Happy New Year to all our readers!
What a way to start out the New Year, with temperatures of -35°C on Friday morning! Glad there was no wind to speak of. I just decided to let the dog walk herself that morning, and she did not take a very long one either. Hope everyone’s holiday season was a happy one. We had a good Christmas visit with our family from Kirkland Lake and also our grandchildren from Little Current. Kids sure add to the fun of the day and yes, they all got the presents they had asked for. Grandma got a special gift of a pack of Skip Bo cards, and we enjoyed playing a few games. Even the nasty old flu bug came for a visit. I don’t remember inviting it but it sure was a bad one. If anyone is sick at this time, hope you get lots of sleep and be sure to eat your chicken soup for a speedy recovery. Also we send our get well wishes to our cousin Ted Lovelace from Silver Water. He is due back home soon after surgery in Sudbury.
The storms over the holidays certainly were bad. My brother Norm and Wife Laurie had made plans to go to their daughter’s in Kitchener, and although they had to delay for a couple of days, they did get there and back home safely. Norm said it was unbelievable how much ice there was on the trees. It is one thing to see it on the TV but quite different when you see it in person.
So many without hydro on Christmas—that would have been a real challenge. I remember what it was like when we lost ours here for a few hours in the storm in November, nevermind losing it for days on end. I was told many of the hydro workers from Manitoulin area gave up their Christmas with their family and friends to go and help in the affected areas. It is good to know we have such dedicated people to help in these kinds of situations. And I am sure the people without heat and hydro were thankful for all the help they could get as well.
Today (Sunday) sure brought a nice change in the weather. While out and about we noticed several people were out ice fishing. That is something we enjoy in the wintertime as well, hope we can get out soon. Travelling around to Lake Manitou and Pike Lake we saw several deer out playing in the snow, surprising how deep the snow is as some were up to their belly running through the fields.
There are lots of birds coming to the feeders and suet packs we have put out this year. Quite a variety of woodpeckers including a Pileated woodpecker. The doves have been coming in groups. Also lots of the European starlings. They come in large flocks and feed and even eat from our sumac trees. The blue jays don’t seem to mind all these visitors as they make sure they get their fill too. Mindemoya had the annual bird count on December 14 this year. Maybe we could all get together and put the birds from this area in as well. We enjoy the bird pictures that John Savage sends into The Expositor. Mum tells me she cuts them out of the paper to keep.
The next stain glass workshop by Zoe will be held at the Sheguiandah museum on January 17 and again on January 18. So you can choose which day works for you, from 9 am until 4 pm. Call Norma at 705-368-3416 for more info and to register for this workshop and the other events for the month. Also the museum will be entering into their annual membership drive for 2014. More info will be available on this soon.
Happy belated birthday to Ralph Batman. He told me he received many happy returns for the day and had lots of birthday cake, however he did not share how many years young he is.
Many people are away now for the winter so there is not too much local news. If you have something you would like put in this column call me at 705-368-1826.
Keep smiling.
