Writing Class Article - A Trip To Dinsmore

A Trip to Dinsmore

By Jo Oct 8/15

We rushed out the door after a hurried supper. Pat needed to go pick up oil from the Dinsmore Hutterite Colony for our used oil boiler. Winter is nearing and we go through a tote a month so part of our fall preparations is going to get oil.

I don’t always go along on these trips, but this time Pat asked if I would and I was happy for the little outing. It’s only a half hour drive south of our place and the drive went quickly.

Upon arrival we noticed the quiet yard and houses. We drove around a bit while Pat tried again to get Eddie, the preacher, on the phone. Pat has gone there lots of times before but I had never been to this particular colony and I was very interested in it all.

This colony was very neat and well taken care of. The houses were arranged in two long rows of plain apartment-style buildings. The shops were another row right in front of the houses, door after door, plain white with black trim. There was one small pot of flowers beside a full glass door that looked like it led to the kitchens.

After a while we noticed some commotion by one house door. Two little girls were peering out, their full skirts swinging in the evening breeze and their black polka dot caps flapping behind them when they ran back inside. A stout short man in plain black dress pants and jacket stepped out under the little yard light by their door. The swinging screen door slammed shut behind him as he stepped out and Pat jumped out of the pickup to talk to him.

Very shortly Pat jumped back in and we backed across the yard to the first shop. “Eddie, himself!” he said. I nodded as he jumped back out. Colby and Zach grabbed their jackets and jumped out too. I unbuckled Wyatt and told him to sit by me and pretend he was driving.

“I hate your house!” a rounded bearded face said at Pat’s open door. I recognised Eddie.

I looked at him, surprised and then laughed. I didn’t know what to think but maybe he had seen our place sometime, though I was sure I’d never met Eddie before today.

I talked with Wyatt and read my emails and talked with my mom and sisters on Whatsapp. Wyatt kept opening the windows so I put on my jacket. Soon Pat was ready to drive around to the back of the shop for the last tote of oil. Eddie opened the furthest shop door and we drove right inside the clean, neat shop. The last three bays were covered with what looked like gravel to me but soon Eddie came and leaned in Pat’s window.

“Wanna try some sunflower seeds?” he asked.

“Sure!”

Three little girls crowded close to Eddie at the window.

“I have six girls,” he informed me. “No boys. The girls do a lot of work. See those sunflower seeds? That’s their job! They do that in the evenings. Right now we’re harvesting carrots. We provide carrots to all the Co-ops in Saskatchewan!”

“Wow!” I said, impressed. “That’s a lot of carrots!”

“Do you help?” I asked the girls.

“We babysit,” the oldest one answered.

“We use a carrot digger that came all the way from Prince Edward Island!” Eddie said. “My other girls are learning their German.” It came out sounding like ch-erman.  I watched him as he grabbed a paper plate from the middle sized girl. “Here, for you,” he said and handed me a plate of cookies stacked four high all around.

“Whatever! Thank you very much!” I laughed. “This is so nice of you! Did you girls bake them?” I knew instantly that they hadn’t. Of course, they have cooks that provide for everyone but it’s such a natural thing to ask.

“No,” they said shyly, looking at me.

Soon Pat was done pumping oil and we backed out of the shop and said our goodbyes.

“Well,” Pat said, “Eddie says he heats our house.”

I laughed. I had misunderstood.

Best Fall Things (Oct 4)

• pumpkin spice muffins at Tim Horton's
• pumpkin chai from David's Tea
• sweaters
• scarves
• leggings
• pumpkins and gourds
• harvest moon
• tomato relish, veggie juice and salsa in neat rows in the pantry
• chilly evenings curled up by the fire
• fresh BC apples
• boxes of tomatoes 
• yellow leaves scattered on green grass
• lunch-kits and ball-gloves
• sunflowers
• square bales
• geese honking
• dusty fields
• dreaming about making a quiet book
• quilts

In Which Mrs. Brown Drinks Joy - Week 1 Writing Class

In Which Mrs. Brown Drinks Joy

By Jo Sept 10/15

Mrs. Brown swings her arms, pulls her skirt up to her knees and faces the sun. It’s a magnificently gorgeous day on the vast plains of Saskatchewan, blue-blue harvest bowl sky, golden fields of stubble, crickets chirping and birds flying. The grass is lush and green from the fall rains and there’s a nip in the air that can only mean frost in the near future.

