Memories and Moments

We lived 47 years of our lives together here in Saskatoon.  Revisiting a place is often nostalgic, and can be sad.  The city has grown considerably over the past 10 years and seems to be thriving.  Our lovely little blue house has deteriorated immensely as it is now a rental property and missing the love we put into it.  We had all perennials in the front and back yard, with many varieties of lilies.  I enjoyed gardening so much that we spilled the flower beds into the boulevard and then, got neighbours involved and planted veggies and fruit shrubs in the median.  Now, most of the plants have died out from lack of care and the front yard is a sad patch of grass.

It is pleasant to stay in a house and have a break from the camper.  I miss all our Victoria friends, but must admit, I also miss having a full kitchen to work in.  Our friend's home is filled with books.  If we ever have to bunk down again, due to lock-ins, I want to move into this house.  It's like staying in a library, and I would never run out of interesting reading material.

Just one of many shelves filled with books in this cozy home.

Saskatoon is glorious in summer with a fine urban forest.  The back yards and street frontages have large poplars, elms, and oaks and the established neighbourhoods are filled with the sound of songbirds.  We enjoy coffee on the deck here each morning - a great start to the day.

 

Wayne and I met at University here, 60 years ago.  He proposed to me as we were walking across the Broadway Bridge.

While living here our parents and significant relatives died.  We had the city plant some trees and we 'illegally' planted some evergreens along Meewasin Trail facing the CPR Bessborough Hotel.

They have done well.

 

10 years is a long time for distant friendships, and people's lives change.  Each visit we have a few less friends to visit, so we realize how precious this time is.  

June 17:  Visit the Saskatoon museum named Boomtown, 1905.  Inside the vast building there are old cars, farm equipment and even a full sized steam engine which chugs and rings its bell at regular times.  The main gallery is set up to look like a thriving prairie city in the early 1900's.  There are buildings mimicking early businesses - blacksmith, general store, post office, pharmacy, doctor's office, prairie school.  The dental one looked the scariest.

       

1912 Peerless Roadster

Attempt at a straw burning car

One gallery describes the alliance of 7 tribes of the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota First Nations.  They followed the river systems for livelihood and trade. Their alliance once covered parts of what we call Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. extending into Wisconsin, Minnesota, north and south Dakota, and northern Montana. Lakota means friend and their alliance shares language, beliefs and rituals.

There is a storyline that takes you through 50 years of life for a homesteading family from Ireland.  It goes from a sod house to a solid 2 story wooden home, from basic farm tools and equipment to things used in the 1950's, showing the growth and evolution of things during that time frame.

Full sized sod house

Today we decided to visit Fort Carlton, a fort that was run by Hudson Bay for 75 years.  It was situated on the fork of North and South Saskatchewan rivers, and a common fording area for First Nations.  This was a supply depot for the Carlton Trail between Winnipeg and Fort Edmonton.  Unfortunately, for us, after a 20 km drive on poor gravel roads, we found the Fort is closed on Wednesdays.  Sigh.  'Best made plans...'

There are some cool camping opportunities at the Fort, for those without their own equipment.

We then went for dinner at our friend's hobby farm.  They raise chickens and sheep 'for fun, and food'.

Our grandson's big wedding day is on Friday.  Then we will continue our eastward-ho.