麻豆传媒AV

What a wonderful change to our countryside as the leaves opened and the grass is growing. It is such a healthy picture, and all in green! After nearly eight months of being starkly desolate and bleak, with lower than normal temperatures, no wonder we really do appreciate the change of seasons. How can any season be better than spring? There's new calves out in the pastures, new life everywhere and water running. In the north, where I was last week, that running water was not welcome, as it rained every day but one, and it was so cold besides.

On my way out from Beauval, in Green Lake, I visited with two old friends from our Green Lake days, and in Meadow Lake with Tom and Irene Gilbert and with the Marsh family. I was interested in how Rae Marsh was doing, out in Creston, B.C., now that she is also a widow. It was a coincidence that she had arrived at the home of her son Keith, south of town only the day before, so that's where I headed. She surely was surprised. We had a lot of catching up to do, and now we both have iPads, it will be so easy to keep in touch. Rae is looking and keeping very well, which I was really pleased to hear, and see. I enjoyed supper with Keith and Carolyn and Rae before heading off to Glaslyn. Here I stayed over with my nephew Dave and Debbie Shepherd, who were anxiously waiting to get their cattle off to pasture. The grass is ready for them and the corrals are wet.

Friday, I drove on to Bapaume where I spent the day with Doreen Baynes and attended the supper at the Lakeland Church in Spiritwood. Here I met many friends and enjoyed the musical entertainment by the Country Cousins from North Battleford. Overnighting at the Bapaume Bed and Breakfast was great as usual. Saturday, Doreen and I attended the celebration of life service for the late Shirley Parker in the Civic Center, at 1 p.m. The time following the service found folks visiting over lunch and renewing acquaintances with members of Shirley and Hughbert's family and of the family of Cappie (Parker) and Eli Marin, and also with the Thomas and Herbel relations, who were there. All of Shirley and Hughbert's family was present and those who came from a distance were Hugh's brother Ken Parker from Olds, Alta., and his sister Cappie's children - Joanne O'hryn and her daughter Kirsten and her two girls Alisse and Bryn from The Pas, Man.; Leanne and Chuck Arneson from Winnipeg, Man.; David and Barbara Marin from The Pas; Linda and Darcy Davidson from Saskatoon and her daughter Jennifer and her husband; Anita Wilson from Crossfield, Alta. and her daughter Candice and her daughter Michaela; Cappie's three younger sons were not there; and from British Columbia were. Ken's niece Charlotte (Purdy) Gibbs and her husband Gerry from Quesnel ; Shirley's sister Ida and Al from Calgary, Alta.; three of Betty and Roy Herbel's children there were Lynn Herbel from North Battleford, Randy Herbel and Stephanie Herbel from Saskatoon. Now I have likely missed someone, or several, but apologize for that, I don't have the guest list.

Saturday afternoon a memorial service was held for the late Anne Story of Leoville and formerly of the Twin Bay district. Her service was held in the Anglican Church in Spiritwood May 31. She leaves her children Debbie (Daniel), Vernell (George), Kevin (Darlene), Patty (Vance), Edie (Greg), Billy (Darlene) and their families. She is survived by her sister Rose (Chris) Story, brothers Steve, Paul (Rose) and Eddie (Donna). She was buried in the Ranger Cemetary that day, followed by lunch in the Ranger Hall.

Following excessive rainfall this spring there is water everywhere - and though some crops in the Idylwild district are up and looking good, many fields cannot be worked yet. Farmers are getting their cattle ready to haul to their summer pastures - where the grass is waiting for them.

Our New Zealand visitor is seeing Canada for the first time. She's been from Edmonton, Alta. out to Smithers, B.C., then from Prince George to Kelowna, B.C., from there to Calgary via the Rogers' Pass, so she has seen mountains to compare with theirs. At this time of year there were signs of recent avalanches, fast flowing rivers and great waterfalls. She, Michele Willis, is travelling with my daughter, Joyce Rowland of Wetaskiwin, Alta., and loving it. It's a dream she's had for many years. She arrived in time to see how desolate our countryside is in its winter garb and watched as each day it turned greener. The seasonal changes in New Zealand are not nearly as drastic as growth remains lush most of the year. I don't know if she saw a lake with ice on it, but that is something they find it difficult to imagine - a vehicle out on a lake with ice thick enough to hold it.

Bridge games continue to occupy important time with many seniors, and the top scores on May 20 at duplicate bridge were Ray and Marnie Davie, second were Ross Morton and Margaret Dyck, third were Vern Iverson and Eric Callbeck. May 26, contract bridge winners were first Gerri Craig and second Mary Greenwald. May 27 duplicate bridge top scores went to Ross Morton and Margaret Dyck, second to Gerry Fernandes and Vern Iverson and third place went to Lucille and Bernie Gregoire. Lots of good times shared and ending with coffee and social times at the Do Drop In.

Visiting her sister Yvonne Mackereth in Meota was Henriette Smith from Lac La Biche, Alta. They enjoyed doing some plantings and yard work while she was here along with sister stuff.

On the May long weekend, Nena and Ben Byl celebrated several special occasions with their immediate family at the Battlefords Provincial Park. Congratulations to Ben and Nena on their 60th wedding anniversary. This significant event was marked with family attending from Calgary and Okotoks, Alta., Saskatoon and Yorkton. In addition to their anniversary other May dates included their daughter Kathy's 50th birthday, her partner John turned 65, their son Allen and daughter-in-law Leanne's 25th wedding anniversary and their grandson Jesse's 14th birthday. Even though the rain came down off and on, it did not spoil the gathering and great memories were shared among the family. With the true northern spirit, they gathered under a tarp, where the fire was kept going, so all were cosy and together.

Contract bridge was played Monday evening with top scores going to Robert Iverson and second to Terence Desalva, over at the Do Drop In.