The Fourth Line

There seemed to be a theme to my birthday this year. On the big day, back in May, Ri and I went with Dorito and little E to Toronto to see The Railway Children. The story was fabulous and the whole set up - the temporary theatre set up around the tracks down at the CN rail yard (under the CN Tower) - was amazing. Real trains chugging in and out were incredible to watch. The first I'd heard of The Railway Children was over at Sharon's place when she wrote of her trip to see the stage production at London's Waterloo Station. I thought of her several times that day in May as we took it all in.

Trains sitting outside the wee theatre; Skydome in the background

But that wasn't the only theatre this year. Oh no. This is turning out to be a culturally enriched kind of year for me. Brother Enos gave Ri and me gift certificates to the 4th Line Theatre and last Friday we traded them in and the five of us were treated to a fabulous sold-out performance of The Cavan Blazers. It's the story of the Irish Protestants who settled Cavan township in the early 1800s and fought to keep the area 'orange' despite Catholic settlements in nearby Peterborough and Ennismore. Local history brought to life on an outdoor stage - doesn't get much better than that.

Visiting priest met by the Blazers

Can't remember who this guy is but he does look official, doesn't he.

The Blazers burn the cabins of the small Catholic settlement in Cavan.

I was wandering around the internet looking for more info on the Cavan Blazers and it would seem that one of the family names thought to be involved is Sutton. Interestingly, I have an uncle whose last name is Sutton and hails from the Fraserville area near Cavan. I do believe I shall have a few questions for him the next time I see him.  ;-)

From The Fur Trade To Discovery

Ri and her grade 6 classmates boarded the bus at school yesterday morning for their trip back in time. They're spending three days and two nights re-enacting the fur trade up at Camp Kawartha. How cool is that? Yesterday's schedule had them splitting into three groups. While one lot tried flint and steel and bow drill fire-making in the tepee, another took on the role of Voyageurs and participated in a timed canoe portage. (I'm guessing there's not much water involved as the lakes are still frozen. Maybe they're working in a polar bear plunge while they're at it? Brrr.) The third bunch was to learn basic map reading skills which they would need for Tuesday's adventure. Then they'd switch up so that everyone had a chance to participate in each activity. Before bed, a night hike was planned.

Today was a bright beautiful day with the temperature hitting around 0. After breakfast, the kids were to learn more about the formation of the North West Company and then take part in a fur trade at the Camp. After lunch, more trading and then a get-together for the results of the trade and a discussion on the impact of the Fur Trade. Tonight, a campfire was planned with traditional games, music and dancing.

Wednesday morning, they will pack up their cabins, have breakfast, play a survival game (herbivores, omnivores and carnivores - Riley's an elk), lunch and then load their gear back onto the bus, take their seats and enjoy the short trip back to the school.

While Ri's been away, Rosie's been wondering where the heck she is. She sat for a good while last night, positioned with her butt on one stair and her front paws one step below, waiting and watching. The boys were happy to have her take turns sleeping with them for a change.

Around 7:30 tonight, Paul's alarm went off. Turns out he had it set so that we wouldn't miss the fly-over of the International Space Station and the Shuttle, Discovery. The four of us pulled on our boots and bundled up in coats and mitts and traipsed outside. The starry sky was perfectly clear and we had no trouble spotting the space travelers. I've included a picture of the fly-by. As you can no doubt see, the Space Station had already passed through the frame but Discovery wasn't far behind...

 You may have to squint.
 

Versatility, Blogger Style

Last week, Carolina received an award for being a versatile blogger. She's over in the Netherlands and you should go check her out, here. Go on now, I'll wait...

* taps fingers whilst whistling*

Hey. You came back! I 'met' Carolina last year and she's one of those people that, despite being half a world away, I feel like I know. One of the great things about the blogging world, really, is the people you meet and finding that there's a good number with whom you'd like to sit out on the porch on a warm summer evening and share a coffee.

 
Anyway, Carolina kindly passed the award on to your pal, moi. And now you get to find out even more about me! 


1. The year I was born, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup.

2. When I was a kid, I told my brother that there were alligators living under the basement stairs. Heh heh. That scared him, scared him good. Scared the crap out of me too. I hate those stairs.

3. Laura Ingalls was my hero. Okay, maybe she still is.

4. I like baking, growing our food and putting it up, whether by canning or drying. But I hate cooking.

5. My given names are Elizabeth Anne. Elizabeth after the Queen and Anne for the Princess. Three guesses where my Mum was from...first two don't count. And, yes, that's Anne with an E. Just like Miss Anne Shirley.

