com

GIFTS FOR HER

WATERPROOF BLOOM

MANITOBAH MUKLUKS

The Bloom Collection was designed by Ojibwe artist Shannon Gustafson and

PENDLETON

A plush, pure cotton wrap robe that’s velvety soft outside, with absorbent loops inside. Features a shawl neck collar, two deep pockets and a fabric waist tie. pendleton.ca

TURQUOISE FEATHER EARRINGS

SWEET IRON SILVER

Handmade silver earrings with a touch of turquoise make a sentimental gift that will be cherished for years to come. sweetiron.com

RANCH-LIFE WILD RAGS

All scarves are 100 per cent, 12 mm silk printed with a digital image and a rolled hem along all four edges. Available in 36” and ranchlifewildrags.com

OUTBACK TRADING COMPANY

Durable, waterproof oilskin Bush Ranger jacket will help keep you stay dry and warm all year round. outbacktrading.com

GIFTS FOR HIM

“JAKE” BY SMITHBILT HATS

Smithbilt Hats offers this vintage look; an alternative style to some of today’s more traditional cowboy hats. 100X beaver fedora creased crown that slopes slightly from back to front. 3 1/2” brim. smithbilthats.com

BROWN CREEK WILD RAGS BROWN CREEK RANCH, CLARESHOLM

Handmade of 100 per cent silk, these wild rags are one of a kind, made by cowboys for cowboys. browncreekranch.com

DAN POST ALLIGATOR BOOTS

Lammles Western Wear & Tack Genuine alligator skin boots, the perfect boot to dress up for any occasion. Coming in two colour options; black or brown. lammles.com

SAVAGE® A22 TARGET THUMBHOLE SEMIAUTOMATIC RIMFIRE RIFLE CABELAS.CA

The A22 Target Thumbhole boasts a proven, straight-blow back semi-automatic action for the most reliable cycling of 22 LR. The user-adjustable AccuTrigger and heavy barrel further increase accuracy. cabelas.ca

GIFTS FOR HIM

MEN’S BISON & MOOSEHIDE MOCCASINS

MOCCASINS CANADA

These men’s buffalo and moose hide moccasins provide a little more style than the traditional moccasin and even more comfort after a long day’s work on the ranch. moccasinscanada.com

KK CUSTOM LEATHER

Handmade in Winnipeg, Herman Oak or Bison leather; customiz able. These belts are made to last, with detail and durability.

kkcustomleather.com

CARHARTT ARCTIC QUILT LINED DUCK Mark’s Work Warehouse

This heavy-duty jacket will keep you warm during the cold winter months.This durable jacket is a great staple for your winter wardrobe. marks.com

CERTIFIED HOME REPAIR TOOL SET, 415-PC CANADIAN TIRE

A fully stocked tool kit should be on every Dad’s wishlist this year, and this Certified Home Repair Tool Set is equipped with everything you need for repairs around the home. canadiantire.ca

RAILROAD CAP UFA

Solid charcoal railroad cap with external ear-band, front lace-up and quilted lining. A proven and popular winter cap ufa.com

CUSTOM SMITHBILT HATS FOR EVERY OCCASION

Max McDonough

If you are thinking about the perfect gift for yourself or someone special, look no further — Smithbilt Hats has got you covered. Our fashionable hats make the perfect personalized gift!  We have chosen a few of this season’s most popular styles to share with you. These hats will keep you warm and stylish year-round. All Smithbilt felt hats are created in-store, using traditional, time-honoured processes. We are proud to be Canada’s leading supplier and manufacturer of western style hats.

THE SLOPED TEARDROP

Hand-shaped by Richard Cook of Smithbilt Hats

This 6X Sloped Teardrop in coffee features an elongated sloped teardrop crown. The extra wide 4 ½” brim is popularised in current fashion trends as it is versatile and shelters you from the sun and snow. Many celebrities are wearing wide-brim hats, and the one-ofone custom band and creations that designer Richard Cook creates are sure to charm. Find this style in-store by custom order only.

THE CATTLEMAN

The Cattleman is easily our most popular style, worn by horsemen, ranchers, and rodeo cowboys alike. This hat will keep the sun off your ears and the rain off your neck while still looking great when you get to town for that holiday evening celebration.

The 100X Granite wide brim Cattleman features a custom Holly Allen band.

