In June 2004 an English translation firm included the noun “serendipity” in its listing of the English words most difficult to accurately render into other languages. Defined as the faculty of finding valuable connections or agreeable discoveries by sheer accident, it has its origin in a Persian fairy tale entitled “The Three Princes of Serendip.” The heroes of this romance, in current terminology, were always on the receiving end of many “lucky breaks,” particularly insofar

Previously, I posted an article entitled “Southern Manitoba's Most Recent Volcanic Eruption.” Together with it was a picture of the hole made in the top of one of the hills of the Pembina River Valley (some 100 miles southwest of Winnipeg) resulting from this explosion. Since that eruption took place 119 years ago last June, I thought perhaps some of you might be interested in knowing a few more details about this rather unusual landmark. For well over 100 years, sharp-eyed v

Although at first glance this photograph appears to be little more than a spring snapshot of Mrs. Jardine’s apple tree in full bloom, it includes one feature of singular historic interest. In the background, barely visible on the crest of the highest hill, one may see a small white spot. Actually this is a massive hole which, already at that time, had given this section of the east hills of the Pembina Valley the highly descriptive title of “Volcano Hill.” When this photograp