6. Oh, speaking of Anne Shirley, Paul and I went to Prince Edward Island several years back and I dragged him kicking and screaming to gently suggested we visit Green Gables while we were there. I loved it. He still hasn't entirely forgiven me for dragging him there, kicking and suggesting we visit. Given the opportunity, I'd drag him there again. (evil laughter echoes in the background)

7. In grade 5, I was Safety Patroller of the Year at my school. Even got to go to Ottawa with other safety patrollers for a few days. We stayed in the residence at Carleton University and visited the Governor General's home. The parade we were to take part in was rained out so we came back early. I've never gotten over that. Sniff.


How's that? Did I do okay? Be nice, Dorito. Now, go on back over to Carolina's place and take a look around. She takes really nice pictures and her animals are awfully cute. And thanks for the award, Carolina.  ;-)
   

Postmark Edinburgh; Nov. 8th, 1918

King George & Queen Mary Victoria League Clubs

Edinburgh

121a Princess Street

Ramsay Lodge, The Mound

St. Giles House, St. Giles Street

Blackie House, North Bank Street

        from

RAMSAY LODGE

   The Mound

Nov. 8th, 1918.

My dearest Muriel ~

Just a few lines that all is glorious and well and hope this may find you the same. I am enjoying my leave these days very much, the only fault that I have to find is the rain at times and the speed that my two weeks is flying by. I have from the 1st to the 15th and then back to France again for awhile. I think by the looks of things at present that the war won't last much longer. The people up here are in great glee over it at present and expect hostilities to close at any time. We have been doing no firing in France now for nearly a month as we couldn't keep up with the heavy guns on account of the canal bridges being blown up. I hope that when I return that I may find the battery still at Sauchy Cauchy a little town between Douai and Cambrai on the Canal De Nord. We are really in front of Valenciennes but out of range by a long bit. I didn't see Clark before I left at all but I think they are around there also. I have been very busy since coming over. Had a good visit to Glasgow and Ayr and I hope to see Dundee and Abberdeen if the weather is fit at all. My Scotch Lassie is fine and I am well away while in this town. She got over the flu just a few days before I came over. It is raging over here at present and claiming alot by death also. There seems to be very little of it with the soldiers though. Bruce Thompson's up with me this time again. He is going back on Sunday. We are expecting Whit up any day now as he was first on the list when I left. 

I have not had a letter from you now for a long time. I guess you must have got careless like me. It seems pretty hard to write during leave time however this is my second letter since yesterday. It is a bad time of the year for leave especially up here. I don't think I would come up this way again during winter months. We had a few flakes of snow today for the first. I have a bet on with a chap in the battery that the war wouldn't be over before the snow flew. It is any body's bet yet although who ever wins means a free trip to Buffalo from Port Hope and return. I will willingly pay it to see the thing end before the winter sets in. Well kid I guess I will ring off for this time and will write again before returning. Be on the look out for a little parcel any time. Be a good girl and write soon again.

As ever,                                     

Cecil                                     

Letter From The Front; July 16th, 1918

France

16-7-18

My Dearest Muriel ~

I was more than delighted to receive your very welcome and much appreciated parcel today. I hadn't had a good piece of cake for some time so you know how it would taste after the army rations all the time. I rec'd a big parcel from home a few days ago containing in all a big cake but was sorely disappointed on opening it for it was blue molded through and through. That is the first I have received yet to be in that condition and what puzzled me was that it was only on the road a short time and the cotton on the outside was dry and in good condition. Everything in your parcel was in A1 condition. The contents of the Comfort Kit Cover were just what I was needing the worst. Who's idea was it of sending such a good assortment of that kind. I am using the pencil for the first time on this letter tonight. I have often wondered how it was that you never kidded me about staying with the pencil so well. To tell the truth it was always my favorite and now during war times I have a little excuse. Oh yes I mustn't forget the flitters. They are excellent. I'm glad that you sent a few.

I rec'd your very welcome letter of June 21st a few days ago and two from Aunt Mary. In all I got 6 so I panned out real well in the last mail. We rec'd a big bunch of Cobourg Stars today and of course they were very interesting after not seeing any for so long. I read the entire evidence taken in connection with the burning of the Fenella cheese factory. I'm glad the poor beast wasn't so wet the time I landed in Cobourg with her perhaps I would have looked as cheap as the owner did had I been called to the stable there to have the Chief Cop and 3 or 4 others that might have tracked me in, questioning me as to where I was that night however it didn't happen that way. Just imagine Muriel up in Police Court. ha ha.

