Feb. 12, 2015

Big fluffy snowflakes are falling this morning as I sit at the computer. I would live to be out there walking but maybe next winter. The puzzle pike is down to three but I've gotten sidetracked with another quilt project. I wasn't going to sew another one this winter but once a pattern idea gets into my head, I have to do it.

Baby news

A while back I implied that Rosenfeld has had a mini baby explosion and now here are the parents and addition to their families.

Willy and Martha Kauenhofen welcomed their new baby on Dec. 30. Lamuel, born at Boundary Trails, weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 21 inches long. Siblings Drusilla, Milka and Demetrius are excited about the new brother.

Terence  Assiniboine and Denise Peters added baby Triton to their household on Dec. 19. Triton weighed in at 8 lbs. 14 oz. and stretched to 21 inches. He has a full house of caregivers: Siobhan, Sharmayne, Myson, Major, Maddox, Magic, Asha, Achilles and grandson Kingston.

Olexandr and Maria Antipov had a tiny girl on Feb.2. Elena is a wee 5 lbs. and 18 inches and will have help from siblings Mark and Elezaveta. Her paternal grandparents are Olexandr and Rayisa Antipov of Altona and maternal grandmother Anna Matiychuk of the Ukraine

Even thought he next baby will not grow up in Rosenfeld, I have included the announcement. Mike and Karin Banman added a baby boy to their family on Feb 3. Rowan Michael is a big boy at 9 lbs. 10 oz. Karin is a staff member at the Rosenfeld School and is currently on maternity leave.
Best wishes from the community go out to all the families.

School report

February is I Love to Read month and the theme at Rosenfeld School is camping. The gym is decorated with huge tree cutouts and students are encouraged to weat camping clothes. A guest reader comes to read every Thursday after assembly and the first reader was no other than me, Tina Wolfe. I can report that the students were an excellent audience.

The month of February is also the month of Wacky Wednesdays and the students are encouraged to participate in dressing up for certain themes. February 4 was pajama day and Feb. 11 is everything weird and wacky. This includes funny hats, crazy hair and funny clothes. February 26 moved to Thursday) is occupation day/sports day. This means to come dressed in your favourite sports jersey ot in the occupation you would like to be when you grow up.

The students are also spending time at the Rosenfeld skating rink every week. all these activities will surely help make winter fly by fast.

There will be no classes on Monday, Feb. 16 - Louis Riel Day.

Community events

Thursday, Feb. 19 - Ladies Night Out
Saturday, March 7 - Winter Carnival

Have a great week everyone and Happy Valentine's Day.

Feb. 5, 2015

     Brr, the temperatures sure took a dip from last week. I turn into a recluse when it gets this cold, going out only if absolutely necessary. It's near tax filing time and I turn into a crazy person trying to organize the files. This isn't my favourite thing to do and I can assure you that I would never work as a receptionist or secretary. Mike, our son, takes care of the actual filing and I used to just bring him a box job but I have been trying to be more organized that that. For those of you who don't' know what a box job is, it's when a person throws all the papers into a box for the whole year and then brings it to thee accountant. I think that most accountants would refuse but this is our son we're talking about. seeing how we have only one child, he gets it all, if you know what I mean. Ach, it's not that bad, he never complains after all, I'm his mom and we know each others short comings.

Community announcement

     Marge Schellenberg will again be hosting a Ladies Night Out this year. It will take place on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rosenfeld Good Neighbour Center. This year's theme is Africa and from all reports the decorations alone will be worth seeing. There will be a guest speaker and coffee and desserts will be served. All ladies are welcome to attend.

Baby news

     Jim and Judith Schellenberg of Mitchell welcomed their second granddaughter to their family on Sunday, Feb. 1. Willa Marie was born at the St. Boniface hospital and weighed a very nice 7 lbs. 13 oz. She was welcomed into the family of Mom and Dad, heather and Jordon St Cyr and brothers Aiden and Liam of Niverville. Best wishes go out to the families.

Hockey refs

     I know that I an not a sports reporter but I would like to address the topic of reffing. In my opinion, when two teams are playing, in this case the Miller Aces and the Morden Thunder, the reffing should be done by outside refs. No refs from either community should be on the ice, period. Monday, Feb. 2 these teams played in Morden and the reffing was so lopsided that most of the Altona parents ended up going inside to watch. The Miller Aces opened the scoring and after that they played the refs, not the other team. When this happens I totally understand why the players start slashing the refs like at that hockey game in the Interlake region last year. Oh, you may say, she has a temper. Yes, I do but for goodness sake these are kids trying to play a game and as long as they're not goons out to injure the opposition player, let them play. And I am not a sore loser; I give kudos to players of either team when they make a good play. But the refs at this game deserve rotten eggs.

Birthday wishes

A big, loud happy birthday wish goes out to Jean Warkentin of Sanford and Mike Wolfe of the Rosenfeld area who celebrate their birthdays on Feb. 3.

Get well wishes

     The community would like to wish Gail Shimonek a quick recovery. She fell on ice last week and broke her left leg. She reported that the surgeons at Boundary Trails were very busy with surgery and casting last week. She will be wearing an air-boot for a number of months. To add pain to injury, her and her husband, Percy had to cancel their trip to Mexico. Now that's a double ouch!

Jan.29, 2015

     Howdy to all my readers. It's a gorgeous Tuesday morning with hoarfrost and fog creating a mystical feeling. Very often it makes me feel depressed but for some strange reason today is different. I feel like singing and doing the two-step if only I knew how. My feet could never figure out that dance. Dorothy, my sister-in-law, tried to teach it to me in Mexico one year and I had the locals who were sitting on the plaza, in stiches. It's sort of like when Carol Schroeder tried teaching me to knit and the group of ladies from my English class laughed so hard they lost stiches on their needles. So now you know, I'm a bit klutzy. I think of it as a gift because it makes people laugh and in this day and age we need laughter to ease the stress of the worlds' news.

     I received my first seed order which was made up entirely of heritage flower seeds. As of now, the table in the basement is my puzzling table and I have a stack of four puzzles left to do this winter but I might have to cut that short. Some of the seeds need to be in the dirt at the end of February or the beginning of March.

School news

     February is I Love to Read Month and the students will be busy hitting the books. The school also invites guests to read at morning assembly and I have been approached to participate and am looking forward to meeting and entertaining the students. I miss going to school; I used to drop in at least once a week.
     Jackie Nickel, a staff member at Rosenfeld School, has organized a Breakfast Club for the students which began on Jan. 16. All the children are welcome to have a snack before school begins each morning.

