tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9492179734574711112024-03-13T19:16:32.003-07:00In Search of Al PurdyAncestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-39196761343714990672014-08-26T16:34:00.003-07:002014-08-26T16:34:16.756-07:00How Pedestrian - 'County' style - Active Arts Studio, this Saturday, 3PM. Book now!<div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Johnson captures Katherine's arrival at the A-frame</td></tr>
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Katherine Leyton has become a name in the news this summer, as the first writer in residence at the newly restored A-frame of Al and Eurithe Purdy, on Roblin Lake in Ameliasburgh.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purdy picnic 2014</td></tr>
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But Katherine has been very active for some years, as founder of an innovative poetry website <u><a href="http://howpedestrian.ca/">How Pedestrian</a> </u>which has been "bringing poetry to random places since 2010."<br />
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The HowPedestrian Manifesto explains the idea - it's about bringing poetry out of living rooms (and classrooms I'm thinking) and into taxis and pubs, invading everyday spaces with verse, making it a part of everyday life. "We wondered, if we literally take poetry to the street, can we figuratively make it more 'pedestrian'?" Three principles are at the basis of the project: "No-one should be afraid of poetry, there's a poet for everyone and poetry doesn't have to be serious." Love it. Do visit. Spend a lot of time...there are even a few Purdy poems there. And by September, there will be even more.<br />
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This summer, Katherine has used some of her time at the A-frame to create the Al Purdy chapter of the HowPedestrian project. She has been filming people around Prince Edward County reading Al's poetry. She has interviewed poets who knew Al talking about his influence on their writing and what he meant to them personally. Katherine has filmed Steven Heighton, Phil Hall, Robert Priest, Paul Vermeersch in the A-frame and on location around the county.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katherine and Michele at the Al Purdy library</td></tr>
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She has also stopped people on the streets and roads and asked them to read for her. The summer's HowPedestrian readers include Rednersville's much-lovedvReverend Morris McLeod, Norman Hardie in his vineyard, Gesa at the Al Purdy library, David Sweet at Books&Company, several Ameliasburgh residents, and folks at Campbell's Orchards, Lola's Perogies and Hawthorne Motors in Carrying Place.<br />
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This coming Saturday afternoon, Katherine will be sharing the video she has produced this summer. Another reason to attend the APAFA fund-raiser at Active Arts Studio. Here's the <a href="http://www.activeartsstudio.com/">link</a> for information and booking. See you there!Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-52551940051543053172014-08-26T16:10:00.000-07:002014-08-26T16:10:00.269-07:00Richard Turtle on 'Al Purdy at the Quinte Hotel' - performing this Saturday at Active Arts Studio, Rednersville, PEC, 3PM<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CwqCcz_kukw/U_0RbjT7JmI/AAAAAAAAJIo/wyJ7SCAoOKk/s1600/Purdy%2Bpicnic%2BJuly%2B27%2C2013%2B018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CwqCcz_kukw/U_0RbjT7JmI/AAAAAAAAJIo/wyJ7SCAoOKk/s1600/Purdy%2Bpicnic%2BJuly%2B27%2C2013%2B018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Richard Turtle, well-known local actor, writer, director and journalist has performed David Carley's outstanding play 'Al Purdy at the Quinte Hotel' several times in recent years. People who have seen this performance want to see it again; those who've missed it regret it. Everyone will have another opportunity this coming Saturday at 3PM at Active Arts Studio in Rednersville.<br />
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Richard shares his special connection with this play:<br />
"About a year after the fact, I heard that Gordon Pinsent had done a Purdy play for CBC - produced back in December 2003 - and was a bit surprised and a bit disappointed I'd missed it because I like them both, and I listen to CBC. So that one somehow slipped past.<br />
I probably googled it at some point and discovered Dave wrote it so I got in touch and he sent me a copy. Then I read it and then it sat there for years with me wishing I could put it on somewhere.<br />
Then I went to see C.David Johnson do the Carley-directed version at Westben (2007 I think) and that's when I realized just how well it plays.<br />
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I mean, it read well because Purdy's poems are the anchor to the whole thing but the story-telling in between them is the driver behind it, and it really does cut a broad swath through a big chunk of Canadian time and space. There's an indescribable (at least for me) quality to it that I couldn't see when I read it. But I know it's there now. As an audience member it was kinda like participating in a conversation without having to say a word. As an actor, it's much the same, except you get all the words.<br />
Part of what I like about Purdy (and I put him in a class with Stompin' Tom in a lot of ways) is how he celebrated Canada simply by experiencing as much of it as he could. And then he wrote very concisely about it. And almost exclusively. So in a large part because of that I think he has a lot to tell us about ourselves as Canadians. He saw a lot more of it than most of us ever will.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kne1sh0jjZg/U_0R4qu-iJI/AAAAAAAAJI4/SJD1QZZM3Uc/s1600/Active%2BArts%2B-%2BRichard%2BTurtle%2B-%2BSept.28%2C2013%2B005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kne1sh0jjZg/U_0R4qu-iJI/AAAAAAAAJI4/SJD1QZZM3Uc/s1600/Active%2BArts%2B-%2BRichard%2BTurtle%2B-%2BSept.28%2C2013%2B005.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>And anyway, after a couple of false starts I got the opportunity to perform it for the first time at the Active Arts Studio last year. So very much looking forward to going back there. And maybe in the fall, exposing some area high school students to this side of Al Purdy, if all goes well.<br />
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And then there's Andy Thompson. He's a recording/sound engineer, composer, singer...genius (and that last one's just my opinion) and is also music director for George Fox as well as part of his touring band. And then a few others. So he's had a really busy summer but as luck would have it, George is playing near Ottawa August 31, so Andy will be available to run sound for the Purdy play the day before (which includes a recording of his original music score that accompanies many of the poems). I can't thank Andy enough for his contribution to this show and he really deserves a lot of credit. He is an amazing guy to work with. And he knows an awful lot about music and words."<br />
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Great play. Great actor. Great sound. Great opportunity to support APAFA.. If you've already booked Saturday's Al Purdy Aframe Association fundraising performance, you're in for a treat. If not, what's stopping you? Here's the Active Arts <a href="http://www.activeartsstudio.com/">link</a>. See you there!Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-88550517556535428042014-08-19T11:54:00.003-07:002014-08-25T18:25:39.577-07:00The Freezing Music and other tunes by Al Purdy - in person August 30, Active Arts StudioJeff Keary of the celebrated Active Arts Studio <a href="http://www.activeartsstudio.com/">concert venue</a> in Prince Edward County is hosting a Purdy A-frame fund-raiser on August 30th at Rednersville's historic 1849 stone Methodist church, the one with the astounding acoustics.<br />
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The program is rich and varied, a Purdy fan's dream line-up - poetry, a play, and music.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hcKJL7Nbrpc/U-ORYtjN_9I/AAAAAAAAJAc/bGof3SHYtBY/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hcKJL7Nbrpc/U-ORYtjN_9I/AAAAAAAAJAc/bGof3SHYtBY/s1600/IMG.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a>Jazz. The jazz composer who will be featured is <a href="http://gerryshatford.com/cd/when-i-sat-down-to-play-the-piano/">Gerry Shatford</a> whose album 'When I Sat Down to Play the Piano' (which lovers of Al's poetry will recall as not being about playing the piano, not one bit) is just brilliant. Each track on the album is titled and inspired by one of Purdy's poems.<br />
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I love the variety of musical styles and voices Gerry uses in these compositions.<br />
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Gerry explains the artistic process: "All of the tunes on this album found their genesis in Purdy's poetry, as I began by reading the poems out loud, transcribing the rhythms I discovered in the spoken phrases. I added pitches to these rhythms to create melodic motifs which became the basic building blocks for the individual compositions".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gerry Shatford</td></tr>
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The poems are printed on the CD liner notes, so the listener can follow the process of creation, in addition to enjoying the virtuosity and originality of the music. For example, the highly charged melody and large intervallic leaps of 'Piling Blood' seem to spring from the violent and despairing images in the poem<br />
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The astonishing variety of musical styles on the album is one of the things that appeals to me. Charlie Parker's bebop 'Blues for Alice' echoes in the bluesy 'Love at Roblin Lake', 'How a Dog Feels to be Old' is a slow bossa-nova ballad, and 'The Dead Poet' conjures John Coltrane style improvisation. Then there's 'Mice in the House' with harmonies based on Gerswin's 'I Got Rhythm'.<br />
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Folks who enjoyed hearing 'Home-Made Beer' and 'At the Quinte Hotel' at the Purdy picnic (or anyone who has <i>ever </i>heard these icons read) will appreciate that Jelly Roll Morton style loping rhythm is a perfect choice for 'Beer', and ebullient boogie-woogie barrel house sets the right mood for 'At the Quinte Hotel'.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neil Swainson</td></tr>
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A Thelonious Monk evocation with its "pungent harmonies and quirky rhythms"works well with Purdy's 'When I Sat Down to Play the Piano' (and helps to replace the unfortunate visuals I always get when I read that poem.)<br />
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'When I Sat Down to Play the Piano' is available for download, and the CD is available for purchase, at Gerry's <a href="http://gerryshatford.com/">website</a>. Check out the link to Gerry's work and sample. If you like jazz and the poetry of Al Purdy, you will be hooked, as was I.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry Clarke at the recording session</td></tr>
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Gerry's sidemen on the CD are the well-known and loved Terry Clarke on drums and Neil Swainson on bass. At the Saturday August 30 event Gerry will be backed by Brendan Davis on bass and Dave MacDougall on the Pinnacle Music Studio grand piano.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See you here - August 30</td></tr>
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Thanks to Ontario Arts Council and The Canadian Council for the Arts for their support. <br />
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And finally, thanks to Gerry Shatford for explaining the complexities of the creation of this brilliant album. Now go buy it, and prepare yourself for the live performance at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/activeartsstudio">Active Arts Studio</a> on August 30.<br />
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Advance booking only at <a href="http://www.activeartsstudio.com/">Active Arts Studio/Eventbrite</a><u>/</u><br />
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-31311873447592734662014-07-31T12:25:00.002-07:002014-08-25T11:25:37.093-07:00Active Arts - the Purdy place to be on August 30th<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D4WYXGVKlJ0/U9p1D5kUcPI/AAAAAAAAI8M/yIMNXjcczrM/s1600/Jeff+&+Tracey+Keary+church,+July+21,+2012+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D4WYXGVKlJ0/U9p1D5kUcPI/AAAAAAAAI8M/yIMNXjcczrM/s1600/Jeff+&+Tracey+Keary+church,+July+21,+2012+002.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Back on <a href="http://purdysearch.blogspot.ca/2013/09/see-ya-in-church-al.html">September 28th</a> 2013, fans of the work of Al Purdy who gathered at one of Prince Edward County's premier performance spaces, Active Arts Studio, were mesmerized by actor/director Richard Turtle's powerful performance of David Carley's play 'Al Purdy at the Quinte Hotel'.<br />
