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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

More Flooding.

Duluth, Mn.

Three weeks after the flood in Thunder Bay, On, our sister city, Duluth, Mn suffered the same fate.

We had a fish on our road, Duluth has a seal, who escaped from the zoo, on the mail street, downtown Duluth.  The seal got back home, safe and sound.

Here are a few photos.







Sunday, June 10, 2012

Teddy McDonald, Racing Cars. June 6, 2012


My Dad and his first wife Margaret, had 6 children but only three survived. Theresa, she moved her family to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jack, stayed in Fort William, Ontario, and William Harold, who died during the invasion of France, June 6, 1944. Margaret passed away October 1925. My dad married my mom Barbara in 1934. Life got in the way and dad’s first family never really got to know us. By the time we found my dad’s last remaining family, two grandson from his first marriage it was too late to have a family relationship. Ted the youngest had a stroke, Jack the oldest is living in British Columbia, but Jack and I do keep in touch with emails. Ted had two children Teddy who lives here in Thunder Bay, and his sister Kellly who lives in Southern Ontario. My sister Monica and I met Teddy at his father’s funeral, March 2009, in Fort Francis, Ontario. Teddy, Bill and I have met for coffee a few times. It is so interesting being with him, his late mom was a good school friend of Bill's. He looks like a McDonald but he's his mother's son. Teddy loves racing cars so a while back when I saw these fabrics I knew I would make a quilt for him. He can share it with his two children, son Bristol and daughter He now has a caring Great Aunt, me, and I couldn’t ask for a better Great Nephew. Today Wednesday June 6th was a perfect day for Teddy to receive his quilt. It is 68 years since the death of William Harold McDonald, (Bill) and the 31st year since the pasting of Teddy's mom Francis, both are gone but not forgotten. This is Teddy's quilt.

Time Sure Flies.


These last few months got away from me quickly. Bill’s health issues start out seriously but after many tests and doctor appointments they ended up being, not total good but manageable. 
Dr. Dhurjon, ophthalmologist, order a Fluorescein Angiography and Retinal O.C.T. test in May, done at the hospital. Bill has Diabetic retinopathy—damage to the blood vessels in the retina, the blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. Dr. Dhurjon is holding off with the injections in Bill’s eyes hoping they might get better, so we will have to see the doctor more often for check ups. Waiting time in this doctor’s office for us and about forty other people is three hours. Taking care of Bill is no problem for me, I just don’t have time to visit our local quilt shop, or do some quilting.
During this tiring time, I decided to look at my stash. I have more fabrics than I can use if I had two life times. I found a good home for the fabrics I know I will never use, although when I purchased them I had such great plans. Durning the month of May I made kits from the beautiful fabrics I received as gifts for my birthday and Christmas. 
Now on to sad news, May 29th we had a flood in Thunder Bay. I have lived here all my life and I have never seen anything like this. We were told that the sewage treatment facility is state of the art and that something went terribly wrong which crippled the plant during heavy rain conditions May 25th to 28th. 
Our dear sweet friend Maria, lost so much. Her friends and I are heartbroken for her. Here are her own words.
3-4' of water in my basement. Was away visiting my Dad. Joan took one for the team and saved our sewing machines! Got it pumped out to 6" last night, but over a foot this am. Had everything in bins to protect my goodies, and they just floated and tipped over.
Thanks everyone. We are still pumping as the water is still coming in! Took a bunch of dry things out and put them in a storage room. Lots of wet stuff into the garbage. Was really worried 















flie