Belize vacation

     David and Manda Zacharias along with their children, Jeslyn, Branson, Ryelle and Avy, left for a warmer country on Dec. 30. They landed in Cancun where friends picked them up and headed off for their destination. It was a five hour ride to the border of Belize and another two hours to family and friends.
     The first four days were spent in Shipyard which is an Old Colony area. The residents still adhere to no rubber tires and the family was entertained with a buggy ride.
     The next two weeks were enjoyed in Blue Creek where they also attended a wedding. The weather was hot and humid: it rained often but dried fast, so they were outside most of the time. Everything was lush and green and Manda says that this is the best time of year to visit.
     There were very few mosquitoes but lots of geckos, iguanas, lizards and big grasshoppers. they heard monkeys at night but never did get to see any. It was very wet so they didn't venture far into the jungle; they made a visit to a park where they walked a hiking trail. They splashed in an uncle's spring-fed pool which had concrete walls but the bottom was gravel. It was designed to be partially drained after every swimming day and then allowed to refill. I was told that the water was warmer than most of our swimming pools here in summer. The family enjoyed private lodging during their stay in Blue Creek.
     Then on to Consejo Shores and Manda's aunt's beach house. Here they enjoyed feeding Charles, the iguana, who had decided to make this his home years ago. He acted as though the yard was his and the family fed him like a pet. They spent most of the lazy days at the beach playing in the white sand. They learned how to tie an orchid plant to a tree where it grows roots and blooms without damaging the tree.
     The Zacharias family spent the last three days in Cancun in a condo. They played in the ocean enjoying the warm water. They arrived back home on Jan. 22 sporting a nice tan.
     This was their first visit back to Belize in nine years when David and Manda went as newly weds. The food was very good, a cross between Mexican and Mennonite with lots of fresh fruit and peanuts. They enjoyed picking fresh coconuts and roasting them. Manda came to live in Canada when she was nine years old and thoroughly enjoyed showing the children the country where she had been born.

Jan. 22, 2015

A great big hello goes out to all my readers. Isn't it nice to have a break in the cold temperatures? Some of the roads tend to get slippery, especially in the mornings but a person just has to plan to take more time driving from place to place. the vehicles are pretty slush covered and when driving in Winnipeg a quick trip to the car wash is necessary due to the salt accumulation. you can almost hear the rust eating away at the car.

We took advantage of the sunny balmy weather last Saturday and removed all the outside Christmas lights, garland and wreaths. They're all packed and ready to be used again next Christmas. Many people still have their light shining at night, maybe to take away the winter blues. Apparently this is the worst time of the year for depression to raise it's head due to the short days. I find that if I puzzle in the basement under our grow bulbs it really helps to quash these blahs.

Best wishes

A belated birthday wish goes  out to Gail Shimonek of Altona formerly of the Rosenfeld area. Carol Schroeder and I spent a very nice day with her on Friday, Jan. 16.
A happy anniversary wish goes out to Elmer and Neta Penner of the Rosenfeld area. They celebrated 18 year so marriage on Monday, Jan. 19.

And then we have baby congratulations going to Cornie and Crystal Zacharias. They welcomed Jonathon to their family on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 11:23 a.m. at Boundary Trails. A big boy at 8 lbs. 10 oz. and 221/4 inches, he joins siblings Christina, Sheldon and twins, Samantha and Paige. Maternal grandparents are Abe and Kathy Penner of Winkler and paternal grandparents are Ed and Margaret Zacharias of Altona.

School musicals

W. C. Miller Collegiate will be featuring a Charlie Brown musical this spring and MCI will present Beauty and the Beast. More information will be forthcoming in the future. Tickets of the MCI musical may be purchased online.

Progress report

It's happening just as I anticipated. One of the nails in the right knee is causing grief and will be removed in the near future. I have an appointment with my surgeon this Tuesday to get paperwork done and set the surgery in motion. I've been told that it's not a big deal and I'll be on my way home within an hour after the procedure. The trip south has been put on the backburner for the time being; everything depends on how fast the surgeon can get a slot for this nail removal and then for me to get mobile again. To say "I'm not happy" is an understatement.

Jan. 15, 2015

Before I begin the column I would like to get something out of my system. I hate winter. There I've said it, if it helped I'd scream it and throw a tantrum but we all know what happens in Manitoba in January so I'll just have to buck up and try to ignore  the cold as much as possible. When I was younger, actually I was caretaker until a few years ago, I'd spend most of the winter at the local skating ring but since that's no longer an option, the season seems to stretch out forever. The month of December is always filled with concerts and entertaining but January and February drag on and on, especially when dealing with such frigid temperatures.

I was so looking forward to heading south for sun and sand but it appears that I'll have to wait until next winter. In the meantime, puzzling will be a huge time consumer and an exercise program has begun.

There's not much news to report but I'm waiting for at least three birth announcements. I don't know what happened nine months ago but there's going to be a bit of a baby boom at the end of January.
The temperatures are supposed to get to the single digits this week and I've heard that many guys are going ice fishing. We have on package of fish in the freezer form summer, so fresh fish would certainly be a good thing. Dave always checks the badger activity near the yunge Wolfe's farm and he reports that the badger has been digging a lot of new holes. This means that we're in for a definite weather switch-a-roo; the badger is never wrong.

Birthday wishes

The community would like to send belated birthday wishes to Tatiana Teichroeb of Eastview Place in Altona. Mrs. Teichroeb celebrated her 90th birthday over the Christmas holidays with her family and friends. She was a long-time resident of Rosenfeld and the community wishes her the best.

Rosenfeld history west reserve

Anyone interested in the history of Rosenfeld should go onto the Facebook page; Rosenfeld History West Reserve. Art Wiebe is collecting history information and pictures and a book may be forthcoming in the future. Many people are sending photos and history tidbits and the site is very interesting.

Jan. 08, 2015

So here it is a new year. I wonder what it will bring. It's hard to believe that the days are already getting longer. I know that it's cold out there but if a person doesn't have to go out, well there are lots of fun things to do indoors. And it's perfectly alright to add a nap onto the list. Dave says that my two to three hours don't describe a nap but I have a different opinion. I say any time spent relaxing after the busy holiday season is good for a person.

Many people have the flu; either the stomach ache thing or a very bad cough, respiratory infection. I started with the achy muscles which then became a full-fledged coughing, sneezing thing. Now as long as an earache doesn't develop, I'm laughing. Many adults outgrow the ear infection thing but I still get it at least once a year and I'll quickly add a disclaimer - there are no smokers in this house and no woodstove. According to some information, these two were to blame for all the ear infections that kids used to have. What they'll come up with now, we can only guess.

Spring is just around the corner  for greenhouses and home gardeners and the seed catalogues are coming fast and furious. I love it. Dave and I are experimenting with heritage seeds to find out if there really is a difference in the taste of the produce. Heritage Harvest Seed is located out of Carman the phone number is 204-745-6489 and on the web at www.heritageharvestseed.com. They advertise as no GMO's - no hybrids and untreated natural seeds. This means a person can reuse the seed from year to year and always have the same produce. The seeds stays true and you never have to purchase seed again if you harvest them in fall.

School news

On Monday, Jan.5 2015 school was back in session. Rosenfeld School has many students who do not attend on Jan. 6 and the staff encouraged all the ones who attended to bring skates, board games, Leg and building sets.

