Cards remain a way to tell far-away friends and family they are remembered with a prettily printed picture and a verse of good wishes
The favourite time to connect with family and friends with a show of goodwill is Christmas. From the first Christmas cards sent in England by Sir Henry Cole in 1843, cards have become a traditional way to tell far-away friends and family they are remembered with a prettily printed picture and a verse of good […] Read moreStories by Sheri Hathaway
Alberta Wheat Pool would have turned 100 next year
It’s been nearly a century since farmers formed the co-operative to reduce their dependence on private companies
This Oct. 29 would have been the 99th year for the Alberta Wheat Pool if it still existed, born out of a need for farmers to gain control over plunging grain prices. In 1923, farmers were forced to sell their grain at a lower price than their cost of production. The United Farmers of Alberta […] Read more
Sharing recipes creates bonds between friends
Asking for a friend’s recipe is a way to compliment them on their cooking and strengthen your relationship with them
Spring has finally come and a favourite sign of its return is the appearance of rhubarb in my garden. The first fruit ready to harvest, it offers something different for a visit with friends and family and I look forward to the day it’s grown big enough to use. Many recipes were given to me […] Read more
When the gardening bug never really goes away
Sheri Hathaway had been gardening since she was six, so the opportunity to get her hands dirty again couldn’t be passed up
From the time I was about six years old, I’ve been gardening. I liked to follow my mother down her rows of vegetables, asking questions as usual. She gave me a job pulling weeds, showing me first what constituted a weed and what precious vegetable I must leave to grow. “You can help me with […] Read more
Rethinking the spring clean
I don’t know why they call it spring cleaning. It makes more sense to do this type of work in winter when you can’t get outside. While you’re wishing spring would hurry up and get here, maybe this would be a good time to do some spring cleaning. If you’re like me, you’ll like your […] Read more
Miss rink burgers? Maybe this recipe will help
The flavour of these burgers is the same as what they served at the hockey arena, although without the rink ambience
You go through the big double doors and see the usual friendly faces. They greet you and you greet them. From habit, your eyes swing to the canteen. There’s something about the flavour of a hamburger in the arena — the rink burger. Was it the loud conversation and bad breath in your face? Standing […] Read more
Canadians living with rationing in wartime
Shortages of everything from food to fuel and even paper meant the nation’s homes had to do with less
Rationing was in effect during both the First and Second World Wars, making it hard to obtain sugar, butter, eggs and other scarce food items that were needed to help feed the men fighting overseas. “For five long years during the Second World War and beyond, consumption of sugar, meat and dairy products was restricted […] Read more
Life on the homefront meant working and making life work
The Second World War changed life in Canada forever. Before the war, it was the custom for a woman to quit her job once she married and turn all her attention to the role of a fulltime housewife, becoming “the wife” or “ the little missus”. All that changed with the war. The shortage of […] Read more
One-room school vs. the kitchen classroom
Parents teaching their children at home during the pandemic have something in common with the teachers of yesteryear
“I think Grade 1 Beginners will soon stop as it makes too many classes and too much commotion,” wrote a 20-year-old teacher struggling to manage nine grades in a one-room school in April, 1936. As a former teacher myself, I marvel at the freedom and authority she exercised, making this decision all by herself. Her […] Read more
Summer holidays on the farm were never dull
Engineering, marine biology and art projects kept these youngsters occupied through the long days of summer so long ago
I sat cross-legged on the tingling grass, my hands laid palms up on my lap so the warm sun and cool breeze could work their salve on them. I had just chopped down another slim poplar and now my brother, James, worked at cutting it into pieces. On this day, we were into the second […] Read more
