Retirement Planning

If you had purchased $1000.00 of Nortel stock one year ago, it would now be worth $49.00.

With Enron, you would have had $16.50 left of the original $1000.00.

With WorldCom, you would have had less than $5.00 left.

If you had purchased $1000 of Delta Air Lines stock you would have $49.00 left.

But, if you had purchased $1,000.00 worth of beer/wine one year ago, drank all the beer/wine, then turned in the cans/bottlesfor the recycling REFUND, you would have had $214.00.

Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to Drink heavily and recycle.

To all my friends and family who have sent me best 'wishes', chain letters, 'angel' letters or other promises of good luck if I forwarded something, guess what?

NONE OF THAT SHIT WORKED!

Could you please just send Rum, chocolate, airline tickets, or a tank of gas instead?

Thank you!

Blogging from Prison

I read this morning that Conrad Black is blogging from prison. Shit, that sounds like fun.

So I get this email from my sister the other day nagging me because I haven't been blogging much lately and she checks everyday. I've been so busy with work that most of the humour has left my life, and the last thing you all want to read is a boring list of all the things I have to do today and why I don't have time to blog.

The obvious solution is to go to prison.

I mean think about it - someone like me - whose description of the perfect day is sitting for twelve hours in front of the computer, writing - it's a no brainer.

There would be no housework to do except I think they give you a chore like laundry (which I have to do here anyway) and it would take a total of three seconds to clean my room.

Apparently, there is also time to exercise each day. A forced exercise break. Imagine that? I'd love it! I've heard they've got nice gym equipment there, too, treadmills and elipticals, better stuff than I can afford to buy.

And then somebody would make my meals. Hear that? Someone else does the cooking! And probably the dishes, too. And then with no men around that means no sports on T.V. This sounds really good.

I think I'd adjust fine. I'm not a fussy eater, I don't smoke, don't do drugs and could easily quit my wine habit. I cut my hair short already and barely comb it and I wear sweatsuits most days. As long as I could take my computer along I'd be just fine. A three year sentence would be about right. I could finish all the novels I've started and write a flippin' fantastic blog.

Just think of it: "Life is Pretty Damn Interesting Inside these Prison Walls."

I could interview inmates, talk about their crimes, report on the day-to-day fights and shit that goes on. People love to talk about themselves and I'm a great listener so that would be my strategy for making friends.

Just so long as I don't have to participate in any of the squirmishes I'd be okay. I'd have to establish right off the bat that I'm just there as an observer - kinda like the reporter who goes to war with the troops but doesn't have to do any actual fighting.

I could offer to do all kinds of things in jail: I could teach a fitness class or do some personal training; help them set up a prison newspaper; teach a computer class; offer a creative writing workshop; evaluate a few manuscripts (I'm not qualifed to do any of this in regular society) but I figure, besides Conrad, how many people with my experience are locked up? Most writers end up in the looney bin or rehab. There is a real need for someone with my skills in prison.

And at the very least, I could bring along a few of my favourite recipes and whip up a pan of 'the cake with the yellow icing' during my turn in the kitchen (that is if I can get some coconut smuggled in). And my homemade fudge is TO DIE FOR. I could trade it for pretty much anything, like office supplies.

Now the question is: How do I get there.

I'm pretty squeamish so there can't be any blood involved. It would definitely have to be white collar crime. And should involve huge amounts of money. Of course the bonus would be if I could skim off and hide enough to pay off the farm in the process, it would make three years in the Big House worthwhile. I mean otherwise, we're looking at another 10 years of hard labour . . .

My strategy for getting along would include befriending the toughest inmate and the guards. It would be pretty easy to get on the good side of the guards because I'm quite helpful and don't mind being bossed around, so long as my efforts are appreciated. I'd also have to somehow let them all know that I have no interest in being anybody's Bitch. I mean, that would be pretty gross, so I'd have to take along my runners just in case. And of course that's why becoming best friends with one of the guards (preferrably a heterosexual female) would be my top priority.

Yes, if I went to jail my writing career would just take right off.

Excuse me now while I log off and do a search for "White Collar Crime for Dummies." Or maybe I'll just email Conrad . . .

Reporting Live from Momentum 2008 . . .

Fifteen years ago I stopped teaching fitness classes.

It wasn't a hard decision to make because life had become so complicated and difficult that I really had no choice. I've always looked back on those years with fondness though, and today when I walked through the doors at the Manitoba Fitness Council's 2008 Conference, it was as if I'd never left.

By the late 1980s I was teaching regular classes in town and attending every seminar and conference that was available. I could not get enough of it. I started a newsletter for Manitoba Fitness Leaders called "Fitnews." It was popular with leaders and grew to the point that I had to have it professionally printed. That is what led me to the folks that I became partners with in the printing and newspaper business in Ashern - hence the chaos that removed me from the fitness scene.

Two months ago when the MCPA decided to send the booth to this conference I was thrilled. In fact, I nearly jumped out of my seat at the Board Meeting when it came up. Not only was I looking forward to re-connecting with a part of my life that has at times felt completely forgotten, but it is a most excellent place to promote the health benefits of eating beef. Many people don't realize how seriously fitness instructors and personal trainers are about their work - these are well-informed professionals who wield tremendous influence - people you want on 'your side.'

Fortunately, the beef industry is producing a better product and doing a better job promoting it. I put together packages of information that I knew these instructors would read and then copy to distribute to their clients.

When I arrived first thing this morning, I recognized the energy immediately and some of the faces. I was thrilled to see Suzanne Peltier DiLazzaro - a good friend who I lost touch with after my exit from the fitness circuit (photo). The funny part is that both Suzanne and I were there manning a booth in the trade show - she quit teaching around the same time I did. We reminisced over lunch and I asked if she had seen Ruth lately. Ruth Brown (now Asper) owned Tights Studio on Stradbrook during the 1980s & 1990s. She was a fabulous instructor and I always admired her . . . Suzanne has seen Ruth periodically over the years because both are hockey moms.

In the way that life seems to come full circle, Ruth showed up at the conference to take in a few sessions. Now she is a personal trainer and I'm sure she is doing quite well.

So, I am having a fabulous day. I'm already planning to re-organize my exercise area in the basement and just might run by Costco on my way home and pick up the Norditrack treadmill that I've been eyeing the last few months.

I feel I am back on track . . .

Twenty years ago, almost to the day that I started the printing business that changed my life, I'm ready to go back to what started it all in the first place. I doubt that I'll ever teach again, at least not while living on the farm (when we retire, maybe?) but I've never thought that my time away from fitness was permanent. Now I know for sure that it will always be an important part of my life.

Suzanne & Ruth

Reporting Live from Momentum 2008 . . .

Canadian Idol

I watch Canadian Idol every year starting at the top 10. This year I watched a young man from Lethbridge sing "Collide" on the first show and fell absolutely in love with his voice. In my opinion, every other Canadian Idol has fallen into obscurity. They are good, but not great.

Theo Tams is fantastic. I think this kid has the potential to be one of Canada's top stars. Somebody write him an original song like "Collide" or "Arms of An Angel" and watch him take off.

