With Father’s Day having just passed, I’m sometimes annoyed by these Hallmark-type occasions that have us pulling out our wallets because the calendar says we should for planning outings in the name of a certain day. Other times I like that we are reminded to think of others; to remember […]
Wendi Stewart – Wendi with an ‘eye’
Wendi lives in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, but the farm on Rainy River in Crozier will always be her home. MEADOWLARK, her debut novel released September 15, is published by NeWest Press of Edmonton. She is the mother of four daughters who did the unforgivable: they grew up. http://wendistewart.writersresidence.com
It is fair to say the news these days is something less than bleak; terrifying in many, if not most, instances when we consider the economy and the state of our planet and the anxieties created by a changing climate. It’s tempting to crawl under the bed and hope for […]
I’ve been known as a plant-killer—a reputation that has spanned a good many years and one that is fairly well-earned. A shortcoming, if you prefer, and one that I share with my mother. Her plants always looked a tad beaten, neglected, misfortunate. Her life was busy; perhaps I will use […]
It’s Sunday morning when I am writing my column. It’s early. No one else is awake—not even the puppy. It’s quiet and the sun is delicious, but not hot. The air has a crispness to it and it makes me glad because I know it is going to warm up. […]
I recently did a road trip with Laurie (Daughter #3) from Owen Sound, Ont. to Wolfville, N.S., covering the 2,000-plus kilometres in two days. Although the marathon of driving was a bit tedious, sitting in that small space with my daughter took my heart and gave it a complete overhaul. […]
To nap is to sleep lightly, especially during the day. I looked up the definition just to be sure. Although a nap sounds like a lovely treat, I only nap when I no longer can walk; when I am almost falling down with fatigue. I find “nap entry,” like re-entry […]
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is my favourite book of all times. Although a few others have come close, none move me the way Harper Lee’s writing does. I carry the novel around with me like a Bible—a source of inspiration and comfort and hope. I often have it in my […]
Obedience is defined as compliance with the wishes of another; an acknowledgement of authority. What a grand idea. I would like to be the authority and would be most pleased to have “Gracie,” canine member of my family, to be compliant. How would I achieve such status? Take one Miss […]
The frogs and robins are back. I’m not suggesting the frogs hopped their way to Florida for the winter, but suffice to say they’ve wakened and crawled out of their muddy beds. The robins, meanwhile, bounce around on my lawn and I apologize to them for the cold weather we […]
I knew Hinderika Sieders the way children know adults. She was Mrs. Sieders to me; I’m not sure I ever knew her first name. I watched her from a distance, from the perspective of being a visitor in her home, a friend of her children. She was the mother of […]
Jonathan Franzen appeared on “Oprah” quite some time ago, but I taped it and watched it recently. He was a finalist for the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for literature and the guy who declined Oprah’s invitation to appear on his show with his third novel, “The Corrections,” a maneuver that seemed […]
I don’t like to drink coffee. Actually, I’m not particularly fond of any hot drinks, so it isn’t just coffee. Tea, hot chocolate, and hot toddies all fall into the category of “I don’t like.” My mouth burns easily compared to my friends, who can swallow steaming coffee straight from […]
