Well, what can I say? I guess I can begin with an episode about a well. As there has been so much rainfall all summer, strange things are showing up in places where they never were before. A case in point might be my garden. Over the last 10 years I have rototilled and worked the garden with nothing strange happening, however this year I was simply walking across the pea patch when my leg dropped into a hole.
After pulling myself out, or at least my leg, I explored to find that an old well had opened up. There was about five feet of air and then about three feet of soupy mud at the bottom of the hole. The hole was definitely an old well as it was three feet in diameter and was cribbed with wood. In the early years of the village a livery stable sat on that lot and I assume the well had been there for watering horses.
My real concern is how many other old abandoned wells have sunk and are just waiting for some unsuspecting human or animal to step on them? Maybe this is a good reason not to be exploring old farmsteads, at least alone.
It was very good to see the four Graham boys in Rabbit Lake this weekend. Earl, David, Gerald and Keith were here to do some work for their family and some exploring of old haunts. It has been over 40 years since the family lived here so it was good to do some reminiscing.
This last week has been a tough one for Rabbit Lake and district. Over two weeks we have lost three community members.
Lorne Salisbury passed away at the age of 84, July 18. Except for a very few winters when Lorne worked in lumber camps, he spent his entire life in the Mullingar area where he grain farmed and raised cattle. The last year or so Lorne had been a resident in the Spiritwood Lodge. The funeral was held in Rabbit Lake July 23. The Rabbit Lake community sends its sympathies to the extended Salisbury family.
A long-time lake resident, Bob Dobni of Crescent Beach passed away at the lake, July 22. Bob was a sure sight at any bunnock tournaments, a supporter of many Rabbit Lake events and an avid scout of wild saskatoons, Bob's family hosted a celebration of Bob's life in the Rabbit Lake Hall July 27. We will miss Bob in many ways and are glad that he chose Rabbit Lake to be his retirement home.
Adele Bennett passed away July 27, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Cliff and Adele joined this community after moving here from Eatonia and have operated a successful cattle operation. Adele also worked at Stacey/Valley Ford in North Battleford. Our condolences go out to Cliff and to Alisha.
New to Rabbit Lake is Mrs. Cecilia Horn who is a resident at Rose Gill Lodge. Welcome to your new home and to the village. Also new is a baby boy born to Doug and Shelly MacKinnon July 18, Henry James, a brother for Jack. Henry weighed in at seven pounds and four ounces. Grandparents are Neil and Fay MacKinnon of North Battleford and Randy and Kathy Aumack of Rabbit Lake.
The Rabbit Lake Seniors Centre was the site of a Pampered Chef bridal shower for Candace Kuffert, daughter of Eric and Karen Kuffert, July 28. The wedding will be held at Meeting Lake Regional Park Aug. 11.
Some upcoming events that might be of interest are daily Vacation Bible School for all children age four to the completion of Grade 6. This year the DVBS will be held from Aug. 6-10 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Glenbush Mennonite Brethren Church. The Rabbit Lake branch of the Lakeland Library is once again holding a bottle and can drive to fundraise for activities that the library sponsors. Cans and bottles will be accepted from Aug. 8 until Aug. 29 and can be deposited in the can in front of the library.
Also the library is sponsoring Lakeland Summer Players; Emily, Emma-Leigh and Dylan will be presenting puppet shows, skits and songs Aug. 18 at 2 p.m. at the library. SaskTel, TD Summer Reading Club, the Lakeland Library Region and the Saskatchewan Library Association sponsor this program.
The Village of Rabbit Lake will be holding its annual Rabbit Lake Days, also Aug. 18, sponsored by the Rabbit Lake and District Board of Trade. The day will begin with a pancake breakfast provided by the Rabbit Lake and District Museum Association, a barbecued burger lunch done by the Rabbit Lake Rec Centre, a bunnock tournament, children's activities and face painting and a village-wide garage sale/flea market. For information, contact Brenda Aumack at the village office. Come prepared to have some fun Rabbit lake style!
Crops around Rabbit Lake are fantastic. Last week we saw a deer in a field of canola. Well actually we saw the tips of its ears just above the canola and yes, the deer was standing up. Let's pray that the frost and the hail stay away and that this crop gets safely into the bin.
So here is a parting point - take a look on your table or in your pantry or in your freezer. How much of the food do you see that was not produced on a farm somewhere? I would bet that there is not very much so hats off to the farmers.
