The Truth

The Truth- on stand-by... can there be such a thing? 

I finally received one telephone call, yesterday, from a dear son. I could tell that he was stressed out. Three decent officers came to my gate and told me my son had to reach me via the emergency line. Living in a zone, without decent telephone service, is very hard on me, in particular. I prefer to know if things are alright; if my sons and their families are in need of anything; how their income is doing... if it is enough to pay all their bills... things a mother is concerned with.

I haven't heard that anyone has been in the worst trouble you could find because of 'travel.' I can think of three instances where people got in the worst trouble and only a 'miracle' protected them, during world travel.

One situation that I 'experienced'... secondary... 'standing beside', so to speak was...

... a young woman had to have emergency surgery in a foreign country and the mother did not have her passport updated and ready. She was almost impossible to console because she couldn't get to her child. The adult child was travelling with a irresponsible partner. Where do people go when they need a prayer, consolation, and 'real help?'

... another situation... a severe attack by an animal required the young man to fly back to Canada, for treatment, because they didn't want, or couldn't, spend the huge sum of 'credit card debt' to bandage his hand, in the country they were in. A lack of insurance and real funds for unpreparedness caused this very costly decision to return to Canada for treatment... flying back, getting treated, flying back again... outrageously expensive. That 'cut short' the vacation by at least a month because they really needed to get back to work and earn that vacation... underfunded and over- zealous. I worry about that thinking versus planning versus outcome.

... a emergency surgery was needed... a young man had let his insurance lapse and his family had to do a 'go fund me' to find the money for that 'foreign country' rescue.

Now, why do I talk about these types of things? 

Well, many people would like to 'cover up' things that are happening but there are times where nobody can cover anything up... during an emergency... life and death. That's when people tell the truth... if they care enough to rescue someone.

Covering up the truth is the greatest travesty and tragedy when people are suffering. Who can find a huge sum of money to 'fix it' as it is needed?

So, what is the most 'calming' thing that can help a person who enters into a completely unknown situation with complete strangers? Try to find out the truth. I wrote a long story and sent it to my sons, yesterday, about my current situation. It detailed a, approximate two year, time span. This is something we should all be aware of... a completely new situation with total strangers is a very dangerous life situation to enter into without some 'church people' or people who have known you for a very long time to be able to say...

Hmm, I don't think that can be true of that person. They have never shown that behaviour before... there would have to be a huge change in them to have me believe that would be true... in all those rumours, there's always room for the truth... calling once a month doesn't mean you're dependent... it just means you're responsible... 

So, let's get into lingo I am unfamiliar with... 

What is a butte? 

One person said it is a 'person' who is supposed to take punishment for another person because the person who deserves the punishment can't 'take' the punishment. 

I almost had a fit when I was told this! This is not civilized thinking or behaviour. Only criminals think this way. For over two thousand years, the law has dictated that 'you do the crime, you do time...,' which is a personal responsibility dictum... for anyone who thinks the law is 'a friend,' the law is nobody's friend... it is a last option pressure, usually applied by strangers... brought on by... listen very carefully here... someone who 'set you up' or someone who is punishing people 'privately.'

I wish I hadn't erased ten years of writing, on this blog. I had a really good story about the law, why we need it, and who tends to need it, etcetera. 

People who think they are 'above the law' worry me if they are covering up 'stuff.' For instance, a person who has a very bad way of treating people might hit someone and then say... "Are you going to listen to me?" This old- school rod of iron beastly behaviour is not going to 'wash with me!' Before my divorce, I was in a family, like that... 'beat the hell out of someone...,' cover it up... pseudo apologize... 'beat the hell out of someone...,' cover it up.

My Dad, gone to heaven, was not like that. He was civilized. He didn't beat his wife. Talking things out was normal... especially over the 'dinner table.' We ate together, we talked about the day, sometimes Dad started an argument with Mom, same topic every time... about building another house... and Mom would balk at this because she enjoyed living in the first new house Dad built for us and she didn't want to 'move every year' and create such upheaval in her life.

So, let's talk about how Dad dealt with a problem when a problem arose... he would ask our opinions. I don't mind telling you that the problems I had, that precipitated my personal divorce, were not easy to 'get to the truth' because some people think the outcome of a difficult situation might be better were they to keep very critical things 'private.' There are things I didn't get to know, for ten years after my divorce, that would have caused the end of my marriage much sooner... if only I had been told.

So, I'm reading a book, right now, called, Strengthening your Grip. I'm going to be really honest here. This book is not about 'punishing' another human being. It's about 'getting a handle on life' when things are really hard.

I would like to see 'the truth' shift. I mean this in every way you can imagine. I came up with the acronym 'shift' this year, in my prayer time... 

S... Safety... 

Sh... Safe housing

i... Integrity

f... Food

t... Transportation... (a vehicle)- a safe vehicle where germs are contained; and violence is not present.

I have prayed that, for my children, so many times.

If I had to 'investigate' something I suspected... physical abuse, per se, I would ask for a doctor to examine the person I thought was being victimized. That would be a very easy 'finding' unless they're whacking your head and you have a lot of hair. I had a car rollover, when I was 16 years old, and the concussion and resulting scar from the stitches is under the hair. Like 'pressing on a bruise' to see if it still hurts... I can find that scar, just like that.' That scar is almost 56 years old. 

I could write for another hour on physical scars that become emotional scars... another day, perhaps.

Sufficient to say... if I wasn't told the truth for ten years, or more, think about how many people 'hide the truth' to 'save their skin' instead of having someone challenge 'old school thinking,' resulting in old school behaviour that often sounds like this... "Are you going to obey?" 

   

My Three Sons- Most Important

Most Important... I just called Scott, Tyler, and Jordan. My phones, here, in Dauphin, have been a nightmare.

My greatest concern is for my three sons. 

My move to Dauphin, from Winnipeg, was precipitated by a desire for a late in life relationship so I, Elfrieda, did marry Warren David Justice in the back yard of 225 5th Avenue, N.E. in a private ceremony., 2022.

For people who think about making a drastic change in life... like moving almost four hours away from 'home town' Winnipeg, I caution anyone who imagines that this will be an easy life transition. You can't just walk into a job. It's very difficult to find a new church. As a lifetime church attender, it has been very hard to find a church family.

Here, I have, inch by inch, created a few quilts... hand sewing is therapeutic when I'm stressed out. The first project Warren and Elfrieda made was a 'garden box.' The reason we didn't go straight to building the gazebo... was because Warren does not have a construction background. I was quite worried about that. 

So, I suggested we start with a garden box, in the same style as the one I moved out here from where it was built, 3 Donegal Bay, Mother's Day.

 

This is the garden box when it was still at 3 Donegal Bay, where I was living. I purchased the lumber for all the garden boxes that were built on this property and my son built them for me as a Mother's Day gift.

The 'nonsense' photo, which I thought I would never post, below, is the old Dodge Ram, my dear Bruce owned. He asked me to pose for this silliness 'back when.'

I owned this 2014. It's the truck I had an accident with September 7... in Winnipeg.

So, the garden boxes, the double ones, in size, had to stay at 3 Donegal Bay because they were so large, we couldn't move them.

This address was actually a forced move and I'm sure I'll still be in contact with Restall and Restall, the law firm that has been so lax in calling me back.

I was wondering where my settlement was, for this address, as I invested in the basement renovation... sweat equity as well as a huge amount of my personal monies for the construction materials to 'fix it up.'

This photo was taken on Donegal Bay, at London, in Winnipeg.

Now, back to the projects that I produced, where I currently live.

The garden box that I purchased materials for, at McMunn's, was made in the same style as the garden boxes produced at 3 Donegal Bay. I was really, a little bit upset, at myself for buying the wrong lumber... most people would say... 'as if you can buy wrong lumber!' I had purchased a grade of lumber that was of a stronger and higher quality (see my 2024 photos under 'Gardening'), for the box I moved to Dauphin. I didn't ask for the correct 'thing' when I purchased lumber here. Sometimes, you only notice the difference, in comparison. We went to Canadian Tire, and bought a Dewalt saw and the project proceeded. That was the first outdoor project, completed, at 225 5th Avenue.