Mrs. Brown is alone on the country gravel road. Her closest neighbours are a mile and a half away and the birds and crickets are her company. Every breath she breaths is thanksgiving… today. Some days are not so. So many things fill Mrs. Brown’s mind; the lunch she had yesterday with Mrs. Hildebrand, the liver test a close family member is waiting for anxiously, her oldest child’s school needs…

But today. Today is joy, joy, joy. Every blade of grass is dancing with joy to be alive. Every leaf on the trees around her sings and twirls, so happy to do what God has bid them. The birds flit and fly, alive; so happy. Mrs. Brown wants to dance but she runs instead, every breath a prayer, a praise, a song.

If there were not so much pain and heartache in this world, the joy would not be so… there, so precious, so close to Him.

Mrs. Brown slows to a walk, savouring the warmth. Instinctively she looks up as a cloud crosses paths with the sun. How real to life. Each day must have its little troubles to make the sunshine special. Each life must have its trials to make the person whole, complete and capable of grasping joy.

Mrs. Brown heads inside. She opens more windows and gulps down a glass of water. Her work is waiting; dishes to do, toys to pick up, laundry to put away. Her heart is full, full of joy gulped in thankful breaths on a fall walk.

Monday

Hi, you all. It's a lovely Monday here, mind you, rather cold. When I got up this morning it was +2C and it's warmed up considerably to +8C. But the sun is shining and the geese are honking and gathering in crowds on nearby sloughs and it really does feel delightfully fall-ish. I think Mondays are one of my favourite days. Just good ol' stay-at-home days.

It feels rather boring to write about laundry and baking every Monday but it's so normal and enjoyable. Today I added salsa to my list. I even threw a jalapeno roast in the crock-pot for supper and collected the garbage from upstairs. Things are looking up, no doubt.

Last week I had a bit of a 'Grandma Dora' week. We had such a lovely quick trip through the mountains last weekend to Creston for Jerry & Karen's 25th anniversary and we hit the ground running at home. It was my busing week, Pat was gone late three nights, Wyatt & I had colds, I had a 'Cobra books' day, I babysat Robin & Alex one day and went to town with Pat on Friday. Saturday we had an Dean Esau party at Jeffs for Alison's birthday and Sunday we had a Wilbert Esau party at Arlen's for his (Arlen's) birthday... Oh, my. Don't I feel better just saying it?! LOL.

Anyway, I think I'm going to stay home from church cleaning tomorrow. And I'll try to get to Bertha tea on Wednesday and the singing will be fun at youth meeting on Thursday.... I'm into writing poetry (like, more than usual, ha) and here's my latest just thrown out there:

Rugged Rockies

Snowy Peaks
Foggy Caps
Forest Spruce
Mossy Floor

Shaggy Bear
Massive Moose
Jumpy Rabbit
Lightning Squirrel

Blue-Green Water
Splashing Stream
Rocky Edge
Peaceful Lake

God's Grandeur

~~~~~~~
Just
Go ahead
Say those
Words
Even though
They aren't true
And
You don't feel that way
Just say
Those
Kind
Words
~~~~~~~

Do you agree with this last one? Is it right to say kind words if they aren't true? Is it better to just be quiet?

And some Wyatt (or Quiet, like Reyna calls him) thoughts:

Last week on the bus when Austin (grade nine) jumped in, "Oh, HI!! You are sweet!"

"Do-So... TOOT-TOOT! That's my favourite song!"

On the way home from Jeff's, "Mom, are you tired, too?"

And in Sunday school when Pat was leading songs he became a dog, "Bow-wow-wow!!!"

The time before that Pat asked if anyone had a number and Wyatt said, "Seven!" and then was so surprised and embarrassed he wept on my shoulder for a good while.

Anyway, there are no dull moments. And we have much work to do...

Have a splendiferous day!!

Happy Thursday!

Hi, friends!

It's another lovely fall day in mid-western Saskatchewan. It feels like our lovely warm days are numbered and we cherish every one. I helped bring hot lunch to school today; chalupas, the fixings, french bread, bars and iced tea. The oldest two classes played ball for a good hour longer and of course it's fun to join in.

Just totally random thoughts. This morning Wyatt woke up before everyone else and stood at the top of the basement stairs and hollered, "Time to get up, boys!!". They enjoyed that and so did I. He's a real early bird, that one.

I cut a dress for myself this morning. It's been months and quite frankly, I could use them. I'm trying a new pattern from Janelle, bless her.

