Into town, around the block, there it is!

When my brother(s) visits, we like to take some time to just drive and explore. I have been checking out ideas for this year’s Thanksgiving visit, which made me reminisce about the day trip we took last fall.

When that urge to explore strikes, a good place to head is Kalyna County, northeast of Edmonton, Alberta. Not only does the county boast the most churches per capita of anywhere in Canada, it also has the most roadside attractions.

Our adventure began with breakfast in Sherwood Park, then east to Vegreville to see the rotating pysanka (Ukrainian easter egg). Vegreville’s Ukrainian heritage dates back to the 1800’s. The egg was constructed to honor the RCMP centennial and their provision of peace and security in the community. The elk at the entrance of Elks Park, where the egg is located, is also somewhat of an attraction.

  

Travelling east and north, we arrived at Two Hills. A little searching brought us to Two Hills Heritage Park. There stand two statues carved by John Weaver and donated by the Dowhaniuk family. The statues were unveiled in 1992 to served as a tribute to the grandparents and parents of the Dowhaniuk family and all pioneers of the Two Hills area, Alberta and Canada.

   

Heading east, we stopped in Myrnam to see their Dove Park. The name of the village means “peace be with us”. The park has a large dove, the symbol of the peace of the community, along with benches and a memorial monument and plaques honoring former residents of the area.

Following the highway further east and north brought us across the North Saskatchewan River to Elk Point. As we exited the north side of town we encountered the Peter Fidler statue. It was erected to honor the explorer and map maker, Peter Fidler, and stands 32 feet tall.

We continued going north to the village of Glendon. There it was not hard to locate Pyrogy Drive, which took us to Pyrogy Park and the site of the “world’s largest pyrogy”. Many tourists venture into this little village every year to see the giant pyrogy.

As our route began to return west, we arrived in St. Paul. This is the home of the world’s first UFO landing pad, a large concrete structure weighing 130 tons. It was built in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s centennial, and the flower bed in front of the landing pad is shaped in the triangles of the centennial symbol.

Next was the village of Vilna, an area known for excellent mushroom picking. In a park near the centre of the village stand three mushrooms built in 1993 and each measuring 20 feet high. The mushrooms are of the trichloma uspale variety, which are used as a traditional ingredient in the region’s ethnic dishes.

Smoky Lake was a few more miles down the road. We arrived the day after the annual pumpkin weigh-in and the Great White North Pumpkin Fair. We visited the downtown pumpkin park, a monument erected by volunteers of all ages in 2004. It consists of seven pumpkins, the tallest being nine feet high and all weighing over 32,000 pounds. 

With time flying by, we skipped two attractions that we had visited on a previous trip. Victoria Trail, a gravel road along the North Saskatchewan River, leads to the RCMP Memorial Statue. It was built in 1998 and stands over 14.5 feet high. The statue  overlooks the river and symbolizes the contributions of the RCMP to the area and to the province.

At the junction of Hwy 15 and Sec Hwy 831 is the Skaro Shrine. This elaborate orthodox shrine is the scene of an annual pilgrimage in August of each year. To climb the hill and stand at the foot of the cross is a unique experience.

Back to the current adventure, the next stop was Andrew, Alberta, home of former premier Ed Stelmach. At the end of Stelmach Avenue in the Lions Club Park flies the world’s largest Mallard duck. It has a 25-foot wingspan, weighs 3,500 pounds, and was erected in 1992 to represent the town’s association with nearby Whitford Lake and the abundant water fowl that gathers there.

A few kilometers further and we were in Mundare, “sausage capital of Alberta” and home of Stawnichy’s Meat Processing, a popular garlic sausage producer. In a park on Main Street stands the world’s largest sausage. Erected in 2001, the sausage is 42 feet high, 14 feet across, and weighs about six tones.

We completed our adventure with supper in Leduc and "home" to our fifth wheel parked in the Leduc Lions Campground.

