A History Lesson

I had to do some digging in the dark recesses of my computer, but I found what I was looking for: a speech that Chloe wrote about the history of The Calgary Stampede. Why is Chloe's speech on my computer you may ask?  Well, because I love writing essays, and I love the Stampede, and so this speech was a little more of a collaboration then maybe it should have been - not unlike all of the research papers she and Holly had to write in junior high because they opted out of sex ed.  Don't worry, I worked with their teacher years later who said he felt like he had taught me because he had read so many of my essays - good guy.  (Poor Phoebe got shafted - it just didn't seem right to do her homework for her when I was her teacher.)

Anyway, back to the speech on the Stampede.  With all the Stampeding going on this week, I thought it was fun to brush up on my history and thought some of you might think so too.  Here it is:


Calgary Stampede

In 1912 when American Wild West performer Guy Weadick and his trick riding wife, Flores LaDue came to Calgary, they didn’t know the profound affect that Weadick would have on the city and the western heritage surrounding it. Weadick saw the city of Calgary, with Western roots as deep as any Canadian City, and saw an opportunity.  He envisioned the biggest "frontier days show the world has ever seen... hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls, thousands of natives. We’ll have Mexican ropers and riders... We’ll make Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Extravaganza look like a slide show."  With that vision he approached the General Manager of the Calgary Industrial Exhibition, a yearly Industrial fair held in Calgary. E.L Richardson agreed to let Weadick rent the Exhibition’s land, 94 acres previously purchased from the Dominion government, for his Wild West show.  Weadick then contacted some of the richest ranchers in the area, the men now referred to as "The Big 4": George Lane, AE Cross, AJ McLean and Patrick Burns, and asked them to each finance his dream with twenty five thousand dollars.  With a hundred thousand dollars in hand, Guy Weadick went about to create what is now indisputably "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth:" The Calgary Stampede!

Today the Calgary Stampede is best known for the many performers it brings, the midway, the mini-doughnuts and the cheesy western outfits, but at its birth the Calgary Stampede was the biggest rodeo and Wild West show in North America.  With rodeo prize money at twenty thousand dollars the rodeo brought competitors from all over Canada and the United States.  That very first year over one hundred thousand spectators came to see what Guy Weadick put together, cementing the Calgary Stampede into history.

But financing was not Weadick’s only stumbling block. What he had envisioned was even far greater than just cowboys and horses.  Women played a significant role in the first Stampede with trick riding, relay races, riding bucking horses and steer roping. He wanted all aspects of the Wild West, including the natives.  However, at this time in history the Natives were severely restricted.  They were not allowed off the reserves without government permit.  They were not allowed to live in Teepees or wear traditional clothing. They were not allowed to speak their traditional languages.  Weadick invited them to come to the Stampede, but the Indian Agents would not give them permits.  Undaunted, Guy Weadick travelled to Ottawa to ask permission for the Natives to participate in the 1912 Stampede.  Permission was granted, but the Natives were told that they could not bring their Teepees and traditional clothing and that they could only speak English.  While history is unclear if these restrictions were ever officially changed, Guy Weadick sent the message for the natives to come with their Teepees and not to worry about the Indian Agents.  1912 began one of the most prominent traditions of the Calgary Stampede, the Indian Village, a tradition which has continued ever since. The Stampede offered the Natives a time to connect with different tribes, to teach their young the traditional ways and to showcase their culture to the world.  Today there are 27 teepees at the Calgary Stampede representing the five major tribes of Alberta. The Natives still remember Guy Weadick for his role in preserving their culture.

In 1912 Weadick included already popular rodeo events, including saddle bronc and calf roping.  After dark the infield was lighted with the headlights of cars.  Tom Three Persons, Albertan Native from the Blood Tribe, won the Bronc event by riding the previously unridden bronc, Cyclone, taking home one thousand dollars and a fine saddle.  He was not only the only Native to win prize money that first year, but the only Canadian. The rodeo has remained one of the highlights of the Calgary Stampede.

In 1923 the organizers of the Calgary Industrial Exhibition saw the Stampede as a much needed novelty to bring life back into their sinking venture.  Agreeing to combine the two events, Weadick sought out a new and exciting idea to entice spectators to come to Calgary, and thus the Chuckwagon race was born.