I never get tired of listening to him sing. Enjoy these videos. The first are a little raw as they were his audition tapes, but it's just great to watch him develop in just a few short weeks. He's going to be a star.

All Canadian Idol Auditions - Part 5

Theo's first audition - halfway into this, but it's all pretty entertaining to watch.

Theo Tams - In The Arms of an Angel

Theo Tams - Weak In The Knees

Theo Tams - Collide

This kid from Alberta is the best Canadian Idol we've ever had. I never tire listening to this boy sing. Enjoy.

Theo Tams - Apologize

Theo Tams top 2 Good Mother

Theo's final song on the night of the deciding vote. It wasn't lost on me that he was sending out two messages: the first he was saying thank you to his parents. Secondly, he was letting us all know how bad he wants to win. And the kid is so astute musically, he gave up the band for this performance, cut back on the piano a bit and let us hear nothing but his voice. The judges knew exactly what he was trying to do. Win.

And he did.

I love this kind of passion.

BJORNSON CONGRATULATES MANITOBA SCHOOLS RANKED AMONG TOP 25 IN CANADA

Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson today congratulated three Manitoba schools selected among the top 25 in Canada in the Today’s Parent magazine Great Schools 2008 competition.

The magazine’s fifth annual survey of Canada’s “stellar schools” featured in the publication’s September 2008 issue includes the Lakeshore School Division’s Alf Cuthbert School in Moosehorn, the Pembina Trails School Division’s École Dieppe School in Winnipeg and the Winnipeg School Division’s Luxton School.

“It was exciting to learn that three public schools were selected by an independent publication and characterized as excellent on a national scale,” Bjornson said. “This news supports our view that Manitoba has one of the highest-quality public education systems in Canada and I congratulate the schools and divisions for their exceptional work.”

The minister noted the Manitoba government has significantly increased public school funding over the past nine years and will fund 80 per cent of the total cost of public education through general revenues by the 2011-12 school year. The 2008-09 investment in public school grants was more than $1 billion for the first time in Manitoba history.

Alf Cuthbert School in Moosehorn, a Manitoba Interlake community, won in the Real Respect category. The magazine quoted one parent as saying there is “an unwavering expectation of good citizenship” at this school. Students from higher grades pitch in to help younger students with breakfast programs and lunch preparation. Older students help to run intramural sports programs. Christmas dinner is served by support staff each year.

École Dieppe School, located in west Winnipeg, won in the Terrific Teachers category. As one example, music teacher Andrea Wicha helped her students bring home a large number of awards from the Winnipeg International Music Festival. Her music students also performed a composition they wrote with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.

In central Winnipeg, Luxton School won in the Community Commitment category. A school family centre is organized and staffed by parents and volunteers who hold activities for students and their families. The school offers adult upgrading programs, English courses evenings and weekends, and a recreational program for children. According to Today’s Parent, this award is about helping students learn they belong to a wider community capable of handling cultural, recreational, social and emotional enrichment programs.

“As a former teacher, I know first-hand that it takes more than a building with desks and books to make a great school,” Bjornson said. “The real credit belongs to the teachers, students and families who have made their schools clearly stand out against a backdrop of thousands across the country.”

It's all about Cattle Country

Wow, what a tough couple of weeks.
We've been fighting rain all summer. Our part of the Interlake has seen more rain than we can handle and we only have half of the hay we need to feed the cows this winter. Dealing with this personally and having to write about it in Cattle Country was hard. Mark said that he'd worry about home and it was my job to worry about everyone else. It's been a long week trying to find out if there is going to be any financial help for producers who have to buy/bring in feed this fall. We still don't have all the answers finalized.

On an optimistic note, I created a new blog!
I made a blog for the paper so that anyone can access the information online. I think this is going to be an excellent resource for people and while it will take some time to get going, it's going to help with some of the challenges of putting out only eight papers a year. I've added the link on this blog so you can check it out.

The book is coming along really well. I haven't been able to work on it the last few weeks, but I'll be back at it first thing tomorrow morning. The plan is to have it done by Christmas.

Well, better go. Check out the other blogs.

So true . . .

NICKNAMES

If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.

EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!

A bad day at Hallmark

My tire was thumping.

I thought it was flat

When I looked at the tire...

I noticed your cat.

Sorry!




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Heard your wife left you,

How upset you must be.

But don't fret about it...

She moved in with me.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Looking back over the years

That we've been together,

I can't help but wonder...

"What the hell was I thinking?"





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Congratulations on your wedding day!

Too bad no one likes your husband.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



How could two people as beautiful as you

Have such an ugly baby?





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



I've always wanted to have

Someone to hold,

Someone to love.

After having met you ..

I've changed my mind.





-------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------



I must admit, you brought Religion into my life.

I never believed in Hell until I met you.





//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////



As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am...

That you're not here to ruin it for me.





####################################################



Congratulations on your promotion.

Before you go...

Would you like to take this knife out of my back?

You'll probably need it again.





********************************************************************************



Happy Birthday, Uncle Dad!

(Available only in Tennessee, Kentucky & West Virginia)





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Happy birthday! You look great for your age.

Almost Lifelike!





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



When we were together,

You always said you'd die for me.

Now that we've broken up,

I think it's time you kept your promise.





//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////



We have been friends for a very long time ..

let's say we stop?





+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



I'm so miserable without you

it's almost like you're here.





=====================================================



Congratulations on your new bundle of joy.

Did you ever find out who the father was?





%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%



Your friends and I wanted to do

Something special for your birthday.

So we're having you put to sleep.





))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))



So your daughter's a hooker,

And it spoiled your day.

Look at the bright side,

it's really good pay


FEEL FREE TO EMAIL THIS TO ALL THE FRIENDS IN YOUR LIFE!

Twin baby moose in sprinkler

Just a little reminder how important wildlife is, and I couldn't help but think while I was watching this, that ranchers play a big part in preserving our natural spaces.

Get Service

I just gave the Weather Network shit

Every morning Mark gets up and turns on the Weather Network. He does not watch t.v. during the day, but every chance he gets he flips it on to see the forecast. This year has been particularly difficult with all the rain. Once again, they skimmed over Manitoba. This is a pattern we've noticed and have becoming increasingly frustrated with. Anyway, I just happened to be sitting on my writing chair working on my novel, which is coming along really nicely by the way.

Here's the email I sent them. Please let me know if you agree:

Good morning,

My husband and I tune into the weather network many times each day. We are cattle producers living in Manitoba's Interlake region. While I understand this is a large country and the bulk of the population lies in Eastern Canada, I am disappointed that you report very little on what is going on in the west. Just a few minutes ago, I watched again as a brief mention of predicted rain in southern Manitoba was mentioned and then a long description of all the rain and photos of rainfall in Toronto and Oakville. I believe the reported stated a total of 344 mm of rain there since June . . . we have had the same amount here. Because we rely heavily on the weather for our livelihood we keep track on our kitchen calendar.