Also, a reminder goes out concerning Soup Wednesdays - please bring a reusable cup and spoon.

The after-school program for K-2 offered by the Altona and Area Resource Center has been extended to two days. Beginning next week it will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:30 - $:30 p.m. in the school gym. the resource center is also looking to run a healthy cooking/eating program at the Rosenfeld School in the near future.

That's it for this week. Wishing all a Merry Christmas to those who celebrate Ukrainian Christmas.

Dec. 23, 2014

Busy, busy, busy; everyone is busy - shopping, baking, sewing, Christmas concerts and sending in my column. Then on top of all this I've started a 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzle which is mostly a snowy grey and blue Christmas scene. I've had a number of helpers, friends Julie Hildebrand and Hilda Wiebe and granddaughter Amber Wolfe came to help but it's far from finished. Oh well, we have a long winter ahead of us so there's lots of time.
Just when a person is into the Christmas mode along come the seed catalogues. What's a person to do? I've stashed them under a pillow. I need to concentrate on meal menus for the upcoming celebrations: family and friends will be coming over and the groceries need to be in the cupboard and freezer.

Concerts

The MCI Christmas concert was absolutely fantastic. I was good to hear some German Christmas carols included. Even though the schools no longer teach German, the grammas and grampas enjoy hearing it. My favourites for the evening were Mary Did You Know by the Resonate Choir and Carol of the Bells sung by the Senior choir. The Hallelujah Chorus at the end brought the house down. Wonderful concert.

The Rosenfeld School concert was a gain a smashing success. The audience was captivated with the student's performance whether it was the Jingle Bell Rock of playing ceramic bells to Jingle Bells and Joy to the World. The play entitled Carriers of the Light  and Brock Harms was wonderful in the angel role. The rest of the cast had worked hard to memorize lines and moved flawlessly through the play. The students and staff deserve a huge round of applause.

May everyone have a safe and happy Christmas and eat, drink and be merry. There's so much sadness in the world, take the time to celebrate all the good things in your life.

Dec. 18, 2014

How is everyone doing with their shopping? I'm pretty much done with shopping and baking which frees me up to have coffee and lunch with friends and family. Busyness used to limit my social part of life and boy, am I making up for that now.
It was nice to have milder temperatures but not the icy roads. And it sure was foggy for a few days; I'm waiting for the sunny wintry days even if it does get colder. Many people have booked trips for the south; some have already left for Arizona for the three coldest months. I read an article concerning taxation which these residents will face from the American government, so if you are heading south for an extended stay, be sure to know changes are continually occurring or you may receive an unwanted tax bill from the good old U. S of A.

Anniversary wishes

Happy anniversary wishes go out to Mike and Anna Wolfe. They celebrated 21 years of marriage on Dec. 6. May you enjoy many more years of togetherness.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday wishes go out to Carol Schroeder who celebrated on Sunday, Dec. 14 and to Loretta Smith who will have her special day on Dec. 22. Anna Wolfe, Tina Wolfe, Carol Schroeder and Loretta Smith enjoyed celebrating these birthdays by having lunch at Pizza Haven and dessert at Carols' house on Monday, Dec. 15.
Happy wishes go out to anyone else who celebrates in December including Judith Schellenberg of Mitchell.

Concerts

Everyone is busy going to concerts; some families have children in three different schools and must make sure the calendar is front and center where the family can see which days and times are booked. Add to that the church programs and some attend at least four concerts.
Dave and I have one more to attend an that is the MCI Christmas concert. It will be happening on Dec. 18 & 19 at Buhler Hall in Gretna. If you are planning to attend, a note of advice; be early. The hall fills up very quickly. The concert runs from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

I didn't have a very good week last week so I won't bore anyone with that. It will be better when the sun shines. Sun always takes a way the aches and pains. Friends take away the blues. Life is good.

That's it for this week. Take care on the roads, enjoy the gatherings and have a great Christmas.

Dec. 11, 2014

If anyone was wondering where I'd gone last week, well wonder no more. Nothing's wrong, I'm fine, I just took a mini-vacation the week before and gathered no news. I sure did have fun but didn't think I'd write a column just about myself.

Isn't the weather fabulous? Those few bitterly cold days were stark reminders of what winter could be like. Many of the houses shine brightly at night and the windows feature a beautifully trimmed Christmas tree. Some people have finished shopping for gifts but I'm not one of them. It's fun to be able to go to a few stores and look around to see if there are any new ideas out there.

New committees

Every community runs with the help of volunteers and Rosenfeld is very fortunate. The Parent Council has the following on its committee: Andrea Friesen-chair, Sarah Sawatzky-co-chair, Janet Hildebrand-secretary, Elma Sawatzky-treasurer, Ashley Peters, Wayne Kauenhofen, Gwen Herman, Eva Peters and Jason Pilkington-Principal.

The Rosenfeld and Area skating rink committee: Sean Winter - village councillor, Brenda Wiebe - secretary, Warren Schroeder, Jake Hoeppner - RM councillor and James Friesen.
Rosenfeld is not a very big community and it's great to see these positions filled. I'll have the Good Neighbour committee names next week.

Christmas carols

Music was in the air last week Wednesday, Dec. 3 when a group of carolers made their way around town in a wagon of hay bales. Brian Friesen was driving Mike Wolfe's John Deere and they made their way from house to house. They ended the evening at the Bergthaler Church for snacks and hot chocolate. It was much appreciated and a wonderful way to begin the season.

Hockey update

The Miller Aces travelled to Morden Wednesday, Dec. 3 to take on the Morden Thunder. The Aces played fast and furious and the game was tied at the end of the third period. Try as they might they couldn't score and it was reported that they way out-shot Morden but the puck just wouldn't go into the net. The Aces lost in the overtime shootout 5-4. Better luck next time.
Gramps Dave went to watch our grandson play hockey and I stayed home to listen to our granddaughter come caroling. It was a good evening.

Progress report

It's great to be able to get around. I used to complain about washing dishes and vacuuming but since the accident I look at these chore differently. I no longer say "I have to do them", now I say, "I get to do them". Dave still helps when my aches and pains kicks in.
I am also quite upset if someone mentions body shape or weight. If people base their friendship on the other person's body shape, well let's just say - they don't deserve your friendship. And as to worrying about your impression in a swimsuit when you're on vacation - that too is silly. No one at the resort cares. They're much too busy enjoying the sun. So go into the world, be yourself and let the sun shine out of your soul.

Dec. 4, 2014

Good morning to all my readers. It's actually Feb. 15, 2015 today and I'm still trying to catch up with all my newspaper columns. If anyone is interested in reading them in news print just go to The Carillon which is printed in Steinbach, Manitoba.
It's a very blustery morning with blowing snow and nasty north wind so it's a good day to try to catch up.

I would like to welcome Trechelle Bunn to the life of a Carillon correspondent. It's really nice to see a young person take interest in her community and then be willing to share it with the readers of the newspaper.

