Dandelions making a surprise late fall show

I couldn't believe what I saw while checking on the trees and plants on our 10-acre yard. Dandelions are in bloom this time of the year. Yikes. These are the first flowers to see in the spring amongst the prairie crocus, but in November? Soon the white stuff will freeze these hardy critters, but they will quickly reappear at the dawn of next April. After a hard long gloomy winter, people don't mind seeing dandelions.

There will be no Remembrance Day service in Mayfair Hall for a second year in a row due to COVID-19. The good news is we can attend one outdoors at Speers at 10:45 a.m. Nov. 11. There will be the laying of a wreath at the cenotaph along with a few speeches from dignitaries and the usual ritual of the service. This year there will be coffee and cookies served outside.

Oct. 24, 1951 was the date Earl and Anne Van Nortwick got married. They recently celebrated 70 years of wedded life with a small family gathering. They now reside in Battlefords District Care Centre in Battleford. Their children are Norman, Ronald and Charlene Ferron and families

Mayfair library is selling one kilograms of liquid honey for $10 and creamed honey same size for $12. The library is open mornings on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday.

For the past six years I've been saving pop and beer can tabs for a worthy cause and encouraging others to do the same. I'm only too happy to see the announcement that the rural municipalities are a drop-off station for these tabs. Silver for Gold is a registered charity that is dedicated to raising money childhood cancer. This organization takes the collected tabs to JK Metals in Broadview. It was created by EcoGenx and has partnered with Small But Mighty Sask and the RM administrators' association. The funds are being directed to children's treatments and helping to develop treatments.

It is sad to report the passing of a great substitute teacher at Mayfair Central School for many years. From Spiritwood, Hugh Jenner would pack up his guitar and start the lessons with a tune. In the elementary classes students would learn the words to different songs bringing out positive attitudes. Hugh was battling cancer for a number of years but always had a positive attitude towards life. Condolences to his wife Peggy, also a retired teacher, and families.

In the woods at Meeting Lake, Linda husband Marvin, their three children, grandchildren and other volunteers welcomed a record-breaking number of attendees at their haunted forest, which gets bigger and better ever year. They donated $1,750 to Prairie Community Endeavours in Spiritwood and the same amount to the Rose Gill Lodge seniors' residence fund in Rabbit Lake. PCE assists individuals with disabilities to meet their needs and improve quality of life. Hats off to Linda and her group of volunteers. On a sad note, she claims there are intoxicated adults who get obnoxious when on their property.

Let us observe Remembrance Day by proudly wearing a poppy and attending a ceremony either in person or watching television or by listening to the service on the radio. Thank you to all veterans and military who serve and protect our country. We certainly appreciate Canada's freedom.