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GPS:
N 49° 12:349
W 098° 18.490
Address:
Box 31
Darlingford, MB
R0G 0L0
CANADA
Email:
pamlarner@prairie.ca
Telephone:
(204) 822-6388
Fax:
(204) 246-2016
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Welcome to 2012 |
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Shades of the spring of 1997. In company with the assortment of other volunteers who turned up, another round of sand-bagging, this time an attempt to save some of the cottages ravaged by the waves and high water on Lake Manitoba this spring. The incursions of lake water changed the lives of many farmers and home-owners forever. But, despite such an inauspicious beginning to the growing season, in the places where the land dried out enough to be sowed, the yield for many was satisfactory. Here by late fall, the ground was dried out enough to call out the water tank to give the evergreens and many new-planted seedlings a good drink before their winter sleep.
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Looking back over the year, it has been an interesting one from the Bed & Breakfast perspective. This was the first time we were involved in the Pembina Valley Challenge, when a wonderful smorgasbord of humanity came to the Inn to do the challenge we set for them here. Following sign-in and pictures, each group received a tour of the facilities, after which, participants received a writing task to do while sitting round the campfire. What a lot of great ideas emerged from that! |
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Another fun experience here occurred on Corn & Apple weekend. Along with two vendors from the fair, Memory Lane was the destination for five Harley Davidsons with their six riders on holiday from Estavan country. Quite a line-up of wheels in the driveway. A really sociable bunch and a delight to host. |
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For whatever reason, a significant number of Memory Lane Inn experiences this year centered around the fire pit – in celebration of birthdays, visitors, and often nothing more than the pleasure of the fire itself. A glass of wine or a meal around the fire elevated the event to a special occasion. Something about the night, the firelight, sitting more or less in a circle, that draws out conversation and confidences. Thank you again to Clifford for that considerable piece of pipe-line which cradles the fire, and to friend Eugene who designed and crafted the spot. |
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There is, in all probability, a great honey cache high up in the north wall of the Inn. Perhaps there will be the chance of retrieving some in the spring. The bee house party is destined, for once and for all, to terminate at that time, with some necessary house renos which will ensure a more selective future B&B patronage at this establishment. Goodbye in September to the tree house, which was old when I took up tenure here in 1983. I think the ghosts of how many children sighed in sympathy with its demise. It had developed a decided list to the north-west, and climbing its rickety ladder was just too risky an endeavour. Another reminder that time moves on and that nothing stays the same forever. As the days draw in earlier and earlier, so another year also draws to a close. This winter has had a different look and feel about it, with virtually no snow and mild temperatures. Many of the people you see out and about are not swathed in the usual Manitoba winter paraphernalia. Light jackets, frequently open, light footwear, fewer mittens, toques, scarves in sight. No streets inundated with clouds of vapour rising from the passing vehicles. Visitors to the bush must be satisfied with hiking rather than skiing. No sound or sight of snowmobiles as yet. Cautious concern heard from one quarter or another over the lack of snow cover on perennial gardens and planted fields. Pleasure expressed over the freedom from snow-clearing and navigating snow-filled roads. The shortest day. The lights were on in the house this morning until after eight; yard light on before five this evening. The sun is so far south that it penetrates side-ways at mid-day into places it never reaches in the summer. A call for a bonfire tonight and salute to the end of the old year. |
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Connecting with friends and family. If one misses doing it the rest of the year, it is a MUST at this season. Acknowledging the people who have been there when a job had to be done and you couldn’t do it alone. Remembering those who are going through hard times and those who are far away. Trying to think lovingly toward oneself and the world, as we are all in this great game together, for all our warts and wrinkles. A new year. A chance to wipe the slate clean and to start afresh. It’s like getting a new lease on life. An opportunity to have another go at those things that want improving, or re-working, or leaving behind. What a gift! |
