life is like that...

Life. It can be funny at times!

I grew up in the country...one of five sisters and one brother.  We attended the country school nearby...and a country church in the same neighbourhood.  Not far away lived another family with five girls and one boy...who attended the same school and church as I did.  My sisters were good friends with some of the girls of the other family.  I was in the same class as their boy...and we had a lot of fun together in our senior high years (particularly German class).  We were all part of the same youth group...

...and several from each family were on this particular outing in 1971.   As time moved on...many of the siblings from each family scattered...and the ties were not what they once were.   

The youngest of the other family was the same age as my ‘little brother’...always dramatic and never at a loss for words, as I recall.  I taught her in girl's club once upon a time.  I remember she brought a yummy dill dip to an event.  (Who said we only remember the big stuff?)  I also remember that she took the prize for scripture memory!  Eventually she married and moved to the interior of our province.  What a surprise to re-connect with her through Blogdom in the past year or two.   You can go pay Karen a visit at her blog called Ocean Soul.  She has plenty of time to visit these days...since she is on an imposed 'staycation'  following major surgery. 

We’ve had many good laughs over things from the distant past...since we re-connected these last few years.  I love reading her blog...especially when she tells of friends and family that I know.  Not long ago Karen posted photos of a family vacation...a trip to Mexico with all her siblings and their spouses.  I couldn’t help but smile...

 (Karen ~ far left)

...since the photo looked strangely similar to one we took on a family cruise with all my siblings few years ago.  How many families have five sisters and one brother? 

And how did it happen that both guys are reclining for the family photo op?  I know my brother wasn’t even a little amused by the way the photographer lined us up...but his sisters thought it was quite funny!

 

Who knows?  Life is like that. 

Karen gave me permission to 'borrow' her photo...and to share the tale of the two families.  And I give you permission to go wish Karen all the best as she recuperates. 

Have a great weekend!

mississippi bound...

We are planning a road trip...one that will take us along the Gulf Coast from Houston, Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and down to the Florida Keys. 

In just over a week's time...we will be walking the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.  We will also be re-visiting some places along the Mississippi coast where hubby spent a few months time more than four decades ago.  I'm sure it will not look anything like what he remembers.

In August of 1969 one of the most violent and destructive hurricanes to ever hit North America devastated the Mississippi gulf coast.  Meet Hurricane Camille!  The Mississippi gulf coast was declared a major disaster area...and many organizations immediately rushed in to help with the relief effort.  A plea went out in our area for anyone who might be willing to join a team of volunteers through Mennonite Disaster Service.  Hubby signed on!  He quit his job...and traveled south with a group of guys he had never met before to go and lend a helping hand to those whose lives had been turned upside down by the hurricane. 

This is how things looked in Gulfport, Mississippi when he arrived there.  There was not much shopping happening in this shopping centre anymore!

Several large ocean liners were firmly grounded far from the water where they once rode the waves.  There was no way to return these ships 'whence they came'...and so they were to be demolished!

The Wade Klein...a large shrimp boat was stolen the night before Hurricane Camille.  The thieves never really got away.  Their punishment was to ride out the hurricane and find themselves high and dry...jammed between a battered oak tree and a damaged beachfront home in Biloxi, MS. 

Hubby spent long days on a construction crew while on volunteer duty.  The work was organized by the Red Cross...and mostly involved repairing the homes of the working poor in the area. 

This lady was extremely grateful for those who came to help.  The team spent a week returning her home to it's original location and repairing the roof.  Home sweet home!

As for the fancy digs where the volunteers stayed while they were working...

...they were provided by the Red Cross.  A large school was converted into dormitories for the workers...with meals served in the school cafeteria.  Every day began at 5:30AM...in order to get to the job site by 7AM.  It was definitely not an assignment 'just for the fun of it!'  It was all about being the 'hands and feet' of Jesus to those who faced disaster.