All work and no play? - football rivalry in the workplace

It’s game day!

That could mean that it is the day for the annual Advocate-sponsored bus trip to see the Edmonton Eskimos game. Or it could mean that Ken will wear his hoodie all day to promote his Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Or maybe Edith will be sporting her green capris with white t-shirt and Saskatchewan Roughrider shoes, socks and pendant.

Everyone knows that Fred, the publisher, is a Hamilton Tiger Cat fan. He displays his colors, at least verbally, on a regular basis. There are several Calgary Stampeder fans among the staff, balanced by the ever-loyal but quieter Edmonton Eskimo supporters.

Whichever is the case, there is a fun rivalry through the Canadian Football League (CFL) season at the Red Deer Advocate.

Of course, when I was a new employee I was not aware of these individual loyalties. I started in September, and into October the peer pressure was mounting to participate in the Halloween ritual of a costume contest. I don’t usually have much to do with Halloween, so to humor my co-workers, I dressed up – in ‘Rider gear. The judges took a look, laughed and shook their heads.

The next year, I searched the internet for an inexpensive costume idea. I wore black, covered the shirt with “Dollar Store” fake spider web, spiked my hair and presented myself as the Web Site. Fred, who was one of the three judges, commented, “Well it’s better than last year’s ‘Rider gear!”

I gave up on accommodating Halloween, but it certainly established my status as a Roughrider fan. The teasing continues, and I still cheer for those Saskatchewan Roughriders!

Merry Christmas, summer style

Last weekend was Christmas at our place. The day was fun and the turkey dinner was delicious!

Most of the preceding week was spent in preparation. The small Christmas tree and some decorations were retrieved from storage and set up in the vacant house in the farmyard we are tending. The appliances are still in the house, so we used the stove and fridge and set up a folding table for our meal. It was arranged with Christmas tablecloth and placemats, napkins and place cards for the occasion.

There was a gigantic garage sale taking place on Friday, so at lunch hour I found a little more décor to supplement my meager supply. Santa hats and Christmas stockings add a festive flair to a bare wall.

The kids arrived in the afternoon, eager to display their latest “toys” and new tent. They discovered several small frogs in the grass in the “back 40” which kept them occupied for awhile. “I’ve never caught frogs on Christmas Day before!”

When an afternoon rain shower came, we took shelter in the house and looked at the photos I had been scrapbooking while we munched on mandarin oranges, peanuts, cookies and holiday rice krispie cake. Yes, colored rice krispies are only in the store in December, but we had saved enough for one cake!

Then it was time for final Christmas dinner preparations.

The cook was at his finest, with turkey, stuffing, potatoes & gravy (lots of it), corn, cranberry sauce, jello, and homemade buns. It was everything we had anticipated and more. Conversation lulled as “the bird” and its trimmings were devoured.

The kids then washed the dishes while Lyle sat by for a well-deserved rest and Edith cleared the table.

The evening was spent in a rousing game of Mexican Train, a domino game that is easy to learn but hard to predict. The competition was fierce, although nobody could find a working pen so we didn’t keep score.

All too soon the day was over and we had to come back to reality and prepare for another work week. But having Christmas dinner in July makes for a great excuse to cook a turkey!

Would you register your pressure cooker?

Several years ago when drive-by shootings and murders were becoming prevalent, our government brought in the gun registry. The idea was to prevent gun crime by registering the guns.

In the Boston Marathon bombings of 2013, the explosives were found to have been in pressure cookers. In the alleged planned attack in Victoria on Canada Day, pressure cooker bombs were the planned weapon.

 

RCMP evidence photo of pressure cookers
prepared for an attack at the British Columbia
legislature on Canada Day 2013

So the question presents itself: If the government fought gun crime by registering the guns, will they try to thwart the latest bombing crime by registering pressure cookers?

The latter scenario is seen as humorous, most people would laugh at the thought. But the former situation actually happened. Does it not give one pause to wonder at the logic?

