Rural Routes, Blog Version

Neighbours of ours attended a Winnipeg memorial event this summer for the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association (Prairie Region).

Afterwards they showed us a brochure handed out at the event. “Little Known Facts: ‘C’ Force, Canadian Army Brigade, Southeast Pacific, World War 2. Included in the brochure was this paragraph and accompanying photo:

The first Canadian to be killed in action was Private John Gray of The Winnipeg Grenadiers, aged 21, from Langruth, Manitoba. He was killed on December 13, 1941.

We knew this already, but there was something special and solemn about seeing it in print, validated by historical research and disseminated for a wider audience.

John Gray’s sister married my father-in-law’s brother, so there is a family connection, although not a blood one.

THE COST OF COOKIES

After our new oven arrived and was installed, I decided to bake cookies, choosing a recipe that has been used so many times that the cursive on the recipe card is almost obliterated by the spills from decades of use.

Partway through the process, I discovered that I did not have any cream of tartar. Lucky for me I can just walk to the grocery store, I thought. In olden days, lacking an ingredient would have meant a four-mile drive to town.

I was surprised to see that my little tin of cream of tartar had a price tag of $7.49 and I said so to the cashier.

“Well, at least, it will last a long time,” she replied.

True enough.

And the $7.49 cream of tartar was nothing compared to the $71 turkey my husband saw in a freezer compartment.

SEPTEMBER REMEMBER

A YouTube influencer by the name of Dominic Riccitello has said,“I used to love September, but now it just rhymes with remember.”

I don’t know Riccitello, but I rather like the quote.

I do love September. I love the cooler mornings and the changing colours. I love the rituals of cleaning out the garden, racing the frost for the last of the tomatoes. I have always loved the return to classes, first as a student, then as a parent. I love the return to routine.

My husband and I got married in September (a farm wedding during harvest? Shame on us). This year we mark our 45^th anniversary. There are lots of things to remember there.

My dad’s birthday was in September. My youngest brother was born and died in September. A woman I came to call my adopted mother during my university days died in September, too.

As we go through life, every month has its things to remember, some months more than others.

BEARS, SKUNKS AND BUNNIES

Our rural friends tell us that bears are numerous these days, causing havoc with crops still in the ground and bales not yet moved to the farmyard.

Urban friends tell us about the skunks in their back and front yards.

It is that time of year, the pre-hibernation phase.

A little rabbit spends time on our patio. We do not know where its mother is, or any siblings it might have. It is always alone. My research indicates that bunnies are ready to go out on their own at three weeks.

It seldom ventures more than six inches off the patio and, if startled, it dashes under the barbecue. In time, it will no doubt venture further and then we will see it no more.

It provides our cat with hours of entertainment, and we like it, too.

There are Canada geese in the sky and geese in the fields. Some people call them prairie pigeons and their calling cards are messy, but whenever I see or hear them, I feel I am at home.

WORDLE EMBARRASSMENT

I failed at Wordle this morning. My brain balked at the ealy morning challenge.

“Wordle in 2”, I see on social media. “Wordle in 3”. And sometimes, miraculously, “Wordle in 1”.

I’ve had some of those. But not this morning.

I think we should advertise our failures as often as we talk about our successes. That way we won’t feel alone, but rather part of that large and sometimes voiceless group that failed today but will try again tomorrow.

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