Fun facts about Canada – 1

These guys prefer Canada to the USA. Image by Dave Eslinger from Pixabay 55% of the bald eagles of North America are in Canada. The largest concentration is along the Pacific coast of British Columbia, but they can be found all across southern Canada. There was one in the sky above our yard earlier this week.

Snow and medical appointments

Winter was unwanted and uninvited, but it came anyway. We knew it was coming, but this wasn't a convenient time. It never is. We went from black to white on Monday, with a 20 cm snowfall. I had an appointment with my eye doctor the next day, and I had to keep it, even if … Continue reading Snow and medical appointments

Grandpa’s musings

We got home last night from a visit to our granddaughter Tami and the congregation at Carrot River. This morning I got up at 7:30 and prepared to face the day, then sat down at my computer and almost made a serious error in bookkeeping for a client. The light dawned on me in time … Continue reading Grandpa’s musings

kisiskāciwani-sīpiy

In the Cree tongue kisiskāciwani-sīpiy means swift flowing river. It was the name they gave to the largest river system of our province. Newcomers to the region struggled with the eight syllable tag and eventually reduced them to four: Saskatchewan. The North and South Saskatchewan Rivers are 350 km apart when they enter the province … Continue reading kisiskāciwani-sīpiy

My Mom’s take on socialism

Mom used to tell the story of a poor farmer extolling the virtues of socialism to his neighbour who was just as poor. The setting was the depression years of the 1930’s. “If everyone who has more than they need would share with those who don't have enough, what a wonderful place this world would … Continue reading My Mom’s take on socialism

Cultural Amnesia

[First posted nine years ago.] One hundred years ago, when the Social Gospel was well on the way to infiltrating and taking control of many of the major Christian denominations of North America, my father was already 24 years old. It has lately dawned on me that because I was born when he was 50 … Continue reading Cultural Amnesia

It is raining to drink standing up

Image by Pexels from Pixabay The heading is a translation of the French expression Il pleut à boire debout. In English we might say that it's raining cats and dogs, which is more colourful but less realistic. Saturday evening we were having a late supper, watching the clouds and listening to the approaching thunder, when the water taps … Continue reading It is raining to drink standing up

Lilacs and kittens

In the morning we often see two little kittens exploring our doorstep. A dozen lilac bushes at the back of our yard perfume the air. These are the delights of spring. The indoor cats love to be outdoors in this season, too. Two of them spend time with the outdoor cats; Pookie considers himself part … Continue reading Lilacs and kittens

It’s about time!

Image by Bruno from Pixabay A week ago today the ground was still brown and the daytime temperatures were usually a degree or two above zero (freezing point on the Celsius scale). The next day it snowed, not much, just enough to make the ground white. Then the temperatures started to fall. Monday morning it was -28°. Yesterday … Continue reading It’s about time!

It’s that time of year again

There are twenty Manitoba maple (acer negundo) trees between our house and the road. They are not a hardwood tree like the maples of Eastern Canada, but still useful as ornamental and shade trees and perfect for young boys to climb. It is possible to make maple syrup from the sap of Manitoba maples, but … Continue reading It’s that time of year again