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And as we ease our way into January, the balmy weather continues to hold. I saw someone in sandals (minus socks) in a store today and many people on the street without jackets. The high for Manitoba was, I think, did they say, plus eleven!? Skating is tricky as the ice has melted in many places. But if you can find a sheltered spot where it is a go, that is about IT for outdoor winter sports until the weather makes a change. Television. To have or not to have? In an effort toward greater simplicity, a conversion to analog TV reception at Memory Lane this summer, which has now died. What next? A return to satellite reception? Or can we actually survive without television altogether? Something to ponder for 2012... May it be a good year for you and yours. God bless us, everyone. |
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| End-of-Winter 2011 | ||
How do the days slip by us with such speed? Christmas, St Valentine’s and now St. Patrick’s are history, and here we are, the end of March imminent. You reach out to grab hold of a piece of time and once again, as always, it slips away. We’re now into the season of puddles, dirty snow, soggy doggies and horses hairing out all over you when you stand too close. |
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Time to enumerate the projects for 2011. A well-met chance meeting today with the how-to man and review of the list of renos that (I say) absolutely must happen. He makes it all sound so do-able. Love it! One of my best B&B memories comes from this winter. I was looking out the sunroom window, late afternoon, on a |
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Saturday in February. Four women have just left the house. They are padding by, over the snow drifts, Indian file, headed for the sauna cottage. They are clad in boots and long bathrobes, varied headgear, the most interesting one a woodsman’s fur cap with the ear lugs pulled down. Each has a bath towel over one arm and bottle of “spirits” and a glass in the other. They are laughing in the pleasure of each other’s company and nattering away in their first language. |
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Bobby Bobcat had his winter work cut out for him, with many heavy blows that necessitated cleaning out the lane this year. A bucket (don’t have a snow-blower as yet) is fun, but much more time-consuming (not to mention energy-inefficient) After several cleanouts, the |
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lane had become a tunnel, ever more prone to filling in at the drop of a hat, as the snow pile on each side grew higher. Some of the winter weather this year closed down the lane for days at a time. It was an experience in at-homeness, which one became aware of later, while doing the budget books. Hmmm... five days with zero purchases. How nice for the month-end expense tally. Apparently there are some new innovations in the realm of snow-blowing equipment though, so, now that the tractor is paid for, we will be exploring these possibilities with Lin, the mechanical expert, who also loves to prowl through dealers’ yards and “for sale” ads. |
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The ice fishing season is drawing to a close on Lake Winnipeg. We made a trip out there last week to get twenty pounds of fresh pickerel. It’s awfully good. Friend Jack says the winter catch is always tastier than the warmer weather equivalent. But, don’t think I’d be choosing to drive my vehicle a half mile out onto the lake like the fishers do, particularly not this late in the season. I wonder if some of them actually take a vacation out there, and stay in their shack for days at a time? That is certainly one way to get away from it all. I heard the ice shacks have to come off the lake this week. There are subtle signs of Spring - in friends’ kitchens, where seedlings are beginning to peep through the soil; in some cases, even getting too leggy for the gardener’s liking. The bird population remains the same to date (chickadees and magpies mostly), but is getting noisier as the days lengthen. I find the dogs and myself taking to the road once more, resuming long-neglected walks. The fields are looking quite black in places; in others, the snow looks like ice flows on a dark sea. Visitors’ tires spin these days, in their efforts to negotiate the moosh that the lane and yard have become. Somebody said they saw a Canada goose last week. Today at noon, while heading out the lane, I had my own first Spring sighting, as three went by, heading north-west. And, of course, the basement has developed a damp spot here and there. May it not get much worse. These days, I can actually watch the sun rise through the window, during morning yoga time. Cats are to be seen, finally released from their long barn hibernation, enjoying a nap on the fence. And, of course, all the beautiful spring babies arriving. |
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Spring 2010 There is a red binder sitting somewhere, maybe on a stone bench outside the conservation centre in Brandon, maybe on a chair at a Tim’s, maybe in the ditch along Highway 5. In any case, our first spring blog is gone, so here goes attempt number two, and with it, the observation that this Spring may already be history. End-of-winter saw considerable traffic at MEMORY LANE. Get-aways and business trips with, as always, lots of stories confirming the infinite variety of our human experience. |
