The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

F,“ and Winter, 1949-50 HOME AND COUNTRY 15 FIRST PRIZE AWARD FOR A C A COUNTRY WOMAN'S DAY by Mrs. Wm. H. Hamilton. Glasgow StatiOn in . The April dusk spreads a allnofgvioletrhlue over the pale_ gold of the western sky. A robin tWItters from the big spruce on the lawn. And from the great concert-hall in the marshlands comes the first notes of nature's springtime orchestra, the frogs- _ I have just tucked our six-year-old in for the night, almost too drowsy to say Im- prayers, and pause at the gym] window to draw a long, long hrenrh, savoring the sweetness .of freshly-turned earth and growmg thin‘ - The day has been long. yet good. A typical day? On the farm? Some- bodi' said there was no such thing. If it is interpreted as a day well cram-ed and lanned, _according to calendar and c oak, I quite agree. On this farm, a typical day is'one that starts out with excellent intentions of urderliness, but gets itself hope- lESSl'. side-tracked somewhere between mouse and sundown. Today, for in- stance. it was the robin’s cheery whistle thni awakened me at daybreak this nimning. But quite apart from his insistent “Get upl Get upI", spoiling a delightful snooze, another thought prodding in the back of the mind can me stumbling downstairs. Three hundred baby chicks were also annlcening to a new day. And to a wide-awake baby chick, there are [lll'i‘e chief aimsâ€"eating, drinking and doing its best to commit suicide. J‘ullin on my old sweater, came thn' wel -known envious twinge as I thought of my city sisters. whose before-breakfast chores consisted of turning a button on the electric range. Then self-pity was forgotten in the exquisite glory of the April morning. Chick feed in one hand and a pail of water in the other, I stopped for a long moment to drink in the herity of itâ€"eastern sky awash with raw and saffron, a filmy white mist our the meadows like a bridal veil, thv orchard a veritable cascade of lTILlOdy. Then the outsurge of warm air as I opened the broader-house door, and ill“ noisy clamor of the three hundred. I luplenished fire, feed and water, r». d two or three venturesoine in'ns from stranglin themselves and couldn’t resist cuddling one of them alums: my cheek. Now that envious ti' .nge was replaced by one of pityâ€" pm for the city woman who has inner held in the palm of her hand a tiny hall of livin down, never felt the clmging of slen er toes nor caught tli" blink of im udent. heady eyes. llutAin those eeting morning hours thrre is "no time to stand and stare.” Already the smoke from John's morn- ln': fires was ascending, and from the ham came the clatter of milk-pails and the first erratic snorts of the milking machine motor. Sooln, We h‘jne. the quiet efficiency of hydro Will take its place, but in the mean- time our gasoline-run milker is a great boon. Nevertheless the woman’s hand can still find plenty to do at chore time. The flying flock must be fed and \i‘atered and first call sent up to the :"an fry. For her nine years, Joan 55 really getting quite good at dress- mi’; herself and Margie, but they do need plenty of time. Then there’s the Seliarator to attend, calves and cats to feed, finally breakfast for the human family. The rush and bustle over at last, missing books and rubbers hunted dim, John oif to the field and the girls to school a great calm settled nlion the house and me while I began ‘0 Plan. First there was the weekly Wash _to be put to soak while break~ fast dishes and milking utensils were sEl'ubbed and scalded. If all went well I should be finished and the house in order by noon. Then a brief space to relax and look over my new mag- azine, phone Jane Stewart on i Csrswcll about the meeting‘1 (EM-trill! pmens Institute programme com- mittee. Then â€" oh, joy! â€"- a long golden afternoon in my garden. My fingers itched to get into the warm brown earth. among the tulips and daffodils and sprouting perenials. But "the best-laid schemes 0’ mice and men L says Rahbie Burns. “gang aft agley. The washing was coming along nicely when a sudden commo- tion arose from the front lawnâ€"a commotion, alas, only too well known. Johns blue shirt in one hand and a cake of soap in the other. I flew around the house, to behold with horror a dozen young pins in my precious flower border, rooting and gruntin with destructive glee. The s riek I gave would have done credit to 'Hecate herself, descending upon the intruders with blood in my eye and the blue shirt waving above my head and calling frantically