It does not eliminate the crime to control the method of the crime. If murder is the purpose, the murderer will use any weapon available to commit the killing. If that weapon is a gun, the chances are excellent that it would not be a registered gun that would be used.

To truly fight crime it is not the weapon, but the person behind the weapon, that must change. When an evil-minded person changes from the inside out, replacing the evil thoughts and intentions with good, the crime will no longer be an issue. When a person is busy working and doing good things for others it makes them feel good about themselves and eliminates the intentions of harm.

So what would you do to make your country a safer place? Would you register your pressure cooker?

Problem solved, free and effectively!

We had planted a little garden and set out three tomato plants. To my delight, I found a few “tomato cages” and reached across the fence to salvage them.

What was tickling my leg? I looked down to see the entire back of my leg covered with lively little ants. Yuck! As I did my stomping happy dance to get rid of the ants, I stepped on one of the cages. Oh well, it had been bent already, it would straighten enough to use.

After mowing the lawn, my husband commented about how many ant hills there were. He had run over so many and thought something should be done about them. That led to a discussion and some internet research on various methods of ridding a lawn of ant hills. Some ideas were only meant to cause the ants to move. That wouldn’t work, they would only move into our friend’s crop. Neither did we want to use anything that would harm other birds or animals.

The next day we were relaxing in our RV when we heard a pecking sound. There on the edge of the window, only inches from us, was a bird. The bird could not see us because of the reflective coating on the window, so we had a very good look at her and took some pictures.

 

From the shape and length of the beak we thought it may be some kind of woodpecker. That was confirmed by a friend’s comment to my posting of a picture on Facebook. So I went to Wikipedia and looked up woodpeckers in Alberta. Almost to the bottom of the list, there it was – the Northern Flicker. The identity was confirmed by my cousin in British Columbia and by a friend in Manitoba.

As I read about the characteristics of this bird, we discovered that Flickers like open areas surrounded by large trees, just like this yard. They are the only kind of woodpecker to feed on the ground. Their diet is primarily insects, and 45% of their diet is ants.

By this time we realized there were two more Flickers around the yard. That would be at least three birds consuming ants for half of their diet. All we needed to do was make them feel welcome and watch them eat!

Many times in the days since this discovery, we have seen our Flicker friends perched on the lawn, pounding at an ant hill. They could find the hills easily and seemed to be happy.

Today the lawn was mowed once again, but there was much less activity on the ant hills. We are thankful we did not have time to treat the ants with anything deadly. The solution was right in the yard. It is free and effective!

It needs to be done by April!

Living in an RV for the summer requires preparation. There are the obvious changes – move the clothes in, put the groceries back in the cupboards, take extras back to storage, etc. – and there are other things not as obvious but just as important.

I have a spring “to do” list. I have been working sporadically since January to complete this list. It goes something like this:

1. Purge the closet. One of the most limited spaces in an RV is the closet. Each season requires a review and a purging of the unnecessary. Did we purchase something new? Then something has to go. Shopping on our September Oregon trip made this a crucial step in preparing for the coming summer.

2. Scan the memories. I have always been a scrapbookker. My bits and pieces go back to high school days – a napkin, a wedding invitation, that tidbit from the paper about a friend, an obituary. I still hang on to those things in a file throughout the summer, but the items are scanned and organized on my computer before heading out for the next season.

3. Clean the files. Anyone who keeps financial records knows how full the files can become from January to December. After the January bills arrive, I review each file in the drawer and clean out the previous year’s information. That way my one drawer has sufficient space for another summer.

4. Complete tax returns. The dreaded income tax forms are easier to deal with while I still have a large table to spread things out and work on them. So I complete them as soon as the T4s have arrived, but I mail them at the end of April!

