Leona Lemire
Ah, retirement!! After working for most of my adult life in banking and for Trans Alta Utilities, it's nice to be able to be at home. I enjoy getting up in the morning and taking my time reading the paper at breakfast time. I like to keep in touch with what is happening back in Saskatoon, so often spend time on the net reading the Saskatoon Star Phoenix. Retirement isn't all sleeping-in and lounging around the house either. I have noticed that I still have a schedule that I tend to follow and often find that I have to "make time" for myself!
I have discovered that I have a talent for sewing (taking courses have helped), in addition to my knack for crocheting. I still am the Chief Cook in the house which keeps me busy baking bread, making pies and other treats that use up some of the many berries and garden produce that we grow every year.
We generally have the garden in by early spring around the same time that the robins arrive. Once the garden is in, we are free to start our summer travelling. Some of the trips we have been on in the past include the Yukon and Alaska, the Northwest Territories, and once to my favorite... the Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada. Our travelling lately has been mostly around Alberta and Saskatchewan on what has become our "Rodeo Circuit". Paul and I have become familiar with many of the Chuckwagon racers, and have taken in the Cowboy Poetry and Western Art Festival. It was quite interesting and enjoyable!
By autumn, we make one or two trips to see our granddaughter and her parents, as well as an attempt to travel to Saskatoon and Calgary before the snow flies. Soon after, all of the Christmas baking and gift buying has to be done and the annual letter to friends and relatives that we don't see often has to be written. Before I know it, Christmas has come and gone, the new year has started and it's time to start preparing to do it all over again! Has anyone else noticed that time is flying by too quickly?
I hope that all who visit our little "homestead" find themselves happy and healthy and are enjoying life to it's fullest! You don't have to wait until retirement to be happy and do what you desire! I find that browsing through catalogues and shopping helps!