for help from John and the dog. But husbands and dogs on this farm are like the policemen in certain citiesâ€" seldom around when needed. By the time they appeared, flurried and apologetichl had the pigs scurrying and squealing through the barnyard gate and with a few heated remarks to any who cared to listen anent pigs in general and this herd in particular, I went back to view the damage through outraged tears and attempt whatever repairs I could. It was not quite so bad as had first aHPEBI‘Ed. although my thoughts were still hitter as I returned to my wash. iYJE- Here again, I reflected. my city sisters had the advantage. Into their lovely flower beds no pig or roving chick ever dared set foot. I sighed and plumped John's shirt back into the tub. With that the good man appeared again, announcing grimly that he had the roaming so-and-so's well fenced in this time and adding that he was about to drive up to the farmers' co- operative for feed. Was there any- thing I needed? Yes, I needed laying mash and another bag of chick starter. Going through the kitchen to make a note of this in my poultry account, I glanced at the clock. Eleven already! Well, lunch would he a simple meal. There was the remains of Sunday's roast to warm over in the gravy, baked potatoes and apples in the oven, hot still from the wash-day fire. They could bake nicely while I finished the rinsing. Then the phone rang. It was John. Bill Smith. the co-op. field man, was in the village. Was it 0.K. to bring him home for lunch? For a moment my heart went plop, then I heard myself saying that of course, we were always glad to see Bill Smith. So we were. Bill Smith is, as John puts it. a good guy. But guests on \vashday! Happily, Bill Smith is a friend for whom one never needs to fuss. The roast had been a big one. and he probably liked potatoes baked in their jackets and apples with thick cream. I could open a jar of home-canned com and Saturday's rolls could be warmed in the oven. That {lone,.l had just time to tidy my hair, dim the highlights on my nose With a dab of powder and slip into a fresh house frock when the car drove into the yard, bringing John and Bill, the children and the bags of feed. After all, lunch was a pleasant interlude. When Joan and Margie had gone back to school, we three sat around the table haying a third'cup of coffee and discussing such things as the farm forum season Jifistdclosexd, co-o erative enterprises, 00 co - tract; with Britain and the‘F.A.Or., topics upon which people like l3ill Smith often bring a fresh View oint. It was relaxing and enjoyable. ut quite forgot my magazinenthe phone calls and the washing still in the_tub. When at long last it was finished and fluttering on the line, I glanced guiltin at the week-end's accumula- tion of dust, shut my eyes to it and got into my old sweater and slacks. . W. W. COMPETITION Two hours still remained of the golden afternoon before chore time. The garden called with a more appeal- ing voice than the dusty furniture. I had the two hours. Two hours of grubbing_in mother earth, of digging and weeding and transplanting. There were. of course, a few minor inter- ruptions. The children scampering home, for instance, reporting a new robin's nest in the maple tree and begging for cookies and milk. all in a breath. And later, an urgent call to come see a beautiful white calf, with soft muzzle and unsteady legs, being carried home on John’s should- ers from some retreat among the pines where old Lady Primrose had hidden it. But those were not un- pleasant interruptions. The two hours were still a delight. Chores again, and supper. Our farmhouse living-room never seems quite so happy in the warm glow of the lamps. But I‘m dreaming again of softly»shuded electric lights as I tuck the littlest one into bed. Here in the Ottawa Valley we have waited long and patiently for the harnessing of the turbulent waters all about us. My day isn't yet over. I must go down. soon, and see that Joan takes her nose out of “Alice in Wonder- land" long enough to study her spellâ€" ing lesson. Also, I still have to phone Jane and Fanny about that committee meeting. do a spot of mending and make the last trip with a flashlight to the brooder»housc. The birds are silent, now, save for the plaintive call of a lone whipâ€"poor- will. The silver sickle of the moon hangs low in the sky. The frog chorus still goes on, diminuendo, crescendo, diminuendo. The April night is beautiful. The great; Giver of all things has bestowed on us a good day. How Women 's Institutes