5. Back up the computer. RVs are vulnerable to more hazards than a traditional house, such as wind, collisions, etc. If tragedy were to strike, I want to have access to everything I need to get us back up and running. I also do not want to lose my pictures in such an occurrence. So I move most of the photos to a small external drive that goes with us, and back everything up to a larger external drive that we keep in our storage unit. Then I save the essentials to a small flash drive to keep in my purse. It’s a two-day operation!

With my five-point list complete, I can now do the final sorting and packing for our return to “home”. The piano was already loaded on Monday while we had available help. The RV also had its maintenance check on Monday. Friday (tomorrow) evening we’ll be camping again!

Life is good on the Oregon Coast

Casting cares to the wind, the decision was made. Our friends and us would spend two days together on the Oregon Coast. There would be no mention of everyday concerns – health, financial or otherwise. It was time for a break, time to have fun!

We started at Newport where the male sea lions, who spend their summer mating along the California coast, had returned for the winter months. Their loud barking and territorial behavior attracts thousands of visitors. They lay on large anchored wharfs to soak in the sun. Watching them squabble as they vie for position is entertaining.

 

We then ventured out to the tip of a peninsula to visit the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast.

 

“The light has been active since Head Keeper Fayette Crosby walked up the 114 steps, to light the wicks on the evening of August 20, 1873. At that time the oil burning fixed white light was displayed from sunset to sunrise. Today, the fully automated first order Fresnel lens runs on commercial power and flashes its unique pattern of 2 seconds on, 2 seconds off, 2 seconds on, 14 seconds off, 24 hours a day. The oil burning wicks have been replaced with a 1000 watt globe.

The nightly vigil of watching the light is gone as are the resident keepers and their quarters, but the staff of the Bureau of Land Management, who are now responsible for the tower, guide you through the lighthouse with tales of yesteryear” (www.yaquinalights.org).

All four of us climbed the 114 steps to see the lens at the top and hear the guide’s stories and descriptions of lighthouse operation. It was an unforgettably unique experience!

We stopped at various scenic views and lookouts as we meandered along the highway. Each was unique and each was beautiful. An interesting item at most stops was the large sign about what to do in case of finding tsunami debris. In our hotel room was a map for the tsunami escape route.

We overnighted in Manzanita at a cozy motel only a block from the ocean. Spindrift Inn was built in 1946, modern and clean but with antique charm. The morning walk down the beach was delightful. We purposely chose quaint, out-of-the-way restaurants to add to the adventure, resulting in some unique dining experiences.

Another stop was at Hug Point, where we explored caves and streams and each had a picture taken to remember the spot. I have since learned that the name comes from before the highway was built, when stagecoaches or wagons had to travel along the beach and hug the point even at low tide.

 

A hug at Hug Point!

Our last stop was at Fort Stevens State Park, former site of a military fort that operated for 84 years, from the Civil War to World War II. Time was limited, but we had a quick glimpse into the past from a military view. On the museum grounds was a garden where families could plant a rose bush in memory of a veteran.

 

The mini-trip ended with pizza at St. Helens, Oregon. It was within sight of Mt. St. Helens, Washington, the mountain that erupted in 1980  and was as close to that location as we reached during the trip.

What a great two days we had. The sightseeing and camaraderie made for sweet memories!

Everything's rosey in Washington Park!

When we first arrived at Portland, Oregon, our friends wanted to know what we would like to see. Our request was that they show us their Portland, the places to which they go for joy and inspiration.

So on a hot, September morning we headed up a curvy, hillside road through shady trees to Washington Park, the site of the International Rose Test Garden.

 

Wikipedia captures the concept of this rose garden well:

“The International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden in Washington Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. There are over 7,000 rose plants of approximately 550 varieties. The roses bloom from April through October with the peak coming in June, depending on the weather. New rose cultivars are continually sent to the garden from many parts of the world and are tested for color, fragrance, disease resistance and other attributes. It is the oldest continuously operating public rose test garden in the United States and exemplifies Portland's nickname of the City of Roses.”

