Prairies North spring issue

I love writing for this magazine. The cover story this time around is mine and I got to dig into the history of this fortified structure in Regina. The story goes it was built to soothe a woman’s anxieties about the weather following the devastating Regina Cyclone of June 30, 1912. Thanks so much to the City of Regina Archives for supplying the rich detail – and for responding to my pestering with such prompt good humour. Lots of other great stories in this issue and a few are displayed below. Don’t miss an issue; get your subscription! Watch for the summer issue and my feature on all things pickleball.

Here I Am

To mark World Down Syndrome Day, the Canadian Down Syndrome Association launched a beautiful campaign showcasing older adults, portraits captured by photographer Hilary Gauld. Visit the CDSS website and have a scroll down for a look through these images. Jim is 48, soon to be 49 in May. We’re starting to notice white in his whiskers and eyebrows. It seems it was yesterday when I joined the family; he was 12 and decided my name would be “Dear.” For his 49th, he says he would like a party with “shrimp, brownies, chardonnay, and friends.” Some photos below of our recent wonderful visit to our California and Oregon families. So to celebrate this day, and so many people we know whose lives are touched by that extra chromosome, here’s just a little slice lately of our family with Jim as the centerpiece.

Small Reckonings available soon

I’m excited to announce that beginning April 11, my debut novel, Small Reckonings, is getting a new life through Shadowpaw Press Reprise in Regina. It’s going to be released as a Kindle, eBook, and a print version. Pre-orders are available now on Amazon and from Shadowpaw. So for those who have been asking, you can get a copy soon! And to my brother Nels, whose dog Emmie ate his copy (seriously), another is on the way shortly.

Thanks so much to Ed Willett at Shadowpaw for this opportunity for a wider audience. Violet is very happy to be meeting new readers.

One more HOME

You’ll love this issue of Saskatoon HOME magazine. First, it’s the 15th anniversary issue. Congratulations to my great bosses, Amanda and Rob Soulodre, for keeping this wonderful magazine flourishing all these years. It is an honour to work with you. Second, there are some really interesting local bits and pieces for readers this time around including the story behind the wild tulip display at the corner of University Drive and McKinnon. It’s a must-see stop for you this spring. I had fun talking with Larissa and Sarah about their gorgeous 115-year-old character home, and we were happy to discover the house’s true origins. And when I say “we” I mean Jeff O’Brien, the City’s intrepid archivist. There’s a piece by one of my favourite writers, Julie Barnes, about a dark and dramatic home in Greenbryre, and one from my equally favourite writer Jeff about the bygone days when Saskatoon springtime meant mud up the the axles, if not kneecaps. We talk about Saskatoon’s urban forest and planting ideas, and just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Maureen Haddock whips up some green dishes in her busy kitchen. Grab your copy of HOME from any of many racks around the city, or better yet, get yourself a very affordable subscription.