We had a very heavy rain storm last night with heavy lightening and thunder. A lot of our boys were very near flooded out of their dugouts some having several inches of water all over their floors. In mine in the morning at the guns there was about three inches but it helped to cool it off a lot as the day had been very close. Whit is still away on his signalling course and we have heard from him once. I have yet to see Clark which I hope to shortly. Did you notice in the Cobourg paper of Sergt Page being gassed. I was on the gun with him at the time but escaped although I did my share of sneezing and eyes watering and snorting however it passed off in a short time. We are still at the baseball. Well I guess I will ring off for this time. I see where we have a good lunch before retiring tonight as Bruce Thompson rec'd a parcel also. I am quite well at present. With love and best wishes Cecil. 

PS We are still on the same front.

Letter From The Front; May 16th, 1918

France,

16 - 5 - 18,

My Dearest Muriel,

I was delighted to receive your ever welcome letter of April 24th this week. It seems strange to me that it is so much easier writing me than to some of your other correspondents however I'm glad that such is the case. I rec'd a letter recently from a young lady of Roseneath by the name of Brown. It seems that she met Alex Spears last winter at his brothers dance down there. She has been at several dances since and has danced with Alex quite a number of times and has mentioned it to me of him being so good at it. By the last letter I got I think Alex must have shot her quite a line about you & I as she kidded me quite a bit about it. One of the parts of letter read like this. Oh by the way Cecil I hear there is a nice little school marm near Gores Landing that likes to get a letter from you very very much and that she is awaiting your return from overseas before she takes the matrimonial notion in her head. Isn't that a pretty good one kid? Get right after Alex now the next time you see him at a dance about that and kid him good for awhile and then ask him what he has been telling about you down around there. I answered her saying about that. Well, the poor girl doesn't want to wait that long if she gets a line on another chap for at present I'm considering to Batch out the rest of my days as I'm taking lessons now every day in washing dishes and clothes etc. Did I answer her all right?

I had a letter from Aunt Mary yesterday again, that is two now in a very short time.

They are still at the baseball around here and Clark was up as a rooter to their team a few nights ago.

We are having pretty hot weather at present and if it continues getting  more so as the summer advances it would sure be melting. We are still on the same front and having it quiet as usual. 

This is sure some place for small bugs around here and are very pleasant, yes, in your bed at nights.

When I rec'd a letter from Gordon Budd recently at the time of writing he was in a hospital in Cape Town S.A. and that he would soon be in London again. He said he was pretty badly used up and would never be the same again. I'm afraid if Mrs. Budd loses another boy it will go pretty hard with her.

I think you and Joseph are getting pretty thick driving around so much together and using such nice language. Believe me I would have laughed at the old Gink if he had of kicked me out of the rig afterwards.

I have got rid of the creepers again for a change, some change believe me. I'm glad that my letters are interesting at all. It's hard to fill up a decent sized letter but I've done pretty well this time. I think the next day off duty I must write your mother. I am quite well at present and hope this finds you the same. I'll be over for that boat ride all right before long. I saw a couple good snaps of Florence recently. Write again soon.

With kindest thoughts            

Cecil                      

Letter From The Front; Nov. 12th, 1917

France

Nov. 12th, 1917

Dearest Muriel ~

Your most welcome letter of October 11th arrived safely this week also the snap shot and the two cards of the teachers convention. That snap was sure real good of you. I must say of course you know considering however it will fill the bill the very best. The ones I had taken in Scotland haven't arrived yet although the one of the group has been here for some time. None of the Canadian mail arriving here is censored at least none of ours has been so far but all going out is. Our officers do all our censoring unless we use the green envelope but they have been few and far between with us so far. I don't know if Dudley happens to censor any of mine or not however I should worry for you'll know where it came from and how should he happen to make a break any time for any thing that I may say in any of the letters. I don't happen to be acquainted with him however all the boys speak very well of him.

