The End of June 2021

End to end beach dogs- our alpha female is in the lead

The year is half over already, and time rushes at "triple speed" compared to my childhood perception of time.  At this stage of life, I have stopped looking far ahead and try to get as much out of each day as possible. Time is too precious to waste! 

We spent a lovely day at a one of the rare Ontario beaches that allow dogs to roam freely. This dog beach was at Port Burwell Provincial Park on Lake Erie, and it was stunningly beautiful. All Ontario Provincial Parks are offering free day use during the 2021 season from Monday to Thursday, which was an unexpected bonus. In spite of the hot temperatures, the water was very cold, but the dogs in their fur coats did not mind at all. 

A severe line of thunder storms came through our area yesterday causing considerable damage from strong winds. This tree on our block was completely uprooted giving everyone in the neighbourhood a chance to view Middle Earth. People were drawn to the gaping hole, left by a tree with roots too shallow to withstand the wind and wet ground. There are all kinds of life lessons in this picture.

If you didn't see Middle Earth in the last picture, you can see Fairies and Gnomes in our newly constructed Fairy Gardens. We have fun playing with the figures when we FaceTime our three year old granddaughter. She insists that all the "Berries" and Gnomes meet at the blue house for a dancing party. One of the gardens will eventually make its way to her home. The unpainted houses cost $4 at Dollarama and Canadian Tire sold the little figurines at a fraction of the cost of fairies and gnomes at Michaels. 

On the way to and from the beach, we passed a farm where alpacas, llamas, ponies, and goats were spending the day together in a field. These young alpacas played together with great energy, like all young creatures do. I didn't notice that the farm was open to the public, but perhaps it will allow visitors when the pandemic is over. Thankfully the shoulders on the highway were wide and it was safe to stop for pictures. 

June is not the best month for birding, but this male Yellow Warbler stayed still long enough for a photo. They are our most commonly seen warbler, and I love their song and inquisitive nature. Many warblers remain in the forest canopy and are hard to see from the ground, but Yellow Warblers are often seen at eye level.

My happiest story of the month is the progress of a post-COVID patient who has been in hospital for five months now. After their first outing, when family were able to come and visit in the hospital driveway, the patient made great progress. This week they walked for the first time since admission, and plans are underway for rehabilitation to continue at home. The isolation that COVID patients face during a long hospitalization is very demoralizing. It becomes hard for them to envision life again in the community, especially when they have lost so much strength and function. The joy on this patient's face during the first walk made me so grateful for the opportunity to work at the hospital during the pandemic. 

I end with a quote from an author I discovered this month.

“Joy does not simply happen to us. 

We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” 

Henri Nouwen

Fox Scream!

 Fox photos by The Becka

Foxes are a wild animal that I rarely see anywhere in Ontario. Coyotes are more commonly found as they venture into city subdivisions from time to time, or roam in farm fields. This year, our neighbourhood has been home to a family of foxes. The city is expanding quickly to the south-west and a lot of farmland and bush has been graded for houses in the past couple of years. Wildlife will be more common in urban areas as we encroach their natural habitat. 

These foxes are bold and observe us as much as we observe them. My daughter took the pictures on this page with an iPhone so the animals were quite close. We have encountered them several times recently on our street and in our next door neighbour's backyard. Come to think of it, the young bunnies in the neighbour's yard aren't around anymore. They used to come under our fence in the evening to eat clover in the lawn.

Two foxes across the road at dusk-  one is screaming

This weekend at dusk, we heard screaming that would strike terror to the heart of anyone who heard the sound. It was close to our house but I was afraid to go out to investigate as it sounded like a murder in progress. Finally I found the courage to go into the yard and was very surprised to see a pair of foxes sitting across the road. One of them was clearly the "screamer" and I thought it must be gravely injured.  In the meantime, my daughter was looking up "fox screams" online and discovered this is one of several vocalizations that foxes use when communicating. I could not imagine hearing this in the dark in a lonely wooded area! We ask our grandchildren to tell us what various animals sound like and get responses like "neigh",  "oink", "moo", and "roar". Listen to this short video to see what a fox sounds like! It isn't easy to imitate.

At least I will know what it is next time. 

Climate Change Gardening

Brittle Prickly Pear, Lavender, Sage, Ohio Spiderwort

I enjoy gardening as a relaxing hobby, but do not have the time or ambition to cultivate high maintenance plants. I prefer to buy vegetables at farmers' markets rather than growing them. As a sentimental person, I still care for plants I took from Grandma's garden when she moved from her big house in 1985 to a condominium. Her peonies rarely bloom in my garden, but her irises, evening primrose, and pulmonaria do well year after year. 

