A Very Full Saturday Celebration

I had been told that only Beth (from Edmonton), of all my nieces and nephews was going to come, but as my brother Ernie was taking me to their home from the airport (after 10 pm their time) he informed me that Beth and her husband Corey, and 3 of their 4 children had come by car. Micah, the oldest, had got a summer job, so he stayed home.

Ernie & Dori had put them up in their super-duper camper in the driveway. (Their bedrooms on the main floor of their home had been reserved for us three sisters). I had last seen these kids for about half an hour in 2013, and at that time, Ehlana, the youngest was toddling around in a diaper. So I was looking forward to seeing these great-nephews and niece again.

Saturday morning Ernie & Dori were packing up their truck with displays and supplies for a 7:30 departure for the event to be held in a small banquet room at the Mennonite Heritage Centre in Steinbach (about an hour’s drive south-east of Winnipeg). Corey and the kids were going with them. I was to go with Beth when she got up about 9 am.

Corey and Ehlana came into the back door for an early breakfast, and I found Ehlana to be a slim and dainty lady in a long dress, AND furry wolf ears, but she solemnly informed me that she was now 9 going on 10. (Aug. 2nd).… amazing what a difference 9 years makes! Also, she plans to be a scientist when she grows up.

Riding with Beth in their hybrid car was something else. First, getting re-acquainted with Beth all over again, and then watching how the info panel on the dash spoke up and gave her directions for every turn to make! (It is probably more than I really NEED, but now I think I’d like a hybrid too!) Beth told me that Corey had worked out all the options on a spreadsheet, and traveling this way would be the most economical.

Once there, I saw Corey was done setting up for the zoom meeting, so I asked him for help with my camera problem. He ended up showing me how to use my zenfone instead. (I still prefer my digital instamatic).

[Corey showing me how to use my phone-camera.]

The Mennonite Heritage Centre is not only a museum complex with many wings and specialty displays, it is also a village with other buildings, such as a small church, one-room-school, harness shop, an enormous windmill, and so on. One can rent small motorized, and/or horse-drawn carriages for touring all these features. Dori and Ernie had planned for family group photos taken in front of the old windmill, but that morning the weather was over-cast with ocassional showers. So they re-arranged the order of the day’s activities.

[Ernie, Dori, and their grandchildren present (4 of Ernie's were absent).]

Photos would be taken in front of the floral arch they had decorated as soon as all expected family members arrived. Then a little program they had scripted, (this part was joined via Zoom, by those absent; Elsie, Erma, Micah, and Joanne and her 3 children, Deacon, Beckem, and Ellery), followed by the Anniversary catered lunch. [Micah in photo frame on our head table].

[The absent guests showed up on zoom on a large TV screen.]









[Ernie and Dori reading their two year review, and commitment to their families!]

This was an especially Mennonite meal; perogies/verneki with farmers’ sausage and fried cream gravy, and also lovely breaded chicken, two kinds of salads, two breads, and then four big, deep bowls of Trifle (white cake crumbs with strawberries and other red jellies and sauces = scrumptious!) We could go back for more Trifle servings – as often as we wanted! Still, when I helped packup the leftovers to take home, there was still plenty, plus six or more watermelons!

At noon the sun came out and it was lovely, washed scenery outside, so the original photo session was announced to be done after all in front of the windmill. (The tour of all the sights to see sort’a fell off the agenda). We came back to their home in Winnipeg for a light “faspa” (Mennonite tea-time or supper).

[Ernie and Dori with Beth and her family - plus part of the windmill.]



[In old country one-room school; Zach, quite the teacher!]

Incidentally, when I over-eat, my tummy feels full, but the most pain is in a headache that doesn’t let up until my load is lightened. I was beginning to feel sluggish that evening, but my headache came on full-strength the next morning.

My report on the Sunday, with photos, will have to come next week. It amounts to another two pages!

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