A QUICK VISIT

Since trading our red Ford pickup for the kiwi Escape over two years ago, the faithful 1994 Mercury has seen little use.  Now it has found a new home in Edmonton with Howard's sister.  On Tuesday morning Ardis flew to Regina.  Laurel met her and took her to the Diekrager farm for an overnight visit.  I drove the Mercury up in the afternoon.  It was a lovely sunny day in the south east with temperatures above zero.

The car even got muddy on the road south of Torquay as the snow had melted.  I met the road grader trying to fill in some of the holes with gravel before the weather turned cold again.

I got to Laurel and Greg's just before the school bus arrived.  Laurel and Ardis had been busy making oatmeal cookies filled with fresh raspberry jam!  Yummy!  Coffee and cookies were a good start to our short and sweet visit.

I had made a batch of flatbread to send with Ardis but it did not make it out to the car!  Fortunately I brought a container of mix, Laurel had buttermilk and I was able to make a batch that evening.  Ashley donned an apron and was eager to help roll.  She stuck it out until all twelve rounds were in the oven to crisp.

Wednesday morning saw very COLD temperatures but Ardis was anxious to get on the road. She left for the long trip back to Edmonton shortly after the school kids were on the bus.  I read Psalm 121 before she left, as Howard always did for travellers.  It was a comfort to know she travelled with God's protecting hand.  She said that she would call when she got home and she was there by five o'clock Edmonton time.

I enjoyed the day with Laurel and Ashley.  Ashley and I did some dusting and enjoyed reading the three library books that were in her backpack.  She had skating at 4:00 so I got to watch her as she skated around pylons, worked on going backwards and played "What Time is it Mr. Wolf?"

We had onion rings (her favourite) and chicken strips before they headed for home.  I was happy to wait at the Co-op gas station until the bus arrived shortly after six.  It stopped for ten minutes in Weyburn and arrived in Estevan at 8:30, just a few minutes behind schedule.  Jeff was right there to meet me as he had come in to work out at the fitness centre.  We were back home before nine thirty.

Now it is Thursday evening after another cold, windy day.  The preschool class was out in full force this morning in spite of the cold weather.  Instead of a story I read them some nursery rhymes, starting off with The Three Little Kittens. Today was certainly mitten weather and you better not lose them!

We had circle at 1:30 so I didn't plan to go home in between.  I met Madeline in the post office and was invited home to have lunch with her and Pastor Danny.  The home canned fish was a real treat!

There were three of us out for circle.  We are thankful for Pastor Danny's willingness to lead this study on prayer.  Next month we will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 10 and have a potluck luncheon at noon.

Tomorrow, November 22, is one of those infamous days that most seniors can remember just where they were fifty years ago - the day that President John F Kennedy was shot.  I was at the University of Saskatchewan just waiting for a Physical Science class to begin when somebody came in with the news of the shooting.  We found out after class that the shots were fatal.  The unheard of had happened in North America and people were in shock.  That marked the beginning of live TV coverage of news events. I didn't see much of it as my roommate and I shared the upstairs of a home on 10th St. and a TV was a luxury item then, certainly not something university students like us could afford.  Neither Dorothy nor I owned a car either but took the bus to the campus when the weather was unsuitable for walking the mile or so.

I talked to Jodi and found out that Clare has a ticket to the Grey Cup game on Sunday!  They are going to Regina to take in some of the festivities this week.  Abbey will join them at the Grey Cup parade on Saturday.  The forecast is for temperatures around 0º C on Sunday, quite a change from the windchills in the minus 30's that we've been having.  Fans will still have to dress very warmly as the windchill will be in the minus ten or so range.  Clare bought himself some Helley Hansen underwear so he's all set!

I am looking forward to tomorrow.  Not because it's Green Day in Saskatchewan, but because I have a "free day" after three very full days.  I could go to Dawson's hockey game in Estevan tomorrow night but I try to avoid night driving, especially in winter time.  Eric has a game in Milestone so Laurel won't be at this game either.  I'll catch up on some phone calls as the phone was out for ten days.

No pictures to share today but I should have some after the big game on Sunday. Go Green!