The flowers outdoors are done for the year; even the hardy mums got frozen the other night when the temperature went down to minus 10. But indoors is another story where the Christmas cactus is in full bloom. The weather outdoors is amazing so far. All we have to do is look to Calgary and we know we'll soon see Old Man Winter with a load of snow.

Another Halloween has come and gone. This year we actually had 15 kids come for treats. there sure is a difference from 10 years ago when we'd get around 60 ringing the doorbell. And we'd know if there would be tricks overnight.

Baby news

Best wishes go out to Frank and Brenda Braun on becoming first time grandparents. Jen and Kristen Epp-Braun were first-time parents to Jonah Alexander on Oct 20. The nurses at the Royal Alexandra Hospital weighed Jonah in at 8 lb. 1 oz. and he measured 54 cm. the family calls Edmonton their home. Maternal grandparents are Frank and Brenda Braun of the Rosenfeld area and paternal grandparents are Richard and Brooke Epp of Stony Plain, AB.

Miller concert

The W. C. Miller concert was held on Oct. 30 at Buhler Hall in Gretna. The audience was entertained for an hour by some very talented young people. I had two favourites for the evening. One was Hallelujah presented by the junior choir and wonderfully accompanied by Victoria Wegner on piano. The other was Bright Morning Stars done by the senior choir in which Madison Smith sang a solo piece. Christina Banman is the choral director and the new band director is Mike Urichuk.
Please note that the Christmas Candlelight service will be held on Dec. 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. at Buhler Hall.

Sports update

The Miller Aces played in a hockey tournament last weekend in Neepawa and won all three games; Miller Aces 5 - Portage Trojans 2, Miller Aces 2 - Neepawa Tigers 1, Miller Aces 10 - Russell's Major Pratt 1. Way to go guys. Sorry to hear that Simon Schroeder was out with an injury. Let's hope he can hit the ice again soon.

The MCI Varsity volleyball team travelled to Portage for a tournament and came through with a huge team effort and won. This makes for happy grandparents when it involves two of the grandkids; Gabby Wolfe attends MCI and Thomas Wolfe plays for the Aces.

Brett Klassen of the Winkler Flyers is continuing to up his stats. Check out his information on the Winkler Flyers home page; it's looking good. His brother Angus plays for the Altona Maroons; he's no slouch either and his stats are listed an that website.

Volunteers

The fall supper committee is grateful to everyone for their continuous support. For the past many years the Rosenfeld Good Neighbour Center has been the venue for an annual fall supper and the generosity of the community is much appreciated. The center serves many purposes - morning coffee shop, family gatherings rentals, church rentals, Rosenfeld School Soup and Pie fundraising, pancake breakfast for the winter carnival and more. The profit from the fall supper goes back to the community center for operation costs and upkeep.

The group organizing the fall supper is looking for new participants for 2015. If you are interested in meeting new people, making new friends and helping to organize, please call Phyllis Friesen at 204-324-6534 or Leona Nickel at 204-324-6223.

Nov. 27, 2014

     A month till Christmas and I have managed to scavenge around to fill one gift basket. More and more families are doing a motel day in Winnipeg, Brandon or Grand Forks and only giving a filled stocking as a gift. It's beginning to sound like a good idea for this grandma, too. A colouring book and crayons or hanky just doesn't cut it anymore even though I used to look forward to it. Those hankies have all been made into quilt tops which now are the grandkids blankets when they do a sleepover.
     I have made a couple of batches of cookies but I think it's too early because they keep disappearing. Oh well, the weather is nasty this week and I'll just bake more; all the while heating up the house.

Opinion

     I very seldom agree with James Loewen on any of his opinions in the As I See It column but last week's hit home with me. It's surprising how many people out there have the same opinion about the Hitler subject. When you have an in-law who believes this, what do you do? Sell out in order to keep the peace and continue to see your sibling? Or speak you piece, have an upset sibling and end up with an estranged relationship?

Skating rink

     The flood lights have been on a number of times this week and vehicles are seen coming a going at the local rink. I think it's safe to assume the flooding has begun. For more information, please call Sean Winter. I'm sure that volunteers would always be appreciated.

Christmas programs

     December 11 & 12 - Miller Candlelight Service - 7:00 p.m. at Buhler Hall in Gretna
     December 17 & 18 - MCI Christmas Concert - 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Buhler Hall
     December 17 - Rosenfeld Concert - 1 p.m. prelude, 1:30 p.m. concert and 6:30 prelude, 7:00 p.m. concert
     December 18 - Parkside Concert - 7:00 p.m. at the Altona Bergthaler Church

Birthday wishes

     November is full of birthdays and the community would like to wish Amber Wolfe, Anna Wolfe and Crystal Zacharias a very happy birthday. I would like to include my sister Betty Warkentin of Altona in the wish.

Nov. 20, 2014

     We have snow. Ah, you say, how observant she is. Since I still don't go out that much, I watch quite a bit of TV and there are many places in the States that have experienced much worse weather than we have, so I think we're still lucky. We know the white stuff will come and blow around here on the open plains so stock up on munchies, puzzles, fabric and anything else to fill the long wintry evenings.

Movie night

     Rosenfeld School held their annual movie night on Friday, Nov. 14 and in the words of the parent council chairperson, Andrea Friesen, "the turnout was fantastic". Over 200 students and parents came out to enjoy the Disney movie Planes, Fire and Rescue. Andrea reported that all the chairs were full and many sat on gym mats on the floor. Movie goers were able to purchase fresh candy bags and pop, and add the to that the free popcorn to munch on during the movie. Andrea started the popcorn machine when the doors opened and stayed with it until the movie was over. The admittance was by donation and the evening was a fundraiser for wheelchair accessible playground equipment. There were also raffle items donated by various businesses. The approximate amount raise was $1,000 after expenses. Well done and a huge pat on the back to all supporting this fundraiser.

     We have a number of students who rely on a wheelchair and this will make for a more enjoyable recess. I know from experience that just because something is called wheelchair accessible it doesn't mean that it is. It would be a good assignment for all students to spend some time in a wheelchair to experience the trials of maneuvering around in schools, restaurants and even sidewalks. There are many washrooms where a person can get into the room but can't turn around to even use the facility but it is posted "wheelchair accessible". Yes, you can get into the room but that's it. Maybe this would bring about changes to the situation.

Hockey update

     The Miller Aces hosted the Morris Mavericks on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The Aces won 7-4 with Matthew Winter scoring a hat trick. Good job, Matthew.
     The Aces participated in a tournament in Morden on Nov. 14 and 15. The first game they took on Fort Frances and lost 3-5. The second game they played Warren and won 4-3 in overtime when Matthew Winter got past the goalie during the shootout. In the third game Saturday afternoon the Aces played hard but couldn't get past Sanford and went down 2-3. There were penalties but overall it was a very good tournament.