As we exited the car, one could smell the fragrance of roses in the air. For hours, we strolled through row upon row of roses of every color and type. Some were climbing on trellaces, some were in groups, prolific and small, some were on single bushes, hugely layered.

There were smaller “gardens” within the Garden, each with a theme: Shakespeare, miniature, formal, etc. Each was different, all were gorgeous.

In one area, volunteers were busy deadheading the plants. They considered the roses “not at their best”, waning toward the end of the season. But for we who had never seen the garden in June, it was breathtaking!

  

A brick walkway in the garden, The Queens’ Walk” displayed bronze stars with names, one for each queen of Portland’s Rose Festival since 1907.

Before leaving, we visited the Rose Garden Store. That is where one can buy anything with a roses theme – clothing, jewellery, stationery, dishes, teas, honey.

The International Rose Test Garden was definitely a place of joy and inspiration!

                                                                                  (photos by Edith H. Doell)

A day on the Mt. Hood Scenic Loop

There were four trips we especially desired to make when we moved into our RV in 2010. Three had been accomplished, so we were determined to complete the list with an adventure to Oregon.

After hours of driving through Washington wilderness, we headed west along the Columbia River to Portland, Oregon. There we reconnected with friends we had not seen in person for over thirty years. It was quite a reunion!

On our first day of exploring, they took us on the Mt. Hood Scenic Loop.

Our first stop was a viewpoint overlooking the Sandy River. This river also flowed past the campground where we stayed. The marker claimed it to be the location of “the first house west of the Cascades”. Whatever the reason, it was a beautiful spot.

Heading further down the loop, we took a short side trip to Mt. Hood, the highest point in Oregon and the location of Timberline Lodge. This beautiful stone and timber building was built 75 years ago. It boasts of 70 guest rooms and 34,000 sq. ft. of space, including restaurant, lounge areas, gift shop, etc. It is used as a ski lodge, hotel, and mountain retreat. We wandered through some of the Lodge and admired the craftsmanship.

 

The road then took us through an area of orchards. We stopped at a fruit stand to look around, then continued to Hood River, where we had lunch. Turning back toward Portland, we next explored the Bonnyville Fish Hatchery. Though the hatchery was between seasons of full operation at the time, we did see the feeding pond stocked with rainbow trout, rearing ponds, and a walk-through display of sturgeon.

From there, we followed Hwy 30, “Historic Highway”, a narrow paved road with many sharp turns featuring several waterfalls, the highest of which is Multnomah Falls at 611 feet. We did not venture up to Benson Bridge, a walkway that spans the falls between the upper and lower cascades. But the view left one in awe of the beauty and force of nature.

 

The final stop of the day was Crown Point, a unique viewpoint. The highway winds around the focal point, a large stone structure named Vista House.

 Within Vista House one can climb stairs and view the majestic scenery of the area. It would not be difficult to spend hours at that place, taking in the features of each direction, watching the boats on the Columbia River, and enjoying the light breeze.

 We did not have hours to spend, so after admiring the views briefly we returned to “headquarters”.

**Stay tuned for part 2 of the trip, discovering Portland, city of roses.

In celebration of Pi Day

There were no celebrations in Algebra class when I went to school. It wasn’t until 1988 that Pi Day began to be celebrated. That’s when Larry Shaw, a physicist at the San Francisco Exploratorium, led the staff in a march around a circular space followed by a feast of fruit pies (ref. Wikipedia).

With the advent of social media, Pi Day has become better known. It is celebrated on March 14, or 3/14. If you recall those formulas from Algebra class, you know that the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant is approximately 3.14159. It is used to calculate the circumference of a circle (π x diameter, or 2π x radius).

Well, today was March 14, or 3.14, or Pi Day. I was reminded of that when I first looked at Facebook, so I had a little fun asking a couple of my co-workers if they knew it was Pi Day. Both of them had also seen it.

