Vrin was quite isolated, and nobody in town owned a car; we walked everywhere. About 70 per cent of the population lived in the town proper. The remaining 30 per cent, including my family, were divided between several hamlets up the mountain. People lived off mixed farming and livestock breeding, and their main interests were family, work and faith. They worked hard, but they also had good times together.

The church was the building were everybody got together, and most holidays had some connection to religion. There was a main church in town, but every little hamlet had its own little chapel.

The chapel in one of these hamlets was devoted to St. Valentine, and people would trek up the mountain on February 14 to attend a service there. After that, all the people in the various hamlets invited some friends from town to stop at their houses and have dinner and an afternoon of chatting and playing cards and games.

Those get-togethers were important occasions for all of us and I remember my mother having a thorough housecleaning before the day. Everything had to be shining when the guests arrived. We always invited about a dozen people to the feast and I was allowed to ask one of my school friends. We all looked forward to St. Valentine’s Day as it was an occasion to visit with friends and neighbours and take it easy — at least until it was time to feed and tend to the livestock, a chore that had to be done, holiday or no holiday.

Despite the hard work that was done day after day, people knew how to enjoy the rare times they could spend in relaxation, relying on each other and keeping community ties alive.

The post A different Valentine’s Day celebration appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

I have no idea how she managed to get in. All of a sudden she is present and there isn t a thing I can do to discourage her from residing with me.

It s a mystery. Suddenly one morning there she was, looking at me from my bathroom mirror. Seeing her gave me quite a shock. She looked disturbingly like my late mother in the last quarter of her life, grey hair, wrinkles and all. She stared at me as if saying, Gotcha!

Not only has she taken over my image in the mirror, but she seems to delight in playing pranks on me, like constantly getting hold of my glasses and hiding them in weird places. I m short sighted, so I take the specs off while doing things like reading. I swear I put them down right next to me on the table but are they there when I need them? Not very often. Most of the time, my uninvited guest manages to sneak in and snatch them while my attention is diverted. And then the search is on, room by room, without success. It s like the glasses evaporated into thin air. I usually give up and do something else, but then the stranger looks for another object to hide, and while I m searching high and low for that one presto there are the glasses. I really have to devise some way of keeping them safe. Hang them around my neck, perhaps? But what about the myriad of different objects she hides from me? Keys, the cordless phone, my meds, the paper, a book I was reading. I can hardly walk around carrying my whole household dangling from my neck. I m thinking of getting a cart to hold all the necessities and push it ahead of me wherever I go.

The intruder really has it in for me. She has taken to tripping me whenever I walk around. Surely there aren t that many things scattered around my home that could cause me to stumble. A scatter rug by the front door has never bothered me before. Now it seems like it s hard to step over it without getting tangled up. My furniture and appliances are suddenly jumping up and whacking me, creating bruises on my shins.

I suspect that my visitor has taken hold of my mind as well. I walk to the kitchen, intent on some task, and when I get there I have no idea what I planned to do. I can no longer go shopping without a detailed list, or I ll come home empty handed. Writing is less of the pleasurable activity it used to be and I don t retain as much as I used to when I read. Sometimes I have to read a paragraph over because I have no idea what I just read.

I resent that nasty character who has taken over my days. In fact, I think she has taken over my nights as well, because I don t seem to sleep much anymore. I ve tried to ignore her, but to no avail. Here she is, and here she is to stay.

Joyce Slobogian writes from Brandon, Manitoba and is the author of To Die For, available at Pennywise Books in Brandon, and online at Amazon.com

The post Stranger In The House appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

When I lived on the farm, I used to pore over seed catalogues and plan my garden in early March. Should I try out that new variety of beans this year, the one that was said to “double the yield?” Maybe I’d try those cute mini tomatoes. Would it be worth the trouble to plant cantaloupes? The climate would not be very kind to them, but oh, it would be nice to have my own cantaloupes. And, for sure, I’d find some new flower plants – something a little special. I tried for years to grow a rose bush, but it never lasted more than a season for me. At least dreams are free!