I had a letter from Irene Walker telling me that she was teaching near Centreton and I suppose it is in Gladys MacCullough's old school. The people she boards with are C.O.B. and she has to go to church with them and so is afraid she will lose all her Methodistism. Apparently she is about as big a chip as ever. I think out where she is will be kind of quiet for her. My address will be still the 1st Can. Siege Battery. We are still having considerable wet weather and the mud about as bad as ever. There hasn't been a night yet but our feet are soaking wet. Night before last we were all drenched to the hide and I rolled in with some wet clothes on. Before that I had been coughing considerable but that put the kibash on it for I haven't coughed since. I think that is rather cheap cough mixture, what think you! I haven't saw Clark yet. He was in town for a few days but I hear today from a reliable source that he is gone again. I saw your brother a few days ago and a fellow that I see him with considerable told me today that he is still on the job alive and well. One chap in the battery had his head blown off yesterday with a shell. We have lost 15 of our chaps now one way and another. Two have been killed, 7 wounded and 6 gone for minor operations. These are all boys of our last draft. We get shelled very near every night around or near our billets. I have got quite used to it now for I seldom hear it at nights at all. We have lots of company now also galore of rats about. I pull my rubber cape over my head at nights so the rats will have a clear run way. You would think at times that they were having 100 yard dashes for prizes by the speed that they travell. I'm glad to know they are enjoying themselves. I'm sure you did real well at the last letter but please have a heart and don't expect me to ever pull off that much especially here in France. I think if you answered all the letters you mentioned about receiving that well you will be writing yet. I am glad your mother got the letter all right. I suppose I will be hearing from her again some time all being well. Bert Spear is bunking with me at present. You needn't worry about our conversation that time for there was little said about you however I could easily tell you all anytime that we meet in the future which I hope won't be long. I don't think this scrap can last many more years by the way things are going at present. There has been no cold weather here yet although there was frost this morning. All the boys are well at present. I suppose the dances will soon be in full swing in the Landing again and about the time that arrives the old boat will be stopped. Well I think this is the limit for this time so heres hoping to hear from you soon again. Bye bye for this time. Sincerely,

                    Cecil

Front Lines - The Life of the Soldier

Courtesy of The National Film Board of Canada

Letter From The Front; Nov. 4th, 1917

France

Nov. 4th, 1917

Dearest Muriel~

Just a few lines in answer to your very welcome letters of October 4th and Sept the 27th & 20th all of which arrived this week. The mail reaches us nicely here and I think that all the boys appreciate it very very much. I am still on the job alive and well and have managed to miss the shells so far very luckily. There has been a few days this week that things have been very hot around the guns in fact so hot that we flew our kites away from them for awhile till the storm blew over. There are times when Fritzie is very quiet with his artillery and then again its the reverse. When the shells are not plentiful about he quite often pours bombs down at you from the air or else puts his machine guns to work on you. Since joining the battery it has been nothing but the roar of guns all the time. The first two or three nights I guess there were very few boys that slept at all with the roar and the air raids however with all there are many more of our shells going over at him that we receive. It is sure a wonderfull business this war and if one is spared to survive it is a thing worth seeing at least. #2001035 - Gnr C.A.Thackeray, 1st Can. Siege Battery, B.C.F. - France. I see your big brother quite often but have only spoken to him the twice so far. There has been only one shell light real close to their position since we came up here and I hope it may continue that way. You asked me for the exact position over here but I can't tell you now only that there is very heavy scrapping going on. There has been no cold weather here yet like other parts of the world I hear from however it isn't much wonder its warm here. I'm sorry I can't send you that photo this time however it will be along in a day or two as some of them have arrived all ready for the other boys. The young lady in Edinburgh got after the photographer and bustled him up a bit. It comes in handy to know a few in Edinburgh as I can get things sent over pretty handily. I haven't recd that letter from Bowmanville yet you mentioned off however I don't doubt but what it will reach here all right. Dudley Sears is here with the battery yet and he tells us that one of the Harris boys at Whitby has been here some how or other. No doubt you people will all know about it by this time. We have lost 5 of our boys all ready but not killed. Two were wounded the first day up at the guns or slightly shell shocked and the other two had to go the hospital for operations. I'll bet Pack as you call him isn't sorry that he is in Canada today. Do you know it is lively here at present and much ------ however the boys seem in good spirits for all that. And so a lot of your close neighbors are getting married over there. Now that Mina has done the trek I'll expect to hear the same of the rest of you Gores Landing girls now for there ought to be a good chance for you all now. I haven't saw Clark yet but I hear he is around here quite close. None of us feel much like running around at nights after our days work however the first chance I get I will rustle him up.

I don't know if it would be safe for you to call at 465 for a meal or not. I think that by the reports from Mary that she is laying up a good store for winter anyhow. All that is bothering me is that I won't be around to help spoil a bit of it. They give us lots to eat here. Our breakfast and tea is fine but we do the best that we can up at the guns for dinner. There are YMCA dugouts up along the line in fact way up past the guns and they are sure handy. All the tea and coffee is free and the rest is sold at reasonable prices . Well kid I guess this is about all this time. One is sure up against a proposition here for writing however I'll do the best I can. Hoping to hear from you soon again.    Sincerely, Cecil.

