There are certain things I remember clearly about the bowling alley from when I was a teenager. There was the signature scent of businesses of the day; cigarette smoke mingled with the aroma of fried food. The sounds of pool balls clacking together and bowling balls hitting the hardwood and thundering down the lanes filled the air.
Read MoreThen, in the late ‘60s and ‘70s, a remarkable synthetic fabric came on the market. We called it “Fortrel” and it came in different weights, colors, patterns, and textures. It was a fabulous polyester material that was very popular for women’s and children’s clothing. My elderly mother was scandalized by the teen fashions of the time, notably the “hot pants”, a very short dress with matching short shots.
Read MoreSo, when I came to Saskatchewan, I had this thought in my head: I am never going to say goodbye again.
Read MoreIn the stories, Maria was remembered as “an attractive and rather alluring widow called Queen Lady Farmer by her neighbours.”
Read MoreKiyas, a long time ago there was a very successful trapper named Hubert who travelled across Saskatchewan on the many lakes and rivers in this land. The odd thing about this trapper was that he always travelled alone.
Read MoreMy cousin Orland was such a joker. When we were young, we lived on a road allowance. We were always left at home to do things. I had to do housework, and my cousin had to do the outside work.
Read MoreFor as long as I can remember, holidays like Christmas Eve and Easter were accompanied by Ukrainian foods like perogies (varenyky!), holobci, nalysnyky, pyrysky, borscht, scuffles, and poppy rolls, among others. When I was young these were brought by my Baba and aunties. Now, we try our best to replicate the recipes—the most precious are the handwritten copies on worn and dirty paper. More often than not, my dad will declare the result does not quite rival his memory.
Read MoreLike our parents, we all loved horses so working with them was no hardship. In the morning we helped with all preparations - bringing the horses in from the night pasture, feeding and harnessing them before breakfast, watering them and coupling the outfit and opening and closing gates to whatever field Dad was working.
Read MoreMy family memories are filled with stories of my Michif grandmother. Her name is Flora Marie Trottier. She married my grandpa Joe Caron. Her parents were Jean Baptiste Trottier and Melanie Lemire and my grandma was born at Round Prairie.
Read MoreThis is home to me. Yes, a big roaster of delicate, melt-in-your-mouth perogies, dusted with fried onions, chopped bacon, and too much artery-clogging, hydrogenated, melted, margarine. This confused extravert/introvert, and a wanna-be writer will make the connection. Please be patient with me.
Read MoreCharles didn’t give up, so he took his beloved wife to Battleford to another doctor. Can you imagine the ride from St. Laurent to Battleford? It was probably on the Carlton trail. Charles was desperate when he presented her to the doctor in Battleford. The doctor could not help. She was sent home again. When they got back to St. Laurent, Charles didn’t know what to do.
Read More1963 was a record year for attending lively and colourful Ukrainian weddings at the Rainbow Hall in Canora and the Burgis Beach Hall, Good Spirit Lake, just two miles from our family farm. That summer our family took in a wedding every single Saturday for more than two months – 9 in all!
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