Zephyr & Sandford news

by Pat Asling

Rosana Eleanor Leprohon once wrote this poem

Oh gladly do we welcome thee,

Fair pleasant month of May.

Month which we've eagerly longed to see

Through many a winter day!

When you read this, it will be a week into May, and I hope this merry month will have decided in favour of spring since, up to now, it is vacillating between winter temps and those warm ones we long for. Mostly the garden flowers don't seem to mind as they are moving along, taking their turn at blooming in many colours. So, too, are all the weeds and grasses, not to mention all the old growth that gets in the way since it's been too cold to get out and at it. Most of my gardening friends are frustrated with how little they have been able to do, but I have discovered one solution. Put everything in pots. I keep calla lilies and begonias in the house all winter. They die back but are now well back to life, and my callas lilies are all blooming, better than they did outside last year! I also have a couple of hibiscus, which have been blooming quite well. I put my dahlias in pots outside last year. They did well, so they are being potted up now, and the majority have good spouts already!

The first part of the week was quiet, but Eve-Lynn Swan and I had supper with Dr. Laura Peers on Thursday. This was previous to her speaking at the first speaker session of the Uxbridge Scott Historical Society. It was a miserable, cold, wet night, and because they were painting in the school room, the session was held in the Fifth Line church, with no heat. There was a good attendance in spite of the weather. Laura grew up in Udora and talked a bit about her family and the grist mill, which bore the family name for four generations. Then, she spoke of her work with Indigenous artifacts. She spoke about the work she did reconnect Indigenous peoples with their ancestral items held in the UK (she gave the example of working with the Haida nation to recreate a historic box, which was subsequently used to teach Haida art to Haida children and also in ceremony) and why that was important in strengthening cultural knowledge and healing, and then she spoke about the "To Honour and Respect" exhibition with the quilled baskets given to the Prince of Wales in 1860 from Hiawatha (and you can find more about that at: www.tohonourandrespect.ca ). From what I have read, she was being quite modest about her work!

On Friday, our Epsom girls met for our semi-annual lunchout. This time at the Mandarin. Although we see each other now and again between times, it's always a pleasure to meet together. All of us were either born in Epsom or spent most of our life there, and after 20 years of meeting, we still look forward to it. During the much-anticipated opening of the Foster Friday Night Concert Series, Django Djunkies, the first group to perform, had a bit of change, with an older man on guitar and a female vocalist. The audience was quite happy with their evening! Join us next Friday to hear Scott Benson and Susan with guitar and flute!

On Sunday, at Zephyr Church, the decommissioning service was held, led by Rev. Li, with several guests participating. I was disappointed not to see more of the younger former attendees, those who were teens when I moved over here. However it was good to see the three Blackstock sisters and the four Walker sisters in attendance. There are so many of their parents and that generation I recall but most have gone from us now, but they worked very hard over the years! It was wonderful also to see Rev. Diane Bennett Jones and her husband, Chris Jones; we all miss them!

Birthday wishes went out to several celebrants, including Marion Barnett, who spent it in Hawaii with her daughter Cindy and Cindy's fiancé, Wayne Webster, who also celebrated the same day. Greetings also went out to another of Hugh and Marcie Clark's lovely daughters, Violet, who has a dozen years under her belt. Young Gerrit Herrema also had a birthday, but he was busy getting things ready to go out on the land. Birthday wishes also to former sorority sister and Uxbridgite Carolyn Dane  Knight. Unfortunately, Caroline's newly built house was badly damaged when a tree fell over it during the ice storm. Best wishes also to Laura Hansen (Cordingley), who probably was out riding around with hubby Brent in his speedy fancy car. A big congratulations to Gord and Karen Shreeve, who have been married for 27 years. Which reminds me, Gord was being congratulated on making the new and expanded playground at the Zephyr hall, swings and all, happen! Our deepest sympathies to our dear friend Corinne Croxall whose younger sister, Vera Wood (King) passed away recently. Our condolences to all the families 

Upcoming events include the Zephyr Scott Lions Club's next spaghetti supper, Friday, May 9th, from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost is $15. Adults, $5 kids. There will be crafts for the kids. On May 24th, the ZS Lions will be holding their Spring Market, where you can sell your homemade crafts, baking, etc. There will also be a BBQ for sale.  Call them to reserve a booth. The time is 9 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Zephyr Hall. On April 26th, the members were out assisting with storm cleanup around the village, so they have been busy! Thank you! 

The Uxbridge Horticultural Group will meet on May 24th at the Seniors Centre. The guest speaker will be Carly McDougall expounding on "Whimsical Garden Designs. The exhibits this time will be the best flowering bulb, best design and special exhibit. All are welcome. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for those bringing exhibits, 7 for sign-in and meeting at 7:30 p.m. Membership is $20.

The Genealogy Group meets the following evening, 7:30 p.m., at the library or on Zoom if you are a member. David Joiner will be explaining how you can map your family's journey using a free internet program. On May 26th, they are holding an Open House, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the museum, entitled Finding Your Roots and showing how the records on various media in the Genealogy Room can be used. At other times, make an appointment at uxlib.com to get help for problems.

May is Museum Month, and we are fortunate to have two wonderful museums in our township, or three, as the Foster Memorial is also a museum. The Lucy Maud Society, which runs the former St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, now called the Historic Leaskdale Church and the former manse are run by a board of 11 or so local people. Tours are welcome during the summer, and usually, a number of lunches with speakers are held in the summer months. Already, the "Gardens of Uxbridge" house tour is planned for June 21st, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tickets go on sale May 1st. Uxbridge Scott Museum is gearing up for a busy summer with a variety of activities and several speakers are on tap, courtesy of the Historical Society, in the coming months. The Horseshoe Pitching group begins shortly and continues until October, games start at 6:30 p.m. Both men and women are welcome to join. The cost is $10 per game or $30 for the season, which also gives you entry to any lectures and special events of the museum. "Elbows up" to the pitch! Just finishing up at 8:30 p.m., and the most gorgeous sunset is setting the whole western and northern sky ablaze! A good omen I hope!