We Honour Them

Peterborough Examiner, Sept. 2010 - The process will begin in the early morning hours in Montréal as the first flatbed truck gets fitted with two massive granite boulders. Another truck will go through the process an hour and a half later, and then another, until all 12 rocks are en route to Peterborough. As the first truck enters the city, a crane will be in place in the parking lot of the Armouries, ready to put each rock, weighing between 15 to 20 tonnes, into place. Once set, the series of black granite boulders will make up the long-awaited Veterans Wall of Honour memorial in Confederation Square, commemorating the service of some 11,000 veterans from the city and county who returned home from the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.

*******

This day dawned bright and beautiful beneath a delft blue sky and warm October sun. This was a day to enjoy the company of family and to give thanks, both for the bounty at our table and to the nation-builders before us who fought on foreign soils, defending humanity against aggression. This was the day, twelve black granite boulders were officially unveiled behind the Cenotaph in downtown Peterborough. Two men, my grandpa Cecil and his brother Clarke are among 11,000 names carefully etched in stone. This day, we honoured them.  

Lest We Forget - The Cenotaph at Confederation Park

Proud - The Colour Guard begins its march from the Armouries to the Cenotaph

Respect - Two minutes of silence, the Last Post, God Save the Queen and O Canada

We honour them.

Letter From The Front; Oct. 7, 1918

France

7-10-18,

Dearest Muriel,

Your very welcome letters of August 28th and of Sept. 3rd and 9th have all arrived safely recently. We have been shifting here and there and all over of late so my correspondence has been sadly neglected. I suppose I could have dropped a field card at least but carelessness as usual. I was surprised to hear of Dudley censoring the letter however I should worry as he has left us recently for to join another battery. We have been seeing some of the real stuff since leaving our old summer position but all's going well and good to date. I have just saw Clark the once since coming onto this front and have lost track of him again. I saw Hilton again though a few days ago but not to speak to. We are having not so bad weather for Fall but the days are sure shortening up a lot. I hope to get away on leave the last of this month or the beginning of next. You asked me how the Scotch lass was. Well as far as I know she is A1. She and the family have been holidaying for a month up in the castle of Scotland. She sent me some dandy views and one was the Inclicape Rock and lighthouse. I suppose I will have to give her a few calls for sending so many. It is a good house to go to as they all seem very friendly. There are three more girls in the family but no boys. My favourite happens to be the baby although she is over 20 by a few years. I guess I hadn't better say much more or you will know more about her than I do myself. ha ha. Saw one of the Manley boys recently. I happen not to know him. I wish I could send some of the souvenirs I have, safely home just now. I guess I will hardly get many there though. I am enclosing a German form of field card or rather for a short letter that I picked up the other day. It is quite a dandy little rig at that. We sure see lots of different little articles of this lying about at present. Our mail seems to be coming in pretty well at present. I rec'd the parcel O.K. a few nights ago from the willing workers and it sure came in pretty handy as we moved that evening. It came through in fine shape. Well I suppose you are hard at the teaching again. Can you see yourself in the store as well as you did at first? Well kid, I guess I will have to ring off for this time. I am quite well at present and I hope this finds you likewise.

As ever                

Cecil           

*******

Saturday is going to be a very special day...

Betcha Didn't Know

The other day, my buddy Bub, a tarantula-holder (oh, those Brits) presented me with this award...drumroll please...

Yep. I'm versatile. Some would say I'm a goof too but I digress. Anyhoo, the rules are, and I'm going to steal this directly from Bub's post...

1. Thank and link the award giver. 

2. List 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass it on to as many as you like.

Hold on to your hats friends...

1. The public school I went to from K thru' grade 6, had a gym only slightly bigger than a classroom and the roof was normal classroom height too. We played lots of fun stuff in there during gym class - tag, floor hockey, games, and sometimes volleyball. The volleyball net was set up in the middle of the gym and we'd play nine kids to a side, all on our knees. The server got five tries (underhand, of course) and then we'd move around, on our knees, as the game progressed. Great fun. The school I went to for grades 7 and 8 had a full-size gym. When it came time for volleyball, I was dumbfounded. Six to a side? What are they talking about? Don't they know how to play? And, the strangest part of all was...they played volleyball standing up! Running even. Turns out they played it that way in highschool too. And college. And everywhere except my first school.

2. I'm tall. By grade 7, I was already hitting 6 feet. In grade 8, my Art teacher, Mr. Butcher asked me if I was going to try out for the girls basketball team. Mr. Butcher was also the coach. As I'd hardly ever played basketball (see #1), I told him no. He threatened to break both my legs. I tried out. And I didn't make the team. Luckily, I didn't let that stop me and ended up playing all through highschool and college. Thank you Mr. Butcher.

