At first I was only dimly aware of a discomfort in my side as I chatted with our Sunday guests. I tried to keep up my end of the conversation as the discomfort made itself felt more keenly. Half an hour later I could no longer ignore the pain; I told our guests I was … Continue reading In praise of a good nurse
Whimsy
Who let these people in?
There is a fine Christian lady doctor of our acquaintance who believes Canada is letting in way too many people from Asia and Africa. She is originally from South Africa, but left when black people were allowed to form the government. She fears for Canada's future. She's wrong of course. The native people of Canada … Continue reading Who let these people in?
Is morning coming earlier?
Most readers of this blog will now be on Daylight Saving Time. Here in Saskatchewan we didn’t set our clocks ahead. When I was a boy, the province was on Mountain Time and towns and cities could choose whether to go on Daylight Saving Time. In addition, the eastern half of the province lies … Continue reading Is morning coming earlier?
Looking for sense in the scent
My wife woke me at 7:00 AM Saturday, saying "We've got to get out of the house!" When the cobwebs had cleared from my brain, my nose told me the cause of her concern. The pungent odour of skunk was permeating the house. We live in a mobile home and were aware that a skunk … Continue reading Looking for sense in the scent
A 90 Year-Old Shares Life Lessons
Trouble with big sister
[This is another excerpt from When I was thirteen] Waubuno, Ontario March 30, 1897 Today was Saturday, and I did quite a lot of work. I had a set-to with Jessie, though. She gets pretty bossy some times and then I get balky. When she starts to lord it over me, it makes me have … Continue reading Trouble with big sister
Writng tips #2: 10 tips for writing more simply
[I have borrowed, translated and adapted these tips from a French website. That explains the references to French authors, in case you were wondering. These tips are intended for use in writing for the web, but would be useful in many other types of writing as well.] 1. Thou shalt write short sentences. You are … Continue reading Writng tips #2: 10 tips for writing more simply
This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting
Jesus came down from the mountain where He had been transfigured and found a great crowd gathered around his disciples and a demon-possessed boy. At the end of the account, after casting the demon out of the child, He told His disciples "Howbeit, this kind cometh not out but by prayer and fasting." The disciples … Continue reading This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting
Writing tips #1: Say what you mean
Writing carries a message by telling something to someone who isn't handy for conversation. That seems simple enough, but the simplicity is deceptive. Start putting the message on paper, and trouble is looking over your shoulder with every word. You know what you want to say; you could say it in conversation with little difficulty. … Continue reading Writing tips #1: Say what you mean
Temperance
Fifty years ago, I was the manager of a country grain elevator in a small Saskatchewan town. It was a very small town, the only businesses were two grain elevators, two service stations, and a small building containing the town's café, general store and post office. Bill Alcock, an eighty year old retired farmer, lived … Continue reading Temperance
Flatlander Faith 