Category: biographical sketch

From Zita Cobb at Shorefast, I received an email describing ten years of the Fogo Island Inn. It included a link to Fogo Island’s Community Economy.

” At Shorefast, we are passionate about answering the question ‘How can we create an economy in service of nature and culture – in service of place? “

For me, this raises the question, “What is the equivalent to Shorefast in the Annapolis Valley?”. Is it an apple ladder”? (see previous posts “Connecting Communities“, “World GIS Day“, and “Jane Jacobs Biography“)

In Kentville again this week, I picked up Edible Maritimes: The Land – the Sea – the People – the Food. No. 6 Spring 2023. As well as the Grapevine. Arts, Culture, Community, March 2023, Best of the Bunch.

On Wednesday evening, we went to Dawn Oman Art Gallery in Bridgetown.

Musique Royale presented the “Three For All” guitar trio featuring Daniel MacNeil, Scott Mac Milan, and Emma Rush. The March 3 Bridgetown Reader provides more details on the accomplishments of all three guitarists.

Edward Wedler volunteered to take over the Ernest Buckler Experiment (EBE) blog with his contribution Plein Air Paint-Out Map for 2023. Artists are far away as New Zealand and Australia have shared this map with their Facebook groups.

At the end of this week, I look forward to the Authors Among Us at the Annapolis Royal Library. Peter Wyman Will be introducing “Crossing Thames” and David Wiseman will launch “Old Wrongs” (see upcoming blog post).

Friday, I stopped at the Middleton Library. Heather had a medical appointment. I discovered Guy Joseph Ale “Buddha and Einstein Walk into a Bar: How new discoveries about mind, body, and energy can help increase your longevity“.

‘We will now transition to exploring the scientific and spiritual foundation of our ability to sense how long we can live, and later the practical daily application of this awareness that can help us to live our longest and healthiest lives ‘. P.39.

Postscript

Bees Knees in Lawrencetown is now selling baked goods: sourdough bread, muffins and cookies. Excellent fare.

Acknowledgments

Reference to Edward and Zita Cobb reminded me of The Road to Georgetown, PEI in 2014. We attended a conference on Economic Development. Heather and Bodhi, our dog, were there too.

References

The Grapevine, March 2023, Best of the Bunch.

Edible Maritimes, Spring 2023, learning Curves.

Guy Joseph Ale, 2018, Buddha and Einstein Walk into a Bar, New Page Books.

Peter Wyman, 2022, Crossing Thames, Cardigan, Little and Crow.

DJ. Wiseman, 2016, The Death of Tommy Quick and other lies, Askance Publishing

This weekend, we visited Heather’s Dad in New Glasgow.

While there, I finished Colm Toibin’s book (see previous post) and picked up Dan Leger’s biography of Stephen McNeil. From Toibin, I gained some insight into the role of religion in Irish culture. Perhaps from Leger, I will gain insight into the role of politics in rural Nova Scotia.

Having read Cronin’s book on Syliboy, I was interested to hear that he had presented a mural to Kings Edgehill School. Heather’s sister (Sandra) is the art teacher at KES. His visit seemed to be well received by both teachers and students.

The return trip to the Valley was idyllic on a blue sky Sunday afternoon. We took a circuitous route.

First, we visited Sandy and Don at their farm, outside of River John. We were surprised by the number of trees down from the Autumn storms. Our return took us through Denmark, Earltown to Truro. We stayed on Highway #102 until Exit #10, Indian Brook. We turned off to go through the Rawdon Hills and ended up at Windsor. From Windsor, Highway #101 to Lawrencetown/Paradise.

The roads were dry; blue skies; the landscape was covered in a fresh snowfall. Depending on the orientation of the road, and wind direction, there were occasional patches of snow on the highway. It was the type of day, where you wanted to make a movie of the landscape, dressed in white, in full sunlight. This is normally a three-hour drive.

Acknowledgements

Heather shared the road trip. We enjoyed Stewart’s hospitality in both New Glasgow and River John.

Edward added the graphics and links.

References.

Dan Leger, 2022, Stephen McNeil: Principle and Politics, Nimbus Publishing.

Colm Toibin, 2023, Essays: A Guest at the Feast, McClelland and Stewart.

This week, we were in Kentville to discuss financial matters.

We took the opportunity to stop at the Half Acre Cafe. I went across to Gaspereau Press to see what new books had been published recently.

As part of the Gaspereau Field Guides to Canadian artists by Ray Cronin, I found #7 Alan Syliboy Culture is our Medicine. Cronin writes an essay on Syliboy’s career. The field guide also includes seven plates, illustrating his work.