Public notice

     The R. M. of Rhineland office in Altona will be undergoing renovations and will be relocated to Gretna until the project is complete. The office phone numbers are 204-324-5357 or 204-327-5578.

Progress report

     This last weekend I was told that some of the doctors had thought that I would never walk again after my accident and that people over 60 do not grow more bone. I am living proof that miracles do happen since I have proven both wrong.
     Our house is decorated for Christmas, now on to the gift shopping and baking. Many go to the States for Black Friday shopping but I prefer to stay local as much as possible. A person never knows when they may need these businesses within walking/wheelchair distance.

Nov. 13, 2014

     When I was in elementary school we always had classes on Remembrance Day. In the morning we would recite Flanders' Fields and discuss the significance of the day and after lunch we would watch war movies which would give me nightmares for weeks. Every classroom had a Red Cross committee and students brought snacks to school, sold them and sent the money to the Red Cross for the military. My contribution would most always be puffed wheat cake. Because I was a chocolate fiend, my mom would add cocoa and this was new to most of the kids which resulted in all the squares being sold. That part was fun.
     Now there are no classes and I wonder how many children really know the meaning of the day or how many people died for the freedom that Canadians enjoy.

MCI concert

     Dave and I attended the MCI Fall Concert on Nov. 7 which was held at Buhler Hall. The conductor was Rick Heppner/Mueller and the accompanist for the evening was Kirsten Friesen. My choice for the fun song of the evening was Stodola Pumpa which is Czechoslovakian for "barn pump". The junior choir did an imitation of a pump going up and down during the song.
     Our favourite was the senior choir's rendition of Seth Crissman's version of Shelter in a Storm. The choir was accompanied by Elyse Loewen on violin and Myles Tiessen on guitar. As her grandma, I have to report that Gabby Wolfe's solo in All Creatures of our God and King was none too shabby either. It was a great concert.

Hockey update

     The Miller Aces hosted the Mountain Mustangs from Swan Lake on Nov. 7 (yes, we dashed from the concert to the hockey game). And what a game that was. The Mustangs were up 3 - 1 in the third period and in the last three minutes the Aces poured on the coals and tied the game. The Aces pulled the rabbit out to the hat and won the game 4 - 3. Whew, that was a nail-biter.
     On Monday, Nov. 10 the Aces travelled to Carman and though we didn't attend, it sounds as though it was quite a physical game. The Aces couldn't get enough steam going to win this one; it ended 3 - 1 for the Carman Cougars.

Calendar reminders

     The month of December is coming up very fast and here area  few dates to mark on your calendar. W.C. Miller candlelight services will be held Dec. 11 and 12. MCI Christmas concerts will be held on Dec. 17 and 18. I will add the other school dates a s soon ass they come across my desk.

Progress report

     My visit to see Dr. Pilkey was very good. On a scale of 1-10 it has to rate an eight. The left ankle is doing better than the surgeon and his intern thought possible so that ankle fusing has been put on hold. The only negative is my right knee where one of the nails will need to be removed but not before the trip south. I have the okay to have a great vacation and the next appointment will be in March unless there are unforeseen complications. Halleluiah.

Nov. 7, 2014

     Isn't it strange how some days a person feels totally different than other days? This morning I sit here and though I have some news, my brain is not focusing enough to put it into words. and I've been told that I'm full of hot air and have the gift of gab. Maybe I've been out and about too much over the weekend, so this whole article may just be rambling. I know, it's the wind's fault. One day it's howling from the north and then the next day it's from the south. I feel just like the leaves blowing from one yard to the next and then back again.

Fall supper report

     Ken and Jean Warkentin from Sanford and Jim and Judith Schellenberg from Mitchell joined Dave and me at the Rosenfeld Fall Supper. It was great; both the supper and the chatting. The turkey was soft and moist, the mashed potatoes were nice and creamy, and the pies, well we must have some of the best pastry chefs in Manitoba. Appreciation goes to all the people who donated, cooked, served and planned this event.

Hockey update

     Tryouts for the Miller Aces team are over and I'm happy to report that both of the young guys from Rosenfeld made the team. They join two senior players; Matthew Winter and Simon Schroeder also from Rosenfeld. Now we'll wait and see how much ice time Conner Winter and Thomas Wolfe will get. It's very frustrating when the coaches play only the first two lines. How do they expect the new guys to fit in and improve if they can't participate?

Coffee house

     Dave and I attended a coffee house at Oakridge Greenhouse near Mitchell on Saturday, Oct. 11. Jennifer Kerr and Jordan St. Cyr provided the entertainment for the evening. Good vocals and guitar playing was enjoyed by the audience. The last number of the evening was a rousing southern spiritual which could have come straight off the cover album of "O Brother Where Art Thou". It was good. And it done in a very nice venue.

Concert tour

     The Central Manitoba Youth Choir tour began on Thursday, Oct. 16 in Winkler and ended on Monday, Oct. 20 in Morden. They performed 14 concerts in total with Saturday being the busiest day with four concerts. Dave and I attended the performance at Buhler Hall at the Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna which was on Friday, Oct. 17 in the afternoon. We listened to a variety of 12 songs from their repertoire which ranged from Negro spirituals to chanting and drumming Native numbers. Two Rosenfeld members in the group were Madison Smith and Gabby Wolfe. Great vocals from this choir were enjoyed by the audience. The conductor this year was Cynthia Peyson Wahl of Winnipeg who was accompanied by Loren Hiebert of Altona.

Fall concert calendar

     Thursday, Oct. 23 - Rosenfeld School
     Thursday, Oct 30 - Miller Collegiate which will be held at Buhler Hall in Gretna
     Friday, Nov. 7 - MCI in Gretna which will follow a soup and pie supper

Oct. 30, 2014

     We are having the most beautiful fall weather, so how is it possible not to talk about it? Many of the neighbours are out trying to rake the leaves but they can never capture all of them; some always seem to escape. We have stopped raking; Dave simply mulches with the lawn mower and shoots them onto the flowerbeds. It may be possible that a few neighbours get frustrated when the leaves blow onto their nice clean yards from out stash but so be it. We'd be happy to have them back.

     Nuthatches, blue jays and juncos are busy at the feeder. Our hole in the tree is being filled with fresh leaves by one of the squirrels. This one is smarter that the average squirrel; it brings whole branches instead of just a mouth stuffed with leaves. Please don't let this mean a colder winter than last year.

     This Friday is Halloween and around here not many children go trick- or - treating anymore. This makes it very difficult to buy treats no knowing what a person will be left holding in the bag. So this year I bought a big bag of apples along with mini bars. The apples will be made into pies if we have no kids and the bars will find their way into the hunting backpacks come deer season. And they say only women like chocolate.

Cross country team

     Three former Rosenfeld students; Nicolas Klassen, Thomas Wolfe and Conner Winter participated in the W.C. Miller junior varsity cross country competition. They won second place in the A-AAA provincials. Congratulations guys for a job well done.

