The HOME and Prairies North gang’s all here

Yesterday, the crews responsible for these two magazines gathered for a staff get-together (the first since covid reared its ugly head) at the Lawrence House, the site of a HOME magazine feature by Julie Barnes last winter. Great fun seeing everyone (we were missing Ashlyn George and Sara Williams) and even had a chance to do some planning for future issues. Thanks to our fearless leaders Amanda and Rob and to Lawrence House owner (and restorer extraordinaire) Jason for a great afternoon. Check out the Lawrence House if you’re looking for a wedding or other event venue. And not to brag about my co-workers or anything, but this small group can boast not one but three Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal recipients (congrats to Jeff, Maureen and Gord). Next time you’ll have to wear your baubles.

Best little shop around the corner

If you’re a book lover–buyer or seller–and you haven’t been to Westgate Books, you’re in for a very special surprise. We’ve recently been paring down my dad’s books–hundreds of books–mostly science fiction but also everything from Pogo to the peak oil crisis. He had a really eclectic collection including dozens of Astounding Science Fiction magazines dating from the late 1930s right through to 1956. Our new best friend Gene has helped us a lot, giving books and magazines a chance to have new readers. And he even alerted us to some first edition gems we didn’t even know we had. If you’re buying, Westgate Books has something for everyone, ancient to contemporary, including now even more of Dad’s very well-loved Isaac Asimov, Vilhjalmur Stefansson, Richard Feynman, Chuck Yeager, Neil Shute, Farley Mowat, even Charles Schulz and Jim Henson! I told you it was eclectic. If you’re selling, Westgate is fair and honest and while not every book is accepted, they’ve taken many off our hands. You really should stop in. They’re literally the shop around the corner at 1022A Louise Avenue in Saskatoon.

HOME and Prairies North out now

The summer issues of my two favourite magazines are out now, full of good reads and impressive images. You can get a subscription to HOME here and to Prairies North here. One and two-year subscriptions are available. Get one for yourself, and they make gifts that keep on giving all year. HOME is also available from a number of racks around town. I’ve got few articles in the summer issues, and there’s plenty of interest from our stable of writers and photographers. If you think you might have a story that we can tell in either HOME or Prairies North, let me know!