10 minute read
Homespun by Laurel Nadon
I will return once more
On our holiday, we developed a bit of a theme song. At home, I regularly sing and I make up my own words to songs, which I like to think that my children find…endearing. We were at the start of a nine day canoe trip, sitting around the campfire while my husband napped in our red hammock nearby, and searching for an appropriate campfire song. We quickly settled on “Land of the Silver Birch”, a Canadian folk song that my 10-year-old son learned at school and then on the guitar this year. The words really resonate with me and fit so well with our adventure:
Land of the silver birch, Home of the beaver
Where still the mighty moose, Wanders at will
Blue lake and rocky shore, I will return once more
We sang it in rounds to our hearts content, and then it often returned unbidden as we dipped our paddles into the clear waters, loons beside us. My son said the verse “I will return once more” means a promise to your family that you will return home, whereas I like to think of it as a promise to the nature around you that you will return to enjoy it again.
Then came the portage to Dabbs Lake. This is a lake on our annual trip that for some reason calls to my husband as a grand adventure. One year we had a canoe cart laden with all our supplies and were sinking into knee-deep mud before my husband conceded that it was too wet of a year to attempt to get to the lake. Each year, we have hiked the portage, swatting masses of mosquitoes away, to sit on a pile of logs and look at the lake while eating lunch. Safe to say, it is not my favourite part of the trip.
This year, due to severe wind days before we started the trip, there were several large trees across the trail. We did our annual pilgrimage to stare at the lake and I hoped that was the end of it. Days later after completing a circuit into another lake, and I suppose still looking for more adventure, we camped near the start of the portage and planned to haul our canoe in so that we could actually paddle the lake and see what state the campsite was in that was shown on the map. To my surprise, families with young children whom we had met earlier were also planning to hike the portage to see the lake that day, though not with their canoe along. (Other people are doing this…for fun?)
We started ahead of them while they ate lunch, stopping regularly to saw trees off the path, yanking and bumping the canoe cart over roots and small trees. Of course I had to start singing, if nothing else to take my mind off the mosquito I had just swallowed. The words of our theme song were changed to: Down at the Dabbs portage, We’ll drag our canoe
Over the squishy marsh, While eating mosquitoes
Friends are behind us, They think we’re craaazy
This drove our kids crazy. They begged me to stop in case our new friends caught up and they would be supremely embarrassed. Our friends caught up, scooted ahead to escape the insects and our children happily scampered off with them as their dad wrestled with a large tree. I tried to blend in with the crowd marching off, but got hauled back to help get our canoe to the water. A bit later, it started to rain and we donned rain jackets and continued our processional to the water. We were finally able to paddle on the elusive lake, found the campsite, and read the memorial. The lake was named in honour of a 20-year-old Howard Earl Dabbs from Forestburg who was killed in action at the controls of his Lancaster bomber during the Second World War. We then carried our canoe and gear back to camp before a big rain that night. This nearly inaccessible lake has also captured the imagination of our children and talk began immediately on how to camp there next year.
These trips are life-changing for us and our kids. We were truly up close and personal with nature, seeing a small black bear rooting through the grass on the mainland while we camped on an island, spotting over a dozen deer and several beavers, identifying 17 kinds of birds and watching baby birds “run” across the water to catch up to their families. Our kids helped with simple camp chores like setting up our tent and sleeping gear, pumping water and collecting firewood, making sticks for roasting marshmallows and cooking bannock.
They saw how little we actually need. I will return once more.
By Murray Green
Camrose County declared Aug. 8 to 15 as Local Food Week.
“In order to demonstrate a commitment to supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of our farmers, growers, bakers, processors, chefs and other local food producers, council passed a motion to proclaim the week,” moved councillor Doug Lyseng, at the July 13 Camrose County regular council meeting.
“MLA Jackie Lovely, Mayor Norm Mayer, Reeve Cindy Trautman and Food Artisans of Camrose County chair of FACC Edith Tabler signed a proclamation on July 22 at the Downtown Farmers’ Market to promote Local Food Week,” said Anjah Howard, a member of the FACC.
Alberta Local Food Week gives everyone a chance to meet local farmers and entrepreneurs who work to put nutritious food on our plates, and to show support for all things grown, made and harvested in Alberta.
The week offers a great opportunity to enjoy some delicious local food by visiting an Alberta Approved
Farmers’ Market in your area or pick your own fresh fruit and vegetables at a u-pick farm.
A scavenger hunt will take place with four weeks of prize give-a-ways. You have to submit 16 to 24 photos from August 1 to 28. Event updates can be found at county.camrose.ab.ca/ events/facc-scavengerhunt/ and each week’s deadline is at midnight on Saturday night.
