July 1st, 2016
Happy Canada Day everyone!
Today, I had a lovely time with my youngest daughter, Stella, at Riverside Park in Kemptville. There was a schedule of events on the municipal website. This made it easy for us to plan our day. We headed over to the kids' zone. There was a station set up to create bead necklaces and bracelets. There was also a mural where children could paint their names. We batted balloons with pool noodles and played Plinko. There was a wading pool filled with bubble soap and a variety of wands. Stella and her friend enjoyed creating trails of bubbles as they swirled around. They were also able to dig in the corn pit. It's a sand box filled with corn kernels and sand toys.
We loved watching the dogs running through the obstacle course at 1pm. They even had a few goats climbing the ramps and jumping over the gates. Most dogs needed prompting and coaxing. They had cue words like "weave" for the dogs to walk in between bars in a pattern. Then came the chocolate coloured lab. He was so excited to be there. He ran and jumped and weaved, no cues or prompting needed. We laughed, recognizing our own dog. Surely, Sweetie Pie would be this crazy, just happy to be playing. Since they get rewarded with food, you can be sure the she would complete the obstacle course asap.
We bought some food and snow cones at lunch time and sat with friends. That is what I love about old towns, you know so many people just because you all happen to be going to the same places-same school, same grocers, same bank, same gas station, same coffee shop etc. I worried when we moved out here that there would be nothing to do but, for kids, there are often programs to join and most are way cheaper than what's available in Ottawa.
There were free swims throughout the day. My husband and eldest daughter joined us at 3pm for a swim before the storm hit. There were stuffed ponies you could rent for $4. The children would ride them as the horse moved up and down, really neat. Two tents were devoted to face painting. One had traditional face painting, the other had glittery tattoos. The line ups were a bit long for those so we skipped it, especially since I knew we were going swimming.
I watched the local firefighters show children around the fire truck. Children could also try to control the fire hose with the help of a firefighter. As we watched the the hose spraying everywhere, my daughter told me she needed to pee. There was a port-a-potty nearby. I couldn't see any other option so I took her there and, to my amazement, it was clean and smelled fine. I was very relieved. On our way out, we watched teenagers jumping over bars with their bikes. My daughter was impressed. I was worried, "please don't try this at home". We grabbed some cotton candy and called it a day. Stella wants to go back for fireworks but they aren't until 10pm, way too late for her.
I was born and raised in Ottawa and for the longest time, my Canada Day consisted of trying to walk through crowds of people to watch buskers or lining up for hours in order to get food, watching people who had had too much to drink fight, make out, yell obnoxious comments or throw up. I rarely went out anymore.
I am satisfied with our Canada Day. There was so much to do. Stella got to see some friends. I enjoyed the community spirit and festive atmosphere. Thank you Tammy Hurlbert, coordinator of recreation programs in North Grenville! We had a great time and we were only ten minutes from home.
Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org
Showing posts with label rural. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rural. Show all posts
Friday, 1 July 2016
Monday, 6 June 2016
It Takes A Village
June 6th, 2016
We've all heard the expression: "It takes a village to raise a child". However, I have been thinking a lot lately about the power of community as an entrepreneur.
I was raised in the city and, as a child, I got to know the kids in my neighbourhood but the adults didn't mingle unless their children were friends. You could live three years within spitting distance of your neighbours and never get to know them. They were a mystery-their name, occupation, secrets, aspirations etc.
When I moved to the country, one of the things I loved was the way everyone seemed to know each other. Initially it's challenging because you are an outsider but as people see you around, as you get involved with various groups, as you cross paths, you forge connections and people and places become familiar. You reach a comfort level and a feeling of belonging. My children hate running errands with me because we bump into people I know and I like to chat which prolongs each errand much to their chagrin.
As an entrepreneur, sometimes, your biggest struggle is getting people to try your product or service. Word of mouth is a powerful tool in a rural community but only if someone has tried your services. There are so many expenses involved in starting a business-website, business cards, social media, marketing, inventory, staff, taxes, professional memberships, cell phone and e-mail accounts just to name a few. The advantage of being a part of a small community is you will find that many people are willing to connect you with the right resource and you help each other out.
