Thanks for the Memories

This was a big weekend for me. On Friday after work, we drove to Regina to stay the night with my parents. The next morning we got up early and drove to the old farm where my dad grew up. My uncle, who is now in a care home, just sold the farm after living there since he was born. The old house is the original one and he built the “new house” in the ‘80s. The new owners told us that they would leave the farmyard the way it is so we could come and take what we wanted before they turned it into a field. And that way my uncle can still go out and see the house if he’s feeling well enough. 

We drove through some heavy rain getting out there and for the last two miles, the gravel road was really soft and muddy. But we made it in one, muddy piece. 

It didn’t take long before the clouds blew away and the sun came out. We toured around the houses and into the barn. I found some old pictures and a few other things that I wanted to keep. The girls found some keepsakes too. My husband found some old tools that he wanted as well. 

My sister and her family also made the trip out. It turned into a really nice family visit. My mom brought a picnic lunch and we all sat in the shade and had our lunch. The boys gathered some wood off the barn to make some projects at home. It was hard work in the sun and humidity and the tall grass. We were very careful about ticks but I think almost everyone had at least one. (I found one on my back that night during my shower and one the next morning on my leg). 

My dad in front of his old house. 

The old house

The old barn 

The “new house”

There were always barn owls at the farm as long as I can remember. It was really cool to see a young one perched on the grain bin. 

When we had all the old barnwood and other treasures that we wanted, we took a trip to the cemetery where my grandparents and great-great-grandparents (and other relatives) are buried. The picture I took is the gravesites of my grandparents. I never met them, they both passed before I was born. I’ve often thought about who they were and what they were like. 

After we were done there, and the thunder started to roll again, we headed into town to visit my aunt and cousin. We hit a patch of some heavy rain and hail but made it through unscathed. We had a quick visit there before we had to head back to Moose Jaw for supper with my husband’s parents. I think we may have passed a couple tornados on the way - there was a warning over the radio and pictures on social media of at least three tornadoes around the province. Thankfully the worst we drove through all day was that patch of hail. 

It was a busy weekend but it was good to be able to say goodbye to the farm. I have a lot of memories there and I was worried it was going to be difficult to say goodbye. I think it helped that we were so busy and it was so hot and there were so many ticks that it kept my mind off of what we were actually doing. Goodbyes are hard.