Horses have been in my life ever since I was a very young child. Horses have brought the most incredible people into my life whose interests ranged from heavy horses to pack horses. Horses have carried me down some good trails and some not so good.
Some I wish I have never been on. But I would not change my life even if I could. When you have been among as many horses as I have been you begin to think like a horse and as I go through the last years of my life that’s not so bad either.
Busy summer
There still seems to be lots of holiday units going by. All kinds and sizes, some huge ones too. A home away from home. Jo and I had a camper and a trailer and they were all good but the best trip we had was the gemtop on our pickup with a cot inside for sleeping, four big plastic containers with tight lids. We had a gas stove, a folding table, two folding chairs and a tarp.
Every third night we would go to a motel for bed and a shower and a cafe for a hot meal. In Alberta they had places you could cook as there was a cook stove. We met so many folks like us and we made lots of friends on that trip. We always wanted to do that again but we didn’t get the chance. It was a cheaper way to go plus much easier to handle and park. All in all it was great.
Growing up
Growing up in Saskatchewan was a good place to grow up. The Eyehill Creek went through the whole place and with it lots of swimming holes. We had a ball team and a skating rink in the winter.
As there were not many cars at the time and no snow plows so out came the horses and sleighs and of course lots of bells on every team of horses.
We had a hall and there was a play every month and I loved them. The church was busy too, lots going on for the younger generation. Lots of us had saddle horses not only for work but to show off to the pretty girls and there was always lots of them too. This was a little accident I had just by showing off. Brother Peter and I were delivering some invitations for a musical evening at our home as there were few phones at that time.
Peter was on a saddle horse and I was riding a lovely pony. I was breaking out he was doing so well too. The first house we stopped at had a very pretty daughter so instead of stopping at the gate I rode Danny through the gate to show him off.
The first one out the front door was a little terrier, he came through the door full bore and Danny piled me right in front of this pretty girl, kicked in my cheek. Took a few minutes to get my self together, feeling like 25 cents. The only good thing about it all I was in this pretty girls arms. For a minute or so I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Brother Peter said it served me right and was laughing. I still have two lumps where he kicked me.
But as they say alls well that ends well and if I could I might do it over again. Next the news was all over, Hugh Neave got bucked off at his girl friends house. This is what they would say and I quote “old enough to know better and young enough to do it again.”
Fall is coming
This summer seems to be like it’s come and gone much too fast, even the nights are cooling off. Makes me think of fall. We have had our share of all kinds of weather. From wind, hail, even some frost but all in all it’s been pretty good. Back on the prairie it was the wind.
Mother used to say it was the wind that got her. She could stand everything else but the wind. This is a little story I will pass on. This is a prairie story and it happened to us. The year was about 1929 or 1930 Dad had bought a model T Ford, his pride and joy. So he built a big shop to house the car and also made a workshop as well. It did not have a floor in it yet. It was built with it’s back to Mother’s potato patch.
This one Sunday Dad took us for a drive in his model T to visit fiends and as it was a nice day the garage doors were left open. A wind storm had come up and Dad’s nice shop and garage were upside down on its roof in Mother’s spud patch in perfect shape, not a nail loose. T
hey did more damage to the shop getting it back on its proper place. The funny part was, if it’s funny, they had a calf tied to a manger in the shambles and they found the calf still tied up and not a scratch. Wonders never cease and it’s true. The same wind took our hay rack over the bank and it was toast. It was 10 feet wide and 16 feet long. That wind was one of our worst we had ever had.
Visit with my grandson
Margaret and Richard Neave had their son Edward and this two sons Jacob and Zack visiting the grandparents. They make their home in Penticton. It was great for me to see my two great grandsons. Another generation on the way. Makes me feel good and very proud. I only wish my wife Jo could see them. She would be so proud too.
St. Luke’s
It’s good news to once more holding church services in St. Luke’s on the lake. Service was held last Sunday afternoon with pastor Al from Grassy Plains. There was a lunch served before the service and lots of music and singing plus a very good message. There will be a service once a month and the date and time will be posted. Everyone is welcome. You will enjoy the service.
A big thank you to John Keefe who keeps the grave yard tidy and clean. He also keeps the front of the church grass cut as well.
A little something to think on I noticed this morning so will pass it on. And I quote “There is only one door handle on the door of your heart. Only one bolt. They are on the inside, your side. You must listen for the angel to open the lock and open up that door.”
My dad had a little saying and I think maybe it’s got some truth to it. The least said is the soonest mended.
God loves you a great deal and of course so do I.
