Mr House teaching me Chess

My neighbour across the street was Mr and Mrs Wm. House. I went over to visit and he taught me how to play chess. He carved me a crude set of chessmen that fit into a eyeglass box.





William House was born in 1883 in Monmouth, Wales. He came to the Cut Knife area in 1904 and homesteaed there. He enlisted in WWI and served in Belguim and France. Upon returning from the army in 1919 he filed on Soldier Settlement land in the Carragana District. In Nov 1920 in Winnipeg he married Elizabeth Thornby from Kent, England.

4 - H

Took woodworking in 4-H, Tom Murray, elevator agent, was the leader. We held the classes in the basement of the elementary school. I built a doll crib for my sister April, and I built a tool box for myself.

My mother taught sewing and knitting in 4-H.

The tradition of the country fair is as old as the province itself and celebrates rural life and the valued elements of the community in which it is located. The Shand Fair takes place each summer on a fair grounds situated mid way between Somme and Carrigana and some six miles north. The atmosphere at the fair is absolutely the highlight of the event as neighbours and friends come out to experience the day together, swap yarns and renew acquaintances from years gone by. This fair has a parade in the morning with a line up of antique tractors, equestrian displays and good spirits. There is animal showing and judging, a gymkhana, children's races, excellent food, a music programme, exhibits and mostly a lot of conversation.

The exhibits are a major part of every fair and the Shand fair leads in agricultural products, flowers, baked goods, art work, photographs, crafts and amazing creativity.

A highlight for most visitors to the Shand Fair is the outstanding home baking. Above are the pie ladies and they had peach, raisin, and cream pies. But other booths had perogies and cabbage rolls and a full chicken supper.

The Fair was a highlight of the summer for me and my family, I think it still held every August.

Old Leather Photograph Album

This was the album that dad kept his army pictures in, it used to be stored in the bottom drawer of the cedar chest. I used to take it out with his medals and be proud of my Dad. The old leather Photograph Album is on my top shelf, and my brother Arlen and I trade it off ever so often.

Over 60 years since the war was ended; I decided to write a blog about my dad's service in the Canadian Army between 1942 and 1945.

Here is the blog http://leonardpaulrundvall.blogspot.com/

I am extremely proud of my dad war service and his life after.