Peppermint Knobs and other Purity Candy

It is late and I must get to bed, but wanted to remind myselt to tell the story of my experience in Newfoundland when I bought peppermint knobs at the grocery store! Later....don't let the suspense kill you!!!:)

What is wrong with this picture?

I was at Lakeridge Health Oshawa Hospital today and was perflexed by the community of smokers ,who are current patients, gathered outside the front entrance. Due to the smoking bylaw, these smokers have to indulge their habit so many feet away from the front entrance. ( I forget the correct number of feet) It is an odd sight to see patients hooked up to IV's, dressed in their hospital gowns with the open backs and slippers, barely managing to stand( thank goodness they had their IV pole to hang on to!!) on the median in the middle of the road, smoking. Other patients in wheelchairs manage to climb up the curb to this new "designated" smoking area. What is wrong with this picture? !!:) I am so thankful I am not addicted to smoking - only coffee!! ( although I am slowly weaning myself off the black stuff!!)

A Day Fishing with my Dad!

Dad and all the fishing gear.
Stringing the line and putting on the fly hook.... The fly...
That's me fly fishing! Not bad technique eh?!
Dad waiting in the bullrushes for the trout to come!
(for more fishing photos and our catch, check out my web album at: www.picasaweb.google.com/swile67)



"Trout'in" is a tradition that begins at a young age down on the "Rock!" My dad has vivid memories when he was 5 or 6 years old of his father asking him to go "trout'in" to the pond, not the ocean ( they lived on a bay on the Atlantic ocean), in the early morning in order to catch fish for breakfast! Still "trout'in" at 74 years old, dad took me out to the Linwood Trout Farm for the Civic Holiday! I haven't fished in ages so it was a fun day to spend with my dad! We came home with a generous "catch" that dad cleaned, filleted and cooked up for supper , instead of for breakfast!

Hubcap prank gone wrong!

I have recently been in touch again with an old friend back in Edmonton who reminded me of a story I had completely erased from my memory!!! I have no idea how I could have forgotten but as she points out it must be my "old age!" I had a good chuckle! She says it best, so here is her story:

"The HUBCAPS - I can't believe you forgot (actually I can believe it - with your age and all!). One of the first dates Jody [ her husband] and I went on was to a hockey game (which you were also at). [ an Edmonton Oilers home game] Anyways, after the game we saw your car and thought we'd have a little fun with you - so we stole your hubcaps. Only thing was - you didn't notice - so Jody finally asked you at work what happened to your hubcaps - cause they were missing off your car. (the joke kind of back fired - but it was still pretty funny)."

Thank you Elaine and Jody for the trip down memory lane! I miss that car!:) You should see my hubcaps now!!:)

Matriarch

June 29, 1957, Toronto, ON.

Part of the Joseph Whalen family at Wyman and Mabel Whalen's ( my parents) wedding...

Back l to r: George, Wyman ( my dad ), Grandma Elsie, Grandpa Joe, Selina, Jethro
Front l to r: John, Edna, Irene
Missing: Marjorie, Ray

My dad was from a family of 9 siblings and his oldest sibling, Selina (and her husband Walt Russell), had 12 children of their own! Thus, my extended family is huge. In fact, at my Grandma's funeral on July 18, 2003, a census was taken and concluded she had 34 grandchildren; 69 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren. Those numbers have increased!
On Saturday, my dad and I ( mom was away in Ottawa visiting her cousin) had the privilege of attending Aunt Selina's family reunion. Pictures and a brief description follow in the next few blog posts. The complete picture album can be found on my web album ( www.picasaweb.google.com/swile67) .
Being with aunt Selina made me miss my grandma Whalen! I always enjoyed visiting grandma and getting the update on the latest additions to our family. There was always a new picture to be viewed and a new story to be shared. ( and peppermint knobs to be eaten:)) Grandma Whalen knew ALL the names and ALL the birthdays of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great children. She rarely looked at her book where she recorded those details! I was always amazed at her memory! I was thankful for the time I could spend with her and could listen for hours to the family stories she devulged. My aunt Selina is the same - she is now passing down the same tradition for her large, wonderful family! What a blessing! I am so glad I can turn to my aunt Selina when I have questions about my family history that dad either forgets or doesn't know the answer! Enjoy the reunion recap.....

Jigg's Dinner at the Selina ( Whalen) Russell Family Reunion!

It was a thrill to attend the Russell Family Reunion on Saturday! I was able to visit with cousins I haven't seen in ages and also meet cousins ( well technically second and third cousins) for the first time! There were approximately 76 people in attendance - all from one family!! At any Newfie gathering, you will always find great food, great fellowhip, great music and great fun!! The Russell family reunion was no exception!! We enjoyed an amazing Jigg's dinner ( a boiled one pot dinner of corned beef, cabbage, carrots, parsnips and dumplings with sides of pease pudding and figgy duff....we can't forget the peppermint knobs)! My aunt Selina has a wonderful family...what a gift! I know if my uncle Walt was still alive he would be so proud of his family! What a heritage!

Another wee cousin....Summer enjoying the festivities! Playing a traditional family reunion game, Ringo! I made it to the semi-finals with my partner, Raymond!
l to r: Julie, Tracy and Della enjoying poolside!
Linda and her grand-daughter, Bailey Joe, conversing!
Sheila with her grand-daughter Summer enjoying the pool! ( James and Robert are ready to make a splash!)

The feast...Jigg's Dinner... Dad with the cooks...
l to r: Ron, Dad, Gord, Jim

The pots boiling up the Jigg's Dinner...
Karen watching over the men cooking!! Walt and Dawn with their grandson Brady Russell...
More of Brady's cousin's...Connor eyeing Bailey Joe!

An odd experience for me today!

You know your parents are aging when:

They have no inhibitions about discussing the inner workings of their bowels with total strangers! In fact, it appears that it is a natural subject to discuss with strangers and they assume these strangers are comfortable discussing the subject at hand!!:) Excitement builds when they meet fellow "age - ers" who have the same bowel problems and can offer suggestions! I wonder what my friends and I will be discussing when we reach this "golden age!"