Off to Owen Sound

My husband and I took a little get away to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. We chose to go north to Owen Sound and stay in a Bed and Breakfast there and booked it ahead.

We had a clear day for the drive, some cloud cover but a lot of sun too. Listening to Stuart McLean from Vinyl Cafe series helped pass the driving time too and then different scenery and new places along the way. I looked forward to the time away from household responsibilities to see different places. We were not disappointed.

 

Between the Maples B & B

 

We’d reserved for two nights at Between the Maples Bed and Breakfast on Second Street in Owen Sound. Having arrived close to the noon hour and too  early to check in, we thought we’d first locate the B & B. Having seen the house on the internet site, we knew we were in the right place.

We headed back to the downtown to look for a bite to eat. A helpful staff member at CAA Travel in Owen Sound had mentioned that the Artist’s Co-op had a lunch bar, so  after finding parking, we went in search of it.

I gathered steps on my Fitbit that day and it was nearly 1 pm by the time we sat and waited for our lunch to be served. Len enjoyed his soup and I had a tasty salad. We looked at the art in the co-op briefly since our metered parking would soon run out. We’d come back.

 

Birgit’s Cafe

 

Artist’s Co-op

We wanted to spend more time looking around so we fed the meter with quarters and headed back, first stopping at the music store we’d seen on the way. On our previous time passing the store, we’d met the owner and chatted with him. This time we entered Music & More and looked around.

“Back for a ukulele?” his wife asked.

I wanted to see what they had and so entered a long conversation with owner and musician David Fromager about the newer ukes that they sell to schools and people wanting them for their children or grandchildren. I already had one but I had my eye on those coloured ukes I’d seen at Arts Abound in St. Jacobs more than a year ago.  When we left the store, I had a uke tucked under my arm and some picks for playing.

 

 my new uke

As we still had time, we headed for the artist’s co-op again in the McKay building and looked around at the artist’s offerings—paintings, art cards, mugs, pottery, things made of wood, and textile arts too.

Then it was time to go and check in at our B & B. With the address now in our GPS, we drove  there and knocked on the door.

It’s a lovely two-storey home across from Kelso Park. Gord and Maggie greeted us, gave us a small tour of their place and showed us our room. We talked about breakfast options, especially with regard to my husband’s special needs. There was time before finding supper to relax awhile and get settled in.

 

That evening we went to East Side Mario’s out on the other side of the city and enjoyed a tasty pasta dish. The sun went down outdoors as we ate. The dinner was filling and with no room for dessert, we paid our bill and left. Thinking we’d like some snacks along for the next day, we went to a grocery store nearby and purchased a few things before returning to the B & B.

With the new uke in hand,  I looked up a chord chart on the internet to refresh my memory, and tried out my new instrument a bit before bed time. I thought of my grandchildren who already enjoy music and how I might teach them to play, if they wished to learn.

Thus ended the  first day of our little holiday.

 

 

 

Special Olympics Summer Games 2018

Special Olympics Summer Games were hosted at St. Xavier University in the community of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, this summer, from July 31st to August 4th.  Athletes across Canada have been training for this event for some time now.

From specialolympics.ca

Antigonish has played host to many Special Olympics Nova Scotia Summer Games, providing incredible support for athletes, families and friends alike. St. Francis Xavier University was chosen as the host for the athlete’s village and several sports, due to the tremendous quality games experience that can be offered to Special Olympics athletes.

photo shared by permission

 

photo shared by permission

Sandra McNeil wrote on Facebook, August 2nd: My beautiful sister, Jennifer McIntosh, won bronze in her 200m race 💕🥉
We are so proud of you Jennifer!

 

I have particular interest in the events because of one young woman who participates. I’ve known Jenn since she was a six- or seven-year-old and I see the growth and confidence she has gained by being a part of the sports. At this year’s Summer Games, she earned two medals—one bronze and one silver in the 200 metre race (bronze) and 400 metre (silver) races. Her team from Lunenburg-Queens athletics did well overall with everything from bronze to gold.

Of particular mention are the corporate sponsors who help the organization fund such games, at the regional and national  levels. The athletes trained hard in their home communities under the direction of volunteer coaches and mission staff, which include members of the athletes’ families. Individuals qualify first at regional games and then go on to the next level, as happens in other sports.