School update

     The school was a noisy place last week. Two drummers of the Fubuki Daiko organization taught Japanese drumming Monday to Wednesday and then held a short concert for the public on Thursday, Oct. 23. The students were very enthusiastic and performed very well. Who could blame them? Here they were making enough noise to raise the rafters and getting praised for it instead of getting shushed. Good job students and staff.

Stay and Play

     The Altona and Area Resource Center offers a program for preschool children and their parents at Rosenfeld School. Please note that this used to take place Thursday mornings but has been changed to Wednesday mornings.

Fall concert reminders

     The W.C. Miller concert will be held at Buhler Hall in Gretna on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m.
     MCI's fall concert will take place on Friday, Nov. 7 which will be preceded by a soup and pie supper.

Hockey update

     Brett Klassen plays for the Winkler Flyers and is having a great start in the season. This is his last year of playing junior hockey and he is giving his all and it definitely is paying off either with goals or assists.
     W.C. Miller Aces are off to a good start, easily winning the last two games against Garden Valley Collegiate of Winkler. The rookies didn't get much ice time in the first game but showed up to play on Friday, Oct. 4 with Thomas Wolfe getting an assist. Simon Schroeder plays defense and had a bit of an incident; lets hope it's not another concussion. he got knocked about last year and had to sit out twice while healing.

Progress Report

     Since my accident I am much more aware of all the happenings in the world like this latest incident in the Pembina Valley. The young father who was killed in an accident near Altona; his daughter used to play hockey on the same team as Thomas. And the list goes on. It's enough to make a person dizzy, especially with the story about  all those babies in the storage unit and the shooting in Ottawa. Yikes, what's this world coming to? It makes me want to go into the basement and puzzle - another way of sticking my head into the sand, I guess. I'm getting around much better and began driving to Altona and have managed to go grocery shopping on my own a number of times. Next week I have a checkup with my surgeon and here's hoping it's a good one.

Oct. 16, 2014

     Even though a person may have reasons not to be very thankful at this time in their life due to certain circumstances, at leas we're having wonderful weather. I find everything is easier to deal with when the sun is shining and boy have we had sunshine. There's nothing as nice as a nap in a lounger out on the patio especially since there are no mosquitoes to harass a person. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with our family and I hope my readers did, too.

     This spring when the Carillon printed the photo of the blooming cactus, I received a number of phone calls regarding the name of it. I would like to acknowledge a lady who took the time to write a very nice letter, Pauline Good from Chemainus, BC. Thank you for the picture and information and a thank you also goes to the Carillon for forwarding the letter to me.

On the move

      Rod and Sandra Pokrant, long time residents of Rosenfeld, purchased a home in Altona and within a month their house was sold. There was some hasty packing and with them moving and Kevin and Stephanie Wiebe taking up residence in their house. We're sorry to see the Pokrants leave the community but happy that the Wiebe family decided to raise their family here.

Hockey season

     The Miller Aces held two exhibition games last week on Thursday, Oct. 9 and Friday, Oct 10. These games were tryouts for new players to fill the slots of the players who had graduated last semester. The Thursday game was played in Morden and the Morden Thunder won 5-1 but for Dave and me It was a good game. You see, our grandson, Thomas Wolfe scored the only goal for the Aces.
Friday's game was played in Altona and it too was won by Morden 5-3. But again one of the goals went to Thomas Wolfe and another to Conner Winter. Not bad for two Rosenfeld guys trying out for the team. I will report on their status in next weeks column.

Concerts

     The Rosenfeld Fall Concert will be held on Thursday, Oct. 23 in the afternoon. Please call the school at 204-324-8438 for the exact time. I don't have that information at the time of writing this column.
     W.C. Miller Collegiate will be holding their fall concert on Thursday, Oct. 30 at Buhler Hall in Gretna.
     The MCI concert in Gretna will be held on Friday, Nov. 7. They will be serving a soup and pie supper which begins at 5:00 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
      Everyone is welcome to attend any or all the concert.

Fall supper

    This is last call for the Rosenfeld fall supper. it will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 4;30 - 7;00 p.m. at Rosenfeld Good Neighbour Center. Everyone is welcome to partake of this feast.

Oct. 9, 2014

     The month of October is giving us a heads-up for what's to come. this area has had a few mornings where Jack Frost has made an appearance and we've seen a few snowflakes. We know winter is coming but it still always seems to shock us. The northern part of the province up at Gillam received 27 cm of snow and I'm sure they would like to share with the rest of the province.
Our garden has been tilled and is waiting to be covered with snow. The flowerbeds are being put to bed and have a warm blanket of leaves. The roses are waiting for a harder frost before being covered with big paper containers filled with leaves to keep them safe from Old  Man Winter. It is definitely soup season and I've made a variety of huge pots and canned quarts of Mexican borscht, noodle soup broth and green bean. There's nothing better than a hot bowl of soup when the cold north wind begins to blow.

School update

     The Stay and Play program begins on Thursday, Oct. 9 and will continue every Thursday until the beginning of December and start up again in January.
     Every fall the parent council organizes soup day for the students. Parent volunteer to make soup and serve it to the students every Wednesday. This fall the soup day begins on Oct. 15. Please note that the students should bring a reusable cup and spoon.
     A fall concert is planned for Thursday, Oct. 23. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Fall supper

     The Rosenfeld Fall Supper will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. at the Rosenfeld Good Neighbour Center. Turkey, farmer sausage, mashed potatoes, vegetables and lots of homemade buns and pies are on the menu. Everyone is welcome to attend.

     I wish all my readers a happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy life; it's shorter than you think.

Oct. 2, 2014

     That old cliché, if you don't like the weather, wait a minute, sure is true in Manitoba. In 24 hours we went from 90 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. From shorts to long pants and jackets and the body system is in shock as to what happened.
     Our garden has been emptied of vegetables and Dave has taken the tractor to it and mowed and mulched every plant. The tilling will need to wait due to the rain we've been having; big clumps would be the result if he attempted it now. The picked green tomatoes are ripening in the greenhouse and the dahlias and gladiola bulbs are drying; ready for the next year. The summer savory is hanging from the ceiling and all the geraniums have been repotted to be used again next year. I'd say, let the snow fly, except many farmers wouldn't want to hear that.

Eisbrenner wedding

     The Eisbrenner family farm near Rosenfeld was the scene of another wedding on Saturday, Sept. 6. Terry and Gladys Eisbrenner were busy this summer preparing the yard for the nuptials of their daughter Chantal Eisbrenner who exchanged vows with her love, Friedrich Reyis. The wedding colours were blue, orange and purple and the supper was catered by Danny's Whole Hog. The couple has made Winnipeg their home. Best wishes to the families.

Councillors

     The Rhineland municipal elections, well, we didn't need to vote. The LUD of Rosenfeld councillors came in by acclimation as follows: Sean Winter, Ron Schellenberg and Henry Janz. Laurie Schroeder stepped down after many years as one of the councillors. For Ward 5 no one ran against Jake Hoeppner and for reave, Dan Wiebe also got in by acclamation.

