FLEMING, Sask. – Doreen Banks’ home town doesn’t look the same anymore. The 86-year-old had never known a time when Saskatchewan’s oldest existing grain elevator hadn’t dominated the skyline. That all changed in the early morning of Feb. 9 when the 115-year-old prairie landmark burned to the ground. Mayor Philip Hamm said the fire burned […] Read more
Farm Living
Landmark goes up like ‘Roman candle’
Ignore criticism from relatives and find support from friends
Q: I am not sure what to do about my wife’s relatives. They criticize just about everything I do no matter how hard I try to please them. Of course, they do not do it in front of my wife or me so we do not have a chance to defend ourselves. They do it […] Read more
Quilts are economical way to stay snug as a bug
On a cold winter night, a quilt provides warmth, comfort and a feeling of being cuddled in a fabric hug. Quilts have a long history that was originally economical and utilitarian. Pieces of leftover material from clothing construction or the less worn pieces of older clothes were salvaged and pieced together in two or three […] Read more
Laws can make one wonder
There are some crazy laws out there. Many made sense at one time, but have become outdated and seem weird now. Some would be crazy in any place or time and others just cannot be explained. In Etobicoke, Ont., a bylaw stated that no more than 3.5 inches of water is allowed in a bathtub. […] Read more
Sask. LPNs more apt to stay home
Most nursing graduates who move from their province of graduation go to British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, but 88 percent of Saskatchewan licensed practical nursing grads stay, according to a report by the Canadian Institute of Health Information. That is only the seventh best retention rate, said Colin Hein, executive director of the Saskatchewan Association […] Read more
Unusual pets offer thrill, but may be dangerous, illegal
When most people think about getting a pet, they usually consider a cat or a dog and maybe a rabbit or some fish. Few people would think about something like an alligator or a fox, but these kinds of exotic pets are becoming more popular. “People are just drawn to things that are different,” said […] Read more
Kids need face time with Mother Nature
RUSSELL, Man. – Kids love forts. Whether it’s a snow fort or a wooden fort, children love to build them. And like home renovations, forts are rarely completed because kids constantly make improvements with tunnels, ladders or flags. But according to Jo-lene Gardiner, an extension co-ordinator with Manitoba Agriculture in Pilot Mound, Man., there’s a […] Read more
Thrifty shoppers giving up steak for stew meat
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Cash strapped consumers contribute to the continuing erosion of meat demand in the United States when they choose ground beef over steaks. Cautious consumers are clipping more coupons and looking for sale items when they shop, which industry analysts say is driving down overall demand for poultry, beef and pork. Demand […] Read more
Clydesdale endures long ride to new home
SCOTT, Sask. – It marked the end of a long journey when the big, black yearling Clydesdale stepped carefully off the truck ramp at Bill Cey’s farm Jan. 26. The yearling colt had been travelling to the Scott, Sask., farm from Scotland for two months. It sniffed the -20 C air and soon caught scent […] Read more
Fetotomy can prevent reproductive damage to cow or mare
Fetotomy, which is the fancy word for cutting up a dead calf within the cow during the birthing process, has a valuable place in a veterinarian’s bag of tricks. The goal of a fetotomy is to minimize trauma or damage to the cow. The calf at this point is a lost cause because it has […] Read more