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At that same event folks were introduced to gifted local musician Morley Ellis and to poet Martin Durkin, author of <a href="http://www.blurb.ca/b/5271817-steeltown-for-mary">Steeltown for Mary</a>, who did a reading at the Second Annual Purdy <a href="http://purdysearch.blogspot.ca/2014/07/a-heart-warming-moment-for-literature.html">picnic</a> last week.<br />
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Also at the picnic, Richard Turtle presented an excerpt from the Carley play. A-frame picnickers now have an idea of what's in store on August 30.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy John Reeves</td></tr>
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On August 30, 2014, at 3:00 PM, Richard Turtle will once again be performing the David Carley play at Active Arts Studio. Can't wait to see it again. Rumour has it that David Carley may be in attendance. Would love to hear him talk about the genesis of the work.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katherine Leyton at the Purdy Picnic 2014</td></tr>
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As if that weren't enough, the Active Arts bill includes the first A-frame writer in residence, Katherine Leyton, who will share insights into her summer work on Roblin Lake, and present the world premiere of the Ameliasburgh/Purdy installment of her poetry project <a href="http://howpedestrian.ca/">How Pedestrian</a>.<br />
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To round out this astonishing Purdy A-frame fundraiser in another artistic form, jazz artist composer Gerry Shatford and his trio (Gerry on piano, Brendan Davis on bass and Dave MacDougall on drums) will be performing Gerry's original jazz suite based on the poetry of Al Purdy, 'When I Sat Down to Play the Piano. An audio sampler (and CD ordering information) is available on Shatford's <a href="http://gerryshatford.com/audio/">website</a>.<br />
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This is DEFINITELY the not-to-miss Purdy event of 2014.<br />
As always, proceeds go to support the work of the Al Purdy A-frame Association.<br />
Signed copies of some Purdy titles, copies of the A-frame anthology, and original artwork will be available for purchase.<br />
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Admission is by a $50 per person donation. Advance booking (advisable as we anticipate great interest) is available through Active Arts. Visit <a href="http://www.activeartsstudio.com/">Active Arts Studio</a> for booking information. See you on the 30th!<br />
<br />Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-72894153159552415342014-07-30T13:33:00.002-07:002014-08-04T05:51:04.337-07:00"a heart-warming moment for Literature" *<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ernestine Lahey, a Purdy scholar from the Netherlands<br />
and husband Hans Bloemsma</td></tr>
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Denis and I went back to the A-frame last Sunday morning to take down the tents. The place looked odd without its crowd (one count reports 103 of us, enjoying poetry and the A-frame day).<br />
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We had a word with Katherine and her mom Barb. Collected the 'Sensitive Man' empties and the garbage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sound guys Rob and Paul from 'Through the Cedars'</td></tr>
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Saturday's Second Annual Purdy Picnic, last Saturday July 26, was better than we'd even hoped. Three months of planning, a tiny hard-working can-do team. Brilliant weather.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L: Bruce Sudds of Engagers, R: Alexandra M.</td></tr>
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Al and Eurithe's A-frame.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_SGhXR3R1Y/U9WG_SepLMI/AAAAAAAAI3g/WD28VxWMqEM/s1600/IMG_8289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_SGhXR3R1Y/U9WG_SepLMI/AAAAAAAAI3g/WD28VxWMqEM/s1600/IMG_8289.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michele, poet-wrangler and emcee</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writer in Residence Katherine Leyton owning that stage</td></tr>
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Poets on the A-frame stage. Well, Al and Eurithe's deck. "Hallowed ground", a couple of folks said. Visiting poets Phil Hall, Robert Priest and Stuart Ross travelled to the A-frame and astonished us with their work and their reading. The A-frame's first writer in residence Katherine Leyton shared new poems and her reflections on living and working in Al Purdy's old haunts.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard Turtle, actor, performing an excerpt from <br />
David Carley's play 'Al Purdy at the Quinte Hotel'</td></tr>
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Local poet Martin Durkin read several poems, and dipped into his newly released long poem <i>Steeltown for Mary</i>. Kathy Figueroa brought poems from the country north of Belleville. Local writers Louise O'Donnell (whose <i>Shuffling into Place</i> is my current favourite) and Janet Kellough (she of the Thaddeus Lewis historical mysteries) read poems of Al's.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the student voice - Steven Mullin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Edward Sweet</td></tr>
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Raconteurs. David Edward Sweet, owner of Books & Company recounted his meetings with Al Purdy. So did Ameliasburgh local Brian Way (whose ancestors built the mill which predated Roblin's Mill) - and shared a fine poem about his response to Al's work. Steven shared his student response to visiting the A-frame with his high school class.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Way</td></tr>
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Actor, director, writer, editor, journalist Richard Turtle performed an excerpt from David Carley's brilliant play 'Al Purdy at the Quinte Hotel', which he will be offering at another A-frame fund-raiser at Prince Edward County's Active Arts Studio on August 30. Here's a link to last year's <a href="http://purdysearch.blogspot.ca/2013/09/see-ya-in-church-al.html">event</a>. The fine local group Station Road, composed of Conrad Beaubien, David and Michele Simmonds and Eric Pilgrim were once again generous with their time and talents.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iZcHO9eJIA/U9WHKnZDsII/AAAAAAAAI4I/79taL2fpubM/s1600/IMG_8299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iZcHO9eJIA/U9WHKnZDsII/AAAAAAAAI4I/79taL2fpubM/s1600/IMG_8299.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert Priest</td></tr>
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Owner Chris Hall and barman Brett French from Barley Days Brewery, which has issued a beer in Al's honour (and a mighty fine hoppy beer it is too) spoke about the brew. I wrote about it <a href="http://purdysearch.blogspot.ca/2014/07/this-beer-oughta-be-worth-some-poems.html">here</a>. Warning: an extremely fine beverage, made even more so by the brewery's sponsorhip of APAFA - for every six-pack sold they donate a loonie to the Association. The brewery provided two cases of the brew, which were discretely savoured by poets and volunteers as the day ended.<br />
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Poets, and people wanting to hear them. Denis our shuttle driver (and another sensitive man) ferried well over 60 folks to the A-frame, and many more back. And to and from the PicnicPEC gourmet food truck parked at the village hall.<br />
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Thanks to our sponsors: Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Barley Days Brewery, Books & Company, Brighton Arts Council, West City Honda, Kopamees Construction and donor artist Anne Rector. And to our partners: County of Prince Edward Public Library, Picnic PEC gourmet food truck, Through the Cedars Productions<br />
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Thanks to the team Barb, Matti, Michele and your humble scribe. Small but mighty crew.<br />
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See you Saturday July 25, 2015 (tentative date).<br />
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I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Travel back to Saturday's sun and gentle heat on Roblin Lake.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Novelist Janet Kellough</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart Ross</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil Hall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin Durkin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kathy Figueroa</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what's the word for a gathering of poets?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Station Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my own sensitive man enjoying a Barley Days ale<br />
and nosh prepared by Katherine's mom Barb<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after the ball is over...silence returns to the point</td></tr>
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*Well, you know where it's from. 'At the Quinte Hotel,' Al Purdy. First published in Poems for All the Annettes (revised edition, 1968).Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-70381874583183184382014-07-24T05:28:00.003-07:002014-07-24T05:33:39.802-07:00..."we must enquire the way of strangers*." Not this time!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A'burgh town hall. Park, get gourmet nosh at PicnicPEC<br />
Take shuttle to A-frame</td></tr>
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Ameliasburgh's fine stone Town Hall, the hub of the village since 1874, will once again be the centre of operations for the Purdy Picnic July 26th. Parking, a gourmet food truck, and a map and schedule of events (look for Brian) are all there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PicnicPEC gourmet food truck<br />
Trish will feed you well - Town Hall parking lot</td></tr>
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As we've mentioned before, there is no entrance to Gibson Road for picnic-goers. Parking is at the Town Hall (take the Honda shuttle to the entrance to Gibson, from there it's a short walk to the A-frame).<br />
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Alternative parking is along Whitney Road, near the intersection with Gibson Road but you will have missed 'start' in your A-frame pilgrimage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the 'Wilderness Gothic' church is part of the<br />
Ameliasburgh Historical Museum</td></tr>
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Stuff to do in Ameliasburgh:<br />
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Have a look at the church which inspired 'Wilderness Gothic'.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YY5YwwjDo-w/U8gFSZt-mCI/AAAAAAAAIuA/eiNajZ_o7XA/s1600/Ameliasburgh+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YY5YwwjDo-w/U8gFSZt-mCI/AAAAAAAAIuA/eiNajZ_o7XA/s1600/Ameliasburgh+030.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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See if you can find the plaque marking the location of Owen Roblin's mill.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5-hWkBLx4k/U9D55yPGUcI/AAAAAAAAI2w/sGpiuCtNFfQ/s1600/Purdy+in+Ameliasburgh+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5-hWkBLx4k/U9D55yPGUcI/AAAAAAAAI2w/sGpiuCtNFfQ/s1600/Purdy+in+Ameliasburgh+056.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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Drop in to Ameliasburgh's welcoming Purdy Library to see Purdy memorabilia and chat with friendly staff.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">signage to Grove Cemetery and the millpond which<br />
stars in 'In Search of Owen Roblin'</td></tr>
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Take the turn down Purdy Street to Grove Cemetery and pay your respects to 'the Voice of the Land'.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdhBr5oXn4g/U9D3_JI31FI/AAAAAAAAI2g/xIgEs5GoYU4/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdhBr5oXn4g/U9D3_JI31FI/AAAAAAAAI2g/xIgEs5GoYU4/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+035.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYGzckzDqpc/U8gFYZBhFiI/AAAAAAAAIuY/rNKh_YC7n6g/s1600/Ameliasburgh+museum+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYGzckzDqpc/U8gFYZBhFiI/AAAAAAAAIuY/rNKh_YC7n6g/s1600/Ameliasburgh+museum+(7).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victoria Schoolhouse - Ameliasburgh Historical Museum</td></tr>
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Visit Ameliasburgh's outstanding Historical Museum pioneer village.<br />
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There's even a meet of the Quinte Section of the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group going on near the museum, for those who love the nostalgia of beautiful old bikes. They're a friendly bunch and would welcome a drop-in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sUof0EyfcJE/U8qR-602LHI/AAAAAAAAIzE/Ouco-FPsuog/s1600/Purdy+in+Ameliasburgh+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sUof0EyfcJE/U8qR-602LHI/AAAAAAAAIzE/Ouco-FPsuog/s1600/Purdy+in+Ameliasburgh+046.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the unprepossessing entrance to the A-frame property</td></tr>