The indoor renovations that I started immediately, were very necessary because the 'doggie odour' of those beautiful dogs you saw in a previous story... had created quite an unpleasant smell in the house.

I featured a bare room in the story... 'New Everything.' That was the first room I renovated when I moved to 225. What was new... was the paint and stain and the fresher odour after I was done in that room.

The second, outdoor project, was the gazebo, which you can see in the 2024 stories... 'Spending Time, Gardening.'

I cook in the kitchen, here at 225, but I wouldn't exactly call it 'El's Kitchen' in the way my Pinterest page suggests. At this time, we have decided not to renovate the kitchen... I still have dreams of moving back to Winnipeg.

This was Bruce, shining up his old Imperial at a car show we participated in. 

This is me... sitting in that old relic.

Since my move, one son has visited... the other two I'm still waiting for. They, and their families, are welcome where I live... anytime!

 

Keeping Up

Keeping up... 

There are eight children in my family, that I grew up with. I was born seventh. 

I actually wrote 'The Red Dust Healers' about my life experiences and renamed all eight of us for the novella. My brother John may remember when I was writing it because I visited him, before they built the house they are now in, and he invited my son, and I, to go for a drive because he had to visit a jobsite and pay an employee.

So, I was talking about the novella, I was writing, and I said, "I just haven't put the oldest brother into the novella yet because I'm having a lot of trouble with finding an alternative name for him." (The reason I called my oldest brother, his brother, in that moment, was because they had been business partners since they were in their 20's.)

"Well, John replied, "your novella isn't complete if we aren't all in it."

I felt reasonably chastised and after I returned home, to Winnipeg, I worked hard to find a alternative name for my oldest brother... I finally settled on a name and, if coincidence could yet be called prophecy to the more religiously informed... the name I used for my oldest brother was the middle name of my Bruce, who died. 

When choosing names, for my novel (published) or my novella, (unpublished, as yet), I tried to, somehow, match a name to how I saw them and perceived their strengths and weaknesses. 

The old- fashioned way of naming children, of my parents' generation, was to give us each only one name... that was Biblical. Have you ever noticed that everyone, in the Bible, only has one name?   

I had purchased a very old book, written in 1915, and the mother, in the fictional novel, had named the children with names she was hoping they would live up to. That novel inspired me to come up with names suitable to each personality. You see, the serendipitous maybe of naming a child, at birth, could be a book unto itself. We, parents, name our children for all kinds of reasons... mostly, to inspire a good life... if you're wise. 

A really strange thing started happening after I wrote my novella... nobody knew what I had written, or what names I chose for my family members. I tried to choose names of people whom I had never met. Strangely, in the next 16 years, I met or the news featured some names I had called my brothers and sisters.

You know when you do something, before it happens, it's a creative verve I was working within and nobody can foresee if that might, somehow, become meaningful. 

When I wrote my fictional novel, I put all the appropriate disclaimer on the second page...

"This is a work of fiction. Though some incidents are based on historical record, the work as a whole is the product of the author's imagination and inspiration." Copyright 2013

My novella was a creative writing project but my novel was, as quoted, above, a very difficult and long project... self- published.

The reason I have started writing, on my blog, about my family, is because notoriety has not always been something my parents, now in heaven, would have considered of humble character. Now that they have passed into eternity, I no longer feel the need to hide my talents or refrain from speaking out about the issues of life that really matter to me... human rights... in a world where our rights are so often violated.

Woah, "One Room Hell"

 Well, well, well, it's Friday. My husband got a call from a stranger and we can't yet verify if he was actually speaking to the person that the screen said was calling. We'll wait on that.

So, what I would like to talk about today is old age and bad decisions and a slight bit of possible dementia.

This story is about my Dad. My Mom was in a nursing home when this happened.

The first thing I would like to say about my Dad, is this... he was a highly intelligent man who had beliefs and concepts that were at times 'at war' with himself because he had, mainly, lived in small 'cloistered' communities where 'backwards and odd' behaviour is sometimes hidden and possibly approved of.

I believe the culprit of most of Dad's strange decisions, from his years of 90- 93, in age, came from his potato chips and cola diet. Unfortunately, he much preferred a yukky potato chip variety to a good homemade meal. 

About 7 years ago... I'm not totally sure of the year... I was single... Dad was alone... my children were all busy on Christmas Day. So, I guess Bruce was already dead... that could have, then been, 2022 Christmas. I made a entire meal of meat, potatoes, gravy... and brought it to Dad for us to share on Christmas Day. Dad was a very generous man so he didn't really like 'taking' without 'giving.' He went to the pantry and got his 'potato chips' and put them on the table along with the hot meal I had prepared. We prayed and the repast was enjoyed... "Don't you like these?" Dad said with a 'Help yourself' smile. I smiled, and said, "I like real potatoes and gravy and meat, like this," I put some on his plate.

The reason I tell this small story is that... Dad was much more able to think clearly when he ate good, nutritious food. I am a very strong believer... in many ways... in the area of food and the brain, I believe that food is the best medicine and the most important medicine. 

Now, fast-forward to the summer of 2023... Dad and Sara, thought it would be a great idea if I moved into Dad's house to help him, in particular, drive him around. That is, definitely, what Dad requested of me. 

So, my son and I got a bunch of my 'stuff' together,...

 after Restall and Restall law firm sent a letter to 3 Donegal Bay, telling me that I would be paid a paltry sum of $10,000.00 if I moved out of that house that Bruce and I shared. I had no intention of only getting that small amount of money because, when Bruce was alive, he said that half the house was mine... so, when he died, and I had invested in the property with sweat equity and almost $10,000.00 worth of bills I still have in photocopies... I assumed the entire house would be mine because I used my personal money to renovate the basement. The only reason I moved out of that address was because a very nasty man turned the water off, to 3 Donegal Bay, at the corner of London and Donegal. I saw him do it one day but I did not know who the man was.

I have never signed off on that estate and I have never received anything even though I did sent a copy of all my purchases to Restall and Restall, as Martin McKaughan, Bruce's brother, requested I do.

Now, back to my one day move to my Dad's house, 17 Chevy Drive. 

Most of my belongings had to go into a storage unit and what I brought with me, to Dad's, was supposed to be 'enough' to get me through the time I might have to serve there.

Well, things did not go very well when we started to unload my kitchen stuff and then... I was going to unload my gardening boxes but, woah, those went right back to Winnipeg when Dad said... "As soon as I die, you will have to get out of this house immediately so the family can divide the money from it."

I looked at Dad and said, "We'll take most of my stuff back to Winnipeg."

So, my son was there to 'follow my lead' because Mom and Dad didn't spend very much time with my children... dinners at 90 Forest Cove Drive... when I invited, especially for our personal celebrations of Thanksgiving.

So, that one day... I put my little black Baroque style upholstery button- tufted tub chair on the boulevard. The woman, across the street came to get it. Dad asked if I got money for it... I said no.

When my son was safely on his way back to Winnipeg with much of my stuff going back, Dad pointed to one drawer in his kitchen and said, "You can put your stuff here."

I looked at him to see if he was serious and it seemed he was so I didn't say too much but I wondered if he realized that I had been cooking for quite a few people in life and I brought all my kitchen stuff there, thinking that I would be cooking for him every day.

Things really did not go well when I said I would be getting the Internet while I was there. Dad, basically, said, 'when hell freezes over... nobody is ever putting that devil's tool into my house, 17 Chevy Drive."

So, I had a nap and then took my mattress and went back to Winnipeg before nightfall. I still had plenty to move back because I had brought quite a bit to 'be busy' while I was there.

By the Wednesday, Dad called to apologize by saying... "I just can't have things the way you live because I am old and I need things to be like I want them. I was so shocked at all the stuff you brought for the kitchen, I just couldn't imagine trying to change my lifestyle for how you were used to living."

I said, "That's okay, Dad. We don't have to live differently than each of us wants to. I will come get all the stuff I brought there and visit you like I have been doing."

So, to synopsize, I can't live in 'one room' in anybody's house as a grown woman, of just over sixty, who has raised three sons to adulthood, been divorced due to a very contrary difference of opinion with their father, as to how a person should live. I was not willing to cope with his alcoholism. The having my next 'husband' drop dead. Then being forced from my home. Then trying to help Dad. Then, finally, finding another place to live, not a happy one... and, in all this time... losing all my retirement money in terrible rentals.

