Ernest Blair Experiment

This week has been challenging, living in the country. Because we were away last Fall, I have not kept abreast of the systems that support rural living: house security system, water purification system. In addition, while in Halifax, I purchased a mobile phone to be cell phone compatible with Heather.

This challenge was heightened when we suffered a scamming attack. (Scamming cartoon by Edward)

Some lessons.

1. have access to next generation technical support.
2. develop a system for maintaining passcodes.
3. there is a gap between the use of technology and access to educational programs on the technology, especially for elders. There are some resources from the Library and NSCC (CORAH).

On the positive side, through interlibrary loan, I received notice of Merilyn Simonds “Gutenberg’s Fingerprint”. And, on another positive note, from The Grapevine, I see that photographer Dick Groot, is the new gallery artist at Tides Contemporary Arts Gallery in Kentville. Dick had a career in Geomatics with ITC, Enschede in the Netherlands.

Heather remains enthralled by the new plantings in the greenhouse, especially the herbs. For inspiration, she is reading “The View from Great Dixter: Christopher Lloyd’s Garden Legacy”. (From Lawrencetown Library).

Postscript

Windsor Salt is on strike. We checked all stores between Lawrencetown and Greenwood. No salt for purification systems.

Acknowledgements

Heather and I have been busy outside in the garden, enjoying the physicality and the changing temperatures. Weeding offers a respite from the technological woes. The Z-track started first time, for mowing the lawn. The chainsaw has been serviced. Must see if I have the strength to get it started.

Peter McAllister came by the house and helped resolve the security system issues. Edward added the graphics.

References

Merilyn Simonds, 2017, Gutenberg’s Fingerprint: papers, pixels and the lasting impression of books, ECW Press.

The View from Great Dixter, 2010, Timber Press Portland, London.

Yesterday (6th, May) I was reminded of the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

(Official coronation portrait taken by Cecil Beaton)

I was at Nelson Road Primary School, Whitton, Middlesex. We had an excellent celebration tea. Peter, my brother, reminded me that we saw the coronation on our first TV at home.

After watching TV yesterday, we took a drive down to Kejimkujik National Park. Highway #8, from Annapolis Royal to the Park, was empty. We wanted to see if we could rent a canoe from Whynot Adventure at Jakes Landing. Not until May 19th.

Driving Highway #8, we were surprised by the amount of standing dead (from fires), clearcut and blow down. A wasted resource. the National Park remains a ‘pristine’ island.

This week I started reading again; Flower Hunters (see post Reading List); the chapter on Joseph Banks (1743-1820).

Banks sailed with Cook on the Endeavour in 1768. Banks was 25. He had studied Botany at Oxford. Banks collected more than 1300 new species and discovered 110 new genera. Banks was only 35 when elected President of the Royal Society.

“ We only have space here, though, to look at his legacy he bequeathed to botany by developing Kew Gardens into the leading botanical institution in the world, encouraging the activity of plant hunters and promoting the use of plants from different parts of the globe in new locations where they could bring economic benefits.” p.94.

Kew Gardens is near Richmond, Surrey and Whitton, Middlesex UK (see post The Royal Landscape).

Heather and I attended Cindy Staicer’s talk on birds at risk at the ArtsPlace, Annapolis Royal. We had the chance to view the exhibition in the Chapel Gallery. I particularly enjoyed Wayne Boucher’s display ‘Healing Skull Lichens’.

Acknowledgements

Heather shared the road trip to Kejimkujik Nationsl Park. She set the alarm for 5 am on Coronation morning. Edward added the graphics.

References

Mary Gribbin and John Gribbin, 2008, Flower Hunters, Oxford University Press.

Exhibition at ARTSPLACE Gallery, For the Love of Lichens and Old Forests, Group Show May 2 June 24, 2023.

Having been back in the Annapolis Valley for a couple of days, it was time for second thoughts. While away in Toronto, I did not feel much like reading. Perhaps, I found too much interaction in the city.

Today, we met Sandra Barry at the Spurr Brothers Farm in Wilmot.

It is a tremendous example of ‘buy local’, offering a wide variety of farm products, including several different varieties of cider. We exchanged books by Merilyn Simonds (Woman, watching) and DJ Wiseman ( The Death of Tommy Quick and other Lies).

Later in the day, I stopped at the Lawrencetown library to request through interlibrary loan two other books by Simonds (Gutenberg’s Fingerprint and A New Leaf. I had been impressed by both her writing style and the detailed research in Woman, Watching.

I dropped off my chainsaw at Green Diamond, Middleton. I hope that I will be able to get it started again. Unfortunately my left arm remains weak.

From The Reader, I note that Cindy Staicer is speaking this week on Forest Birds at Risk and how we can help, at the Arts Place in Annapolis Royal. This is part of an exhibition ‘For the Love of Lichens and Old Forest’, sponsored by the Arlington Forest Protection Society, as part of the Save Our Old Forests (SOOF) campaign.

With a change in weather, Heather and I are looking forward to catching up on our gardening.

The other second thought relates to access to technology. From Toronto, I realized the need to improve my use of cell phones. Fortunately, CORAH is offering a tech talk on the topic, Wednesday, May 24th.

Acknowledgements

Sandra Barry offered insight into the relationship between writing and place. Heather is looking to turn a new leaf. Edward added the graphics.

References

Merilyn Simonds, 2012, A New Leaf: growing with my garden, Penguin Random House.

Merilyn Simonds, 2017, Gutenberg’s Fingerprint: papers, pixels and the lasting impression of books, ECW Press.

Letter from America.

“During the Summer of 1964, from the end of June until the end of August, I was a field assistant at the McGill Sub-Arctic Research Laboratory at Schefferville, Quebec …”

In 1964, I was in my second year of my B.Sc (Hon) degree in Geography at the University of Birmingham. This letter was sent to The Lamp, the school magazine at Chiswick Grammar School for Boys. It was sent to me this week by Andrew Ronay, an old school friend, who had retained a copy.

Last Thursday, Heather and I attended the Kings Edgehill School IB Arts Show in Windsor.

Heather’s sister Sandy is the Art teacher. Afterward, we went to Bent Ridge Winery. From the patio, we could see the white, ski runs at Martock. I had not fully appreciated the local geography before.

From Sandra Barry, I received the link to an online presentation by Merilyn Simonds on her book ‘Woman, Watching’.

Of particular interest to me was her other writing: ‘A New Leaf: growing my garden’ and ‘Gutenberg’s Fingerprint’. In the video, she also referenced her latest non-fiction ‘Still Life with Beth’ (to be published).

These three experiences lead me to the following observations. I was struck by the contrast. Between my grammar school education in England, over sixty years ago, and the private school, multi-national program offered at KES in Windsor. I then contrast the lifelong learning described by Merilyn Simonds. In this case, a woman (Beth) and her life between 70-100 years.

How do we share our experiences with the next generation (or two, or three)? What do we gain from teaching the next generation, given the changes in society, and technology? Does a teacher ever retire? Or are they simply transformed into an elder? Or a watcher?

Postscript

Sandra Barry forwarded to me a blog by Sarah Emsley ‘Old Rusty Metal Things’. I thought it was relevant to this discussion.

Acknowledgements

Andrew Ronay forwarded the ‘Letter from America’ text in the Lamp. Sandy Stewart invited us to the IB Art Show. Sandra Barry shared the link to Merilyn Simonds’ presentation. Edward added the graphics and links. Heather shared both the Art Show and watching the Simonds video.

Reference

Merilyn Simonds video presentation on her book ‘ Woman, Watching’.

Sarah Emsley blog ‘Old Rusty Metal Things’.