Posts filed under ‘lifestyle’
Sightseeing around Halifax
While I was in Halifax for the Editors’ conference, Between the Lines, there was some time for sightseeing, with fellow editors and some time apart
Halifax Public Gardens, across the road from The Lord Nelson Hotel (previous post)
Beautiful rhododendrons in the park …
and more. Aren’t these beautiful too?
A little history on the gardens opened to the public in 1875
I wonder if this fountain is as old as the park
The S V Mar at the dock by Murphy’s Restaurant
Little tug on back of bigger boat
Wonder how they rock the harbour. Maybe with music and singing?
All aboard the Mar with sails that were gathered like billowed sheets above our heads.
Someone offered to climb the ladder, but I don’t remember who it was. Not me, anyway!
On the evening cruise with fellow editors…
on the SV Mar, managed by strong young men like this fellow.
A university student spending his summer working on the boat
Putting up the giant sails that spread out to catch the wind
Moving out from the dock and into the harbour
…and a glimpse of Theodore Too. Just learned that Theodore’s home is Halifax. 
A tad windy and chilly out here. By the time we came back to the dock, I suspect I was not the only one ready to warm up. Guess we need to dress like sailors do.
We got to singing on the way back. The ship Titanic was discouraged, but I remembered an old folk song we learned in school, The Nova Scotia Song, and others joined along in the chorus
“Farewell to Nova Scotia …”
More pictures for another day…
What Moms Need
Today I blogged over at Canadian Writers Who Are Christian. Go there to read my post, What Moms Need.
While you’re there, read posts by other Canadian Christian writers.
And for all the mothers reading my post, may you be blessed with love and time with your family, yes, even with long-distance calls.
My mother on her wedding day
Book Signing this Saturday, May 4th for Once Upon a Sandbox
I am excited about my book signing at Waterloo Chapters this Saturday, May 4th from 11 am–1 pm, in Waterloo, Ontario. Come and get your copy of Once Upon a Sandbox and get it signed. The book makes a great gift for Mother’s Day for a mother, sister, aunt or grandmother as well.
Waterloo Chapters, King Street North, Waterloo, Ontario.
Go here to listen to my interview with Robert White at Faith FM’s Art Connections
From my publisher’s website:
A marvellous family friendly book that will lift your spirits. Once Upon a Sandbox, by C. R. Wilker, is a warm and gentle memoir about family life on a farm. It is about the farm and the individuals, the personalities, and the ties that bind them to each other.
Whether it’s helping to whitewash a barn, hoeing endless rows of vegetable plants, or driving a tractor to prepare for spring seeding, there’s plenty of work to be done. Through this collection of prose and poetry, reflect on the realities of farm families, their connection with community, weather and economy, as well as being stewards of the land from which they make a living. This is a fine story to which anyone will relate. Read more here.
speaking at Kitchener Kiwanis Club, November 2012
Once Upon a Sandbox was a finalist in the 2012 Word Guild contest
Thank you again, Deborah Pryce, for your delightful art on the cover of my book.
A race or a team?
Here’s a letter I had forgotten about, one I wrote in late 2009 when I was President of our Toastmasters club, the Energetics. I just unearthed the letter today and thought it was worth sharing.
Most organizations, I think, go through times of losing members and losing momentum. I’m happy to report that by the end of that year, we had gained momentum again and grown our club considerably. Here, for others who may be feeling discouraged by low enrollment or participation, is that letter.
Dear fellow Toastmasters
Two meetings ago, our theme was “Slow and steady wins the race,” a lesson we get from Aesop, a 6th Century B.C. Greek writer, who wrote The Hare and the Tortoise. He wrote entertaining short stories and fables that were meant to teach a lesson.
http://www.online-literature.com/aesop/
The tortoise, a rather slow moving creature, challenges the hare [rabbit] to a race. The hare sneers at the tortoise for his crooked legs and slow movements, and he brags that he can win the race easily. He accepts the challenge, assured that he can win. He leaps on ahead, while the owl, who is judge, and all the forest animals eagerly watch the race.
Hare had used so much energy bounding ahead that he decided to eat some carrots alongside the path, and then, since tortoise is still so far away, to take a nap beside the path as well. All this time, the tortoise plodded along steadily. Hare woke from his nap just as tortoise approached the finish line, and for all the hare’s hurry, owl declared the tortoise the winner of the race.
I thought how much that lesson compares with our Toastmasters journey—the slow and steady part. It might take awhile to get that Competent Communicator designation, but week after week and month after month of practice moves a member further along.
We are not to compare ourselves with others but to progress along our own course with the help and encouragement of the others. We learn from the others and not in isolation. The race analogy fails here. We are more like team members who work together to achieve something we cannot do alone. We are in a course alongside others who are also learning and growing.
If we continue along steadily, week after week and month after month, we will surely reach our goals. We will become better communicators and leaders. We are not in a competitive race to reach our goal, as the Hare believes. If one person takes two years and another member takes one to achieve the CC or ACB or whatever designation one chooses, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we join in and learn.
