August 12, 2013

August 12, 2013 Rosenfeld News by Tina Wolfe

It’s definitely fall when the farmers bring out their combines and begin the harvest. Friday, Aug. 9 late afternoon the Penner’s were busy east of Rosenfeld making short work of the wheat field when using five combines. Another sign of fall’s arrival is the orioles leaving; we don’t have to fill the feeder as often anymore but now we have hummingbirds on a daily basis. The blue jays sure are noisy at this time of year screaming at the top of their lungs until a person just feels like throwing something at them. The brown thrush, robins and cedar waxwings are busy checking out the grapes so I’ll have to very diligent in order to get picking before they do.

Our cucumbers are very slow so I went to the farm and our daughter-in-law, Anna, shared some of theirs and I’ve finished canning dills. Next on the list is tomatoes and we’re picking those by the bucket so that won’t take long to have 6 ice-cream pails in the freezer waiting to be made into spaghetti sauce and salsa. The corn needs some hot temperatures and the weather forecast is for the low 30’s this coming weekend and that’s just what the doctor ordered.

The flower beds change colours on a weekly basis. Most of the lilies are finished blooming other than the daylilies which are outperforming themselves this year. The dahlias are huge this summer but I think this is the last year I’ll be putting them in; it’s getting too much work for me. I’ll keep a few and sell the rest at our garage sale in spring. I think I’ll be doing the same thing with the cannas lilies. Dave and I are planning to throw poppy, zinnia, larkspur and heritage petunia seed into the garden in fall to cut back on so much planting in spring.

Comment so true

A while back one of the columnists commented on the change of taste in cottage cheese. I thought my taste buds were just having a bad day the last time I bought some. I used to love cottage cheese with salt and pepper, with fruit or salad but not anymore. It doesn’t taste like anything; there’s no flavour to it anymore and what’s all that goop in the creamy containers?  Not much cottage cheese, mostly that jelly goop.

Chores

The other day while cleaning bathrooms a thought came to me, yeah I know while cleaning toilets, and I wondered where the word char-woman came from. Does it come from the master commanding, “Do your chars, woman.” That’s how I feel when cleaning bathrooms. Now don’t get me wrong I love my indoor facility especially when growing up we had to use an outhouse. Brr, was that cold in winter. But I know people with three or four and then for goodness sakes my youngest sister and her husband build a house with five bathrooms. I just about flipped my lid and went through the roof when she told me. But then she added, “I’m getting a cleaning lady”. Well, I said Hallelujah, you’re going to need one or you’ll be cleaning bathrooms every day.

Birthday wishes

The Friesen family is planning a celebration for Tony H. Friesen who is turning 100 years old on August 18. The party is happening at the Altona Senior Center on Saturday, Aug, 17 from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. The Rosenfeld community would like to wish Tony a very happy birthday. Tony used to be a regular at our local coffee shop and always could be counted on for a smile.

Another special birthday wish goes out to our granddaughter Gabrielle Jane on her sweet sixteenth birthday, August 11.

A happy anniversary wish goes to Betty and John Warkentin of Altona. They celebrated 51 years of togetherness on August 11.

Baby news

The community sends congratulations to David and Manda Zacharias on the arrival of a baby girl. Sheila joined the family on Tuesday, Aug.6.

Europe trip

Last week I cut my column short due to a very important phone call in the middle of my typing. Our granddaughter Amber who stayed behind in Germany called to chat and so the column became second fiddle. Amber will be done her au-pair year in January and said that she’s running out of time for her to do everything on her list. Her top priority is to go to Ireland and she told me that at times flights could be had for less than $50.00. That’s what it costs us to drive to Winnipeg with our truck. Anyway, we chatted for an hour and by that time all my column ideas had flown the coop.

The rest of the Wolfe family arrived home tired but full of adventure stories. Dave and I have seen pictures of their stay in Rome and Florence and that took two hours. I’m a regular Curious George so I had to see every picture with no flicking through too fast. The coliseum in Rome was unbelievable and the wine country in Tuscany is absolutely breathtaking. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is hilarious the way it tilts to one direction and is totally out of whack with the surrounding buildings. I can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures and continue being an arm chair traveller.

Speedy recovery

The community would like to wish Erna Penner, daughter of Elmer and Neta Penner a speedy recovery after her surgery Thursday, Aug.8. Erna underwent kidney removal after tests showed that one kidney was not functioning properly. Erna was released on Sunday, Aug.11 and it is reported that she is doing well and needs to be reminded to slow down. Her parents bought a miniature horse for her just before the surgery but she will need to recuperate before taking on the challenge of riding him.