SUNDAY EVENING

Sunrise on southern outskirts of Estevan

In my last blog I was telling you about the beautiful sunrises that I've been enjoying. I took this picture on November 2.  You can see the steel framework of a new building that was being constructed at the Viking Surplus Oilfield Equipment site.  It's near the old Estevan Brick Plant site.  On the following Saturday morning, November 4, I happened to glance out the window around noon and the structure was not to be seen!  Then I noticed a police car and an ambulance on the road leaving the site.  I was ready to leave to visit Howard but heard nothing about it on the radio or on TV.  Today I read in the Friday issue of Lifestyles that the structure had collapsed, hurling four men in Genie Man-Lift bucket machines to the ground as it went down.  Three were examined and treated at St. Joseph's Hospital.  The fourth was rescued after being pinned to the ground.  There wasn't an update on his condition.  It is fortunate that none of those four were killed in the accident.  Had I looked out the window a little earlier, I might have been an eye witness.

I spent two days at the farm and can tell you that we will have a house sitter there starting next Friday!  I will go out again on Thursday so things are ready for him on Friday.  I'm glad that he was willing to risk living out in the country over winter.  He's a handy fellow so if he gets storm stayed at the farm, he'll find work to do there.  I'll have to get some supplies to have on hand.  He lays flooring and several of the rooms need updating.  Our living-room carpet has been there since the house was built in 1979!  I must take "before" pictures this week so I can show you the difference someday.  There are quite a few "odd jobs" that need doing too so I'll have to make a list.  Howard was never a fixer (unless it involved using duct tape!) so the house is in need of a handy man.

I drove to Torquay for morning worship this morning.  On the way out I was thinking that it's really only 15 minutes farther than driving to town from the farm.  I plan to do that as long as the weather and roads permit.  We have coffee and goodies after the service and today some of us continued the visit over dinner at the Torquay Cafe.  Then I headed back to Estevan and spent the afternoon visiting Howard and Aunt Viola.  Hartley and Louise were there so had a visit with them too.

I haven't done any visiting, except for the daily ones to St. Joseph's.  This week I want to do more.  I guess it's taken me a couple weeks to adjust to city life.  I've gotten used to being at the farm without Howard but it seemed to be another adjustment to be here without him.  I used the excuse of snowy weather to stay home last Sunday but I think the reality was that I didn't want to go by myself.  Yesterday was the annual Lutefest in Crosby, ND but I couldn't convince myself to go there without him either.  He is in a wheelchair most of the time now, so I can't handle bringing him home on my own.

This weekend in Frontier there was a baby shower for Sandra's new grandson, Rhett Oscar Sanford Every new baby is honoured with a shower in that community.   Marion graciously suggested that instead of buying gifts for Rhett, who has an older brother and sister, they bring supplies (gently used ones welcome too) for baby layettes that we put together at Trinity Lutheran in Torquay.  Some go overseas through Lutheran World Relief for distribution in various countries where disasters have happened.  Others are sent to LAMP at Lac La Ronge.  There they are sold for a small sum, around $7, so that they are affordable for those who need them.  Marion was thrilled that there were many donations of sweaters, sleepers and blankets for the layettes.  And Rhett wasn't forgotten either  Frontier people are very generous.  Sandra told about a neighbour lady who found brand new, hand knit baby sweaters at Value Village.  She was so glad to have a reason to buy them and gave them in honour of Rhett.  Aunt Ruth used to enjoy shopping for layette items at garage sales.  It gave her a purpose for shopping too.  Sandra also picks up sleepers, receiving blankets, shirts at garage sales.  Last year our small group packed 59 layettes and made 147 quilts.  We'll be meeting every Monday from January until the end of March to quilt and put layettes and other kits together.  A heartfelt thanks to all who have contributed material and items for layettes and other kits.  We are blessed to be a blessing.

This month is Christmas Child month too.  I shop for these boxes year round.  Crafts 4 U in Crosby has  Ty beanie babies on sale for $1 at the annual sidewalk sale day. This year Abbey and her friends Emma and Hannah sorted the items and made sure that each box had the same amount of items.  I didn't have the regular boxes so we used some bigger ones for sorting and I took pictures of them.  Here are a couple.  I need to pick up a few items that we were short of and then I can bring them to the Alliance Church for shipping to Calgary.

Well, it's now bedtime so this will be all until Wednesday.  Have a great week.