There has to be action and learning and cooperation among members. When only a few carry the load, they get tired and discouraged. When they get discouraged or drained from doing too much, the whole club suffers. Our club needs all of its members. And yes, I know, we have a life beyond Toastmasters.
Let’s renew our energy, beginning this new month of December, and continue on through the rest of our Toastmasters year, to reach those personal goals, and at the same time support others who are working toward theirs.
Sign on to the club website and put yourself in roles as often as you can. Work toward those goals you’ve set for yourself or challenge yourself to a new one for 2010. Let’s make the rest of the year a team effort where everyone wins. Game’s on!
Respectfully,
Your President
At Open Doors Waterloo, a Toastmasters initiative
At Huron Natural Park, photo by James Woo, Clickr Photography
A Good Friday Meditation–Denial
Last evening at our sister church, Reformation Lutheran, in Kitchener, we heard again the reading from the book of Matthew in Scriptures when Peter first objects to Jesus’ news about his upcoming trials, only to be followed by Peter’s denials. Well, not only Peter’s denials, but that of the other disciples too.
It’s just that faithful Peter, at Jesus’ side, wanted to spare his friend the trouble he was about to go through. Peter wanted to be there, or at least he thought he did, until he and the other disciples came face-to-face with the trouble—the Roman army and the chief priests, not to mention all the people who spoke against Jesus at the mock trial.
Faithful Peter was like us, because he was human. In his fear at the arrest of Jesus and the trial afterwards, his courage failed him. He denied three times: being a Galilean, being with Jesus and in the company of men who followed Jesus. And when the rooster crowed after that third denial, Peter realized what he had done and went out and cried bitterly.
We shouldn’t be too hard on Peter. He represented a whole lot of us who forget Jesus when it’s easier to do so. People like you and me.
The pastor who gave the sermon, in our joint worship of three congregations, spoke of times when it’s just easier to tuck our Christianity into our pockets, sight unseen, to avoid the sneers of those who would mock us. To stand alone in a group and say, “That’s not right!” It’s just hard to do in the company of friends and coworkers, unless we only keep company with those who think and believe like we do. It’s probably not going to happen.
Sometimes actions catch us by surprise, like swearing in God’s name and we’re speechless. I remember a particular time that I determined that the next time someone did that, I would say, “Please don’t do that,” which I followed up on, and it wasn’t long after that I had occasion to put my resolve to the test.
I was chatting with a woman of Asian descent when the surprising words came out. I wondered if she said it because others used those words and she didn’t understand that the words she was using might have significance to others, but still it didn’t feel right. I pulled out my courage and said, “Please don’t swear in that name.” I told her that I worship Jesus and it’s not appropriate to swear in his name. She was surprised and stopped. There was no harassment, but also no comment, and while I’d missed other opportunities, I also felt better for standing up to the situation and doing so in a respectful way.
Peter is just like us after all, sad but true, yet we have the consolation that no matter how many times we deny or forget or neglect, we are forgiven when we ask for it. Jesus bore our sins in that horrid death on the Roman cross and we can be forever grateful for his sacrifice on our behalf. This Good Friday we reflect on that sacrifice and try again to do better.
A Celebration of Black History Month with Maranatha Lutheran Church
Imagine worship with a steel marimba band, organ and guitar. Imagine families gathering at a chapel at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary on the campus of Wilfrid Laurier University for worship and celebration. That, my friends, was the celebration of Black History Month on February 24 2013 with our sister congregation, Maranatha Lutheran Church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC).
Many other members of the Carribbean community had also come that day to celebrate the annual event with Maranatha. I was there, along with other council members and spouses from St. Philip Lutheran Church, having been invited by the Maranatha council. The Keffer Chapel was full.
Greeters welcomed us into the sanctuary, where the Starlite Band was already playing and people greeting each other. M. Guerra-Francis led in some welcome songs: It’s Me, O Lord; Go Down Moses; and He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. Our voices were truly warmed up by the time we had sung all three hymns.
Rev. Peter Kuhnert, pastor of Maranatha, opened the service with words of welcome and dialogue on the theme of Faith, Education and Community.
Communion being prepared by Rev Peter Kuhnert and worship assistant
Communion: “All are welcome”
After the service, we went upstairs in the seminary building to a classroom where tables were set up for a meal. Mrs. Bell and Ms. Elaine had catered a full course Caribbean meal that members of Maranatha church served in a buffet line in another classroom. The food was delicious and the conversation around our table was enjoyable.
The afternoon program included music and entertainment, speakers, and greetings from our Member of Provincial Parliament, Peter Braid.
Entertainment by the Cameron Heights Chamber Choir under the leadership of Alan Xaykongsa. Delightful and lively African music that had us clapping or singing along
More Caribbean music, by a member of the Starlite band on guitar, accompanied by Chloe Callender.