So, this information is for those who haven't bothered to keep up with all the tragedies I have lived through.

     

Diabolical Game

 As part of the investigative team, trying to find evidence of who has been 'playing the game.' I am ashamed to say that there may have been so many people that I knew for a very short time, in my life, that have played this diabolical game that has caused so much heartache, I can't even describe, to you, the terrible ways the feuding families tried to 'one- upmanship' other families to prove that 'they' were more important in some insane way.

It was reported that... one uncle, of my sons, 'paid' for something so my son would be so severely beaten, and left for dead, that his son could 'win' something. Now, I ask you, why was my son Jordan beaten for his cousin Tim to win something? Apparently, Tim's father also fisted Scott in the face so that he may never be able to work again because old man Dueck has left his diabolical seed upon the earth in his sons... It was reported that old man Dueck reached across the table and belted Scott in the face because, in this game of 'pick and pay' Scott wanted a decent vehicle to drive. Now, as Scott has always earned enough money, certainly when I knew what was going on in his life, to pay for his Tacomas that he purchased, I am in shock to learn of this terrifying behaviour that old man Dueck is trying to cover up.

It appears the father of Tim is in a strange cult that administers justice with the old- fashioned method of fisting people in the face. Tim is welcome to contact me to admit the guilt of this 'event.'

It was reported that... every time someone 'paid' it was an admission of 'sin guilt' and there was a group who then beat the living hell out of someone for that.

So, someone put the word out that... "Don't pay!" Because, if you pay, someone gets a severe beating.

So, could we take a poll and find out 'who paid,' who didn't pay and who thinks someone should still pay and, most importantly...

We all want to know what people wanted to be paid for. 

Verify... we also want to know why people were being coerced to pay for people who were considered much too privileged to ever have to pay. Evidence of this would be... people living in what we call 'glass houses' or very costly houses were being sheltered while poor people were being extorted from.  

Please contact me to tell me your story so I can write another book.

 

If you want to be...

... in business... you're going to suffer. 

So, you want to be in business? You must like suffering. That is something an old fella I rented a 'retail space' from, said to me... 

many years ago when I was living at 90 Forest Cove and trying to get out of 'dead- end' jobs.

I'm trying to recall the 'end of year' 7 weeks that I rented this space... at the same time as the local politician rented the space in the same complex.

My photos for this little retail space are on an external hard- drive so I'll add those at a later date if need be. I purchased a little black Baroque style upholstery button- tufted tub chair. Then I purchased a sleek black firm seating chair with stainless steel 2 1/2 inch covers on the bottom of each chair leg. (I gave this chair to Scott and Tammy when they moved to Winterton).

 None of the items I purchased to set up this tiny little showroom, sold. 

My black and white striped drapery, that I made, were put up and I'll have to check my photos to see if the black and white desk, that I purchased from Salvation Army and then refinished for that swanky 60's look, was situated under the drapery. That little showroom, completely furbished by myself, was really quite adorable.

Now, what was not adorable was all the money I 'lost' doing this little business venture. All the capital was my own... thank the good Lord I didn't do anything foolish like borrow money for this.

So, the day came when I suffered the most traitorous $5 sale. A woman, who babysat in the Meadows West area, and whom I had listened to for reasons of being a 'unpaid counselor,' came into my little business. I still have the little receipt taped into a journal, as a reminder of what the cost is... of kindness. 

One of the pastors I listened to for a time taught me this lesson with a fake, dusty, chicken sitting in his office. I recall asking him why he had such an ugly, dusty fake chicken sitting in a pastoral office... Oh, he said, that's to remind me of a camp conference that I was invited to speak at and the pay for my services that weekend was this 'crafty' fake piece of garbage 'chicken.' 

So, my 'crappy craft' story is from the babysitter who came into my little 7 week shoppe with an old dusty wreath. She wanted it re- purposed so she could use it another year. She didn't bring in any supplies to refresh this dusty mess. It took me at least an hour and my own supplies to refresh this wreath and, when I was finished she offered to pay me $5. 

She was in a hurry to get back to her little house for the after- school babysitting children that she had been hired to care for... so, she left all the mess for me to clean up. 

When she left, I thought, I am never doing anything for her again. She had no concept as to the expenses of a 'retail business' to set up and operate. I have never put up a shoppe like that again and, unless I had guaranteed real customers, I will not.

P.S. I am waiting for my children to come for a visit... much more important to spend time that way. 

God is Good was born

 When my grandson was born to my oldest son, Scott, there was such hope and promise of the meaning of his name... 'God is good.' 

I thought I caught a glimpse of him, at Christmastime, in 2024. I'm not sure if Scott's hearing was already impaired at that time.

I have this fond memory of him walking down Winterton, with Scott following him...

that was before I had that Hummer H3 crash... I was still driving that vehicle at the time.

More importantly, 

Way more importantly,... 

'God is good' was toddling and walking the way a child of two- ish does... happy, curly hair bobbing to his determined and strong gait.

We are certainly happy that 'God is good was born' into the Guenter Dueck family. It is such a faith boon for all of us... 103 family members celebrate him every day. I certainly hope he is safe with Scott and Tammy.

Update... Are they beating and torture... ing

 I haven't heard from my sons... it was reported that Jordan was beaten with a pillow case with a ball in it... upon his face, until his face was black and blue and bloody. If anyone, in Winnipeg, can go by 775 Fleming and 350 Winterton, to see if the Border Glass 'beaters,' who are going to jail for this, are still there... we can proceed with a prosecution. (are there a Ray and Dave and Tim, and Victoria who work for this company?)  

Mary, Sara and Dave, and Eva and Ray, my sisters (their husbands), seemingly, were unable to prevent this terrible 'event' but they are willing to testify to any and all violence that my sons have endured and live to tell about it. Neil and Anita will be contacted to see if they have witnessed this. John and Shirley may also be contacted for witnessing events such as these. Brian and Debra, I'm sure, are also willing to testify.  

Dave from Kleefeld apparently had plenty of money to 'not be beaten' so he paid...(please check with Dave to see if anyone has lost any fingers or thumbs or if this is a plan going forward) but he wouldn't pay for his nephew, Jordan, my son. I am ashamed of every person who has allowed my sons to be hurt. I am especially ashamed of Dave and Janet and their son Brett and Tim... and their daughter, Stacy, if they have visited 775 Fleming and seen evidence of this. I will expect their testimony to be in favour of Jordan and Scott, and Tyler in defense of their freedom to 

not be held hostage and beaten to within an inch of their lives. Please check to make sure all my sons have all their teeth... it has been reported that a mouth torture has been forcibly attached to unwilling victims.

This attack was unprovoked, by Jordan, and his son, my grandson, Liam. Liam is also being tortured and is crying tremendously... Liam is 10... It is my belief that he has been brainwashed to think that he might 'get stuff or money' in the future but the future never seems to come for people who are thus held hostage to these lies.

Jillian witnessed and maybe John witnessed terrorist acts, as well, but they were too afraid to step in. Jordan has been beaten until he is 'blind,' is what I have been told. Blinding victims is a terrorist act so he can never witness as to who has committed the crimes but, even worse... the 'blinding' of a victim also means they can never defend themselves because they can't tell when perpetrators come upon him/ them and Jordan and his brothers are now barely able to hear.

We are needing protection for Jordan, Scott, Tyler, and their families, from all the churches in Winnipeg... (I know that sounds like my sons need to be protected from the churches as if the churches are committing these crimes... pray God, it is not so).

Going forward... until this torture stops I have been told there is going to be a huge collection campaign for all the bodily damages to these three men... and, there will also be a a collection campaign for their properties to restore their lives to Canadian standards of law abiding civility.

My brother Aaron and Lorrie said Jordan has been beaten badly and I am waiting to hear from them as to why they weren't able to stop this attack. We shall see which of my family is making sure that all monies collected for my sons will actually go to them instead of being stolen and wasted by criminals... even criminals who are in the families of all involved.  

Worth Defending

 What do you consider to be worth defending? 

There's a sign in a window I've only seen once... I'll paraphrase because I can't recall the exact wording... 

