Back to the Royal
Mary Elm hi rs ts how ed her pony at the Royal Winter Fair 70 years ago, and she’s back
Mary Ruth of Mar lowe may Farm near Fowlers Corners was five years old when she won a championship at the Royal Winter Fair for showing her pony Dainty in the Under 11 Hands Under Saddle class.
Seven decades have passed, and now she is Mary Elmhirst of Elmlodge farm near Keene. She has helped and encouraged family members in the fine art of animal showmanship, but Mary regret ted that she never showed at the Royal again after her first success. There was no reason she still couldn’ t, she realized, and set a goal to show at the Royal Winter Fair this year.
Her son Billy picked a Hereford heifer for her, Elm-Lodge Easy On The Eyes 43E, born March 4, 2017.
In a switch of roles, her granddaughter Katie coached her on rule changes since 1947, including keeping her arms straight and where her hand should hold the halter. And, Katie warned her, she was not to smile while showing Easy On the Eyes.
Thus it was a poker-faced, straight-armed Mary Elm hi r st who entered the ring three times with her calf on Nov .4 this year. But she was smiling when she accepted the judge’ s congratulations and cheers from the crowd when Easy On the Eyes won all three he ats to become Junior Heifer Calf Champion.
Mary is not sure if she will show again. Perhaps there is something else on her bucket list that needs doing. Time will tell.
Private screening
A private screening of the animated Christmas movie The Star will be show non behalf of the Keene and Hiawatha First Nation United Churches at the Galaxy Theatres on Nov. 25 at 10 a.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance from the temporary box office at Keene United Church, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m ., Nov .21 to Nov .24, or call (705) 295-6952 to make arrangements. Tickets are cash only ,$8.50 per adult, and $5.50 per child. The event is part of Otonabee South Monaghan Township’s Celebrate Canada 150 celebrations. See a trailer for the movie at www.facebook.com/keeneunitedchurch.
Book launch
Otonabee has another novelist and another novel on the list of publications written within the boundaries of the old township. Joining Catherine Parr Traill (who lived in O to na bee in the early 1840s at a place she called Seville), Margaret Laurence (who lived on the O to na bee River near M at chett Line), and Jonathan Bennett in Keene, we have Ron Mac Kay on the north shore of Rice Lake, where he lives with his wife Viviana.
Well okay, Ron’s book is a memoir, not a novel, but he probably has a novel in him, judging by the far flung places he has lived and worked.
Fortunate Isle, A Memoir of Tenerife, is about spending his eighteenth year working on a banana plantation in the Spanish-held Canary Islands, off the west coast of Africa. The frightening Franco regime was in full swing, but helpful islander sand memorable characters took the young S cot under their wings. Ron will launch his book on Tuesday, Dec .5 at 7:30 p.m. at The Theatre on King. It is a pay what you may event.
Christmas parade
150 Years of Country Christmas, 1867-2017, is the theme of the annual holiday parade in Keene this year and the date is Sat., Dec. 9. The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Pinecrest Ave, and heads south, then east to the four corners and north to the Lions Den where Santa will meet with kids and entertainment will be provided. More floats and entries are welcome. Call Mark at 705-295-4693 for more information.
Reminders
• OSM Historical Society meeting, Tues ., Nov 28,7:30 p.m ., Keene library, featuring stories about local men and women who served in the Great Wars.
• Welcome Winter, Harley Farm, Sat. Dec. 9., 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Adults are $10, youth 5 to 14 $6, 5 and under free. A family pass for two adults and four children is $30. Bring pruners, a mediumsized container, and dress for the weather.
• Pickleball, Mon. and Fri., 6:30 p.m., Keene United Church hall.
• Wed. Night Bingo, 6:30 p.m., Gold Room at the OSM arena. Hosted by Keene Lions Club.
Farmer’s diary
1890 Nov. 24, Mon. Yesterday was rather lonely without Lovina but I expect her home tonight on the six o’clock train. The“Governor” too is very sad and lonely. He lays around all the time and won’t speak or make friends with me. He seems to blame me for her being away. In the evening I went to meet the C.P.R. from the east to bring Lovina home.