The Voice

Meditating on the sofa at 3 am, I think of my life as being fickle with mediums of various forms. I miss writing this blog, but lately I have felt the need to sing. Music is the silver thread that is woven through my life, starting with my first three months of life, crying at the top of my lungs, keeping the neighbors awake, making my young mother crazy with little sleep. Did I want to be here, was I scared, maybe I was just strengthening my lungs, what better way to get ready for singing? Singing encompasses the whole brain, if I sing everyday will I stop having seizures?

Fathers day has come and gone, Fathers Day, Sunday,  June 15th, 2014 I sang for Dad, myself and my friends. Dad has been gone ten years now, he was my singing inspiration, I loved the concerts he performed with "The King's Men" a male chorus group in Cincinnati. I don't know if they still exist, that was in the 60's and 70's. 

Balkan Chorus left to right Cathy, Mimi, Hillary, Dianne, Jean, Karen and Michelle. Gretchen and Sue were not able to be there. The banner in the back ground says 10th but it was the 13th Peony Tea.

Fathers Day was the 13th annual Peony Tea at the Curly Willow Farm in Grindrod BC. I have been singing with a women's Balkan Chorus, haunting rhythmic a cappella melodies, sizzling around tongue twisting lyrics.  I felt honored to be able to sing a solo, in "Joc De Laegane, thank you for the opportunity to sing out.

The "Peony Tea" is a fundraiser for "Runaway Moon Theater" click here to get to the web site for more info and what "Runaway Moon" is doing for the future. Many exciting and interesting projects to come. Also performing at the Tea was Mimi and her mellifluous voice, Murray MacDonald, Zampopo Flores, and Steve Fultz. The desserts were delicious, I had Dianne's cheese cake with walnuts, yummmmmm. 

Cat, taking donations and handing out scissors to cut the Peonies.

The field of Peonies, the heavy rain the night before spilled some of the peonies to the ground, but there was still enough for all to take home and enjoy an arm load of soft petaled delicate scented peonies.

In the puppet museum this guy stole my attention, with his mischievous, toothless grin.

"June Pole" coordinating the excited and colorful patrons.

Music for the "June Pole" Thanks to Michelle and the rhythm section.

My question is, after 13 years of the Peony Tea why is there still a mud puddle in the middle of it all? Sloshing through the mud of life, Surrounded by the sweet smell of flowers and cake, the sounds of mosquitoes buzzing, energetic rhythmic vocals and guitars, the sights of vibrant swirling colors, energizing the mud that makes us stronger.

Grindrod Garlic Festival 2012

Garlic hanging lamp perfect for that dark corner in the kitchen hanging over a little round bistro table.

It was 27C at 9:30 am on Sunday August 19TH in downtown Enderby, in the afternoon in Grindrod my car read 37C. My purchase of garlic chocolate from "Deep Creek Chocolates" was safe in the cooler under a white cloth, my booth was cooler shaded by curtains hung around it, people were coming in just to enjoy the shade. For the Garlic Festival  I came with garlic themed greeting cards, hats,  bags of all sorts, and a garlic lamp.  I was busy in my booth, and had many items of conversation such as the change room, the boob art, and all the garlic stuff. I did a bit of trading garlic for garments. When you go to a garlic festival there is never a shortage of garlic and you must come home with garlic.

I had some fun free hand stitching on my sewing machine.

A Garlic fascinator, from the carefully peeled outer layer of a large garlic bulb.  It needed it's own box so I made one with some of my hand made recycled paper and flowers.

Sneeze for the camera.

I somehow managed to get a break from my booth just in time for the costume contest.  Gabriele, Karen, Maddy, Shawn-Mark and Jeanette in the back row. "Garlic Girl" Maddy was announced the winner.  Maddy is my student, she took sewing lessons for two weekends this summer, her last project was to make a costume for the Garlic Festival, she did a great job. I made the Garlic hats that Gabriele and Jeanette are wearing. Our prizes were Garlic chocolate and two $5.00 Garlic festival bucks. 

Casa Bella Line Black and White

Princess Reanna in black cotton knit, long two tiered skirt with ruffled detail and versatile ribbed knit waist band. Tank with ruffled detail around neck and armholes. You can not go wrong with a comfortable long black skirt and matching top.

Casa Bella Hair salon at 706 George Street in Enderby BC. My line of clothing will be in the shop till July 27TH. If you see something you like but it's not in your size and I still have the fabric I can make it for you. Here we have the lovely Reanna who works at Casa Bella's modeling a few of the pieces. 

