Dear Canimites
It’s high summer at Canim, Hawkins and Mahood lakes, with families gathering in reunion, cars jamming the driveways, barbecues at full thrust and more fun on the water than you can shake a water ski at.
Annual picnic
If you want a great community picnic, talk to the Hawkins Lakers. They just took gold in the community picnic throw. The August long weekend Sunday saw a large crowd of residents, friends and visitors gather on the spacious lawn of Bob and Fran Campbell. Though the gathering was formally a fundraiser for the Hawkins Lake Volunteer Firefighters Association (HLVFA), it seemed the high-spirited crowd of 150 was just having a lot of fun with the events and sitting with others to eat, chat, trade quips and laugh.
Two long rows of tables and chairs were set up under sunshades for the guests by a team of fire fighters aided by Foster Dutton. Another line of tables was laden with salads, beans and baking, leading to three barbeques operating at full blast to keep up with the crowd. Harvey Ostroff, Phil Kline, Ray Mattick and Don Miller aided finishing Chef Tim Wasilieff. One hundred and forty burgers, 100 hot dogs, and many veggie burgers came off the grills.
To the delight of the children, and young-at-heart, Greg Stewart started the pumper and with water and soap, greased up the slide which ran about 40 feet down a slope. It was non-stop action for a while, with sliders inspired by the Olympics trying out ever-increasingly difficult ‘moves’.
Prizes were awarded for the morning’s Poker Paddle. Sixty-two participants had made the circuit, picking up a card at each of seven stations to see who would end with the best poker hand. Sue Kline took the prize of $100 with a Flush.
Sue also won the Crazy Hats Contest with a custom-made birch bark creation, nicely ventilated to dissipate summer’s heat. Sandra Quayle was a close second with an inspired headdress with a trophy cup mounted on top. She says that this is not the first time she has won a prize like this, having come second in a nail-driving contest at the Saturna Island Jamboree 40 years ago, a high achievement indeed.
Peter Thomson, HLVFA President, reports that the event cleared almost $1800 for the fire department. He sends out a ‘big thank you’ to all who so willingly helped in so many ways to make the gathering such a success.
Logging Trucks
According to West Fraser’s Kelly Powell, the logging trucks on the Canim-Hendrix Rd. are mainly coming out the 7200 Rd. past No Name Lake, about 20 loads a day.
This haul will continue through the fall and into winter.
For the next few weeks, trucks are also coming down the 610 (Lang Lake) Rd. New cutting will start in November in the Boss Creek and Hendrix Lake areas, meaning more traffic out the 6000 Rd.
If you don’t have a radio to let the trucks know you are on the gravel, drive slowly with your headlights on. Once one truck sees you, they will generally let others know to watch out for you.
Sheepie and Thunder banished
In case you were wondering about Sheepie and Thunder, the errant lambs who escaped their Canim Estates pen seeking freedom at Shirran’s farm, they are now happily running with the herd at a ranch near 150 Mile House. Owner Maryanna Elliott (age seven) has turned her attention to horses, receiving some kind instruction from neighbour Iztok Pirc on his easy-going Tennessee Walking Horse mare ‘Honey’.
Food rules
The HLVFA has published a terrific cookbook containing the best recipes of the many good cooks of the community. I count 162 recipes in there, a banquet of ideas from appetizers to desserts, including measuring tables and notes on spices. The book itself is spiced with historical notes, photography and poetry, and sells for just $10. That’s icing on the cake!
To get a copy, phone Helen Kellington at 250-397-0170.
Calendar
• Community Club Dinner, Blue Sky Restaurant, Aug. 24, 6 p.m.
• Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Depart-ment yard sale and auction is Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., bake sale by Canim Lakers and friends.
That’s all for now. Until next time, here’s wishing you many blessings.