I would like to go on record as saying that while the bulk of your potential viewership may be in the cities, the people who watch your station regularly are the farmers. It is seldom that you mention the weather in Bruce County in Ontario; and you skim over Saskatchewan and Manitoba as if we don't even exist. We never see footage from B.C.'s farming region and Alberta is the largest cattle province in this country - there is more to report there than just what is happening in Calgary and Edmonton. It is both discouraging and insulting that while we are struggling to get the hay made so we have something to feed our cows over the long winter, or agonizing over whether or not we'll be able to get the crops off the field, that your main focus is on the cities.

I know for a fact that right now your station is on and being watched by the majority of farmers in the above mentioned regions. How many people commuting to work turn on the weather channel before they leave? Unless it's Friday afternoon or the weekend, the weather plays a very small role in their day-to-day life. I know this because I haven't always lived here. I am originally from Stoney Creek, Ontario and grew up a city girl. The difference between how my parents reacted to the weather and my husband's family is a world apart.

Complaining without offering a solution amounts to just bitching. I would like to make the following suggestion: Why don't you report more on what is happening in the rural parts of this country on weekdays and give more time to the urban areas leading up to the weekend? This may sound a little simplistic but believe me when I say that increased coverage of the west and farm areas in the east would be both noticed and appreciated. We are the ones relying on your forecasts.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Writer's heaven

This is where I spend most summer mornings.
I get up as early as I can, usually between 4:00 and 5:00 and my day begins by writing from this chair on our deck. We screened the deck in the spring of 2001 and this became the room we use most in the summer time.

The deck faces the east so I am able to watch the sun come up over the bush. A large oak tree in the yard filters the glare, letting in enough light and warmth that by 8:00 a.m. I can take the blanket off my lap. This is an absolutely wonderful place to write.

All is quiet here in the morning except for the twittering of birds and the occasional bawl of a cow or calf at the far end of the pasture. It is really nice when the cows come by, swinging their tales and munching grass. The air is absolutely still until about 9:00 a.m. when the wind starts to pick up.

As the days grow shorter and summer progresses into early fall, I'll spend less time out here. But for now I'll appreciate every day that I can. My creative juices flow freely here and the scenes of my novel are vivid in my mind. They say that connecting with nature is one of the best things a person can do to inspire creativity and I believe this is so.

The book is coming along nicely and hopefully will be done soon.

The Last Lecture

A university professor who inspired thousands with his message of hope and determination, despite having only months to live, has died.

Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, died early Friday at his home in Virginia.

The 47-year-old became famous after the "last lecture" he delivered in September 2007 became an Internet sensation, watched by millions online.

He had been diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer one year earlier -- and given just three to six months to live.

"We can't change the cards we're dealt, just how we play the hand," the computer science professor says at the beginning of his lecture. "If I don't seem as morose or depressed as you think I should be, sorry to disappoint you."

The husband and father of three young children goes on to deliver a phenomenally uplifting message, speaking about achieving your dreams. At one point he even does pushups to demonstrate the strength he still had in his cancer-ridden body.

He later said the message was meant as a "message in a bottle" to his kids Logan, Dylan and Chloe.

The momentum of the YouTube video was carried over to a book project that Pausch embarked on with Jeffrey Zaslow, a columnist at the Wall Street Journal.

The book "The Last Lecture" is essentially a series of lectures that Pausch delivered by cell phone to Zaslow as he rode his bicycle to stay fit.

It climbed to the top of the best-seller list when it was published in April and remains there still.

Pausch was a professor of computer science and human-computer interaction and design, and was considered by many to be a pioneer in virtual reality research. He also co-founded the Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center -- a facility designed to bring artists and engineers together.

He was known at Carnegie Mellon -- where he also studied and received a Ph.D. -- for his energetic and exuberant style as a teacher and mentor.

Watch the last lecture through the link on the right hand side of this page.

The Joy of Strawberry Pie

When we were young and industrious, Mark and I cultivated a U-Pick Strawberry patch right here on the farm. Every year from 1985 until 1996, we buzzed around in May and June getting ready for the three weeks that, depending on the weather, would either be a complete washout or booming success.

I remember those times fondly. I'd pull on my sweatpants, sweatshirt and rubber boots and open up at 6:30 a.m. People would come from all over with stacks of empty ice cream pails in their cars to pick them all full. Some years our crop was tremendous - Mark really did know how to grow strawberries and it helped that we hit upon a June bearing variety, the Glooscap, that produced particularly well in our soil.

Some of our pickers were the best customers in the world. They came regardless of the year we were having and picked, without complaint, even when the berries were small. Some of them would bring along a picnic lunch and sit in the shade after the picking was done. The memory of one group of pickers crawling along the rows, singing hymns is something I'll never forget.

My mother-in-law, Jonina, loved the strawberries. After her morning chores were done she would come out to the field and either spell me off or pick a few for herself. I remember in the early years when were first getting started "Jo" would try and pay me for the berries she picked. Of course I never accepted it and had to act really insulted so that she would stop offering. We had some really wonderful times together picking berries while the guys were out haying. She taught me how to make jam and we filled our freezers full with whatever was left over at the end of the season.

During the days of the Siglunes ball tournament, both Jo and I would each take two strawberry pies down to the hall and they were sold by the ladies club along with pies from all the other women in the community. Jo happened upon the recipe one day, gave it a try and then passed it on to me. As the years passed, it got so that people in the stands would jump down and run to stand in line when they saw us walking up past the ball diamonds with those pies.

After Jo passed away in the spring of 1993, things began to change here on the farm. We shut down the U-PICK as our lives began going in different directions.

I'd like to share with you Jo's recipe for Strawberry Pie:

Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
4 tbsp. butter or margarine

Mix together and press into a pie plate. I use a deep dish glass pan. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Let cool.

Filling:
1 1/2 c. water
3/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 pkg. strawberry jello
Approx. 5 cups halved strawberries

250 ml (1 cup) Whipping cream
Sugar to taste

Mix the cornstarch in the sugar in a small bowl. Heat the water in a small pot until boiling, then slowly pour in the sugar mixture. Cook until clear, stirring continually. Remove from heat. Pour in the jello and stir until there are no clumps.

Using a slotted spoon, pour in a cup of strawberries. Stir until the berries are coated and then lift them into the cool pie shell. Continue doing this until the pie plate is heaping with coated berries. Then pour the remaining liquid evenly over top. Cool in the fridge for about 2 hours.

Whip the cream with a mixer, adding the sugar slowly until the cream is stiff. Spread on top of the pie and put back in the fridge. Don't worry about how to store the leftovers because there won't be any.

If you have any questions about this recipe, feel free to comment and I will reply.

Yes, it is raining again

1. Wake up at 3:00 a.m.
2. Start working on my novel.
3. Check the basement for flooding
4. Realize I am being paranoid and get back to work.

Things are starting to get tense here on the farm. It is, let me check the date, July 17th and we haven’t started haying yet. To put that in perspective for non-farming folk, we usually start at the end of June.