Hand-shaped by Cody Harrison of Smithbilt Hats

THE TETON

Shaped by Max McDonough of Smithbilt Hats

The Teton, with its modified brick top crown, features an angled slope up the middle from front to rear. An original Smithbilt-design hat is finished with a light curl all the way around and suits all genders.

The rust colour and a lighter-toned Holly Allen leather band complement each other well and create a balance that evokes a holiday spirit sentiment. The final touch, the golden pheasant and European rooster feathers tie together the design.

THE ROSE BUD

This intricate and elegantly stylish Rose Bud crown is eye-catching! This hat features a bound edge and a buckaroo-style brim. This funky, feminine style can be dressed up or dressed down, worn on the town or to formal events. Due to the fancy lace bow, its light Sahara colouring and its textured BabyGriz finish, this hat is bound to impress.

Before you finish your holiday wish list, be sure to come to visit us in the heart of Inglewood at 1015 11 Street S.E Calgary, Alberta. Our vast selection of western and fashion-style hats is bound to impress.   Smithbilt Hats make the perfect gift, and we look forward to creating the perfect custom hat for you and your family. We also offer gift certificates! You are welcome to browse our hats and accessories online and come in for a custom fitting.

Smithbilt Hats

1015 11 Street SE Calgary, Alberta Phone: (403) 244-9131 | Toll-Free: 1-800-661-1354 SmithbiltHats.com

Hand-shaped by Cody Harrison of Smithbilt Hats

BLACK BEAUTY

Let your children discover the classic story of a beautiful horse with an unbreakable spirit. Black Beauty is one of the best loved animal stories ever written, the dramatic and heartwarming Black Beauty is told by the magnif icent horse itself, from idyllic days on a country squire’s estate to a harsh fate as a London cab horse. Over 50 million copies in print. penguinrandomhouse.ca

VINTAGE TOBOGGAN SLED CANADIAN TIRE

Vintage wooden toboggan kids’ sled, with seat pad. Four feet long and great for any snowy Canadian winter climate. canadiantire.ca

GIFTS FOR KIDS

JOHN DEERE 1:32 SEMI WITH LIVESTOCK TRAILER SET

Set features Freightliner 122SD with livestock trailer. The rear door of the cattle trailer opens into a fold-down ramp for easy loading and unloading. Includes 8-head of toy cattle. martindeerline-store.com

ARIAT KIDS WESTERN HAT

IRVINE TACK & WESTERN

WEAR

The Ariat Kids Western Hat is the perfect fit for your kiddo’s western wardrobe, including ivory, brown and tan colours throughout, a chocolate band, and a 4” brim. irvinesaddles.ca

BELLE’S COTTAGE

CHARMED

PLAYHOUSES

What is every little girl’s dream? A lifesize princess playhouse, of course! This playhouse is handmade and manufactured in Alberta with durability in mind. charmedplayhouses.com

GIFTS FOR KIDS

‘OUR GENERATION’ 20” PLAY HORSE TOYS R’ US

What else does a little girl need other than a play horse? A great addition to a toy box for children. toysrus.ca

CLASSIC ROPES

A junior version of the Classic MoneyMaker. It may be smaller, but it has the same fast, smooth feel that is easy to handle. Soft lay. classicrope.com/cr/

POLAR EXPRESS!

Delight your children (and your self!) on an authentic train ride with candy, hot chocolate, Christ mas music and perhaps Santa!

STETTLER, ALTA absteamtrain.com

MOSSLEIGH, ALTA aspencrossing.com

SQUAMISH, B.C wcra.org/north-pole-express

MUSKOKA, ONT muskokaheritageplace.ca

UXBRIDGE, ONT ydhr.ca/santa-train

HUNTSVILLE, ONT muskokaheritageplace.ca

ROCKING HORSE

ROCKING HORSES CANADA

For the little ones that aren’t quite ready for the real thing, a rocking horse is a great horse. These Canadian-made rocking horses are built on elegant bow rockers made of oak. rockinghorses.ca

CHEYENNE RIDING HELMET TROXEL

The Cheyenne is a great addition to your kid’s safety gear for riding, with western detailing and SureFit comfort system that self-adjusts. This helmet offers western style and protection. troxelhelmets.com

BULLNOSE FENCING PLIERS

These pliers were designed to be carried by the working cowboy and are available with a custom scabbard that can be attached to a saddle, 4-wheeler, or belt. mooremaker.com

