Rita Butt
- Instructions may help plants with wacky weather
- Don't let downturn get you down
- Citizen advisory group advises police on neighbourhood problems
- Money mystery solved, started as simple act of kindness
- Leaf Czech mates meet their fans old-school style in Stouffville
- Politicians needto put us first for a change
- Nothing could rain on our parade, or the doctor
- Reach out and touch someone through our Santa Fund
- Graduating students need stable government, job prospects
- Playing Santa too much like hide and seek
- Dispel the gloom with music and holiday lights
- Our carriers deliver toys, good will during December
- New principal, SDSS made for each other
- Farewell to my front-row seat on all things Stouffville
- SDSS, new principal perfect fit
- Civic centre debate proves everything old is new again
- Computrs r not so bad 4 kidz after all: study
- My dad’s Christmas presents? Orange and a pair of socks
- In praise of local shopping, Stouffvillites
- Shock treatment for SDSS students
- Express hockey program clearly on right track
- Santa Claus parade brings back fond childhood memories
- ‘Best place on earth’ brand hides biodiversity crisis
- Collecting food items warmed up a cold parade
- Answer to renewable energy, jobs is blowin’ in the wind
- How much for a Stouffville taxi ride?
- Quality not quantity, please, automakers
- Edgy Downie gets fresh start with Lightning
- Life is sweet for chocoholics the whole year through
- I used to have reasons, too, for not donating blood
- Biggest salute of Remembrance Day from a little lad
- Which part of recession do teachers not understand?
- Memories made at student concert
- Warriors, Cardinals put on their game faces
- Bazaars used to be for bargains, meeting old friends
- Let’s speak up for country we want
- Permanent reminders of heroes who built our town
- Hard to get used to accepting equalization handouts
- Modest veteran surprised by presentation of war medals
- Fair president’s recovery capped eventful year
- Growing income gap affects everyone in region
- Lions Hall has a special place in our collective hearts
- Real solution would be complete cellphone ban
- Facility fees catch attention of sports groups
- Hockeyville? We are not worthy, Stouffvillites
- Garden of lingerie on display for all
- Snow is child's great pleasure
- Today’s children have information at fingertips
- Small-town project touching lives in big-time way
- Well-coiffed Harper won by more than a hair
- Growing income gap affects us all
- Aaron’s the star of 16th music night
- We were poor as children, but didn't know it
- Helping students today open eyes to work world of tomorrow
- Early-morning end to dramatic night in our riding
- Election signs were sign of things to come
- Electoral system needs repairs
- Smile, you can make new friends
- New look at A,B,Cs with teen expert
- Shining light on colour mystery
- We have to put human race in its place
- Friday night Toronto bus trek the way to GO
- Top 10, or so, reasons to vote Conservative
- Markham Fair 2008 lives up to its hype
- Trees, like pets, part of family, missed when gone
- Economy, environment key issues
- It’s a time warp to be back as editor
- Will handwriting some day go the way of Latin?
- Dave Teetzel: Death of a newsman
- Selling our fair to newcomers
- Can’t see the forest for the trees
- Lloyd wows them in national finals
- Dave’s last column
- Funnies only ours after dad was finished
- Whose environmental plan do you trust?
- A community that honours Terry Fox so well
- Sad if language challenges sink Stephane Dion
- Homecoming fit for Olympic medallist
- Fishing big part of family trip
- Where have all bugs gone?
- Elders have more to teach than so-called idols
- Those aren’t cameras, they’re cell boosters
- Public transit on minds of voters
- Thanks for election nobody wanted, Harper
- Harper’s Campaign Nasty already under way
- Cardinals back in nest, 50 years after big win
- White, green signs not erected by GO or Roughriders fans
- The small-town adoption of Karen Cockburn
- Canadian politics just like three-down football
- Another world on other side of border
- Winds blow Team Ontario chances off course
- Our perceptual filters, lenses shape the world
- Bar band sounded right to Guess Who, too
- Sponsors make key contribution to youth sports
- Lifetime in Scouting moulded many boys
- Preparing for Gibson bass tournament
- Library column goes beyond Google
- Teenagers’ long showers can take toll on hydro bill
- German politician shows green changes possible
- A little knowledge served up with your madness
- Back-to-school shopping trip not too painful
- Everyone loved Stouffville's Mickey
- Skills gone, not forgotten
- Protecting half of forest may not be enough
- Cindy’s love of figure skating remains strong
- Water, water everywhere, but not to drink (unless it’s bottled)
- Youth anglers fishing for big prizes
- Widespread bullying has disturbing impact
- Act shows what happens with co-operation
- That was very fine Vino served up in Stouffville
- Widespread bullying has disturbing impact
- Mechanic’s handiwork nears perfection
- Storm dodging prominent during July fishing
- Today’s children need to get outdoors more
- Saturday in the park no music town extravaganza
- More than fishing for fishing clubs
- B.C.’s biodiversity important to all of Canada
- Ever play tourist right in your own back yard?
- Some summer job stories you never tell people
- Where public relations isn’t given lip service
- D’oh. Doughnuts worse than tobacco?