The problem is that it has been raining since May. Mark checks the rain gauge faithfully and has recorded a whopping 13.36” this season. The pastures and hayfields are saturated and a small lake has sprung up in the yard. Last week, we had a mini-flood in the basement.

On the bright side, he’s done all sorts of things around the house. He fixed the stove, installed a new pill switch in the septic tank and has the garage almost cleaned out. This morning, between a break in the clouds, we rode our bikes over to the neighbour’s house and had coffee on their screened in deck.

The cattleman’s motto is: Make hay while the sun shines. This year however, it’s become: Drink coffee and watch the weather channel.

Wine Season

Wine Season

1. Get up and check on two new batches of wine
2. Stir vigorously
3. Add a heater to the closet since it’s frickin cold outside
4. Realize the garbage stinks like rotten fruit and pitch it outside onto the porch.

I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning 10 baskets of strawberries. They were brought to me by a friend who went and bought the pre-picked pails from a farm in Portage la Prairie. I froze some, put a basket in the fridge to make a strawberry pie and have turned the rest into wine.

Making home made wine is my only hobby. I started a few years ago after getting hooked on Louis Cote’s wine. Louis is a retired teacher who lives north of Moosehorn and he’s been making the stuff for over 25 years. His is all natural, made from berries that he and his wife Sharon pick themselves.

I remember the first time I was offered a glass of Louis’ wine. I was visiting and told them politely, “No thanks, I don’t drink wine.” The insisted I have a taste, which I did and then forgot about it. On the next visit, I had another taste. And the same thing happened every time I visited over a period of two years. Then one day a friend of Laurie’s came for a visit and brought with him a bottle of home made wine. We served it with dinner and after about two glasses, I began to exclaim how good it was. I examined the label to see that it was made by Louis Cote. At that moment it all came together for me and I’ve been a wine fan of his ever since.

Over the years, Louis has taught many people to make wine. Nervous that I’d do something wrong, he went through it with me step by step. Still nervous, I bought all the supplies I needed and went to Mike and Diane Price’s house. Mike had recently learned from Louis how to make the wine and we made a few batches together. Once I was confident, I started making it on my own. Last summer I put down 10 carboys which resulted in close to 300 bottles of wine. Like me, people who drink it get hooked. I’ve made a lot of friends because of it.

With my berries and sugar all ready, I went down into the basement and began rooting through my supplies. After about 10 minutes of searching, I realized that I’d lost the recipe Louis gave me. Sheepishly, I called his house. After a few minutes of razzing, he gave me the instructions over the phone.

For me, summer has become wine making season. I am already eyeing the chokecherry bush in the yard, am hoping for saskatoons and have checked both the tame and wild plum trees and because of the rain it looks like there will be a bumper crop. I picked enough rhubarb for a batch and a half, and put two more rhubarb plants into the garden. We plan to clear a section of the garden with hopes of putting in more plum and cherry trees next year.

How many batches do I plan to make this year? At least 12. And I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.

Victory

1. Wake up feeling guilty that I haven’t blogged in awhile
2. Resist the temptation since I need to finish my novel
3. Make a resolution that I will instead blog in the evening
4. 4:00 p.m. – get started!

My internet service was down for awhile and I was away in Winnipeg for nearly two weeks, so those of you who visit my blog regularly probably noticed that the posts in June and July were scant at best.

I do have some good news to report that should have been done long ago – Teresa Johnson was successful in her bid to have Bill 28 changed to include the Ashern and Fisher Branch Early Years Schools. That means that in the foreseeable future, these schools will be protected under the Bill and will stay open.

Education Minister, Peter Bjornson, gave Teresa the news in person.

A good answer

Sent to me by a friend who has five children:

A man boarded a plane with 6 kids. After they got settled in their
seats a woman sitting across the aisle from him leaned over to him
and asked, "Are all of those kids yours?"

He replied, "No. I work for a condom company. These are customer
complaints.

The difference between generations

A very self-important college freshman attending a recent football game, took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen sitting next to him why it was impossible for the older generation to understand his generation.

"You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one," the student said, loud enough for many of those nearby to hear. "The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with DSL, bsp; light-speed processing ....and," pausing to take another drink of beer.

The Senior took advantage of the break in the student's litany and said, "You're right, son. We didn't have those things when we were young so we invented them. Now, you arrogant little twit, what are you doing for the next generation?"

The applause was resounding -

Chuckle for the day

One day, while going to the store, I passed by a nursing home. On the
front lawn were six old ladies lying naked on the grass. I thought this
was a bit unusual, but continued on my way to the store.

On my return trip, I passed the same nursing home with the same six old
ladies lying naked on the lawn.

This time my curiosity got the best of me, & I went inside to talk to
the Nursing Home Administrator.

'Do you know there are six ladies lying naked on your front lawn?'

'Yes,' she said. 'They 're retired prostitutes, & they're having a yard
sale.'

Me and LaCochina

When I was a little girl, my parents had a friend named John and he drove the Humpty Dumpty potato chip truck. I remember thinking this was a pretty cool job since I've always been a huge potato chip fan.
I was in Winnipeg about ten years ago and I went into a little cafe in Osborne Village called Common Ground. It was a wierdly, fantastic little place much like something out of a fairy land. Whenever I'd go to the city, I'd drag my friends there. It was run by the Twelve Tribes Community, there was folk music playing and candles lit every table. The place was dark, candlelit and the tables made from hand hewn logs. It was like a little fairy tale place and I absolutely loved going there. The foods were all natural.
About six years ago, the restaurant moved, downsized and they removed my favourite dish from the regular order. I hear that they have since renovated so when I go to Winnipeg this week plan to try it again for lunch.
I came away with three things from my initial experience: Northern Lites candles, Yerba Maté and LaCochina chips. I didn't know what to order that first time in the restaurant and thought I'd try the nacho plate which is still to this day the best nacho plate I've ever eaten. The chips were thin, crispy and the absolute best. Somehow I discovered they were supplied by a Manitoba company. You may have seen them in the grocery stores - they are packaged in a green and orange bag and are called LaCochina. Since then, they are the only tortilla chips I buy.
When I was at "Touch the Farm" I met the LaCochina man. That's right. The man who owns the company that makes LaCochina chips. He is a chicken producer who has the company right on his farm. I told him how much I love his chips. It was kinda like meeting a rock star. I plan to go there and see how he makes the chips and promise that when I do, I'll take my camera, get some photos and write about it.

What is she thinking?

