One thing I do know and that’s fall is upon us. It’s my favorite time of the seasons. Preparing for winter is a big thing facing everyone.
Another thing to keep the town folks is winterizing the vehicles and that can be a big job too and expensive. Winter tires are the big one and the price goes up every year.
As a kid growing up on the prairie now so many years ago there were no snow plows where we were so the car was put on blocks and the sleighs were brought out and a nice fast team of horses tuned up and lots of bells for the horses.
We always enjoyed visiting our friends and we would have musical evenings sometimes lasting all night.
Lots of times we would go 10 or 12 miles by sleigh. Cold and snow never slowed us down. As I look back they were good times. I have good memories of it all.
When we came to B.C. in 1941 they were using teams and sleighs during the winters. Snow plows were few and far between in those days too. We still have a big bob sleigh up on the farm not much left of it now. We have a set of team harness hanging in the barn ready to go but no horses broke to drive and also just too much traffic for horses anymore.
Moose
Looking over last week’s paper something caught my eye and I feel as many more that it’s time we looked after our moose population. Ronnie West is not afraid to try to do something about it. We can’t just keep hunting as we are and expect them to last.
I was told right or wrong the first moose were seen in our district in 1923 and from then on the moose population grew. Moose meat and spuds was the main diet for many of the early settlers. In fact we lived on moose meat for many years as our family was growing up. It was a Godsend for many tables who would have gone hungry if not for moose meat.
The First Nations people depended on moose meat almost 100 per cent plus the hides tanned for clothing.
The lovely buckskin jackets were always in demand also the moccasins and slippers they made. I had a lovely jacket and somehow I lost it. This was a sad day for me. I could never locate it so some person got a valuable buckskin jacket free.
A very great friend of ours was with the forestry and had to go by train to McBride as part of his job. This was before the highway going east was finished. The rail was used by the moose to move to their feeding grounds and the number of moose kills you would not believe. Not only dead but hurt, broken backs and legs.
Every trip he took on the tracks used to upset him. There was nothing anyone could do as this was the way the moose were moving and the train couldn’t stop so as they say that’s the way the ball bounces.
Driver’s
One of the things I miss the most is my driver’s license. When you have it you more or less take it for granted. When I hit 90 years I gave it up.
I guess I could ride my saddle horse but the doctor thought it was not a good ideas as if I were to get bucked off or even fall off he thought I might break in half due to my age.
Maybe he knows best. I had some great years. Riding was part of our living on the prairie and it was a good life to grow up doing. I had just turned six when dad put me on a saddle horse and to school with the words “now don’t fall off because nobody will find you to put you back on.” So I stuck like glue. That was the start of my riding and lasted until I was 90 years old
Still hanging in our barn are two saddles. My dad’s and uncle Will Neave’s. They were bought in 1914 and still ridable.
This figures out at 100 years old. Mark has my two heaving roping saddles so they have a good home with lots of history to go with them. As our dad had only one leg instead of the regular stirrup he made up a small bucket for his peg leg.
He used this all his life hundreds of miles. This is still hanging on his saddle. Both these old saddles will no doubt end up in a western museum when I’m gone. Maybe I should keep quiet or I just might end up in one of those museums hanging on a nail.
Our local Lakes District News for a small town paper does a great job of reporting. They cover a lot of ground and I am proud to work for them. It’s been fun and they have been good to me. I think the Lakes District should be very proud to have a paper like the Lakes District News.
Something caught my eye in this last paper on page 6 and it’s under Burns Lake Chamber Excellence Business Awards and the pictures as well. What a boost this is to our town. Makes me feel good as I share the same page.
Born to Doctor Aryn (Hunter) and Reza Khan was a baby girl last Monday at the Sturgeon general hospital in Edmonton. All went well. A sister for Lawren and another great granddaughter for grampa Hugh. Aryn’s mother and dad Rick and Marie Hunter of Francois Lake were there for this special occasion. Her name is (and I hope I get this right) Anica Josephine Stephanie. Like all newborns she is very pretty. I am looking forward to seeing her. Our mother always wanted a daughter but she got just two boys that no doubt gave her lots of gray hair.
About half an hour ago I received something I have always wanted and here it is delivered to my room, what a treasure it is.
A beautiful book called Memoirs of a lifetime written by Margaret Anderson. Such a great friend.
This is a dream come true. For about a month I have wondered where could I get Margaret’s book as I always wanted one and low and behold one came today. Although Bill and Margaret ranched 20 miles east on Francois Lake they were our friends and our neighbours. This book is really priceless and I treasure it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
A little saying I have on my coffee cup
Clothes may make the man but it’s the hat that makes the cowboy.
Take care now slow down, the life you save could be your own and always remember God loves you and so do I.