                                                  "I defend marriage." 

I have met the person who put up that sign but I haven't, yet, had the opportunity to have a in-depth conversation with that person regarding that strong statement but that is what I find fascinating about that person.

I, personally, defend the freedoms I wrote about May 5, 2026. I believe that the freedom from fear is almost impossible to uphold or experience. When I wrote my novella, The Red Dust Healers, it started out as an exercise in 'healing of memories.' I actually wrote this novella before I wrote my novel so, when I couldn't decide if I thought it was good enough to publish, I started writing the big project novel, The Orchard Walk by El Dueck.

Quoting my novel, page 109-110... 

"I have spent my whole life conquering fears, one at a time. That's what Simmy's Adventures is all about."

"Was it your publicist who renamed the book? 'The Red Dust Healers' seems so poetic,... thought it would be more sale-able if we called it Simmy's Adventures." As she said this quietly, her mind was already focusing on the book and absorbing the emotions of the compassionate creativity that had driven her to write it. "We'll need to get the book from the Hummer." (As a aside... I owned and drove a H3 Hummer during the time I wrote my novel so I just wrote my vehicle into my book. I have since crashed it and no longer have it but I did for quite a few years.)

                                      "Simmy's Adventures- Chapter 1- Sugar Justice."

So, what I would, definitely, say is that I would defend my writing and my ownership of property, over time, and my ownership of my intellectual property... my novel, The Orchard Walk and my novella, as yet unpublished, The Red Dust Healers.

When I finished writing, although I keep adding possible chapters to this, as yet, unpublished work... I realized that all the chapters had a very central theme of overcoming fears. 

If you knew how many crazy people have said things like... 'I'm going to publish your novel and put my name on it,' I can't even believe people would say something like this... never mind, actually believe that they can steal my work. Now, I think someone who considers doing this is supremely lazy, lives in a world of make believe where they impersonate someone they must surely greatly admire to wish to steal their work. I, personally, am way too busy working on my project... which I find endlessly fascinating, to care what someone else is doing.

At first, when I started writing my novella... and, by the way, I had this thought, already, when I wrote my published novel... 'What if, I, Elfrieda, want to publish my novella at some later date? Well, to ensure that it is a seamless transition... I'll quote from my own book to my own book. Brilliant. I mean, what better way to defend and prove your writing could there be?

P.S. Wouldn't it be great if someone thought... well, I'll just donate a new H3 Hummer to Elfrieda because she did buy one (a 2008 purchased in 2009) and... maybe she needs a new vehicle... those are just my wonderful thoughts... I am certainly not the kind of person who wants anyone to suffer working endlessly for a material thing.

Night from hell

 Well, this is the worst night I have had in the last three days. 

So, food is the topic these days. My people in Winnipeg are starving. They aren't getting any food. I didn't think this type of thing could happen in this day and age. It is absolutely evil to let people go hungry. 

So, I have 7 brothers and sisters who should be able to help but, it appears, they have gone missing. 

I just phoned Red River Insurance @ 1- 204- 371- 5835 to ask why I wasn't responded to when I tried to insure my quilt/ pillow case/ novel inventory three years ago. I would not suggest you call this number because the man who used to be working for Red River Insurance lived in Kleefeld, not Altona, and his name was Dave Dueck, not Abe Dueck as the voicemail says. Furthermore, nobody would ever be 'calling home' if they were trying to reach this company but that is what my phone said... when I called that number it said I was 'calling home.' Now, there is something very wrong with my I-phone if it thinks I am 'calling home' when I call that insurance company.

Just to see if they're still in business, try calling that number if you have Red River Insurance... to see if they're still in business. 

Whoever calls, please check the policy for 225 5th Avenue, N.E., in Dauphin. This tiny house was insured by Red River.

Freedom of...

 When I went to McNally Robinson for the debut of my novel, in May of 2013,                                   The Orchard Walk El Dueck, had come off the presses in December of 2012. The reason I put 2013 as the year of publication is because the company I hired to print my novel said they couldn't guarantee that it would be ready for Christmas. So, I self- published my novel and all the myriad decisions that I had to make all hinged on 'when the printer could get my novel ready for me.'

    If you look up my Pinterest page 'Quilted Stories,' you will find some fabric examples that I used in the 'representational quilt' I made for that time. I purchased a 'Four Freedoms' fabric and incorporated it into this quilt and there are some more that I photographed during that time. The photo of the quilt I had 'in progress' is also featured under the heading 'Testing out a quilt pattern... The Orchard Walk quilt.' https://ca.pinterest.com/eldueck/quilted-stories/  Scroll over the light grey link to go to the page mentioned.

    Freedom of... all the good things we all celebrate and value was a very central theme of my novel. So, the 'four freedoms' fabric was one of the many fabrics I chose for this particular quilt... I have made so many more since this time. I currently have many finished and am always working on 'another one.' Some I've given away, some I save for the 'representational' value of linking my writing with my quilt making and pillow case making.

    People might say that 'freedom of speech' is most valuable. Well, the fact that a 'unknown' writer, such as myself, can produce a 'historical fiction novel' and self- publish it, following the rules of publishing within the 'district' that the laws encompass, is evidence of the fact that I do, indeed, live in a free country where free speech is still valued. One 'avenue' of free speech, these days, might be your cellphone. Can you use your cellphone to reach out to someone who might be able to help you? Since, possibly temporarily, moving almost four hours away from my home town of Winnipeg, I send a lot of text messages.

Some might say 'freedom of worship' is most valuable.

Some might say 'freedom from want' is most valuable. That wonderful depiction of a big turkey being brought to the table and a group of people all enjoying so much food is what can always be enjoyed in a country that values the freedom to live. Plenty of food is often the evidence of a society that has the freedom to work and produce. A time of war creates 'want,' it doesn't relieve 'want.' 

    'Freedom from fear'... oh, this is a very precious freedom, indeed. This may just be the most difficult freedom to uphold. This freedom cannot even be absolutely proven but there will be many signs if a person is living in fear.

    So, let's talk about what people fear and how we can ensure that we protect our children and grandchildren, let's say. I will relay a little of my own life story to apply this directly to myself and my children and grandchildren. 

    I have feared being harmed by other people... hit, assaulted in some way, abused in some way. I know my children have feared these things as well. One thing a abuser will often say to people they are manipulating is, "Don't you say...," in a threatening voice. I have defended a person was crying, holding broken glasses and nursing a face wound. I was big and pregnant at the time but there was nobody else around to help so I only had two choices, help or ignore what was happening right in the home I was in at that time. I don't really know what it is about people who help versus people who ignore but, I would suggest, that instinct will, in a moment of 'surprise attack' show who will do the right thing.

The book I am writing

 The book I am working on is going to be all about my sons, Scott, Tyler, and Jordan. I am going to write about their childhood and how they were raised. 

The foundation of faith is going to be detailed. 

I am writing about how they decided to follow a certain career path and how things went terribly wrong at times.

I am writing about the churches we  attended and people who influenced them, and myself.

I will need to interview them many times.

I am their mother.

"Who, who, who Gets?" Contest Winnings

         Food- First order of each day is... deliver food to Jordan, Scott, and Tyler. Thank you.

    So, somebody said there was a contest. Nobody knows what to do with a huge Dodge Ram that Dodge donated because Elfrieda had an accident with her Dodge Ram and then 'they' didn't know who to give it to because there were so many men who wanted it so I came up with a solution... 'Whoever' gets anything... just paint a 'slogan' on every vehicle... each make and model.

                     "Somebody said I won this in a contest nobody can prove ever existed so,                                                                       therefore, it could ever be won."

                       What do you think? Is this a good solution to the problem of 'who gets.'     

    When I was at Riverwood, somebody said there was a 'house' that was in the contest that doesn't exist. I haven't seen it but I heard someone built one an hour outside of Winnipeg. I say, 

                                                                "Prove it."

    Now, Riverwood just said, "Prove it" so I would have to call my 'witnesses' Bruce and Betsy Hiebert to see if they know anything about the 'workings' of Riverwood. I don't think Bruce is an elder there anymore... he may have been for a short time. Possibly, Betsy still does her 'small batch' cake mixes for 'gluten free' baking. 

