L2O2

Okay, so it isn’t berry season, I could wish though! Our leaving the trailer at tick ridden, soggy Echo Valley was a good thing. We enjoyed a dry, warmish, family filled three days that were all good. Many thanks are due … Ellen for having us stay, doing laundry, and not being upset at the small mess we made of her house. Kimberley for providing no end of lap time for the two O’s and playing duets with her Aunty. Jean for staying up to all hours fixing dates. Mark for knitting needle fixes, hitch tightening, and fishing. Dad for dinner and being good enough, but not too good, at Boggle. Mom for being understanding of changing plans and excellent, very appreciated, chili and cabbage rolls. We love you all:)

Smile … not bad for one take eh! Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit all our friends, rest assured however, that we will be knocking at your door in October!

Throughout our journey through the prairie provinces, it has not been easy to find grain elevators. We found this little cluster in the town of Hanley, SK. and decided to take a picture for posterity.

By the time we arrived back at Echo Valley, it was raining again … or we think it may have STILL been raining! We quickly hitched up and trundled off to Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site. We toured the original house and the barn, both restored to the pre-World War I period. The farmstead of W.R. Motherwell, homesteader, farm activist and politician, is a testament to the resourcefulness and tenacity of early prairie settlers. W.R. Motherwell played an important role in the development of the west and agriculture. He served as the first Minister of Agriculture in the new Province of Saskatchewan in 1905 and later as federal Minister of Agriculture. He retired as “the Grand Old Man of Canadian Agriculture” in 1939 and was declared an eminent Canadian in 1966. Thanks to our interpreters who didn’t rush us even though we pushed the end of day quite thoroughly. This would be a wonderful site to visit when they are holding their binding, stooking and threshing days. They have two magnificent teams of work horses and they aren’t there for show!