And yesterday Zach was helping me put the rice on the table for supper. He swung the round glass baking dish which was resting in a largish nine by thirteen holder up over his head and sauntered off to the table. Just like that it when flying off and landed on the floor in a million pieces of burning hot shards of glass and sticky rice. It was a sobering and lengthy time until we actually partook of baked fish and fresh bread.

I've been harvesting lovely huge ripe tomatoes from my garden. We've had lots of fresh salsa and toast and tomato sandwiches and such. Also, I pulled my corn, dug the potatoes and pulled the beans. It's looking suspiciously like fall out there. Just the huge pumpkin plants are overtaking everything. The peppers and tomatoes are going strong and I have yet to pull my beets. Arlene Hildebrand said she canned beets for smoothies. Now that's a new one for me but it'd probably be good!

Pat, Colby, Arlen, Scott and Bob are planning on going camping in La Ronge Friday and Saturday. Colby is absolutely stoked. We didn't get way up there this year because of all the forest fires earlier. So that's pretty exciting.

What's up in your life?

WW Introductions

So apparently I'm not part of the WW now when I really wanted to be. Oh, well... Laugh or cry, so I'm gonna laugh.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What kind of vehicle gets you from point A to point B? A dark grey 2011 Chev Acadia. It's the eight passenger one so our three boys sit across the middle and the back seats are generally down. 

Describe your attire right now. Bright aqua thick stretch with princess seams, darts in the skirt, a tall rolled collar and angel wing sleeves. My hair is down, my feet are bare and resting on my aqua poof.

What colors are your favorite to wear? blue, pink, white, aqua, grey, teal, 

Do you prefer plain, floral or patterned material? Hmm. Not so much floral, though I like floral. I love geometrical designs and stripes and a lot of plain pieces. 

Food group you like best. Salads, chocolate

What do you struggle with spiritually? Remembering too much. Negative feelings. Offense.

Who waits more on each other- your husband or yourself? Seriously, my hubby waits on me. He treats my like a queen. But as in waiting for each other to leave a function or something we'd be even.

What is your favorite summertime drink? Icecap or water

What is your favorite wintertime drink? Caramel Drizzle Coffee with cream

What is your body shape and style? (opt) big boned, wide hipped, long legged. A baby tummy.

Your height? 5'8"

Glasses, contacts, laser, or none? None

What kind of hair do you have and color of it? ( a little more than brown,
please) Medium brown with lots of grey on the sides, thin, straight, pouffy in the front

Skin color? Very pale, lots of freckles

Eye color? Blue/green/grey

What is your most favorite household chore? vacuuming

What is your least favorite household chore? Cleaning tubs

Food group you like best? Chocolate, salads

Do you bleach your dishrags? Always

What is your decorating taste? Modern traditional. I really like shabby and country in other people's houses but it's just not me.

What do you do in your spare time? Sew! Read, write, craft.

Some days, what do you choose to do rather than work? Read/write.

What would you like to attain in this life? I've always dreamed of starting a coffee/craft/fabric/quilting shop. It's not very likely, but it's a dream that's lived a long time.

When was the last time you cried? Not sure. I don't cry very easily but when I do... whoa, ugly cry.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Absolutely bright fuschia pink.

What book(s) are you reading right now? Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner, Moloka'i by Alan Brennert, Trim Healthy Mama.

What is most likely to irritate you? Fighting children, loud noises.

Are you a morning or evening person? Used to be evening but I've become morning.

If you disliked one of your husband’s favorite shirts would you (a) get rid
of it (b) let him keep wearing it 

Depends, I do some of both. 

 If you could change one thing to make your life more enjoyable what would it
be?  Not sure. I have it pretty good.

Inspiration

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto Him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

And the words of this song...

Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee.

She takes up her trusty pen once again.

A lovely new day is dawning with misty, foggy sweeps of light piercing the eastern sky. Geese honk low over the land and settle for food and fellowship around the sloughs and now empty fields. The tractors and combines are stopped (too early and too wet) and tired farmers are snug in their beds.

Fall has arrived with beauty and vigor. The long tended gardens and perennial beds are overflowing with produce and mounds of pink and yellow flowers. The cool nights bring dew and darkened colours to the tired summer grass and it has taken on the richest deepest colours of fall. Mister Big Chief Okanese poplar shakes his gigantic leaves gently and stubby round Fat Albert Spruce swings his blue tipped branches methodically.

The land is alive with joy.

