The Southside Women鈥檚 Institute have had a very busy year I am writing it in full. One of the special things I noticed and I know it will be a shock, Lois Bishop is retiring from her duties after so many years. She has been active through thick and thin. She will be missed big time.

The Southside Women鈥檚 Institute has come to their fiscal year end. We had a successful year beginning with the raffle draw at Eagle Creek Fall Fair last fall, the proceeds later going to the Hospital Point Hall for upkeep.

This spring we won our district competition shield again. This is in cooking, sewing and speeches. All this past winter and spring a few members served baked bread once a month to residents of the Pines.

They loved the smell of it cooking and the taste of course. It reminded them of days gone by. Thanks to a bequest from a former Takysie Lake resident, John Guenter, we made donations to the Southside Senior Housing Society for their building fund, to the Southside 4-H Club for T-shirts for the Fall Fair, the L.D. Museum, and the Eagle Creek Fall Fair.

It is with regret that I鈥檓 leaving the Institute. I will miss the members and their activities as I have belonged for more than 50 years. As of now any enquiries concerning the women鈥檚 institute can be directed to President Geneva Wiseman at 250-694-3757 or Secretary Daphne Ewart at 250-694-3596. Thank you all for your past support. Lois Bishop, past president.

The women鈥檚 institute do a lot of good work in our community and have been for many years. My late wife Jo also was a very active member for many years.

Good music

The Grassy Plains Gospel church choir dropped in last Sunday afternoon for a gospel hymn sing-a-long. We always enjoy their company. From the Tweedsmuir House they go along and sing at the Pines. Thanks a lot for giving us your time it makes the day.

Flooding

I have just been watching the weather news and I feel so fortunate to live where we do. The flooding seems to be an on going thing. Alberta seems to be hit the worst. The terrible mess and damage that is left behind will take years to get back to normal and the expense no one will really never know. I just heard a minute ago the costs in Alberta alone will be in the billions of dollars.

Nice surprise

A pleasant surprise yesterday to have Pastor Herb Larsen and his grandson Spencer. They are staying in the family home east of the landing. This family summer home has been in the family for over 50 years. We have known this lovely family ever since they had started to spend their summers on the lake. It was sad to us to hear the passing of Herb鈥檚 beautiful Lorraine, a special lady. She left us March 4, 2013.

It will not be the same. Herb and I have both lost our wives, two wonderful and beautiful ladies. The loss takes a long time to heal. Herb鈥檚 grandson is going to the Loma Linda University in California working on doctor in physiotherapy.  Herb still makes his home in Abbotsford, B.C.

Another pleasant surprise this morning to have Margaret Anderson and her son David stop in for a short visit. They were visiting old friends in the district and stopped to visit. It was great talking over old times.

Margaret and her late husband Bill used to ranch and live at what was called the Butte Ranch, Francois Lake. They lived there for 16 years. They travelled by boat and saddle horse as at that time and in those years that was the only way both in and out. Bill, her husband, died June 3, 1964.

Then the family moved to Breton, AB and Margaret with her family were there for 49 years. Margaret now lives in Wetaskuwin, AB, David her son now lives in Sheridan, Wy., USA and has made his home there for many years.

Their ranch was 22 miles east of the landing so getting in and out was never easy and Francois Lake was never safe. It was a tough life but they were tough and they survived and no doubt look back with good memories of those hard and forgiving years. Margaret has a wonderful book she has written and it tells of their life on Francois lake, it鈥檚 well worth reading.

Another visitor dropped in this afternoon, Pete Knelsen, another long time resident of the south country. Pete worked in the bush drove truck and at one time owned the big store at Danskin, he said that was a money maker.

He then moved to La Crete AB. He has been pastor of the church there for many years. He told me that area is booming; oil, logging, big mills, and farming. He says that this was the best move he ever made. It was great to talk over old times.

The Hiebert family, the Knelsen family and our family came into the Lakes District in 1941, now 72 years ago, almost a lifetime. They have been good years for all three families. We have been friends for all these years. We had all come through the great depression in Saskatchewan.

More music

The Lakes District Community Choir gathered in the dining room of the Tweedsmuir House to entertain us with some to their most popular songs.

This was a dedication for a long time choir member Eileen Hewett. She sang in the choir from the very start. She has since retired from singing. She is moving to the lower mainland to be near her family. The singing was out of this world, it left us all with so many wonderful memories.

Eileen must also have many of her memories too. We are so fortunate to have so much wonderful talent in our Lakes District, I am so proud of them all.

My good friend Ron Meadows took me in to visit the old home again, so many wonderful memories are stored away in those walls.

Time to close up for another week. Always remember God loves you and so do I.

P.S.

Dave and Linda Scott from Langley have just come in to spend the summer in their cottage just west of the landing.