RANCH HELP

ECOCHOICE RUSTIC LODGE MEDIUM DOG HOUSE

These houses are made from ecoFLEX, a composite blend of recycled polymers & reclaimed poplar; doesn’t warp or splinter and can be painted or stained. homedepot.ca

MULTI TOOL

The Leatherman Rev Multi Tool features 14 soon-to-beindispensable tools, an outside accessible 420HC blade and a replaceable pocket clip for easy carry. houseofknives.ca

BROWNING® STRIKE FORCE HD PRO X TRAIL CAMERA

High-resolution trail cam with video, 120 ft flash range and more 4.25” x 3” x 2.5” cabelas.ca

HEATED PET MAT PEAVEY MART

Keep your pets cozy this winter with a heated pet mat, lamb fleece cover. peaveymart.com

VACCINE COOLER

Protect your vaccine, so it can protect your herd. Insulated with the use of icepacks and our insulated pad; specially designed tray that helps eliminate cross contamination; three slots for your vaccine guns ufa.com

RANCH HELP

GATOR XUV835E JOHN DEERE CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE

Three-person cockpit with enhanced dash display; electronic switch for instant 4WD engagement; Up to 4,000-lb towing capacity. deere.com

BOOT SCRUBBER

ROLGEAR (MULTIHEAD RATCHETING SCREWDRIVER)

Ratchet action, magnetic head, easy change, you won’t lose the drivers! Customizable with your name or company name. Fifteen double-ended bits. edmfast.com

Tired of bringing the outside in? This boot scrubber from M&F Western Products is great for your entryway. Just put your boot in the scrubber and move it back and forth and the bristles do all the work. lammles.com

HEATED PET BOWL PEAVEY MART

Six-quart heated pet bowl keeps your pet’s water bowl thawed out all winter season. peaveymart.com

PRAIRIE ROSE CUSTOM LEATHER AND BEADWORK

Wondering what to get for the horse lover in your life? A custom headstall or beaded belt is the perfect gift. All orders are custom to your liking, with colour, material,

TRAPPINGS + GEAR

Braiders has offered high-quality products to the western horse market. We braid vaquero, buckaroo, and performance horse tack. traditionalrawhidebraiders.com

CUSTOM-MADE SADDLE

Master saddlemaker Deryk Pitts of Condor, Alta has been creating handmade saddles since 1976. From smooth to rough-out to multi-flowered, fully hand-carved saddles. Each saddle is built on a custom-crafted tree of your choice. derykpittssaddlery.com

WEAVER LEATHER TURQUOISE CROSS TURQUOISE BEADED BROWBAND HEADSTALL

Irvine Tack & Western Wear

This headstall captures your eye with the tooling detail, and colour accents. irvinesaddles.ca

LORNA’S CHAP SHOP

Lorna has been creating custom western chaps since the 1970s. She started a small home-based business on an acreage outside Tofield, Alta. and has clients across the nation. lornaschapshop.ca

TRAPPINGS + GEAR

GROOMING KIT THE HORSE BARN

A grooming set is the perfect gift for the equestrian in your life. Fully equipped with everything you need, all in a handy carrying bag. horsebarncanada.com

TURNOUT BLANKET

SS CHAPS

SS Chaps is locally owned, and will be able to custom make your horse’s turnout blanket based on size, colour, material, and the added option of a neck attachment. sschaps.com

Gorgeous, perfect weight of wool to cushion your horse’s back. Customizable with brands, initials, favourite colours and almost any design. (Yes, she has created a unicorn.) Gift certificates available. bit.ly/RachelleSunderland

RANCH DRESS’N HANGING TACK BAG PLEASANT RIDGE

A hanging tack bag to protect your gear, with an outer strap and buckle to secure to your trailer or stalls. pleasantridge.ca

ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH

This pleasure sleigh has a storage box in the back. Seats two. Choice of velvet or vinyl seat, shafts. Storage cover and many other extras available. voituresrobert.com

HOLIDAY RECIPES

Courtesy Alberta Pork + Canola Eat Well Special thanks to Taste Alberta

PORK CROWN ROAST

You will likely need to order your crown roast from a butcher or grocery store’s meat department in advance. A handy guide is to count the bones on the Crown Roast; each will give a large serving of pork when sliced, and is an easy way to figure out how many people your Crown Roast will serve.

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).

