It was wonderful news to see headlined in our local paper.

Massey Hall for local van Zanten. Congratulations to you Rachelle from all your friends in the Lakes District.

You are one of ours and we are very proud of you. You are not afraid to stand up to what you think is right and we love you for it. To have the honour of being classed as Canada’s best slide guitarist is a great acknowledgement and we are so happy for you and your family.

Your many years of hard work have paid off and you well deserve this honour. I have been to a number of concerts with Rachelle and I enjoyed her singing and I knew that she was good and would hit the big time and she has.

Sad news

Our hearts go out to the Larry Aspen family with the loss of someone so very special not only to their family but to all who was a friend of Ruth. She was such a talented lady and she is going to be sadly missed by so many. She always had a smile when you met her. You could always tell Ruth loved music.

Great music

Tuesday evening was so very wonderful for us all at the Tweedsmuir House when the Lakes District Choir came out to entertain us with such beautiful singing. They are all so very talented and the variety of some of our carols came to light. These wonderful old carols could not help put a lump in my throat with memories so many years ago.

The Lakes District Choir has become so very popular and loved by us all.

While the choir was singing my mind would wonder back and I could see our mother sitting at her piano and we would gather around her and join in. There would always be some friends stop in and sing with us. What wonderful memories you brought back to me. Thank you all so much for last night it was out of this world believe me and we give you all a big thank you.

Winter weather

We did have a bit of winter but not like the rest of the country, even Prince George has had snow and colder weather. The prairie is getting some tough weather with cold snow. We do not have enough snow to cover our water lines and this could be a disaster. Even the southern states are getting cold weather and it’s having a problem with heavy frost almost unknown there.

I understand some of the big orange groves have had enough frost to destroy them. So beware the price of oranges will be sky-high. This is my idea so don’t hold me to it.

Shop here

I have just come back on the bus this afternoon and did a bit of last minute shopping. Boy are the stores busy, folks getting the Christmas gifts and lots of groceries as well.

All the stores are well stocked up with lots of variety as well. Prices are good too. Why would you want to go to Prince George when we have all you want right here in ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Lake. You save the wear and tear on your vehicle and your nerves as well and your money stays in town and local.

Fantastic news

What a lovely picture on the front page of our local paper with all the smiling faces and the good news that goes with it. Scales are reaping and first logs to Babine. This is a real shot in the arm and Christmas just around the corner. What a Christmas present this is.

Youth fiddlers

On Thursday evening last we also had a very pleasant musical evening at the Tweedsmuir House with Becky Bowerbank’s students. She calls them the ‘Youth Fiddlers.’

There were some quite young and some older and they all did very well. It looked to me like they all enjoyed what they were doing. You have to like what you are doing to be good and all seemed like they were all on the way.

Watching these young folks learning turned back a lot of pages for me. I would guess almost a lifetime. When I was about 15 as my dad played the fiddle so why can’t I. So for about two weeks I drove the family nuts with the squawking fiddle, even the dog ran away.

All of a sudden I won and once you get the knack of the fiddle you will just surprise yourself how easy it is but you just practice and hard.

Don’t give up as you are all on the way. I was playing for dances and square dances. I wasn’t a pro at all but they liked my music.

My dad’s violin was very old and very valuable and I was taking it to dances and there were not the safest place for a violin like that so I stopped off playing and never went back and I have always felt sorry. I took up guitar for the rest of my life.

So to you all keep up your practice you all are having a wonderful opportunity and such a wonderful teacher. Please don’t pass it buy.

I would like to listen to you again in six months as I like to see how you are doing.

One thing about a violin the more you play the better you get.

Christmas is sure moving fast, will be here before you know it. It’s a special time of the year so please slow down a little on the highway as the life you save could be your own.

Also go easy on your drinking as it’s just too tempting to take that extra drink and it slip down just too easy. And what ever you do please don’t drink and drive.

Remember always God loves you a lot and so do I.