“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes S. Portico Bowman is a friend of mine and a talented artist, writer, and teacher. She is also a creative and insightful person. I particularly admire her ability to transition between different media – from pottery to printing to writing, and her insights during our shared travels have helped me to see things differently. Portico is offering a workshop from July 12-16, 2020, at the Hollyhock Retreat Centre on Cortes Island, British Columbia, and I strongly encourage you to take part. The workshop is entitled Drawing Towards the Earth: Making Journals for Life and will involve making coptic stitch Arcadia Playhouse journals and Bargello tapestry bookmarks . The slow, repetitive creative process is designed to be contemplative, meditative, and introspective. In addition, Cortes Island provides the most fabulous garden setting surrounded by the ocean. It sounds absol...
Local Happenings Congratulations to Kathy Evans , department head secretary in the College of Medicine’s Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, who has received the 2019 Sydney Inskip Award. One of the many things Kathy does to establish a welcoming environment in the department and the community is to invite students into her home to cook and share a meal. I worked with Kathy for a short while and she went out of her way to make me feel welcome and to help me obtain contract work once I went freelance. CHEP’s Collective Kitchens Partnership is hosting a Grub ‘n Gab starting at 5:30 pm , Jan. 23 . Following supper, there will be a presentation by Slow Food Saskatoon explaining what slow food is and how it’s tied to culture. Pre-registration is required. Contact Janet at 306-655-4575 or janet@chep.org if you’re interested in attending. Edible Landscapes Permaculture Design and Consulting, Regina, is offering a 3-day course covering edible and medicinal prairie...
I had the great good fortune to visit the Arundel Wetland Centre yesterday. As a prairie dweller, I was amazed by the huge network of ponds and canals. Even more astonishing, the ponds were lined on either side with reeds that towered over my head. The array of ducks and geese was astonishing – geese elegantly dressed in black and white, small ducks with downy soft feathers, geese with long necks wrapped in swirling stripes. Each pond was designed to suit a different type of waterfowl so there were some with waterfalls and others with large rocks and ledges. The site doesn’t just cater for waterfowl. There were boxes for bats and barn owls as well as insect hotels and big stacks of branches providing shelter for all sorts of animals. There were birdwatching hides and a cabin full of dried herbs to touch and smell. The best part of the visit was a silent electric boat ride through the canals providing a duck’s-eye view of their world. ...
“You are invited to an evening of dining and conversation inspired by the creative genius of Zaha Hadid, Architect.” I was surprised and delighted to be invited to a dinner party at Cathy Engel’s house with an architectural theme. At first, the twin themes of architecture and food appeared to be miles apart. But then I changed my mind. What is architecture? Wikipedia defines architecture, in part, as follows: “ Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations. It requires the creative manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light and shadow .” Organizing a dinner party involves many of the same functions. You need to decide who to invite and how they will get along together. You plan a menu in terms of taste, appearance, culture, social expectations and availability. You set the table and establish the environment (li...
Bournemouth – wide stretches of golden beach as far as the eye can see, a pier with a zipline, restaurants, and amusement park rides. It would be far too crowded for me in summer, but on a sunny winter day, it’s pure delight. Bournemouth became a popular holiday destination in the second half of the 19th century, and you can still see some of the lovely old hotels at the top of the cliff. This one even has a funicular so you don't have to climb the hill. What do you think? Would you like to get married in a beach hut? The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery is housed in a home that Merton Russel-Cotes designed and built when he retired. It’s a mishmash of styles from Scottish baronial to Tudor to Arabic with tiled walls, a fountain, elaborate doorways, painted panels, and embossed friezes. It’s a must-see. Oh, it’s also an art gallery, if you can stop gaping at the amazing interior design. Bournemouth town centre still has some lovely old buildings and ...
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