Climate change between 1981 and 2010 has resulted in significant changes in plant hardiness zones.(source) Our area has shown a modest increase from zone 5A to 5B while parts of Western Canada have shown more dramatic changes of up to three zones. Our summers are hot and dry for this latitude, and periods of drought that last for 6 weeks are not uncommon. We had a very dry spring and the proverbial "April showers" were mostly absent. In addition, we have sandy soil, better suited for a beach than a garden and lawn. I am seriously looking at what thrives in my garden so that daily watering is not a necessary chore. 

Our neighbour gave us a small cutting of brittle prickly pear cactus last year. After the winter it was shrivelled and flat, but it has grown extremely well and is covered in yellow blooms right now. It loves our sand and sun. We also planted a clump of Ohio spiderwort, a native plant, and it is spreading well with lovely purple flowers. Perennial herbs often do well in poor, dry soils and lavender and sage need very little attention from me. Our tarragon has grown like a shrub. 

Milkweed, Lavender, Hens & Chicks, Sedum, Deck annuals

I allow some milkweed to grow at the back of the garage in order to attract Monarch butterflies. It is very invasive with running roots, so we dig new shoots up in the spring. Succulents like hens and chicks, Thompson yucca and sedums love our garden. 

The only annuals I purchased this year are in pots around the deck where they are easy to water. 

I want a garden that attracts pollinators, birds and butterflies. Perennials add interest as different plant species bloom at successive times during the growing season. 

Our yard will not make the cover of a gardening magazine, but it is a lovely place relax with a "cuppa" and a good book. We added a 10x10 foot portable canopy this year. It really has been our best purchase this year, allowing us a place to visit a few friends outdoors, rain or shine, while staying socially distanced. 

The Parable of the Gracious Father

The Return of the Prodigal Son- Rembrandt, circa 1667 A.D.

This week I read Dutch priest, Henri Nouwen's book, "The Return of the Prodigal Son: A story of homecoming" and highly recommend it as a thorough and very personal look at the parable in Luke 15. Henri Nouwen was so moved by viewing Rembrandt's painting, which is displayed in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, that it inspired his spiritual journey and the eventual writing of the book. Some claim that Rembrandt's work, completed within two years of his death, is the greatest picture ever painted. The canvas is 6 feet by 8 feet and the photo below shows it in perspective.

In Brian Zahnd's book, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, the author also speaks of how moved he was when he saw the painting. If you look closely at the hands of the father, the right one is a fine, female hand and the left a strong, masculine hand. There are so many meaningful details included by Rembrandt. 

This week's biographical sketches of ancestral fathers on both sides of my family left me knowing, without a doubt, that all these men loved their children dearly. They were imperfect fathers, and some of their transgressions may require our gracious forgiveness. I know my own father loved all of his children, but he could not express his love easily, and at times left us feeling that we had to earn his favour and approval. I have written openly about Dad's family, but he had difficulty talking about his history and wanted to hide the human faults that are present in all families. 

The father in Luke 15 models a perfect example of parental love, acceptance, extravagent grace and forgiveness. 

• The father allowed his son to make his own choices and did not stop him from taking his inheritance, even when he knew it would be used wastefully. His love allowed for risks.
• The father was patiently waiting and watching for his son's return. He never gave up hope for reconciliation. 
• The son knew in his heart where home was. Hard times made him appreciate the good things he had left behind.
• The father came out to greet his son when he was still far off in the distance. The son did not have to stand at the gate and wonder if he would be accepted.
• The father's love and forgiveness did not include scolding or punishment. There were no conditions that needed to be met to in order to receive the father's love.
• The father accepted his son into his arms before he was cleaned up. He loved him as he was. 
• The father knew how to throw a party!
• The father demonstrated equal love for both his sons, the one who had been obedient (but was bitter) and the one who had lived disobediently and recklessly.
• The father demonstrated that "there is no fear in love"(1 John 4:18). Too often, fear of punishment is used to control others.

As humans, it is difficult for us to demonstrate this kind of lavish love. We tend to treat others based on our perception of how they treat us. We hold onto our hurts, bitterness and resentment for too long and add conditions in order for others to receive our affection. We are critical and judgemental. We try to control and manipulate others, demanding respect, which can really only be earned. Sometimes our expressions of love are stifling, and we do not allow others the freedom to follow their own path, even if it seems destructive. I thought of this as I watched the Peregrine falcons this week as they encouraged their young to fly. The risk of failure was high, but it was the only way they would learn to soar.

