The sixth annual Gun and Hobby Show is slated for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 13 and 14 at the Spiritwood Civic Centre. There are to be more than 100 tables with displays of guns, coins, knives, trapping and collectibles. You have an opportunity to buy, sell or trade. Show times are Saturday 9:30 - 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. with $5 adult admission and children 12 years and under free. Good times for everyone including gun raffle, door prizes, ladies table and concession on site. This is hosted by Witchekan Wildlife Federation. For more information contact Julien at 306-984-4715 or Fern at 306-883-2651.
Becky, youngest daughter of Kolin and Cheryl Bulmer, became the bride to Daniel Bezmutko from Hafford, Saturday, July 23, with the wedding taking place in North Battleford. Daniel owns his own business, High Class Welding, and Becky is a speech therapist employed by Prairie North Health Region. Congratulations to the Bulmer and Bezmutko families on this happy occasion.
My holidays have come to an end as my Aussie pen pal departed July 23 when the ship arrived back to Vancouver from our Alaskan cruise. Janette thoroughly enjoyed her seven and a half weeks in the United States and Canada. She booked through APT in Brisbane, so many Aussies were on our ship. We stopped at three ports in Alaska – Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. It is called the "Inside Passage" going up the coastline of B.C. and Alaska, which is very scenic. We stopped at Glacier Bay for approximately five hours and one could hear and see the large chunks of ice break away from the huge glacier and come crashing into the water. There were seals sunning themselves on smaller chunks of ice, so, obviously, tourists' cameras were continuously clicking photos.
Passengers are very safe on cruise lines as security is a top priority on the ship and when departing from the ports. Your passports are one's "life line."
When I was in a few of the eastern US states six weeks ago with Janette from Australia, crossing my mind was how many US citizens have a weapon on them. When riding the Sky Train in Baltimore, a lady next to me said practically 80 per cent of her friends do have a gun on them for their own safety. Think twice when America is believed to be a safe country to live in. Basically, nowhere is safe anymore, only if one wants to live like a hermit who knows where, way up north where only wildlife exists! There it is not people who you have to watch our for, but predators such as bears and wolves.
Don't forget the John Arcand Fiddle Festival Aug. 11 - 14 southwest of Saskatoon. Hope to see you there as I do want to partake in this excellent summer outing with fantastic entertainment. It would be nice to have sun for these days, but everything is in an extremely large covered venue. There is a kitchen with home baked goods from homemade soup and buns to pies for sale. All of the proceeds go to a worthy cause.
Swimming lessons are in full gear in many nearby lakes, usually for a duration of two weeks. This is an awesome experience for children who do not like chlorinated water, but some lakes have algae and will give an "itch" when coming out of the water. At times in this duration, the weather may not exactly co-operate either. Chattering teeth and shivering bodies do not last for a very long time! The prices for lessons are usually a little cheaper than in an inside setting. Oh, yes, one might just have to use sun screen and insect repellant when outside! In many instances the parents can "get rid" of their kids and send them off to grandparents who have a cabin or are camping in the great outdoors for the two weeks of lessons. Does this sound enticing? Believe me, grandparents love to be with the grandchildren to spoil them a little.
Dana (Jason) Jones, oldest daughter of Georgina and John Youst gave birth to a baby boy, Dryden, on June 6. They reside in Moose Jaw and now have two children. Congratulations to everyone as Georgina is an excited proud grandma. Great grandparents are former Mayfair residents Dorothy Youst of North Battleford and Genevieve Russell of Hafford.
Entertaining guests are what Sharon and Peter Babiy are doing most of this summer. Peter's brother, Dr. Gene Barrie, and family from Fremont, Cal., were visiting for a week on the prairies. The Babiys' daughter, Kim (Mark) Brochu's father Paul, took this California family for a wagon ride on pasture and trails in the bush. Needless to say, they loved this adventure! Sharon and Peter also have her first cousin from Vancouver stay for a two-week duration. Retired police officer Gerry Walker is also a very good cook, as Sharon has let him take over her kitchen. Most of us would certainly like to have a guest like Gerry coming to visit.
Leanne and Stephen Cherwinski along with son Chris, daughters Carla and Jenna and their families stay at Waterhen Lake the second week of July. This is always a fun time for everyone to relax and to catch up on many events. The little ones love to see and play with their cousins.
Dora Brown definitely is a master gardener, as she has a poster hanging up in Mayfair notifying the public that fresh grown garden veggies are for sale. This includes beets, peas, beans, carrots, onions, potatoes and cucumbers. Probably by now, zucchinis grow so rampant one could always purchase these healthy critters. Call Dora at 306-246-4848.
There are some new artists on the 2016 "Thickwood Hills Studio Trail" scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. This is difficult to tour in one day if you want to include the 12 venues scattered throughout Echo Bay, Iroquois Lake, Mount Nebo and Shell Lake areas. Accommodations can be had at: Pine Ridge Cottages 306-427-4499; Memorial Lake Regional Park 306-427-5668; or Shell Lake Pine Resorts Ltd. 306-427-5668. There are many places to dine and the Golden Boys' Chip Wagon can be found at Studio 12 Painted Horse Studio, owner Nadine Jones. This is the only eatery while doing the tour at a studio. For more info check this website: www.thickwoodhillsstudiotrain.com. Many unique articles can be found and purchased.
Drumheller, Alta. is the place to be if one is interested in attending the Passion Play which is held for three weekends in July. Faye and Keith Liebaert attended this event and highly recommend this fantastic show. This is a story of Christ's crucifixion and all of the events before and after. It did start to rain towards the end of the show, but apparently the previous night's show had to be cancelled due to stormy weather including lightning and thunder. People travel many miles as this is internationally renowned and it is a hot place (weather wise) to be on vacation. There are many dinosaur museums and more to tour in the area.