    My son, Scott, bought a huge amount of cupcakes from Betsy, when she still had her cafe on Tache... (no longer there), Scott bought these cupcakes and had the cafe put... 'Will you marry me?' letter by letter on the cupcakes to propose to Tammy. What's really amazing, to me, about that, is... Scott was buying from a woman, Betsy, whom I attended Sanford Collegiate with and he had no idea that I knew Betsy and I had no idea that she had set up a bakery/ cafe. Sometimes, a coincidence might be a God designed appointment, as Todd, from Riverwood used to say.

Sons, My sons are the three sons of Elfrieda Guenter (maiden name) The Orchard Walk El Dueck

 Food- First order of each day is... deliver food to Jordan, Scott, and Tyler. Thank you.

My sons

 My sons have been employed in electrical jobs and glasswork.

My journal says that I called 'Border Glass' on February 5, 2025 to see if my son was working. I was told he wasn't on the 'list.' Now, I don't know what list 'said person' was talking about. I mean, my son has or, for sure, did, work for that company for 17 years. So, I don't think my son is working for that company anymore. I also called the Winnipeg police on the very same day to put in a 'victim report' for 775 Fleming so I'm sure you won't see any Border Glass people there anymore... or any other dangerous person either.

I know of another 'family' marriage connection that another son connected into... that man also worked for that company for a lot of years. I was in a Riverwood Bible Study when he was leading it quite a few years ago.

Now, I'm certainly not putting in a plug for the company unless my son reaches out to me and I start hearing some really good things about the company. Feel free to contact them and ask about my sons to see if they are very well looked after. Has anyone checked the BBB- Better Business Bureau to see what their rating is?

I am just a bit worried that he doesn't have the phone I am used to contacting him with.

I think they were in business last year because I did see a vehicle, here in Dauphin, on Main Street but, alas, I'm sure it couldn't have been my wonderful son. He would have stopped in.

I know... Hmm, a few months ago, there was a white Ford, same as his brown Ford, but, maybe newer, in his back yard... but, I knew the company paid for that because it had a logo on it.

So, just a little check up to see if things are going smoothly at my sons' house.

Wide Open Spaces

There is one good thing about 'going back to school' at 39-43... a lot of what you have to prove, you've already learned. So, I used my personal life and home, 90 Forest Cove, to prove interior design skills. 2005

Essay from FF1 Q.2

    I really like the open plan interiors and chose such a plan both times we had a home built for us. It's possible for plans to be even more open than our present home but I need a balance of open spaces and privacy quarters.

    My personality needs wide open spaces as I can easily become claustrophobic. The first home we had built for us was 750 square feet. We sold it after 3 years and didn't experiment with many changes. The home we currently live in is 956 square feet of perfectly utilized, well planned out space. The home is a basic rectangle with half the home being semi- open space and the other half enclosed, private rooms. My brother was the builder of the home and I was allowed free reign in the designing process. 

    The wall behind the rocker and the Louis XIV chair is nearly a complete wall visually closing off the kitchen area from the living room. (See Q.1 Illustration). I need this bit of enclosure for my peace of mind. The original plan, for this home, called for a U- shaped kitchen. I spend two to four hours a day cooking or baking and I felt there wasn't a counter space large enough to accommodate tasks such as "rolling out dough" in this type of plan. I changed the kitchen to a peninsular design. I also love to entertain but prefer keeping well meaning helpers out of the kitchen work triangle. This design allows me to assign small tasks to someone standing on the opposite side of the counter. I also prefer to clean up immediately after cooking. When I entertain, I need to hide away the unwashed dishes and untidy work area so I can relax with my guests. For me, that requires things to be "out of sight" so they can be "out of mind." The dining area behind the stub wall (See Q.1 Illustration) is completely visible to anyone sitting on the sofa so I ensure that the table is cleaned off leaving only the ambient elements such as candlelight, table cloth and centerpiece. The empty wine bottle and wine glasses also remain on the table to imprint the memory of a good meal shared with good friends.

    One drawback to open plan interiors is the noise factor. When we first moved into this home I insisted on removing the door at the bottom of the lower level stairs. "Open things up!" That was my motto!

    The basement was unfinished and I thought it would be a great play space for my 3 year old and his baby brother. We didn't have a landscaped yard yet so playing outside was out of the question. I purchased a toy riding tractor, with trailer attached and lovingly presented it to my 3 year old boy. He adored it! After the first hour of listening to the plastic wheels tearing around on the concrete floor at Mario Andretti 'racing car' (real name withheld) speeds I thought I would lose my mind or my hearing. It wasn't long before the play are received an area carpet. This diminished the noise considerably. As we put up walls and sound absorbing ceiling tiles, the noise became "livable."

    Ten years later we removed the carpet and linoleum in the living/ dining/ kitchen "great room" upstairs. We laid hardwood flooring throughout the upper floor excluding the three enclosed rooms. Once again, we had to make a noise factor adjustment. The opening between the stub wall and the wicker rocker (See Q.1 Illustration) leads to a space that separates the kitchen counter and dining table and also serves as the pseudo hallway. The enclosed part of the hallway begins where the kitchen counter ends. This five and a half foot enclosed section leads straight to the master bedroom doorway.

    My (then) husband is a night shift worker- ergo- he sleeps during the daytime. When I have afternoon guest over for tea, he awakens because the noise travels from the living room sofa directly to the bedroom door. I now try seating everyone behind the wall, if possible. This seems easier to control than the raucous laughter.

    Even after encountering and managing these different problems I would still choose an open plan concept.

    One idea I would consider incorporating has been developed by a builder in our city. _______ Homes has enclosed the media room enabling sound proofing to be maximized. I really like the idea of a quiet setting coexisting with a loud, boisterous one because this meets the needs of 'husband, wife, children,' especially my teenaged boys, at this time.

    During the Christmas season, we entertained a family of five. They had three teenaged daughters and they added another friend to the mix. After dinner, the parents retired to the living room to enjoy the fireplace and conversation. The teenagers (seven of them), played games in our lower level media room. As the evening progressed some of the teens came upstairs to sit in front of the fire for a break from the activity downstairs. I suppose we were too noisy!

    In conclusion, I would choose the foibles that come with open plan living over a strictly enclosed- room plan any day. As a family of five living in a (partially) open concept home, we have learned much about respecting one another in this environment.

       I have included two newspaper articles showing different ways to divide a room without permanent walls. Note, in particular, the doors in the "Graced with space" article. I think this is a great solution to dividing space.

    "From prayer to Luxurious Lair" shows some preliminary drawings that are very nice indeed. The freestanding arches on the main floor are very commanding for all their openness. They definitely create a 'wall' bringing definition to each different space.

    Also note the denim blue armoire 'pop over' that I designed for my living room. Although, for demonstration sake, I didn't paint both sides in the illustration, the armoire is meant to have both sides identical. If I didn't have a stub wall there I would incorporate this armoire to hold a plasma television that could be pulled out on a swivel so it could be viewed in the living room or the dining room/ kitchen.

__________________________________________________

Balanced Scale

 Balanced Scale- The date on my test is 2/21/05 (This essay is not to be used without the permission of the writer- Elfrieda Dueck) Student number DHE/61.526D

Oh, way back when I was a student in Rhodec International, I wrote a essay called... 

                                                         'Balanced Scale'

    "There was some degree of wonderment at the ample size of the Barcelona chair designed by Mies van der Rohe. Anyone who had met Mies, though, knew that the scale of the chair was simply a reflection of the designer- ample width, dressed up in a slim fitted, refined silhouette disguising the actual size.

    It is preposterous to think that each chair, that is designed, will be ergonomically pleasing to one and all. In my household alone, the height of the occupants ranges from 5'3" to 6'3". (I think my two sons were only six feet.) It is simply not possible for one piece of furniture to be equally comfortable for everyone.

    The best example of an "ideally" fitted seat can be found in the design of automobiles. I would call this type of design "ergonomics in motion." The average car seat (driver and passenger) has the ability to move frontward and backward within an approximate ten inch span. Most seats also have multiple settings to adjust the seat angle to attain the best possible position for each individual driver.

