By the time you read this, we will have celebrated Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day - quite a contrast! - and we will be more than halfway through what I think of as “February fill-the-dykes” as it was referred to when I was growing up. In our area around Ashcroft at least, it has not lived up to its reputation this year. At the beginning of the month there was lots of snow around and we fully expected it to melt and leave us with a miniature lake at the bottom of our driveway, but not this year! The snow gently and quietly vanished and left the drive and the lawns all clear, no puddles or muddy spots to be seen or stepped in!
Dates to remember in February and later: Thursday, Feb. 19. - Pot luck Lunch at noon, Business meeting at 1pm. All members please try to attend and give your input. Saturday, Apr. 25 - Strawberry Tea 1-3pm; Thursday, Apr. 30. - Day long Bus Trip to Anglemont, please sign up ASAP; Sunday, May 4 - Preparation for Carpet Bowling Tournament in Cache Creek; and Monday, May 5 - Centre closed, Bowling Tournament in Cache Creek.
Dorothy Colebank
We have at least four members in their 90s in our group, and today I want to let you know some more about the oldest - by a single day! - Dorothy Colebank. She was born in Vernon, one of four children in the family, and she lived there attending a three-room elementary school in Coldstream and Vernon High School.
In her teens she was swept off her feet by a young man who had gone there to work in the orchards. They ran off together in 1940, and Dorothy had her first train ride to Prince George.The following years saw them living in a variety of locations in and around Prince George and Hixon, and raising a family of seven boys and five girls. When her husband retired, she found work at a tree nursery, and while she worked there, her husband looked after the youngest children who were still at school.
Dorothy moved to Ashcroft once her family had grown up and moved out and her husband passed away, first to live with her daughter and later to take up residence in Thompson View Manor. You will always find her smiling and friendly, it might never cross your mind that she is 96 she is so alert! Like Joyce Freeman, she is always well dressed in pretty colours and accessories, and regularly has hair appointments to keep her coiffure up to scratch. She has so many wonderful reminiscences and loves to be with people, playing cards and Bingo.
Joyce West