The New Year came in milder, which was nice. Then the snow followed and the deep freeze set in, but we can cope with that. Meota workers do a fantastic job of cleaning the streets and alleys, especially compared to other villages I鈥檝e visited. I鈥檓 sure people appreciate it. Another item I noticed was that the garbage tags in Turtleford are $3, while ours are $1, a difference that does add up at year end.
One item you could add to your new year resolutions is to join the Meota Fitness Centre group who work out in the gym area between the big hall and the town office, in the Community Complex. For information contact Robert Iverson at 306-892-4626.
When Tyhee Lake froze over in December at Telkwa, B.C., it was like a sheet of glass聽 and nearly 200 people turned out to enjoy the rare occasion before it was snowed over.
There are 18,000 more people in Saskatchewan now, than there were a year ago. So the housing situation doesn鈥檛 get better, very quickly.
My friend in Calgary, Atla. has family in Kamloops, B.C. and they told her the kids in pre-school are learning how to arrange flowers. Parents are chosen at random to send flowers to school, twice a week, so they can practise making arrangements. Boy, in our day, we were lucky to have lunches to take to school, and wherever would we have found the flowers?
Likewise, many schools do not teach cursive writin鈥� any more. When this friend found out her granddaughter couldn鈥檛 write, hence would not be able to read the family treasures, including old letters, that she would someday inherit, Gramma had a fit. So guess what they do when they get together. On phoning her different family members she found that some schools teach it briefly, while others not at all.
Canasta was played at the Do Drop In Dec. 19, with top marks by Linda Ard and John Soloninko, and second high by Cora Christiansen and Bev McCrimmon. It was a nice Christmasy evening with the decorations done up nicely. The following date of Jan. 2 was cancelled due to the new snow and cold temperatures.
A dozen or more Christmas carolers toured the village on Monday evening, Dec. 22, to everyone鈥檚 delight. They travelled in a wagon with Marcel and Annette Duhaime鈥檚 team of Clydesdales, from Edam area. The carolers seemed to enjoy their outing, too, all helping folks get into the Christmas spirit.
The cold temperatures invaded the United States too, and at Mesquite, Nev. where the campers usually stop and put water into their rigs, it was -5. It鈥檚 supposed to be safe from freezing from there on. Las Vegas had a snowstorm on New Year鈥檚 Eve, that doesn鈥檛 happen often. Blair and Erna Corbeil were in Palm Springs, Calif. after Christmas, and they said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 cold!鈥�
The North Stars hockey team is hosting the Jackfish Lake Ice Fishing Derby Feb. 14, more info will be showing up I鈥檓 sure, before then.
The next monthly meeting of the seniors will be Friday a.m. at 10:30, at the Do Drop In. Come with new ideas and support this active group.
Gwen Lacerte drove out to Rocky Mountain House, Alta. to spend the holiday with her son Philip and Yvonne Lacerte and their family. She also visited her daughter Gail and Keith Hallett near Niton Junction, west of Edmonton.
Yvette Lessard and her family celebrated their family Christmas at the Do Drop In Dec. 20. Then Yvette spent a few days over Christmas with her son Andrew and Claire. On Boxing Day her grandson Jason and Crystal came from Saskatoon to visit her at her son Dan and Charlene鈥檚 home in North Battleford. They brought their family of three girls and little twin boys, which made a very interesting day for all.
Then she visited her son Raymond and Sheila Lessard in Battleford聽 Jan. 2.
Walter and Mary Tait hosted Christmas with their three children and their families all being present, which made for a gorgeous day for everyone.
Beulah Corbiel spent Christmas with her son Blair and Erna at Beaumont, Alta. She always enjoys the young folks and their goings on, seeing how much the little folk have grown and what they are busy at.
Library hours this year are 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 1-5 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays. Try to make use of this free facility by borrowing newspapers, books for adults or children, movies or magazines.
The walking program continues at the Community Complex, from 9 a.m. to noon daily, with exercises at 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The next Meota Lions meeting will be Thursday聽 7:30 鈥� 8:30 p.m.
Ben and Nina Byl spent Christmas Day with their daughter and her family, in North Battleford.
The Wellness Clinic will be held Jan. 14, from 12:15 鈥� 2:30 p.m. at the Do Drop In.
Starting this year, the Meota Lions Chorus will practise on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. at the Do Drop In. They welcome new voices as many folks have moved from Meota this past couple years. This is a fun-filled activity, slated to make people happy and smiling. This Wednesday the chorus will practise a bit later, following the clinic.