One then asked the big question: “What do you do to celebrate Pi Day?”

After a little brainstorming, we supposed the thing to do would be to eat pie. But what kind of pie, and what if one is trying not to eat pastries and dessert?

That’s when the brilliant idea surfaced. The menu item for supper should be Shepherd’s Pie! We shared a laugh and parted ways.

At lunch time, I gave my husband, Lyle, a phone call. He is the one who usually makes our supper. “Want a menu idea for supper?” I asked him. “We could have Shepherd’s Pie.” I shared the explanation of where I was coming from with the idea, but he didn’t sound too impressed.

At 5:00 pm, Lyle picked me up from work. But he did not drive down the usual street toward home. I wondered what he was up to. Were we picking up the mail? No, he drove past the mall. Was it maybe more bird seed he was after? No, he turned before Peavey Mart.

He parked at Humpty’s restaurant, then informed me that we were going out for supper. He had enlisted daughter’s help and had found out that Humpty’s menu included Shepherd’s Pie.

  

When we ordered, I shared a condensed version of the story with the waitress. She looked a little bewildered but caught the humor of the occasion. When she brought the skillets to the table it was with a big smile and “Happy Pi Day!”. Even better, she joined the fun and took 10% off our bill.

I would like to have seen my co-worker’s face when she read my text message, “At humptys, they serve shepherds pie”. Her reply was, “Oh. Nice!!”

Someone once said, “Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.” We’re never too old to have fun. Besides, it was a way to decide what to have for supper. I can’t remember ever ordering Shepherd’s Pie at a restaurant before.

So whether you ever liked math class or not, have a happy pi day!

Career decisions never end

Having had a glimpse of a more “professional” occupation while working as an insurance broker or senior administrative assistant, there are times when opportunity knocks and I feel obliged to at least see what’s there.

This was the case over the past couple weeks. There were two sales rep. positions open at the Red Deer Advocate, where I currently work, and the prospect of a new challenge caused me to give it some consideration.

I don’t mind the work I do now. In Advertising Services, we enter the details of the newspaper ads and flyers into computer. We are also the first step of creating the newspaper. We do the initial layout, determining where the advertising is placed, then send the pages to the editorial department. When I’m not doing that, I work one day per week in the newsroom, posting the stories and photos from the paper to the web site.

I have never been much of a salesperson. If something isn’t viable enough to sell itself, I would not likely get far. But I see the sales people come and go each day and know that they are making considerably more salary than I. They work independently and visit a variety of people and businesses every day. Except for a few stories brought back, it seems pretty easy.

Then my rational, practical side kicked in. A higher salary always comes with greater risk, responsibility and stress, especially a commission-based pay scale. The customers are not always cheerful or compliant, and the driving would be in all kinds of weather. With a cataract coming on and a tremor in my hands, how could I even think I could be successful? Besides, I would have to give up my optional day in the newsroom and I really enjoy working there.

Of course, the latter argument won and I didn’t apply for the change. I then mentioned it to my husband, who heartily agreed with that decision. So I will continue where I am, and be more satisfied doing so because I have looked at both sides and made a conscious decision.

Back to work I go!

Education at the Auction

Last weekend I yielded to the pleading of my daughter for a ride to an auction sale. It wasn’t a difficult task on her part to persuade me. I rather enjoy attending a farm or estate auction once in a while. This particular one was partly estate/antiques and partly police seizures.

Most of the crowd was there for the police seizure action. That was obvious by the bidding on the furniture. A lovely china cabinet with matching table, including two leaves and six chairs, went for $100. There was a lovely sewing centre for sale, and tens of containers of fabric, thread, yarn and sewing notions. When the time comes for us to “hang up the keys” and furnish a home again, I know where I’ll be heading and I don’t mean the store!