In 1969 John Bell Williams, who was the governor of Mississippi said... 'The Coast is going to be rebuilt.  It is going to be one of the finest recreation areas in this country'.  Elmer has always wanted to go back...and see it as it is today.  Soon we will be on our way! 


Planning is half the fun, I know.  And at this point...we welcome your input.  If you have any suggestions of interesting places to visit en route...or fabulous places to eat...let's hear about them. As for lodging...school dormitories are not an option! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

bent out of shape...

I'm a wee bit 'bent out of shape' this morning...

to think that I spent nine hours with my dad in ER yesterday.

All that just to get a doctor to write out a prescription!

Earlier this week dad spent a day and night in the same ER...

was treated for pneumonia and released with a prescription.

He took one dose of his meds...

got really sick...

and declared he would NEVER touch that medication again.

His family doctor was away until next week...

and so it seemed to make sense that we go back to ER where they had all his earlier records...

and could quickly prescribe an alternative medication.

Don't you think?

We mostly waited...

and waited some more.

Dad told stories...

loud enough to entertain some of the other ER guests as well.

I mostly listened...

and every two hours I went and fed the parking meter.

I had him home by midnight...

and when I left he was heating up a bowl of borscht for night-lunch.

He seems to be on the mend...

so I sure hope his new meds agree with him.

I found this photo in my files from his extended hospital stay three years ago...

and thought it went quite nicely with this post.

Dad quite dislikes forks that are bent out of shape.

He is known to straighten them out...

even in a restaurant!

As for me...

I've been bending old silver forks out of shape...

just for the fun of it.

That's my post for tomorrow.

The Okanagan Gleaners

When we were in Oliver a few weeks ago...we visited Okanagan Gleaners.  I promised you a tour...and today is the day!  It is a most interesting place. 

Okanagan Gleaners was started in 1994 by a small group of Christian believers in the South Okanagan Valley.  They saw how much food was being wasted or lying un-harvested in the fields and the orchards...while around the world people were starving.  They felt a responsibility to salvage what they could and send it to those in need.  A local orchardist offered them a small acreage with an old 1920’s tobacco-drying barn (in the photo above). Soon this building was painted and renovated into a food-processing plant. Production began in July 1996.

They produce mainly dried soup-mix consisting of Brussels sprouts, onions, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, turnips, potatoes, and dried peas. Since 1996 over 45 million servings have been shipped and distributed — literally around the globe.  Current production averages over 6 million servings per year. Now that is a lot of soup!

On the day we visited...there were volunteers of all ages hard at work.

They were processing apples.  Apples are the only fruit that they dry...and obviously not for the soup mix.  The apples are re-hydrated by the recipients...making apple sauce and apple juice.  Candy to the recipients!

Several families with young children were camping in the area...and brought the whole family out to work that day.  They were quite fun to watch!  And what a great way to teach children about serving...and giving...and helping others.

There is a campground on site...and a youth group was there for the week.  Now that is a youth retreat with a purpose!

This gentleman was hard at work sorting apples...and whenever the semi-truck behind him is full...he is also the truck driver.

The operations manger (centre photo) gave us the tour.  We saw every stage of production...and the many barrels of completed product in the warehouse...waiting to be distributed. 

This map tells the story.  Food that would have gone to waste in our country..is enjoyed by hungry people around the world.  The soup mix is distributed by organizations such as World Vision.

Not to us, LORD, not to us
   but to your name be the glory,
   because of your love and faithfulness.

Psalms 115:1 NIV

They are doing a great work over there...one bowl of soup at a time!  If you would be interested in vacationing in the Canadian desert...and making a difference at the same time...check out Okanagan Gleaners.  They are an inter-denominational organization and welcome people of all faiths.  Volunteers work every morning...and have the afternoon to do as they please.  We met some folks in our campground that were volunteering at the Gleaners for the entire summer.

Someone had a vision and pursued it...and Okanagan Gleaners was the result. Amazing! 

something old ~ something new...