I have been so fortunate to meet the right people who have connected me to amazing professionals. This past year has been focused primarily on working with children and teenagers within the school system. I was lucky that Mme Graham, then a Grade 3 teacher, allowed me to offer my creativity workshops to her students. Shelley Mitchell connected me to Oxford-on-Rideau Public School when they were searching for someone to run a few after-school art programs in November and December 2014. Tia Akse introduced me to Meredith Luce who became the illustrator of my deck of cards and books. My walking buddy, Chris Turnbull, brought Andrew McManaman, a first-year film student, into my life just when I needed someone to film my workshops. Mandy Moodie at Classic Graphics is super talented and constantly sets up posters or documents for me so they look professional. Maggie Boyer and David Shanahan empowered me to write a bunch of articles on topics of interest to me. Their paper, The NG Times, connected me to this community in a way I had never experienced and, they helped me publish my first book which gave me the confidence to write a second one. Jocelyne Elliott invited me into her Grade 2 class for my Have You Hugged Your Alien? workshop and sang my praises at the parent council. The Parent Council applied for funding so I could develop three workshops to improve communication among family members. The grant was approved and I had the pleasure of meeting so many local parents and children in the process. Bev Illauq invited me to the Catholic District School Board Community Partner Day two years ago. This led to me meeting Michelle Neville who has been a great resource and liaison for me. Anita Mitra, a teacher at the Smiths Falls District High School welcomed me into her High Arts program for a half day stress management workshop with her talented students. The North Grenville Public Library who is hosting my book launch. Jim Beveridge at B&H Your Community Grocer who not only supplies the empty boxes to organize my supplies for workshops but who has also offered to display my books for sale in his store at no cost to me. Are you out of breath yet?
As an entrepreneur, you depend on people to give you a chance, to tell others about your business, to sing your praises and to refer clients to you. You also grow as a business when people use local services and help each other out. I am so grateful to live in a rural community where people promote one another and celebrate each other's successes. Thank you Kemptville for your support and encouragement! I couldn't have made it this far without you.
Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org
We've all heard the expression: "It takes a village to raise a child". However, I have been thinking a lot lately about the power of community as an entrepreneur.
I was raised in the city and, as a child, I got to know the kids in my neighbourhood but the adults didn't mingle unless their children were friends. You could live three years within spitting distance of your neighbours and never get to know them. They were a mystery-their name, occupation, secrets, aspirations etc.
When I moved to the country, one of the things I loved was the way everyone seemed to know each other. Initially it's challenging because you are an outsider but as people see you around, as you get involved with various groups, as you cross paths, you forge connections and people and places become familiar. You reach a comfort level and a feeling of belonging. My children hate running errands with me because we bump into people I know and I like to chat which prolongs each errand much to their chagrin.
As an entrepreneur, sometimes, your biggest struggle is getting people to try your product or service. Word of mouth is a powerful tool in a rural community but only if someone has tried your services. There are so many expenses involved in starting a business-website, business cards, social media, marketing, inventory, staff, taxes, professional memberships, cell phone and e-mail accounts just to name a few. The advantage of being a part of a small community is you will find that many people are willing to connect you with the right resource and you help each other out.
I have been so fortunate to meet the right people who have connected me to amazing professionals. This past year has been focused primarily on working with children and teenagers within the school system. I was lucky that Mme Graham, then a Grade 3 teacher, allowed me to offer my creativity workshops to her students. Shelley Mitchell connected me to Oxford-on-Rideau Public School when they were searching for someone to run a few after-school art programs in November and December 2014. Tia Akse introduced me to Meredith Luce who became the illustrator of my deck of cards and books. My walking buddy, Chris Turnbull, brought Andrew McManaman, a first-year film student, into my life just when I needed someone to film my workshops. Mandy Moodie at Classic Graphics is super talented and constantly sets up posters or documents for me so they look professional. Maggie Boyer and David Shanahan empowered me to write a bunch of articles on topics of interest to me. Their paper, The NG Times, connected me to this community in a way I had never experienced and, they helped me publish my first book which gave me the confidence to write a second one. Jocelyne Elliott invited me into her Grade 2 class for my Have You Hugged Your Alien? workshop and sang my praises at the parent council. The Parent Council applied for funding so I could develop three workshops to improve communication among family members. The grant was approved and I had the pleasure of meeting so many local parents and children in the process. Bev Illauq invited me to the Catholic District School Board Community Partner Day two years ago. This led to me meeting Michelle Neville who has been a great resource and liaison for me. Anita Mitra, a teacher at the Smiths Falls District High School welcomed me into her High Arts program for a half day stress management workshop with her talented students. The North Grenville Public Library who is hosting my book launch. Jim Beveridge at B&H Your Community Grocer who not only supplies the empty boxes to organize my supplies for workshops but who has also offered to display my books for sale in his store at no cost to me. Are you out of breath yet?