Then came the section so many were waiting for. The items for auction were in themselves an education. They were seized following break and enter (B&E) arrests, unclaimed by former owners. Each item was sealed in plastic before being sent for auction. There were playstations, sunglasses, GPS units, radar detectors, digital cameras and jewellery. That is a good list of items one should never leave in sight when parking a vehicle!

There was some “equipment” of the B&E occupation as well. Several crowbars, wire cutters, an axe and three metal baseball bats were among the items sold. There was also a turbo booster for a Ford truck, explained as an item used to make the vehicle go faster. The auctioneer suggested that the purchaser should also bid on a radar detector!

Perhaps the most entertaining item was a set of three hub caps. Not four, but three. Presumably the thugs were caught before the fourth one was removed. The victim of that particular theft was not in the audience because they had a hard time to get even one bid.

After a few hours, we were tired of sitting and of jostling for position to see through the crowd. We returned home empty-handed, except for daughter’s $5 gun rack for holding her fishing rods.

But I believe we were a little more aware of our vulnerability to break and enter theft. I, for one, will be more careful of where I leave valuables.

Off to the RV show

Saturday was the big day we had been waiting for. We were up and away by 8:00 am to attend the 2013 Edmonton RV Expo.

The kids (adult) went along for their first large RV show experience. They spent the day looking and dreaming over the vast displays of RVs, from pop-ups and vans to multi-thousand dollar motor homes and fifth wheels.

My husband and I did some looking, too, but our first hours were spent in the trade show area. There we picked up current issues of maps and campground guides for B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan. We found brochures from areas we may have time to explore when we go to our nephew’s wedding this summer. We also made our only camping-related purchase of the day and replaced the mat that wore out last year.

 At noon we met to eat lunch and swap stories. The choices at the concession were pricey, but were fresh and delicious. Lyle and Jeff had pizza, Melanie had a sub and I (Edith)tried the “monster burger”.

Then it was off for more exploring. While the other three were stubborn and walked, I rode on a courtesy golf cart to the far end of the exhibits. My driver was also an RVer so we had a quick discussion on the units we owned.

When Lyle played out, I made another round of the display booths. There was everything imaginable to do with camping - RV lots, steam cleaners, Tupperware, satellite dishes, travel destinations, cookware, insurance, and resorts.

What would “Memorial Services” have to do with an RV show? The representative was alone at the time, so I asked her. The product made sense – RVers travel, and the exhibitor sells insurance to return a body home if death occurs while more than 100 km from home base. Hmmm…

I had to stop when I recognized the fellow at the GO Solar booth. He also remembered me from attending his Solar 101 seminar two times when we were starting out. We shared a couple stories and a good laugh. I was told to keep preaching, it would keep him in business!

We missed some of the folks not represented this year as in the past. The Alaska Caravan organization was not there so Lyle as unable to dream over their literature, and the Good Sam club was not represented (I had some questions for them). I missed my chat with Kim from Kimbers Creations. If you need RV skirting, she is the one to see. There were also no seminars, one of the highlights of RV shows past.

Overall, it was a good day. The walking certainly gave one a good workout and the information will provide food for thought for a long time. With show date past it is now less than ten weeks until we move home. Come on, Spring!

Growing up with Grandma

Early February for me is accompanied by a flood of memories of my grandmother.

Grandma’s health did not allow her to live alone in her big house after my grandfather died, so my parents built a room onto the old farmhouse and Grandma moved in with us. I was seven years old at the time, so grew up with Grandma being part of the family.

Her birthday was February 9. No other social invitations were to be accepted on that weekend. All the relatives would be gathering at our house for Grandma’s birthday, and we were to be there! My mind fills with mixed emotions of those times.

One of Grandma’s pastimes was rolling bandage material for missionary hospitals in Africa. She would collect old bed sheets from the women of our church and cut the edges into strips. Then she would place a hard suitcase on her bed and have me sit on one side to keep the fabric taught as she rolled the material to be used for bandages. It gave us long opportunities to chat.