3. As a kid, I wanted to change my name to Jan. You know, like the one on the Brady Bunch.

4. My favourite colour is red. And then brown.

5. Sometimes when I'm outside, I catch sight of a red-tailed hawk soaring across the sky. It could just as easily be a turkey vulture, but since they're so darn ugly, let's go with a hawk. I'll stand still and just watch. I've told the kids many times, if I could be one thing for a day, it'd be a hawk, gliding effortlessly above the earth. Beautiful.

6. I went to college for three years for Business Admin. specializing in accounting. Spent more time playing euchre than going to class (hope Dad's not reading this). Squeaked through to get my diploma and have made a concerted effort to have nothing to do with accounting ever again.

7. I learned to swim, without waterwings and without holding on to my Mum or Dad, in a hotel pool in the Bahamas when I was six.

So there you go. More than you could ever have possibly wanted to know about me. And thanks Bub. Hope I done you proud.

Our Highway

Fifteen years ago at a little church just north of Oshawa, in front of the best friends and family anyone could ever imagine, a dude and his bride said "I do." After the bubbles were blown, the pictures posed for and the supper enjoyed, the newly married couple were entertained by the groom's parents and his six brothers and sisters, all wearing Florida Gators shirts and each with two balloons placed just so. His father wore alligator slippers and a papier-maché gator head and marched around the hall, bunny-hop-style, to AC/DC's Big Balls. I'll share the story of how this came about another time. Suffice it to say, alcohol was involved.

Today, all these years later, in another house in a different town and with three fabulous little munchkins (and various other critters), I want to say - Happy Anniversary Darlin'. Wouldn't change a bit of it. And this song still rocks as much as it did on our wedding day.

This Is Where We Come From

"Turn left up here. Now just up here...there, pull over here. See that building, kids? That's the house your great-great-grandmother was born in."

The kids and I met Dad in Garden Hill this morning for a date with family history. He locked up his van, took a seat with us and we started the short journey east to Gores Landing. We turned off Durham Rd 9 and took the back roads around. Our first stop was at this old house. 

Ri, Dad, Cammy & Nolan in front of the old Waldon house.

What a thrill! This old rundown house, now part of a sheep pen, was the house that my great Grandma, Eva Waldon, was born in, just four years after confederation. Some years later, they moved into a larger house a short walk up the driveway that's still in use today. Dad also explained to the kids the intricacies of using the manure spreader in front of the old house. Farm boys.

Next we drove over to St. George's Anglican Church and walked around the cemetery in search of more history. Every time the name Harris was found, the kids shouted out the discovery.

Cap Harris ran the steamship, ferrying people from the Landing to Peterborough

After wandering around visiting family, Dad showed us the White House where he lived after leaving Saskatchewan in 1939. The home was owned by family and Dad lived there 'til they moved to Peterborough after the war.

We headed out of the village then towards Harwood. There, we took a left down to the lake and Dad showed us where the bridge once stood that allowed the train to chug across the lake, allowing for the movement of supplies from Cobourg up to Peterborough.

Last stop was further east towards Roseneath. We stopped at the Centenary Church and Cemetery (formerly Thackeray Church) in Alnwick, built on land originally donated by my great-great-great Grandpa, William. Once again the kids hunted for the familiar name and shouted out "Thackeray" whenever it was spotted.

John & Annie Thackeray - Ri's great-great-great Grandparents

We found the graves of William and Margaret and of their son John and his wife Annie. John was the first white boy born in Alnwick and the first Thackeray born in Canada. As an adult, he represented the Mississaugas as an Indian Agent for the federal government.
 
The trip back to Garden Hill went by quickly as we talked about all that we had seen. We said our goodbyes and returned home to the present. 

Stepping Back In Time

Another week of holidays this week and, after a few days of deep-down-spring-cleaning, I figured it was time for something touristy. Last night I asked the kids if they wanted to go to Lang Pioneer Village and, quite honestly, expected little more than bored sighs. Well, Riley and Cammy jumped up and shouted their approval. Nolan, not having a clue what a Lang Pioneer Village was, got in on the jumping 'cause he didn't want to miss out on anything. I got that dumbfounded look on my face that I get every now and again. Of course, it wasn't like I particularly wanted to go there. I mean, pffft, pioneers and stuff are so not my thing. This was for the kids.