Team Nova Scotia was cheered on by their news station, CKBW

The 2018 Canada Special Olympics Summer Games wrapped up in Antigonish over the weekend and the results were impressive.

Team Nova Scotia walked away with a total of 135 medals following the four day competition.

Search by province and sport. Photo by Sandra MacNeil.

 

Dr Frank Hayden, founder of Special Olympics, deserves much credit for this organization. His actions have changed the lives of millions. While doing a research degree in science, he noted that students at the Beverly School in Toronto could benefit by having a program of fitness and exercise, just like any other child. He was encouraged to go to the United States to work with the Kennedy family to begin an event there. Following those few years away, he returned to Canada to found the Special Olympics.

“I worked my butt off, along the way, but the success has been built on the fact that we have been able to find people like this,” Hayden said, gesturing at the activity around him.

His involvement in what would become Special Olympics began with his research into the fitness level of children with intellectual disabilities.

Hayden was present at the nationals in Nova Scotia along with his wife, to cheer on the athletes. And they, in turn, were glad to see him.

Photo from Cape Breton Post

 

If you wish to learn more about Special Olympics, go here. They welcome your support, in whatever way you can offer. Cheer them on too, when you have opportunity to see their events.

 

photo by Vernon Oickle of the SouthShore Breaker

 

Triumphant! photo shared by permission

 

Photo credits noted, several by newspaper and radio and others by Sandra MacNeil,  sister of an athlete and a volunteer coach for one of the sports.

Writing our stories

My mother once called me the historian of the family and I wasn’t sure why. Was it that I asked more questions about events and people? Was it that I displayed keen interest in the stories of my grandparents? Wherever it began, it has most definitely become true, and that’s one development I’m glad about.

The year of my parents’ 60th anniversary was upon us—2009—and my mother and father wanted to leave a legacy for their family. Mom wasn’t speaking in dollar values  when she shared their wish with us, but of stories and values they’d shared. What would it mean to us after they were gone?

 

farm home where my siblings and I grew up

Mom had gotten in touch with a writer she knew who was doing family stories for other folks. She engaged the woman to help them get started. The challenge became how to tell the stories. What would be included? What would be left out?

Each of my siblings and I wrote some pieces of what it had meant to us growing up in the country, of where we were at the time in terms of our immediate families and our employment. In the end what my parents shared of their stories, and what we added, is of great value.

 

The first copy was ready for their anniversary day and more produced later. Sister Kim was the layout specialist and we all agreed she did a wonderful job in arranging the photos with the text. Her layout experience with her day job and a computer program capable of handling graphics and photos was a great asset.

Nine years later, Dad has died and the family has further blossomed with more great grandchildren for Mom and another great granddaughter about to be married this summer. In between those years, I published my memoir, Once Upon a Sandbox, of growing up on a family farm in the 50s and 60s, and then last year, in memory of Dad, Harry’s Trees, my picture book was published, which is not about me, but my Dad’s passion, beyond his family (always very important to both my parents).

 

 

 

https://www.carolynwilker.ca/

One more for Annie

Just because this is the last blog post at this time for my dear departed friend, Annie, does not mean I will cease to think of her. In fact just yesterday as I was preparing dinner at my home, I was wondering how her family is doind as they prepare for an October wedding without mother and wife. And I wondered too how it’s going for them without her calm presence as they make plans.

Not so long ago, a fellow business person and friend, Renate Donnovan, made a presentation at a networking event, “Who’s on your A-team?” The idea is that the A-team consists of people who accept you for who you are, celebrate your achievements, push or encourage you to be your best self. Those people are good to  you and for you. The A-team goes both ways, because you have enough respect for them to believe in them and reciprocate in those same ways.

How does this connect with Annie? Easy. She accepted me for who I am and I accepted her where she was. She respected and honoured my vision to write, as I respected hers to use what she had learned from nursing training to sit with the dying and support them in the process. Neither of us pushed each other, but  rather we encouraged each other and celebrated each other’s successes, whether it was in parenting or a professional goal. We also shared our  joys and challenges as parents.