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And then...come by the Purdy A-frame. The readings and music will run from 1:00 to 4:00. You are welcome any time after 11:00 AM.<br />
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* from The Country North of Belleville - Al Purdy. First published in <i>The Cariboo Horses</i> (1965)<br />
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-82314131603290732622014-07-17T09:52:00.002-07:002014-07-17T11:57:43.076-07:00This beer oughta be worth some poems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywB4IwCKmdE/U8VK2hiwPCI/AAAAAAAAIpQ/eISXDt2t_5Q/s1600/A+Sensitive+Man+Label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywB4IwCKmdE/U8VK2hiwPCI/AAAAAAAAIpQ/eISXDt2t_5Q/s1600/A+Sensitive+Man+Label.jpg" height="287" width="320" /></a></div>
"Warning: Contains Fart and Horse Piss".<br />
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You have to admit that as a marketing strategy, Prince Edward County's Barley Days Brewery might have wanted to think about that label a bit.<br />
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At least that would be in the ordinary beer market. But Greg Landucci's market, for this beer at least, is not the ordinary light summer ale drinker. 'A Sensitive Man' beer will appeal to folks who 'get' the literary references - for people who know and love the poetry of one Al Purdy, a national icon who just happened to spend most of his writing years in Ameliasburgh, Prince Edward County.<br />
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The well-known Purdy poem 'At the Quinte Hotel' was the inspiration for the label. You know it. The one that begins:<br />
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<i>"I am drinking</i><br />
<i>I am drinking beer with yellow flowers</i><br />
<i>in underground sunlight</i><br />
<i>and you can see that I am a sensitive man</i><br />
<i>And I notice that the bartender is a sensitive man too</i><br />
<i>so I tell him about his beer</i><br />
<i>I tell him the beer he draws</i><br />
<i>is half fart and half horse piss</i><br />
<i>and all wonderful yellow flowers..."</i><br />
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If you don't know (or can't recite) the poem in its entirety you might want to view the Bravo! production of Gord Downie's astonishing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPKeczB3wrg">dramatization</a> of the poem (warning: violence) which ends with Al Purdy's unforgettable voice intoning those familiar lines.<br />
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Barley Days owner Chris Rogers, brewer Alex Nichols and sales manager Greg Landucci were inspired to brew the beer and offer it as a fund-raiser to the Al Purdy A-frame Association, because, as Greg says, "Al had strong roots in the County and we want to help keep his legacy alive. And let's face it, he liked his beer." Admittedly, there is a nice resonance.<br />
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Barley Days Brewery will donate $1 for every six-pack sold, to the APAFA, to support ongoing A-frame restoration, and the writer in residence program. The beer will be ready by July 25; it will be available at Barley Days and on tap at select locations.<br />
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For more information - visit the Barley Days <a href="http://www.barleydaysbrewery.com/">website</a> to find out about 'A Sensitive Man' and the line-up of other fine ales, lagers and stout.<br />
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A note about Barley Days labels. I've always appreciated that Barley Days brewery uses images by local painter Manly Macdonald on many of their labels. For 'A Sensitive Man' Greg obtained permission to use that famous Krieger caricature of Al - plaid pants, pocket protector, huge glasses and flying white hair.<br />
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Me, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when folks approach the bar, and ask for Greg's new ale by name.Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-8042910359530556752014-07-05T07:38:00.004-07:002014-07-05T17:27:15.192-07:002nd Annual Al Purdy Picnic - July 26th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit D.Scott</td></tr>
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It's happening again.<br />
The Al Purdy Picnic.<br />
Saturday, July 26, 11:00 - 4:00.<br />
To celebrate Al Purdy and his work, and the home he built with Eurithe.<br />
To celebrate Canadian poetry and poets.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">thanks again, Doug!</td></tr>
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If you attended last year's First Annual event, you'll recall these scenes (you may even see yourself!)<br />
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The 2014 event celebrates the arrival of our first writer in residence at the restored A-frame. Katherine Leyton will be your host this year.<br />
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Poets Lynn Crosbie, Phil Hall and Robert Priest will be guest readers, along with a number of local poets and raconteurs.<br />
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Music will be provided once again by Station Road.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Station Road</td></tr>
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Bring your own picnic to enjoy at the A-frame or pick up something delicious from Rebecca and Trish from PicnicPEC, a local gourmet food truck. Have a look at the <a href="http://picnicpec.wordpress.com/menu/">menu</a>.<br />
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For more information visit the Al Purdy A-frame Association on Facebook.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tNhlnFJF8Ao/U7gK1TwQavI/AAAAAAAAIoc/oeASv5CUIIM/s1600/Ameliasburgh-town-hall-photo+courtesy+Wellington+Times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tNhlnFJF8Ao/U7gK1TwQavI/AAAAAAAAIoc/oeASv5CUIIM/s1600/Ameliasburgh-town-hall-photo+courtesy+Wellington+Times.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A'burg town hall - photo courtesy Wellington Times</td></tr>
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This is really IMPORTANT:<br />
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Al and Eurithe's A-frame is at 45 Gibson Road, south of the village of Ameliasburgh. Gibson Road is a narrow, bumpy cottage road, with NO turnaround. We implore you not to enter the road - we want to befriend our neighbours at this early stage of the writer in residence program!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CF3sk2crWD0/U7gM9lT01uI/AAAAAAAAIoo/XniqZI5U9_A/s1600/Purdy+in+Ameliasburgh+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CF3sk2crWD0/U7gM9lT01uI/AAAAAAAAIoo/XniqZI5U9_A/s1600/Purdy+in+Ameliasburgh+048.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purdy Public Library, Ameliasburgh</td></tr>
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There is lots of parking at the Town Hall (that's where you will find PicnicPEC and pick up village maps), and an air-conditioned shuttle to take you to Grove cemetery, the Purdy library, and the A-frame.<br />
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Or bring your bikes and enjoy the village.<br />
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You are also welcome to park along Whitney Road, a left turn at the Purdy Library. Then it's a short walk<br />
in to the A-frame along Gibson Road.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books and Company </td></tr>
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More scenes from the 2013 First Annual Purdy Picnic...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e1Iin3msZoM/U7bnOqmDxvI/AAAAAAAAIl0/S5ShNfrB8VY/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e1Iin3msZoM/U7bnOqmDxvI/AAAAAAAAIl0/S5ShNfrB8VY/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+025.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purdy titles, A-frame anthologies, apples</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c4PX2vIw6Os/U7bnRqxiQeI/AAAAAAAAImE/zZY0esox1JI/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c4PX2vIw6Os/U7bnRqxiQeI/AAAAAAAAImE/zZY0esox1JI/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+029.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geoff Heinricks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6fuMJ5Yk-rI/U7bnQC1tPRI/AAAAAAAAIl8/TrnTAT8A3Bc/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6fuMJ5Yk-rI/U7bnQC1tPRI/AAAAAAAAIl8/TrnTAT8A3Bc/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+027.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michele introducing a guest reader</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purdy-fest creator Chris Faiers and Chase</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mi5n0YhtKR4/U7bpT_6gdsI/AAAAAAAAImY/_iCKB0BAGCg/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mi5n0YhtKR4/U7bpT_6gdsI/AAAAAAAAImY/_iCKB0BAGCg/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playwright, editor, actor Richard Turtle and Rita</td></tr>
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-12524334857418791182014-07-04T07:48:00.002-07:002014-07-04T12:43:11.360-07:00Big Voices<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OPERA! and lots of it</td></tr>
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"Dust the rest of Al's records," Eurithe asked as she prepared to leave for the West.<br />
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Another dusty day in paradise.<br />
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And Paradise it was indeed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Russian labelling - a souvenir?</td></tr>
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I'd read about Al's prodigious record collection, and his enthusiasm for sharing his favourites.<br />
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David Helwig writes in The Years (a chapter in the<i> Al Purdy A-frame Anthology</i>, Harbour Publishing 2009) about Al playing favourite recordings during one of Helwig's and Tom Marshall's visits to Roblin Lake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YB2dl-mU68Q/U7a4gixXtJI/AAAAAAAAIi0/-xEUFnK80r0/s1600/Al%2527s+Records+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YB2dl-mU68Q/U7a4gixXtJI/AAAAAAAAIi0/-xEUFnK80r0/s1600/Al%2527s+Records+%25283%2529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so many big voices in the collection - surprised?</td></tr>
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He remembers listening to Burns' 'Ae Fond Kiss, Kenneth McKellar singing about the Bonny Earl of Moray.<br />
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In 'Remembering Al' (same anthology) Janet Lunn recalls Al's enthusiasm for Paul Robson and the Soviet Army Chorus "singing as loudly as his record player would play....He'd dance around the room - well, maybe not exactly dance, it was more like leaping - wildly directing the chorus with his arms and demanding of everyone in the room, 'Isn't that wonderful!'"<br />
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Isn't that a picture to take home with you?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">eclectic! These 3 titles came off the shelf, one after the other </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acorn's influence?</td></tr>
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I checked Al's poetry for reflections of this love of music. Sure, there's 'The Freezing Music', which has to do with the tiny crystalline tinkling of ice crystals forming. No Red Army Chorus grandness there.<br />
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The poem 'Orchestra' (from <i>Collected Poems -</i>1986) doesn't suggest a lover of symphonic music (but Al's collection would belie that):<br />
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<i>"Hairs of dead horses torturing wood</i><br />
<i>-the sound remotely equine</i><br />
<i>reminds me of a dream classroom</i><br />
<i>of nightmare urchins their fingernails</i><br />
<i>all at once scraping a blackboard</i><br />
<i>I listen and go mad...."</i><br />
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Lots more violent imagery and sound pictures. None of it suggests musical passion.<br />
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A different 'Orchestra' appears in <i>The Woman on the Shore</i> (1990). It talks about musicians' experience of performing - of transcendence. A grand poem, with a symphonic structure. Need to be read in its entirety. But I do like these lines especially:<br />
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<i>"They do not know where their bodies are</i><br />
<i>their flesh has fled</i><br />
<i>inside the blonde cello</i><br />
<i>into the warm red darkness</i><br />
<i>of the cherry-coloured violin</i><br />
<i>-and they are looking for their souls"</i><br />