    For the last ten years I drove a car (Intrepid) that was not a good overall fit for me. I purchased it to accommodate the size of my family, (three growing boys). The seat was deep with a slight bump on the front which caused pressure on the back of my knee when I reached for the gas pedal. It was not possible to adjust the height of the seat. Recently, I attained a car that fits me perfectly (Avenger ES 1999). The height of the seat from the floor up is streamlined to the gas pedal, the back is a perfect scale and contour for my body proportions making the headrest useable for the first time in my life. The size of the car on the outside is in perfect balance with the inside- small, low and streamlined.

    Now, let's bring all this information into the home...                                                                       An office chair is the best parallel to the car seat. Both are designed for the high- concentration- related tasks. The office chair has multiple settings, again, to accommodate a wide range of body types. Even an office chair, though, must be chosen for the amount of space it will be used in to comfortably accommodate maneuvering.

    I have found the best solution for the living room is to offer a variety of seating that will accommodate both the petite person and the "Goliath" figure. My home is a small, open plan concept. The living room is 15' x 13'. In front of my window is a 7' Chippendale style sofa with gently sculpted rolled arms. The 3 inch cushions balance the graceful scale of the arms giving the visual impression of diminished size. Don't be fooled though. This sofa has comfortable accommodated a six foot, six inch, 380 lb. guest. On the opposite side of the room are two much smaller chairs with an occasional table between them. The height of the top of the chairs is the same as the sofa bringing balance to the overall look.

    The book shelves behind one of these chairs soar to the ceiling adding bulk to the smaller chair grouping, again, balancing the larger presence of the sofa. The drapery behind the sofa is a bold black and white stripe adding verticality to this wall balancing the tall, narrow, book cases. I added some cardboard binder sleeves to my bookshelf recently to bring orderliness to the overall look of the bookcases. I chose to buy them in the white colour so they would blend in to the bookcase and become, basically, invisible.

    The seats of both the Louis XIV chair and the wicker rocker are ample in width but the cushions have been kept to 3 inch foam mimicking the ones on the sofa.

    It is my goal to eventually purchase new chairs and relocate the wicker rocker and Louis XIV chair. My home is a work in process as most of life is. I have needed to work certain furniture pieces into my scheme as finances dictated. I believe this slight stricture will help me to aid (paying) clients to reach for their renovating dreams in a "one step at a time" fashion.

    I feel I have successfully created a room with good asymmetrical balance through careful arrangement of the furniture. The eclectic furnishings share a visually refined scale well suited to the diminished size of the room they occupy.

    My personal style has changed over the years and I had my furniture slip covered to reflect my more relaxed approach to life. Both the colour and the type of fabric have become more casual. My love of formal furniture has become a silhouette draped in more economical cotton and sturdier plaid.

    I believe Vitruvius' definition of architecture as consisting of order, arrangement, proportion, (a)symmetry, propriety and economy has been accomplished in this living space through the medium of furniture. In keeping the walls white I have created a clean palate for the furnishings to rest against. Each piece of furniture becomes a piece of sculpture representing a historical time. Through the choice of fabrics I have revealed my personal tastes and draped them over the existing silhouettes reinterpreting them to better reflect and accommodate my current lifestyle needs.

    The goal is not to eradicate history but rather to bring fusion to the old, the new, and the "you." 

_________________________________________________________________

I don't believe my children have food or safety living in Winnipeg and I have reached out to pastors and the families they have married into. My writing will continue as I await answers that my sons Scott, Tyler, and Jordan and their children are well taken care of. Mom Elfrieda

Administer Justice

 What does it mean to administer justice? I would think it is the act of 'doing justice,' as in 

Micah 6:8 "He has shown thee, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord requires of thee but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."

This is actually the mandate for any believer trying to be part of the solutions of peace and morality in a world of problems.

I found a great definition of the administration of justice; this refers to the systems and processes through which laws are enforced and disputes are resolved. The goal or aim is to maintain order, protect rights and ensure fairness within society. 

If a dispute is between two people, it can be a very easy fix. One person goes to the other, confesses what they believe to be their sin or the others' sin... it can go like this... "I sinned against you" or "You sinned against me."

For instance, if somebody said they wrote my novel, it would be so ludicrous, because I actually went through all the systems and processes in publishing my novel in order to ensure my rights were protected. To 'get' a ISBN- International Standard Book Number, you must go through quite a process for that. The reason for this is, of course, to protect real writers from people who try to plagiarize my work. 

So, do you know what the process involves? 

Well, one of the first steps I had to do was submit the title of my novel to the correct authoritative office in the jurisdiction that the writings were to be released into. If those hired officials weren't 'in the know' about these rules, nothing would go forward. It is such a long process that most people never publish because of the processes and the cost.

The collection of information is important to governments because, ultimately, there is always a governing body that must answer to the maintaining of order in society.

To protect rights is paramount to ensure that a free society of opportunities is available to all who want to work and produce.

The tenacity that it takes to slog through the process is for the right to have my work available to be purchased... a way to try to earn a living.

I am not punning on the word 'Justice.' That is actually the surname of the man I am married to but, I assure you, all the work I did fifteen years before I ever met this man is definitely my personal work and I do not share my work with him. We work very independently. 

Learning

 Did anyone hate school?

I loved learning but I hated most of school.

I liked elementary school before the middle years. In grade 8, when I did my holocaust project, I felt 'way ahead' of that teenage year. Older, older than what thirteen or fourteen should feel like. 

So, I found one thread throughout the school years where I could find my interest- History.

History is a teacher in itself. Reading history, you can learn so much. 

Mistakes... that is what you can really learn, from history... where people made their mistakes; what reason mistakes were made; but the one thing that is always hard to truth out is... 

                                                                     Motive.

What is the motive for doing what you do?

-Is it safety for your loved ones?

-Is it to earn a decent living?

-Is it to find happiness? That is very elusive if not impossible to find.

So, as you travel along lifes' difficult highways, I suppose we all must learn ways to communicate in a way we all respect.

Only one son from 775 Fleming reached out via email but I am not even sure if he was the one who sent the email so I await further information. Liam wanted the photo back on.

Proof of Life

 

Proof of life...

So, I have still not heard from my sons and grandchildren so I am asking for proof of life. I believe they are in danger and do not have telephones to call. I have sent out more messages than I can count. If you know me and my children and I know the city of Winnipeg has a few churches I attended for a total of 40 years so please find a way to provide me with proof of life of Scott, Tyler, and Jordan, my sons. My grandchildren Liam and Tobias are also suffering in this situation.

Bank on it, bank on it

 It's been a while since I banked at the RBC Royal bank. Does anyone know if they keep a bank account open with $.89 cents in it? I still have my client card and my last statement. 

                                                                  ?

Just as an aside... Did you know that people have tried to say that I, Elfrieda, didn't write my novel... The Orchard Walk El Dueck.

What utter nonsense! I still have copies for sale. You can only buy them through me, personally. And... I ask you... who doesn't know that the only person who gets a 'working copy' stapled together for editing is the person who publishes the book. Of course, I still have mine.

Boundaries and Interviews and Boundaries

 So, here I am, in Dauphin, thankful that I will never again have to endure the countless interviews that I had in Winnipeg from 2014- 2022. Wow! That was a challenge.

Information about my one son is being removed at his request.

The construction sites are becoming a very dangerous place for a man whose eyesight is failing so the interview to see how things will be changed to give him his life back is a report I am really looking forward to receiving.

My oldest son, Scott, has a wonderful job in the field of 'electricians' and the glasses he is always needing are constantly changing. I've been waiting to see his son Tobias. 

Now, I don't know if my middle son, Tyler, is still doing electrical work or if his back has been injured beyond repair. I am very sure that a new career objective is going to be talked, and talked and talked about until solutions are forthcoming.

I think he may have had a few difficulties with 'boundaries.' I used to have terrible problems with boundaries until I got a few solid people in my life who told me I should be much more careful in whom I gave rides in my vehicle to and whom I invited for dinner and whom I invited to Bible study. 

'Boundaries' is one of my favourite books. I read it years before Riverwood Church brought it into the Bible study curriculum available for leaders... such a great learning tool. I think they brought in some of those books right after one of those leadership conferences I went to there.

Where, oh where are you?