Stories about the origin of the Chuckwagon race vary.  Some maintain that it was common for wagon races to be held on the open range.  Others believe that during the land rushes of the nineteenth century settlers would race their wagons to the prized pieces of land to claim.  Weadick claimed that he got the idea from his own experiences on the range when, after a cattle round up the cowboys would race the chuck wagons for the last half mile to the nearest bar in town: the crew that rolled in last would be stuck buying the winners a round of drinks.  However the idea came about, in 1923 Weadick instituted the notorious, sometimes deadly and always thrilling "Half Mile of Hell": the Chuckwagon race.  This gave the Exhibition the energy it needed to get out of the red and began the now familiar Calgary Exhibition and Stampede with rodeo and agriculture exhibits combined.  

For twenty years Guy Weadick ran the Calgary Stampede, returning in 1952 to ride in the Stampede parade, one year before he passed away.  Today his legend still lives on as strong as when he began it. The Stampede Grounds now cover over 193 acres of prime real estate.  In 2007 well over one million two hundred fifty thousand people attended the Stampede, one million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars were awarded at the rodeo and one million eight hundred forty four thousand two hundred eighty six mini donuts were eaten. The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede remains a non-profit event, preserving the culture that Guy Weadick so loved, bringing together cowboys, cowgirls, First Nations and spectators from all over the world for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!

The Greatest Outdoor Show on EARTH!

For those of you not from Calgary, let me tell you about a little event that happens in Calgary every summer. The 10 day Calgary Stampede turns our little city of oil execs and rig pigs into a crazy city of every sort of cowboy, from the rhinestone variety to the full blown wrangler wearing, bull riding type. "Stampede Grounds" is covered in rides, food stands, historical and cultural displays, and all sorts of entertainment, and millions converge.  It is awesome.

Years ago I was part of the action.

That's me on the far left.  I was a "Ranchgirl" for the Calgary Stampede Rodeo.  It was awesome to be part of something so amazing!

This week I took Eli back to see Auntie Adrienne ride in the rodeo.  He was so excited to see the lassos, although he kept calling the entire thing a "radio," not a rodeo.

That's AJ, riding a million miles an hour, on a crazy horse, holding a flag, with the #1 rule being: if your hat hits the dust, your head better be in it.  She's so cool!

I don't love the midway, I don't love the crowds, I don't love the drunkenness, but I sure as heck love the rodeo and the excuse I have to be a cowgirl once a year!

Homesick

"Where thou art - that - is Home."  ~Emily Dickinson

 I'm feeling sorry for myself today.  I'm homesick for a home that isn't mine any more, and a life that will never be again.  Depressing, eh?  

They say you can never go home again, and I think I've learned that's true.  I couldn't be closer to home, living in my parents' basement and all, but some days it just feels all wrong.  When we left Calgary we were sad. We didn`t want to go, to leave our families and our friends, our house and our comforts.  What we didn`t know is that we`d find all that, and more, in Michigan, and today I`m really missing that.  I`m missing play dates, and zoo dates, deal shopping and comfort shopping.  I`m missing a ward where people talked to me and invited us over for dinner.  I`m missing walks in the park and backyard parties.  I`m missing friends that I could call and cry on their shoulder whenever I needed it, and friends that need me too.  

Don`t get me wrong, I love being back.  I love being close to family. I love that Eli can actually name his cousins, that he knows his Aunties and Uncles, that he recognizes the COP ski jumps as `Andy`s House.` I love that my parents have welcomed us with open arms, allowing us to live in their basement, eat their food, and otherwise impose.  I love so much about Calgary, I just have yet to find my niche.  

I left with a 10-week-old baby, and have returned with two kids.  Life is different, and I haven`t found how to enjoy Calgary with two kids.  First goal: I need friends.  Mommy friends.  Mommy friends that I can play with, and my boys can play with their kids. Second goal: find time to do the things I love.  I`ve been so busy since we got back I`ve hardly done anything I love to do.  Horseback riding is WAY hard with two kids to worry about, but I`ve got to find a way to get it in.  I`ve got to renew my efforts to create with Eli, to get out every day, and to give more than I receive.  

I miss Michigan and the life we had there every day.  I know I can never recreate that life, and that I probably I just need to get over it, but for today I am sad, and that`s just the way it is.

Just me and Mr. Hookity Hook

I go through waves of crafting. Last week I was having a serious love affair with Mod Podge.  A few weeks ago it was sewing the aprons.  I pulled out three different quilts I want to make next week from my storage unit yesterday.  The past few days, however, I've been quite enamored by my good friend, the crochet hook (the needles haven't been neglected either, I assure you.)  I've tried a few new patterns, and fallen in love with a few.

This is my new favourite hat pattern.  I made the first one last week for Adrienne, for her birthday, which was 7 months ago.  I made another for my cousin Lindsay's new baby Ivy. I was super lame and didn't get a chance to sew the flower on, but she lives in Fort McMurray, and rather than not getting it to her until next Canada Day, I gave it to her to finish on her own.  (Lindsay, send me a picture of your sweet Ivy wearing it once it fits her!)  This newest one I LOVE LOVE LOVE!  The colours are perfect.  I might just have to keep this one for myself (shocking, really.)