As an entrepreneur, you depend on people to give you a chance, to tell others about your business, to sing your praises and to refer clients to you. You also grow as a business when people use local services and help each other out. I am so grateful to live in a rural community where people promote one another and celebrate each other's successes. Thank you Kemptville for your support and encouragement! I couldn't have made it this far without you.
Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org
Saturday, 6 February 2016
Rural Poverty and Affordable Housing
February 6th 2016
Yesterday, I participated in the second annual Share the Love campaign. Share the Love's goal is raising awareness about rural poverty and unsafe housing in the Leeds-Grenville area. I heard about them last year when my, Have You Hugged the Alien? book was published. I was going into schools to offer my workshops on healthy emotional expression. Share the Love organizers approached me and asked if I would facilitate some art with children and create an art display for their upcoming auction. Proceeds would go to Habitat for Humanity.
I went into my daughter's grade 3 class at Kemptville Public School and we had a discussion about poverty. I pointed out the many luxuries we take for granted like feeling warm as we enter our home, having a snack after school, being greeted by pets or playing with toys, having supper, taking a hot shower and sleeping in a warm bed, knowing we are safe. We compared that to the realities of families living at the edge of homelessness, barely making it on a monthly basis.
Each child chose one room in their home that they enjoy, the space that feels most like "home" to them. They were asked to re-create that space in a box, using play-doh, popsicle sticks, string, markers and a variety of other cheap materials. The boxes were displayed at Geronimo Coffeehouse with an index card attached to it, describing the student's vision for their box. The boxes were auctioned off and raised $500 for Habitat for Humanity. It was a wonderful experience,
This year, I visited Oxford-On-Rideau Public School and met with 44 students from grades 4, 5 and 6. This time, I could report on some of the changes that had happened since last year's campaign. A new Re-Store is set to open in Kemptville as the needs of our community have been recognized. A new program is also being discussed which would make it easier for low income families to become home-owners through "down-payment assistance", it would also provide "a flat rate Housing Allowance" so people can pay their rent and, thirdly, this program would offer financial assistance to low income families living in unsafe housing "to repair their home while improving the energy-efficiency of the unit". For more information about the Investment in Affordable Housing for Ontario program or to weigh in on these issues at one of the upcoming meetings, go to www.leedsgrenville.com/en/live/housing/affordablehousing.asp#
We talked about the fact that "1 out of 4 rural households are in the lowest income categories" in the Leeds/Grenville area. Then, I asked for the students' help. Their art could raise awareness about this issue by being displayed at Geronimo Coffeehouse for the month of February. Their art and efforts could also be shared at a meeting on February 22nd with homebuilders and politicians showing them the importance of creating more affordable homes. My directives were short: create something colourful that will catch the eye of the public and communicate a message about the need for safe, affordable housing in our area.
The room buzzed with excitement and feverish activity as students created their flag. There was such a variety from a slice of pizza, before and after images, us vs them imagery and beautiful outbursts of love. When students had completed their flags, I asked them to design their clothes pin. I was displaying the flags on a clothes line in the main hallway of the coffeehouse therefore we needed colourful, eye-catching clothes pins. When the students were done, they helped me gather my materials and got to work cleaning up the lunch room. It was pizza day and they scrubbed the tables clean. I was really impressed with these students. They were hard working and thorough.
I met with Heather Sansom at Geronimo and she helped me hang all of the art work. She even paid for my lunch (not a bad gig). The students had a blast, the teachers enjoyed witnessing the energy of their students creating for a good cause and, Heather and I were satisfied with the colourful art display that would surely get people talking about a very important issue.
Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org
Yesterday, I participated in the second annual Share the Love campaign. Share the Love's goal is raising awareness about rural poverty and unsafe housing in the Leeds-Grenville area. I heard about them last year when my, Have You Hugged the Alien? book was published. I was going into schools to offer my workshops on healthy emotional expression. Share the Love organizers approached me and asked if I would facilitate some art with children and create an art display for their upcoming auction. Proceeds would go to Habitat for Humanity.
I went into my daughter's grade 3 class at Kemptville Public School and we had a discussion about poverty. I pointed out the many luxuries we take for granted like feeling warm as we enter our home, having a snack after school, being greeted by pets or playing with toys, having supper, taking a hot shower and sleeping in a warm bed, knowing we are safe. We compared that to the realities of families living at the edge of homelessness, barely making it on a monthly basis.
