I arrived in Winnipeg yesterday evening under a huge dark cloud that loosed a bit of rain, but not much of it apparently, despite how menacing it looked.
My friend Bonnie, where I’m staying, surprised me with a delicious supper of pickerel. My favourite fish!
Today was the first day of the conference The Russlaender Mennonites: War, Dislocation, and New Beginnings, part of a larger commemoration of the arrival in Canada of the first Mennonites of the 1920s migration (some 20,000) from Russia. (Hence Russlaender.) It was crammed full of history papers — 14 presentations in all! These are a-swirl in my brain and I’m too tired to sort them out. I may share some bits at some point, but not tonight.
What I enjoyed most were the interviews 
with two writers of literary books about the Russian Mennonite experience that bookended the day: Sarah Klassen with her recent The Russian Daughter and Sandra Birdsell with The Russlaender. I think it brilliant to feature literature together with history. (David Bergen will be up tomorrow with his new book set in that experience.)
Borrowing Bones 
I so appreciate you taking time to share this experience, Dora – for those of us who are not able to attend, it is helpful & nourishing repast. I wonder if today’s talks with Sandra Birdsell and Sarah Klassen will be posted anywhere? And the pickerel sounds marvelous – such a welcome!(Has me remembering my last visit at your place…rhubarb pie….)
Hated to miss this one!