School trustees

     The former trustee, Mike Wolfe, stepped down on the Borderland School Division and Albert Klassen of the Dominion City area now represents Ward 5. I'm not sure how that all works with Albert not of this area but let's hope he listens to the concerns of the residents. It's been reported that he had the backing of many local residents so congratulations, Albert.

Baby news

     The Rosenfeld Good Neighbour Center was a scene of activity on Sunday, Sept. 28. Sharla and Amanda Wiebe hosted a baby shower for their new niece, Abigail Kendall. Abigail was born on July 1 weighing in at 7 lbs 7.6 oz and when stretched reached 19.5 inches. Tanya and Joe Wiebe of Morris are proud first time parents. Maternal grandparents are Art and Mary Ann Wiebe of Rosenfeld and paternal grandparents ore Larry and Bertha Wiebe of Altona. Great- grandmother Betty Wiebe resides in Morden. Best wishes to the families from the Rosenfeld community.

School update

     The Altona and Area Family Resource Center will again offer the Stay and Play program at Rosenfeld School. It's a free drop-in program for families with children (participating ages 0 - 5). It will run every Thursday from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. beginning Oct. 9. A variety of activities are offered for the morning: playing, singing, reading books, making crafts and a snack.

Progress report

     I have a steady supply of books, puzzles and quilt ideas to get me through the winter. I have a feeling that I will not be going back to work any time soon. The left ankle just doesn't like walking on concrete even though I have very good shoes. This is a reality I have come to accept and I'll just have to change direction and enjoy the view. I hope everyone takes time to enjoy this cooler weather even the farmers who must be disappointed they can't be on the fields.

September 25, 2014

     Isn't this weather an answer to prayer? The farmers around here are waiting for the lentils, beans and corn to ripen and dry and the warm winds this week will definitely be the winning ticket. Many local gardeners are  patiently waiting for tomatoes; some have picked only a half dozen of so. I have been more fortunate and have been able to freeze four ice-cream pains full but the rain has caused many of them to split. If these are not used the day they are picked, well, the small fruit flies are soon swarming over and in them.

     The cucumbers have slowed down but the beans keep going. We're now waiting for the honeydew and watermelon. Carol and Laurie Schroeder picked two watermelon; one 17 lbs. and the other 24 lbs. They have a water pond near their garden and that sure beats town water for watering that dry month of July.

Community news

     The Rosenfeld Good Neighbour Center will again be the spot to be on Saturday, Oct. 18. The ladies are busy planning for the annual fall supper to take place. Everyone is welcome to attend, enjoy the food and also check out the renovations which are beautiful.

New provider

    A new internet service is coming to town and many people have called to hook up. We have had very poor service from the present providers, anywhere from having to go as slow as molasses to having no service for three days. Tower pieces were brought in last week, piers were poured on the north side of the local skating ring and the tower was set up on Friday, Sept. 19. The communities that have this server, VISP, are happy with it, so here's hoping we will be too.

Progress report

     The leaves are turning colour and it's a beautiful time of the year but also a transition period of getting used to shorter daylight. I have always had difficulty with not getting enough daylight and this year is even more of a challenge. On Sept. 27 it will be a year that I've been home. I came home in a wheelchair and totally relied on Dave and homecare for my needs. I feel as though I'm grieving when I should be happy that I've come a s far as I have. I still use the walker first thing in the morning and when I'm tired in the evening but the rest of the time I use my cane.

     The outside lift has been removed and I do the stairs in the garage hanging onto the railing. Once I'm tired I just stay in the house. The stairs down to the basement are still done like a two-year old; down on my bottom and up like a monkey. We have ordered an adult trike but were told that it would be a least a three- week wait. I hope to ride it before the snow flies' it will definitely give me some freedom.

     Dave has given permission for me to drive the car around Rosenfeld and to the farm. I know it sounds as though he's bossy but he only has my safety in mind. The doctors have never indicated that I shouldn't drive but they don't live with me and don't know my nervous system.

September 4, 2014

     It's very quiet on our street this Tuesday morning; the kids' last sleep-in morning. Ther are going to be bumps in the road for the bus route to Altona since Highway #30 is under construction. Either they'll be taking a gravel detour or definitely be late for school. Originally the sigh posted read that the project would be finished by the first week in September but it appears that it may go until the end of the month.
     Harvesting is not progressing as fast as the farmers had hoped. Some areas got too much rain and the morning dew just doesn't dry until well into the afternoon. I know some farmers don't have any grain in the bin to date. Let's hope we get some drying weather soon.
The gardens are producing well and most of the gardeners state that the corn is coming to an end but the cukes and tomatoes are growing in a abundance. Our tomatoes need more heat units to get  them motivated; we have only tow pails in the freezer at this point and want six. Oh well, if we don't have them I guess we won't eat quite as much spaghetti.

     I would like to thank Frank Petkau for the bag of Pembina plums. These were the biggest plums I have ever seen and they turned into a wonderful red jam. If I were to name this jam, it would definitely be called Sunshine.

Bird season

     This time of year is always a busy one at our house. Bird hunting season opened on Monday, Sept. 1 and the guys always try to get out onto a field to try for the prize bird. Dave, son Mike and grandson Thomas met up with Jim Schellenberg of Mitchell early Monday morning. They asked a farmer for permission who not only said yes but he and his son also accompanied them on the hunt. This turned out to be a good thing and resulted in a couple of geese for the oven. Thomas came home with a  goose and Mike got a sandhill crane. Thank goodness for new cameras where you can see the photos instantly. It appears the guys enjoyed themselves.

Progress report

     For my readers my healing may seem to be taking forever but when I have a breakthrough moment like I had yesterday, it is worth it. I have had a lot of difficulty getting dressed due to my knees not bending properly and being off balance. This means always sitting when getting dressed. yesterday for the first time since my accident I could stand and slide into my pant. I know that doesn't seem a huge deal but let me assure that it was. That moment was starred in my journal.

August 27, 2014

     The weather has definitely taken a turn toward fall. The wind has a chill in it and many people are dealing with the blues along with aches in places where you normally don't think of having pain. Dave and I were going to take in the Morden Corn and Apple Festival's parade last Saturday but not if it meant sitting in a cold drizzle. We went for breakfast at Del Rios in Winkler instead. I was a bit disappointed; I didn't get to attend one parade this summer. Too many other activities popped up and choices had to be made.

     The tomatoes are slowly ripening but the cucumbers are producing by the five gallon pail full. The grandkid's chickens are enjoying the ones that are as big as zucchini. Our corn didn't produce much; it stood in water too long this spring but Mike and Anna shored and some was delivered freezer ready in zip-lock bags. Who can ask for a nicer gift?

