SASKATOON HOMES chapter 109

In Saskatoon, We lived in three different houses. We started out next door to the church. When the Fire Marshall inspected the church he condemned the space up and behind the pulpit being used as an apartment. We left the house next door and the janitor moved in.

From there we moved to a cute little two-bedroom place on Osler Street. The Bosanko’s became our landlord. We loved this little place. It was about the same size as the first one, but actually had a yard, not a parking lot. We were now responsible to care for a yard, but had nothing with which to mow. Mike put a lawn mower in the garage, but came over every week and mowed the lawn for us. I was embarrassed to tears, but we could not stop him. “You have other things to do.” Right! I was usually sleeping.

Between Mike and the next-door neighbors we had all the tools needed to trim, weed and care for the yard properly. The very kind and elderly neighbors had everything and when she saw my struggles, offered the use of all they had. They had all I needed. With their help I put off buying yard tools for another two years.

The Osler Street house was close to the University of Saskatchewan and Lois Rose came to live with us. She is the daughter of Pastor and Mrs. Rose from Red Deer and Regina. She was beginning her first year of preparation for nursing. It was like old times having her around. There was lots of laughter. It was good for Della as she was really bored. I was gone more than she thought I should. Another person in the house meant more traffic and more interaction. She ultimately got a part time job at children’s clothing and furniture store. It helped her a great deal. Della always loved to be buys. The small house and no children to mess it up meant it was in order rather quickly. The side affect of her new job was increased longing for children.

One morning in April, Della and I were startled to hear voices in our house singing at the top of their lungs. We were both startled and sat straight up in bed trying to get our bearings and figure out what on earth was happening. I finally pulled some clothes on and walked out to hear the singing start all over, “Happy birthday to you….” I was never an easy person to surprise, but this did it. Lois, dear, dear Lois, let all these people in on my birthday for a wake up party. I have never had a birthday breakfast party. I don’t remember if there was a cake, but I think not. I am still groggy from the thought and can’t remember that happened, other than they all had to quickly leave to get to school and work. We did not feed the breakfast. Likely they would not have liked out choice of cereal. Lois did not even bother to tell Della. She was just as surprised as I.

After two years on Osler, we bought our first house on Preston across the street from the Bosanko’s. I didn’t mind the layout of the house, but it needed work. Della could see past the mess better than I. The yard was nothing but weeds. They were so tall it looked like we would need a tractor to get them down. Actually, that is what we used in the back yard. It helps to have farmer friends. There was garbage inside that filled many a trashcan. Everything needed to be painted. The basement had not been improved but helped us to examine the structural integrity of the house. It was structurally sound, thankfully. So we bought our first house. We bought that house for about $16,000 and lived there for two years.

I love the youth group who came over several times to help clean up by cutting weeds, hauling out trash and painting. I still have an image of big tall Larry Clark crammed inside the kitchen cupboard under the sink painting. I couldn’t even see how he fit.

It was convenient living across from the Bosanko’s. I had never had Borsht before she introduced us to the delight. We both loved it and began having it delivered regularly, and not by request. We were invited to their home for Sunday dinner quite often. I think they figured it was their responsibility to protect this young couple. I was fine with that. What a spread. They always had a large group in and more food than found at a commercial buffet. Then there was the added benefit of, “Here, take this home with you. It is too much for us.”

Two years later we sold that house for $20,000 to our successor at the church and two years later they sold it for $40,000. We should have stayed two years longer.