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Seniors gather for cards

Maidstone Drop In Centre: trip to Doukhobor Dugout House National Historic worth the drive
seniors playing cards
Card playing has resumed at the Maidstone Drop In Centre.
Cribbage was played at the Maidstone Drop In Centre May 31 with high score going to Denise Newton and low to Dorothy Schwartz.

Georgina and Dorothy put bedding plants in the outdoor planters at the end of May, hoping there was no more frost.

The flowering trees and shrubs around town are in full bloom.

Cribbage was played June 14 with high score going to Dorothy Schwartz and low to Denise Newton.

The centre is used frequently for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Cribbage was played June 21 with high score going to Eleanor Hinde and low to Lois Myer. June 28, top score was by Katie Granger and low to Eleanor Hinde.

Cheryl McCaskill, a centre member, passed away at her home in Maidstone. She was a faithful member and will be missed. She is survived by her husband John, who is in a care home in Wilkie and her son Jay and his wife and five children, who live in Elrose.

Cribbage was played July 5 with high score going to Lois Myer and low to Dorothy Schwartz. July 12 top score went o Lois Myer and low to Larry Patterson. July 19, high score was by Lois Myer and low by Linda Fiddler of Medicine Hat, who was visiting her mother, Dorothy Schwartz. July 26, high score was by Dorothy Schwartz and low by Denise Newton. Dorothy also had high score Aug. 2, with low going to Katie Granger.

I spent a most interesting day visiting the Doukhobor Dugout House National Historic Site about 12 miles from Blaine Lake. The Doukhobors came to Canada in 1899 and lived in the dugout houses until 1904 due to a lack of trees and resources. The sides of the ravine provided three walls with wood framing the front wall. The roof was sod and the floor packed clay. The house was bout 456 square feet and was home for nine families. On a higher level, other historic buildings include a prayer house, barn, chicken coop, bathhouse and Leo Tolstoy’s house.

Also on display is old farm equipment. A demonstration of women pulling a single-furrow plow and singing as they work was part of the experience. Refreshments were available, with bread for sale that was baked in a clay oven. It was the last day the site was open this summer and about 300 people attended.

On the way home we stopped at the Crooked Trees off Highway 40 between Hafford and Battleford. This botanical mystery has been observed by university researchers who have not found an answer to the strange growth. Surrounding bluffs of trees are normal. It is most interesting. Too bad more care is not taken to preserve this botanical wonder.

 

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