Dear Canimites,
Well, the leaves are pretty well down, and men have entered the time of mulling about whether to rake them now or leave them till next spring.
It’s not that we have anything against raking. Far be that from the truth.
It’s just that this is the time for the ‘Great Putting-Away’ of summer gear and the ‘Great Preparing’ for winter.
And maybe a last fling at the Rainbows.
Dobbs Wins
Local rider Andrea Dobbs has been excelling in provincial-level competition.
The confident and graceful rider recently won the 2’9” Jumping event and two divisions in the Hunter events at the Sun Meadows Equestrian Centre, Kamloops. She was riding Cariboo Gold Rush, a 12-year-old gelding quarter horse raised in the home paddock, now her steady partner in competition.
Andrea is a Grade 11 student at PSO. She works hard to balance her studies with the three to four hours a day she often spends tending and practicing the horses.
A Jumping Clinic at the Maple Ridge Equestrian Centre is the next event on her calendar.
Hawkins Lake
Fire Chief Bob Campbell says that the firefighters are now training each Saturday morning.
They recently attended a slash pile fire that was getting out of control. Bob says that the department is happy to assist residents with a burn.
Simply contact him or one of the other firefighters.
Speech Arts
Sisters Miah and Harmony Scarpino are attending Hisako Arai’s Speech Arts Class at the Forest Grove School. Miah, nine years old, is in Grade 4, while Harmony is seven years old and in Grade 2.
Hisako describes them as ‘very smart’, and knowing her, we will soon see them doing public recitals.
Hisako herself will be participating in events leading up to the Festival of the Arts.
You can hear her perform at the Evangelical Free Church, November 18 at 6:30 p.m. She’ll be reciting poetry and singing a French Canadian song. Admission is free.
Mahood Lake
The Mahood Falls Community Society held their annual steak dinner Oct. 15 at the home of Phil and Sharon Simms. Phil prepared and BBQ’d the meat, while the other 25 people attending brought baked potatoes, perogies, salads and desserts.
The Mahood ladies group had a shower in support of Barb Konradt who lost her home to fire recently.
Fish tales
Blair Saen was on the hunt for the perfect Kokanee this past summer. The species proved exceptionally elusive for many talented fishers, but by sheer dint of persistence, Blair struck gold.
He caught a 3lb 3oz Kokanee in Bridge Lake in August. Along the way, he and Bev Lees had some exciting moments with Lakers, Bev landing a 13lb 14oz fish and Blair a lunker weighing 28lb 11oz.
The big one hit while Blair was retrieving his Kokanee rig with a tiny Hootchy at the end of an 8lb leader.
Apparently there were some anxious moments as he wrestled the feisty monster.
For the most part Blair and Bev practice catch-and-release.
People news
Daniel and Connie Eberle at Kayanara, formerly the Eagle Creek Ranch, hosted many guests this past summer, referred to them by area lodges as a good place to go riding.
Kayanara is large enough to allow a two-hour escorted trail ride without ever leaving the property. The couple intend to offer expanded services next year. You can read about it at www.kayanara.com.
Don Hewitt is building a promising lead after the first two skirmishes in the annual crib wars. Smile on Lady Luck!
That’s all for now. Until next time, here’s wishing you many blessings.