On my way to town yesterday, I met a cyclist pedalling along the highway in the rain. It was a miserable, cool, soaking afternoon and as I was wondering what motivates a person to go on a cycling trek, I met another cyclist who was lagging at least a mile behind. As I passed by, I recognized that the cyclist was a young woman. This is not the first time I've seen couples biking along the highway, the man way out in front while the woman struggles to keep up.
How much fun is that?
I mean, what is she thinking?
"I'm dying back here. There's no goddamned way I'm helping him set up that friggin' tent. I'm going to pedal right on past him and check into the first motel I see. Next time, he can bring Fat Larry and see how well he keeps up. I should just stop and see how long it takes for him to notice. I'm going to divorce him the minute we get home. No sex for him tonight."
I mean honestly, what woman in her right mind would go on a cycling trip with her husband without a motorized bike? No woman over 40, I'll tell you that much. By the time you hit the Big 4-0 you've gone on hikes, drywalled the basement together, moved a fridge up a flight of stairs and have come to the realization that hey, you're just not as strong as him. Trying to keep up is an exercise in futility, unless of course you're super fit and married to Fat Larry.
The only adventure I'd ever go on with Mark would be a canoe trip. I'd make sure it was with both of us in the same canoe. I'd sit behind him and chat up a storm and then whenever my arms got tired, I'd just stop paddling. It would be great fun. And we wouldn't have to get a divorce afterwards.

In Memoriam

Four years ago today, David Pischke passed away.
I was standing at the kitchen sink when the call came. It was Lynne, David’s wife. She as sobbing uncontrollably and I knew immediately that something was terribly wrong. In the days that followed, many people said that one consolation about his untimely death is that he did not suffer. David died from a massive heart attack in his sleep. He was 56 years old.

The summer he died, little things started happening in my house. Lights would come on, the t.v. would turn off. I’d hear the floor creak in the kitchen, the unmistakable sound of someone walking across the floor. Over the last few years, a pattern has developed in that the noises happen more often in the summertime than in the winter.

Three mornings ago I was awake, trying to decide if I should get up or stay in be a little bit longer. Directly across from our bedroom is Mark’s office. That’s where I do the farm books and the kids are able to use the IBM computer to go on the internet and do homework. I thought that my niece Kassarah had gotten up early to finish her homework, which was very strange because she always does her homework right after school (yes, I know that’s weird but it’s completely true) and is as reluctant as every other teenager in the world to get up in the morning. Besides, it was 3:00 a.m. So I laid there and listened to the sound of someone working at the desk, the keyboard on the computer clicking as if someone was typing. No, this was not a dream. I was wide awake. I got up to check, momentarily thinking that maybe the sound was coming from MY office and that someone was in the process of stealing my laptop. Crazy things go through a person’s mind at 3:00 a.m.
Of course, nobody was there. Nobody ever is.
That afternoon I was folding laundry in the basement, watching Oprah at the same time. Folding laundry (and ironing) are two of the most boring household chores that a person can engage in and I need to watch t.v. while I do this. Anyway, I took Laurie’s pile of clothes and put them in his room, just off the little living room we have in the basement. His bedside lamp was on. It is one that turns on and off by touch. I shut it off, consciously wondering if it would be on again the next morning and it was.

I’m not the only person in the house who hears these noises. The funny thing is that it isn’t frightening at all. Of course there is no way to know if it is David’s spirit or not. Maybe the spirit has always been in the house and we just didn’t notice it before. But thinking it might be a close friend makes it easier to accept, and not at all scary.

When most people think of a spirit in the house it gives them the creeps. We’ve all seen too many haunting movies that are exaggerated to scare the shit out of movie goers. There is no frightening music, no visions of bloody death. The house doesn’t vibrate, we aren’t slammed up against the walls and the noises are not accompanied by an ominous wind or thunderstorm. In fact, footsteps in the hallway would make for a pretty boring movie.

People who don’t believe in ghosts and spirits can find all sorts of ways to explain away these strange happenings. I find this very humorous and have experienced enough that I can’t be convinced otherwise.

And for those of you who are fans of the book “Where Children Run,” you’ll be happy to know that I’m working on getting it reprinted. It’s a job I plan to finish sometime this summer – before life begins to get hectic again in the fall.

Maybe that’s what all the clicking on the keyboard was about. David or somebody else trying to tell me that it was time to get up and start writing.

Save the little school

I just found out that Teresa Johnson will be presenting tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Manitoba Legislature to the Standing Committee on Education. She is asking that Bill 28 be amended so that the Ashern and Fisher Branch Early years schools be included in the moratorium on school closures. Currently the Bill reads that only school closure decisions made after January 1, 2008 need approval by the Minister before school divisions can proceed and shut down a school. Since the Lakeshore decision was made last year in June, our two schools are not protected by the Bill. She is asking that the January 1, 2008 date be removed from the Bill.

Good luck, Teresa. I know you'll do a great job.

Book Launch

If you're going to be in Winnipeg on Tuesday June 10th, consider attending the launch of "Jewell Adventure," by Gilbert Hofer. The launch will be held at McNally Robinson Booksellers at 7:00 p.m. (Grant Park).

Jewell Adventure is the first English language children's book written by a Hutterite author and published by the Hutterite Brethren Book Centre. Gilbert will read from his book and sign copies. Publisher Kenny Wollmann says: "There will be food . . . cold cuts, cheese and Hutterite dainties. Go for the food if nothing else!"

About Jewell Adventure: Many Hutterite boys dream of riding to the nehbours on forbidden bikes. What adventures will Gilbert and his friends have when they decide to take the trip and what will happen to them if they are caught?

"Gilbert Hofer's enchanting and ground breaking tale of young Hutterite boys on a day's adventure, combined with wonderful illustrations by Victor Kleinsasser, is a must read for any one interested in children's literature and Hutterite life"
- Joe McLellan, co-author of Goose Girl and the Nanabosho Series

When the internet goes down

Did I mention that our internet tower got hit by lightening?
This has completely messed up my routine and frustrated my blogging efforts.
Thanks to everyone who keeps checking back to see my next post. I promise I'll have something for you to read very soon.

Never argue with a woman

One morning, a husband returns the boat to their lakeside
 cottage after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.
 Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat 
out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book. The peace and solitude are magnificent.


Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up 
alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?'
'
"Reading a book," she replies, barely looking up from her good read.
"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.
"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading.'

'
"Yes, but I see you have all the equipment. For all I know
 you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you 
up.'
'
The woman set down her book and looked at him. "If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual 
assault," she said.
The Warden was shocked. "But I haven't even touched you," he said.
She smiled. "That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I 
know you could start at any moment.'
'
Sheepishly, he turned his boat around. "Have a nice day, ma'am."

Moral of the story: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she 
can think, too.

Lightening Strike

Hi Everyone,
Apologies for not posting in so long. I got home from Saskatchewan late Friday night, then lightening hit our internet tower. I've been without internet for nearly a week!
Right now I'm back in Saskatchewan. Mark and I are on our way to a wedding in Lethbridge. His cousin, Marc Johnson was married in April in Mexico, and now they are having a reception for family and friends. Tonight we're at a little motel in Yorkton. In a future post, I'll tell you about a recent motel stay . . . but since I'm tired, here's a little something I picked up that I thought you'd all enjoy.

IMPORTANT HEALTH ADVISORY

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask
your doctor or pharmacist about Red Wine.

Red Wine is the safe, natural way to feel better
and more confident about yourself and your actions.
Red Wine can help ease you out of your shyness
and let you tell the world that you're ready and
willing to do just about anything.

You will notice the benefits of Red Wine almost
immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you
can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from
living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past
and you will discover many talents you never knew
you had.