Even if our earthly fathers fell short of this standard, our heavenly Father still stands as a gracious, loving and forgiving parent. It is unfortunate that "older brother" religious traditions use fear to control, and add conditions to God's love. C.S. Lewis once said, in response to a debate on what makes Christianity distinct from other religions, 

"It's grace. 

 The idea that God’s love comes to us with no strings attached 

seems to go against every instinct of humanity."

Happy Fathers' Day to all the men in my family, past and present. 

May we, as a family, exhibit the extravagent grace and love of God

 to this generation and generations to come.

We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives.

 Fatherhood does not come with a manual, 

and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail.

 We ask for Your blessings for them all – and forgiveness where it is needed.

This Father's Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make 

for their children and families, and the ways – both big and small – 

they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach.

 So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void 

when fathers pass early or are absent – 

grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, 

pastors and coaches – and the women of our families.

 For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility 

in the face of the task of parenting. 

Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.

 In Your Holy name, O God, we pray.

 Amen

 Rev. Chuck Currie

1914- Great-grandfather Ernest Hackett- Part 3

 I have several more letters from Ernest to Kate written between 1907 and 1914. Some of them are dated only with month and day and I cannot place the year they were written. Neither Ernest, Catherine or Evelyn had easy lives in this period of time and finances were always tight. While Ernest spoke of his desire to be reunited in England, this was never meant to be. I end his story with two poignant letters from 1914, the year the Panama Canal was completed. There is no word of Ernest after the last letter when he said he was going travel 200 miles north in search of work. (I would estimate his age to be between 40-45 at this time and will update this when I get further documentation on his birthdate). The first letter was written to Eva, my grandmother, in response to her letter to him.

Ancón, Panama

Aug 17th 14

My dear daughter

In the precious name of Jesus I send you these few lines hoping them to find yourself and mother well as it leaves me at present still trusting in Jesus for all his goodness to you and Long since you have heard from me. But I am still thinking of you my dear girl, and of your dear mother whom I have not seen for such a long period of time...

The next letter, his last, is dated December 1914.

I am brokenhearted ****at this time and season of the year when 'wives' and Husbands are happy together with their children we are yet thousands of miles apart which brings me nothing but sorrow and grief, for at this rate I cannot be happy. I have tried my uttermost to send you money for Xmas. But I am sorry to say from the month of August, just as war was declared with the nations, everything here in Panama and Canal Zone shut down and I was thrown out of employment...

...by the time you receive this I hope to be at work again. I don't know what the Lord has for me in store *** I shall have to go 200 miles up country in 'search' of something to do that I may be able to support you and my little girl. I cannot just now comment on your last letter until future.

                                       from

                                         your Husband

                                              Ernest

And so ends the story of Ernest Hackett as I currently know it. Catherine and Eveline Hackett came to Toronto Canada after World War 1 in the year 1921. There are so many places where this story could have deviated, and our family line would not exist as it does today! I wonder what Ernest would think if he knew that through Eveline, he has at least 66 descendants to this date? 

Kingston Earthquake and Return to England

Granny Hackett with her daughter and six of her Great-grandchildren

PART 2 of Ernest Hackett's story...   Romans 8:18-30

 My brother Nathan and my cousin Sharon offered more information on the Hackett family since my last post, so I may update the following information at a later date. Nevertheless, here is a start at the next installment of Ernest and Kate's story. 

"The 1907 Kingston earthquake which shook the capital of the island of Jamaica with a magnitude of 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale on Monday January 14, at about 3:30 p.m. local time, is described by the United States Geological Survey as one of the world's deadliest earthquakes recorded in history."source

Cólon 1907

Dear Kate,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am yet alive but I am still suffering from severe pain...for 6 months and have not been able to work. I do not enjoy good health...

I have not much to say at present. I will try to send some money over by next mail for the Lord has open the way for me once more...

My cousin Sharon wrote to me this week, 

"When I was in Florida one year I visited the Panama Canal Museum. They had a whole section about the West Indians going to work on the Panama Canal. The one thing they were told was they would not survive and to bring their coffins. The curator gave me a website to look for our great grandfather's application to work at the Panama Canal".

