Author: maherrv

This weekend, we find ourselves in New Glasgow, prior to heading to British Columbia for Christmas and New Year. This week, I received a call from the Lawrencetown library. I picked up an inter-library loan; James Bridle’s Ways of Being.

To date, I have read the first three chapters. In praise of the book, Jane Goodall writes:

’We humans are not alone in having a sense of community, a sense of fun, a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of nature. Be prepared to re-evaluate your relationship with the amazing life forms with whom we share the planet.’

Thinking about other ‘ways of being’, I reflect on my recent visit to Annapolis Royal. At MareGold Bookstore, we talked to Russell and Geoff Butler. Russell described his work at the store, in terms of a curator of the books. This extends to the recently opened children’s section.

Afterwards, we went to the Brown Dog Kitchen at the Annapolis Royal library. Fortunately, we could pick up fresh pies for supper.

These ‘ways of being’ seem a far cry from the endless advertising to purchase products over the Internet — or managing scams over the telephone.

With a certain trepidation, we look forward to our travel to British Columbia. But we shall enjoy different ‘ways of being’ with family, available through a different geography.

Reference

James Bridle, 2022, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines, The Search for Planetary Intelligence, Farrah, Straus and Giroux.

Acknowledgements

Edward has been travelling between Nova Scotia and Florida, hence blog delays. Heather and I will travel to British Columbia to share time with family in Port Moody and Rossland. Again, leading to delays.

We managed to get to Kentville this week and were able to stop at Gaspereau Press on Church Street. We found three books of interest.

Sue Goyette’s, Monoculture: a commentary of monologues.
Ray Cronin’s, A Gaspereau Field Guide to Canadian Artists, No. 1: Mary Pratt, Still Light.
Ian McLaren’s, All the Birds of Nova Scotia: Status and Critical Identification.

I picked out the first book. I was interested in the commentary on the Forest industry in Nova Scotia.
(image of Sue Goyette via Gaspereau Press)

This remains a contentious issue, regarding saving old growth forest and the practice of sustainable forestry.

Ray Cronin is the author of the series ‘Gaspereau Field Guide to Canadian Artists’. I selected #1, Mary Pratt: Still Light. On a previous visit I purchased #7, Alan Syliboy: Culture is our Medicine. Other artists in the series include Gerald Ferguson, Alex Colville, John Greer, Maud Lewis and Colleen Wolstenholme.

Heather made the third choice. Given the number of birds coming to our feeder. She was interested in Professor Ian McLaren’s All the Birds of Nova Scotia: Status and Critical Identification, published in 2012.

Acknowledgements

We enjoyed brunch at the Half Acre Cafe before crossing the road to Gaspereau Press.

Edward added the graphics and links.

References (all published by Gaspereau Press)
Sue Goyette, 2022, Monoculture: a commentary of monologues.
Ray Cronin, 2018, Mary Pratt: Still Light, Field Guide to Canadian Artists #1
Ray Cronin, 2022, Alan Syliboy: Culture is our Medicine Field Guide to Canadian Artists #7
Ian McLaren, 2012, All the Birds of Nova Scotia: Status and Critical Identification.

December 1st: a wonderful warm day.

Time to put the garden to bed. Fill the green bin. Add Biochar to the soil. Turn over the compost.

(cartoon by Edward)

Late afternoon, went to Bridgetown. I had read in the Reader that Peter Wyman had published a new book, The Last Whale in Nova Scotia. Luck was on my side, I picked up a copy at the Endless Shores book store. Perhaps on Saturday I will get him to sign the copy at the Mad Hatter bookstore.

Previously, Wyman had published a number of separate ‘small books’. This time, he had gathered seven short stories. Before falling asleep, I had digested the first six, saving the longer, The Last Whale in Nova Scotia, for another day.

The stories took me to Delaps Cove, canoeing on the Annapolis River, Blandings turtles and Kejimkujik National Park.

Perhaps in a good way, it offers a partial explanation to the grandchildren ‘Why are Granny and Grandad living in the country, down in rural Nova Scotia? ‘

From the beginning, the book references the work of Carl Jung. I am hopeful that by the end I will have a better understanding of the ‘curious animal spirits’.

Meanwhile today, I am presented with a choice — either heading out to Annapolis Royal (book signing) or Kentville (browsing the Christmas offerings at Gaspereau Press). We went to AR; stopped at the Mad Hatter and Mare Gold.

Acknowledgements

From the Centre page of the Reader:
“Reading: reduces stress, enhances knowledge, feeds your imagination.”
Thanks to Endless Shores Books and MareGold Bookstore.

Thanks to Heather and Edward for their support and contributions.

References

Peter B. Wyman, 2023, The Last Whale in Nova Scotia: stories nurtured by curious animal spirits, Cardigan, Little and Crow Publishing, Annapolis Royal.

Postscript

I read the final story, The Last Whale in Nova Scotia, early Saturday morning. This deserves to be in its own separate book. Simply excellent. Thank you, Peter B.

This week we went to Kings Theatre to purchase tickets for Laila Biali Wintersongs.

While in Annapolis Royal, we could not resist the temptation of stopping at the Mad Hatter bookstore. We were in luck, they seemed to have added to their stock for Christmas.

With little thought, we picked up Arthur Bull’s, New and Selected Poetry, Skidmark Calligraphy. I remember Arthur from his work with rural development agencies and recall that he lives in Lake Medway on Digby Neck.

Naomi Klein’s Doppelgänger: a trip into the mirror world was Heather’s choice.

My real objective was to find a copy of Alan Syliboy’s Where the Owl Calls Your Name. I had this in mind for one of the grandchildren. Fortunately, we made a stop at Endless Shores in Bridgetown. It is a beautifully illustrated Mi’kmaq legend. It did not disappoint.

So far, I am part way through Skidmark Calligraphy. I will wait for Heather to work her way through Naomi Klein. Thursday (30th) we look forward to live music at Kings Theatre. It was an excellent show. Well worth, the night drive !

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the booksellers in both Annapolis Royal and Bridgetown. Next stop will be Gaspereau Press in Kentville. Edward added the graphics.

References

Arthur Bull,2023, Skidmark Calligraphy, Moose House Publications.
Naomi Klein, 2023, Doppelgänger, Knopf Canada.
Alan Syliboy, 2023, When the Owl Calls Your Name, Nimbus Publishing.