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While snow still garnishes the place, there is a postcard loveliness about a farmyard. As the melt increases however, the raw truth dawns that this is NOT the season to be showing off one’s B&B as home-away-from-home, little bit of heaven and all that come-on stuff. These folk were nonetheless most accommodating, comparing the look here to that of the homes they had left behind in Winnipeg or Eastern Ontario. March 19th was pivotal, as both the geese and the frogs chose that date to return. Other horse feed has been increased and hay progressively rationed, as the supply has dwindled down too quickly. We are now OUT, but there is some new grass in the low pasture for serious browsers, so, that will have to do until the fields get some serious growth. It has been so wonderful to get the song birds back. How did we do without them all winter? A dusty spring was transformed today with a lovely steady rain. A lot of fields have been seeded, so the farmers, as well as us gardeners, are all happy. This evening, Noiro and I are going to sow herbs in a newly-designated spot. And, maybe the most exciting bit of all, the meditation/yoga cottage got its new roof this week. Numerous trips to the lumber yard, the MCC, etc. for materials, new and recycled. Then, an inspiration of a day or so ago, the interior ceiling will be midnight blue with stars. How’s that for ambience? Lots to get organized, cleaned up, stained, fixed..... before the next round of guests, which begins May 3rd. Keep your runners on, Larner. We haven’t got time to sit around drinking coffee and watching the birds. Not for awhile anyway. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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Winter 2010 Wishing you a good year. It’s hard to believe the first month of the new year is old enough that it will be time to read the hydro meter tomorrow. How does time manage to get by us so fast? It arrived in a day, on the first of November to be precise. In all, we have had two major snowfalls, ample to provide ideal winter sports conditions. Problems have arisen when the thermometer has spiked, giving day-time highs of as much as 6° Celsius. The keeper of the ski trails has, nonetheless, managed to maintain fabulous conditions over at Shannondale Trails. Reports from skiers are invariably so complimentary that we are concerned that Dave’s now-swelled head is in danger of exploding. |
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Days are lengthening. The yard light went on this evening at 5:30. At the last check, it was 5:10. The brilliance of a sunny day, with blue skies and the white ground, make me happy to be a Manitoba resident. And here’s a good reversal for you. A neighbour was so excited to get back from his family holiday down south) that he was emailing to find out the local ski conditions.
Here’s to new beginnings, to recharged energy, to looking at life’s challenges from new angles – and here’s to YOU – happiness, success, in your endeavours in 2010.
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Autumn 2009
After a summer of unfailing splendour, the yellow daisies have finally bleached out. Seed-laden poppy skeletons drift on the wind. Even after cutting, the lawn soon resumes its preferred comfy attire of yellowing leaves.
A growing number of plants sit lined up on the grass, topped and root-bundled, awaiting relocation in the garden. Several packs of bulbs are sitting on the hoozier counter in the kitchen, likewise waiting. The tractor is still hitched to the mower. Any idea of further haying is wishful thinking at this point and other chores are waiting the Bobcat’s services.
Most of the tomato plants were pulled today; the still green ones are headed for the basement and a thick bed of newspaper; the ripe ones will shortly be going into the roaster for a third batch of spaghetti sauce. Is there still a chance of some plus ten days, to finish painting the two outbuildings started in June?
Apples everywhere, on the verandah in pails, in the small trailer in the barn for horse treats, filling one of the ten gallon crocks, a well-started rosé wine. Surplus produce, that didn’t grow in my garden, to pick up from kind neighbours (Please bring your own containers).
Noiro, the pipe-line pup
The lawn furniture on the deck sits empty, a silent reminder of summer that was. The long- term summer camper has broken camp and departed, leaving behind tangibles of good times shared, including one Border collie pup. Time to move from the unheated cottage into a house bedroom. Jacket on for yard work, plus the heavier leather gloves. There should be enough hay and straw in the barn now for the equines’ winter needs. The other long-term B&Ber remains, and a smattering of overnight guests continues.
Much house cleaning to do, a challenge when the doggies napping and the grey weather pull me to also down-gear, take a break and curl up with a good book. The woodstove has been called back into service. The smell of wood smoke hangs in the yard. Soon, there will be trips to the bush of generous friends, to stock up, mostly on deadfalls, before the snow renders that chore too difficult.