Open Farm Days also promotes area farms and operations. Follow the local food conversation to see events, activities and celebrations using #ABLocalFood.
Alberta Local Food Week occurs each year
during the third week of August. Food Week ties into Alberta Open Farm Days, giving Albertans a chance to visit local farms and experience where their food comes from.
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Food Artisans of Camrose County chair Edith Tabler, left, Camrose County Reeve Cindy Trautman, City of Camrose Mayor Norm Mayer and Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely signed a proclamation declaring August 8 to 15 as Local Food Week. A scavenger hunt will take place with four weeks of prizes. You have to submit 16 to 24 photos from August 1 to 28. View the Camrose County website for contest details.
City contest winners
Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster
Photos clockwise. Top left photo. Winners of the City hosted Canada Day I Spy contest left to right back row are Gord Johnson, Carol Manning (Kayla Manning missing), Maria Heise (Keirah Heise missing)and Peter Loewen. Front row left to right Kruz O’Riordan, Wolfgang Moore, and Kingston and Kash O’Riordan. Top right photo. Winner of the Chalk the Walk contest Kelsey Gerlitz. Photo to left. Winners of the I Spy Canada Day contest Mariana, Angela and Lizeth Ruiz.
The automotive section of
Imperial almost new with low mileage
By Murray Green
Alvin Mayer of Heisler owns a 1969 Chrysler Imperial.
“I’ve had this car for about six years. It belonged to the father of a friend of mine. He passed away and it was stored in a shed. They had a daughter who was married and they wanted to move onto the property, so they wanted to get rid of it. That’s when I purchased it,” recalled Alvin.
The Chrysler Imperial, introduced in 1926, was Chrysler’s top-of-theline vehicle for much of its history. Models were produced with the Chrysler name until 1954, after which it became a standalone brand; and again from 1990 to 1993.
“I wanted this car because it had low mileage and it is an enjoyable car to drive. It handles the road well, very nice to drive,” he shared.
The company positioned the cars as a prestige marque to rival Cadillac, Continental, Lincoln, Duesenberg, Pierce Arrow, Cord and Packard.
Since Alvin received the car, he hasn’t done a lot to it. “It is in good condition and only has 30,000 miles on it. The fellow that owned it had polio, so I had to change a few things. The signal light was on the steering wheel so he could IMPERIAL CLASS
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Alvin Mayer couldn’t pass up the opportunity to purchase a 1969 Chrysler Imperial with very low mileage. He enjoys the smooth ride and the luxuries of the classic car.
use it with his right hand. The ignition switch was moved from the left to the right, so he could operate it with his right hand. I put everything back to the way
FUN FACTS
In 1969, keeping with the times, the look was sleeker, with a reduced, more subtle level of trim. For the first time, the lights were hidden behind doors, giving a fashionable, at the time, full-width grille look using loop bumpers. Only this year the Imperial featured sequential turn signals. In 1969, it was the final model year for pillared sedans and it was also the first year for the Imperial LeBaron coupe. At 229.7 in. (5,834 mm), the Imperial once again became the longest non-limousine car made in America, and would remain so through 1973 when it would set the post-Second World War record for non-limousine car length. A total of 22,083 were produced, making it Imperial’s third-best ever year. Ambruster-Stageway of Fort Smith, Arkansas continued with limousine conversions using the 1969-71 sheet metal. Twelve conversions were delivered over the three years, including one for then New York governor Nelson Rockefeller.
Beginning in 1967, the Imperial Division, offering three ranges (Custom, Crown and LeBaron), retreated from their separate body-on-frame construction and their unique body on a 129.5-inch wheelbase. They continued to use their unique front suspension with torsion bars longer than all other Chrysler products. it originally was when the car was new,” said Alvin.
“It didn’t have rust, but a lot of dust from being in a shed for many years.”
For several decades and multiple generations, the Imperial was the best of Chrysler and the favourite choice of luxurious transportation for senior executive leadership, government officials, royalty and various celebrities.
“The Imperial has a 440 engine with an automatic transmission. The only bad thing is I don’t get to drive it much. I have a few vehicles, so I can’t drive them all at once, only one at a time. I wanted to go to the Camrose car show, so I thought I would bring this one since I haven’t driven much lately,” said Alvin.
Over the years the appearance, technological advancements and luxurious accommodations updated with the latest trends and fashionable appearances. Limousines, town cars and convertibles were the usual appearances, while special coachwork choices were provided by the industries best providers, to include Derham, Fleetwood, LeBaron and others.
“The interior is in good condition. It has a heater in the trunk that shoots out heat to the back seat. It has air conditioning, power antenna and a few extra features,” he said.
Old Ride?
If you have a vintage ride (rebuilt or original) or even if you’re in the midst of a build: street, rat or restoration, we’d like to profile your project.
