This weekend I experienced the panic one has when a fire gets out of control.  It made me think back to the number of people who had their education in one-room schoolhouses interrupted because of fire.

My father and husband lit a big fire at our cottage to burn stuff.  There was no wind, but all of a sudden the flames starting burning shrubs and trees up the hill.  The bank is very steep.  My husband has had his hip replaced, and my Dad is 85.   I was the one able to go up and down the hill many times trying to stamp out the flames.  They handed me pails of water.  I was choking from the smoke and my leg and arm were burned.  Fortunately, another man was able to help, but the hose only had a dribble of water coming out of it.  It was pretty scary, but we managed to get it under control.  I soaked in cold water for over an hour and luckily I have no blistering...only lots of scratches from branches.   ....lesson learned.....smaller fires and have buckets of water nearby!

I'm so pleased to report that you are one of over 6400 unique visitors I've had to my website in the last 12 months.  I love hearing from you!

I received an email from Jane  jph2000ca@yahoo.com  who said my book
brought back so many wonderful memories when she attended a one room school house near Seaforth, Ontario in the 1950s.  She been looking for a book listing some of the one room schoolhouses in her area but have not found any.  Would anyone know if there is a data base somewhere of all the one-roomed school houses in Ontario?  Where would they have kept the school records?  Would report cards still be around somewhere from that time?  Would there be a list somewhere of all teachers who taught near Seaforth, Ontario?

I suggest people contact their local School Board and Historical Society to find out more information.  If you can help Jane, please email her at the above address.

I'm really looking forward to seeing "Schoolhouse" by Leana Broodie.  I'll be there signing books too.  For every book sold at any of their shows, I'm going to donate $5 to Lakeside Players.  As a long-time member of Kanata Theatre, I firmly believe that community theatre needs to be supported, so come on out!

On Saturday, April 21st I had the opportunity to meet many women at the Provincial AGM of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary society of women educators.  I am president of the Canadian Federation of University Women in Kanata and lead a group called the "Guitar Groovers".  We were the entertainment for their conference.  Many of these women had been students and/or teachers in one-room schoolhouses.  Adele Muldoon was in attendance and her story is on pages 53 & 54 of my book.

Next week, The Lakeside Players are performing "Schoolhouse" by Leanna Brodie.  It is being directed by Don Fex and co-directed by Cathy Dosett.  Schoolhouse will be presented from May 3rd - May 6th, 2012 at Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre. 

Schoolhouse explores timeless themes of rejection, of compassion, of damage, of hope. Full of warmth and poignant humour, Schoolhouse evokes a way of life shared by generations of North Americans. It explores the themes of rejection, compassion, damage and hope. The play takes place in and around a one room rural schoolhouse in 1938.

Show times are as follows -

May 3rd @7:30 p.m.
May 4th @7:30 p.m.
May 5th @ 6:00 for Dinner, show is at 7:30
May 6th @ 2:00 p.m.

TICKETS ARE $12.00 for Adults. $10.00 for Students and Seniors
Dinner and Theatre prices as follows - Adults $35, Students and Seniors $33

The Dinner Theatre show at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, will be served as a Buffet Dinner.  Reservations are needed.  Food Service is provided by Brad Henderson Catering.