My friend and I had the opportunity to house-sit for her sister this past summer. Her sister lives on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada, so we figured that this would be a great opportunity to enjoy a little get-away. …( read more )

The friend and customer for whom I had finished a stained glass commission was extremely happy. He had brought me a small oil painting of the Holy Family and asked me to recreate it in glass for him to hang in his window for Christmas. …( read more )

Once a year before Christmas, I write a family newsletter, which I then send to friends and relatives. It depicts the major as well as some of the minor happenings of our life throughout the year. I always begin the letter with a …( read more )

Early this year, my daughter, her husband, and baby granddaughter came to live with me. A business opportunity in town had presented itself, and they decided to buy it and move home. How wonderful is this! was my first thought. My …( read more )

The first time I saw the mother grizzly and her three cubs, I remember thinking what a privilege it was to see such a wonder of nature. The next time I heard about them, I had very different thoughts. This time, they were not out in the …( read more )

When I took Denver, our youngest puppy, up to the veterinarian for his final vaccinations, it was an extremely cold and bitter day. As I had several hours of errands to complete while I was in the city, I decided to board Denver at the …( read more )

While out walking with the dogs the other day, I experienced a moment of great concern. Some of the dogs were running along the trail ahead of me, while some were walking with me. My collie, Bonnie, was one of the ones out front. I could …( read more )

I was having a difficult day. Living in a small, remote town has both its joys and its challenges. For me, one of the challenges is a lack of opportunities to experience new and different things. As in any tiny community, there is a lot …( read more )

As my granddaughter and I sat in our seat awaiting lift-off as the plane roared down the runway, I was once again amazed that planes can fly. As we soared into the clouds, I thought of all those, so many years ago, who believed in their …( read more )

I opened the door and let the dogs out at 6:30 a.m., the same as any other morning. As I was coming back into the house, however, I noticed through the living room window that the livestock were going berserk in the corral. At the same …( read more )

As I approached the Yukon border, I noticed a bear hunkered down beside a highway sign. Slowing down in case he decided to run onto the road, I was amazed when he stood up on his hind legs and began waving at me with his left arm and paw. …( read more )

Every year, I find new stuff when I am out doing my cleanup around the property. The previous owners of our acreage buried their garbage. Over the past twelve years, I have discovered the tin can location, the glass pit, and the …( read more )

This year, we had a large load of gardening soil delivered to our house. Then, my brother and I got busy shovelling it into pails and carrying it to the various garden beds to top them up. We did this, as many gardeners already know, …( read more )

A number of years ago, I decided to keep a weather book. Each day, I record the day of the week, the date, and the outside temperature when I arise. Then the next morning, I add what the weather conditions had been for that day. My …( read more )

During the winter, Agnes, our goat, suffered a ligament injury to one of her hind legs, which resulted in her being fitted with a solid brace. The brace was meant to hold the damaged area in place, allowing it to heal and to give Agnes …( read more )

Now that the really warm weather has arrived, the horses get down to business shedding the last of their winter coats. They groom one another with their noses. They sidle up against the fence and then drag themselves along it to loosen …( read more )

Last year on Canada Day, I decided that the pony and cart would have to stay home, but the dogs could go. So I decorated my three-wheeled trike, put the dogs' Canada Day scarves on them, hitched four of them to the trike, while the other …( read more )

As my little spring seedlings began to grow bigger and stronger, preparing for life outside, I began turning them on a regular basis. As they were situated in front of large windows and received full sun much of the day, having these …( read more )

The other night as I lay in bed contemplating the day's finished work and what needed to be done on the morrow, once again, I felt somewhat overwhelmed: so much to do, so little time to do it in. It was then that the story of God feeding …( read more )

My brother, who lives in our cabin, is the gardener in our family. So, when he went to Mexico in the fall, he asked me to start the spring seedlings so that they would be ready for him to plant when he got back in May. *Oh my, what a …( read more )

The recipe that I was following called for toasted nuts. At one time, I wouldn't have bothered with the toasting process as I didn't think that it was that important. Through the cooking channel, however, I discovered that toasting the …( read more )

Things have not been going very well in my little town. There has been much dissension over the replacement of a necessary facility. For more than two years, a group of volunteers has put a tremendous amount of planning, fundraising, and …( read more )

Agnes, my goat, was limping along over the icy path. I decided that this called for investigation. After a thorough look, I opted to call the veterinarian for some advice. "Keep an eye on it, give her some medication you have on hand, and …( read more )

As gardening season is upon us, I am once again amazed at the tenacity of the weeds. In northern Canada, growing things can be quite a chore due to the short season, poor soil, and chilly nights and mornings, as well as scorching, sunny …( read more )

My toddler granddaughter loves prune plums. My daughter buys the canned ones, as they are much softer and easier for the baby to eat. Not long ago when I was minding the baby, I had to open up a new can of plums for her breakfast. I …( read more )

Last summer, my daughter and her husband came to a momentous decision. They purchased a business here in our small town, and decided to move in with me. Along with them came my six-month-old granddaughter, their two cats, and two dogs. …( read more )

A number of years ago, in the dark of a winter's morning, an owl attempted to make off with one of my miniature long-haired dachshunds. Fortunately, it did not succeed, and I learned and implemented a valuable lesson. A neighbour showed …( read more )

Every year, come mid-winter, when I am out cleaning the corral in the freezing cold, I contemplate selling the livestock. But as each year goes by, I find that I contemplate this plan for a shorter and shorter span. Why? Because I am …( read more )

The much-awaited snow had come. Along with it, however, came work. Paths had to be plowed in order to get in and out of the driveway. Other paths had to be prepared by hand to access the corral, the barn, and the house. In our household, …( read more )

People were thrilled when we finally got a much-needed dump of snow over a three-day period. It had been so cold and all our previous snow had melted during a warm period, leaving the ground exposed before the temperature dropped almost …( read more )

The other evening, my daughter hurried into the house from a meeting. She was calling me to come quickly and look. Getting up and going out onto the front stoop to see what was happening, I experienced the northern lights for the first …( read more )

My young granddaughter, who is just learning to feed herself, sometimes chokes on her food. When this happens, she coughs until she dislodges the morsel from her throat. Sometimes, she re-chews and swallows it successfully, and other …( read more )

A number of years ago, a distant cousin put together our family tree on my father's side. It revealed that my heritage is Welsh and English, although I am convinced that there is also a Russian branch missing from the tree as I am always …( read more )