Every Sunday afternoon Grandma wrote letters, usually to her sister in Florida and her brothers in Minnesota and Carolina. Sometimes I would interrupt her for a visit and hear stories of these people. It was a lesson by example of faithful communication in an era when keeping in touch was more difficult than now.

Sometimes Grandma would join me at the piano with her German hymn book. She would sing as I played some of her favorite pieces. She liked to tease that I could play well in German!

An evening with no homework was occasion for a game of Chinese Checkers with Grandma. She taught me all the tips and tricks of the game, but would still win!

One flower bed in our yard held a red carnation. The container was a used tractor tire and Grandma could sit on the tire edge to weed and tend the carnation plant. Under her care, it grew prolifically and was a sea of red blooms!

When I was learning to drive, Dad purchased a car with an automatic transmission. The concept impressed Grandma, who would comment, “Wouldn’t it be something if you could just push a button and steer!” I often think of that when I go on the highway and hit the cruise control.

Grandma received Christmas gifts from friends and family by mail. She would be curious and want to open them when they arrived. We would tease her and convince her to wait for Christmas day.

One winter Monday morning Grandma got up and ate breakfast as usual, complete with her cup of Postum. She wasn’t feeling well so returned to her room to lay down for awhile. There she had a heart attack and died. My brother picked me up at school with the news. It was the end of nine years of memory-making.

Only as I became an adult did I realize the unique and special privilege it was to live with my grandmother and to know her so well. Happy birthday, Grandma. Auf wiedersehen, gute nacht!

Cell phone evolution – when will it tie my shoes?

Was there life before cell phones? Sure! It was different—quieter, less pressured, more trusting.

I liked being able to visit with a friend over coffee and actually visit with that friend, no interruptions. I liked to know that when I was out shopping, I was totally unhindered by reminders of other obligations. Nobody could contact me. I was free. The trust factor came in when one was uncertain of an answer. One made their best decision, and the other party had to trust their judgment. It all worked out in the end, usually. If communication was really necessary, there was a pay phone at every shopping mall or gas station.

When we moved to the country and I began to commute long distances to work every day, I purchased my first cell phone. I did not want to have car trouble and be another statistic of an Alberta winter.

With a cell phone, I had the assurance that if anything critical happened while I was out, I could be contacted. There were many trips to the store saved by a phone request for another item while I was there. I liked to be able to take care of a short call when I thought of it (oh, how we forgetful folk have quickly learned to depend on that feature!), and my phone directory handily contained access codes and other useful trivia for a wandering mind.

The car trouble concern was not ill-founded either. I was en route to work one winter morning when the alternator died. Without even opening the door to cool the car, I called my husband and waited for his assistance. Another time (and vehicle) I was travelling along Hwy 2 when the timing belt broke. With safety a concern, I was able to lock the doors and phone, thankful that I did not need to walk for help.

My first cellphone was large in size and short on battery. Then the Motorola Startac came out, small enough to fit in a pocket, would stay charged all day, and had five ring tones. Wow!

I used my StarTac for several years, until the battery refused to see me through a short conversation. After that came the “Mike”. The two-way calling feature was incredibly handy, but the phone was not of much use outside Alberta.

In 2010, we cancelled our connections to land lines when we moved into our RV. It was a challenge to know what features and how much airtime was needed. Even yet I find that cell plans are geared more to the texting and entertainment user and need to be adjusted to accommodate older, mobile adults with long distance needs. Mobile internet is a whole other story – and a costly one.

The contracts with which we started our adventure are now about to expire. I have spent many hours researching companies, phones and plans for the most economical combination for our situation. Each has advantages and drawbacks.

I have decided to embark on a new learning experience, the smartphone, with more uses and gadgets than one has time to explore. I will be able to talk, text, consult the internet, read books, take pictures, play games and so much more. But it still won’t tie my shoes!

***After further thought and consultation, I have kept my basic flip phone for another two years and will assess my visual and physical limitations next renewal. -ED