May Help Residents In Country Homes For the Aged The following suggestions have been cont to L. Ii. liudlnw, Din-czar. Hoch d Iirniwh, Dupnrlmunl a! Public Women's Institutes might sponsor or organize regular entertainments and get-tngethers, such as birthday parties. These might be held each three months and the residents' birth- days falling within that period would be those celebrated. Sing~songs and card parties are entertaining. Bingo games have been found pop- ular in some of the Homes. Small prizes may be in'vcn of. perhaps, 10c a game or there-abouts. The whole even» ing’s entertainment would not run into very much money. Show moving pictures. (Two or three of the County Homes have their own movie projectors and sound cqiiip- ment, which were gifts from various organizations.) Arrange picnics and drives. See that there is sufficient reading material, such as daily and weekly newspapers, periodicals, etc., also playing cards, card tables, checkers, jigsaw puzzles, crosswood puzzles, etc. Friends and relatives of some of the residents may live some distance away and not be able to visit the home very often. while in other cases some of the residents may not have friends or relatives. These people would most likely enjoy having some- one visit them. Other persons might like to have letters written for them, a little per- sonal shopping done, or those with poor vision or illiterate might appre- ciate having someone read to them. In one Home an organization sends a birthday card to each one of the residents. Arrangements could be made for the spiritual advisers of the various residents to visit the Home on F.W.|.C. TWEEDSMUIR CUP“ COMPETITIO NS,1949-1951 This most valuable and interesting proJect begun during the 1945-47 Biennial term, through the generosity of the Ladv ’I‘weedsmuir, has created much enthusiasm throughout the Provmccs. Ladv Twecdsmuir donated to F.W. 1.0., 3 sterling silver cups to be awarded :â€" 1. For Tweedsniuir History Books. 2. For a handicraft project. 8. For an Essay (or for cultural advancement). Following the. recommendations of the Twecdsmuir Cup Competitions Committee, the following are the competitions decided upon, and the regulations concerning same. for the years 1949-5l:~ A. Tweedsiiiuir Histories. . That the History he a group effort and not the work of one individual appointed by the Institute. That the size of the book be left to the discretion of the branch Insti< tute. That it he lonsc leaf and provision be made for a rider between the pages. That special attention be given to the quality of the paper. If possible a good quality of Bond paper should be procured. Suggestions by Dr. Spragge. Judge, 1940 of Twcedsmuir Historicaa I. That it would add very iiurh to the value of these histories were the sources of information given, wherever possible. 2. The source and date of each news- paper clipping should lie given. 3. Pictures should have titles giving the place. date, and as far as pos- sible, the names. 4. That it would be ndvantageous to have the books made up in the order given in the instructions. B. Handicraft. Hooked Rug of Typical Provincial or Cnnadlan Design. ~To be judged for suitability of (1) size. (2) design, (3) colour and (4) workmanship A. Size â€" 27" x 45”. B. Mfllcrinl a rug to he made of used woollen material. C. Type nF Tlu" â€" flour rug (A ronventinnnlizcd design, not sceneri’). (‘.. Essay. The suhir-ctâ€"â€"DEMOCRACY BEGINS WITH YOU. was sugn’csted lly Mrs. Raymond Sayre, President A .C. W. W. 1. Written on one side of paper only 2. 1.000 words. 3. Size of minerâ€"8%” x 11”. 4. Snnie judging score in; 1047-49. Judges are to he chosen by the Sub-Executive Committee. Only two entries mnv he made in each class from each Province. These two entries must have been approved by the respective Provincial officers. No competitor who ulrenilv has been awarded n 'l‘weedsniiiir Cup. mav compete in the some clnss in succeed- ing yeiirs. Detailed instructions for pi-cnnriniz the ’I‘weedsniuir History niav be oh- taincd from the Lnnn Library. The F.W.I.C, will present n silver souvenir spoon to the "runner-up" in each class. other days than Sunday and talk with the individual residents. Some residents having friends or relatives within a short radius of H19 Home would enjoy an afternoon visit with them and perhaps members of the Women's Institutes mic-ht arrange to take them on these visits. Assistance can be given in instruct- ing the residents in the making of useful articles, many of which can be made from salvage.