The seniors have slated the next shuffleboard tournament for Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Do Drop In. Please call Linda at 306-892-2179 or Yvette at 306-892-2167 so the roster can be made up ahead of time.
At times the weather channel shows the areas of the prairies where the flu cases are plentiful and there鈥檚 a lot of red showing. At first it was northern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan, but it鈥檚 spreading. The flu shots covered several kinds of flu, but not the strain that鈥檚 been predominant this winter. There鈥檚 been a few cases here in Meota so I guess it鈥檚 everywhere. There are visiting restrictions in some public places.
There is no Hobby Band dance, as listed in the new calendar on Jan. 9. The next one will be on Valentine鈥檚 Day.
Jo Carter, accompanied by Leah, Shula and Micah, drove to Winnipeg, Man. during the Christmas holidays and were there at New Year鈥檚 when they welcomed a new grandson into the world. Born to their daughter Hannah and Joel Cormie was a son, Levi Ignatius, on New Years鈥� Day.
The Christmas Eve program at the United/Anglican church in Meota was very nice, with nearly a full house to enjoy. Readings and musical numbers were lovely. Christmas songs were sung by Shar Redenburg and Lawrie Ward; a trio of girls 鈥� Meg Scorgie, Kendra Policha and Sheila Carter; a saxophone duet by Micah Carter and Riley Campbell; readings were by David Carter, Gail Scorgie, Russel Ball and Shirley Ward. The program was well put together and a pleasure to hear. Some great visiting followed as guests were in attendance who were home for the holiday.
The January noon luncheon at the Community Complex will be on Jan. 16. Let鈥檚 hope it鈥檚 some warmer by then and that the flu bug has run its course.
Contract bridge was played Monday evening at the Do Drop In with top scores going to Mary Greenwald and Warren Iverson. Not many showed up so they just played for fun.
A come and go tea honouring Marion Iverson on her 80th birthday was held in the Do Drop In Jan. 3. More than 80 people signed the guest book, as, in spite of the cold weather, folks turned out to wish her well. Her children and grandchildren made posters and聽cards to decorate the hall. The tables all had cloths and decorations. This was followed by a family supper, in the same setting, with around 30 family members. Her grandson Dan Iverson impersonated Elvis Presley, even with his dress, and they had a jam session of music after supper. Dan wrote this poem for his grandmother.
The Iverson Rock
Gordon threw a party in the Meota Bar
The bar band was there and they began to wail.
The band was jumpin鈥� and the joint began to swing
You should鈥檝e heard those knocked out rednecks sing.
Let鈥檚 rock, everybody, let鈥檚 rock.
Everybody in the whole town block
Was dancin鈥� to the Iverson Rock.
Jason Neville played the tenor saxophone
Little Rose was blowin鈥� on the slide trombone.
The drummer man from Edam went crash, boom, bang,
The whole rhythm section was the Tucker Gang.
Let鈥檚 rock, everybody, let鈥檚 rock.
Everybody in the whole town block
Was dancin鈥� to the Iverson Rock.
Marion just turned 80 and she said to me,
鈥淵ou鈥檙e the cutest Elvis I ever did see.
I sure would be delighted with your company,
Come on and do the Iverson Rock with me.鈥�
Let鈥檚 rock, everybody, let鈥檚 rock.
Everybody in the whole town block
Was dancin鈥� to the Iverson Rock.
Little Dracy was sittin鈥� on a case of Pil
Way over in the corner being all alone.
Gordon said, 鈥渉ey, Darcy, don鈥檛 you be no square
If you can鈥檛 find a partner use a wooden chair.鈥�
Let鈥檚 rock, everybody, let鈥檚 rock.
Everybody in the whole town block
Was dancin鈥� to the Iverson Rock.
Teddy Brown said to Dale, 鈥淔or heaven鈥檚 sake,
No one鈥檚 looking, now鈥檚 our chance to make a break.鈥�
Dale turned to Teddy and he said, 鈥渏ust chill
鈥淚 wanna stick around a while and drink more Pil.鈥�
Let鈥檚 rock, everybody, let鈥檚 rock.
Everybody in the whole town block
Was dancin鈥� to the Iverson Rock.
Dancin鈥� to the Iverson Rock.
Drinkin鈥� to the Iverson Rock.
Dancin鈥� to the Iverson Rock.
Marion obviously was a great Elvis fan as she has his pictures everywhere聽in her聽home. Their five children were all home and most of their families, coming from as far away as Cold Lake, Slave Lake, Lloydminster and Morinville聽in Alberta, from Vernon, B.C. and Saskatoon and closer places in Saskatchewan.
