International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th primarily to commemorate a pivotal 1917 strike by Russian women textile workers in Petrograd. Their protest for “Bread and Peace” on February 23 (Julian calendar), which corresponds to March 8 in the Gregorian calendar, sparked the Russian Revolution and led to women gaining voting rights.

It was not anticipated that our venture to McDonald’s Corners would coincide with IWD. Like so many things in life, the coincidence is not without its recognizable parallels; that is, the exhibition at Dean Hall in the old schoolhouse today involves pottery, weaving and quilting.

McDonald’s Corners is a small, rural community in the Township of Lanark Highlands, Ontario, located near Perth and Maberly. Known for its community spirit, it features an Agricultural Hall hosting a Sunday farmers’ market (May–October), the historic Annual Fall Fair, and the MERA Schoolhouse for arts and workshops.

As inclined as one may be to associate the delicate arts of pottery, weaving and quilting with women, I have two pieces of bespoke pottery, one (a teapot) made by a gentleman from the Village of Clayton, and the second (a platter) made by the former mayor of the Village of Pakenham. I pride them both.

What however makes our outing especially meaningful is another coincidence; namely, the pottery exhibit involves the daughter of our dear friend Bunny (whom we anticipate meeting during the afternoon congregation). By further coincidence, we last attended the schoolhouse to see a play “My private Shakespeare” written and performed by Bunny’s son.

There is yet another important detail of today’s adventure; and that is the mere fact of doing it. It has been months since we have seen Bunny (she wintered until recently in Africa); and, it is not often that we remove ourselves from our residential cave except for mundane pursuits such as groceries and car washes.  In short our social agenda has greatly diminished over the past decade. The combination of retirement, aging and death has ensured the narrowing of our channels. Accordingly pointing the hood of the Cadillac along the Wolf Grove Road is a stimulating adventure.

The Wolf Grove area just west of Almonte is a special place in Mississippi Mills. You can see how special it is as you drive out from Almonte on Wolf Grove Road. You drive over the flat, open country of farmland and pastures, over Wolf Grove Creek and up a steep slope into a landscape of granite, forests and beaver ponds. In less than a kilometre the scenery is completely transformed. Amazing! Ken Allison

Featured image: Dominic (ChatGPT)