March 21, a day to celebrate

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011. On this day, people with Down syndrome and all the people who live and work with them throughout the world organize and participate in activities and events to raise public awareness and create a single global voice advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome. We’d like to celebrate not only our son Jim, so many people we know whose lives have been touched by Down syndrome, but also our friend Jessica Rotolo who lives in Toronto. Jessica is a real firecracker (like her mom, someone I knew way back when!) Jessica is part of a fantastic new Canadian Down Syndrome Society campaign called Love Means with beautiful photography by Hilary Gauld. Here’s an update: Jessica and her friend Matt join other celebrities in People magazine!

Look at this woman. If she isn’t a cause for celebration, I don’t know what is. You go, girl!

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Oh, the places he’ll go

We’re excited slash proud slash worried about our son Ben’s upcoming concert series. Can there be anything more normal than a touring band? We look at the schedule and hope it will roll out just like the old days when there wasn’t Covid and invasions to think about.

Prairies North, spring has arrived

The Spring 2022 issue is out, even though there’s a lot of snow left on our prairie province. But green is just around the corner. While we wait for the melt, here’s what you can find in this issue. The Return of the Pelicans, Bikepacking around Lake Diefenbaker, Antique Hunting in Davidson, The Big-Hearted Jockey, Exploring the Muskeg, and more. I’m always happy to contribute to this magazine; have a look at my article about Kinder Surprises, the destination antique hot spot just outside Davidson. I can’t wait to get there, and I’ll be keeping a watchful eye on the Saskatoon weir for the first signs of those big birds. Pelicans, pelicans, their beaks can hold more than their bellys can.

Spring HOME is here

The spring edition of Saskatoon HOME magazine is here, delivered to my door during a spring snowstorm – a good reminder that a subscription is a great idea! Only $20 for four glossy issues, or you can pick up your copy up at many locations throughout the city. The spring issue has some great content: Cover girl Chantelle Fourney’s tips on flower gardening and creating gorgeous cut flower bouquets, a beautiful during-pandemic reno that saved a 1927-era house in Buena Vista, and the Pantone Colour of the Year selection is revealed (everyone’s been waiting for that). Check out Maureen’s cookies and no holiday or occasion will be cookie-free again. Take a look at how the form and function of floor plans have evolved.

And one of my favourites is Jeff O’Brien’s look back at a time when the milk for your baby’s bottle or your morning coffee was hauled along the streets in the early hours by horse and wagon. Sorta like getting HOME magazine delivered to your door! Jeff came across this photo after the issue was at the printer, and I wanted to share the story of Charlie Horse and how his dairymen worked to get him unstuck. This was in 1955 on the 1100 block of Second Street East. Poor Charlie Horse was rescued; neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Charlie Horse – and the morning’s milk – were saved.

Sure, there’s a few more weeks of winter left. But the spring HOME issue will have you reaching for that seed catalogue in no time.

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Thank you Mayor Clark and CEO Carol Cooley

It took a lot of scheduling and rescheduling, pandemic protocol changes, weather problems (we planned several photo ops outside City Hall only to face -30+ weather, and then -40 wind chills) but we finally got together on Friday despite a snow storm so I could thank the City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Public Library for their support of the Saskatchewan Book Awards. My debut novel Small Reckonings won the Saskatoon Book Award, sponsored by these two. Turning out for the commemorative photo was City of Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark and Carol Cooley, CEO, Saskatoon Public Library, and our son Jim (a big Mayor Clark fan) was in on the celebration. As a writer, I am very grateful for the sponsorship of this SBA category. It’s a recognition so significant, uplifting and meaningful for writers who call Saskatoon home. I look forward to seeing who wins for 2022!