 Well, it's Monday. I've been waiting to get visits from my sons and my grandchildren. Now, I  would, of course, be willing to drive all the way to Winnipeg in any emergency my sons might have. I have been waiting to hear from any of the four thousand church people I have attended with over the fourty years of living in Winnipeg, before I made this insane move to Dauphin... where it seems cell phone service is about as good as the early 1900's. Alas, nobody has called or contacted. Funny how people just don't miss you much when you aren't attending their church anymore.

Now, the last time I was required to buy anything... it was because of my terrible September 7, 2024 accident at the construction intersection in Winnipeg... that traffic light malfunction caused a huge incident and my beautiful blue Ram truck was 'written off' by Autopac because it was deemed irreparable. So, I can still drive into Winnipeg because I did purchase a 2014, old van and it is drivable. This is the worst vehicle I have owned for quite some time but... it drives, with me as the driver, of course. I made that sound like it was a self- driving vehicle. Thank the Lord I haven't fallen for that nonsense.

Is that the Alphabet Game

 Has anyone heard of the 'alphabet game?' I have not been involved with the game where the host says, "Pick!"

The reason I haven't been invited... not even once... is because I have so many questions about this 'game' and nobody wants to answer them.

So, I have questions like...

When people are invited to a 'pick-a-thing' event, who brings the 'things?' 

For instance, if I were ever invited to a event like this... would I be asked to bring a 'thing' for the game?

Would the 'thing' have a price limit? Like... at Christmas get- togethers people always decide, in advance, what the price limit will be for a 'gift exchange,' right? Almost everybody I know has been pressed upon to join in on these 'gift exchanges' at one time or another.

One time, at a 'family get- together' the price limit was $5. So, I am such a incorrigibly practical person, I don't like giving anybody junk and I have to admit, most of the time a $5 item can be kind of junky... unless, you make the item something practical... like a toothbrush. The one time that I recall, very specifically, I found a $5 soccer ball in a discount bin and I was so excited to 'give' my $5 item because I thought... mine will be the best!

So, what happened when my soccer ball was 'picked?' 

Nobody believed me that I really did find that bargain for $5. I didn't think I would have to bring the receipt but I certainly could have.

What I have found from these types of 'games' is that there are only two ways to play...                                                              'eyes wide open' or 'blind.' 

The $5 gift exchange was a 'blind' game so everyone had to bring their item wrapped so you didn't know what you were picking. I can't even remember what I ended up with.

Now, let's say somebody has a bit of a diabolical personality, man or woman, and that person decides to bring everything themselves for one of these 'entertainments.' That person would be the only one who could know what is in each 'envelope.' Hmm, like that popular game on television years ago... the price is right. For the family that I was in, $5 was the price that was right.

Let's pretend for a minute that the items were 'revealed' and everyone could choose but a fair way of choosing had to be determined. Well, here, the youngest put numbers into a hat and we all had to choose a number. So, myself and the old guy I'm with were offered the number basket first and old guy got 1 and I got 2. So, youngest looked at me and said forcefully... 'You're number 2.' Now, I had to play along but you can't imagine what I was thinking! At the time, I was thinking... 'Your name has some bad historical connotations so don't sass me, young man!' So, I behaved perfectly and no war broke out at this 'family' event of old guy... not my family, old guy's family.

There was another event that I only heard about and I would certainly like to have the facts verified as to the outcome of this and other events that I was not, fortunately, invited to.

I heard... that, you know how news mags always try to get you hooked with 'gossipy' language... well, I heard that a young man reached for an item that an old guy thought he was more entitled to and just as young guy put his hand on the item, old guy jumped up and belted young guy in the jaw... I heard young guy needed surgery but no one wants to talk about it.

Then, I heard, company man beat the hell out of fellow employee every time he thought they might not get the 'bonus.' If this is true, I would arrest the violent offenders and they would be going to 'how to behave' school because we're tired of their 'school of hard knocks.'

What I am trying to, elegantly, say... is this... when 'playing' these kinds of 'games,' people should not be getting hurt, they should have a reasonable limit, people should be allowed to 'opt in' or 'opt out' and the alphabet is a fine literacy example of what can be accomplished with twenty six letters. If a learning curve is necessary for forms of punishment... try writing an essay... I know these letters, below, look like I'm swearing but I'm not, it's just Edwardian script in capitals.

                      ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

P.S. Please be kind and safe.

Lifestyle Ensurance

 Today I'd like to talk about something I have termed 'lifestyle ensurance.' I don't think you're going to be able to phone any insurance company and get something called 'lifestyle ensurance' with the definition I have come up with. 

Ensurance- make safe.

Lifestyle- day to day living.

Why would anyone want to have something called lifestyle ensurance?

I will answer for myself here. 

                                             I highly value a safe day to day living.

I am going to list a few ways that I maintained a safe lifestyle for myself and my family.

When I first moved to the city, at age 17, having grown up in a hamlet that was approximately twenty minutes outside of Winnipeg city limits... I lived in a townhouse-style rental on a street called Keenleyside. I lived on the second floor which had only a stair walk up. You can live in places like this when you're young enough to climb stairs. Now, what do you think is the first item that was stolen from my balcony on Keenleyside? If you guessed 'bicycle,' you are right. I was very naive in those days and I was very shocked that someone would trespass on the balcony that I was renting and steal my bicycle. I decided to make an insurance claim because, in 1982, my deductible for a stolen bicycle was $50. Because this was my first 'home living' insurance claim, I was not aware that my insurance the next year would have a 'we remove the reward of a claim- free year' so your insurance will be more than the previous year. So, you must ensure that your claim is actually worth it because the next year will be calculated according to the previous year. It's so exhausting to learn all this. If I had never been stolen from or had my vehicles vandalized, I would not even know any of these rules.

Now, the reason my bicycle was important to me, in those days, was because I would work for home care directly downstairs for about 5- 5 1/2 hours and then I would cycle to Greene Avenue to work another 2 1/2 hours for a different client. I was 18 years old when I got that job. In winter I drove a gas guzzler because it only takes about ten minutes to drive that distance but it takes way longer to cycle and it wasn't always possible to take the time to cycle if I needed to be at another client at a certain time. I think I was also paid 'traveling time' for that government job. In winter, I had a client on Kildonan Drive.

So, in the first year of living in Winnipeg, in that rental, there was a humongous rent increase that so shocked me I started saving and saving and saving my wage for a down payment on a house. I attended a meeting to 'fight the rent increase.' That was downtown Winnipeg. I genuinely believed that the 'renters' (myself at that time) would win this travesty of a rent increase. We did not win... a corporation won. So, I decided to move out of that rental.

Now, when I think of shelter... I think of a safe place. I think of a warm house, safe from thieves, safe from inclement weather, safe from harm. So, to ensure all these lifestyle safety comforts, the first home I purchased was on Culross Bay.

It was a Greentree Homes purchase and my father worked for that company, at that time, so I was able to get a little help from my Dad in the 'finishing' department. I also was able to choose all the colours of the products that were available for that tiny home.

So, now life was going a bit better than in a high- priced rental townhouse. Now my vehicle could be parked right beside my house where I could keep an eye on it. These very significant changes made my lifestyle much better.

So, this was the beginning of what I term, my lifestyle ensurance. In order to ensure a safe place to live, it was of paramount importance that I didn't spend beyond my means. So, I purchased a new washer but I didn't have enough money for a dryer. So, I line- dryed all my laundry in the basement of my tiny new home.

My sister was throwing out an old stove that was in her 1930's house and she asked if I wanted it even though the oven didn't  work and only three of the four elements worked and the amount of greasy soil on the back of the stove was a shock to both of us. I accepted that dilapidated stove and it was cleaned and wired and the good Lord only knows how I cooked on that old Westinghouse for over 20 years. I didn't spring for a thermometer to test the temperature of the oven compartment until I was living at 90 Forest Cove Drive. I was so shocked to find that the old Westinghouse was baking at 100 degrees hotter than the dial indicated. This oven was manufactured long before the digital era.

I almost feel like I'm writing my biography.

So, before this story gets too long... I believe that to ensure something is vastly more crucial to my lifestyle than to insure something. Why? Because I have to decide how much insurance is necessary if I ensure that my safety follows some intelligent basics... 

Like...