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There must be more. I must consult George Bowering or Sam Solecki, both waiting on my shelf to edify me.<br />
But for now, must go turn up some very loud music. And direct. And imagine Al doing the same.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">interview tapes - I have the Wild Grape Wine copy<br />
Al signed for Ron Bates of CBC Sudbury</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The Grundig' with its fine voice</td></tr>
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Michele says that she and Eurithe once had the Grundig - a fine piece of German sound technology - working. Hope we can do that again sometime. Play some Soviet Army Chorus records. Loud.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">recordings were sorted using home-made dividers</td></tr>
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Spoken word. Big male choirs. Folk music, from cowboy and roustabout songs to Benjamin Britten and the folk songs of John Donne. Opera and lots of it. Miriam Makeba. Symphonies. Old smarmy standards like John McCormach's 'Come into the Garden Maude'.<br />
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Some pretty arcane stuff. Poems of A. Tennyson read by Dame Sybil Thorndike (99 cents).<br />
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A lot of Corby Public Library discards.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">budget consciousness ran in the family</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not a lot of call for spoken word - bargains!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the original record 'album' - old lacquer records<br />
embossed albums, brown paper sleeves, indexes</td></tr>
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From the days when owning music was serious stuff. Not for the faint of heart. The collection was sorted, divided by home-made tabs created from over-runs of Purdy's <i>A Handful of Earth</i> book covers.<br />
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New words like 'Stereophonic', 'Long Play 33-1/3'<br />
'Capitol Duophonic - for stereo phonographs only.'<br />
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The album art...there's another rainy day exploration.<br />
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Oh A-frame dwellers, do have a close look at this astounding relic of an omnivorous music lover.<br />
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Never know where a poem might come from.<br />
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<br />Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-14864237602345555952014-07-01T14:11:00.002-07:002014-07-02T13:03:13.009-07:00Writer in Residence!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duncan and Katherine</td></tr>
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This afternoon, a small band of supporters gathered to welcome the Purdy A-frame's first Writer in Residence, Katherine Leyton. Brian Johnson and his crew recorded the event, for eventual sharing via The Purdy Project, a feature-length CBC documentary.<br />
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Katherine helped us all remember what it was like to be in Al and Eurithe's long-time home - and the birthplace of Al's prodigious talent- for the first time. Bit of lump in the throat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian, Chris, Casey</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michele and Katherine discussing Ameliasburgh</td></tr>
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Thanks to Matti's astonishing achievement, putting into place Duncan's vision for the A-frame, and to the dozens and dozens who have helped over time to maintain and restore the A-frame, ready the property and clean, sort and equip the cottage - it is now a really nice spot to welcome a young writer. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raymond came all the way from Queensborough</td></tr>
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A young Canadian writer, in this country of astounding literary talent, on Canada Day. Happy? You bet.<br />
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And Jean Baird, the editor and literary activist who, together with Al's publisher Howard White, who began this project and shepherds it still? I hope she's as proud as we are of her.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiffany style lamp from where?</td></tr>
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Katherine says she will unpack tonight, maybe read some Purdy, explore, get a sense of the place. Take it all in. And tomorrow, she'll sit down at the table at begin to work. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">because a house needs a house plant</td></tr>
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Earlier, while we waited, adjusting to the heat, there was time for Matti and Duncan to do one more job, for the A-frame's Battrachian mascot to resume its place, and to tell the story of the refurbished windows, and deck stairs, and screen door repairs made possible by faithful A-framer John from Kingston.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The windows return</td></tr>
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-63071816603565942082014-06-25T07:13:00.002-07:002014-06-25T07:25:33.944-07:00Welcome Katherine Leyton<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxjvDCGBPls/U6rWbFTocjI/AAAAAAAAIT0/dEsLLkNG37c/s1600/A-frame+under+construction+June+18%252C+2013+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxjvDCGBPls/U6rWbFTocjI/AAAAAAAAIT0/dEsLLkNG37c/s1600/A-frame+under+construction+June+18%252C+2013+018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>We have a couple of really exciting dates to remind you of. We first announced these events back on May 15...and now they are upon us!<br />
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On July 1, our first Al and Eurithe Purdy A-frame writer in residence, Katherine Leyton, arrives at the A-frame for a two-month working residency. Katherine is well-known for her exciting HowPedestrian poetry <a href="http://howpedestrian.ca/">project</a>. I expect Al's poetry may be making it to a street (or road) near you this summer.<br />
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And on Saturday, July 5, at Ameliasburgh's Purdy Library, Library CEO Barb Sweet, and the Friends of the Library will be hosting a welcome reception from 1:30 to 3:00. This will be an informal opportunity for Katherine to meet her neighbours and supporters in the area. An invitation will be circulated shortly, but for now, save the date and plan to drop by for a bit.</span><br />
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-56994689954265313692014-06-23T13:44:00.002-07:002014-06-23T13:44:39.480-07:00Welcome Sarah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXwFX5t2otI/U6iL1ivA_xI/AAAAAAAAINM/kjY1sgCkL7I/s1600/IMG_7545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXwFX5t2otI/U6iL1ivA_xI/AAAAAAAAINM/kjY1sgCkL7I/s1600/IMG_7545.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: start;">We met Sarah Dearing on Saturday. Sarah is a novelist, the APAFA book-keeper, and a darned good sport. She's spending the week at the A-frame, to test all systems before our first writer-in-residence moves in July 1.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah and Brent (Best of Walrus Readers' choice poet 2013)<br />who came to mow the lawn and stayed to<br />talk about writing</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-en4aH4-FiKM/U6iL2l0v2rI/AAAAAAAAINQ/GkMx0fkVheE/s1600/IMG_7580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-en4aH4-FiKM/U6iL2l0v2rI/AAAAAAAAINQ/GkMx0fkVheE/s1600/IMG_7580.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="text-align: start;">Sarah is working on a novel, and a play at the moment. She is best known for her novel <i>The Art of Sufficient Conclusions,</i> launched in 2012. Here's a </span><a href="http://www.nowlounge.com/books/story.cfm?content=189533" style="text-align: start;">link </a><span style="text-align: start;">to an interview done for NOW Magazine in Toronto and a great Quill and Quire <a href="http://www.quillandquire.com/review/the-art-of-sufficient-conclusions/">review</a>.</span><span style="text-align: start;"> Sarah's earlier novel <i>Courage My Love</i> won the City of Toronto Book Award.</span></div>
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Because Al's workroom won't be ready for this summer's writers, I carved out what I thought might be a spot to work. Of course, there's the front deck, the back deck, the dining room overlooking the lake, that stump right at the water's edge...<br />
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Enjoy the week Sarah.Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-79636845109586088732014-06-23T12:40:00.002-07:002014-06-23T14:02:49.772-07:00How many steps in a mile?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">foundation rebuilt, board and batten replaced, furniture<br />
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A couple of milestones are coming up for the Al and Eurithe Purdy A-frame. This weekend, Sarah Dearing, novelist and A-frame accountant is staying for a week. She will be 'trouble-shooting' the household, and likely pitching in on some last-minute cleaning.<br />
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And then, on July 1, Katherine Leyton, the A-frame's first writer-in-residence, will be moving in for a two month stay. (more, much more, on that in future posts.) The historic February 27 announcement of the 2014/15 writers in residence was posted on the Al Purdy <a href="http://www.alpurdy.ca/">website</a>.<br />
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Milestones. As we should at these times, it's a good idea to look back and celebrate the small steps that inched us closer. And the people who made those steps - sometimes toiling uphill! A recent post described the poetic carpenters' triumph with the 'back deck' as Eurithe calls the road side of the cottage, and a number of folks who worked on cleaning and sorting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the sump pump's victory over the basement<br />
lake celebrated by a single wild aster </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before - the sun sparkling on the waves below the floor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">definitely one of the 'before' photos (June 18, 2013)</td></tr>
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The photos below show the immense new electrical box, part of an adventure that involved ripping up everything from interior walls to the lawn all the way to the road. Beside it is the elegant solution to this somewhat inelegant modernization. Rick showed me the door created from the original interior panelling. Even the inspector couldn't find it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at left, the new panel covering the electrical panel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a rather picturesque reminder of so<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the new back deck-<br />
remove the power tools and bring out some beverages</td></tr>
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The June 14/15 weekend (photos on the APAFA <a href="http://www.alpurdy.ca/">website </a> on June 20) was an astonishing work bee. I received emails from A-frame faithful, all tired yet excited about being part of making a difference. Stalwart Elaine was back, joined in dusting duties by Marni. Eurithe pitched in - it's her way.<br />
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Jean Baird forwarded Brian's account of the beehive of activity "cleaning, painting, hammering, planting, landscaping, wiping down dusty books" of Saturday June 15. No less than seven (according to Brian) of Katherine's family assisted, and made some significant donations. Brian, Ray, and Ron lent a hand. Marie, Paul and Barb have been in touch. Sorta sorry I was camping that week. Sorta. Another time - hope to meet all these fine folk at the Purdy Picnic July 26.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another cottage comfort - a firepit</td></tr>
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Brian describes the return of the lakeside deck to its rightful place at the front door, "a spectacular scene the team using shafts of 2x4 lumber as levers to move the rear (sic) deck back into place, like Roman galley slaves". Very Cecil B. Demille. But then, Brian is a film-maker. Great photos on <a href="http://alpurdy.ca/">the APAFA website</a>.<br />
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As Matti put it, "two days of work got done in one day!"<br />
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There are so many other contributors bringing this vision forward. I worry I've forgotten some. One fellow who has been around since early days is John, who used to come mow the lawns. These days he's spending all his free time reconditioning the windows in the living room. I'll post a photo when they return from his Kingston workshop.<br />