Each child chose one room in their home that they enjoy, the space that feels most like "home" to them. They were asked to re-create that space in a box, using play-doh, popsicle sticks, string, markers and a variety of other cheap materials. The boxes were displayed at Geronimo Coffeehouse with an index card attached to it, describing the student's vision for their box. The boxes were auctioned off and raised $500 for Habitat for Humanity. It was a wonderful experience,
This year, I visited Oxford-On-Rideau Public School and met with 44 students from grades 4, 5 and 6. This time, I could report on some of the changes that had happened since last year's campaign. A new Re-Store is set to open in Kemptville as the needs of our community have been recognized. A new program is also being discussed which would make it easier for low income families to become home-owners through "down-payment assistance", it would also provide "a flat rate Housing Allowance" so people can pay their rent and, thirdly, this program would offer financial assistance to low income families living in unsafe housing "to repair their home while improving the energy-efficiency of the unit". For more information about the Investment in Affordable Housing for Ontario program or to weigh in on these issues at one of the upcoming meetings, go to www.leedsgrenville.com/en/live/housing/affordablehousing.asp#
We talked about the fact that "1 out of 4 rural households are in the lowest income categories" in the Leeds/Grenville area. Then, I asked for the students' help. Their art could raise awareness about this issue by being displayed at Geronimo Coffeehouse for the month of February. Their art and efforts could also be shared at a meeting on February 22nd with homebuilders and politicians showing them the importance of creating more affordable homes. My directives were short: create something colourful that will catch the eye of the public and communicate a message about the need for safe, affordable housing in our area.
The room buzzed with excitement and feverish activity as students created their flag. There was such a variety from a slice of pizza, before and after images, us vs them imagery and beautiful outbursts of love. When students had completed their flags, I asked them to design their clothes pin. I was displaying the flags on a clothes line in the main hallway of the coffeehouse therefore we needed colourful, eye-catching clothes pins. When the students were done, they helped me gather my materials and got to work cleaning up the lunch room. It was pizza day and they scrubbed the tables clean. I was really impressed with these students. They were hard working and thorough.
I met with Heather Sansom at Geronimo and she helped me hang all of the art work. She even paid for my lunch (not a bad gig). The students had a blast, the teachers enjoyed witnessing the energy of their students creating for a good cause and, Heather and I were satisfied with the colourful art display that would surely get people talking about a very important issue.
Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
Country Living
January 6th, 2016
I'm not sure if you would notice this, living in the city but there is a growing trend of people moving to the country for a simpler life. My husband and I moved out to Kemptville with our 2.5 year old in 2008 to do just that. We were six months pregnant with our second and wanted to provide outdoor space and fresh air for our daughters. He also wanted to work from home without being "in" the house. The old carriage house on our property became his salon and the rest, as they say, is history.
When we moved out to the country, we spent more time outdoors, got exercise maintaining and renovating the property and got to know the key people in the area. Doug ploughs our driveway and dumps loads of gravel in our driveways for us. Greg mows our lawn (we have five acres so this is an important task) and chops down any dead tree that collapses on our property. The people all seem to know each other out here like one huge, extended family. I was facsinated when we walked down the street to pet the horses at the Williams' farm and neighbors driving by would wave at us. I learned early on to just smile and wave back. I'd ask my husband: "Did you know that person?", he'd say: "No, I thought you did". People just wave out here to acknowledge one another, how cool is that?! I grew up in the city where my neighbors shared a wall with us and if we opened our apartment door at the same time, they would wait until we had left before they ventured out. Why? I haven't a clue.
So, an increasing amount of city dwellers are moving out to the country, some get hobby farms and learn to make cheese or take over a winery. Others are just pleased by the friendly people, the slower pace, the fresh air and wide open spaces, they might get a few chickens or start a garden. My husband receives fresh farm eggs (numbered with feathers still attached), pickled beets, a warm loaf of bread,
freshly made jam or baskets of produce from his clients, a treat for all of us.
I love watching older adults gardening, mowing the lawn, shoveling, fixing something on their property, farming or tinkering with farm equipment. What a contrast to the frail elderly I encountered during my employment in long term care facilities. We've lived here for nearly eight years now and I no longer feel like an outsider. I recognize and chat with people everywhere I go. My children have always gone to school out here so they feel quite at home here. I am happy for them. We moved around a lot when I was growing up so it's important to me that my girls have childhood friends that they can grow up with, experiencing all the rites of passage together.