West Indians provided the bulk of the workforce for the construction of the Panama Railroad and the Panama Canal, and between 1850 and 1914, untold numbers sacrificed their lives, limbs and mental faculties to the Panama project. (source) It is possible that 22,000 workers died during the French construction period and hospital records indicate that 5609 workers died during the American construction period. West Indian workers were paid poorly and lived in substandard housing. The Americans hired them because they could pay them even less than they would have to pay American Negroes. Olive Senior wrote a highly recommended book to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal in 2014 called Dying to Better Themselves. It is priced as a textbook on Amazon and is unavailable in our local library, but I would love to read it to understand Ernest's story better. I do not know if the injuries Ernest describes in the letter are from the earthquake or from his work on the canal project.

After the Kingston earthquake, Catherine Hackett decided to return to England with Eveline and baby John. My aunt told me the Salvation Army paid for their passage. John apparently died during the voyage and was buried at sea. Ernest wrote this goodbye letter.

So good bye until we meet again, be it the will of God. Kiss the children for me. I 'dear' not say any more for my heart is full of grief and sorrow. God only knows I am still **** looking unto Jesus. Dear Kate do not forget God and his mercies.

I am yours, Ernest

affectionate Husband

Catherine returned to England and lived with her family. Nathan found information about the household in the 1911 census. Ernest continued to work on the canal project and sent money and letters as he was able. 

Part 3, the final post of the story, will be published tomorrow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Census 1911

Catherine Mary Hardman

Census • England and Wales Census, 1911

 

Cite this Record

"England and Wales Census, 1911," database: 3 May 2019), Catherine Mary Hardman in household of John Hardman, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

Copy Citation

Event Type	Census
Name	Catherine Mary Hardman
Sex	Female
Age	29
Event Date	1911
Event Place	Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Event Place (Original)	Ashton Under Lyne, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, England
Sub-District	Ashton Town
Registration District	Ashton Under Lyne
Birth Year (Estimated)	1882
Birthplace	Ashton U Lyne, Lancashire
Marital Status	Single
Occupation	COTTON REELER
Number in Family	5
Relationship to Head of Household	Daughter

Catherine Mary Hardman's Parents and Siblings

John Hardman

Father

M

56

Ashton U Lyne, Lancashire

Event Type	Census
Name	John Hardman
Sex	Male
Age	56
Event Date	1911
Event Place	Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Event Place (Original)	Ashton Under Lyne, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, England
Sub-District	Ashton Town
Registration District	Ashton Under Lyne
Birth Year (Estimated)	1855
Birthplace	Ashton U Lyne, Lancashire
Marital Status	Married
Occupation	COTTON WARPER
Number in Family	5
Relationship to Head of Household	Head
Registration Number	RG14

Hannah Hardman

Mother

F

58

Stoneclough, Lancashire

Annie Hardman

Sister

F

27

Ashton U Lyne, Lancashire

John Hardman

Brother

M

22

Ashton U Lyne, Lancashire

Albert Hardman

Brother

M

25

Ashton U Lyne, Lancashire

Peregrine Parenting

 

This post is a divergence from family history, but it is a story of parenting as well. A pair of Peregrine Falcons nested this year on the 9th floor of the hospital where I work. Their four chicks are about 10 weeks old now and they fledged from the nest this week. Males are approximately 25% smaller than females so they tend to fly sooner due to their lighter weight. I have not seen the birds during my shifts as I work on the 6th floor and do not have access to the 9th floor, which is our laboratory. 

I had today off and headed to the hospital early as the sun position is ideal for pictures in the morning. The first bird I saw was one of the adults perched on the large cross at the top of the building. The birds have a wingspan of about one metre, which is about half that of a Bald Eagle's span. They are a good sized bird but it still took time to find them on the face of the building. A volunteer from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation was there and she helped me locate the six birds. 

She pointed out the adult female perched on the left near one of the fledglings who was resting on a ledge below her. Apparently she had delivered a seagull for breakfast before I arrived.

This fledgling on the left did not move during the hour I was there. The construction that was happening at the front of the hospital has been put on hold for now which is why the building looks a little shabby. 

The adult male was high on the antenna above the "H" sign with another of the fledglings. This was the only youngster who had ventured away from the main building so far this morning. It is looking upward but it did not leave the perch while I was there. 

Every so often, the adult would circle above the hospital, calling to the fledgling and encouraging it to fly. 

Two fledglings had flown up one level and were on the right side of the building. One of them decided to seek out its mother and rather than flying, it noisily walked across the entire 9th floor ledge to the area where its sibling was resting on the left. The birds are very vocal and it is a wonder that I have not heard them inside this week. A neighbour told me they are active and calling from 5:30 am to 9:30 pm. Each young bird has a unique tag so the volunteers know who is who. I believe this was Discovery. 