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-86219532431481862342014-06-23T11:19:00.001-07:002014-06-23T14:07:23.476-07:00Polishing Purdy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Al's man DHL looking reflective in Lindi's<br />
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Time to stow the buckets and duster for now and take a moment to reflect (an allusion to those shiny surfaces emerging from the dust and grime of unattended years) on the most recent developments at the Al and Eurithe Purdy A-frame. Saturday was my opportunity to get on with some cleaning, to catch up on Matti and Rick's accomplishments over the past week, to deliver some donated food supplies, and polish up a couple more rooms (trying to keep up with Eurithe who'd been there this past week cleaning, sorting, giving instructions and washing floors).<br />
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One of the ash trees (with which the property is particularly well endowed) had to be felled earlier this spring, and was milled into lumber on site. The lumber has been used for new interior walls which were removed earlier to enable wiring and window installation. Smells wonderful. <br />
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Eurithe found a glass door at an estate sale years ago; Matti and Rick fitted it on the back (south) doorway, exiting to the new deck. Beats the before photo taken a year ago!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ScTjwSa_fwI/U6hS_nK_I5I/AAAAAAAAIJQ/NM7a9_t5PH4/s1600/IMG_7542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ScTjwSa_fwI/U6hS_nK_I5I/AAAAAAAAIJQ/NM7a9_t5PH4/s1600/IMG_7542.JPG" height="320" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">entrance (after)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6pCk2TVx9kA/U6hUjow8RnI/AAAAAAAAIJs/6fgSdnNfv4E/s1600/A-frame,+May+16,2013++(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6pCk2TVx9kA/U6hUjow8RnI/AAAAAAAAIJs/6fgSdnNfv4E/s1600/A-frame,+May+16,2013++(16).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">entrance (before)<br />
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Incidentally, the view at right dates to a short year ago, when Lesley Kenny immortalized the cement block entry in her Descant blog <a href="http://www.descant.ca/blog/2013/07/28/al-fresco-the-purdy-picnic/">entry</a> about the first Purdy picnic. Lesley, hope you make it back to Ameliasburgh this July 26!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HYAvaDUDd0/U6hTAV6HNmI/AAAAAAAAIJg/sM7gIMKP4y8/s1600/IMG_7544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HYAvaDUDd0/U6hTAV6HNmI/AAAAAAAAIJg/sM7gIMKP4y8/s1600/IMG_7544.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">making a grand entrance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other jobs that got finessed this week:<br />
-front hall flooring<br />
-kitchen basics donation delivered (thanks to Raymond Brassard who wishes to remain nameless)<br />
-cleaning, cleaning, cleaning<br />
-inventory of Purdy family items<br />
-window frames around replacement windows<br />
-countless other bits and pieces<br />
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And as Matti puts it, everything requires a special solution - seems Al did NOT build this structure 'square'.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UXr0UjNNPw/U6hb1CmhLfI/AAAAAAAAIKA/DJVv-VjiEqk/s1600/IMG_7537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UXr0UjNNPw/U6hb1CmhLfI/AAAAAAAAIKA/DJVv-VjiEqk/s1600/IMG_7537.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shhh...don't tell the mice. And yes, Jean, there is balsamic vinegar!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Izv8Js4d6r8/U6hb-rkpGDI/AAAAAAAAIKY/2CDjCzK-5sY/s1600/IMG_7519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Izv8Js4d6r8/U6hb-rkpGDI/AAAAAAAAIKY/2CDjCzK-5sY/s1600/IMG_7519.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our writers will become custodians of some precious<br />
Purdy family items</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QY8X3_MvICM/U6iGnzbSjsI/AAAAAAAAIMg/9taG1wV7MoU/s1600/IMG_7560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QY8X3_MvICM/U6iGnzbSjsI/AAAAAAAAIMg/9taG1wV7MoU/s1600/IMG_7560.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brent mows the lawn, again!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-raMLEYqAI1E/U6iGnCS1akI/AAAAAAAAIMc/w9vr5QlTgxs/s1600/IMG_7561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-raMLEYqAI1E/U6iGnCS1akI/AAAAAAAAIMc/w9vr5QlTgxs/s1600/IMG_7561.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matti and Brent making required adjustments to the firepit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0U8JObJSb18/U6hb0RH7vOI/AAAAAAAAIKQ/37UVZPo_1Ek/s1600/IMG_7541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0U8JObJSb18/U6hb0RH7vOI/AAAAAAAAIKQ/37UVZPo_1Ek/s1600/IMG_7541.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L: Rick R: contractor Matti </td></tr>
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So, Matti and Rick (who have been working together for 35 years) and who sound like it sometimes, you have pretty much finessed it.<br />
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As Matti reported in a Sunday night email: "Well, we pulled it off!"<br />
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-31008186403334847932014-06-08T06:22:00.001-07:002014-06-08T06:22:07.614-07:00Building an A-frame, once again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kW9q6qjOSWE/U5PB8vGyxuI/AAAAAAAAH94/AFlTN3jSOs4/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kW9q6qjOSWE/U5PB8vGyxuI/AAAAAAAAH94/AFlTN3jSOs4/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Thanks to the A-framers who came by on Saturday July 7 to donate their time and talent. We did such an amazing job that we decided to take Sunday off. If you should happen by today (we haven't heard from anyone who is planning to), enjoy the peace of the point and the lake. And maybe christen the new deck, in your fashion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUoFs-Lk5Ac/U5PB8lPz8rI/AAAAAAAAH-U/7gc5FAhsKRw/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUoFs-Lk5Ac/U5PB8lPz8rI/AAAAAAAAH-U/7gc5FAhsKRw/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michele sorting linens</td></tr>
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Thanks to John Allport, Raymond Brassard, David and Karen Carpenter, Elaine Leiba, Michele Lintern-Mole, Brent Raycroft, Larry Scanlan, Katherine Sedgwick and Brian Way - and as always, Matti Kopamees - the deck got built, the lawn got mowed, the weeds got trimmed, and a lot of interior cleaning and organizing got done.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_I11e9QdIJc/U5PB80wjVII/AAAAAAAAH98/xPEKvwzrJaE/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_I11e9QdIJc/U5PB80wjVII/AAAAAAAAH98/xPEKvwzrJaE/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qkHk_6uHwQ/U5PB9YhJVmI/AAAAAAAAH-M/SGW7-X1OwZs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qkHk_6uHwQ/U5PB9YhJVmI/AAAAAAAAH-M/SGW7-X1OwZs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matti and Brent</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqrEue7mBIQ/U5PB9pAokGI/AAAAAAAAH-I/tCEb9s4lC3U/s1600/photo+3+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqrEue7mBIQ/U5PB9pAokGI/AAAAAAAAH-I/tCEb9s4lC3U/s1600/photo+3+(3).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elaine and Raymond</td></tr>
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Next weekend (June 14 and 15) volunteers will be building a firepit (because a cottage needs a firepit, right?), moving the lakeside deck back into position, painting trim, and doing final cleaning inside the A-frame after interior finish carpentry is completed.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YSNboa6SOK4/U5PB_SGpgcI/AAAAAAAAH-c/VQkWD5sIRfI/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YSNboa6SOK4/U5PB_SGpgcI/AAAAAAAAH-c/VQkWD5sIRfI/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, plan to join us if you can. Bring a lunch to enjoy on the point. Take a break to read or write a poem. Visit Al in Grove Cemetery nearby.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IuIIIq7BePY/U5PB_SuDFsI/AAAAAAAAH-Y/4TUjhQcttYs/s1600/photo+5+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IuIIIq7BePY/U5PB_SuDFsI/AAAAAAAAH-Y/4TUjhQcttYs/s1600/photo+5+(2).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next stops:<br />
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Katherine Leyton, the A-frame's first writer-in-residence (post 2000 of course) arrives July 1. Welcome reception at Ameliasburgh's Purdy Library on July 5.<br />
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The Second Annual Purdy Picnic, Saturday, July 26. at the A-frame. Hope to see you there!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tIWFNRgTgY/U5PB_1bD7GI/AAAAAAAAH-s/1jX8iEiLNyg/s1600/photo+5+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tIWFNRgTgY/U5PB_1bD7GI/AAAAAAAAH-s/1jX8iEiLNyg/s1600/photo+5+(3).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carpenter poets </td></tr>
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And as it so often happens, the recorder is not recorded. Thanks to Katherine for the photos!Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-9938252028060030172014-06-03T13:55:00.002-07:002014-06-03T13:56:18.778-07:00Work Parties at the Purdy A-frame June 7 & 8, 14 & 15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wkm_gPqyw4/U441a3AcIVI/AAAAAAAAH9I/fJnaLllNwwc/s1600/A-frame,+May+16,2013++(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wkm_gPqyw4/U441a3AcIVI/AAAAAAAAH9I/fJnaLllNwwc/s1600/A-frame,+May+16,2013++(12).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The A-frame needs you (and you need the A-frame). This coming weekend, a work party is taking place at the A-frame in Ameliasburgh Prince Edward County. Job #1 will be the replacement of the deck on the south side of the A-frame. Our contractor Matti needs 4 to 5 souls who "can wield a hammer" to assist with sawing boards to length and screwing them into the frame which Matti is building. The work will start about 10 AM on Saturday.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aRAYXtSL7w8/U441dZds1oI/AAAAAAAAH9Y/1NcvhGtZKaM/s1600/A-frame,+May+16,2013++(19).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aRAYXtSL7w8/U441dZds1oI/AAAAAAAAH9Y/1NcvhGtZKaM/s1600/A-frame,+May+16,2013++(19).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">If carpentry is not your thing, we have other outside jobs (grass cutting, planting and general clean-up, moving the north deck back into position), and inside (cleaning and organizing). Be part of the Purdy A-frame story. Come help out for a few hours. Bring a friend or a few. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">Work parties are ongoing: June 7/8 and 14/15. Come by, find Matti, and take on a job. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">Thanks to those of you who have let me know you're planning to come. Looking forward to working with you. Thanks to those who have already make a contribution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">We have a number of other needs as we work to make this a good home for a writer in residence. We are looking for good used items, for loan or as donations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">Let us know if you could help out with any of the following;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">1. a lawnmower </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">2. a bicycle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">3. a rowboat or kayak</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">4. a set of cookware</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">5. other kitchenware (canisters, storage bins, serving ware, etc.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">We are also looking for a donor or donors to enable us to outfit the kitchen, purchase new linens, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">A (tax receipt available) donation of $350 (or smaller increments) would help us make these purchases in time for the July 1 arrival of poet Katherine Leyton.</span></div>
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-62440606198120121132014-05-15T09:15:00.003-07:002014-05-15T09:45:56.651-07:00Spring work parties, Summer events at the Purdy A-frame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qKxHOvDmKdo/U3TkWjVYZRI/AAAAAAAAH4M/9J7Gt5ZA-MQ/s1600/Duncan+and+Eurithe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qKxHOvDmKdo/U3TkWjVYZRI/AAAAAAAAH4M/9J7Gt5ZA-MQ/s1600/Duncan+and+Eurithe.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurithe and architect Duncan </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Although she is a determined woman, and accustomed
to getting things done, Eurithe Purdy may well be pinching herself. For the
desperate hope that the dilapidated A-frame cottage on Roblin Lake - where she
and husband Al Purdy lived some of their worst and best years together and
where Al's legendary career as a great Canadian poet took hold - might be saved
from demolition has been realized.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Years of grassroots work by area volunteers,
coordinated by local educator Michele Lintern-Mole, helped to maintain the
cottage and raise funds and awareness.
