The thing about writing

Happy Father’s Day

For all those good dads out there, including my husband, my son and step-son who know what being a father is all about. And to my dad, Fred, 91, our first Father’s Day in the same town in many, many years. I hope you like your cupcakes!

Cutworms

Anyone have suggestions about getting rid of these ornery little beasties? They’re chewing on my potato plants and I’m worried about my beans. The wrens have been clipping off my beets as they come up.

Farming. It’s always something.

You, sir, are no Tommy Douglas

 

NCA series, know your neighbours

Thanks to the Nutana Community Association for the speaker series this summer. The NCA has collected a variety of speakers on several topics. A few weeks ago, I went to learn all about bats from Kenton Lysak, senior interpreter at the Beaver Creek Conservation Area. We are going to make bat boxes to encourage the little guys to hang around and eat mosquitoes. It was my first time in the Marr Residence, a great place to learn about Saskatoon history. Last week, it was my turn. I did an author reading and talked to a small (but enthusiastic!) group about freelance writing.

Farm fresh

We headed north just past Martensville to the Sunnyside Dairy. It’s a family farm operated by Martha and Bas Froese-Kooijenga (he’s from Holland; Martha grew up here, one of 12 kids on the farm operated by her parents). What a fun visit. We took my parents (they used to have Jerseys and shipped cream in northern Alberta so Mom was excited to meet some of the cows). We had a good visit with Bas until the cows convinced him it was milking time. Martha was cheerful and friendly; we shopped in the little market for baking and perogies. Mom has since declared the perogies and gingersnaps the best she’s ever had! Anyone who wants fresh milk, baking, cheese and other must-haves should visit the website, make a list and head to the farm! And there’s even a Perogyfest in July!

 

Prairies North is here

Hey, the Summer issue of Prairies North magazine has just hit the streets.

Something else hitting the open road is a bunch of friends on their annual biker exploration of Saskatchewan. This year, it’s the 13th anniversary. Read “Touring on Two Wheels,” my article about this dedicated group, determined to cover all of this province’s highways and byways on their motorcycles. It’s “cowboy camping” all the way and even as they get older, the old rule still applies (usually): No tents allowed and pillows are frowned upon.

DCIM108GOPROGOPR0257.

DCIM108GOPROG0060346.

Other stories include Ashlyn George’s piece about paddleboarding on the Chief Whitecap Waterway (you’ll see some of the PN and Saskatoon HOME team on the cover and inside). There is some beautiful photography by Ryan Wunsch, a story about a quaint sausage stand in Val Marie, the Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site, ultra-running vets and more. Celebrate Saskatchewan with a subscription, click here

Ooo, there’s me on page 36, third from left, first time ever SUPping. My grandson Xan will be sooo impressed.

Summer HOME

It’s here!  Summer 2019 Saskatoon HOME. Just in time for some reading on the deck with a cool something in one hand, and a little respite from the yardwork ‘to do’ list.

This is a fun issue, and I’m happy to show you varied content from novelist Tony Bidulka’s reno at his Caso Rio acreage (I got to play with his dogs), to an over-the-top garden shed project for which a cattle farmer Maggie enlisted the help of a innovative handyman (he’s got dibs on garden produce for as long as he likes!). I had an interesting sit-down with Don Armstrong, one of Saskatoon’s veteran land developers. Got a tree on its last legs? Don’t be stumped! Call Saskatoon’s chainsaw magician to turn it into a work of art. You’ll see how some Varsity View homeowners get through Saskatoon winters–including this last nasty one–without a furnace. Our foodie Craig opens the pearly gates to a recipe for that Exhibition staple, the spudnut, with Amy Jo Ehamn. And there’s even more good stuff from our writers. Go online for the digital version or visit our website to find out where you can get a copy around town.

That’s Maggie Venier and her handyman/retired farmer Art Lane, reviewing the progress of her ‘she shed’ development. There’s me with author Tony and his pups Kona and Magic, and the interview with Don Armstrong talking about his four decades of development in his city.