Ever since we moved here I have wanted to have chickens and goats. My husband who is more practical worries about the cost of having someone look after our animals when we go away for one or two weeks in the winter. I am less concerned with this as we already have someone house sit to care for our cat and dog. I am always asking people who have animals for tips and advice. I plan to use this blog as an excuse to visit local farmers and learn from them how to care for chickens and goats, when to plant what in my garden (flowers and veggies) and how to make fresh cheese from
goat's milk.
On December 29th, 2015, Diana Leeson Fisher dropped off a few copies of her new book, The
Accidental Farmwife. This is a collection of stories taken from her column in local papers. She was a city dweller until she married a farmer and her book describes her adventure as she learned to be a
farmwife. I am loving this book and am nearly done reading it. I have learned so much already. I know donkeys need to be kept busy or they get mischievious, chickens are prone to heart attacks, it is better to mate sheep so their babies are born in the spring (otherwise some lambs won't survive the cold), I've learned that cows make good pets (who knew?) and that if a ewe has lambs when she is just a year old she may act as if she isn't pregnant and ignore her offspring when it comes. There is so much more to it but you really should get the book :). You can order a copy by e-mail: Dianafisher1@gmail.com
I am determined to get chickens next Spring and my friend Meredith has promised to reserve a few chicks for me. Stay tuned!
Anne
www.artnsoul.org
I'm not sure if you would notice this, living in the city but there is a growing trend of people moving to the country for a simpler life. My husband and I moved out to Kemptville with our 2.5 year old in 2008 to do just that. We were six months pregnant with our second and wanted to provide outdoor space and fresh air for our daughters. He also wanted to work from home without being "in" the house. The old carriage house on our property became his salon and the rest, as they say, is history.
When we moved out to the country, we spent more time outdoors, got exercise maintaining and renovating the property and got to know the key people in the area. Doug ploughs our driveway and dumps loads of gravel in our driveways for us. Greg mows our lawn (we have five acres so this is an important task) and chops down any dead tree that collapses on our property. The people all seem to know each other out here like one huge, extended family. I was facsinated when we walked down the street to pet the horses at the Williams' farm and neighbors driving by would wave at us. I learned early on to just smile and wave back. I'd ask my husband: "Did you know that person?", he'd say: "No, I thought you did". People just wave out here to acknowledge one another, how cool is that?! I grew up in the city where my neighbors shared a wall with us and if we opened our apartment door at the same time, they would wait until we had left before they ventured out. Why? I haven't a clue.
So, an increasing amount of city dwellers are moving out to the country, some get hobby farms and learn to make cheese or take over a winery. Others are just pleased by the friendly people, the slower pace, the fresh air and wide open spaces, they might get a few chickens or start a garden. My husband receives fresh farm eggs (numbered with feathers still attached), pickled beets, a warm loaf of bread,
freshly made jam or baskets of produce from his clients, a treat for all of us.
I love watching older adults gardening, mowing the lawn, shoveling, fixing something on their property, farming or tinkering with farm equipment. What a contrast to the frail elderly I encountered during my employment in long term care facilities. We've lived here for nearly eight years now and I no longer feel like an outsider. I recognize and chat with people everywhere I go. My children have always gone to school out here so they feel quite at home here. I am happy for them. We moved around a lot when I was growing up so it's important to me that my girls have childhood friends that they can grow up with, experiencing all the rites of passage together.
Ever since we moved here I have wanted to have chickens and goats. My husband who is more practical worries about the cost of having someone look after our animals when we go away for one or two weeks in the winter. I am less concerned with this as we already have someone house sit to care for our cat and dog. I am always asking people who have animals for tips and advice. I plan to use this blog as an excuse to visit local farmers and learn from them how to care for chickens and goats, when to plant what in my garden (flowers and veggies) and how to make fresh cheese from
goat's milk.
On December 29th, 2015, Diana Leeson Fisher dropped off a few copies of her new book, The
Accidental Farmwife. This is a collection of stories taken from her column in local papers. She was a city dweller until she married a farmer and her book describes her adventure as she learned to be a
farmwife. I am loving this book and am nearly done reading it. I have learned so much already. I know donkeys need to be kept busy or they get mischievious, chickens are prone to heart attacks, it is better to mate sheep so their babies are born in the spring (otherwise some lambs won't survive the cold), I've learned that cows make good pets (who knew?) and that if a ewe has lambs when she is just a year old she may act as if she isn't pregnant and ignore her offspring when it comes. There is so much more to it but you really should get the book :). You can order a copy by e-mail: Dianafisher1@gmail.com
I am determined to get chickens next Spring and my friend Meredith has promised to reserve a few chicks for me. Stay tuned!
Anne
www.artnsoul.org
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