Seven Brothers
Seventy years ago, in 1954, seven brothers lived quietly on their family farm near Port Stanley in Elgin County. They shared it with their three sisters. None of them ever…
Photography
I’d like to introduce you to a new photography website - ta-da - jimstewart360.ca. Lots of photographs of places and objects. Also lots of information on farm equipment and astronomy.…
Roxie Spencer
Without Roxie, the city of St. Thomas likely wouldn't have a dog park. At least not in 2010 when the first one was built. Because, a couple of years earlier,…
Half a ton of pet food
Day 27 of the US government shutdown. Food banks are helping feed furloughed federal employees. Animal shelters are helping feed their pets. This is short-term desperate need. These are people…
Pet Food Bank
Eight years ago today, the St. Thomas Dog Owners Association started a pet food bank. Here is my St. Thomas Dog Blog, Dec. 31, 2010 post about it. I've removed…
St. Thomas Happy Endings
From my St. Thomas Dog Blog, Dec. 11, 2010 It’s been a good week in St. Thomas for happy endings to harrowing animal tales. First was a stranded Canada Goose…
Dog Park Groupies
From my St. Thomas Dog Blog, Sept. 24, 2010 When I began going to the Hamilton Road dog park in London several years ago, I never thought about how it…
Acts of kindness
From my St. Thomas Dog Blog, Feb. 3, 2012. Reposted in honour of Rebecca Schofield's acts of kindness renown. Ms. Schofield, of Riverview NB, passed away Feb. 17, 2018. She…
So this is Christmas
From the St. Thomas Dog Blog, December 2011, this is my summary of STDOA events and animals of the year. Christmas - and what have you done. Looking back at…
Wilma the Cat
In honour of Wilma, cat colony princess, who died yesterday in St. Thomas ON. Reposted from St. Thomas Dog Blog, March 29, 2012. Wilma was a homeless cat who was…
Training at the Dog Park
This week in 2010, we in the St. Thomas Dog Owners Association were doing a final spit and polish on our new Lions Club Dog Park. I posted this May…
Happy Meals
In Memoriam: In honour of our Phoenix hen Grayneck. On Dec. 23, 2016, Grayneck died of natural causes, aged 4 1/2 years. She is survived by her four sisters. The…
The Dog Park
Went to the dog park yesterday with the boys. It was a mauzy day, light rain and cool. I figured nobody would be there, and I was right. It was…
Spot the Fire Muster dog
I decided to do a little creative grooming for the Fire Muster. White Poodle plus Fire Muster Dog Show equals Dalmatian Look-alike contender! So I checked with my groomer, a…
Fire Muster
The Fire Muster is this coming weekend - Labour Day Saturday and Sunday - in Pinafore Park, St. Thomas. A chance to see fire fighters, fire trucks old and new,…
Giving shelter
Years ago, I went to the London Humane Society with a friend. While she looked for a cat, I stayed at the front desk. I was horrified – justifiably or…
Death and Repose
From my St. Thomas Dog Blog, Apr. 13 2010 - in memory of Jack who died 7 years ago today Today is the 13th anniversary of the death of my…
Turcotte, the movie
If you live in or are from New Brunswick, if you’re Canadian, if you like horse racing, the NFB has a film for you: Secretariat's Jockey: Ron Turcotte (2013). In…
Coming Home
Coming home after an absence, you see it differently. When you leave one home to visit another, you get it both ways. Going back to Ontario after a year in…
Hampton Court House
The 140-year-old Court House in Hampton, New Brunswick has heard its last case. Court cases for Kings County will now be heard in Saint John. The town knows a new…
Tale of Two Dog Parks
I don’t know if St. Thomas dog people and City Hall are still battling about weeds in the dog park. Please God, I hope not! Of all the issues that…
Interlibrary Loan
I wanted a book a while back. The St. Thomas public library didn’t have it and neither did the local bookstore. Did I want to drive to London to look…
Elgin County Dog Show
The Elgin County Kennel Club wants to come home to Elgin for its annual dog show. It would be nice to have it here in St. Thomas. I’d probably go…
Jeep
I got me a Rubicon! I’ve never had a Jeep, always wanted one. In my head, I have a list of vehicles, or types of vehicles, that I want at…
Luanne Demers, Founding President
It was with much sorrow that we learned of the passing of a lovely woman – our friend and founder of STDOA Luanne Demers. Luanne died of cancer, too young,…
Walking in the Woods
When I moved back to southwestern Ontario, I thought walking in the woods would be over for me and my dog. Groomed parks maybe, but no acres of forest or…
Recorded Campaigning
This election I don’t know who I’m going to vote for. When the electioneering machine started cranking up, so did the recorded messages. You know, the taped messages that lazy…
St. Thomas Ford Plant
In Grade 11, at St. Thomas’ Arthur Voaden Secondary School, I was the only girl, and only Art student, in an English class with Shop boys. I had read most…
The Public Library
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time in the library. It was in an old house on Main Street in Belmont, right near our house. I…
Elsie 1997-2011
Elsie Rose died yesterday, Sept. 1st, peacefully with her family beside her. She is buried at Sandy Ridge Pet Cemetery in Eden. She is mourned. This was written last Sunday.…
Dear Cat Dumper
To the person who dumped a grey tiger and white male neutered cat at Waterworks Parks on or before July 4, 2011: He’s doing well, considering. He misses you and…
Waterworks Cat
I’d planned to write something about this past week’s national birthdays but I’ve been busy – dealing with someone else’s problem, I think. We have a new cat, found in…
The MINI Wave
I’ve noticed something this year, or rather the lack of something. MINI drivers in the London area are not waving at each other. Forest City MINI Club, get the word…
Snow Day
Our backyard late last night. All the snow had gone, even the mud had started to dry up. Then bang, last night, a snowstorm. A mixture of rain, freezing rain…
Lake Erie, North Shore
A few years ago we went east along Lake Erie, as far as Port Dover. We started in St. Thomas. It took us four days. Coming back, we took larger…
Resort Towns (Feb. 2/11)
Brighton, in December, although still a fairly bustling city, bore little relation to Brighton in June or August. Jury often felt there were few things bleaker than a seaside town…
A Dog’s “Night before Christmas”
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes…
Dog blankets, beds & coats needed! (Dec. 8/10)
All Breed Canine Rescue needs beds for foster dogs. If you have washable dog beds, fluffy blankets or towels to give them would you please contact allbreedcaninerescue@sympatico.ca. ABCR is being…
People without sense to come in out of the rain
Last week in our community paper, the St. Thomas/Elgin Weekly News, there was an article about a good and caring citizen and chiropractor Dr. Denise Colledge. For the second year,…
Commodity Dogs
Dogs and cats have always been a part of my life - an important part. Most of them, from my childhood and adulthood, have just come along and stayed. An…
Horse: Free to a good home
A few years ago, I got involved in finding a home for two Standardbred ex-racehorses whose owner had died. Neither were broke for saddle, they were getting up in years…