A lovely season, fall, with the evidence of Nature’s provision everywhere. And, if one can just keep pace with the current jobs at hand, the promise of the long winter’s sleep, somewhere not too far down the road.
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July 2009
Happy Birthday Canada, and Jin Bin and Kathryn.
Finally, days of lovely summer weather. The yard is beautiful with all the perennials in blooming mode, the house comfortable, windows frequently left open to enjoy the breeze. AC has only been resorted to a couple of days so far.
Birdsong everywhere and at all times of the day. As well, lots of hungry peeping in the bushes around the house. Busy parents flitting back and forth, attempting to keep up with their children’s voracious appetites. This morning a parent was teaching its youngster how to take a bath on a rock in the water garden, with a treat ready when the child got its feathers properly soaked.
Two lovely babies crossed my path recently. One had such a tiny-limbed velvety little body, with long silky brown ears its largest feature, extending down to the little white chest. When it’s play-time, they fly in all directions, as do the minuscule bouncing legs. Bleating is reserved for calls to Mum, when the distance apart becomes too great…… As for number two, Max and I were formally introduced under the yard-light. He was on his way to his new life and quite sleepy, as the hour was late on a tumultuous day in his young life. He managed several good licks to my face and neck, then cuddled into my jacket. Coat is nearly all black, with ears that are still floppy, a bit of gold in evidence on oversize paws and chest. Small resemblance as yet to the future guardian of the homestead down in the valley.
The excitement of looking, for days , and finally seeing, long-awaited seedlings break through the soil surface. Visions of a mature something beautiful to look at or delicious to eat.
Morning coffee in the sunroom. Sounds of the breeze moving amongst all shades of greenery. The loveliness of it all. This is my cottage at the lake, my mountain retreat.
Did the past dreary months really happen?
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April 2009 in Manitoba
| It’s April, the grungiest month of the year. The sun is deceptively warm, the wind frequently glacial. Impressive snow dunes hold out in several unhandy spots in the yard. The horses have mostly haired out. Cats have relinquished the winter security of their nests in the barn, for the hope of treats and sun-bathing on a cushion on the deck. |  |
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Sightings at the feeders have recently included a flock of beautiful purple finches and a few big sparrows, as well as all the winter regulars – jays, siskins, redpolls, juncos, hairys and downys, nuthatches, the big bad magpies and, of course, the chickadees. This morning, doing chores, I heard the old blood-stirring call for the first time, but never did catch sight of a few geese as they passed over the barn. On the weekend, a flock of red-winged blackbirds started up out of the neighbour’s woods as the car went by. And so many crows, up high, announcing in their raucous way that they’re back in circulation.
Concerns this time of year shift to overland flooding and keeping basements dry. As the snow disappears, preoccupations of last year are once again revealed – weed patches requiring attention, fences over-due for upgrading, outbuildings in need of shingles or paint. Must hurry up and finish those inside winter jobs, to be ready for the CALL OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS. We did finish the new duvet cover and four pillows to match. The kitchen make-over is about done. Can we also manage to get a new coat of paint on the sunroom, in something livelier than the current, aged and washed-out beige?
And speaking of the sunroom, it’s starting to look like a greenhouse in there. I wonder if I was premature in planting those wonderful one hundred day squash? They are shortly going to require a trellis. The peppers, tomatoes and herb seedlings are all doing well. And no complaints as yet from the sunroom’s full-time residents.
The woodpile is pretty low now, which coincides with my current level of enthusiasm to keep the woodstove perking.
Yes, it’s definitely the dirtiest month of the year. Attest to dried grey doggie prints on vinyl floors. Or, the current indeterminate colour of the car. Or, the appearance of the horses after a (groan) roll. But there’s also a thrilling sense of SOMETHING HAPPENING. New babies arriving, The Earth thawing, warming, germinating. New energy. And, one evening soon, I’ll be busy unawares at some job, and suddenly realize what’s different. - “They’re back!” - The frogs will once again have started up their spring song down in the west pasture wetland.
