Feb 13, 2014

I would like to apologize to my readers for not submitting a column last week; I was too busy having a pity party and didn't have time or energy to write a line of two. Realizing the futility in this behaviour and receiving some moral support from friends, I have since moved on to my much more upbeat side..
The weather continues to present challenges for me I would like to go for a wheelchair ride but not if the temperature is at minus 30. even the skating rink lights are shut off before the evening gets late. When the kids give up on the outdoors, it's a sign for me to stay indoors.

School news
To help students get over the winter slump, every Wednesday in February is dress-up day. They call it Wacky Wednesday and the themes this year are: pajama day, red and white day, in order to celebrate Canada, Olympic colours and everything weird and wacky day. I'm going to try to get to school to get a photo on one of the Wednesday.
There will be no school on Monday, Feb. 17; it's Louis Riel Day.

Community update
Rosenfeld has a site at the north end of the village for branches and garden compost during the summer. Recently a pile of household items made an appearance and it now looks as though we have a garbage dump. Please people; take your stuff to the thrift store or to the rural dump.

Special vacation
Russ and Gladys Klassen celebrated their 25 years of marriage this past Sept 18 and began making plans for a special winter vacation. They couldn't have chosen a colder winter to escape for a week of sun and sand in the Dominican Republic. Friends Darrel and Joanne Hildebrand of Altona, also packed and joined them to fly to Punta Cana on Jan.31. They enjoyed temperatures in the high 20's and low 30's for the entire week with showers only in the late evenings. they stayed at the Occidental Resort and give it a thumbs up for good food and friendly service.

Progress report
Our results for the surgeon at HSC were good news. The x-rays showed that the ankle was growing bone but then Dr. Pilkey advised me not to put all my weight on it yet. I had been thinking I could within reason so I guess I've been too aggressive which means, of course, more puzzling. Oh dear, such a hardship. He also explained that the femurs were the biggest bones in our body and they would take a long time to heal; I think he was trying to tell me something with that information. Too bad it flew over my head: on the advice of my granddaughters I've just dyed my hair blond. I know, I know, I'm supposed to take it easy but it's coming close to mowing grass season and I was so looking forward to pushing the mower. Dave has been talking about buying a riding mower which I could use but it's not the same thing.
Our house is filled with the aroma of spaghetti sauce. Dave had frozen 6 pails of tomatoes in fall and now was a good time to cook and can them; it's a nice way to beat the winter blahs. And as I'm working on the column this Tuesday morning, there's a storm brewing. The south winds are creating poor visibility and with the warmer temperatures possibly slippery roads. Oh well, It's nice and cozy in the house and maybe I'll bake cookies and start a good book.