We all needed a diversion from election talk and hockey...and so the royal wedding came just at the right time!  Some thirty years ago...I got up in the middle of the night to watch the wedding of Charles and Diana.  Today I will brew my cup of coffee tea...toast my English muffin...and enjoy it all from my best Royal Albert fine china while I watch the wedding that was PVR'd hours ago.  I love that technology!

As for the wedding venue...

...we checked it out a few months ago...and gave it our approval.  It is definitely something old! Westminster Abbey is a fine old cathedral...which has seen the coronation of 38 kings and queens since 1066, when William the Conqueror became the first monarch to be crowned here.  It is also the final resting place for 17 monarchs.  It remains a place of worship...with daily prayers and special services held throughout the year.  I'm sure today's wedding will be among the most special!

In keeping with the wedding theme...I'm sharing a wee bit about wedding rings over here.  Hubby's wedding ring took a lot of abuse in those early years...and was sent away to be 'reinforced' several times.  The once etched top was worn to a shiny surface...and after thirty years I decided he should have a new wedding band.  The original was nicely stored...as a memento of our vows in 1971.  Last summer on our road trip through Montana, we went mining at Gem Mountain near Philipsburg.  We had great fun...and came away with two sparkly blue sapphires.  I packed them away and recently took them to a goldsmith...to see what could be done with them.  We decided the round one would be perfect set in the center of hubby's original wedding band.  I asked the goldsmith what he would suggest I do with the other sapphire.  He looked at the plain gold band that I was wearing on my thumb...and suggested he would put it on that band.  Why not?  Then we would each have our own sapphire ring.  So for the past few weeks...

...we have been wearing our new old rings.  My new old ring was once my mother-in-law's wedding band...and I have worn it since she passed on.  So now...like Princess Kate... I wear my husband's mother's sapphire ring.  I'm sure she never found her rock in Montana though!

So that is my bit of something old...something new...something borrowed found...something blue for today.

Before you rush away...be sure to stop by MGCC where we are serving up Royal Chocolate Biscuit Cake...

...in honour of the marriage of Prince William and Kate. 

Enjoy the day...the pomp and ceremony...and the royal treatment.  Tomorrow..it's back to hockey and politics!

going to school in style...

A very long time ago, I was a student at the same elementary school that my oldest two granddaughters now attend.  In those days...all students arrived by bus or by bike.  Times have changed...

...though there are still school buses, many are driven to school these days.

Some even come by limo!

There's a story here...as I am sure you guessed!

Many of you wondered how it came about that my hubby was the limo driver for our milestone birthday party last week.   It just so happens that we have a friend who owns a limo.  He went car shopping one day a few years back...with plans to buy his wife a new set of wheels.  He came home with this limo!  I don't think she was all that impressed...and he soon found her a vehicle that was a little more suitable.  The limo, however, stayed!  We have used it on several occasions over the past few years...with hubby as chauffeur.  Since we had the limo on our yard overnight following last week's birthday celebration...we thought it might be fun to deliver Emme and Spencer to school in style in the morning. They called a friend to join them...and with a little snickering and giggling...they rode to school in luxury that day.  As for the limo driver...he decided he better not wear his usual work clothes that morning!

They were all smiles!  But back at home...Ryder had been somewhat put out that his sisters got to ride in the limo and he never.  Grandpa decided he would make a run to pre-school as well before returning the limo...

...and so Ryder called a buddy to join him and off they went to pre-school in the back of the limo. 

 Ryder felt quite special...and was even willing to give autographs, I hear. 

And so ended our limo adventures!  The limo driver went home and changed into coveralls and boots. 

As for the grands...they will be riding the bus to school as usual today.  Easter break is over...and the buses are back on the road this morning.

Have a terrific Tuesday...

where I am from....

It has been said that you have to know where you are from to know where you are going.  I was reminded yesterday that I had once done the 'where I'm from' exercise...and it was still in my files...unshared.   So today I'm telling you where I am from. 

I am from a dairy farm in the country…Ford cars, trucks and tractors…and everything homemade.