I love the rose as much as I love the hat. It is huge, and super easy to crochet.

Chloe is a beautiful model. This little headband is so quick to make, and you can put any kind of flower on it you want. It looks terrible on me, but I love it, so I've made a few, and keep giving them away.

Just pretend it is actually winter and Chloe needs to be wearing Mom's winter parka, and those pine trees behind her are covered in snow. Cute ear warmer, eh?

And, with the excess yarn, another newborn hat.  I need to know more pregnant ladies, or maybe another blog giveaway!

Lost Keys

Yesterday as I was getting ready to leave the house, I couldn't find the keys to my car.  I had had them earlier because I had to switch the car seats around, so I knew they were somewhere close.  I looked and looked, and couldn't find them.  As I searched, Silas entertained himself.  At one point I went to check up on him, and where did I find him?  Right here:

And what was he doing?

What is that he's grabbing?

 Good thing I've got him around to find those things I lose! (Or he loses.)

I sure love that boy!

The thing about "W"

I am a Wiebe.  I've been a Wiebe now for almost six whole years.  I have to admit, when I became a Wiebe it took me quite a while to accept it.  After 23 years, I was pretty attached to Evans, so when I got my drivers license changed, the guy at the registry had to assure me that I was not legally eliminating Evans as my name, I was merely changing what I went by.  Fewsh.

Acceptance is the first step.  Embracing is a whole new level, but I am actively trying to reach that level.

So, let me tell you the advantages to being a Wiebe:

1. As a teacher I just got the whole Wiebe rhymes with Dweeb thing right out there.  Once a teacher announces the insult no junior high student would be caught dead using it.  So not cool.

2.  Being called on last isn't always the worst thing in the world.  After all, it gives you a few precious minutes to finish that assignment, memorize that presentation, or hopefully be saved by the bell. (I'm a chronic procrastinator, so every second helps.) If people are calling around for volunteers or the like, I'm just guessing that they usually start at the top of the list, so by the time they get to Wiebe, quota's filled!

3. In my constant search for uniqueness, there are definitely less Wiebes in the world than Evans. 

4. Pluralizing Wiebe is simple.  Evans?  Well, is it "The Evans are coming to dinner" or "The Evanses are coming to dinner." By marrying a Wiebe I am doing my part to make grammar just a little easier on the world.

5. W is the only letter in the whole alphabet that has more than one syllable.  And it has THREE!!!  Again, very unique.

With so many advantages, whatever was I worried about?!  Surely everyone wants to be a Wiebe, and is dying of jealousy of me right now.  Good thing I am so good at making boys, because one day the lucky girls who marry my boys will have their wildest dreams come true!

In an attempt to embrace the Wiebe in me, I've found a few crafty gems of late to display my love of it.  I am a Wiebe, and I may as well be proud of it!

For the "Wiebe" sign I got the inspiration from this shop on Etsy (have I mentioned lately that I love Etsy, because I do!)  The boys and I spent a few hours wandering the isles of Home Depot looking for the right material.  For five letters I wanted five different textures.  The barnwood I got from Jared's Grandpa.  The rope for the "E" we made when we visited Nauvoo last year with the Snells.  We were supposed to put it on our mantle as a conversation piece, but I think it serves a much more appealing purpose here.

Here's a close up:

The "W" I bought from the sale rack for $1.25.  It was beat up and white, so I painted the sides black, Mod Podged on scrapbook paper (which I had to buy and cost more than the "W"), and sanded the sides to give it a weathered look.  So cute, I know!  The best part... it's double sided, depending on what kind of mood I'm in:

Now that my embracing of my name is underway, what other crafts can I find?

In Canada, where folks are never mean

In Canada, they'll treat you like a queen!

I had a roommate my first year at BYU that would sing me those words, a song she learned in elementary school.  I'm not sure I completely agree, but I love that she believes it!

On July 1, my wonderful country, Canada, celebrated her 143rd birthday!

As per Evans family tradition, I loaded up the kids and traveled down to the centre of the universe, Raymond, Alberta, for THE best Canada Day celebration around.

Why, you may ask, it it the best? Well, at the parade they throw candy, of course!

Here's a few shots of our day.  Happy birthday, CANADA!!!

Grandpa-Great got to ride in the parade in Uncle Mark's old car.

4 generations.

 Silas missed the parade, but didn't seem to mind.