I also started a few seedlings at the same time. New greens sprouting on my windowsill always brightened my days and gave me hope. The more the seedlings grew and became stronger, the more I was reassured that spring would soon arrive. The sun would warm up the earth and I could put away boots and parka, mitts and scarf, and go outside without dreading the bite of the arctic winds.

Something about March assures me of the ever-present power of nature for renewal. There might still be some snow and sleet for a while, but underneath all that, the earth is waking up from its slumbers, and before long, plants will be ready to peek through the soil again.

But March is the time of hope – not celebration just yet. It’s not unusual to find that some mild weather and sunny skies turn suddenly into a ferocious blizzard, making us wonder if winter is making a comeback. But fortunately, this is just winter’s last attempt to show us who’s boss. It doesn’t last, and when the huffing and puffing is over, winter quietly slinks away and leaves room for spring.

– Joyce Slobogian writes from Brandon, Manitoba and is the

author ofToDieFor, available at Pennywise Books in Brandon, and online at Amazon.com.

The post March — A Time Of Hope, But Keep The Warm Clothes Handy appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

People in love constantly search for new ways to declare their feelings on Valentine’s Day. Some guys rent billboards to ask their girls to marry them. I always wonder what the poor guy would do if she said no. Would he have the nerve to show his face in public the next morning, after his humiliation was announced to the world on television?

Sometimes the best plans go awry. There was the fellow who was determined to pop the question on Valentine’s Day, and gave a lot of thought to the best way to do it. His Honey took the same route home every night. Young Romeo created a number of signs that individually spelled out the question: LAURA – WILL – YOU – MARRY – ME? He then arranged them at intervals along the road. He stationed himself by the last sign, carrying red roses and a heart-shaped box of chocolates with a sparkling surprise inside. He waited – and waited – and waited. No Laura. Finally, he sadly packed up and went home. There he found Laura, having bribed the caretaker to give her access to his apartment, waiting for him with a lovely meal and – you guessed it – red roses!

The origins of Valentine’s Day seem to be a little bit murky. In the Christian faith, February 14 is the feast day of St. Valentine, a priest who lived in Rome during the third century. Legend has it that Valentine secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young lovers, who were forbidden to marry by the emperor who wanted the young men to go to war rather than marry and happily start a nest.

In Roman times, February 15 was the feast of the god Lupercus. On that day, young women would write love notes and put them in a large urn. Each young man would pick a note and court the woman, whose message they had drawn. When Christianity became the official religion of Rome, the Roman holiday was merged with the feast day of St. Valentine on February 14.

Whatever its origins, Valentine’s Day is now firmly established as the most romantic day of the year. Florists love the day and use the opportunity to advertise and sell their pretty blooms. Every male who wants to stay on the good side of his sweetheart will make a purchase, and roses are the favourite choice. So what if the lovely blooms start hanging their heads a couple of days later. They served their purpose.

Happy Valentine’s Day to lovers everywhere!

– Joyce Slobogian writes from Brandon, Manitoba and is the author ofToDieFor, available

at Pennywise Books in Brandon, and online at Amazon.com.

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Instead of making those useless resolutions, I will do something different this time. Lots of good things have happened to me this past year, as they have in everyone’s life. We just seem to forget about the good – the happy moments. Somehow, the sad things, the upsets, the worries, take over in our recollection, and we miss the nice occasions which happen and then flee from our consciousness.

This January, I will devote some time to being grateful for the good things in my life – the things I cherish and the people I love. I am grateful for the fact that I live in a country where citizens are free to live the way they choose, and where people who are in need of help and support can receive it. I am grateful for the natural beauty of this vast country, which changes from one end to another, showing different views, different appearances, delighting us when we take the time to admire them. I am grateful for the people in my life, my grown children who find time for me in their busy lives, my siblings, living thousands of miles away, but staying in constant touch, my friends, old and new, who enrich my life with their friendship and their affection, and all the people I meet every day, who often brighten my day with a smile, a friendly gesture, a few words. And I’m grateful for the memories of days gone by, the memories of the people I loved, who have gone on to a different life, but who are still alive in my heart and mind.

I’m glad that I decided to forgo New Year’s resolutions this year. Gratitude for the good things that are mine is so much more satisfying and lasting than any resolution made on January 1 and abandoned by January 15.