Clean-up work parties by local high school students from Centennial Secondary
School, the restoration of the Purdy privy by Trenton High School students, and
the famous auction of household effects (who wouldn't want an ash-tray where
Margaret Laurence <i>might </i>have stubbed
a literary cigarette?) are part of the local A-frame legend.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvlDCblP1SI/U3TkCFggziI/AAAAAAAAH34/yQEVEJh7qgs/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27%252C2013+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvlDCblP1SI/U3TkCFggziI/AAAAAAAAH34/yQEVEJh7qgs/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27%252C2013+026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michele on the Picnic stage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rSkWjLqLgxU/U3TkH-HJVAI/AAAAAAAAH4A/o5_EZUGcBis/s1600/A-frame+under+construction+June+18%252C+2013+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rSkWjLqLgxU/U3TkH-HJVAI/AAAAAAAAH4A/o5_EZUGcBis/s1600/A-frame+under+construction+June+18%252C+2013+018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On the other side of the country, Jean Baird, editor, literary activist, and founder of the non-profit Al Purdy A-frame Association, spearheaded
ambitious awareness-building and fund-raising. High profile fund-raising events
in Toronto and Ottawa, successful grant applications and generous donations by
individuals and foundations have moved the dream closer to reality. The Al
Purdy A-frame Association, with national
and local representation on its board, orchestrated the purchase of the A-frame
in 2012.<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Not only has the A-frame been saved, but it is being
restored, and will be welcoming writers in residence starting this July. The
long-held goal of the APAFA has been to renovate the A-frame so that it can
serve as a residence for developing Canadian writers. The first call for writer
in residence applications went out in the spring of 2013; the 2014/15 writers have
been selected. On July 1, 2014 the A-frame will welcome Toronto based poet
Katherine Leyton, and in August, writers Nick Thran and Sue Sinclair will take
up residence for the fall months. Here's a <a href="http://howpedestrian.ca/">link</a> to Katherine's 'howpedestrian' project, coming to Ameliasburgh this summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GDDL-o-bISA/U3Tk-jTP0hI/AAAAAAAAH4U/kU7GU1AnxTo/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GDDL-o-bISA/U3Tk-jTP0hI/AAAAAAAAH4U/kU7GU1AnxTo/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+047.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a rare moment of leisure - Matti</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The A-frame has been saved, but the ongoing support
of the local and national community is critical to its success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So much work has been done. Over the past year,
contractor Matti Kopamees has orchestrated the installation of a new power pole
and connection to the cottage, completely new wiring in the A-frame, and
replacement of all the plumbing. Water in the crawlspace which threatened the
structure has been eliminated by perimeter weeping tile and a hard-working sump
pump. A collapsed foundation wall (discovered when the deck was temporarily
moved) has been rebuilt. Rotted
barn-board has been renewed, windows have been replaced or rebuilt. A new water
tank and heater have been installed, and a ceiling fan has appeared in the
A-frame ceiling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgqd4hhrIdM/U3TkO6MVn5I/AAAAAAAAH4I/_yp7RJHa5MM/s1600/IMG_6949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgqd4hhrIdM/U3TkO6MVn5I/AAAAAAAAH4I/_yp7RJHa5MM/s1600/IMG_6949.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But there is lots still to do: finish carpentry
inside the A-frame, trim painting outside. Deck-moving. If funds permit, deck
building and roofing. Lawn work. Cleaning. All to create a comfortable and
welcoming home at the A-frame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To that end, two working weekends are planned at the
Purdy A-frame, Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25, Saturday June 7 and Sunday
June 8. Invitations have been sent to folks already signed up with the Friends of
the A-frame. If you don't get an email, come anyway, and bring a friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> To join
the network, contact Lindi at pierce.lindi@gmail.com. For more information
visit www.alpurdy.ca, the Al Purdy A-frame Association Facebook page, or the 'In Search of Al Purdy' blog at
purdysearch.blogspot.ca. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W6ecs7NTPLw/U3TnzF5a29I/AAAAAAAAH4c/0-obwf4MbhM/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W6ecs7NTPLw/U3TnzF5a29I/AAAAAAAAH4c/0-obwf4MbhM/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The summer of 2014 will see a list of events planned
to celebrate the A-frame, its history, and the writers who will now find
inspiration inside its slanted walls:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">July 5 - Purdy Library Ameliasburgh. Welcome
reception for Katherine Leyton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">July 26 - Second Annual Purdy Picnic at the Purdy A-frame<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">August 30 - Active Arts Studio, Rednersville.
Richard Turtle's performance of David Carley's play 'Al Purdy at the Quinte
Hotel' and Katherine Leyton's video of her summer's work (howpedestrian.ca) at
the A-frame. (Tentative: 'When I Sat Down to Play the Piano' - Pianist-composer
Gerry Shatford and his jazz trio performing original jazz compositions inspired
by the poetry of Al Purdy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">early September - welcome event for Nick Thran and
Sue Sinclair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">October - guided literary walking tour of
Ameliasburgh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SVUY6GJgcY/U3Tj8f14N7I/AAAAAAAAH3o/gijLF-8UMxQ/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27%252C2013+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SVUY6GJgcY/U3Tj8f14N7I/AAAAAAAAH3o/gijLF-8UMxQ/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27%252C2013+020.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You are invited. Be part of the ongoing story being
written at the Al and Eurithe Purdy A-frame. Step into the A-frame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ongoing financial support is critical to the mission
of the APAFA and the Purdy A-frame writer in residence program. Visit the
website (www.alpurdy.ca) to make a donation, or sponsor a fixture. Consider how
you will feel to have your donation of a baseboard heater or writing cabin
ceiling plaqued at the A-frame.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-71313786585551691502014-05-08T07:40:00.000-07:002014-05-08T07:40:37.472-07:00A-frame Renovation - progress report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gI8M4QC22ys/U2uN371T4TI/AAAAAAAAH2M/4XpnllS5p_w/s1600/IMG_6951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gI8M4QC22ys/U2uN371T4TI/AAAAAAAAH2M/4XpnllS5p_w/s1600/IMG_6951.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
After a winter which cancelled many plans, and kept a lot of us indoors, it is encouraging to see the willow stump displaying its promising green aura.<br />
<br />
At a small but mighty gathering of Friends of the A-frame on May 6, volunteers and supporters heard what's left to do at the A-frame, before it can welcome the APAFA's first writer in residence, Katherine Leyton, on July 1.<br />
<br />
The yard cleanup is progressing, although there will still be more branches to gather, as additional tree trimming is scheduled.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwjIRVG2bgA/U2uTio7Dj_I/AAAAAAAAH2c/URksGq2bqHk/s1600/IMG_6944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fwjIRVG2bgA/U2uTio7Dj_I/AAAAAAAAH2c/URksGq2bqHk/s1600/IMG_6944.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
"There is also the matter of this deck", muses Fina, Matti's dog. Once Matti has replaced the rotted boards under the lakeside windows, the deck which is now sitting on the lawn can be strong-armed back into position. Eight strong backs needed, then evening poetry readings can commence.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a2XSIhgZHUE/U2uTkPr2VvI/AAAAAAAAH2k/fujxLGKW95w/s1600/IMG_6947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a2XSIhgZHUE/U2uTkPr2VvI/AAAAAAAAH2k/fujxLGKW95w/s1600/IMG_6947.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
And these water-filled ruts (in which robins were bathing yesterday - there's a prize if you can spot the bird in this photo) will eventually become a gentle depression capturing water expressed by the superbly functioning sump-pump. Some spade-work and grass seed required here.<br />
<br />
The A-frame still needs some interior finish carpentry (and John is restoring the living room windows; they'll be back in place soon), and donated kitchen appliances will need to be moved into place. Some exterior trim painting needed.<br />
<br />
Then...let the cleaning begin. Eurithe and I talked over the campaign yesterday. Once the construction dust settles, we'd love it if you joined us for dusting, hoovering, washing and arranging.<br />
<br />
Work parties have been scheduled for two weekends, May 24 and 25, and June 7 and 8.<br />
<br />
Hope we see you there. Reminders will go out to our Friends of the A-frame contact list.<br />
Matti our contractor will be conductor. Join the orchestra. Be part of something Purdy.Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-66864582555002761562014-05-08T06:55:00.001-07:002014-05-08T07:18:45.915-07:00Help wanted<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zpuy9NlEh8/U2uK1srceTI/AAAAAAAAH14/tKxo2kpD_T0/s1600/IMG_6942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zpuy9NlEh8/U2uK1srceTI/AAAAAAAAH14/tKxo2kpD_T0/s1600/IMG_6942.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
Al Purdy's grandfather looms large in his poetry and prose. In Search of Owen Roblin takes us to the lumber camp world of the early 1850's in Upper Canada.<br />
<br />
<i>"And there's my grandfather</i><br />
<i>a personal family myth as real as hamburger</i><br />
<i>only 18 years old in 1858 when the roads were built</i><br />
<i>wearing home-made boots, looking for his first job</i><br />
<i>in lumber camps at Renfrew and Farrell's Landing</i><br />
<i>tramping the Opeongo line..."</i><br />
<br />
Now admittedly, neither the work nor the world are quite that difficult now, but this spring as we clear up branches fallen during last winter's ice storm, and detritus from some tree-felling at the A-frame, we are channelling the aching bodies, the sweat, the insects...and the satisfaction that comes from making a difference.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAqf3hdLIh0/U2uK5Qxpo9I/AAAAAAAAH2E/KfuJrsa-4cg/s1600/IMG_6949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAqf3hdLIh0/U2uK5Qxpo9I/AAAAAAAAH2E/KfuJrsa-4cg/s1600/IMG_6949.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Should you come by and spy some piles of branches or twigs still lying about, here's your recipe for satisfaction: grab a rake and a wheelbarrow, should you find one, and move a pile or two of twigs and leaves to the spot just east of the A-frame, to join the others. If you find some larger branches, they can be hauled up the hill to a spot beside the driveway, where they will wait for the chipper. Firewood is still waiting to know where it will go. Save your energy, don't move it.<br />