Volunteers from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation closely monitor the birds from early morning until dark. They have had to rescue three fledglings this week. One fell on the road, another in a flower bed, and one got stuck in a window near the dome of the chapel in the centre of the hospital building. The young birds are not strong enough to lift off from the ground at this time. They can only fly from a significant height, and it is a high risk but essential exercise.

The volunteers are very knowlegeable and said that the survival rate for young peregrines in their first year is about 20-25%. They are working hard to improve those odds. The fledglings should be flying well by the end of the month and the volunteer vigil will end. The birds are expected to stay in the area for the rest of the summer while the parents help them improve their hunting skills. I do hope the Care, Faith, Compassion, Discovery manage to survive inspite of the unlikely odds. 

Great-Grandfather Ernest Hackett- Part 1

Ruth, Eveline and Lois Tolman

A few years ago, Aunt Lois gave me a box of letters written by Great-grandfather Hackett to Great-grandmother Hackett between 1906 and 1914. Ernest Hackett is the least known family member of the 20th century, and to my knowledge, no one has a photograph of him. My grandmother, pictured on the left as a young woman, must portray some of his features.

My brother Nathan has shared his research that uncovered some names and dates, shedding light on the Hackett story.

The baptism record of our great-grandmother "Granny Hackett" 

Baptism: 6 Nov 1881 Holy Trinity, Prestolee, Lancashire, England

Catharine Mary Hardman - Daughter of John Hardman & Hannah

    Abode: Aston under Lyne

    Occupation: Warper

    Baptised by: Edwin William Appleyard

    Register: Baptisms 1862 - 1906, Page 99, Entry 786

    Source: Manchester Central Library

Catharine Hardman/Heardman 1880-1974

The marriage of Catharine Heardman and Ernest Hackett (spelling variation of surname):

Marriages at St Luke in the District of Weaste, Salford

Marriages recorded in the Register for the years 1899 - 1904

Marriage: 1 Mar 1902 St Luke, Weaste, Lancashire, England

Ernest Emmanuel Hackett – 27, Traveller, Bachelor of 65 Ariel St.

Catherine Heardman – 22, Spinster of 4 Athol St. Seedley

    Groom's Father: David Hackett, Deceased, Cooper

    Bride's Father: Thomas Heardman, Brushmaker

    Witness: Benjamin Edward Barrett; Maud Mary Elizabeth Gregory

    Married by Banns by: H. A. Smith

    Register: Marriages 1899 - 1904, Page 124, Entry 248 

Marriage of Ernest and Catherine (Found by my brother)

The birth of their first child, Dora Hackett:

Baptism: 18 Feb 1903 Stowell Memorial, Salford, Lancashire, England

Dora Carrington Hackett - [Child] of Ernest Emmanuel Hackett & Catherine

    Abode: 67 Lord Nelson Street

    Occupation: Labourer

    Baptised by: Arthur Botterill

    Register: Baptisms 1898 - 1905, Page 185, Entry 1478

 

In the box of letters from Aunt Lois is a record of Dora's death at the age of 2 years old: 

 

Our grandmother, Eveline Hackett was born in Wales on January 20, 1905 to Ernest and Catherine. 

EDIT: My brother has provided the information below since the post was first published earlier today. 

Eveline Hackett

England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008

Event Type:	Birth Registration
Name:	Eveline Hackett
Event Date:	1905
Event Place:	Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Registration District:	Llanelly
Volume:	11A
Affiliate Line Number:	36
Registration Quarter:	Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year:	1905

 Ernest Hackett was from Jamaica and he and Catherine moved to Kingston around the time that Eveline was born. 

April 6, 1906

Ernest's letters were written from Cólon, Panama where he worked on the Panama Canal project from around 1906 until 1914. In this letter dated April 6, 1906, Catharine "Kate" and Eveline are living in Kingston and Catharine is expecting another child. 

Ernest writes," ...if you are still bent on going home (to England) before I can return to Kingston I should like you to leave little Eva with someone for me. "****" will take care of her for so many people, men and women here ask after her. Spend your money careful and do not neglect to eat and drink hearty that you may have strength in your coming sickness. Try to get to the hospital and have an interview with Matron or some experienced midwife. 

Catherine gave birth to a son named John but we have no record of his birth and his story is hearsay. Imagine if Catherine had returned to England and had left Eveline in Kingston! Would I be here?

Ernest Hackett was of mixed race and I wonder at his parentage and ancestory. Undoubtedly he was a descendant of slaves. Who were his European relations?

More to follow....