– Joyce Slobogian writes from Brandon, Manitoba and is the author

of To Die For, available at Pennywise Books in Brandon, and online at Amazon.com.

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Anna and her husband were parents to a large family, so their table at Christmas dinner was full. But Anna had a conviction that she lived by year after year. She believed that if you knew someone who was alone or unhappy or poor at Christmas, you should do something to remedy the situation. She could have helped by dropping by with a gift or a meal, but instead she shared her family’s Christmas with them. Every year, at least one person in need of companionship was invited to her dinner table. As Susi said, “You never knew who was coming for dinner.” Sometimes there were several guests. They shared the family’s dinner and stayed for the rest of the day, playing games and singing songs with the family.

Anna and her husband are both gone now. Susi, who is still my dear friend, lives in a large city, where there is no shortage of lonely people. Continuing on as her mother had done, Susi’s Christmas table has made room for guests who would otherwise be alone on that day. And now, her daughters continue the practice. Anna, a farm woman who never sought honour or fame, has had a lasting impact on generations.

Most of us know at least one person in need of companionship and family warmth on one of the most celebrated holidays of the year. Maybe we could offer that person a place at our table and in our hearts.

– Joyce Slobogian writes from Brandon, Manitoba and is the author of To Die For, available at Pennywise Books in Brandon, and online at Amazon.com.

The post Christmas Is For Sharing appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

A foggy night had spread lacy hoarfrost on every bush and tree and made the whole countryside look like a Christmas postcard.

Many of us would not count winter as our favourite season – the cold weather, the piles of snow, the shovelling, the ice.

Some avoid all this by moving to warmer climates for the winter. Florida, Arizona and California are popular destinations but unfortunately not everyone is in a position to do that. The ones who can’t travel pull out the warm parkas and the clunky boots and pretend to “enjoy the turn of the seasons.”

A recent experience caused me to remember a time when I truly did enjoy the winter season. I visited friends in a country town, where I once lived years ago. The days I spent there reminded me how beautiful a cold winter day can be.

Yes, there are the usual hardships with snow and ice, but that all pales in comparison when you look out the window and see that expanse of clean, snowy white. A foggy night had spread lacy hoarfrost on every bush and tree and made the whole countryside look like a Christmas postcard. Myriads of birds congregate on bird feeders. At my place in the city I only get sparrows and chickadees. They come around in the countryside too, but there are also many others such as blue jays and grosbeaks and warblers.

One morning I stepped out of the house and saw about a dozen prairie chickens by the side of the barn. When I mentioned this to my friend, she explained that the men load the hay bales to feed the cattle at that place. In the process, many seeds are scattered and the prairie chickens come around every morning to pick up the bounty.

The air is clear and crisp out there and the peaceful silence at night ensures a deep sleep, unbroken by traffic noises.

The visit with my friends reminded me again that no sunny southern shores are equal to the beauty of a Canadian country winter.

– Joyce Slobogian writes from Brandon, Manitoba and is the author of To Die For,

available at Pennywise Books in Brandon, and online at Amazon.com.

The post Our Great Canadian Country Winters appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

It started when I began to feel constantly tired. The problem became so strong that simple day-to-day work left me exhausted, even though since my retirement I had fewer duties on my slate. I had to take breaks while doing normal housework, but those breaks did not leave me with renewed vigour. I remained tired and weak all day long, every day, and the simplest task left me short of breath.

After two months of this I fi-nally went to my doctor. She asked me questions and poked around, and then sent me for various tests. Her first suspicion – that it was the onset of diabetes – did not prove true. Further blood tests revealed that I had an extremely low level of vitamin B12.

This vitamin is required for normal nerve function and red blood cell formation. We also need it to break down, use and reform the building blocks of proteins, and to make the genetic blueprint in each of our cells. A serious lack causes a shortage of red blood cells (pernicious anemia), which causes fatigue and shortness of breath and can ultimately lead to numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes, impaired balance and cognitive problems.

Sources of vitamin B12 are seafood, fish, meats, nutritional yeast, fortified cereals, eggs, milk and milk products. Some rice and soy beverages are also fortified with B12.

