Article posted January 15, 2010 at 04:51 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 3282
On January 12th, Connaught School attended the ceremonies to welcome the Olympic Flame to North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The school was all decked out in matching touques. Do you know the word touque? Anyway, we we waited for former Olympian, Canadian silver medalist, and former North Battleford resident, Fiona Smith-Bell to light the Olympic cauldren. After the celebration, we lined the streets and waited for Connaught School's grade 8 teacher, Roxanne Reynoldson, to arrive with the flame! How exciting for Ms. Reynoldson! How exciting for us! It was great to see the Olympic flame!
Article posted January 15, 2010 at 04:51 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 3282
Article posted December 18, 2009 at 04:14 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 1927
Every family has some sort of Christmas tradition. My Grandparents were married on December 24th, 1912. Wow, that was 97 years ago! Anyway, when I was growing up, ever Christmas Eve the family gathered at my Dad's parent's house to celebrate their anniversary. I must say it wasn't all that much fun. I am the youngest in my family by eight years. At Grandma and Grandpa's I always got a box of chocolates. Every year a box of chocolate. No toys! When I look back upon my youth, I miss my Christmas box of chocolates.
What is ONE of your families traditiions?
Have a great weekend and Merry Christmas to all
Mr. E
Article posted December 18, 2009 at 04:14 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 1927
Article posted December 9, 2009 at 03:44 PM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 1259
Wow! Winter has descended upon Saskatchewan with a vengeance! We woke up on Monday morning with the temperature thirty six degrees below zero. (-36). To add insult to injury, the wind was blowing increasing the freezing temperatures to more than minus forty. (-40). Looking at our map, there are some people who have never experienced this extreme cold. Saskatchewan is an interesting place. The temperature can range from thirty degrees above zero to thirty below zero. That is a change of sixty degrees Celsius!
Article posted December 9, 2009 at 03:44 PM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 1259
Article posted November 20, 2009 at 05:21 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1612
It was a typical Saskatchewan spring day. The sun was shining, although the wind still had a bite to it. The field behind the house was muddy as usual. Peppermint Patti, my three year old pointer, was anxious to get out after the long cold winter. For every kilometer I walked I swear Patti would put on five. She would work the field like a good bird dog. This zig-zag pattern would lead Patti a long way away from me. Inevitably, she would get out of earshot. I am of the opinion that she heard me. Patti, just didn’t care. In order to train her to come when she was called, I purchased a state of the art shock collar. The transmitter was effective up to a mile.
Anyway, as we returned, her paws were full of mud. I wanted to cool down after our strenuous walk, so I left her outside. The sun was beating in through our south facing kitchen window, making the kitchen extremely warm. I ran the tap water cold and had a cool drink of water. I filled a pail and placed it, full of water, outside the patio door. Patti was wiggling her stubby tail as the pail was set on the deck. She always tried to sneak past you into the house with her muddy feet, but this day I was too fast for her. With the water cascading from her bird dog jowls, her yellow eyes staring intently, her wet nose leaving a trail of dog snot on the patio door, Patti began her incessant whining. Man, could she be annoying! I removed the transmitter from my belt and headed down the hall out of range of the continuous dog whimpering.
Several minutes passed by and the whining continued. The volume and pitch constant. Suddenly, Patti’s volume increased and her whine became a howl. Not being overly concerned with Patti I attempted to ignore her pleas. Again, the high pitched howl was heard from the deck. This time I had to investigate!
As I proceeded down the hall I heard my 2 year old son giggling. I wondered, what was so funny? I rounded the corner into the kitchen and saw a boy and his dog. Not the typical portrait of a boy and his dog, mind you, but something totally different. There was Cary, standing by the patio doors wearing his little nike running shoes, denim overalls and red plaid shirt. His blonde hair obliterated by the sunlight streaming in through the window. His giggle had turned into a belly laugh. Patti continued to howl. Cary was on one side of the glass and Patti on the other. I glanced at the table and noticed the remote for the shock collar was missing. It was easy to figure out what had happened to the remote.
Article posted November 20, 2009 at 05:21 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1612
Article posted November 19, 2009 at 04:09 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 489
One of the hardest parts about writing is coming up with an idea. You would think it would be so simple to generate one, single, solitary idea. But NO!!!! For years I have received travel logs from students. You know the story, it goes something like this:
I went to my Grandma's house. Then we ate supper. Then we went shopping. After we saw a movie. Then we went to my Auntie's house. Then I played with my cousins.
Now really.....who cares?
Good writing focuses on ONE SINGLE IDEA!
Here is an example of some generated ideas:
How I met my wife
My son's first time on skates
Patty and the shock collar
Falling out of the hammock
Chicken pox '99
Fishing with Uncle Alec
Joyce and her finger
Grandpa and cheque day
White Gravy
All of these are rememberances of mine. As you read the list, would you like to know more about any of them? (Many of them are really funny)
It is time for you to put on your thinking caps and remember!
Your Friday writing assignment is to write a list of ten (10) single ideas.
Have a great weekend!
Mr E
Article posted November 19, 2009 at 04:09 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 489
Article posted November 6, 2009 at 01:26 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1298
In Saskatchewan winter is coming. Faster than I would like, but I used to love winter. I would spend more time outside in winter than I would in summer. The winter has become long, dark and cold. The thoughts of -30 degree weather makes sad.
If I think really hard, I can feel the sun warming me up in the middle of summer. Oh how I love the summer! Long bright days followed by warm summer nights. The smell of meat searing on the barbeque. the crackle of a roaring fire.
For your writing assignment:
"What's your favorite month? Write about what makes your favorite season your favorite season."
Have a great weekend,
Mr E
Article posted November 6, 2009 at 01:26 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1298
Article posted October 8, 2009 at 10:30 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 2389
Lives of heroes or our idols are always fascinating or exciting. Do you think this is reality? How exciting is your life? I think even the most boring, tedious jobs can be made exciting and interesting! Good story tellers can make any story interesting.
Your Friday Writing Assignment...
"What is the most boring or tedious thing you do on a daily basis? Using great verbs, write about this activity so that it seems incredibly INTERESTING."
Have a Great Turkey Weekend!!
Happy Thanksgiving. Gobble Gobble!
Mr. E
Article posted October 8, 2009 at 10:30 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 2389
