Rain, rain, rain ‑ that is what’s happening late Sunday evening and all day Monday as I write my column. Farmers were begging for this.
There were plants galore this past Saturday at Dora and Barry’s farm yard. The three vendors, Dora, Denise Taylor (nee Wolhberg) and Mayfair Library with Ellen Scotton the attendant, would like to send a huge thank you for the purchases of perennials, annuals, hanging baskets and houseplants. With the pandemic, most neighbours hadn’t seen others for over a year. Buyers came from Spiritwood, Rabbit Lake, North Battleford, Hafford, Blaine Lake and Speers areas. I can’t wait for the 2022 sale.
Dora is offering classes on creating your own outdoor chandelier solar lighting with LEDs. She had one on display. For registration and more details call her at 306-246-4848 or Teresa at 306-441-8674.
New local Avon representative is Teresa Toews. She took over from Leanne Cherwinski this past winter. She can be contacted at 306 441-8674.
Being great-grandparents for the third time has Ellyn and Buck Scotton excited. Granddaughter Eryn and Trevor Charon of Lloydminster, Alta. welcomed the birth of their second child in March. The proud grandparents are Dawn and Eric Lavallee, former students at Mayfair school and also living in Lloydminster.
National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month was April, but one can sign their donor card that comes in with the drivers’ licence renewal anytime. The end of November and up until this past weekend has been a long road to recovery for Nate Starycki of Maymont. In Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital, his dream became a reality with a seven-organ transplant in a 14-hour surgery. Nate was born with a condition called gastroschisis, which is a defect of the abdominal wall. Speculation was that he and his parents could stay for one year in Toronto for his recovery.
Last week he was strong enough to go back home. Nate’s goal to be home in the spring to help his dad Dane to finish the spring seeding on their Maymont area farm was known to his hospital transplant team. That goal became a reality this past weekend. Dane purposely left four quarters to seed so Nate would return to make this happen. His mom Jen has been sending messages and videos on Facebook documenting the hospital journey. A GoFundMe page was set up for the family with a goal of raising $50,000 to help with the ongoing family, medical, hotel and other costs. A whopping $67.000 was raised.
COVID-19 related restrictions made matters difficult. Mom and son were together all of the time. They have two other children at home so a parent had to be with them. When Dane was able to fly to Toronto, the hospital rules allowed only one parent at a time with the patient and no siblings at all. Dane was subject to Ronald McDonald House restrictions because of his travel out of province. They have navigated this ordeal and deserve to live a normal happy family life.
Bill and Don’s Men’s Wear in North Battleford is selling Nate logo clothing and, with ball season in full swing, the caps don’t stay on the shelf long. Proceeds are donated to children’s hospitals and in the last two years these sales have raised a substantial amount of money.
This good soaker of precipitation will have everyone, city and country folks alike, smiling from ear to ear. I’m putting on my rubber boots, checking the rain gauge and going splashin’ in those welcoming puddles and not even taking an umbrella. The side roads will be muddy for awhile, so the car wash businesses will be busier that ever.