Stop hiding and start living, with Red Wine.

Red Wine may not be right for everyone.

Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use
Red Wine. However, women who wouldn't mind
nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting,
incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control,
loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity,
delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache,
dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke
and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or
Dare, and Naked Twister.

WARNING:
The consumption of Red Wine may make you think
you are whispering when you are not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING:
The consumption of Red Wine is a major factor in
dancing like an idiot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING:
The consumption of Red Wine may cause you to tell
your friends over and over again that you love them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING:
The consumption of Red Wine may cause you to
think you can sing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING:
The consumption of Red Wine may lead you to believe
that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at
four in the morning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING:
The consumption of Red Wine may make you think you
can logically converse with members of the opposite sex
without spitting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING:
The consumption of Red Wine may create the
illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better
looking than most people.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOW JUST IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD ACHIEVE
WITH RED WINE!!!

Andrew Johnston - Britains Got Talent 2 (1st Audition)

I am here

Did you know that the train in Moosomin comes through at 4:00 a.m.? 4:02 to be exact. The Moosomin Motel backs onto the train tracks, and yes, there are still trains that travel through Saskatchewan and seem to be timed on Karen Emilson's schedule. The last one in the evening came through at 9:00 p.m., right before bed and then the one in the morning when I wanted to wake up.

I was on the road by 4:30. I won't give you a whole travel log because that is boring with a capital B. So instead I thought I'd just hand you a few observations.

But before I do that, I have to tell you that I got my oil changed right before I left. Mark will be very proud to hear this. I went to the Minuteman on St. James St., right between Mark's Work Warehouse and Wendy's. Funny, I'd never noticed the place before . . . anyway it was recommended by Val at the office.

So, did you know that there are guys under the ground, in what I guess they call the pits?
I did like every good woman should when her car is being looked at, I went around the side of the building, sat on the picnic table and re-organized my purse. When I thought they should be done, I went back and I saw a guy's head poking up from under the ground and he's checking the undercarriage of the car. He doesn't see me and hollers out to someone, "Look, there's some thick string wrapped around the (technical word I didn't catch, but it wasn't drive shaft because I know what that is)." I crouched down to look and then of course he sees me. He pulls a knife out of his pocket and starts hacking it off.
"That's baler twine," I say.
"Baler twine," he hollers back to whoever is in the pits with him.
"We're cattle producers," I say. "That's a common thing."

I stop at Boston Pizza and pick up a half spicy perogy/half barbeque chicken pizza to go. It's usually Wendy's to go for short trips, but I go for Pizza on the long drives. This is not a boring detail because the food on a road trip is very important. I also had a Tim Horton's coffee, and six, 710 ml bottles of water with me. I'm proud to say I made it as far as Brandon before I had to stop for a pee break. I also resisted the temptation to buy M & M's and a bag of Sea Salt & Pepper chips. Have you tried those chips? Don't. They are so fantastic, you can't eat just a handful. I tried them for the first time last fall at Joe & Amanda Bouchard's and have been hooked ever since.

Did you know:
1) Gas prices are higher in Saskatchewan than Manitoba. By about four cents a litre.
2) The leaves are out on the already
4) So are the bugs.

I got into Eastend by late morning. I am Jennifer now. It was great travelling the road, seeing things as my character would, being a young woman from Toronto noticing Saskatchewan for the first time. I scribbled a few notes as I drove. Dangerous I know, but it's one of the hazards of being a writer. When the characters start talking, it isn't necessary at the most convenient times.

I'd upload pictures but unfortunately the cord that connects the camera directly to the computer is lost. So the photos will have to wait until I get home.

I am Pumped

Wallace Stegner was a Pulitzer Prize winning author who spent his younger years in Eastend, Saskatchewan. The Eastend Arts Council has turned his boyhood home into an artist's retreat and I'll be spending a week there to work on my novel. I leave on Thursday and can hardly wait.

I've been to the Stegner House twice before. The first time, I needed to sequester myself in order to get the book on BSE done.

I spent three weeks there and during that time, came up with an idea for a novel while gazing out this window in the upstairs study. I went back the following spring for two weeks and wrote a comprehensive outline and now I'm going back - with plans to finish my novel this year.

"Edge of Nowhere" is the story of a troubled, young woman from Toronto who runs away from home. Her destination is Cortes Island along the B.C. coast, where she plans to become an artist. But fate intervenes and she ends up stuck in a small Saskatchewan town.

Bugs 101

1. Wake up at 4:00 a.m.
2. There is something crawling on my arm
3. Relieved it's not a spider, I pick off the woodtick
4. Dump it in the toilet and get on with my morning

Woodticks are a testament that people can get used to almost anything.
I remember people telling me about Woodticks when I first moved here. Fortunately I didn't see one that first summer. The stories of people having to check their bodies every night before bed to ensure the little bloodsuckers didn't lodge their heads under your skin while you were sleeping, quite frankly, freaked me out. At first, I'd flap my arms like an idiot and call Mark whenever I felt one of the little, unmistakable bumps wedged up tight against my skin. Twenty-six years later, I can pick off a woodtick without thinking about it. I can even pick them off other people and the dogs.

I guess you could say, learning to live with the little brownish/red parasite was a maturing experience. Bugs don't bother me nearly as much as they used to. Getting used to the worst bug of all, makes all other critters seem pretty tame. I can step on a cockroach in Mexico without even blinking.

Unfortunately, learning to live with woodticks didn't help much with my spider phobia, but I'm better than I used to be. I now know how to drown a spider if it's in the bathtub. I can step on them or brush them off my body as long as they are small. If they are dead, I can pick them up with a paper towel as long as I don't have to squeeze too hard.

I can deal with a spider as long as:
1) It isn't too big
2) It isn't in my hair
3) It's not dangling in the car while I'm in it.

Scenario: You and I are together. I'm chatting in a most animated way, telling you a story that seems a little too long and somewhat pointless (there is an end, I'll get to it, just be patient) and suddenly you see a big spider dangling near my head or crawling up my back onto my shoulder. What should you do?

1) Tell me
2) Run away
3) Kill it fast before I notice

If you picked 3, then you are correct.
If you pick number 1, then you are going to see a whole lot of arm flapping, screaming and foot stomping. You could get hurt. If we're in the car together and I'm the one who is driving, we're going to go off the road. It will take me an hour to recover and then I'll forget where I was in my story and start over from the beginning.
If you pick number 2, I'll call you a coward and never speak to you again. Afterall, I'm the one with the spider phobia, not you, so what's your frickin' problem? Just kill the bastard and get it over with. I don't even care if you have to hit me with a hard object to do it.

And one word of caution: Don't ever think it would be funny to chase me with a big spider in a jar. Someone did that to me once but I can't remember his name because I never spoke to him again. I'm not kidding. I think he was my mother's second born . . .

Teresa's meeting with the Minister

This morning I awoke quite anxious to talk with Teresa Johnson. I resisted the temptation to phone her and waited for her call. As it turns out, she's been on the phone all morning.