Although I ate meat, eggs, milk and milk products regularly, I had to admit that fish was not high on my diet. On my doctor’s advice I increased my consumption of seafood. I even forced myself to drink soy beverages, which did not suit my taste. I was willing to do anything to cure my awful fatigue.

All of this made no difference. I continued to drag myself through my days and returned to the doctor after a month. It was then determined that my body had become unable to absorb vitamin B12 through food. In my case, an abdominal operation some years ago contributed to the problem. I learned, however, that the condition occurs in up to 30 per cent of people over 55. The most common culprit is an age-related drop in the output of stomach acid, which strips B12 from food. In some cases, the problem is a decline in the production of intrinsic factor (IF), an enzyme that also plays a key role in that process. You might also need a little extra help if you’re taking certain cholesterol-lowering medication, which can deplete B12.

For lack of stomach acid a multivitamin provides enough extra B12, while for IF problems one needs mega doses, which should be taken only under medical supervision. In my case, it was required that I receive monthly injections of the vitamin. After a relatively short time, a marked increase of the B12 in my blood was measured, and my extreme fatigue and shortness of breath disappeared. It is necessary for me to take those injections regularly for the rest of my life, but there is now a tablet that’s absorbed under the tongue. It seems to work just as well for me as the injections did. I am taking two tablets of 500 mg every day, and have not experienced the debilitating symptoms that had plagued me for a long time before I sought medical advice.

We often pay little attention to slight problems like fatigue. My experience has taught me that even small complaints can have very serious consequences if they are ignored. It pays to visit medical professionals regularly in order to stop minor problems from developing into major ones.

– Joyce Slobogian writes from Brandon, Manitoba and is the author of To Die For, available

at Pennywise Books in Brandon, and online at Amazon.com.

The post Lack Of Vitamin B12 Can Be Debilitating appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

The Walkers are now comfortably settled in their own home in Oakbank, Manitoba.

Margaret Szklaruk wanted to see the world, learn about other countries and their people, and enjoy new experiences. She achieved that with the help of an excellent exchange program, but didn’t expect to find her life partner all the way across the globe.

Growing up with four siblings on the mixed farm her parents owned in St. Martin, Manitoba, Margaret enjoyed life in the country. Like most farm kids, she had acquired a solid set of skills by helping in the house, the garden and with farm chores. She meant to use those abilities in finding employment that would allow her to explore the world.

That’s when she learned about AgriVenture, an exchange program run by International Agricultural Exchange Association (IAEA). Since 1965, it has offered over 30000 young people, 18 to 30 years of age, an opportunity to work on farms or horticultural enterprises in different countries, while living with host families.

Applicants fill in forms (available at agricultural offices) listing their skills, work environment preferences and countries they’d like to explore. If they qualify, AgriVenture pairs them with a family matching their requirements. The candidate pays a fee, which differs from country to country. This covers their transportation, insurance, cost of visas and other required paperwork, as well as continuing contact and support from a supervisor in the host country. The organization looks after all arrangements and provides information meetings in both the home country of the participant and the host country. The host family pays the participant a set wage and provides full accommodation, and the person gets regular time off which allows for exploring the area. Each placement ranges from four months to a year, depending on the country.

It was just what Margaret was seeking. She was accepted into the program and enjoyed stays in Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom. “I had such a great time and made lasting friends,” she says. “My host couple in Germany even travelled to Canada to attend my wedding.” She credits her experiences in AgriVenture with helping her mature in many ways. “One learns so much more from living with the people of the area than one would just by following the tourist routes. It really opened my eyes to the life and culture of countries other than my own. It was also an opportunity to learn new languages.

“AgriVenture is a valuable experience for any young person interested in exploring the world,” Margaret says. “I’ve seen young people who started out being very shy and became increasingly self-confident after only a few weeks in their allotted workplace.”

She would like to see more promotion for the program. Although AgriVenture advertises in several farm papers, and some information literature is available at agricultural offices, Margaret feels that it’s not familiar to many young people. “Maybe presentations in schools or educational fairs would be a road to follow,” she said. She is still active in the organization.