Meanwhile, I have been struggling to read Colm Toibin’s essays. In Part one, Toibin describes his experience growing up in Ireland. Part 2 concerns the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican and various Popes. The third Part includes essays on ‘Putting religion in its Place: Marilynne Robinson’. Right now, I am stuck in Part 2.

Wednesday, we gathered at Anne and Bill Crossman’s in Annapolis Royal. Roger Mosher and Keith Egger joined us from Centrelea. It was an opportunity to enjoy Chinese food, and to catch up on our respective lives in Paradise, Centrelea and Annapolis Royal.

Acknowledgements

To Anne and Bill for hosting the get together. Sandra Barry swapped the Colm Toibin essays. Heather, Roger and Keith shared the lunch. Edward, returning from Florida, added the graphics.

References

Ray Cronin, 2022, Alan Syliboy: Culture is our Medicine, #7 A Gaspereau Field Guide to Canadian Artists, Gaspereau Press.

ColmToibin, 2023, Essays: A Guest at the Feast, McClellan and.Stewart.

A few years ago, Heather placed Buddha on her meditation rock, on the slope behind the house.

Over time, he has developed a coat of moss and lichens. Today, in near celebration of Spring (ten degree temperatures) we paid him a visit. Does he still wear the same species?

Yesterday, we made our walking circuit to the Annapolis River. Starting at Lunn’s Mill you can walk through the Lawrencetown Tree Nursery to the river. We returned via the neighbours property (previously belonging to Andrew) and the Hunter orchard.

Later in the day, I wanted to show Heather the low tides on the Bay of Fundy. Walking along Hampton beach, I am always overwhelmed by the variety of size and colour of the beach pebbles.

(“Blue Barrels of Hampton” watercolour by Edward)

Last Fall, we did not prune the hydrangea flower heads (I was in the hospital). Today, with the warm temperatures, it was time to catch up, and fill the ‘green bin’.

This week, we are planning to reduce the number of books on the shelf. There are several that I picked up, but do not remember reading.

References

Isabella Tree, 2018, Wilding: the return of nature to a British farm, Picador. (see post Rewilding the Annapolis Valley)

Peter Wohllenben, 2021, The Heartbeat of Trees: embracing an ancient bond with forests and nature, Greystone.

Acknowledgements

Heather rediscovered Buddha in the woods. Edward added the graphics.

Postscript

I have returned The Road Here to the Library.

For your “Winter enjoyment”, here is a link to “Anne & Edward Wedler Fine Art Newsletter XXXIII”

From Emergence Magazine, an interview with David Hinton starts with the Chinese poem, Egrets.

Robes of snow, crests of snow, and beaks of azure jade,
They fish in shadowy streams.
Then startling away into flight, they leave emerald for lit distances.
Pear blossoms, a tree-full, tumble in the evening wind.

The interview is a forty minute podcast.

This week, I plan to visit Integrity Printing in Bridgetown. They have created a printed volume of my blogs. The year 2022 will be Volume 7. This blog represents #456.

This week, too, I plan for lunch with Heather, Rocky and Debby Hebb at the Ebb Tide cafe. Today, I stopped at the Winemakers Tavern. It is now under new management, as the Bee’s Knees General Store and Bakery.

It is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm. This represents a re-invention of commercial activity in the Village of Lawrencetown. If we can recruit a family doctor for the community, in combination with educational initiatives at COGS, there will be the Hope of Geography.

From my conversation, recently, with Brian Arnott in Lunenburg, this energy may also extend to the Annapolis County exhibition and the surrounding agricultural community. Here’s hoping !

Acknowledgements

Rocky and Debby Hebb joined Heather and myself for lunch at the Ebb Tide cafe. The fish burger was excellent, and at a good price. Brian Arnott provided an update on the Annapolis County exhibition. Edward added the graphics.

Reference

Emergence Magazine, February 12, 2023, An Ethics of Wild Mind, Interview with David Hinton, Podcast.

We have returned to our rural home on Highway #201 in Paradise.

The cost of the condo at Bishop’s Landing was becoming prohibitive. But more critically, we needed to develop an understanding of the health services in the Annapolis Valley, and the best approach to transitioning from the services in Halifax. (Spring is coming !). In the five months in the city, we were able to address a number of concerns, related to hearing, swallowing, and memory. How do we ensure continuity of health services through the Primary Care Clinic in Middleton? Without a family doctor?

Maintaining two residences, Paradise and Halifax, means maintaining two sets of infrastructure: computers, TV, telephone, heating, etc. Fortunately, we have our trusty iPad and mobile phones.

