Bev Pickard celebrated her birthday on August 30. In the afternoon they came to Tehkummah for Wayne and Marilyn Sparham’s 50th wedding anniversary, then attended the wedding of Michelle Pickard to Brent Pyette. (Bev and I took First Response courses together thirty-some years back.) A very pretty wedding with some lovely and tiny attendants as well as a full slate of bridesmaids and groomsmen. The colours were purples and mauves. I don’t know who made the young ones dresses but the over netting with the rose petals sure was special. After the wedding the introduction of the attendants, speeches, and then photos with the backdrop of the lake. The sun appeared to salute the wedding vows after being elusive for most of the day. A delicious cold buffet was served. We got back home around 9:30 pm. It had been a long time since I’d been down Pleasant Valley Road. A beautiful home and property for the outside wedding. I met a sweet young lady named Trinity.
Cole’s girlfriend Alicia is off to college in Saskatchewan. Her birthday was August 30 too. Mary Johnston celebrated her birthday September 1st. So happy birthday all!
Thanks once again to Laurie and Gail at the Garden Shed for the delicious dessert provided on Friday afternoon when our 97-year-olds met there. Now an annual event, started when they all were 93. Lyle Dewar’s great idea, though in the past year we’ve lost two of the group, George Granger and Elgin Martin. Freda Hall wasn’t feeling well enough to come this year, but our group consisted of Erma McAllister, Audrie Williamson, Jean McCauley, Andy and Dot Watson, Lyle, Sharon Williamson and myself. Always a few stories from the past and some laughs. A nice afternoon (in the rain)! I beat (ha ha) Mum at cribbage after we got back.
From day to day I never know what surprises are in store. There is absolutely no planning this life of mine.
Monday morning Joyce (Sagle) Chilton called and asked me to meet her at the Garden Shed for lunch. That was such a nice treat, and catch up time. She is planning a memorial for her husband Don who passed away last December. While we were there Reno and Carol Santarosa came in with his mom (Mrs. Santa!) (Marguerite) and his cousin Francesco, who is visiting from Italy. He flies back to Venice on Wednesday after spending a month here. A handsome young man. The other day at the Garden Shed a nice lady called Nancy called me a “Ray of Sunshine” no less, she reads my column. Wow! And thanks!
Skunked Mum at cribbage a couple of times this week so far, but then she beat me a couple.
Hey though folks! I kind of wonder about me. How many people do you know who have (almost) daily conversation with toads, who live with them?
Driving home from Oshawa, Tara and the kids got home well after eleven on Sunday evening. Just hit the fog when they got to the Island.
At bingo on Monday evening Joy had baked a nice cake for her birthday (official day). Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Mary Johnston, our caller.
Ross and Susan Ward got a wonderful surprise in the past week when their son Justin and his wife Crystal came home for a bit of a holiday.
Mary and Barry O’Neil had a couple of days vacation visiting Meldrum Bay way.
Back to school Wednesday. Poppy raised her usual school bus reaction (whether the kids are going or coming home). Watch for kids!
Wednesday evening I did a small circle tour as far down as Ruth’s. Karen and Victor were visiting. I stopped at Reta’s for a minute or so, and had a little chat with Austin O’Brien.
Rick made Cal and I a cup of coffee. We stopped in at his and Kathleen’s home on our way to the wedding on Saturday. Ted was there with his “one man’s army jeep”!
Wednesday after cribbage Mum beat me three straight. The only good thing was that I was close enough every time she pegged out, getting 12 once! Oh well, what can I say. I let her win?
Audrie said last week she won the door! Lots of goodies for cribbage lunch again. Thank you all! High hand, Bert, 21; first, Del and Audrie, 949; second, Cal and Gib, 935; third, Patrysha and Laura, 919; low, Lori and Rick, 836; door, Lois and Del.
Jean Livingston came in for a short visit (with Mum too). She’s been up at the river with Bill and Beryl. A car on each side of the river for convenience sake?
There were six tables on Thursday evening for euchre. Lorna was on K.P. duty. Good lunch! Ladies’ high, Betty Jean, 74; ladies’ lone hands, me, 4; ladies’ low, Dorothy, 45; men’s high, John Novak, 76; men’s lone hands, Hugh, 4; men’s low, Iris, 40; door, Clive. There were two skunks!
Earlier today we went for breakfast at the Garden Shed. We had a full table—Susan and Simon, Pauline and Wayne, Mum and Joan, Cal and I. Breakfast is always good.
Raining again. Sitting out bird watching and listening. I was having a bit of Martin and Lynda withdrawal so I called. They’ve been busy with family. Lynda’s going to spend a few days in Toronto with her son and daughter. Good to hear her voice.
Helen kind of woke me up this morning. It was late for me to be sleeping.
How many toads are in this house? That’s what I want to know. I ask emphatically this Saturday morning. I almost stepped on a bigger one.
Saturday afternoon I went to the Garden Shed for lunch where I accidentally met up with old friends Pat and Herman Falter and Helga Reilly. A nice visiting time until a trapped bee stung Pat. I had some meat tenderizer in my car so we put some on the sting. Thanks Helga! (I got my lunch paid for.) Herman took Pat for an anti something for bee bites. They just nicely left when Annette and her sister-in-law Iris, who I’d met for the first time at euchre on Thursday night, came in. So the visiting continued, and that was nice. Iris is from Pembroke.
Golly, where does the time go? Here it is…
Monday morning just picked up a large toad calling card off the middle of the living room floor. “One of these day!”
Well is this the third day in a row of sunshine? Unbelievable! Gotta thicken up the hummingbirds feed now and there are thousands of sandhill cranes and geese in the fields. And yet didn’t I see hummingbirds mating (isn’t it a mite late?) at the flowers at Carol’s and Earl’s on Sunday? I guess while I’m on the subject of birds I’ll talk about Eagles. Our sermon and much information on their life from our minister June. “And they shall mount up!” Mum, Simon and I had lunch there after church.
Sunday afternoon Cal and I went down to the camp far garden to see what Sherry, Dave, Ray and the kids were doing with the old trailer. Painted up it looks pretty good. A lot of work to get to this state I think. I scattered some flower seeds around and trimmed a little bit of scrub stuff.
On Saturday evening Pauline, Wayne, Dave and Christine were eating out, apparently the fishing was bad!
After our eating out we went to Sherry and Dave’s and started a game of Sequence until Earl and Linda Dobbs came along, then visited. They had been taking in local events—the Manitowaning Fall Fair. (Boy the cars drive by here fast!) Indianapolis speedway!
Saturday I made my last visit to the Garden Shed for 2014 (and now the weather is getting nice).
Pat Falter how are you doing? Was the reaction severe?
Sorry I missed George and Gordy’s show on Saturday evening. I’ll bet it was great as always.