2. Place the crown roast in a large roasting pan.

3 Pat dry and season with salt and pepper.

4. Cover each bone tip with a piece of aluminum foil.

5 Place a ball of aluminum foil in the cavity.

6. Roast as follows (generally 10-15 minutes per pound/500g)

Small Roasts – under 7 lbs/3 kg: Roast uncovered for ½ – 1 hour. Remove from oven. Drain off any excess fat. Remove foil ball. Fill cavity with your favourite stuff ing. Cover with foil to prevent drying. Roast for another 1 ½ hours or until meat thermometer reaches 155°F –160°F (68°C – 71°C).

Medium Roasts – 7-9 lbs/3-4 kg: Roast uncovered for 1 ½ hours. Remove from oven. Drain off any excess fat. Remove foil ball. Fill cavity with your favourite stuffing. Cover with foil to prevent drying. Roast for another 1 ½ hours or until meat thermometer reaches 155°F –160°F (68°C – 71°C).

Large Roasts – over 10 lbs/4.5 kg: Roast uncovered for 2 -2 ½ hours. Remove from oven. Drain off any excess fat. Remove foil ball. Fill cavity with your favourite stuffing. Cover with foil to prevent drying. Roast for another 1 ½ hours or until meat thermometer reaches 155°F –160°F (68°C – 71°C).

7. Remove from oven. Cover loosely with foil and let rest 10 min. Slice between each bone and serve.

APRICOT STUFFING

INGREDIENTS

• 1 loaf sourdough bread, about 16 oz. (500 g) crust on, cut into 3/4 (2 cm) inch cubes (1)

• 1/4 cup canola oil (60 mL)

• 1 large red onion, diced (1)

• 3 celery stalks, diced (3)

• 2 garlic cloves, minced (2)

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley (60 mL)

• 1 Tbsp coarsely chopped fresh sage (15 mL)

• 2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme (10 mL)

• 1 can (14 oz/398 mL) apricot halves in light syrup, drained, syrup reserved (1)

• 2-3 Tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed (30-45 mL)

• 1/4 - 1/2 cup chicken broth 60-125 mL)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C)

2. Arrange bread cubes on a large bak ing sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until dry.

3. In a large saucepan over medium high heat, add canola oil. Saute on ions, celery and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in herbs and toss to coat vegetables. Transfer to a large bowl.

4. Add bread cubes and toss to combine.

Whisk apricot syrup and orange juice concentrate and add to bread mix ture. Toss to coat bread cubes. Add chicken broth.

5 Transfer to a canola oil sprayed 9×13 inch baking dish or casserole dish.

6. Bake at 350ºF (180ºC) for approx imately 35 – 40 minutes or until nice ly browned and cooked throughout.

SUBSCRIBE TO FLORODEO

Subscribe to FloRodeo and catch the pro action of the Pro Tour! Cheer on the competitors as they follow the circuit across four Canadian provinces to win the coveted Pro Tour series. florodeo.com

FOR THE FAMILY

WAGON & SLEIGH RIDE

BOUNDARY RANCH, KANANASKIS, ALTA. Enjoy a family fun day on a sleigh ride in the beautiful backcountry of the Kananaskis in Alberta. boundaryranch.com

MATCHING FAMILY HOLIDAY PAJAMAS PAJAMAS CANADA

Get cozy with the whole family in matching holiday pajama sets. pajamascanada.ca

HORSEMANSHIP GIFT CERTIFICATE

Consider a gift certificate to attend a clinic with a favourite trainer. Buy it for them, buy it for yourself, it is the gift that keeps on giving! tilleyscustomcolts.ca

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION

Book a full-blown photography session with your favourite photographer. This is the youngest your horse and your dog will ever be.

CANADIAN COWBOY COUNTRY MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

Published six times a year, Canadian Cowboy is chock-full of Canadian rural living and all the trimmings with features on ranching, rodeo, and Westerners whose contribution to the West is as permanent as a brand. 1-800-943-7336 cowboycountrymagazine.com

MORE BEDTIME STORIES FOR OLD BOOGERS & BOOGERETTES

BY OL’ UGLY

Ol’ Ugly (John Glawson) is at it again, sharing more stories from his immense imagination about the lives of some of his characters including Creaky, his brother Blue, his wife Chubb and the ever-charming Aunt Tilley. It’s an old-time book of country comedy fit for the family. facebook.com/john.glawson.1

FOR THE FAMILY

MEAT AIN’T CHEAP JAY CONTWAY

Jay Contway lived the life of a cowboy and created

RODEO SCHOOLS!

Whether it’s roping or rough stock riding, there is a rodeo school happening!

