Happy to be Canadian
Each week I share a short original story about life in rural Canada. There are moments of nostalgia and other times when you will be wondering what will happen next. Some episodes are poignant, some are funny, others are insightful. All are short. With episodes under 10 minutes, you have just enough time to finish your coffee or tea while you enjoy a memorable story.
Episodes
47 episodes
Cycling the Ports of Elgin County - Episode 47
Susanne faces the challenge of bicycling over 100 km from her home along the north shore of Lake Erie to visit all four ports in Elgin County. It's a test of will and a little tailwind wouldn't hurt. Find out where Manfred will be waiting for h...
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7:19
The Porch Chair Quandary
When some porch chairs with creative innovations are separated in the spring weather, Susanne and Manfred have to figure out where like sitting best, or do they.
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7:15
How an Ugly Barn Changed Everything - Episode 45
When Donna Sue Grove's mother bought a farm with a run down barn in Ohio at the turn of the 21st century neither she or her daughter had any idea how they were about to changed to rural landscape across North America. In this week's episo...
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9:13
Revelling in Irish Movies
The week before St. Patrick's Day has Susanne yearning to know about Ireland. Join her as she captures the mythology and heart-breaking realities and stereotypes of Ireland through sunshine and in shadow.
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8:12
Learning Gaelic - Episode 43
Susanne's Scottish ancestors may or may not have spoken Gaelic when they landed in the colony of Canada in 1854. Somehow she's drawn to the language either by blood memory or wishful thinking. Join her as she attends an introductory Gaeli...
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8:31
A Surprise Trip to the Bottom - Episode 42
From snow storms to once in a lifetime opportunities, travel with Susanne and her daughter Kate as they take on one of the seven wonders of the world.
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9:38
A Maple Syrup Day in the 1970's - Episode 41
Maple Syrup making has changed significantly over the centuries, but a day in the forest in the 1970's is vivid for Susanne. Join her this week as she recounts this truly Canadian experience.
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6:11
Going to the Moon, Again
More than 50 years after the first efforts to orbit and land on the moon, there is another NASA-led enterprise to circle the moon. And this time, a Canadian is scheduled to be on board. Susanne remembers the success of the Apo...
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8:29
Bad News comes in an Old Letter
When Susanne finds a letter from 1965 address to her Grandfather she is taken back to a terrifying afternoon when the grandkids were terrified of an attack but one of them was brave enought to make a run for it.Join her as she remembers ...
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8:58
Family Traditions Start Simple
A photographic family tradition has stretched over 130 years and across the North American continent. Susanne shares a family tradition that still gives their family joy.
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6:19
Oat Cakes Remembered
Episode 37. This is something different. It is a short excerpt from a longer historical fiction piece that I am writing. It is based on the true exhumation of the largest skeleton of mastodon that happened near my home ...
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8:30
Cross Border Cousin Connections
When all of Susanne's great Aunts moved to the United States looking for work in the 1930's in made a big shift in her family's history. Today, with the uncertainty between the United States administration and Canada, those relationships ...
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7:03
Cooking in the Danger Zone
Knowing a little bit about food handling safety procedures can make you uneasy when you are making sausages at home. Join Susanne and she and her family try to make venison summer sausage with a meat grinder and a thermometer. Oh, and sca...
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9:08
A Night Before Christmas Gift
The Night Before Christmas was first published over 200 years ago. Reading it is one of Susanne's favourite Christmas traditions. Please take a few minutes, sit back with your family and remember this charming rhyme that has ...
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4:45
The Remnants of Christmases Past
After the hubbub of the holiday passes, memories and meals are mixed with loss and laughter to create another Christmas surrounded by family and pets. Susanne reflects on Christmas 2024 and many other memories get thrown into the mi...
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6:10
It Took Nine Seconds
Years of worry ended in nine seconds when all the stars aligned for the new cupola to be installed during the major reconstruction project of the Crazy 8 Barn in Palmyra, Ontario.Let Susanne take you through the anguish and the joy that ...
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8:04
Osage Oranges from Décor to Guerilla Gardening
Can you imagine finding a heritage home filled with the gigantic fruit of an Osage Orange tree? Well, Susanne did and you can find out here how that adventure turned out.
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7:56
Frosty in the Summertime
You can conjure up that old Christmas feeling anytime if you have an old Victrola and a group of rangy kids. Hear how Susanne and her friends and family brought an old snowman back to life on every summer vacation.
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5:31
Tamaracks are Golden Memories
When the Tamarack trees turn gold in the cool days of November, Susanne recalls the days when private pilots were plentiful and friendships were formed through flight and food. You'll hear about a little yellow airplane and how it c...
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7:38
First Snow Brings Back Memories
Artists from around the world collaborated to make one of the most cherished Christmas animation movies from the past half century. It was one of Susanne's favourites. Find out how it came together, and watch out, there's singing.
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6:29
Creating a Goddess of the Corn
When harvest rolls around, we want to show our appreciation. One autumn Susanne and Manfred created a Corn Queen to honour the bounty of the harvest. This week you'll hear how they accomplished it.
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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6:52
Reaching in to the Dangers of the Past
Susanne has plugged the combine while harvesting corn. Listen where she wanders to as she reflects on the dangers that have faced farmers in the past and how they coped with them.
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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8:37
A Harvest Race
Susanne takes you into the combine with her as they race against the weather and the setting sun to finish up a soybean harvest.
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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13:23