I didn’t know just what musical ability Annie had and what her accomplishments had been. At the visitation, I saw a picture of her holding a guitar and learned later that she had played harmonica as well. I would learn more from members of the church that she had joined the bell choir as one of its first members, also that she didn’t read music but played by ear.  The obituary in the service guide mentioned that she was also learning to play the pan flute. Just because she had a health challenge did not stop her from living as fully as she could. Who  of us knows how much time is allotted to us? Only God knows that.

The family had a piano in their home and I’d seen a guitar on one of my visits, and so I learned that Annie had encouraged her children to take music lessons. Matthew plays guitar as his mother had.  Both Rachel  and Matthew had been in the  junior choir at church with our daughters. In the picture that her daughter Liz sent, I guess that Rachel must have been in the bell choir too.  In fact, Annie had polished the bells the Thursday before her death.

The service was fitting, with the bell choir playing the opening to two hymns, Bob Berg, a choir member, playing harmonica, and Annie’s son Matthew playing guitar with Tim Sutton, Rachel’s fiancé, at piano and Annie’s brother, Michael Prashad singing. If a funeral could be beautiful, this one was, and very fitting to the woman I knew and learned even more about that day. Someone who had been on my A-team, someone I respected and cared about. We shared what we knew about her with each other and came away still sad, but enriched by knowing Annie.

Rachel with her mother, Annie

Annie, I miss you and I’m blessed to have known you. I remember you and honour your memory with story.

Photo courtesy of Annie’s family. Thank you for sharing it with me.

For Sarah and Tony–The Prayer

This post is dedicated to you both as you approach the day of your wedding. May the love you share today be with you on the roads of your future. Praying for clear skies, some sunshine and warmth for your special day.

The Prayer, an award-winning song by Canadian composer David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager, speaks of allowing the Lord to guide you in your life together. We sang this beautiful song as one of our selections in a choir concert and I still appreciate the sentiments and devotion that it represents.  “Let this be our prayer when we lose our way” and about asking for grace to get back to a place of safety.

Enjoy this version of The Prayer as sung by Charlotte Church and Josh Groban.

Love and blessings to you both as you prepare for and celebrate your wedding day!

Carry Me Home by singer, songwriter Ali Matthews

I met Ali Matthews at a Write! Canada conference some years ago. She provided our musical entertainment  and also gave a workshop on songwriting. From her first song, I was taken by her pleasing voice and thoughtful and eloquent lyrics. Since then she has gone on to success after success and new albums. I have several of her CDs and enjoy hearing her voice and her messages whenever I hear her sing.

 

Myhusband and I had occasion to attend a dinner and concert at her home last year. We received a warm welcome and ate well. Her husband John managed the grill for delicious barbecued food.  For the concert, her musicians— with Rick Francis  on guitar and Charlene Nafziger at the keyboard—backed up certain songs, and others Ali played by herself with her own guitar.

 

I have come to know Ali better and appreciate her as a fellow Christian, writer, as well as musician.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlene, Ali and Rick on the Matthews’ back deck

 

Here’s a video of her song from the title album, Carry Me Home. Enjoy her music.

 

 

Photo by C. Wilker

Video from Youtube

What do you say when you meet a performer?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walters Family Dinner Theatre, near Bright, Ontario. Home of a family of musical family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A converted barn serves as a theatre, with attractive surroundings and benches to sit on outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like a theatre inside as well. Tables at each end are for the dinner. See the chandelier on the far side to the right? Chandeliers in a barn?

We ate a delicious meal and enjoyed talking with people around the table, including some folks from our hometown area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posters of people who have performed here at Walters Theatre. There’s even a small gift shop at one side.

Rita MacNeil and me

And the star of the show—  singer, songwriter, Rita MacNeil!

The best part was the concert with Rita on stage with her fabulous guitarist, Chris, from PEI, who was also her backup singer. Rita sings with such passion and is a humble woman who despite having written so many songs has not bothered to count them. She said the number doesn’t matter much. What’s important is sharing  those everyday moments in her life that other people also experience.

Go to Canadian Writers Who Are Christian and see my post there tomorrow. For your pleasure, a song on Youtube, sung by Rita, one she performed at the concert we attended.

photos copyright of C. Wilker

video by Youtube