Instructors range from current competitors to retired champions. Safety and good instruction is strongly emphasized.

For Schools, visit rodeocanada.com and cowboycountrymagazine.com

ALBERTA HONOURARY BRAND

In Alberta, you don’t have to own a cow or a horse to own a brand, you can register a lifetime honourary brand! So go ahead, create the most traditional family “crest” of the Canadian West! lis-ab.com

MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION

eadquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading chil dren’s wish-granting orga nization. To date, they have granted more than 280,000 wishes worldwide in 36 countries.

Make-A-Wish is far more than a “feel-good” charity, a recent study showed that a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness.

In 2015, Make-A-Wish Israel conducted a study to measure how wish-granting experiences influence medical outcomes of children with critical illnesses. The results revealed wishes not only increased hope, they also improved the children’s physical and emotional health. The wishes made the impossible, possible.

“It is possible that wishing enabled these children to dream about that seemed unobtainable, out of reach, and thus created an experience of achieving the impossible,” researchers wrote.

In fact, wishes have proven physical and emotional benefits that can give children with critical illnesses a higher chance of survival. When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope.

And if the impossible can happen once, children can believe in their ability to live with or even overcome their illnesses. That’s the real purpose of a wish.

Since 1983, Make-A-Wish Cana da has granted over 36,000 wishes across our nation, over 1,000 last year alone. c

Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

STARS AIR AMBULANCE

In the eyes of STARS, we are all VIPs — Very Important Patients.

Regular readers of Canadian Cowboy Country magazine have heard this story, but a couple of years ago my rancher buddy, Milt, was riding one of his green, blue horses in the dark when something stirred practically under the horse's hooves, and all of a sudden, whammo — the rodeo was on, and Milt found himself on the ground with a shattered pel vis. The call went out, and STARS answered.

Now Milt ranches very far south in Saskatchewan — almost to the bor der. In a relatively short time, STARS landed, and the crew assessed Milt’s situation. Then came the logistics of actually loading him. Milt is a big guy. The former professional hock ey player is 6’4” and all muscle and

sinew. He was so long and lanky that the STARS Air Ambulance crew had difficulty fitting him into the helicop ter, but they did.

After surgery and lengthy conva lescence, he’s back riding the range,

and yes, he still includes that now well-trained blue horse in his remuda. He ended up being the “poster boy” for STARS/Agribition jackpot in 2021, and they only got one thing wrong; they erroneously reported that Milt “bucked off” when in fact, he was making the ride of his life.

Since 1985, STARS has saved a lot of people. We each know someone whose life has been touched by this organization, either personally like Milt, or peripherally, like his friends.

If you live in a rural setting, play in remote areas or require critical care not available at a rural hospital, then STARS is your lifeline. Donate today — and hope you never need them.

Visit STARS.ca and see the many ways you can help keep them in the air. c

HAPPY DAYS

By Rhoda Sivell

The bells in town are ringing ‘Tis Christmas time, we know But not a sound of the bells we hear Out across the shifting snow Across the windswept prairie Where the wild chinook winds blow

‘Tis Christmas night, and we’re far away From all we love and know But faces are bright, and hearts are light Outside in the drifting snow And we talk and laugh and sing with joy Out where the chinook winds blow It’s Christmas night, and they drink a toast To the loved one, far away One to the boys from the sunny South And one for the old range ways But the one we all love best of all When they call out, “Happy Days.” ‘Tis Christmas night on the old wild range And the Northern Light aglow Dance o’er the grim grey cutbanks And down on the drifting snow And the coyote sneaks by the frozen creeks And the wolf calls long and low But the toast on the range is “Happy Days” Far out where the riders go.

Happy Days by Rhoda Sivell (1874-1962) is excerpted from Voices from the Range, published in 1912.

PHOTO: ADOBESTOCK/JAMENPERCY

COWBOY’S OFFICIAL HOLIDAY PLAYLIST

To get us all in the Cowboy holiday spirit, we’ve cultivated our own 2022 holiday playlist filled with staff favourites and Canadian classics. Play on!

SCAN OR CLICK TO PLAY!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU, WE WISH YOU A JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON HERE IN THE HEART OF CANADIAN COWBOY COUNTRY !

ROB TANNER, MARIE TANNER, TERRI MASON, KRISTINE WICKHEIM, SHANNON SWANSON, CRAIG COUILLIARD, CHELSEY BECKER

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