This morning we took it pretty easy (that holiday thing) and finally mosied out the door around lunchtime. We were eastbound on highway 7 when we approached the Keene Road. "Gee, that came up awfully fast," I thought while turning south. It was the scenic route. No worries, though, we got there eventually.

Once in, we paid our entry fee and started to explore. Each historic building was moved from within 90 miles of the museum. There's a sampling of all parts of pioneer life -  the general store, a blacksmith shop, the town hall and a church, several farmhouses, a one-room schoolhouse and the hotel from nearby Keene (where, back in the day, you could get a 'fancy' room with a bathtub for 75 cents and some of the owner's fourteen kids hauled the heated water up in pails). The Lang Grist Mill, originally built in 1846, still sits on the Indian River, grinding grain into flour.

The one-room Fife cabin

One of my favourite buildings is the Fife cabin. Being a sucker for history, especially Canadian history, I love visiting this building. It's a one-room log cabin built about 1825 and sits very near it's original location. This was David Fife's and his wife, Jane's first home. The picture above is taken from the back of the house - there's no second floor and no rooms off to the side. 

Fife cabin in background (centre); strange unknown children in foreground

David Fife's story is interesting and important to the wheat farmers and early economies of North America. It was his discovery of Red Fife wheat that gave Canada the title of 'Granary of the Empire' and led to North America's reputation as the breadbasket of the world. He was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1963.

Plaque inside Lang Grist Mill

We wandered around for the rest of the afternoon, taking in the sites and sounds of a living museum. Ri conversed with the sheep. A goat sneezed on Cammy. Nolan picked grass for the chickens. Inside the one-room schoolhouse, we had a lesson in classroom etiquette and possible punishments for naughty children. We all agreed that if you were silly enough to act up (and get caught) then you sure as heck didn't do it again.

Lessons in the South Lake Schoolhouse

And the good news is that pioneer life is part of the grade three curriculum. That means that I'll be back here in the spring as a volunteer during Cammy's class trip! For the sake of the kids, of course.

The Ole Singer Sewer

Several years ago, Paul's Mum helped out an older woman. When she passed on, Paul's Mum was offered some things by the family. One of the items was an old Singer sewing machine. I lucked out when she gave it to me. For awhile it posed as a bedside table in Riley's room. Then it moved out into the hallway. Finally, today, we brought it downstairs and gave it a more prominent place in the livingroom.

With a little research, the serial number suggests it was manufactured in 1906 in Elizabeth, New Jersey and was one of 1500 allotted to St. Jean, Québec on September 26th that year. Mr. Singer established the plant there in 1873 and built a workforce of 6,000, the largest in the world at that time. It was an economic mainstay there until 1982, when it closed its doors because of less expensive imports. Some things never change. Nonetheless, I'm very happy to have it and to know a bit of its history.

I'm also looking forward to trying it out...once someone shows me how to thread it. Should have paid more attention in Home Ec. class, I guess.

The ole Singer sewer

A Letter From The Front

Yesterday was Vimy Ridge Day and, to be honest, I'd never heard of it before. This year, ceremonies were held in capital cities across the country after the last Canadian vet of the First War passed away. This morning, I pulled out the letters that my Grandpa Cecil wrote to the woman he was courting back home, my Grandma. The letter that follows was written March 29, 1918, just about a year after Vimy.

France

Good Friday, 1918

Dearest Muriel,
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still on the land of the living alive and well and hope this finds you the same. This is the first I have written you since about a week ago last Sunday - we have been pretty busy lately and I have felt anything but in the right mood for writing believe me. Our rest has been broken at nights a whole lot but it is getting better again. I only wrote a little page home last Sunday saying that I was alive and well still. At present the excitement here is mild as the big push is farther down the line but there is no telling the time that we might be shifted out of here. I don't expect we will however there is no telling. I see in the Canada Daily Records a little paper we receive every day containing the general news of the Dominion that the people are watching the results of the big push very closely. I can't understand how it is there is no Plainville or Landing items in the paper. ha ha. Clark was up a few nights ago to see the bunch. Apparently he knows quite a bunch in this battery. He kept me up pretty late, thereby losing more sleep as usual however I enjoyed his visit as it was his first. He was talking to Ken Herald a few days ago he said. His Battery is not far from here. I haven't ran into Jerry yet for all I see some of his bunch quite often going up and down the road. Our good weather came to an end a couple of days ago and it has been quite cool and raining off and on. It doesn't look as if it might last long however I guess we can expect wet weather anytime from now on. I suppose you still hear from Gammy as your mamma called him. I have lost all track of him as I know nothing of the whereabouts of his battery. Bruce and Carl are on opposite shifts on the guns to me so that leaves me all by my lonesome when off duty. When Nichols is here why I have company but at present he is away on leave to Blighty. Of course you know I have company again but not the right kind. Clark thought we had a joke dugout here. I told him it was alright as long as a shell didn't give it a tap on top and cave it in. Last week we had some of the largest mosquitoes around I ever saw. When one landed on you it just felt as if he was going to carry you off to devour you. This rain has put a damper on them for a few days. It looks as if I will have to stay in today and write to Aunt Mary also. I will also have Sunday off this week to do some writing also. Well dear kid I guess I will have to draw this to a close. I hope you were not disappointed for not having heard from me last week for I know you will understand how it is. Our Canadian mail ought to be in again next week. Bye Bye. Lovingly, Cedric.

