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Sue Shewkenek


Sue Shewkenek was born Susan Edworthy in 1952 in Calgary, Alberta Canada.

She is the granddaughter of Alice Dragland and Herbert Norden.


Sue's blog:

2009/08/15

Terry and I just celebrated our 36th anniversary. We still live on our farm near Eckville, raising simmental cattle and a few horses. I am still writing a column for the newspaper every week - and still trying to complete a novel - wonder if I ever will finish???

I am hoping to put out a book of columns this next year!

 

2011/06/14

Approximately 25 years ago, we began camping in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta with our children, friends and horses. At least twice per year we load up our motor home, our horse trailer, and horses and head for the Alberta Rocky Mountains. As the years have passed, the children have grown, and now the grandchildren come along as well. We make a camp either in the Bighorn Campground on the Yahatinda Ranch (the only federally owned ranch in Canada), or at Eagle Creek. We use high ties for our horses in camp, so they can be tied securely while still able to move about some. We haul our feed from home, but water them in the river and creeks. The water is so cold, the horses tremble when drinking from the river, so we fill 5 gallon pails full of water to warm in the sun during the day so the horses can have warm water.to drink. Everyone from old to young helps to make the horses comfortable at camp, as without the horses, we could not ride in the most beautiful country imaginable.

A typical day out west is taking a trail up and over a mountain with a return to camp in the late afternoon. A favourite trail is the Sheep Cliff Trail, which involves crossing a large river and riding up one the steepest mountains in the area .As the name suggests, it is often a place where the Rocky Mountain sheep graze the mountain sides. On a lucky day we will ride very close to a large herd of sheep with their babies frolicking on the cliffs. As we descend back to the valley, we can often ride through herds of elk numbering in the hundreds. The horses enjoy the spectacle as much as we do. Early evenings find us back in camp, settling the horses in for the night. A large campfire is a must, as we spend many hours singing and visiting around the campfire. Evening also brings the deer to camp, hoping for some oats. Often we can hear the wolves and coyotes howling as well as the bull elk bugling in the evening. These trips have become our most treasured memories over the years.