<br />
And should you find our contactor Matti onsite, he can suggest a number of other needful tasks. Satisfaction guaranteed.Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-9371997042549445452014-05-02T07:17:00.001-07:002014-05-02T07:19:30.240-07:00See you at the Hall - Sunday May 4, 1:00 - 3:00 PM<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W7O3Uj_6ftA/U2EdPV2Y-EI/AAAAAAAAHwE/cSYp87Jwdeo/s1600/Ameliasburgh-town-hall-photo+courtesy+Wellington+Times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W7O3Uj_6ftA/U2EdPV2Y-EI/AAAAAAAAHwE/cSYp87Jwdeo/s1600/Ameliasburgh-town-hall-photo+courtesy+Wellington+Times.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy The Wellington Times</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This Sunday, May 4 from 1:00 to 3:00, local Purdy A-framers will be holding the inaugural meeting of the Friends of the A-frame, which exists at this point as an email contact list. That list will be useful, of course, for updating interested folks on activities and events (and volunteer work parties) at the A-frame, as we move into this first amazing summer of writers in residence.<br />
<br />
But as long-time volunteer Michele pointed out, this network of people who care for poetry, for the work of Al Purdy, the preservation of the A-frame, who know his wife Eurithe, or who want to be involved in activities to make this historic village grow and prosper need to meet face to face, and socialize, to work together.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jyHPPYCQZM/U2Ok9f_jC0I/AAAAAAAAHwk/yrWwy3kGyus/s1600/L1010972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jyHPPYCQZM/U2Ok9f_jC0I/AAAAAAAAHwk/yrWwy3kGyus/s1600/L1010972.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after the town hall picnic lunch crowd left - D.Scott photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Ameliasburgh Town Hall, 13 Coleman Street, is a fine place to meet. It represents community spirit, from the early days, built by Elijah Sprague c. 1874 on David Coleman property, to its recent make-over (wait 'til you see the kitchen) through the ongoing hard work of the Ameliasburgh Hall Working Group. Anyone who came to last year's Purdy Picnic will remember the place where they got their hand-made sandwiches.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We hope that this Sunday we will get to meet many of the folks who have volunteered over many years, or who have signed up at events, or who just want to be involved in something pretty important, to Ameliasburgh, to Prince Edward County...to the country. Come. Bring friends.<br />
<br />
And a meeting needs an agenda.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Friends
of the A-frame Inaugural Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1:00
- 3:00 PM, Sunday May 4,2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ameliasburgh
Town Hall<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Introductions - "what brings you here?"
- Michele<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. A-frame
History - Michele<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3. A-frame
Update - Matti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4. A-frame
Events 2014 - Lindi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5. Volunteer
Opportunities - Michele<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-213536535322163952014-04-23T09:14:00.001-07:002014-05-15T08:51:52.003-07:00Literary Friends of the A-frame II - Conrad Beaubien<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OGOQ4V_fMOU/U0qqQ6ECNsI/AAAAAAAAHnU/dsBIjgIZeVE/s1600/Conrad+Beaubien+Poster_4.13.14_reduced-scale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OGOQ4V_fMOU/U0qqQ6ECNsI/AAAAAAAAHnU/dsBIjgIZeVE/s1600/Conrad+Beaubien+Poster_4.13.14_reduced-scale.jpg" height="640" width="338" /></a>Another friend of the A-frame is Conrad Beaubien - writer, musician and champion of Prince Edward County's <a href="http://themillenniumtrail.com/">Millennium Trail</a> project.<br />
<br />
If you dropped by the A-frame during last year's Purdy Picnic, you would have enjoyed music graciously donated by 'Station Road', a group Conrad formed with PEC musicians Eric Pilgrim, David Simmonds and Michelle.<br />
<br />
Conrad writes for Northumberland/Quinte area's <a href="http://www.watershedmagazine.com/">Watershed magazine</a> (his lovely portrait of Eurithe Purdy appeared in the Fall 2012 issue) and reflects on nature in the fine local paper, the <a href="http://wellingtontimes.ca/">Wellington Times</a>.<br />
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Conrad is also a playwright. On 6 dates in April and May, packed houses experienced the world premiere of Conrad's play<i> 'Back of Hoards Station'</i> at historic Hillier Town Hall- all in support of the Millennium Trail Hillier Wetlands project.<br />
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The night was a treat. Local food. Communal table of interesting folks.<br />
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The play was a wonder. Tender. Tough. True.<br />
And tears, yes there were tears in the audience at the end.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MYg5H32QomY/U0ftcIahGGI/AAAAAAAAHlg/5Q7U0Bri4hg/s1600/Al+Purdy+Picnic+web+poster+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MYg5H32QomY/U0ftcIahGGI/AAAAAAAAHlg/5Q7U0Bri4hg/s1600/Al+Purdy+Picnic+web+poster+5.jpg" height="103" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conrad and 'Station Road' played the first Purdy Picnic July 27, 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kbuTQmrKP40/U0ftlcGJQOI/AAAAAAAAHlo/Hq14mG3NT8E/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kbuTQmrKP40/U0ftlcGJQOI/AAAAAAAAHlo/Hq14mG3NT8E/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+016.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Station Road' at the A-frame July 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IjOI6D1MvgY/U0ftmugUQXI/AAAAAAAAHlw/41o7WUPomyE/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IjOI6D1MvgY/U0ftmugUQXI/AAAAAAAAHlw/41o7WUPomyE/s1600/Purdy+picnic+July+27,2013+031.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conrad sneaking up on Eurithe</td></tr>
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Here's a <a href="http://www.intelligencer.ca/2014/04/24/hoards-on-the-boards">link</a> to The Belleville Intelligencer's April 24 review of <i>'Back of Hoards</i>' Station.</div>
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-59681646390438248822014-04-22T10:20:00.000-07:002014-05-15T08:52:11.693-07:00Literary Friends of the A-frame - Martin Durkin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OPSRdyscI0/U1aWmJ85ZNI/AAAAAAAAHp0/-oKnHLVBHk0/s1600/STM+cover+updated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OPSRdyscI0/U1aWmJ85ZNI/AAAAAAAAHp0/-oKnHLVBHk0/s1600/STM+cover+updated.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Not surprisingly, a number of the folks dedicated to the Purdy A-frame story are writers.<br />
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Martin Durkin is a Marmora-based poet (whose heart lies in Hamilton) who has just released a book of poetry - an enticing long poem entitled <i>SteelTown for Mary</i>. Its narrator is a retired detective, who has lost his identity, his peer group, his town...and most cruelly, his wife. It is powerful and beautiful stuff.<br />
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Martin is a prolific poet, called a working man's poet by some. He publishes almost daily on his poetry site <a href="http://crazyirishman.wordpress.com/">The Crazy Irishman</a>. His work is accessible, original, intelligent. Martin talks about <i>SteelTown for Mary</i> in this <a href="http://crazyirishman.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/a-qa-session-with-author-martin-durkin/">Q&A session</a> posted on his site.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9mt-8kwcSU/U0fsBG6g7nI/AAAAAAAAHlM/vwEIDs4hRtY/s1600/Active+Arts+-+Richard+Turtle+-+Sept.28,2013+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9mt-8kwcSU/U0fsBG6g7nI/AAAAAAAAHlM/vwEIDs4hRtY/s1600/Active+Arts+-+Richard+Turtle+-+Sept.28,2013+019.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin reading at Active Arts Studio</td></tr>
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<i>SteelTown for Mary </i>was released as an e-book yesterday (Purdy Day, coincidentally I don't think so) and will appear in print form soon. Martin admits to being influenced by Al Purdy's writing, and indeed, contributed work to the anthology <i>And Left a Place to Stand On</i>, inspired by the work of Purdy.<br />
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<i>SteelTown for Mary</i> was edited by Richard Turtle, talented local actor, director and writer. Martin and Richard met at a Purdy <a href="http://purdysearch.blogspot.ca/2013/09/see-ya-in-church-al.html">fund-raiser</a> hosted by Active Arts Studio last September. Richard performed the outstanding David Carley one-man show 'Al Purdy at the Quinte Hotel'. Masterfully, did I mention that? Martin read a number of his poems that same show. Synergy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tX6fpnunjlk/U0fsZ3M8cdI/AAAAAAAAHlU/2eHn1r_A6Ls/s1600/Active+Arts+-+Richard+Turtle+-+Sept.28,2013+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tX6fpnunjlk/U0fsZ3M8cdI/AAAAAAAAHlU/2eHn1r_A6Ls/s1600/Active+Arts+-+Richard+Turtle+-+Sept.28,2013+024.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly Bacon, Martin, Chris Faiers, Richard Turtle</td></tr>
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I am very excited about <i>SteelTown for Mary. </i>Fortunately I printed out all 70-some pages of it a few months back, when Martin did me the great honour of inviting me to read and review it (he couldn't have known that I cannot read and enjoy print fully unless it's on paper). I say fortunate, as the actual physical book has yet to be released. Expect that soon.<br />
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But in the meantime, you can settle down with your Kindle, your iBOOK, Nook or Kobo and enjoy <i>SteelTown for Mary.</i><br />
Here are links for <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/books/steeltown-for-mary/HOMwlwnhUU6JBWNh1aAq2Q?MixID=HOMwlwnhUU6JBWNh1aAq2Q&PageNumber=1">Kobo</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JUC87TK">Amazon</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-guRRZV4IXw4/U1akV0SoR9I/AAAAAAAAHqE/ahzd6M8c4hw/s1600/STM++cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-guRRZV4IXw4/U1akV0SoR9I/AAAAAAAAHqE/ahzd6M8c4hw/s1600/STM++cartoon.jpg" height="276" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-60114546509598928972014-04-22T09:01:00.000-07:002014-04-22T10:45:47.299-07:00Purdy Day, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXhcf2_jlTY/U1aI9QUXsAI/AAAAAAAAHoI/56QJMd3iRW0/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXhcf2_jlTY/U1aI9QUXsAI/AAAAAAAAHoI/56QJMd3iRW0/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+034.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>I sometimes think how incredibly lucky I am, as one who loves Al Purdy's work, to live so close to Eurithe and Al's A-frame home, and to the places that inspired his poetry and live on in his prose. Yesterday was Purdy Day, 14 years to the day since Al died. Al puts it more poetically, in words that Eurithe selected for his iconic black granite book-shaped stone:<br />
