What a shock to look out my window this morning and see of all things a blizzard and a good one too.
I felt like the old boy that took off this glasses threw them out the window and said 鈥淚 don鈥檛 need these anymore as I have seen everything.鈥� The weather told us this storm was coming and it came. I filled the hummingbird feeders yesterday and they are frozen this morning. The middle of May, this just can鈥檛 be?
I am going back now maybe 25 years and this same thing happened. It was May 24 picnic weekend a huge bunch of Alaska Robins or swamp Robins on their migration north got caught here. The next morning I checked out and in the gully close to Richard鈥檚 home, you could not walk for dead, frozen birds. It was pathetic and so sad. These little birds have never come back as they were. You may see a few but never the huge migration. There were more dead birds than I could ever count.
Fires
I would bet the folks in the Slave Lake country would like to see a snow storm like we are having today. Not too many years ago my wife Jo, son Mark and I took a trip into the Peace River country.
Just after the big fire. Some of the trees were still smoking, it was devastating the huge loss. We spent a day or two in Slave Lake and what a pretty town it was.
The Lakes District has also suffered from fires from last year as it鈥檚 still in our memories. Let鈥檚 hope and pray that we will be spared this coming summer. As they say time will tell.
Flooding
Now the flooding is taking it鈥檚 toll in most of our provinces and this also can be devastating. They are blaming the late spring for the floods. Francois Lake is still on the rise but there is no danger there.
Looking back
Again I am going back a lot of years, not too far back as lots of you will remember the May Day sports and picnic that used to be held at Francois Lake. It was the highlight of the year and big time too.
It started with a parade from the ferry landing to the hall. The RCMP used to lead the parade and there would be a float with the May Queen and her attendants, horses, old cars were shown off and lots of good things going on.
At the hall would be a program with the crowning of the May Queen and May pole dancing, as a rule a program with singing etc., ball games, races and for a few years they had some horse sports, and ball games.
For a couple of years it was a two day event but this was not practical so it stayed as a one day show. It was a wonderful weekend for so many far and near. Then it just faded away and left wonderful memories if nothing else.
The old Maypole and the ribbons are still in the hall gathering dust. Maybe for a future generation who knows.
Here is a little poem the kids used to sing. The 24 of May is the queens birthday, if you don鈥檛 give us a holiday, we鈥檒l all run away. Do you remember that one?
As I look out of my office window I notice my Jo鈥檚 Mayday tree is coming into leaf. This was her pride and joy as it was so special to her.
The Mayday tree as a rule is in full bloom on the 24 of May, that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 called a Mayday tree. This year it will be a bit later due to a later spring.
The original tree was in front of the store and my mother planted in the 1941 and it was damaged with a strong wind a couple of years back, it鈥檚 coming back again, it may take a year or two but it will come back in all it鈥檚 glory.
Dr. Norman
In our last paper on the front page there is a picture of Dr. Norman and his 鈥渘ot quite retirement鈥� party. I am so sorry I missed it, no doubt my fault but didn鈥檛 know about it. And I鈥檓 very sorry to have missed it. Dr. Norman has been a good friend of our family for many years as well as a family doctor.
It鈥檚 good news to hear he will be staying in our district. Although I missed the party I鈥檓 glad it went over so well. He well deserves it.
Hampton
Also in our paper the $5000 donation for our recreation sites from Hampton Affiliates. This is great as these sites are a drawing card to our tourist trade. It makes them want to stop and enjoy our beauty and of course as locals we can enjoy them too. This is good news and very nice of Hampton.
School ratings
Maybe I鈥檓 treading on thin ice as I notice in the paper schools rate poorly, if this is so it鈥檚 very sad.
I never had the privilege to graduate as I got through Grade 9 and started 10 when I had an accident with a horse so I was out. All our family did graduate and I am proud of them.
I just wonder if and when these students graduate they have all the good things like all the sciences etc., but are they taught how to work, how to present themselves for a job interview?
These young adults need a break so let鈥檚 give it to them. It鈥檚 a tough old world and very unforgiving.
There are a large number of grads who come out with plans of what they want to do and this is good, but there are also graduates who come out with a feeling of frustration and these are the ones we need to help, these are the ones I am concerned about.
Take care and have a safe week. Remember the best sermons are lived not preached, good advice. Things might get you down but always remember God loves you a great deal and so do I.
P.S. Grandpa Henkel used to say don鈥檛 plant your garden until the snow is off Uncha mountain, and there is still lots up there and it鈥檚 getting a little late.
One late spring Jo put our garden in the month of June and low and behold we had a good garden so you gardeners don鈥檛 push the panic button yet.
One more note the lake has come up again but is still is still 39 inches lower then the high water peak.
