24 Comments
User's avatar
Fog Chaser's avatar

Such a wonderfully written piece — and a beautiful homage to your heritage and community. And even though we are from very different parts of the continent, so many of these experiences feel familiar. Also, I really like the paragraph break illustrations!

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

Thanks, friend! Such kind words. To a large degree, the nostalgia of childhood is universal. Happy you saw yourself here.

Expand full comment
Donna's avatar

This brought me back to my childhood. Thank you for writing about it with love. I pray the people of Ukraine will prevail. They are a brave people & we owe them so much in Canada.

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

I agree. The gifts of Ukrainian culture are so present in the prairies.

Expand full comment
Hal's avatar

Sounds like good living up there. I remember how exciting it was to visit people with a trampoline. :)

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

And dangerous!

Expand full comment
Shelly Kainz's avatar

I just love how your words are so poetic and how they rekindle similar childhood memories for me. Warms my heart and soul.

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

Thank you, Shelly. I'm pleased to hear that my words brought memories back for you. ♡

Expand full comment
Amber's avatar

This is incredible. Seriously wow. Thank you for doing your thing.

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

Thanks, Amber. Who would have ever thought I'd task myself a weekly creative writing assignment?!

Expand full comment
Patricia Cameron's avatar

So many moments in this lovely piece evoke the joys and trials of childhood and the complexity of ancestry and our colonial/settler heritage. Heartful!

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

Thank you for this comment, Patricia. I feel all of this when I sit down to write. I appreciate you sharing your time and attention.

Expand full comment
Denise Sweet's avatar

Beautiful written! 😊 Reminds me of when I was young. Riding our bikes to the neighbours on graveyard roads!

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

A classic prairie kid way to pass the time. ♡

Expand full comment
Denise Sweet's avatar

Beautiful written! 😊 Reminds me of when I was young. Riding our bikes to the neighbours on graveyard roads!

Expand full comment
Carmen Vilness's avatar

It wasn’t summer until I had rocks imbedded in my knees and of course stubbed toes 😆

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

No sunburns? Actually... I always got my first sunburn in spring. Ha!

Expand full comment
Carmen Vilness's avatar

Definitely sun burns. My mom smelled of coppertone and slathered us with it but I have many red headed family members, which my skin takes after🥵

Expand full comment
Stephen Stock's avatar

I'm really enjoying these essays. Your writing is so nice and paints such beautiful pictures of your life. Thanks for sharing!

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

Thanks, Steve. Nice to see you here. I think of our time in your backyard often. Watching cardinals at the feeder. Or orioles?! Shit. Now I can't recall...

Expand full comment
Stephen Stock's avatar

I remember that time fondly as well. We get both Cardinals and Orioles but I'm sure it was Cardinals at that time of year. I'm really enjoying your writing ... thanks for sharing and have a great evening.

Expand full comment
GRB's avatar

I grew up on a farm in rural Ontario and though, while not on the wide open spaces of Saskatchewan, even there it seemed like there was a big world out beyond the fields and gravel road near our farm. A farm that had been in our family since arriving from England in 1853. Your post brought back so many memories, memories of hours spend on a tractor circling fields like a zamboni driver which certainly gave my imagination free rein, biking gravel roads or dirt paths or being on a party phone line. (I even remember our ring was 2 longs and a short) Your writing style created vivid pictures & stirred up memories long tucked away. Thank you for that.

Expand full comment
Belle Plaine's avatar

Thank you. ♡ And I think I've finally cracked the code of your initials. :)

Expand full comment
GRB's avatar

Named after my Uncle, a paratrooper in WW2 and then my Dad's name.

Expand full comment