Ag Societies Make A Difference

When Chuck Puchailo was asked to run the light horse show for his Gilbert Plains/ Grandview agricultural society, he turned to his teenage daughter for some help. Chenise Puchailo was happy to lend her dad a hand. The show went well and buoyed by its success, she agreed to co-chair the event the following year.



Time To Hit The Trails

PICTURE PERFECT:Marcia Foord of Onanole, Manitoba enjoys a sunny day on the trails. Cross-country skiing can be a heart-pumping, adrenal ine-surging sport. For more of us though, it is a quieter, more reflective way of experiencing the outdoors and an opportunity to soak in the beauty of winter. Cross-country skiing (a. k.a. Nordic skiing) is

Add Interest With A Prayer Plant

Brighten up the dark days of winter with a plant that can add colour and interest to the indoor landscape. Because of the low light levels at this time of year, it is difficult to get flowering houseplants to put forth bloom so we have to rely on foliage plants to provide that colour and


Our Resident Dove: Lonesome Or Not?

For the past four years a mourning dove has overwintered in the town of MacGregor. Presumably the same bird, it has come to feed and drink in our backyard almost every day for the past four winters. Because it was always by itself, we named it “Lonesome Dove” (from the Texan town and movie, of

Stealthy Storm

At midnight it stalks its victim like a white Persian cat on silent paws, pouncing with surprising speed. The landscape has just fallen prey to a fresh snowfall.



Happy New Year

If January feels like a dark, boring month, my guess is you don’t go to Malanka. If you do, you’re ready to party. Tonight (January 13) is New Year’s Eve according to the Julian calendar with Malanka being the feast and dance to celebrate that also caps off Christmas celebrations. Thousands of Manitobans of Ukrainian


Ficus — A Tree For The Indoors

The ficus tree is a mainstay of many interior landscapes, especially those in malls and larger public buildings where they are often positioned under skylights to ensure they receive enough sunlight. They can be used in houses where there is space to accommodate them. Ficus (fig) trees like bright light and when grown indoors will

How Should You Feed A Cold?

Can you see the love floating out of the bowl?” my husband asked our 12-year-old daughter as he brought her a steaming bowl of chicken soup. “I’m kind of hungry. This is the best chicken soup ever,” she said as she propped herself up on our couch and took a sip of soup. She looked