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"This is where I came to<br />
when my body left it body<br />
and my spirit stayed<br />
in its spirit home".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-emF8-U1bRt8/U1aJkgSCLaI/AAAAAAAAHok/OpzPpZUJigg/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-emF8-U1bRt8/U1aJkgSCLaI/AAAAAAAAHok/OpzPpZUJigg/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+035.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michele left pansies </td></tr>
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I blogged about last <a href="http://purdysearch.blogspot.ca/2013/04/the-last-picture-in-world.html">year</a>'s coolish Purdy Day. We wandered around Grove cemetery, the millpond, the house and property, surprised a great blue heron on the point.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7g-PXfYJ7jY/U1aJsbBHc-I/AAAAAAAAHo0/Zpjgq1r6NKo/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7g-PXfYJ7jY/U1aJsbBHc-I/AAAAAAAAHo0/Zpjgq1r6NKo/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+039.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>Yesterday was a kinder and gentler day. I spent two lovely sunny hours, propped up against Owen Roblin's gravestone, reading Al's long poem 'In Search of Owen Roblin'. I loved being able to do that - to read Al's words about ancestors and early A'burg history, occasionally glancing up to see the very gravestones across the sunny slope.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IeFKRDKfQ_A/U1aI-TdmJtI/AAAAAAAAHoU/2vfrepLrIM8/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IeFKRDKfQ_A/U1aI-TdmJtI/AAAAAAAAHoU/2vfrepLrIM8/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+032.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>It meant a lot to be able to look down toward the millpond's edge to that shiny book-shaped marker, which will always remind us that a great poet lived here - and wandered in despair, believing himself a failure, in early days.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07sZxPtdaqo/U1aqqst2eUI/AAAAAAAAHqU/j_UxGf8Vyio/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+-Owen+Roblin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07sZxPtdaqo/U1aqqst2eUI/AAAAAAAAHqU/j_UxGf8Vyio/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+-Owen+Roblin.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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All good...to watch a huge blue heron explore the shorelines of the millpond, wander the old Valley Road beside the graveyard fence, listen to a grieving widower who brought yellow flowers to his wife's new grave.<br />
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That's why the A-frame people have held onto Jean Baird's compelling vision of saving the A-frame property and its legacy. There may not be many folks in Ameliasburgh Ontario who know, or even care. But there are countless readers and writers worldwide for whom this spot will always be important.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4A5m4YUXhAg/U1aJjegyDhI/AAAAAAAAHoc/o5AjGH9hFbc/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4A5m4YUXhAg/U1aJjegyDhI/AAAAAAAAHoc/o5AjGH9hFbc/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+037.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iitqbLy-D7E/U1aJkX2gjNI/AAAAAAAAHoo/Aa66_uS78AQ/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iitqbLy-D7E/U1aJkX2gjNI/AAAAAAAAHoo/Aa66_uS78AQ/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+038.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michele left pansies</td></tr>
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This year, the spot is even more evocative - Al and Eurithe's son Jim was laid to rest here in the summer. And in that practical way that practical folks have, Eurithe had her name engraved at the same time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F19TtJP4O5k/U1aJwPjA3NI/AAAAAAAAHo8/TqfqMk1nNmE/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F19TtJP4O5k/U1aJwPjA3NI/AAAAAAAAHo8/TqfqMk1nNmE/s1600/Lindi+Purdy+Day+photo+dump+047.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found a yellow flower</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old Valley Road - Grove Cemetery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCeN9hOlwK4/U1ZtihotSXI/AAAAAAAAHns/2L0rSfqakB4/s1600/John+Reeves+photo+-+Al+walking+beside+Grove+Cemetery+-+for+auction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCeN9hOlwK4/U1ZtihotSXI/AAAAAAAAHns/2L0rSfqakB4/s1600/John+Reeves+photo+-+Al+walking+beside+Grove+Cemetery+-+for+auction.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'my' John Reeves photo - from the PurdyShow silent auction</td></tr>
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Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-35807613179128750302014-04-06T08:19:00.000-07:002014-04-07T06:55:31.595-07:00Sunday, May 25 (10:00 - 4:00) A-frame Work Party invitation - bring your lunch, your rake, your wheelbarrow, your broom, maybe your chainsaw?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w7yiPTm8t74/Uz8dW5U8hhI/AAAAAAAAHcE/i3ZkK-K9EXQ/s1600/IMG_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w7yiPTm8t74/Uz8dW5U8hhI/AAAAAAAAHcE/i3ZkK-K9EXQ/s1600/IMG_0017.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy APAFA</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well it's that time again. The snow is leaving..and oh what it's leaving behind! At the A-frame the stage is set for some serious (well not so serious) yard work. As the A-frame's contractor and friend Matti Kopamees puts it: </span><br />
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"We took down the dead ash by the water and trimmed a bunch of broken branches yesterday. There is nary a patch of grass to walk on between the house and the lake as it is covered in tree detritus."<br />
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Compelling image. But not the one I recall from the first annual Purdy P<a href="http://purdysearch.blogspot.ca/2013/07/the-first-annual-purdy-picnic-word-for.html">icnic</a>. And then there's that <i>second</i> annual Purdy Picnic scheduled for Saturday, July 26, 2014, to get ready for.<br />
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Al might describe the off-season landscape this way. (Did, actually, in Dark Landscape, <i>Wild Grape Wine</i>, 1968).<br />
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"Summer cottagers gone<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tN2dVx5WJ3I/U0BGMXLzl4I/AAAAAAAAHfI/LmthAr5e2Wo/s1600/A-frame+with+Michele+L-M+April+19,2013+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tN2dVx5WJ3I/U0BGMXLzl4I/AAAAAAAAHfI/LmthAr5e2Wo/s1600/A-frame+with+Michele+L-M+April+19,2013+055.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>a pair of tall elms<br />
long since dead of Dutch Elm disease<br />
are indistinguishable from other trees<br />
their small bones leafless<br />
Well I've no doubt weather<br />
does influence human mood..."<br />
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So it's time to get together at the A-frame and help it move beautifully into spring and summer. And influence the mood at Roblin Lake. Get that deck moved back into place. Maybe even get inside the cottage and make the beginnings of a good spring cleaning. Start getting the place ready for writer-in-residence Katherine Leyton in July.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WC86TQxndi8/Uz8dwxHHQHI/AAAAAAAAHcU/aqa5swoR9VE/s1600/A-frame+with+Michele+L-M+April+19,2013+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WC86TQxndi8/Uz8dwxHHQHI/AAAAAAAAHcU/aqa5swoR9VE/s1600/A-frame+with+Michele+L-M+April+19,2013+007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>The local Friends of the A-frame have chosen a date for the annual clean-up of the A-frame property ~raking, picking up and removing fallen branches. The ice storm of 2013 has left some pretty sizeable branches which can be sawed into firewood and stacked under shelter. Our September-November writers in residence Sue Sinclair and Nick Thran may be grateful to see a towering woodpile at their disposal. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Centennial SS students resting <br />
after their A-frame labours</td></tr>
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You're seeing it here first. We've decided on Sunday May 25, 10 - 4 PM at the A-frame. The snow should be gone, the lawn dried up enough that we can get work. And play! See you there.<br />
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We'll be emailing this date to Friends of the A-frame and announcing it at our May 4th Town Hall meeting (1-3 PM, Ameliasburgh). But in the meantime, help us spread the word. Thanks!Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949217973457471111.post-69015567606481104912014-04-05T09:09:00.000-07:002014-04-05T09:09:02.314-07:00Birth of a Network, A Community....an Acronym? May 4, Ameliasburgh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Sunday May 4, from 1:00 until 3:00 there will be a gathering of the Friends of the A-frame at the Ameliasburgh Town Hall. This will be the first time we have had a 'meeting'.<br />
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The Friends of the A-frame at this point exists as a growing email network of folks who have indicated a willingness to assist with some aspect of the A-frame's life , who've said or written the words "I want to be involved".<br />
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The Friends of the A-frame (I admit to resorting to FOAF in my notes to myself) includes writers, builders, artists, students, musicians, winemakers, educators, people from all walks of life- all of us just folks who can wield a rake, or a hammer, raise funds or donate goods, sell books or put up tents, offer ideas and make them happen...<br />
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It includes (and honours) local folks who have "been there since the beginning" when the dream of saving the A-frame for future generations was little more than a desperate hope.<br />
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So, on May 4, plan to join us at Ameliasburgh Town Hall. We'll share the vision, encourage each other, and make some plans together for the events of summer/fall 2014 at the A-frame.<br />
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It takes a village...Ameliasburgh.<br />
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<br />Ancestral Roofshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755249835071665091noreply@blogger.com2