White cotton tank with ruffle detail. Black and white cotton, rayon gored skirt with pockets lined with invisible zipper closure. Reanna loves her pockets.

Black cotton tank with black and white gored skirt, matching purse slung over shoulder.  

Black tank with black and white skirt, matching purse with lots of pockets for all your needs inside and out plus a hook in a convenient place for your keys.

White tank with black and white gored skirt.

Also at Casa Bella's you will find black cotton knit 3/4 length sleeved tops and yellow cotton tanks with ruffle detail.

I am working on new items for the Arts festival Saturday July 28TH in the Maud street parking lot and Garlic related items for the Grindrod Garlic Festival Sunday August 19TH. Hope to see you then. 

Oh yes I will be making hats and head pieces, more garments and whatever gets done. Come with your ideas.

North Okanagan-Shuswawp School District #83 Zone Finals Public Speaking Competition

Public speaking is challenging, it takes courage to get up in front of a group of people and speak. That is just what 8 students from Grindrod, Ashton Creek, Parkview and Carlin schools did today May14th at Grindrod Elementary. They were in the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District #83 Zone finals Public Speaking Competition. Grade 7 speakers Arusha Bruns of Grindrod, her speech title “High School”, Arulia Puchinger of Ashton Creek her speech title “The Mayan Calender and the End of the World”, Liam Sutherland of Parkview his title “Bacon”. Liam was the winner in the grade 7 speakers. His speech was as humorous as he was serious in his presentation of how much and how many kinds of bacon that he loved. Is there really such a thing as squeezable bacon? Liam was easy to hear and he didn't use notes.

In the Grade 6 speakers we had Kyona Bruns of Grindrod her title was “The Vancouver Canucks”, Maia Charleston of Parkview her title “Laughing” and Brandon Gosselin of Ashton Creek his title “Hobbies”. The winner in the grade 6 category is Kyona Bruns. Kyona started out her speech as if she were interviewing Don Cherry with wishful thinking. She had a lot of interesting facts and I think her dream job will someday be a hockey announcer, like Don Cherry. Kyona has a clear voice with good modulation.

The Grade 5 speakers were Taryn Bottcher of Carlin her speech title was “Bullying”, Trinity Marshall of Ashton Creek with her title being “Dirt Biking”. The winner in the grade 5 is Trinity Marshall. The judges had a very difficult choice in the grade 5 outcome, they were just a few points apart. Taryn had an important message on Bullying and how to deal with it. Trinity talked about something she loved, a sport that is dominantly male.

I wish the best to all these kids.

The Judges,  Jenny Clark, Nancy Shopland and Elaine Cook

Grade 7 speakers Arulia Puchinger, Liam Sutherland and Arusha Bruns

Grade 6 speakers, Kyona Bruns, Brandon Gosselin, Maia Charleston

Photo op

Grade 5 speakers, Trinity Marshall, Taryn Bottcher

In the center Grindrod's proud Principal Deni McKinney, Elaine Cook  and Nancy Shopland.

To The Fields & Foods Harvest Celebration at Green Croft Gardens

Gabriele and Wolf hosted a harvest celebration to thank supporters. Chefs, Producers and Sponsors were invited to promote their businesses. They had Chefs from as far as Victoria. The local Chef from Grindrod, Afka Zonderland with Foods Alive, she specializes in raw foods. From Kelowna they had Dave Kyte, Seasons Harvest and Greg Howell, Hanna's Restaurant. From Victoria Mark Currier Pizzeria Prima Strada.

It was a pleasure touring the gardens, feasting on the raspberries in the fields, playing with the many dogs, and talking to our many new friends. I enjoyed the salads. 

That's one big BBQ

Lynn's chocolates, the best and she makes organic chocolate.

Afka's dehydrated treats.

Not only did they have something for the tummy but also something to keep your head warm.

What a beautiful setting for an organic garden.

It was such a beautiful day. I came with a little pink jacket and I took it off and put it on as the sun moved across the sky and the clouds drifted over and around, as long as I was in the sun I was warm.

Garlic drying in a shed.

Love the mini pumpkins.

I feasted on salads.

Pickled beets and goat cheese salad. 

Line up for food it was very long.

Helpers scooping out potatoes to be filled with lamb stew. 

Wine tasting.

The road was full of cars parked making for one lane traffic. It was a quiet street.

Lots of happy people and dogs enjoyed the feast. Be sure to visit your local farmers market for the freshest foods grown and prepared  with love. From the fields to your table. Thank you Gabriele and Wolf!