Lac des Roches ladies of Boultbee Road held a retirement tea for Marguerite Neill on Aug. 23. To accommodate their honoured guest, the "travelling tea party" arrived at Marg’s home mid-morning, complete with tea, coffee, condiments, mugs and Elsie Clarkson’s famous coconut cake. The morning was filled with stories about Marg and Tony’s years at the lake, and in particular, the generous dinner Marg hosted for years for anyone on the road during the August long weekend. Marg has been an inspiration to many of her neighbours by her tireless contribution to her family business and to the community over the years. She admitted the long hours of driving between Lac des Roches and 100 Mile House would definitely not be missed, as there were just too many close calls with other vehicles and wildlife. She and many of the women reminisced about the earlier days of living on the lake without power, water or television, and the many ways the adults helped each other out, especially during cabin construction, and how all of their children managed to safely entertain themselves while living near water and wilderness. Eventually, it was time for the women to gather up the empty thermoses, used mugs and cake crumbs and leave the Neill household more or less how they found it. While it was a great excuse for a party, we all couldn’t be happier for the Neills and their new retirement status.
Connections
High-speed Internet service is imminent for Lac des Roches residents. The location is prepared and awaiting delivery of the tower. Whether full-time or seasonal service is desired, installation requires residential on-site setup. Residents who will be out of the area during the fall and winter months may wish to make access arrangements prior to leaving the area by calling BC Wireless at 250-395-4397.
Gang entertains
Lac des Roches boasts residents with a variety of talents and the James Gang, which performed for an appreciative audience at the Bridge Lake Fair, is another example of the type of artists and entertainers that come from the area. Prairie James, Steve James and Ed Salos, the well-known trio that make up the James Gang, have been entertaining in the South Cariboo for seven years. Their various songs and styles have allowed them to offer their services to weddings, community events, club dances and private backyard parties.
Green gardens
The summer weather we have been enjoying in late August is helping the area gardens finally produce some amazing vegetables. Not to be outdone by some of the impressive produce displayed at the Bridge Lake Fair, local gardeners are boasting late but plentiful root crops, zucchini, peas, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans and my personal favourite, kohlrabi. With freezing temperatures in the not-so-distant forecast, it is going to be a nightly guessing game as to when to harvest crops before the first deadly frost hits.
Berries so so
Saskatoons, raspberries and huckleberries are just passing their prime for picking. Thimble berries are now ripening sporadically. It seems there is no predictability with the berry bushes this year. Bushes side-by-side that may have both produced pounds of berries last year may have next to nothing to harvest on one or even both this year. Good luck to all that are able to find a healthy patch for picking and be mindful of the bears that are everywhere, looking for the same elusive berries this year.
Quiet meeting
The Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake annual general meeting was a relatively quick and quiet Aug. 25. All executive positions up for re-election were filled by the existing incumbents by acclamation, as no new names were brought forward. A member’s update, which will include meeting business, will be posted on the website, www.lacdesroches.org, at the end of September.