Dear Canimites:
Marion Kellett celebrated her 95th birthday recently.
Nineteen women from Canim and Hawkins lakes took her to lunch at the Blue Sky Restaurant, with flowers and cake to celebrate the occasion.
Although Marion now lives at Carefree Manor in 100 Mile House, her heart is still at Canim Lake with her son, Gordon, nearby.
She settled there in the 1940s and built up the Shangri-La Lodge with her family. Gordon was raised there.
As well as serving as the postmistress for many years, she ran a chic ladies clothing store, attracting a clientele from many miles around.
Marion was born on the Prairies and continues to live her life now with the kind of strong will and determination that would make her pioneering family proud.
Knitters alert
Seven women of the community are knitting lap afghans for residents of Fisher Place.
The afghans are being sized for people in wheelchairs, and pockets are being added on some to make them more convenient. The first completed quilts will be presented in January.
If you would like to help, contact Leona Hurrell at 250-397-2586.
Speaker series
Yvette Stark is arranging the speaker series this year for the Community Club.
Next up in February are representatives from Dr. Bob Beaton’s dental office.
Christmas Dinner
The Community Club Christmas Dinner is scheduled for Dec. 16 at the Forest Grove Legion.
Dinner will be roast beef with all the trimmings, salads and dessert. The cost is $20 per person, and a booking is required.
If you wish to attend but have not made a booking yet, call Dolores Angell at 250-397-0220 to check if there is still room.
2014 club memberships will be collected at the dinner at $5 per person. Club calendars will be available.
Book club
The book for December was Away by Jane Urquhart.
The club will meet again in January. New members are always welcome. If you are interested, telephone Sheila Hart at 250-397-2645.
Another world
As winter tightens its grip on Canim Country, an entirely different reality unfolds on the summer-side of the planet.
Sheila and I are in south-eastern New Zealand as I write this, a land of impossibly green hills, a sea of sheep, and roads to bring tears of joy to any Porsche driver.
Here are a few nuggets reported in the local Otaga Daily Times.
Plane Hits Cow: A pilot was forced to make a hasty landing after colliding with a cow on takeoff at a rural airstrip. The pilot was uninjured. The cow wasn’t quite so fortunate.
Rabbits Wars: The Campbell family has beaten back a “nightmarish” plague of rabbits on their 21,000-hectare farm allowing grass to grow again for the stock. Successful “rabbiter” Bill Linwood says he went back to using ferrets in warrens and “dogging.” Meanwhile, a sharpshooter wielding a .22 roamed the Oamaru Public Gardens in a two-night operation to save the park from the hole-digging critters. It’s a tough country for a bunny.
Cat-burglar: A cat named “Tabby” started stealing shoes in Arataki, and in short order, amassed an impressive pile ranging from Crocs to gumboots, sometimes the pair. Tabby is now grounded, but remains unrepentant.
Pip Spit Champ: Mike Wardill is off to the International Cherry Pip Spitting Championships in Australia after a winning 11.5-metre spit in national competition. Mike says getting the stone properly positioned in your mouth is critical. “You have to make sure your false teeth do not fly out as well,” he joked.
That’s all for now. Until next time, here’s wishing you many blessings.