MAY and JUNE EVENTS

June is nearing an end so it's high time I get at this update!  It has been a very busy month right from the beginning when we spent five days with Stagecoach Tours on a fun bus trip to Denver to watch the Toronto Blue Jays play three games against the Colorado Rockies.

We boarded the bus on May 30 just north of the Port of Oungre, 13 miles west of the Johnson farm.  After going through customs we headed south with a lunch break in Williston, ND.  We drove through miles and miles of pasture land with sightings of antelope, cattle, and bison and arrived in Gillette, Wyoming where we spent the night.  The next day we were off to Denver where we spent two nights at the Drury Inn and took in three ball games.

We also had a tour of Coors Brewery and some shopping time at a nearby mall where I found good bargains at Penney's.  Eating at Texas Roadhouse was a highlight for me as I enjoyed a meal of Norwegian salmon from their menu!

The Jays didn't manage to win any games but we especially enjoyed seeing some of the new young players in action.  The Jays are in the process of building their team and the new prospects are looking great on the field and at bat.  A shortage of good pitchers is a problem though!

This was our fourth Blue Jay bus trip - twice to Minneapolis, once to Kansas City and now to Denver.  Last year we went on our own to Toronto so we have now been to four different ballparks.  Alan would like to visit them all!  Next year Seattle?

We were glad that this trip came after the first grade 12 graduation in the Johnson family where Carter Nicholas Johnson was one of the twenty-one graduates.  That event took place on May 24 at Lampman School.  Alan and I also enjoyed the banquet at Lampman Curling Club.  

We have three graduating grandchildren this year so I decided that I will do a special blog for these graduations.  Dawson David Diekagers' grad took place in Milestone on June 14 and we were also able to attend the banquet at Milestone Masonic Hall. 

Abbey Gabrielle Johnson's grad will take place on June 27th at the Cugnet Centre in Weyburn.  So after that event, I will do a special Grad Blog post.

I spent several hours last Thursday in the dentist's office!  On Sunday evening I was eating supper at Torquay Cafe when I noticed something hard in my mouth - a tooth had broken off!  I was glad to get work done in two sessions on Thursday and now I have a temporary double crown in place until the permanent one will be ready next week.  Good job, Dr. Crooks and staff!  The dental assistant who worked on my teeth was Stacey Fonstad, who is married to a former grade one student of mine, Dallas Fonstad!

I enjoyed visiting with another former grade one student, Sandra Pederson Wapple, last Sunday at the annual service at Lac Qui Parle church north of Torquay.  I remember Sandra wanting to be a nurse back in grade one and that's just what she did and is now retired from that occupation. 

Howard's grandfather, Lauritz Bergum, built that church so it was special to be able to play for the service that afternoon and enjoy fellowship over cake and coffee following worship.  Here are some pictures found on Facebook.

It is wonderful that this building has been restored and a service held once a year - a tribute to those pioneers who saw the importance of having a place of worship in their new homeland in SE SK.  

There will be an annual service at Salem Lutheran Church south-west of Torquay on Sunday, August 11, 2019, at 2:00pm.  We hope it's cooler this year as last year's service was on the hottest day of the year!

Grandchildren have been involved in special events during May and June.  Ashley Diekrager took part in a drama at Milestone School and played the part of a villain! Great job, Ashley!

Lindsay and Jamie took part in the band concert in Bienfait which Alan and I were able to attend.

Lindsay on flute

W

Jamie on saxophon

Both girls also played ball so here are a couple pictures.



 

Our accordion group played at Newhope Lodge in Stoughton so here's the four of us enjoying the residents there who are so responsive - sing along with every song that has words!  There are five accordion players, one on piano and one on the banjo but it isn't often that all seven of our Homespun Harmonies group are together. Four of us also played at Lampman Community Health Centre - Gerry, Myrna, Wilma and me.

Kristy, Nora and Elly Clara are flying to Canada this week.  Todd is staying behind to work on his Master's degree in ministry and theology.  Kristy's parents, Dan and Helga Ledene, had planned a trip overseas this summer but health problems for Dan meant cancelling that trip.  We plan to go out to Alberta around the middle of July for visits to Brooks and Calgary.  I also want to visit cousin Arlene Erickson in Lethbridge.

Here's a recent picture of Nora taking part in a hospital charity run.  She is number 86.  She just finished grade one and is finding that it is easier to read Norwegian than English!

Well, it's time to get this post published so I can move on to the next one for our three graduates.  We have been blessed with over an inch of rain the past few days!  We did put some garden in so that should thrive now without watering it for a while.  Frontier and Milestone have had rain too and I hope your area has had some as well.