I am from the old farmhouse with double porches, dormer windows, creaky stairs and farmhouse smells…from wood-burning stove, wringer washer and long clothelines.

I am from lilacs, rhodos, climbing roses and hummingbirds…from transparent apples, Italian prunes, Royal Anne cherries..from bullrushes in the ditch and blackberries along the fence.

I am from Bill and Helen…who were from John and Susanna and Jacob and Justina…from Faspa on Sundays with Zwieback, Kotletten and Platz.

I am from sleeves too short and shoes too small…from fair skin and blue eyes.

I am from ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’…from ‘hard work never hurt anyone‘.

I am from scary bedtime stories of bears and black widow spiders…which I both loved and loathed.

I am from a Mennonite country church where the men wore suits and the older women wore hats…where the congregation sang in beautiful four-part harmony…and where the words from Psalm 29:2 'O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness’ were posted at the front of the sanctuary. …where the German language was frequently spoken…where families visited in each others homes. I’m from baptisms in the river and Sunday school picnics at a farm…and a rich heritage of faith in God.

I am from German school and polishing shoes on Saturdays…from cinnamon toothpicks and sen-sens…from root beer floats and onion rings…from five cent cones and chocolate bars. I’m from hopscotch, marbles, yo-yo’s , Chinese skipping and tether ball. I’m from playing Red Rover, Prisoner’s Base, Beckon-Beckon, Eevie Ivy Over and 500-Up. I’m from pop-tops and pedal pushers .

I’m from spelling bees and reciting poetry…and competition in the classroom. I’m from climbing trees and building forts and having sleepovers in the hayloft. I’m from recycling before it was vogue…from re-using my lunch bags and wearing hand-me-downs on occasion. I’m from picking berries in the summer and swimming in the slough…and riding my bike wherever it was I wanted to go.

I’m from neighbours lending a hand and sharing a party line. I’m from shopping at Eaton’s Department store and the five-and-dime.

I’m from the heart of the Fraser Valley…from farm fresh milk and famous Chilliwack corn. I’m from a story teller extraordinaire who could fix anything and his best friend and listener who was a wonderful cook and welcomed friends and strangers into her home.

I am from good people…what more could I ask? Where are you from?

Have a wonderful weekend...

zest

What exactly is zest?

• Spirited enjoyment!
• Gusto!
• The name on the bar of soap in my shower.

 Oh...and one more definition:

• The outermost part of the rind of an orange, lemon, or other citrus fruit, used as flavoring.

 Here's a little 'spirited enjoyment' for your reading pleasure today.  Armed with a recipe which called for orange zest...my friend went to the supermarket to buy the ingredients.  When she was unable to find orange zest...she decided to ask for help.  Orange zest?  No...they did not carry that product.  But they suggested she might just buy the orange...and make her own.  She was not aware that  grated orange peel was called 'orange zest'?  They all had a good laugh at the grocery store.  And then we all had a good laugh when she shared the story with us.

My friend...who is always full of zest and zing...won't mind that I shared her story with you today.  She thinks a day without laughter is a wasted day...she gave me the tile that reminds me daily of that fact. So laugh a little...and if you need some added zest...buy a lemon...and a zester.

Christmas it is!

Winter vacation or Christmas holidays...which is it?

Our community made the news last week...big time!

Our local school board voted unanimously to rename the annual winter break...

Christmas holidays.  

In the rest of the province...it is simply called winter break.  

It seems the school board thought we have gone a little too far with political correctness...

and should acknowledge why we are having a break at the end of December.  

How brave of our school trustees!

I applaud them for taking a stand to keep Christ in Christmas.

travels and such...

At about this time of the year we usually head south...in search of a little more summer.  This year we opted to stay closer to home...since we have a trip-of-a-lifetime planned for the not too distant future.  So instead...we are being tourists in Seattle for a few days.  Seattle is just a three hour drive from our place...and though we have been there often (usually passing through)...we had never visited many of the tourist attractions. 

What fun we are having!  More about that tomorrow.