Yesterday (Wednesday) I walked down to Lawrencetown. I wanted to meet our new librarian (who replaced Jackie Fraser) and check out the interlibrary loan. I wanted to make sure that our mail was no longer being forwarded to the condominium. I also wanted to see if the Ebb Tide Cafe (previously Firehall restaurant) was open. The note on the door says Monday, February 6th.

At the library, I picked up one of Jim Lotz’s books: The Gold of the Yukon, and one by Harry Thurston, The Sea among the Rocks.

What will we miss from Halifax?

• Convenient walks through treed neighborhoods
• The harbour boardwalk.
• Easy access to food stores, coffee shops
• Book shops.
• No need to drive a car.
• Public resources – Halifax Library and the Public Gardens.

To-Do items?

• Leaving the car behind
• Electric cars.
• Electric bicycles.
• Charging station.
• More solar panels on the roof.

We look forward to reconnecting with our community in the Valley. We look forward to recording the changes (e.g. new bookstore in Annapolis Royal, See earlier blog post HERE).

Acknowledgements

To all our Valley friends who have kept us in mind. Edward for his ongoing contribution.

References

Jim Lotz, 2012, The Gold of the Yukon, Pottersfield Press.
Harry Thurston, 2002, The Sea among the Rocks: Travels in Atlantic Canada, Pottersfield Press.

A week ago we noticed that one of the culverts to our driveway needed repair.

We decided it was time to ‘winterize’ the property in Paradise.

We wanted to ensure that the various systems were functional: security, telephone, Internet etc. If we wanted oil delivery in Winter, the culvert needed to be replaced.

Last Thursday, we stopped at the Transportation office in Middleton. Heather explained our circumstance. That same afternoon, the staff made a site visit. Next day, early they arrived with back hoe, a replacement culvert and gravel fill.

By early afternoon, it had been repaired. We were both impressed and thankful.

Imagine, if we could achieve the same level of response on health services.

We have been in Halifax for over three months, and negotiated with specialists for aftercare, after heart surgery. This includes hearing tests, swallow tests etc. If we could connect with referral services in the Annapolis Valley this would allow us to live in our house in Paradise.

During our stay in Paradise last week. We were able to meet with Paul and Ruth Colville at the Capital in Middleton for lunch and conversation. We also visit Anne and Bill Crossman in Annapolis Royal for a similar exchange of views on health services in Annapolis County. It is critically important to maintain these contacts and to share experiences.

From Jane Nicholson, I have heard about Russell Florens bookstore at 212 St. George. A partnership with Geoff Butler and a baker named Denise. All non-fiction books. Next time, we are in the Valley, we will visit The Courtyard – Art, Books and Food.

Acknowledgements

Paul and Ruth Colville, Anne and Bill Crossman shared theirAnnapolis County experiences. Jane Nicholson for information on the bookstore. Edward added the graphics. Staff at the Middleton Transportation office for their rapid response and kindness.

We went to New Glasgow for Christmas. This allowed me to catch up with Saltscapes magazine.

The article on Bridgetown reminded me of our life in the Annapolis valley.

”970 souls from one cartographic afterthought, history and circumstance have conspired to make it into something, simply, well irresistible.”

The piece by Alex Bruce ‘Building a better Bridgetown’ highlights the work of
Jennifer Crouse ‘Endless Shores Books and other Treasures”
Trudy White ‘Tallullah Freelove Linen’
Dawn Oman “Dawn Oman Art’
“Glass Art” Angela Prive
“Wools on the Corner”, Caroline Perriman, and
“Aroma Mocha Cafe” Laura Ricketts.

I received only one book this Christmas, from Patrick, “Life Lessons from the Ocean: Soothing Wisdom from the Sea”,written by Richard Harrington, a British Marine Biologist, and illustrated by Annie Davidson,

”From learning to go with the tide, to taking inspiration from starfish about how to handle setbacks, the book contains a lesson for everyone.”

Barry Lopez died Christmas Day 2020. In the current online Emergence Magazine, Jeremy Seifert gives us the film ‘Horizons’, a tribute to Barry’s life and work.

“Barry shares what drove him towards new horizons so that he might help our culture find balance with the living earth.”.

Postscript

This morning on our walk, we rediscovered Lil MacPherson’s restaurant “The Wooden Monkey”

Brings back memories.

References

Alex Bruce, 2022, Building a better Bridgetown, Saltscapes Vol 23 No. 6. p.26-30.

Richard Harrington, 2020, Life Lessons from the Ocean: Soothing Wisdom from the Sea, LOM Art. Illustrated by Annie Davidson.

Jeremy Seifert, 2022, Film Horizons, in Emergence Magazine, Our Year in Review.