ORIGINS Chickens were domesticated from the jungles of Southeast Asia 8000 years ago. People introduced these chickens to countries around the world using various modes of transportation. FARM LIFE Growing up on a farm in central Saskatchewan in the sixties and seventies, we never went hungry. The beef and pork my parents raised, the fish and wild game Dad hunted, and Mom's chickens kept our family of seven well-fed. The thing is, I didn't realize how fortunate I was then until I started buying groceries. Every April, we went on a memorable family trip to Prince Albert. We shopped, ate at ..read more

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When researching historical stories, the information I discover frequently leads me on unexpected paths. As the saying goes, “No man is an island”; in a small community, people's life stories are inevitably intertwined. These connections may be through family ties, school days, friends, neighbours, or employment.  This is the story of a building that was in my hometown of Leask, Saskatchewan. It housed several businesses from the 1920s through the 1960s, so it has a storied history.  Memories of this building cross through generations of owners, employees, and patrons. In 191 ..read more

About the award    Heritage Saskatchewan Awards celebrate the work undertaken throughout the province. The projects recognized represent the rich diversity of heritage, both tangible and intangible, found in Saskatchewan. They are a testament to the value that individuals and communities place upon documenting, promoting, teaching, and safeguarding heritage for future generations.    What inspired me to start my blog/podcast?   History and writing have always been things I love. Five years ago, I read an article about blogging; I was intrigued and in ..read more

My parents were second-generation grain and cattle farmers in central Saskatchewan. It wasn't a big farm, but the rich black soil was excellent, and they made a good living.  As every farmer knows, some years are better than others, and additional income is welcomed in challenging times. Farm women often sold eggs, milk, cream, fruit, produce and handmade items to supplement their income.   They milked cows, so I saw firsthand where milk came from and the manual labour involved.   FIRST, COWS   Dad chose his best cows for the job, ones that were calm and well-endowed - g ..read more

The end of the year is a time of reflection. In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Discussions about inflation, crime, health care and the weather are ones most of us regularly have. I worried about these things ten years ago, and there is a good chance they will still be on my mind ten years from now. To keep life interesting, new issues are constantly being thrown into the mix, such as the increasing risk to cybersecurity and understanding where artificial  intelligence will take us. WORLD NEWS The ..read more

Listen to the audio version of Right Between The Eyes Growing up on the family farm in Saskatchewan, there was lots of work to be done, but as kids, we also had freedom and space to play. We used our imaginations to create things to do and to solve our problems. Our schemes didn't always go as planned, and occasionally injuries ensued. The question, "How did you get that scar?" forever followed. The pain was worth the gain as the stories live on decades later. My family has an interesting dynamic as my parents had two children when they first married in 1947, two more after twelve years ..read more

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST OF THIS EPISODE  As an eleven-year-old in the 70s, I had a burning desire to attend summer camp. A couple of my friends had participated the previous summer, and they were going back. At that age, friendships are everything, and I desperately wanted to share this ten-day experience with them.  I pleaded with my parents to sign the form and pay the sixty-dollar registration fee. I eventually wore them down, and they agreed to let me go. In the movies, summer camp looked like the most fantastic experience, and I was so excited.  We were all accepted ..read more

I am celebrating five years of blogging, freelance writing, hosting a podcast and owning a small business.  Time flies when you’re doing things you love, and each year seems to go by faster than the last.  Life Happens When You're Making Other Plans  The Hubs and I didn't travel outside Canada, but we were often on the go. We spent as much time as possible with our family. The grandkids are in various activities now; it's fun to watch them swim, skate and play volleyball, soccer and softball.  We attended a gathering for my siblings and their spouses in Red Deer in ..read more

Retiring is a very grown-up thing to do. This decision is a significant milestone in the timeline of one's life.  People spend years dreaming of the day they retire. Reviews vary, though, as people may love being retired, or the experience can fall short of their expectations.  Even when we think we have a retirement plan, doubts and insecurities may still creep into our thoughts. What if my spouse or I get sick, injured or die or I hate retirement and am unhappy, or there isn't a place for me in the workforce if I want to return? Like every life change, single to ..read more