“Once I got into the program, I was hooked,” she said. After she returned from Europe, it was time to explore the South Pacific. AgriVenture offers programs in Australia and New Zealand, and Margaret signed up for a combined program of six months in each country. Her first placement was on a dairy farm in New Zealand but she never dreamt that there was something special in store for her.

That something special turned out to be a young man from New Zealand, Brendon Walker, who was employed on the same farm. Growing up, Brendon had often accompanied his father as he went to work on farms. He developed a love for farming and decided to make it his life’s work. After earning a diploma in agriculture

he secured employment at the dairy farm. The work was to his liking, and even more enjoyable after Margaret arrived for her six-month stay. It didn’t take long for the two young people to realize that they had much in common.

When Margaret returned to Canada, Brendon followed her. It was meant to be a visit, but during that time, the couple’s commitment to each other became firm and marriage plans were made. Brendon travelled to New Zealand to make some arrangements, but returned to Canada after a few months. They married shortly after and set up temporary housekeeping with Margaret’s parents in St. Martin, while Brendon awaited landed immigration status.

The Walkers are now comfortably settled in their own home in Oakbank, Manitoba. They have three children, Victoria, seven, Charlene, four and Henri, two. After working for several years at Oakwood Dairy Farms, Brendon, who has his landed immigrant papers, now works in construction. Margaret works from time to time catering, together with her sister.

Margaret and Brendon, both 33 years old, say they may return to New Zealand in the future, but for now they are content to stay here in Manitoba.

– Joyce Slobogian writes from Brandon, Manitoba and is the author of To Die For, available

at Pennywise Books in Brandon, and online at Amazon.com.

The post AgriVenture Delivers More Than Expected appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Aggravations occur as soon as you start making plans.

Ihad plans for this summer. A trip to Europe to visit my family was one of them. I have brothers and sisters and scores of nieces, nephews and cousins in Switzerland and I haven’t seen most of them in years. Now that I’m retired I figured I could spend some time there with my loved ones.

My plans were postponed due to family illness. In addition to that, the cost of fuel increased so much that the price of a return ticket to Zurich reached astronomic proportions, at least for my budget. I will have to resign myself to staying home and making do with phone calls, letters and e-mails.

This made me think of the subject of travel. Many people start vacationing when July and August come around. It’s holiday time for schoolchildren and parents sometimes take the opportunity to show them other parts of the world and enjoy a holiday as a family.

However, it’s not all peaches and cream. Aggravations occur as soon as you start making plans. Finding the right place at a price you can afford takes a bit of research. Then you have to create a consensus between family members. Once you are all agreed you are ready to take the next step.

The next step these days usually involves getting passports for everybody. You can have a wonderful holiday staying right here in Canada, which would not necessitate the purchase of a passport, but it’s wise to get one anyway as it is the best way to prove your identity while travelling. If you leave the country, it becomes a must. Filling out the four pages of paperwork needed to get a passport is intensive labour. After you’re finally done with that, you need to find some official person to attest to your identity. With all those safeguards in place, how is it possible that criminals seem to have no problem getting their hands on fake passports?

The fun really begins when you go to have your picture taken. It’s not as if you would be allowed to present your best facial side to the world. You are required to stare straight into the camera, and without smiling, please! And remove your glasses, please! Those rules create some very interesting results.

Finally, you have all your ducks in a row. Reservations have been made and been confirmed, bags have been packed – with howls of despair from your teenage daughter, “But I can’t survive with only one bag!” – and you are standing in line

at the departure gate, tickets in hand. The ordeal isn’t over yet, though. You still have to go through the scanner, and it’s almost guaranteed to go off for at least one, if not all the members in your group. You start looking for stray pieces of metal on your person, removing some innocent items. You are lucky if you get through without disrobing. Make sure you don’t wear a bra with metal underwire – it might put the guards on terrorist alert!

Travelling creates its own sort of headaches, but they all fade when you get to the destination and start your holiday with the family. The time away from everyday routines can be worth everything it takes to get there.

– Joyce Slobogian writes from Brandon, Manitoba and is the

author of To Die For, available at Pennywise Books and

Candlewood Books in Brandon.

The post It’s Still Worth The Trip appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.