About the trip-of-a-lifetime...we were told that we would require certain vaccinations to travel to our destination.  The recommended course of action is to pay a visit to the travel doctor...who knows exactly what we need.  The travel doctor works from several offices...and spends a few days each week in our city.  We quite liked his hours...and made an appointment for the wee hours of the morning before any other businesses were even thinking of opening their doors.  His office was a bit of a surprise...somehow not what we expected.  Located far from any other medical services, we found ourselves in a waiting room situated in the loft of a quilting shop.  It gave a new meaning to having 'stitches' at the doctor's office.

Once the necessary forms were filled out...I could browse...from above!

He wasn't much interested and found some reading material.  Soon we had our consultation...and rolled up our sleeves for the onslaught of needles.  We are now protected against yellow fever...and many other horrid diseases.  And while we were there..we had our flu shots as well.  And all that happened before eight o'clock in the morning! 

So...if you are considering travelling to interesting places in faraway lands, be forewarned...you must first visit the travel doctor.  That would be enough to keep my daughter at home!

Enjoy the day...

the bread from the journey...

So it seems you all want to hear the story...about these two gals...and their loaf of bread!  Well...here it is.

It was August 31st...and for some time we had been looking forward to our first ever 'Mennonite Girls Can Cook' get-together. It was the first time we would all be meeting in person. Marg and Kathy were our social coordinators for the event...and everything was planned for the entire summit. We were all to meet at the airport...where we would greet Charlotte and Betty...who were flying in from the prairies. As the time approached for the plane to arrive...we all realized our social coordinators were missing. We figured they must be up to something! It seems they had decided to come to the meet-and-greet party incognito.

Those two old gals sitting in the arrivals section...knitting, chatting and reading a German paper...were none other than Marg and Kathy.  They had a loaf of bread with them...bread for their journey, we supposed...and we noticed after a time that there was a bite missing from one end of the loaf.  We had a good laugh at their expense...as did a few others at the airport that day! 

Marg and Kathy did a fabulous job of organizing our 'summit'...and we are all left with so many good memories.  They also gave us many reasons to laugh...and just before we said our farewells, those two old ladies with their loaf of bread made another appearance   They must have thought they could make the journey home without their bread...because I spotted it in the garbage can after they left.

Thinking it would serve a purpose one day, I retrieved the loaf from the trash...and it has been drying out in my pantry since that time. 

On Saturday I received an e-mail from Marg...who was away on vacation for a few days.  She suddenly realized that the turkey in her freezer would not be ready for roasting on Monday...and was wondering if I could go to her place and remove it for her.  Breaking into her garage proved to be quite simple, armed with the necessary information.

Oh...and just in case she hadn't thought of bread for the stuffing...I left her a well-dried loaf next to the turkey.  I'm thinking we have now seen the last of that loaf of bread!

and now for the rest of the story....

Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis...would know that I am also part of the Mennonite Girls Can Cook recipe blog.

Just over a month ago the MGCC team had their first ever reunion summit...which you may have read about right here. There were a lot of things that happened at that summit that I never told you about at the time.

I never told you about these two enthusiastic old gals that we met at the airport...or what became of the loaf of bread they had with them...the one with one bite missing.  One of these days I will tell you that story.

I never told you about the rock that crashed onto my car's windshield while I was transporting my MGCC friends...and the damage it did...or the fright it gave us!  It may be an old car, but it now has a brand new windshield.

Last night we played Rook at the round table in our library. I never told you what we did at that same table last month.

I also never told you why we had a bit of a celebration at the Rosedale post office.

But today I am finally coming clean!  There was an important contract that needed signing...and that happened at the round table in our library.  That same contract got mailed from a wee post office in our neighbourhood...by registered mail...and is now safely in the hands of Herald Press in Pennsylvania.

So...have you guessed yet?   We have a cookbook in the making......and you can read all about right here!  The press release came out over the weekend...and now we are free to tell the world.  I will be silent no more!

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 Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Day to you all!