Zephyr & Sandford News

By Pat Asling

Well, it’s been kind of a nothing week, but here we are starting another long weekend, which for retirees is just another week, it seems.

August does look like it will be busy, though, for our family, as there are several birthdays again, like last week, when both my sister and brother-in-law celebrated, as did I. This week it is my son and brother! Well-known author and playwright Conrad Boyce celebrated a day after me, but he has a lot of catching up to do! Conrad informed me they will be in Leaskdale end of August.

Jennifer Carol will once more perform “Maud of Leaskdale,” the hit play written by Conrad! Check out times and date, one day only! Another well-known Goodwood area resident having a birthday was Eleanor Todd Beare. She is better known as the dandelion lady because she could be found many places around collecting dandelion plants to make not only wine but many other good things, such as a coffee substitute from the roots.

Birthday wishes also this week to friend Dianne Bennett of Zephyr, musician and artist Walter Campbell, and Kelli Geer. Kelli, for many years now, has run a cat rescue organization called Barn Cat Rescue. It’s totally amazing how many feral cats there are in the area, considering there are at least two other rescue operations in the area, plus SPCA and our Animal Shelter. All these cats are neutered and given needles for all kinds of diseases, but the number does not seem to dwindle. Please, if you have a cat you can no longer keep, don’t dump it in someone’s yard (the way most of my cats have come) but get in touch with Kelli, Jen Edwards over on the third or animal shelters, but don’t be surprised if they say they can’t handle any more.

My lilies are at peak just now even with the strange weather, and my phlox of many colours is coming right along. Does anyone else have grackles? I counted 30 under my pole feeder one day, and that was probably only a partial number. Boy, do they eat a lot of birdseed.

Reading the long-range forecast, it seems like we could be in for a warmer autumn and winter, all under the control of a system out in the western ocean that controls much of our weather. Man-made problems, over which we have control, are causing many disturbances.

Last Wednesday a friend invited me to go along to an event sponsored by the Claremont Garden Club. It turned out to be on the 3rd, which I have driven by many times, but I had no hint of what is beyond that wooded lane. Over a period of four years, Brenda Near has transformed her regular garden/lawn into a Native Plant Garden. What a lot of work that must have been, and more to maintain all the bare earth weed-free. She explained how she gradually transformed her property into this specialty garden. It turned out her property is adjacent to the farm of our church pianist Ruth Baker.

On Wednesday, July 29th, at the Uxbridge Scott Museum grounds, there was another Herb Fest. This has been happening now for several years, but it seems several members of the Uxbridge Horticultural Group have been assisting with the garden upkeep and have done a great job. The lady telling all about the various herbs and their uses was Mama Richter, doing an excellent job. I have attended every one of these over the years, and this was the best attended ever so far.

Following church, on July 26th, there was an outdoor picnic. Thanks to the people who set up the tables, organized the food, etc, it was fun. Also, tribute was paid to Earle Lockerby and me as we celebrated our 86th birthdays. Yes, we are twins. There will be no more church services at Sandford until September 11th. Rev. William Fritz is on-call for pulpit assist. On Friday, August 7th, at the Foster, Justin Kerswill, a multi-instrumentalist, will be the guest musician. He plays some instrumental styles. The doors open at 7 p.m., with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m.; admission is by donation, with $10 suggested. The following week, the Shimoda Family will be with us, always a treat.