I am too. I awoke early to a brand new day with no plans. I slipped out of bed and watched Pat and Colby jog out to the corner where we keep Storm, bringing him food and water for the day. Pat is always put together well and his oldest son is a splitting image of him. (I can’t say spittin’. Whoever thought of spittin’ anyway?) Colby and Zach have spent the last couple of weeks doing long days at the shop, helping with rods. They’re actually working, I’ve heard. This is the best thing that could happen to them.

I always have a birthday in August and this year was no exception. I think it was the best birthday I’ve had in eons. We met Rennie & Bren and their family at the Berry Barn down by the river. It’s a beautifully landscaped place with a restaurant specializing in waffles, sausage and toppings. It has a huge diverse gift shop, a large Saskatoon orchard, even a place for the children to play outside. Bren and I strolled all the way down to the gazebos where they host weddings. She and I could talk for hours just about our houses and children and this day was the day. I think my children are rightfully surprised at how I act with my sister. They were all playing on these wooden trains and truck and we went and joined them. I jumped on and someone hollered “All aboard!!” and Bren and I proceeded to loudly ‘tooot’ in three part harmony (she got Shani to join us). It was rather realistic, even with the Doppler affect at the end. Only a few people stopped and stared. J

I got some lovely gifties too. I wouldn’t say I’m such a big birthday person as others in Pat’s family but I always appreciate the love of friends and family. Just a little list of thangs I received: Notes From a Blue Bike, Love The Home You Have, The Holiday Cookbook by PW, a large fall candle and braided fall mat, a rustic blue pitcher, a bright pink over the door (shoulder boulder holder) – no, no. A bright pink over the door hook set, an orange geometrical patterned bag for keeping food cool, a beautiful plate with a tall angel food cake frosted delightfully (from my heart sister), a pretty new mug with my favourite chai tea bags. I feel very, very blessed.

What have you been up to? Is it fall in your area?

Happy July

Just for laughs! Does this even look like us?

I'm sitting in my pyjamas in my living-room with a Caramel Drizzle coffee and two cream. Wyatt is roaming and singing. It's still raining, a continuation of yesterday and it's wet, wet, wet; a good thing for our dear land.

My mom and Grandma Eidse left early this morning. They stopped for a full day on their way to Richard & Vicky's wedding and a full day on their way back. We are truly blessed. I don't think many children get to know their Great-Grandparents in that way! Also, Uncle Arvid & Aunt Linda stopped for Sunday lunch and night. Last week Bill & Penny, Kajsa and Ster stopped for a couple days. And Clint & Chels did as well. We've been blessed-blessed with company! And we love it! And just to clarify, Bren and I have split company for nights and we've spent lots of days and meals together.

Abigail's Hotel in Victoria

Yesterday was Shani's 14th birthday and Zach's 11th birthday and last Friday was Jenae's 12th birthday so yesterday we had a big ol' birthday party for all three of them!

Also, this month we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary! Rennie's kept our boys (we traded earlier when they went for their 15th) and we flew off to Vancouver for a couple of lovely days. We had a wonderful relaxed time. One highlight for me was getting our caricatures done down at the water-front in Victoria. Les Bignold (my grade 7 teacher) had just passed away and this artist that drew us reminded me so much of Les. It was therapeutic. We also took the ferry across to Victoria, spent time at the Butchart Gardens, ate lovely food, went for ice-cream, had beautiful hotel rooms and drove along the coast. It was awesome! Refreshing, rejuvenating, inspiring, relaxing.

And! Zach got the go-ahead from the plastic surgeon last Tuesday that he is good to go with his back! Then on Thursday he got his cast off and he is truly healed! He's still limping a bit, the doctor said he would, but that day Mom bought an ice-cream cake in celebration and we all celebrated together; Bill's, Rennie's, Mom, Grandma Eidse and us.

I'm not sure what all else we've done in the last couple of weeks. The boys went to bible school (and I wasn't one bit involved); I've spent a few days at the shop (Cobra year-end); we went to Shane's for a picnic supper one night with Lance & Lana and Margaret Fehr; we went to Saskatoon for a picnic with Jays, Arley's and Rennies.

The Sunken Garden at the Butchart Gardens

And summer flies by... I'm looking forward to school starting again, believe it or not. Not the busing part or early mornings, but the schedule. One more month of holidays. School starts on September 3rd.

Have a wonderful day!