The meeting went very well and she is optimistic that Minister Bjornson took seriously all of their concerns. Their delegation created quite a media stir - they were interviewed by CBC and CJOB. We thought CKY as well, but I didn't see it on the news last night . . .

I'll keep you posted on her progress.

Why God Made Moms

This email came to me from Rhonda Tycholiz in Gimli. Thanks, Rhonda!
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house .
3. To help us out when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of ?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.


What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3 I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Meeting with the Minister

My neighbour, Teresa Johnson, has a meeting with Manitoba's Education Minister, Peter Bjornson, today in Winnipeg. She is one of the spokespeople who are trying to save the Ashern Early Years School. You might remember the photo of the wolf that Greg Johnson shot? Well, Teresa is his wife. These folks don't fool around.

Last year it was decided that the Early Years schools in both Ashern and Fisher Branch would close in 2009, and the Kindergarten to Grade 4 students would move to what we call "the big school." Last Monday, the education Minister brought forward a Bill that would prevent the future closures of schools in this province without ministerial approval first. Because the decision to close our school was made prior to January 1, 2008, the School Board can still close our school. Teresa, along with a group of Parent Advisory Council members are in Winnipeg today asking that the Minister amend the Bill, to give these schools one last fighting chance.

I won't go into all the reasons why these little schools should stay open and why little children should not be mixed in with older kids. That is so obvious it is hardly even worth discussing. I can't write much about the financials because I don't have all the facts and figures in front of me. But I've heard estimates that taxes will only go up by about $5 to $10 per household in the Division if those schools are kept open. A prediction of declining enrollment seems to be the issue, but so far, the enrollment has not declined. Doesn't it make sense to close a school if the enrollment declines, but to leave it open until the numbers go down and stay down for a period of years?

A few years ago I was back home in Ontario, travelling along the bus route I used to take to school. There were a number of boarded up schools in the older neighbourhoods. A Real Estate agent explained housing trends and how it relates to schools. New neighbourhoods are built and young families buy the houses and schools are built to accommodate all the children. As that community ages and the children grow up and move away, the neighbourhood turns into a retirement area and the schools close down. Eventually, those retirement areas will turn into young neighbourhoods again and new schools will be built. In the city, parents of young children have the option of moving to where there is a school. In rural Manitoba, we don't necessarily have that same option. And once a school closes here, it stays closed.

Right now, Ashern is being billed a retirement town. When I moved here in 1982, it wasn't. Ashern was filled with vibrant young people who built businesses and their children filled the schools. Those people are nearing retirement age, and some of them are at that stage of their lives already. Eventually, young people will own all these businesses again - it is happening already. The people working in all of the government offices, hospital, etc. will retire and they will be replaced by - you guessed it - young people.

As a person whose child is grown, it would be shortsighted and selfish of me to disregard the young parents in our community who are worried about their child's safety and quality of education. Children should be everyone's concern, and while this is not my issue to fight right now, life does have a way of coming full circle. Hopefully I'll be a grandparent someday. And regardless of where my grandchildren live, I hope that they will be afforded a safe, wholesome educational experience. It's the decision makers of today who are deciding the future of children who aren't even born yet.

And that's why Minister Bjornson's Bill is so very important. He has the foresight to know that not everyone has foresight.

Good luck to Teresa and all the parents who are sticking their necks out to keep the Early Years schools in our communities open. It's a fight worth fighting and they are the right people to do it.

Tomorrow: I'll talk with Teresa about how the meeting went

Planet Earth

Car riding horse ! yes that's what it says

Lifting Weights

1. Wake up at midnight with a shooting pain in my arm.
2. After about an hour, get up and take two aspirin.
3. Get up at 5:00 and check the cows.
4. Make myself some tea
5. Decide I really need to commit to my exercise program

Okay, so I spent most of yesterday outside working in the yard. I raked all the leaves out of the flowerbeds (big job) and burned them (easier than hauling them away). I also pruned a few trees. After that, I syphoned off two carboys of wine, cleaned the jugs and carried the full carboys downstairs. Lots of arm work.

I felt fine until midnight. The shooting pain in my right arm felt like overuse. It wasn't the same as muscle stiffness but more like joint/muscle pain, the tendon in my elbow screaming, "you idiot, why did you do that to me?" A reminder that while I'm not as young as I used to be, if I committed to my exercise program (including light weights) I probably wouldn't run into these nagging injuries when I do occasionally overdo it. Solid evidence that I do need more exercise that includes lifting weights. I did start this past week but now I am committed to carrying on. The problem is: what about today? Do I go out and finish the yard with hopes of beating the rain, or do I wait a few days?

Maybe it wasn't the work at all. Maybe it was the brownie I ate after supper. My niece Kassarah made a batch of the most scrumptious brownies I've ever tasted in my life. Thick, moist and buttery with a heavy layer of chocolate/peanut butter icing on top. Fortunately, Mark ate most of it and if I'm lucky, he'll polish off the rest of that delicious temptation before 3:00 p.m. today. My resolve is good until that time of day then it's all downhill. Especially after supper when I relax with a glass of wine. Wine and chocolate - the best combination in the world.

Spring has finally arrived

This is the first morning that I awoke and actually believed that spring has finally arrived. The skies are clear and the birds are singing. My plans for the day include getting outside to do a bit of yard and garden clean up. Since we are so close to the lake, spring renewal here is a week or two behind everyone else. The consolation is that in the fall, we usually see a later frost and temperatures are generally warmer than in the nearby towns.

So far we have had no rain. That is good in a way because the pens are drying up and it makes getting in the fields easier. Around the yard, I hope to get things cleaned up (mostly dead leaves), get the flower gardens tilled and get my wildflower mix spread so that the ground is ready when the rains do come. I vow to keep ahead of the weeds this year! People who live in the city have no idea what a job it is to keep weeds out of the flower gardens in the country. Given the size of my flowerbeds and our garden, I pretty much need to pick weeds every other day to keep it clean.

It's going to be a great day. I look forward to sharing the results with you in the weeks to come.

Cartoon

Things have been hectic

Haven't had any time to blog the last few days. Here is something that my sister-in-law Sharon sent me early this morning. Something for you to enjoy since you've taken the time to visit my page.

A teacher gave her class of 11 year olds an assignment: To get their parent to tell them a story with a moral at the end of it.

The next day the kids came back and one by one began to tell their stories.

Ashley said, 'My father's a farmer and we have a lot of egg laying hens. One time we were taking our eggs to market in a basket on the front seat of the car when we hit a big bump in the road and all the eggs got broken.

'What's the moral of that story?' asked the teacher.

'Don't put all your eggs in one basket!'

'Very good,' said the teacher.

Next little Sarah raised her hand and said, 'Our family are farmers too. But we raise chickens for the meat market. One day we had a dozen eggs, but when they
hatched we only got ten live chicks, and the moral to this story is, 'Don't count your chickens before they're hatched'.'

'That was a fine story Sarah.'

Michael, do you have a story to share?'

