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16 NORTH LEEDS LANTERN Baggy New Year From Florida About the year 1965, a group of Canadians set out to explore another land, their pioneer blood again surging through rapidly hardening arteries. An older generation, husbands and wives who had worked hard, fulfilled their duties to families and jobs, now bravely accepting a new position called "retirement." Travel brochures arrived from a country once available only to the wealthy and the honeymooners. They told about white sands, salty azure oceans, the sounds of the ever-changing Gulf of Mexico, of the peace of the interior where oranges grew on trees for the picking. And about something called "Efficiency Units," which were cheaper to live in for a winter than keeping Canadian houses, cars, and bodies warm. The new land, of course, was Florida, the northern parts of Florida, usually desolate after the summer tourist trade, now trying to attract a viable winter business. So the men packed the tools of their new trade (golf clubs and euchre cards), the women cleaned freezable items out of cupboards, packed away the things in which moths, mice, and weevils would love to set up housekeeping for the winter, cooked hard-boiled ,x/eggs and chicken for the "first day on the road," sadly kissed their grandchildren goodbye, and once again accompanied their men to set up homes in a new country. The working clothes of this generation were now golf shirts, complete with little embroidered creatures, running shoes, shorts, halters, and unisex sweaters, jackets, and caps. Like their ancestors before them, these pioneers, now officially known as "Snowbirds," were in for some nasty surprises. Those first "Efficiencies" were sadly inefficient. The beds had been well-used by the summer tourists, and the hardware stores did a booming business in the sale of bedâ€"boards. The units lacked most of the essentials for cooking, and most women came home with an extra set of pie plates, casseroles, and a cheap saucepan or two. The heating systems were funny little boxes on the wall which doubled as air-conditioners, and, yes, in January and February, and sometimes in December, both were a necessity. Such dishes as there were had lost many a battle with sharp knives, now dulled, and the scars all showed because they were all plastic. The water made strange tasting tea, and the soft Southern voices were gentle and kind, but hard to understand. There's a saying in the South that "once y'all get some sand in your shoe, y'all will be back." And indeed they did go back, and took their friends and relatives with them. They learned to cope, as they had always done. At first, everybody tried to maintain traditional Canadian cooking, especially at festive times. One memorable Christmas, our roast chicken became stew when I discovered, too late, that the "efficiency oven" lacked elements. And the pumpkin pie, mixed on the floor of the bedâ€"sitting room because there were no wall plugs anywhere else, became pumpkin custard. Or something. Gradually we learned that "hush puppies" don't necessarily get worn on feet, "hopping John" is not a five year old boy playing games, and fried okra is delicious. But the look of horror on the face of a Southern waitress when a visiting daughter poured maple syrup on her breakfast grits served, as always, with the bacon and eggs, is still a chuckling family memory. So the cultures once again began to meld, and the result has been a wonderful mix of recipes becoming tradition for yet another generation. My Laurie refuses to start the New Year now without the blackâ€"eyed peas supposed to guarantee good luck. These days that "Snowbird" tourist trade is booming; new, well-equipped condos vie for the multi-billion dollar industry, and those early days are no more. In fact, there's a joke going around that Canadians n0w own, as well as rent, so much of Florida that it is in danger of becoming our newest province! Eleanor Thomson PREPARATION WHILE YOU WAIT OR BY APPOINTMENT DAY OR EVENING FARMS - BUSINESS AND PERSONAL BEEISIBALIQN Junior Kindergarten Leeds G ille “‘3 ['8er Kindergarten Registration COUNTY BOARD Of EDUCATION The Leeds and Grenville County Board of Education invites parents of Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten-aged pupils to register for the 1989â€"90 school year. Please call your local school on or before Februagy 3, 1989. 0 Junior Kindergarten pupils must be 4 years of age on or before December 31, 1989. 0 Kindergarten pupils must be 5 years of age on or before December 31, 1989. Early Childhood Screening In co-operation with the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville District Health Unit, a health screening information session will be held at each school for parents of children 3 to 5 years old. This health screening includes: vision, hearing and dental assessment, and an opportunity for parents to discuss the develognent of their pre-school-aged children. Where appro- priate, a referral to other cannunity agencies or services will be provided. For Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten registration, veri- fication of tax support, proof of age (birth certificate) and the child's immnization record will be required. If your child is to be transported by bus, the school office will need to know the lot and concession number of your residence. Please hone our local ublic school on or before Februa 3 to schedule an appomtment for tFllS rgiStration. Frank 7 Kinsella Director of Education ALLSTATE ‘ ' IS YOUR NEW NEIGHBOUR SEELEYS BAY Robert Flood Chairman of the Board GOOD NEIGHBOURS, THERE WHEN YOU’RE IN NEED. That's when makes SEELEYS BAY o neighbourly place. Allstate Wingood F . G . TAX SERVICE HWY 42 NEWBORO PHONE 272-2121 Richard Couper 387 -2156 ,0