Time to Update

Forest Fires

Northern Saskatchewan has had at least 592 forest fires this year already, currently 113 active fires. Roughly 400,000 hectares (4000 square kilometres) which is equal to three times the size of New York City has been affected by Saskatchewan wildfires this year. That does not include the observation zone in remote areas, where wildfires are burning freely without any firefighting efforts. There are currently more than 12,000 evacuees from 54 communities, 12 homes have been destroyed, and 600 people are fighting fires with 360 additional military personnel.

Just in case you’re interested.

Camping Trip 2015

I may write more on this at a later date, but our camping trip was nearly thwarted by northern wildfires. We decided to go with Rennie & Bren this year and ended up at the Narrows Campground on the west side of Lake Waskesui, about three hours south of our usual destination, Otter Lake.  We had a lovely relaxed time together in the lush remote campsite. The children were not deterred by the haze of smoke that stopped our boating adventure or the fire ban slapped down on us one day in. They happily played ‘city’, using empty campsites for their respective stores, hospitals and restaurants. At one point I walked by to the washroom and they were all gathered around a picnic table and Wyatt obviously had the floor. A town council, I got told. So, when we decided to leave one day early most of our group was cooperative and when we got back to the town of Waskesui and got told we would have got evacuated yet that afternoon we were happy we had packed up and left before nightfall. It’s all about memories, folks.

Zach

Zach is doing great. He has enough energy to fuel himself and his two brothers, like usual. He has a very high pain tolerance which may be good but has its challenges. As of this week, he can start bending and using his back. The thing is he’s been riding bike (carefully, he says), running with his leg crutch and playing wildly rolling around on the floor. The only thing I worry about is that the stitches from a layer down are starting to peak through. And as for his foot, do you want the short story or the Bronson story? In emergency he got told he had two breaks, then two days later when orthopedics came to decide if he needed surgery or not he got told there was only one break and it wasn’t very bad. Two weeks ago when he went for his hard cast they said no, he has one bad break and one chipped bone. The bad break hasn’t healed at all (and apparently can’t be seen from a top view x-ray) and if it’s ok and healing open he can have his cast off in two weeks but if indeed it isn’t healing we are heading for surgery and pins. I’ve decided not to think about it.

Social Life

Where do I start? We’ve been going strong… Warman Bible School is currently half over, so tonight is a wiener roast and volleyball down at the river. Last night we joined our friends at Pike Lake for supper with Colin & Denise. Last Sunday we spent with the youth and Warman Bible School committee and teachers. One day Michelle and I took our boys to the zoo together, where Zach immensely enjoyed popping wheelies with the wheelchair. I’m quite sure they enjoyed the animals too. Last Saturday we had the privilege of having Gregorio & Joy Pedernal (Pat’s Philippino worker), their two sons, Jethro (3) and Ezra (1), and Greg’s parents who have just moved to Canada from the Philippines over for dinner. We had a very interesting time with them. We also spent one weekend in Swan River with 150 youth and 40 youth leaders. That was very very inspiring. We are so blessed! We travelled there and back with the Leoville youth group and leaders on a big bus and that was fun too! There is no want for excitement in my life. Just saying.

Inspiration

We had a beautiful message about the end time last Sunday. I can’t remember exactly what inspired me but I know my heart said amen, and my thirsty soul was quenched. The guest speaker at Singspiration had an absolutely beautiful and inspired message about finding Rebecca at the well (Genesis 24). I loved how open and truthful he talked about the desires of our hearts and making sure we follow God’s leading. We did lots of singing on that trip and I’m always blessed and inspired by singing. This was exceptional.  I feel like I’ve been living such a busy life that my needs have been shown me in a new and direct way. A small bad attitude can flourish into an angry tempest in the blink of an eye and I realize again that I’m so very needy, so very small, so unworthy of HIS great Love and forgiveness.

Lawn & Garden

My garden is an epic fail. I’m trying to see the humour in it and really, I’m glad I don’t have so much to take care of… but it’s a little disappointing. First off, we had a really late hard frost, then a mole took over most of my bedding plants and then the weeds invaded. Oh, and the very first thing I did was order only a fraction of the corn I needed. So I have about ten plants of corn (I ordered my corn from Audrey now instead) and a skimpy row of carrots, the two cucumber plants got tilled under in my husband’s zeal to help the weed situation and about a fifth of the pea row came up. Will you laugh together with me at this point?!? The good news is that the grass is green and lush, my lime hydrangea is blooming (!), the roses are full of blooms and my two big pots of vines, spikes, ferns and coleus by my front door are beautiful, if I may admit.