Leaders in the Caribbean community of Kitchener-Waterloo spoke on the theme of Faith, Education and Community. Speakers were Marcia Smellie, Edwin Laryea, and Sylma Fletcher.
Pastor Peter Kuhnert gave closing greetings.
I cannot speak for anyone else, but I went home filled with the sights and sounds of that event, remembering new faces and the names connected to them, as well as conversations with others I already knew, … and oh, that African music too.
For more photos of the Black History Month celebration go to LINK Newsmagazine and select the first album.
Photos on this post by the gracious permission of Sylma Fletcher.
Canadian Writers Who Are Christian–What is a Mission Statement?
Yesterday, I posted over at Canadian Writers Who Are Christian, as I do once a month. Read my post on mission statements and while you’re there, take a look around and read posts by other writers such as Peter Black, Eleanor Shepherd, Linda Hall and Rose McCormick Brandon. May this reading be a blessing to your day.
C. R. Wilker, author of Once Upon a Sandbox, pub. 2011 by Hidden Brook Press.
Available from selected book outlets (Fanfare Books, Stratford; Merrifield Book Shop, Woodstock; and Chapters Waterloo, Waterloo, ON), author, and from publisher.
book cover
Making a Difference – Special Olympics, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
I became involved with Special Olympics and Ark Industries (The Ark) because of our daughter Jennifer who is intellectually challenged. In 1996 my husband John, Jennifer and I moved from Kitchener, Ontario, to Riverport, Nova Scotia, to help look after my elderly parents. At that time Jennifer was in a Special Ed class in Ontario, and when we moved she was enrolled in the same type of class in Nova Scotia.
Her teacher was very involved with Special Olympics and encouraged all her students to take part in at least one of the sports offered. Jennifer was never involved with any sports before, and like many parents of a disabled child, I felt she would not be able to take part or know what to do. Jennifer became very active in many sports and currently competes in athletics in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter in addition to bowling and soccer. Between Special Olympics and her school she grew in leaps and bounds…
Read the rest of the story and see more photos here.
Saturday Snapshot–Celebration of Community
Waterloo Region Museum, a celebration of community and the many people who make up Waterloo Region
The Conestoga Wagon, pulled by horses, brought many people to our community from the USA, Mennonites, and more
Arrival at Pier 21 in Halifax, and then across country to Ontario and other provinces
The Grand Trunk Railway Line. The intersection in the middle of the hallway, but of course the train does not run through that line anymore.
Travelling trunks from many countries around the world
Let’s not forget the Home Children, who were sent here—not by their own choice—but who also make up a section of our community.
People settled here and worked together to build a community with those who were already here.
The Storytelling Series at the Museum, this winter and spring, feature stories of immigrants coming to any part of Canada
This meme hosted by At Home With Books. To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken, then go to the site and connect with the page by our host, Alyce. Happy Saturday, travelling from one blog to another.
That Stings!
Daily Prompt: That Stings!
Franz Kafka said, “We ought to read only books that bite and sting us.” What’s the last thing you read that bit and stung you?
Recently, after my nineteen-year-old niece’s presentation about her trip to Ecuador with Free the Children, I took a book off my shelf that I had purchased at a rally in Kitchener but had yet to read. That book had been signed by Marc Kielburger, brother of Craig, whose questions and outrage at child labour began the organization, Free the Children. I began to read it.
Free the Children, by Craig Kielburger with Kevin Major © 1998 McLelland and Stewart, 318 pages, trade paperback (original version)
When twelve-year-old Craig Kielburger picked up the newspaper on April 19th in 1995, instead of turning pages to the comics as he usually did, his eye was caught by the article about the death of a child labourer in Pakistan.
He began to ask his mother questions, but she had no answers. Even his school library had little information. He thought of nothing but that newspaper article. “What kind of parents would sell their child into slavery at four years of age? And who would ever chain a child to a carpet loom?” Thus began his search for solutions and the formation of an organization that does work for children worldwide by young people themselves.
In this book, initially published in 1998, Craig writes about his first trip to to India and Pakistan to learn first hand why and how this happens. He learns of the severe poverty and mindset of people who are talked into such schemes by factory owners promising them money for the child’s labour.
I found it hard to comprehend, even as Craig did, the intense poverty he saw around him. He learned by talking with the children that many of the children still had hopes and dreams of what they would do one day when they were finally released. Yet many children would not survive because of the dangers to which they were exposed.
This book is gripping in the realities of poverty. It’s a page-turner that I had difficulty setting down, reading 20 to 30 pages at a time, even amidst the most challenging scenes. Perhaps it was that I hoped for resolution between those pages, but I learned by reading, as Craig learned from seeing and experiencing, that such situations can take generations to change, and yet there was some success in that first trip. But you have to read it yourself and let the scenes grab you.
Yes, it stings, and you won’t soon forget what you have read. Go and get a copy and read it for yourself. See what you think. I know that I will be paying attention to this organization and what it’s doing for children around the world.
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