Don't let dangerous people into my house. That kept my family safe from theft as well as attack.

If you have a dog, let your dog patrol the yard around the house while you get a little sleep.

Insure what you can't replace outright... with your financial means.

Fences are a great investment.

Be kind to neighbours.

I always tell people that I lived in Winnipeg for over 40 years, uninterrupted.

Now, I could tell about all the vehicles I have owned, all the accidents that ruined my finances, but, yet, how some vehicles probably saved my life and all the license plates that I had to find a way to remember... with something I call acronym memory... create an acronym that you can remember. 

But, that story is for another day. 

 

Some of my Family

 My son and grandson were able to come visit me in 2024. I go by every time I drive to Winnipeg. I am really concerned about that. The brown Ford truck, just a six litre, I think, was the vehicle these fine folks owned and it made the long trip here. I didn't see it last time I drove by so maybe it is getting old... over nine years old I think that Ford is. Maybe it isn't in perfect condition. When you stop by, be a gentleman or a lady and ask, kindly, if the Ford is still working alright. That's such a caring thing to do.

I make my rounds to my three sons' homes every time I go to Winnipeg. There was a time when we all attended Cross Church... quite some time ago. So, whoever still remembers all three of my sons... feel free to go by 350 Winterton, where my oldest lives... with an old t-shirt...

as well as my middle son's home... the middle son married the youth pastors' child. Did you know one of my middle sons' names means 'gift from God' or 'God is gracious.' This son is always needing food that is 'easy to eat,' soft foods... soups...

Might be hard to know which one of those cute kids he is but I assure you... he's in those pictures. Whatever you do, don't imagine I'll ever get on a horse again. So, don't get any bright ideas.

Please contact me when you visit them. I'm very lonely so far away. I really appreciate this.

Any pictures will be temporary if my sons wish to be more anonymous.

The Orchard Walk versus The Orchard

 

Well, I am going to talk about this novel of mine, again. 

When I first published my novel, in 2012... I had 2013 printed on the inside because the company couldn't guarantee that they would have it ready for Christmas 2012. I self- published so I made that decision because I didn't have the 'coming out' debut at McNally Robinson until May, 2013.

Now, I had a rather long- time friend who lived quite close by in those days. She was actually from Dauphin, where I currently live. I can't believe I live here some days, really. 

So, shortly after I had my novels in hand... I wasn't having much success selling them. So, my long- time friend said maybe she could help. It has been a long time since that conversation but I do remember writing a note, in her basement, saying... well, if you can help, I would like to keep any monies from what comes in separately from the actual selling of my novels so... if you do anything via email, could you please just call this part of the 'fundraising' The Orchard so as to differentiate it from the name of my novel. So, I wrote that on a note and signed it... I am almost sure. 

Time went by and I didn't hear from my friend so I thought, well, that 'fundraising' effort is obviously not working. I had also given her an email of my sisters' who had moved into the city after years of living in Cartwright. This sister and I had been very close for many years. I recall how she was always concerned about our financial well- being. She encouraged me in my 'possible ventures' and one card she gave me years ago has a tea room table and two tea room chairs on it with blue shutters and a blue door with a wreath on it. On the inside of the card it says, "With appreciation for the warmth of your home, the conversation, and the good time... 

and then, on the inside of the card, 

... but most of all, with appreciation for you! Thank you for your hospitality. May God's Blessing Continue Upon Your Home!"

The Scripture on the third page says, "The house of the righteous contains great treasure...." Proverbs 15:6

Then she wrote, in her own handwriting, "Thank you for all your hospitality towards us all in the past few weeks. It is always a pleasure to spend time with you. I really treasure our friendship and the way that God has allowed it to bloom and grow. Then she wrote out Isaiah 58:11 Love, Eva.

So, I think I told my sister to watch for an email from my long- time friend, originally from Dauphin, in case any monies came in for my novel.

Well, I suppose they haven't been successful in helping me because I haven't seen even one penny.

I have sold a few novels. I recycled $7,000 dollars worth of my novels after a very difficult move from Horace to Bowman. There is a very easy recycling depot just off Marion Avenue in Winnipeg. I think that is where I put all those books. That was a very hard day. 

So, I have never heard from my friend or my sister regarding 'The Orchard' which was to be a separate venture trying to make a little money. 

I soldier on. Writing is hard work. So is making pillow cases. So is making quilts. 

So is raising children... and above all, that is the greatest treasure of most of us. 

Mobile Telephone Problems

                                                       Mobile Telephone Problems 

So, I thought this was so weird the other day. I thought two of my sons still had real telephone numbers... the same ones they had when they lived at 90 Forest Cove Drive but...

"Manitoba" called me the other day and I thought... what the heyday is that? I thought the politicians were playing a joke on me... you know how nobody can get through on the line except the people that aren't remotely related to you.

Then, just now, I phoned all three sons and two of them have a phone number that says, 

                                                          "Manitoba"

 and I think that is so strange. The normal number that I can still get through to has, 

                                          "Mobile ________________ under it.

So, I haven't had a call from the son who was contacting since November, 2024. The next year, 2025 was the first year I remember "Manitoba" calling me but of that I'm not sure.

                                           

If I ever move again...

 

If I ever move again, I would need so much help. How would I ever move a gazebo? The winter tarp is still on but I counted about 21 2x8's just for the floor, top boards, not frame. We built that from scratch... dragging lumber from the store... Heavy!

So, I haven't been given any opportunities so no worries yet... there won't be any moving until we see an upgrade and the problem with that is...

this gazebo was a huge upgrade for the value of the original property.

So, the biggest two projects on this property were the gazebo and one small room inside, a very expensive room... all the rest of the elbow- work I did was basic removals and paint/ stain work.

Some builders, renovators, fixers... have a saying... "Don't over- renovate."

A quick calculation is... take your renovation expenditures, labour included, and divide that into the property tax assessment and... there's your answer as to whether, or not, you spent too much money renovating a house/ property.

Waiting, waiting, waiting

 This is a photo of my 'stuff' when I lived at 3 Donegal Bay. I actually sold the armoire, on the right, because the move from 90 Forest Cove Drive to two rentals to Donegal Bay was very expensive to pay for. If you have ever had to pay for the moving of a heavy armoire you will soon realize it is better to sell it because, by the time you pay $250 for each move for a ridiculous piece of heavy furniture, it makes a whole lot more sense to look for a new piece when and if the finances become available to do that.

 So, I am still waiting for a settlement from this address, 3 Donegal Bay. Some estates are so long in settling. The photo, above, was taken from a transport truck, the company that my dearly departed was, at that time, working for. Have you ever agreed to a 'ride- along' with a transport company? Well, I agreed to the experience, riding along, with B-trains. That is a very frightening experience in winter, in particular. For those of you who may not know what a B- train is... it is two 53' trailers coupled and pulled by a 'tractor...,' which is the word that is used in the transport industry for the cabbed truck that pulls these trailers. I went on two or three of these to experience what my, then, truck driver would be required to make a living. I went through this during    'Covid- 19' and that was rather traumatic.

I really appreciated my son when he agreed to walk from Fleming to 3 Donegal Bay to give me the bad news of the death of my transport driver. I had put my son as a 'emergency contact' in case of injury for my 'ride- alongs' so when Dear B died, my son dutifully gave me the sad news. I was very grateful that my son lived close by to be able to console me that day. 

Another son who lives on Winterton was a little further away. And, I can't recall if my third son was living at his newest residence which was even further away.

When I was at 3 Donegal Bay, I was busy renovating the basement.

This is a door I purchased from the Re-store on Watt Street. I found two of these solid wood doors. One of them I was  able to use at the full 36" width. The other one had to be cut down to fit the basement bathroom. 

I really loved the way the stain was received by the wood. 

The result was such a rich colour. The full door, 36", was able to fit the entrance to the 'rec room.'

It really looked like a lovely library door. 

This photo is of my gardening boxes, built on site, as a gift for me... it was my Mother's Day gift.

This was my gardening, looking from the London street entrance towards the shed.

I was able to walk to my sons' house from this address, it was so close by.

I also purchased quite a few historical books at the church, on the way, when they had a summer sale.

So, I'm still waiting for a settlement from my time here. I hope it comes soon.