PS Some of the boys told me this morning that it is one year today since leaving Cobourg.

I'm Just A Bill

At work, on one of the back desks, a puzzle is slowly forming. Last year, it was a 'rockstars' puzzle. Eventually it was taken apart and disappeared. Now, it's 'television stars'. Last week, Kathy held up a piece and asked me who it was. Well, it was Bill, of course. You know. "I'm just a bill, yes I'm only a bill, and I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill." Schoolhouse Rocks. A lot of us Canadian kids learned American history on Saturday mornings. Not to mention all those parts of speech and numbers. Oh, and don't forget gravity. (Ask the kids about Sir Isaac Newton.) It's great stuff and they should bring it back. Play them between cartoons on Teletoon Retro. Maybe they could even come up with a Canadian jingle or two. "I'm Laura Secord, and this is only my cow, and we're heading north to warn the Brits..." Ooh, this could set me on a new career path.

This is one of my favourites...



Today's kids could learn a lot. And not just the kids.

* sings *

"We the People, In order to form a more perfect Union..."

Right on!

Hoosiers and Old Receipts

March Break has come and all but gone. We've had absolutely incredible weather, running about ten degrees above normal.The kids spent the week with their friends at Julie's - Ri and Cammy especially happy to be with the kids that they rarely see. As there was no one to hang out with on Wednesday, Riley and I stayed home and worked on her science fair project. Turns out they haven't changed much since my school days; I still hate them. Don't tell the kids though, 'kay? She has decided to show the effect of salt water on plants. She has two plants and hopefully one will wilt or turn yellow or whatever.

The kitchen has been treated to a much-needed spring cleaning. Drawers and cupboards have been cleaned out and lots of crap has been sorted through. Feels good to have my counter back and be able to find things without moving this and that out the way. Here's hoping it lasts.

My old hoosier is looking mighty spiffy too. I went through a stack or two of neglected cookbooks (among other things), putting aside a bunch for the reuse-it centre at the dump and placing the rest in plain sight so that we might use them.

There were a couple of treasures to be found too. An old copy of Mrs. Beeton's Cookery Book was amongst the mess as well as Mum's Better Homes and Gardens 'New' Cookbook. Mrs. Beeton's belonged to Mrs. Holloway, a sweet older lady who lived across the street when I was a kid, and had given the book to Mum. (She also gave me two little kissing ceramic angels which I still have but that's another story.) Mum has a note in the book that it's from around 1920. Very cool. To brother Enos' great horror, the Apple Betty recipe is missing from Mum's book. Thankfully for all, I have a copy safely tucked away. Phew.

A Depression-Era Farm Kid

I'm making bread today and got thinking about my Mum's sifter again. My flour is ground nice and fine but you still get a remnant or two (or three) of the chafe so it'd be nice to put it through a sifter. So, I called Dad.

He didn't know if the sifter was still around but said that he'd ask Elizabeth about it and, if it was found, then it was mine. Then I asked him one of those questions that leads him off in time and back to his childhood. I love when that happens.

"Dad," I asked, "when you were a kid, did Grandma grind her own flour or was it store-bought?"

Dad was born and raised in rural Saskatchewan during the Depression; one of the youngest of ten. Every fall, once the harvest was in and there was some cash in their pockets, his Dad would hook up the team and head into town for supplies. He remembers huge flour sacks and bags full of sugar piled high in one of the bedrooms. His brothers Lyle and Roy slept in the main room (it was their job to keep the fire going). Nothing was wasted. Grandma collected the empty flour sacks, attached them together and stuffed them with straw. Once it was closed up, the kids were put to work jumping and rolling on the boys' new mattress to flatten it out. I guess it wasn't comfortable sleeping on a ball of straw.

And his stories always end the same..."we kids didn't know any better. They were good times."

He called again later. They found the sifter.

~Liz