We finally received a decent amount of precipitation last week that we really were in need of. In 2009, our daughter got married on June 20 and at an open house in a big rented tent outside June 21, it got a little soggy. A couple inches of rain were recorded in a few hours. That was the first rainfall of the season and everyone appreciated it. There is nothing like the sensational smell outdoors after rain.
Dave and Maryann Mischuk travelled to Quebec City, Que. by plane two weeks ago. They drove to Charlevoix, a town two hours northeast along the St. Lawrence River taking in the beautiful scenery and stayed for three days. Touring Quebec City is always a highlight for tourists. This city holds a lot of history, thus making it very interesting to visit. They also partook the many sights that Montreal and Old Montreal has to offer, doing this part of the journey by train. This is another memorable vacation for the Mischuks, as they do travel every year for a break from their job.
The excitement is already gearing up as the Rabbit Lake Jamboree is fast approaching on the weekend of July 3, 4, and 5. Advance tickets are being sold until June 25 and a lot of businesses in Saskatchewan are ticket vendors. Locally the Rabbit Lake Hotel and Wright's Seed Cleaning Plant have them. There will be local and big name performers in Rabbit Lake. Heading the show Saturday evening is The Stampeders. Other big stars are Codie Prevost Friday evening and Brett Kissel Sunday afternoon. They always rely on the many willing volunteers to make it a success. The weekend will surely not disappoint the audience.
Condolences to Ruby Rafuse on the passing of her dear sister, Jean Groove, June 3 at the Villa Pascal in North Battleford. Besides Ruby, other siblings are Rose Holvers and Richard Buchko from Alberta and Henry Buchko in rural Battleford. Jean was predeceased by her daughter Denise in 1965 and two husbands Marvin Alexander in 1995 and Arthur Groove in 2002. She requested no funeral to be held.
Violet Kulchiski, age 78, cousin of Ruby, also passed away June 19. She was a resident of River Heights Lodge, North Battleford.
The Good Sams had many people parking their trailers at the Battlefords exhibition grounds two weeks ago. It was a huge success, according to my sister Lorraine Lensen of Vanscoy. She and her husband partook in some of the events until he was a patient at Battlefords Union Hospital diagnosed with a kidney attack. He later was transported to St. Paul's Hospital, Saskatoon, and underwent surgery. It was unfortunate their fun was cut short due to this dilemma. On the brighter side, they weren't camping hundreds of miles from a hospital.
The children's reading program at our local library is scheduled for every Thursday, July 9 to Aug. 27. Librarian Teresa Toews is holding a fun time from 11 a.m. to noon for children on Thursdays.
The Roman Catholic Church in Mayfair has changed the Sunday mass back to Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. for June and July. Father Allan from Hafford is in charge of four parishes, so times change in order to keep parishioners happy.
The Hoffnungsfelder Mennonite Church one quarter mile west of Mayfair has services the first Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. with Rev. Chad Doell of Hague and Saskatoon. He also gives church service at the Glenbush Church.
Mervin and Brenda Chudy from Lloydminster and Mayfair are in the process of getting a cabin built at Chitek Lake. They previously owned a trailer for quick summer getaways at Jackfish Lake, but now will have a greater distance to travel.
Fourteen happy vacationers have returned safely back to Rabbit Lake and Mayfair area. Twelve were members of the Old Mills Players, who purchased a ticket from a Saskatoon lottery and won a trip for two people to Thailand. We traded this for an Alaskan cruise through Marlin Travel and of course paid extra money from our pockets to make this a reality. The accompanying photo names the travellers on the back of the Vollendan cruise ship. It is one of seven fleets that Holland America Cruise Line Company owns.
Joan and Gordon Jackson from Mayfair happened to book the same cruise, so we would now and again see them amongst 1,100 others. The ship had 200 unsold tickets, as this is not high tourist season yet.
We journeyed to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketichan, Alaska. The weather was excellent, as was the overabundance of food, guests, entertainment, shopping and friendly workers. Most of the staff are from Indonesia and definitely went above and beyond to make this a memorable holiday.
聽I took in side excursions including Juneau for dog mushing and sledding, being pulled by a 16-dog team through the forest and a guide educating us on the 1,000 mile competition and what the driver needs for supplies. At Skagway was a 27-mile vintage train tour through the steep mountains and valleys with small waterfalls in abundance. I saw a black bear and one lonely mountain goat. At Glacier Bay the ship got close to four glaciers and at times pieces would come crashing down. At first you hear a swooshing sound and then a thunderous racket as it plunges into the water. At Ketichan were a native (Tkinqlet) culture centre and lumberjack competition.
Congratulations to Jean and Rollie Pelletier on celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary last week.
June 21 has passed, so now we will be experiencing shorter days. Hoping summer will bring warm days, sometimes really hot weather, and of course rain, liquid gold.
Two local students will be graduating from Grade 12 from Spiritwood High School 鈥� Charlie and Laurie Salisbury's daughter Holly and Amanda (Paul) Salisbury's son, Kyler Venaus. The special day is June 30. Sally and David Salisbury, grandparents, are looking forward to this wonderful occasion.
The July 2 Wellness Clinic has been cancelled. Aug. 6 will be the next Wellness Clinic from 1 to 3 p.m., so please mark your calendars. These clinics are at the Mayfair Hall and you do not need an appointment to visit the public health nurse.