'Yes. My daddy told me this story about my Aunty Sharon . Aunty Sharon was a flight engineer on a plane in the Gulf War and her plane got hit. She had to bail out over enemy territory and all she had was a bottle of whisky, a machine gun and a machete.

She drank the whiskey on the way down so it wouldn't break and then she landed right in the middle of 100 enemy troops.

She killed seventy of them with the machine gun until she ran out of bullets. Then she killed twenty more with the machete until the blade broke. And then she
killed the last ten with her bare hands.'

'Good heavens,' said the horrified teacher, 'what kind of moral did your daddy tell you from that horrible story?'

'Stay the hell away from Aunty Sharon when she's been drinking.'

What a Romantic Guy

Thanks to Pat for sending this to me!

More Snow

This is what we get for laughing at those smug Albertans who are always bragging about how much better their weather is than ours. Admit it - you didn't feel bad at all that they had a three-day snowstorm earlier this week. Well, it's payback time. Hopefully this system passes through quick.

I wish I'd written this

Passed along the internet by my sister-in-law Sharon:

Death of an Icon

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, The California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the hostess Twinkies and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times he is still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, two children, John Dough and Jane Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 350 for about 20 minutes.

If this made you smile for even a brief second, please rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else who may be having a crumby day and kneads it.

I'm not incompetent . . . really

1. Sleep in until 6:00 a.m.
2. Realize I’ve slept in and jump out of bed.
3. Check the cows.
4. Start having a panic attack about all of the work that needs to be done today.
5. Write my blog first.

Sometimes I feel like I’m living a stand-up comedy routine.

I’ve been trying to get an ad to a potential customer and thankfully he has a good sense of humour. For some reason the three emails I’ve sent him never arrived, so we decided I should send it by fax. I spent a day with the page sitting in the fax on re-dial and it never went through. Yesterday I had to be in Winnipeg to finalize details of the paper that I am working on frantically in an effort to finish. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I do the paper for the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association which means I sell and typeset the ads, do the page layout, source the articles, edit and write. It’s a huge job and I love it.

So yesterday I am at the office and suddenly remember that the fax I’ve been trying to send is still sitting in the fax machine at home. The paper goes to print TODAY, so I was running short of time. I phoned the potential customer and told him that I would try faxing it again. I double checked his fax number. I was heading for the fax machine, when someone I needed to interview walked in the door. We do the interview and then I took a few phone calls. I checked my emails. A few things I’ve been worried about were there in my inbox. Hallelujah! I started working on page layout. A few hours passed and, heart lurching in my chest, I suddenly remembered the fax. I began searching through the mounds of paper on the table where I was working (I left out details of the other 400 distractions that took place) and I was just about to stand up when the President walked in. Not the President of the United States, but the President of our Association, Martin Unrau. He was there for a conference call that was going to start in 10 minutes. Martin was carrying a box of donuts. It was 3:00 p.m. My mind instantly went into donut mode as the devil on one shoulder said, “Eat a donut.” The angel on the other shoulder said, “Your diet isn’t going that well. Resist the donut.” The devil said, “But you’ll hurt Martin’s feelings.” Imagine, the Devil being worried about Martin’s feelings. It didn’t help that Martin actually said, “Karen looks like she needs a donut.” Maybe it was the way I was staring at the box, I don’t know.

So I ate a donut. The conference call began and ended, then Martin and I discussed his editorial comment for the month. My mind was whirling with details of things that needed to be done. I’m was tired because I spent the night at my niece’s apartment and didn’t get much sleep because the two cats harassed me all night. I’m not used to having one cat sleeping beside/on my head, and another on my chest. I flung them off the bed a few times, but you know cats, they just keep coming back.

So I ate another donut. I was halfway home when I realize that I never did send that fax. By the time I got in the door and had my computer and files unpacked, it was 9:00 p.m. I pulled out the note I’d made earlier and re-checked the fax number. I’d transposed two of the numbers, so for the past few days my machine was re-dialing some poor old lady in Winkler.

But today is a new day and I am optimistic that sequestered away from distraction I will actually get this paper done. Unless of course something interesting happens . . . and the chances of that are actually pretty good.

Definition of a Canadian

An Australian Definition of a Canadian - Written by an Australian Dentist

You probably missed it in the local news, but there was a report that someone in Pakistan had advertised in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed a Canadian - any Canadian.

An Australian dentist wrote the following editorial to help define what a Canadian is, so they would know one when they found one.

A Canadian can be English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. A Canadian can be Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, Arab, Pakistani or Afghan.

A Canadian may also be a Cree, Metis, Mohawk, Blackfoot, Sioux, or one of the many other tribes known as native Canadians. A Canadian's religious beliefs range from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu or none.

In fact, there are more Muslims in Canada than in Afghanistan. The key difference is that in Canada they are free to worship as each of them chooses. Whether they have a religion or no religion, each Canadian ultimately answers only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

A Canadian lives in one of the most prosperous lands in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which recognize the right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.

A Canadian is generous and Canadians have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return. Canadians welcome the best of everything, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services and the best minds. But they also welcome the least - the oppressed, the outcast and the rejected.

These are the people who built Canada. You can try to kill a Canadian if you must as other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world have tried, but in doing so, you could just be killing a relative or a neighbor. This is because Canadians are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, can be a Canadian.

The Big Bad Wolf

1. Check the cows
2. Make myself some tea
3. Check my site meter and see I'm getting visitors
4. Already know what I'm going to write


On Saturday night we were watching TV when suddenly we heard a banging noise. It wasn't something crashing inside the house, but rather an echoing boom outside. We looked out the window but didn't see anything. The next morning, our neighbour Teresa Johnson called. She told me that her husband, Greg, shot a wolf and asked if we wanted to come see it.

We knew immediately the wolf she was talking about. Neighbours on all sides of us have caught a glimpse of it over the last few weeks. It has been living in the croppings of bush that separate our farms from one another. The dogs have been restless and behaving strangely. While out checking the cows at night, the yips of coyotes could be heard until one howl from the wolf in response turned the air silent. His large, unmistakable tracks were seen in the snow near where our cows are turned out with their young calves.

The occasional wolf has passed through our area over the years but this one is the first I am aware of that had taken up residence. It is an unfortunate fact that all of us have calves that die this time of year, bringing predators closer to our farms to find easy access to food. That supply will dry up very soon. When that happens, the young calves could easy become prey.

Greg explained that he was coming back from the barn with their two young children after checking the cows. He saw the wolf just on the other side of the yard fence. Wolves in paintings are nice to look at. Wolf pups playing in the wilderness on TV are fun to watch. A wolf a few hundred yards from where your children play is frightening.

The boom we heard the night before was Greg's gun. People debate all the time whether or not farmers should be allowed to kill predators on their farms. But until you've seen a bear or wolf near the house, you don't fully realize how startling it is. Predators are left alone when they keep to themselves in the bush. When they become too comfortable and venture into the farmyard, they've left their territory and now are in ours. The safety of our families is the first concern and then the well-being of our livestock.

And in case you're wondering, yes, it was a registered gun.