Winnipeg, Winkler, Steinbach and more

We had just settled into our temporary home at 246 Strood when events started to pop up. Our first event was to attend the gallery showing of Cliff and Wilma Derksen's art pieces. It was a private showing with some of Lucy's cousins from the area. It just happened that we were in the area so it was a great opportunity to visit with this group.

Neil & Ruth Block, Henry & Gladys Block, Gilbert & Adeline Berg, Cliff & Wilma Derksen and Thomas & Lucy Baerg. Cliff took us on a short tour of the exhibit and then we met together for a brunch.

Our next adventure was our drive to Winkler via Carman, Manitoba

After driving through a major thunder storm with heavy rain, the skies opened and we had a perfect day for our visit.

The village of Carman is very welcoming..

This is the view from Peter and Julia's 6th floor, east facing balcony.

Peter and Julia Neufeld. Julia is Lucy's sister.

After a delicious lunch we headed back to Winnipeg. This time via Plum Coulee, Manitoba. These old, painted, wooden elevators are a dying breed and are being replaced by massive concrete silos.

This sign is in honor of our friend Rosemary.

Another short trip out of the city to Steinbach, Manitoba to visit the Mennonite Heritage Museum.

The museum is set up with a similar pattern to match the villages the Mennonites had in Russia.

The whole museum is a work in progress. Here the workers are thatching a roof of a house/barn complex.

The school is located mid-village.

Not unlike some of the classrooms of our early education.

Multipurpose stove.

A typical transport trailer and of course the tourists to go with it.

This is an actual working replica of the mills used in Russia by the Mennonites.

The museum also includes a storage space for restored early vintage automobiles and tractors.

The homes and other display buildings are set up with period pieces to make them as authentic as possible.

Wood mullioned windows, intricate artwork on the moldings and of course the standard curtains and geraniums. 

A church window design remained the standard for Mennonite churches build in Canada.

Interior view of the church

We had the opportunity to visit with Sue Doerksen. Sue is a relative of Lucy's and the mother of our very good friend Ernie Doerksen.