- How to avoid exercise in failure
- Full moon leaves this columnist moonstruck
- Ecosystem changes when elements go bad
- Slow ride home hits commuters where they live
- Ers, ites, ians and gonians can tell us where we’re at
- Carbon tax needed as much as other tariffs
- Province cops out on energy crisis
- Get in the dog house where you belong, Stouffville
- Technological strides in 50 years quite amazing
- Plastics were the future, but they may be our past
- New anglers join the ranks in area clubs
- Rainforests could be valuable to our future
- Your guide to life in this small town
- Bullies rule with Unsafe Schools Act
- Yes, I do tend to burst out in song
- Symbiotic relationship among birds, trees
- Going broke still hurts, even one penny at a time
- Big shooter just another player on this team
- Travelling fun, but great to be home
- T-shirt, shorts? Don't mind me, I work from home
- Power monger runs into Georgina chainsaw
- We don't know what it's like to be left out
- Make rendezvous with bilingual swim teachers
- Up to us to improve lake health
- Consider volunteering for CAS
- Sickening how hospital funding delayed
- A little help, here, please, Mr. McGuinty
- Daily catch limit your total possession limit
- Stojko has every right to speak out
- When it comes to cars, we're creatures of habit
- Going downtown, again
- Keep your eyes peeled for tagged perch
- Not all buildings worth saving
- Taking control from Day 1 shows your dog who is boss
- Tiny bugs causing big troubles in forests
- A little idealism can still go a long way
- Early-morning wake-up call for inclusion
- Medication helping YRMG editor
- Muslim doesn't mean terrorist, neighbours hear at seminar
- Sadly, taser means no muss, no fuss, no hassle
- Malls are social network sites
- Grizzly bear protection almost non-existent
- You don't smell like you did last week, Stouffville
- Watch your driving as eye in sky flies above
- When house training puppy routine is Job No. 1 and 2
- Preserve salmon stocks to provide food for tables
- Girl's brown dreadlocks remain grey area
- Overwhelmed by readers’ support
- Females still have tougher time in politics
- Ex-Canuck proud world championships are in the homeland
- Lake trout, whitefish highlight of season
- Artificial a good switch from real
- Frogs are bellwether animal for environment
- Job No. 1 should be keeping sports fun for all
- Can we maintain that loving feeling, Stouffvillians?
- Trout season marks start of big year of fishing
- I miss dad and those old songs
- Fight for environment picks up unusual allies
- 60-year wait for recognition finally over
- Why are we not raging over long wait times?
- Fred C. Cook-book raises money for school
- Winged signs of bad luck
- Your actions were evident during Earth Hour
- Torch protests unfortunate, but necessary
- Lack of applause from arts community on 19 Park?
- Hired hands take on our white grubs
- Sad to think gambling tops in entertainment
- Patience rewarded during bass trip to Mexico
- Dangers of using pesticides in your yard
- If you weren't at the game, you didn't miss the game
- No complaints, just do your homework
- Outing to Africa trip of her lifetime
- Where have all the scarecrows gone?
- Volunteering changes lives
- Scientific information easily accessible
- Got game? Not bowling, Stouffville
- Shouldering pain a bedside disaster
- Right to ban smoking in cars with children
- 15 years and still loves column
Columns
September 09, 2008 10:07 AM
By: Rita Butt
Have you seen all the mums on sale everywhere? They are a joy to behold.
Of course, we know they are telling us summer is over, but we can say goodbye with gratitude and enjoyment.
In all the grocery stores and nurseries, everyone is buying up mums in every colour and smiling to see them so healthy and full of buds.
It is interesting to see people who have bought pots of mums carry them off, all the while smiling with enjoyment and thinking of the joy and surprise on the face of the recipient.
I don’t think we had mums when I was young. We had different popular flowers.
We had calendulas, asters, nasturtiums, hollyhocks, phlox, marigold, dahlias, zinnias, lilacs and choke cherry bushes.
We had to plant annuals in early spring, with seeds outside in wooden frames covered with an extra storm window.
I don’t know if they sold plants somewhere, but even if they did we couldn’t have afforded them.
Anyway, packages of seeds sold for 10 cents and if you went to the farmers’ market you might find shoots of perennials at a good price.
Neighbours exchanged roots of their perennials’ successes.
They didn’t sell flowers in grocery stores. We didn’t have “we sell everything” stores then.
We bought different things in different stores, drugs at the pharmacy, bread at the bakery, meat at the butcher’s, books, records, toys and cosmetics at Woolworth’s, furniture in furniture stores, clothes in department stores and flowers at the flower shop.
We only favoured the florist when we had weddings or funerals.
It is amazing how much people love flowers and bushes. They smile just to see them.
Even wild things along the side of the road — corn flowers, Queen Ann’s Lace, Tiger lilies, daisies and clover bring happiness to us all.
Soon we will be seeing sumac in its full glory and maples in a blaze of colour.
I don’t remember when an autumn was so beautiful. Of course, we know this is due to all the rain we had earlier, but driving through the countryside and seeing fields and woods in beautiful shades of green and all the lawns bright and healthy is really wonderful.
Other years, things were almost colourless and burned up by this time of year.
We know we are blessed to have this wonderful mum-friendly weather and I hope you will all remember how fortunate we are and be grateful for these pleasant fall days this coming Thanksgiving.