Patricia L. Atchison

YA Fiction & Non Fiction Author

Whimsical Stories

Somewhere in France (1916 WW1) – Postcards Home

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My Grandmother, Mary Jane, nicknamed Queenie, is the daughter of Edgar Kelly, who enlisted in the Canadian Army Service Corps (C.A.S.C.) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on February 12, 1915, and served in the 3rd Canadian Divisional Train, C.A.S.C.

The 3rd Canadian Division arrived in France by January 1916 and provided supply services, transportation, and a support element to the many other Canadian Divisional Train troops who found their way to The Front (France) during the First World War between 1915 and 1920. Promoted to Staff Sergeant Major 1st Class Warrant Officer on December 14, 1916, Kelly served in the 10th Canadian Field Ambulance Division from March 3rd, 1917, until he was discharged by Reason of Demobilization on April 1st, 1919.

WW1 Postcard Private CollectionThe families of the troops relied heavily on letters and communication from their loved ones during the war, and Queenie was no different. From 1914 to 1918, postcards were sent throughout the world and had worldwide popularity. Families and soldiers avidly sent and collected these small non-descript notes from home and cherished them with love. Canadian soldiers waited over three weeks to a month for news from home, as the mail was processed through England first. [Read more…] about Somewhere in France (1916 WW1) – Postcards Home

Weeds ~ What They Become

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“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” ~ A.A. Milne

I admit, I’m not much of a gardener. I do know the difference though between domestic weeds and flowers. I love dandelions and remember making flower crowns out of their yellow tops as a kid. Years ago, when we first moved out to our acreage in Water Valley (Alberta), all the foliage was wild and I couldn’t have told you the difference between a wild flower or a weed. Our first spring in the country brought an assortment of new growth and while I wanted an area close to the house that looked well pruned and dedicated to simply beautiful wild flowers, I was afraid to pick anything in case I discarded something of value.

So I let everything grow. I nurtured all plants allowing the stalks to reach new heights. Yes, there were plenty of weeds that joined the wildflowers as they sought the same sun and growth in the earth as their counterparts. I even let an area become taken over by thistles. I mean who wants to get pricked trying to get rid of the nasty things (and their roots grow deep and wide). But, as they grew (and they do grow tall), they began to grow buds, stunning purple flowers bloomed. With the blossoms, the plants attracted Monarch butterflies by the dozens. They fed on the thistle blooms and stayed for the majority of the summer.

We did eventually landscape that thistle patch which took over nearly most of the front of the house. It’s sad though because in our hurry to landscape, the Monarch butterflies also dwindled as they traveled away to find another food source.

Oxeye DaisyAnother patch of ‘flowers’ we let grown wild, where what we thought was a daisy. Beautiful tall stalks of lovely white daisies lined our driveway. We enjoyed them until one day our neighbours, who were environmental reclamation folks, took one look at our ‘daisy’ patch and cried that we shouldn’t be letting the Oxeye Daisy, an invasive weed, which is banned in several provinces take over our property! Unfortunately with this weed, if it spreads into pasture land, it can cause health concerns with cattle if they eat it. This was one weed we immediately pulled (it took months) off our property.

Weed are flowers too. They bring different colors to the landscape and even though they try to take over an area, they bring different life and joy with them. I became friends with the weeds, some were quite lovely when they bloomed. The universe is filled with beautiful bouquets of flowers. We try to eradicate the weeds that don’t fit with our norm of a landscaped society, but it’s not only humans who have a stake in the foliage that grows around. Many living creatures in nature need the life that the weeds offer, both above and below the soil.

I’m not so quick to disregard weeds anymore, I like to see how they grow and what they become. It’s amazing to see weeds blossom into something which attracts and sustains life to it.

You Can’t Go Back – a French Fry Story

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Sometimes you just want to go back… whether it is for an experience, to remember an awesome outing or for great food. If you are from Calgary, you will remember that ‘The Bay’ downtown (The Hudson’s Bay Company) had a great little cafeteria on the top floor, and even better, a Malt Stop shop on the second floor.

The Bay cafeteria had THE best french fries and gravy ever. As a teenager back in the seventies, my girlfriend and I would often stop in for french fries and gravy on the way home from a movie downtown. They didn’t cost much and you received a big plate of fries drowning in homemade gravy.

The Malt Stop served good old fashioned chocolate malts in tall glass dessert cups with a long straw and an even longer spoon. I used to stop there all the time when I worked downtown. I remember one day that I absolutely had to have a malt after visiting the dentist. Unfortunately, my mouth was still quite frozen. Yikes – what a mess I made as the frozen treat dribble down my mouth and onto my shirt – unbeknownst to me. But it tasted so great!

Hubby and I talked recently about these two places. The ‘original’ Malt Stop disappeared years ago. They created a new hotdog shop on another floor, but it wasn’t the same. I am not sure if it’s still there. We knew the cafeteria – now a restaurant still existed on the top floor, so we thought, why don’t we give it a try – go for some french fries and gravy.

We made a date Maltof it, and saw the cafeteria had changed their menu along with the décor. It was updated (of course, why wouldn’t it be). We tried the french fries only to discover that with the change in oils over the years – the fries just didn’t taste the same. They were crunchy now with the new oil. The gravy was nowhere near the original – most likely a package mix combination with way too much salt.

We realized you can’t go back. It’s just not the same, and never can be, no matter how much you wish it to be. You have to hold onto the memories as they exist and make new ones, maybe find a new french fry place.

Sadly, my Malt days are over as I’m unable to eat frozen desserts anymore due to tummy problems. Heavy sigh, I’ll just have to close my eyes and strive to remember the taste of what it was like.

We can’t go back, but we can move forward… the burgers and fries are pretty fantastic at the Inglewood Drive-In. The place has been there forever too, but the menu remains the same, and really they do offer a good burger and crinkle cut fries. Haven’t tried their gravy – but who knows maybe one day I will.