It was Canada Day in Bury. There I was at the bright orange-clothed Townships Sun table, facing the entrance of the Armoury. Hungry hordes came in waves to get strawberry shortcakes served up by stalwart volunteers of the Bury Historical & Heritage Society. A fair number stopped and chatted with me.
For which I was grateful. Some even leaned over me to speak confidentially. I confess we were mostly mask free. I confess it was fun. I confess a good time was had by all.
The latest mutant of the novel coronavirus stopped by and apparently had a great time too.
We came down with something about 48 hours later, feeling woozy and a little feverish. We picked up a Rapid Response home testing kit at the pharmacy. I was never very good at chemistry (which is why I chose journalism over nursing in those faraway days when girls’ career choices were rather more limited). But it was kind of fun, setting up the tiny test tube and employing my huge magnifying glass to follow the minuscule instructions. Swabbing, swirling, squeezing out three drops, and timing the whole procedure.
My test was negative, but John’s was definitely positive. The fever stayed three days, the fatigue and coughing stayed longer. After two weeks, he tested negative (which is a good thing), but he still feels relatively weak.
In our household, we are all in the high-risk category. I hear about the rising rate of Covid hospitalizations. I learn that multiple reinfections can exacerbate the severity of the illness. I observe that carelessness has its price.
We feel fortunate to have had all four vaccinations. But I learned the hard way that the virus is not finished with us. Fact is, in following the zeitgeist and letting down our guard, we’ve been had.
RAGTIME IN CONCERT
In the Parc aux Braves in Cookshire, on Sunday, August 14, at 5 p.m. is planned a concert, Ragtime et compagnie with Catherine Meunier, percussionist, and Steve Normandin, accordionist. In case of rain, the concert will move to the St-Camille Catholic Church, 170 Principale East.
This is the final concert this season in the Concerts Apéro series organized by the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery.
BINOCULARS TO WIN
Children age 13 and younger: It’s not too late to join in the drawing contest at the Sawyerville Library, 11A, Clifton Road, sponsored by the Toronto Dominion Bank. The prize will be a pair of binoculars and the draw will take place on Wednesday, August 17. Library hours for delivering the drawings: Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The drawings will be placed on display at the library, although it is not necessary to be a member of the library to participate. For more information, please contact Ann Rothfels at 819-875-5438.
COOKSHIRE FAIR
The Cookshire Fair is back, August 18-21. What’s planned? Arts and culture exhibitions on the ground floor of the main building. A wrestling match and bingo on Thursday evening. Arm wrestling competition on Saturday afternoon. Tractor and truck pulls on Friday and Saturday night. A horse pull on Sunday night. Animal judging classes Friday through Sunday. Latino dancing Sunday afternoon. Winslow dancers Friday and Saturday night. A family zone with more than 25 rides and games for youngsters and teenagers.
Entrance for ages 7 and under is free; for others, $10 for Thursday, $20 for Friday and Saturday, $15 for Sunday, or the whole weekend for $45. Questions? Contact Barb Ward at 819-640-7367 or Myrna MacDonald at 819-875-5393. For information in French, visit expocookshire.com.
FARMERS’ MARKETS
August is the high season for farmers’ markets, with their fresh veggies, baked goods, crafts, jams and jellies, music and outdoor friendly visits. The market in Canterbury (Canterbury Centre, 1095 Victoria Road) is on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; in Dudswell, on Saturdays at 9 a.m. to noon; in Bury (in Memorial Park, or if it rains, the Armoury), on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and in East Angus, on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MURMURS ON THE MURS
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at the Parc des Braves in Cookshire is the multimedia show about the history of Eaton Township. Murmurs of the Township, or Les Murmures du Canton. It begins at nightfall on the murs (walls) of Victoria Hall, Cookshire Elementary School, and St. Peter’s Church. The 30-minute wordless image and sound show can be viewed twice each evening.
EATON CORNER MUSEUM
The Eaton Corner Museum at 374 Route 253, Eaton Corner, is open Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entrance is free for members; non-members pay a fee. Info: 819-875-5256 or eatoncorner59@gmail.com.
JOHN-HENRY-POPE
The tourist information bureau at the Maison de la Culture John-Henry-Pope, 25 Principale West, Cookshire, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CHURCHES
Anglican. An in-person Sunday service is planned for August 7 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church in Cookshire, August 14 at 11 a.m. at the Brookbury Church, and August 21 at 11 a.m. at St Peter’s Church in Cookshire. For a schedule of services, visit deaneryofstfrancis.com and click on the “Calendar” link. Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
United. An in-person Sunday service is August 7 at Sawyerville United; August 14 at the East Clifton United; and August 21 at the Trinity United in Cookshire. All the services are at 10:30 a.m. Check the answering machine message at 819-889-2838 for information; the regular worship schedule will resume at the end of August.
Baptist. In-person services are in French at 9 a.m. and in English at 11 a.m. The Sawyerville Baptist Church plans to celebrate its 200th birthday on September 3 and 4. For information, please contact Pastor Michel Houle at 819-889-2819.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by August 8 for publication August 17, and by August 22 for August 31.