Community news

     The LUD of Rosenfeld received $60,000 of gas tax revenue funding from the Rhineland Municipality this year. With an added budget of $20,000 from the Rosenfeld village, a sidewalk project has begun. Initially this was to go into a walking trail but the Main Street sidewalk was in much need of repair and it was agreed upon by the RM and village that the sidewalk would be the chosen project. The bid from three business partners; Henry Friesen Construction, Henry Peters Concrete and JBF Concrete was accepted and the first section of work has been completed. Future plans include paving the entire length of the sidewalk all the way to the south end of the village and north to Oliver Street. This would allow residents to stay on the safe path instead of on the road.

     Municipal elections will be held this fall and the nomination papers for reeve and councillor are available at the RM office. Along with those positions, the LUD of Rosenfeld has three committee members chairs to fill. The nomination deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 16. If you have time and are interested in representing the community, please step forward.

Progress report

     Summer has been a very good healing time for me. At times it's frustrating that I can't run but it has put a totally new perspective on life. Flowers bloom and gardens grow even though I can't pull all the weeds. I've come a long way in a year; the body is absolutely amazing in its capability to re-grow and heal. In the near future I'll be riding bike again but this time it will have three wheels instead of two; the order has been placed. The day the bike arrives will be one of those memorable moments which will go into my journal. I have had many good memories throughout this ordeal and continue to have fantastic support from friends and family. It's been a year of learning and patience for Dave and me and it's amazing to find how priorities change.

August 21, 2015

     Wow, is it ever a foggy Tuesday morning and my head feels the same way. I have a very sore shoulder and I've taken some pills to help cope with the pain and I hope my thought process isn't affected too much. I finally have some community news but I'll keep it until next week when I will be more coherent.

Quilt tour

     Two of my sisters, Susie and Eva, and I took in part of a quilt tour on Saturday, Aug. 17. Our first stop was in Ponemah Beach Central "Thera Piecers. The display which was held in an old historic building may have been small but was very interesting, well done and hosted by very friendly ladies. The washroom featured some very interesting articles, one of which was a pink fancy corset. Then were on our way to Winnipeg Beach where the display was found at the local Legion Hall. This was a more formal display where gloves were handed to viewers for touching the quilts so as not to get the quilts dirty. all attendees were given ballots to choose their favourite piece. After this was the job of finding a place to eat which took us to Salty's for a burger. It was a great day.

July 31, 2014

     The summer is flying by at a speed which makes a person dizzy. Every Monday the forecast proclaims the next weekend will be sizzling hot and by Tuesday the temperatures have changed. It's becoming  a game to see how fast the forecast will be changed. One good thing is that the price at the gas pumps is steadily going down. I hope I haven't spiked this trend by commenting so I'll knock on wood and hope the trend continues.

     The gardens are starting to kick in and the beans, carrots and cucumbers ore producing well. Our peas had too much moisture and after two pickings are basically done. The radishes went to seed in record time and the watermelon are waiting for those hot temperatures which don't seem to last more that a day. The nights are cool which is good for sleeping but not so good for ripening tomatoes. People who planted peppers are complaining that the plants are no bigger than when originally planted. They also need the heat for more than a day. But the lilies look great and we have not seen that lily beetle in this area, yet. Our poppy garden is almost finished blooming but the bachelor buttons and calendula have taken over and with the help of the dahlias the garden is still a blaze of colour.

Just married
     Best wishes go out to Armando Loewen of Rosenfeld and Annie Harder of the Winkler area who exchanged vows on July 19 at the Altona Rhineland Church. The celebration meal which featured Mexican chicken as the main course was held in a massive tent set up at the skating rink in Rosenfeld. the couple will be making Winkler their home and the Rosenfeld community wishes them all the best.

Family gathering
     Mike and Anna Wolfe's farmyard was filled with vehicles and laughter on Saturday, July 26 when the Friesen clan descended onto the yard. Approximately 50 people enjoyed the superb noon day meal which included the traditional varenika and farmer sausage. This year Mike Wolfe added his own touch with a leg of pork which had been on the smoker all night. The meat had a delicate smoked flavour and was so soft you could cut it with a fork. The guest brought a variety of salads and desserts and no one went home hungry. Three family members celebrated birthdays the month; Thomas Wolfe - July 14, Ben Friesen - July 17 and Aunt Anna Friesen - July 21, so we had a big birthday cake. The rain held off until late afternoon and that was a good thing.

Progress report
    With all the activities the past weekend, I must confess I overdid it a bit. Not only did we have the family gathering but Altona celebrated its 50th Sunflower Festival. We didn't make it to the parade on Saturday but I took in the quilt show and car show on Sunday. My brother Martin had two cars at the show so pictures had to be taken. My ankles began to hurt before the free watermelon and rollkuchen in the park so Dave and I headed home. Someone gave me information concerning ankle replacement so I googled it on the Mayo Clinic website and will be discussing this with my surgeon next week Tuesday. I would like to go for a so called normal walk on these wonderful summer evenings. It's only with the help of family and friends that I manage to stay positive.

July 24

        What a busy week this is becoming. I had planned a shopping trip to Winnipeg with our daughter-in-law, Anna, for Monday and the family gathering on Saturday. But the week had a mind of its own and Tuesday morning turned into a chat fest when two friends, Julie Hildebrand and Helen Kuhl dropped by for coffee in the morning. I had to hurry to get the column done and it will be late getting sent to the newspaper.

Blues in the Park
       Our son, Mike, and I spent the afternoon on Saturday, July 19 at the Altona park listening to music. We didn't stay to hear all the groups because they began at 11 in the morning and went till 10 at night but we enjoyed the ones we did hear. The lead singer, Richard Neufeld, of the 3rd Degree had a voice with a bit of the Louis Armstrong sound which was totally unexpected. I have known Richard for years and , in fact, he was my boss at one point but I'd never heard this side of him. The next band, The Perpetrators, was from Winnipeg and was absolutely awesome. They had a very nice bluesy sound and had everyone moving in their chairs and there was some dancing going on. I definitely will be attending again next year.

Condolences
     Dave and I would like to wish a fond farewell to John B. Wiebe of Morden. John, 85, passed away on Friday, July 11. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn and two daughters, three sons and their families. A private service was held.
     John had a very full life from being a minister, school principal at W.C. Miller, owner of Wiebe Farm Power in Plum Coulee to farming with his sons. Dave worked with John during his ownership of the farm business in Plum Coulee. My first experience with John occurred in 1969. One of his sons, Gerald, often came to our house and at one point had his vehicle in the garage and so drove up in hi dad's big Chrysler. Dave and Gerald left for the day and like usual lost all track of time. I needed milk for Mike who was just a little stinker at the time so at five minutes to 6:00 I packed up and into the that big boat.
     We drove a Volkswagen at that time so this vehicle was trice as long as ours and backing off the driveway had me very nervous. Don't you know, when I turned to get onto the street I crunched the driver's side fender on a tree beside the driveway. I was totally distraught but went to get milk and waited for the guys to get back. All John said later was that it would have been nice if he could have been the one putting the first dent into the car. I think that says it all.