LUCIEN’S STORY
The SSPs are quite nice, helpful, and understanding people. This reminds me of an outing to St. Norbert Market. It was rainy(drizzling) with some clouds, and partly sunny day. My SSP and I were walking through the market, stopping to say hello to friends, and acquaintances. I saw Sara with a mix of blonde and dark brown hair being guided by her SSP Shelby. I’d never saw her laugh or smile before and I wondered curiously a little about that, when I first met her. However, I was compelled to mention that she was wearing blonde in her hair, and her SSP told her, so she started to smile a rueful smile on her lips. It gave me tons of joy to see her smile, because I’d never seen her smile before, ever. The fact that her SSP could talk to her through her hands and made her smile, is a wonderful gift to her, and all who can have that experience for themselves, too.
Recently, some of the members of the group went to Birds Hill to feed the Chickadees. Denise G. was my SSP, and when we arrived I thought the birds would peck me on the hand to the bare bones, but it was not so. I took some feed from Denise, and watch as she fed the birds. At first try, I was nervous, because their clawed feet on landing was ticklish, and I thought that if Denise could do it I could do it, too. It gave me inspiration to be bold, and become bolder, while feeding the birds.
The birds were quite a spectacle to see watch, and have them buzzing around your hand feeling more and more comfortable with them. Some flew by, and returned later for their treat most landed onto our hands to pick on the feed we had brought to feed them. It was a wonderful experience for me personally. I think everyone enjoyed feeding the birds that Monday.
In the past, I had secretly harboured the thought, that people who could or can do that was blessed in some way by God, and those chosen people were the only ones who could do it. However, I have to think differently now that I’ve done it myself.
I’ve never done anything like that personally before this outing. But I saw one of my male cousin doing it as a youth. He was younger than myself, and it was by pure chance that I caught him feeding a bird on his hand. Apparently, he wanted to catch the Barble Dove to kill, roast and eat it. Unfortunately, I startled it and him. And he cursed under his breath, “how he could have had the bird.” All I could do was say; “sorry man.” It didn’t please him none.
ANONYMOUS
This is the story of my crafts, hobbies, interests, paintings and scrapbooking (CHIPS). I made little felt mice in different colors, fawn colored kangaroos, walnut Santa mice and wheat weaving of all kinds. The Cornucopia and earrings and pendant sets were popular. I enjoyed Ceramics doing candy dishes, vases, lamps, Christmas trees and a Nativity set. I refinished a cutlery chest and my Dad’s 100-year-old trunk. Then I made 9 teddy bears from a muskrat coat.
One hobby was arranging flowers from my garden. My peonies were late and when they were in bud, I cut them and put them in water in the cool basement till show days. My gladiolas I started under a grow light in March so they were in bloom for the fairs along with my perennial and annual flowers. I made many arrangements. I also made dried flower arrangements. I enjoyed orchids that I had for a few years and got prizes at the fairs.
I learned to do embroidery work when I was 12 years old -tea towels, pillow cases, tea cloths and quilt blocks. I made quilts for my grandchildren – nursery rhymes, Micky Mouse and many more. I also did appliqué work. I did some needle point too and hooked a mat but was not happy with it. My mother taught me to knit. I knit mitts, scarves, toques, baby outfits, cushions and afghans. I also learned to crochet with wool. I enjoyed doing baby afghans with lace squares, alternating with plain blocks with embroidered animals in different colours. I made several big afghans too.
When my grandchildren were little, I bought a camcorder and taped their activities like coloring Easter eggs, figure skating, hockey and Christmas concerts which were shown on our local TV station.
I loved to dance and l learned to dance standing on my Dad’s toes! My husband and I enjoyed old time, modern and square dancing for years. I then learned pattern dancing. I joined the Golden Swingers and we danced every Tuesday at the nursing homes. I like card games, Scrabble, crokinole and all board games. When I was 80, I started painting in oil. I did flowers, scenery, mountains, lighthouses, churches, dogs, cats, birds, etc. In 11 years, I did 50 or more paintings, the last 5 years in acrylic.
My grandchildren encouraged me to buy a computer. I found it very helpful with the family tree which my husband had started for his father’s side. I did his mother’s side and my parent’s family trees.
My daughter taught me Scrapbooking. 5 years later I had completed 14 albums with names and stories which I used to write my story and my husband’s story. Now my eyesight and hearing have failed so it is not easy to do much. I am thankful for all the help I get from CNIB and the RCMDB. At 94, I am learning to do hand sign language and am learning keyboarding without looking from a specialist in low vision with CNIB.