Our long awaited spring I think has come at long last. The birds think so anyway. Robins are back and so are the Red winged Blackbirds and some Bluebirds.
A lady told me she had seen a pair of Thrashers around. There was a Woodpecker trying to knock our house down this morning. When I heard it I ran to the door and thought someone was there but just that Woodpecker.
On Sunday two bears were reported just west of the Landing. One had a little cub with her. By all reports the bears are out two weeks earlier than last year. There must be some dead animals in the bush for them to feed on.
The swans seem to come and go as they are hanging around with the geese. A lady waiting for the ferry saw our otter drown one of the swans, but it was too heavy for it to get his catch up on to the ice to eat it. In time and lots of work he did manage to get it up onto the ice. It’s too bad she didn’t have a camera. There are so many geese I wonder what they get to eat.
There is getting to be quite an open piece of water as every day it gets quite bigger. It’s always very interesting to see so many birds taking advantage of the open water. There are just too many geese to even give an estimate. During the night they make so much noise. But it makes us feel springs is getting closer.
This morning early I noticed about 30 swans out on the ice. This is first time I have noticed so many of them. They must be finding some food or I would think they would move on.
Class of 69
Looking through some old papers I came across part of the L.D. News, in fact one page Jo has saved. A full page of the 1969 graduating class at the L.D. Secondary School 42 years ago. There were 40 students graduating. They all look so handsome, the boys in suits and the girls in long dresses. There is also a list of the names and this is so interesting too. Lots of these students will be close to 60 now and no doubt some retired. This picture is priceless. Our son Richard was in that class. I wonder how many are still with us. If anyone is interested drop in and see this cutting. The picture is still very clear after all these years.
Yearly check up
I have just had our daughter Kathy on the phone from Ireland. She had just got home from having a yearly checkup. She says that once a year your vehicle has to have a complete mechanical checkup. They go over it from end to end. This year she had to replace the ball joints and get two new tires. They don’t miss a thing. I guess it’s a good thing for safety reasons. I wonder if we will get the same thing in Canada in the future. Maybe make the highways safer.
School back
This break is always looked forward to by the students. When I went to school there was no such thing as a break like the modern schools give their students.
Visit at the Pines
Last week I went into the Pines to visit with Edith Bond and also say hello to many of my old friends.
It’s a nice friendly place to visit as the staff always make you feel comfortable. It’s always bright and cheery.
There are so many that are dependent on the staff for help and I notice they are all so patient with those who need help. I always feel it’s what is called a labour of love.
Looking back
I am going to go back a lot of years now when we had the smaller ferries. They were unable to break through the heavy ice so there was no ferry service.
The weather was much colder so the lake would freeze over with good solid ice and folks would drive over the lake. They would even plow across so it was almost a highway.
Lumber trucks as well would cross with half loads. About this time in the spring there would be sweepstakes, started to bet on when the lake would be clear of ice from dock to dock.
There was a first and second prize. When the lake did clear folks would meet at the store to see who were the prize winners. Sometimes it would get hot and heavy as who the winner would be.
Dad and Joe Sugden would have to settle things out and be fair to all. When they got everyone happy as there would be well over $100 to divide up. It was fun.
Our family were not able to enter as my dad used to say a conflict of interest. I didn’t think it was fair but it’s a long time ago now.
Now with the ice breaking ferries and the warmer winters this has gone by as history. A little story that was really a big joke.
One year there was a big piece of ice floated down and would not move and no wind so the lake was not really open so a couple of guys went out and about midnight with a couple of pike poles and got this ice flow moving so as to clear the lake.
The joke was on them as some of the boys heard about it so when they landed their boat they were met and there were some harsh words. I don’t remember the rest of the story but I think it was settled in the end okay.
All in fun
A thought for the girls, please excuse me on this one.
Women will never be equal to men until they walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut and still think they are beautiful.
Take care, have a safe day and always remember God loves you and so do I.
P.S.
Something to think on. Memories warm the soul. Love is never beyond reach, as long as a flame burns, as long as memory lives.
