Having lost my domain name of several decades and everything attached to it, I am starting over. Not happily! But nothing to be done about it. I’ve just retired - well 2 years ago really but it hardly seems possible - after 21 years in politics, raising a family, travelling a bit, working hard every … Continue reading Ok, lets give this a go!
Family Roots (continued)
Edmonton: mid-1930s In 1996, while my sister Elaine Crummy was researching our family tree, my mother's sister Ethelann Olsen, Auntie Ann, told this story of her Grandpa John Wrench, my great grandfather. ETS Leyland trolley #107 on McDougall Hill, circa 1939. City of Edmonton Archives, EA-75-877. My great grandparents lived on the south side … Continue reading Family Roots (continued)
Family Roots
1880s Manchester England Typical housing for the working poor in Manchester England, end of the 19th century My great grandparents on my mother’s side, John Wrench and Esther Entwhistle, worked in the cotton mills in Manchester England. Esther came from a family of mill workers. There are no records of the year they were born, … Continue reading Family Roots
When we ran wild!
My Aunt Isabel was my mother’s youngest sister and married to my Uncle Albert. They lived on a farm just outside Athabasca and my fondest childhood memories are of times on that farm. Uncle Alberta was a lovely, warm and funny man, big and strong and handsome, and was always kidding us or playing practical … Continue reading When we ran wild!
Is there really wisdom with age?
Are we really wiser as we get older? I am now the big seven oh but I'm not sure I feel wise. I feel much the same as I did at 50 or 60. I'm sure the vagaries of age will creep up but I hope not for a while yet. Oh yes, there … Continue reading Is there really wisdom with age?
Some reflections on 2020
I usually have a calendar hanging somewhere in my kitchen. I make notes on it, jot down birthdays and appointments. Even with all kinds of devices - iPad, phone, laptop - I have always taken comfort in writing things on the wall calendar, flipping over the page at the end of each month and enjoying … Continue reading Some reflections on 2020
Ardagh!
I have always dreamed of going to Ireland. It is where my ancestors came from in 1852 fleeing the potato famine. I grew up hearing various versions of our origins, depending on my father's mood for romanticizing what little he knew. The name James figured strongly in each generation of men born McKennirey and indeed … Continue reading Ardagh!
Our stay at Fawlty Towers
We arrived at the lovely guest house hotel in Killarney on our second day of a driving tour through Ireland. It was a gorgeous little hotel surrounded by a lovely garden and overlooking a beautiful lake. We had been on the road for a few weeks by that time and were looking forward to the … Continue reading Our stay at Fawlty Towers
Living roof!
As part of our bee friendly yard, we are attempting to build a living roof on our garden shed/bee equipment house. The shed has been in place for 20 years and needed to be re-shingled. I was inspired by something I saw on one of Monty Don's gardening shows and decided we'd build a living … Continue reading Living roof!
Wasp Wars!
I know all insects are beneficial but honestly I don't seem able to embrace Wasps. Last fall, a calamity hit my bee hives although I didn't know it at the time. The weather was beginning to get cooler and I was in the process of preparing my hives for winter. I'd made a batch of … Continue reading Wasp Wars!
Mason bees!
Any day I can be outdoors watching the bees is truly marvellous. I could watch my honey bee hives all day long, the comings and goings, bees zipping off in search of pollen and nectar, bees returning with their legs fat with fluffy pollen! But the last few days, they've had a rival. The mason … Continue reading Mason bees!
