With great sadness we report of the recent passing of Joyce Wood of Lilac. Our deepest sympathy to her daughter Pauline Wood, and to Kevin and Carol Leng family of Ruddell and Saskatoon.
Doug Johnston also passed away recently. Doug was born and went to school in Spinney Hill. In the mid-1970s he bought the Robert Fulerton farm for his son Garry and wife Darlene and family. They farmed a few years and sold out to move to another job.
Visiting with Stanley and Dorothy Mills was Kay Robertson of Bjelde Creek area.
It was sad to hear our community has lost another old timer. At the age of 92, Mary Edinborough of Saskatoon, formerly of Baljennie, has passed way. Sympathy to all the family. The late Alf Edinborough married and brought his new wife Mary to their little farm in our area, as well as Mary's little girl Heather. They ran a mixed farm on just one quarter of land for 30 years. In later years they ran a family market garden and a raspberry you pick for 19 years. They raised a family of three children, two girls and a boy. When Alf and Mary retired to live in Battleford in 1975, their son Jack took over the farm for a few years. It was known as Alf's Place. Alf passed away in 1993 and Mary then moved to a senior home in Saskatoon close to her family.
This will be a winter to remember for a while. Snow is scarce and mild temperatures are the norm. There were a few frigid days that did feel cold, but the cold spell did not last long. It feels more like March than early February.
It sure has been a winter for the little birds. I could not keep up to filling feeders, so set out three large trays on the picnic table on the deck. Some days I go through as much as a gallon or more of seeds. Once I put the seeds out the trays come alive with siskins, finches, red polls, grosbeaks and blue jays, and the odd squirrel. I have a separate feeder hanging for the chickadees and no other birds try to feed from it. We have a few magpies and ravens about. They are out and about the fields, but never bother the yard and the little birds. But, when a raven takes a notion to fly over, the little birds scatter like wild mice. They soon settle down again. They arrive at dawn and are here until the seeds are all gone or dusk falls. With the days getting longer they are here much longer.
