Saturday, March 28, 2009

UBC Farm Friends

Last Wednesday was farm visit #6. We worked on seedlings and planted more seeds. But most interesting, we made a trellis of alder branches. Each time I do this "volunteer work" I learn so very much.

research continues

When I first completed my novel, Angels in the Flames, I thought I had done all the research possible. I had found all the information there was about the Vancouver fire, 1886. But, having been asked to add more about the little boy in the story, I've found that I need to know a lot more about that strange afternoon. And I've been learning a lot lately. Yesterday and the day before, I spent many hours in the Special Collections of the Vancouver Public Library, researching the Squamish (Coast Salish) native people, the Chinese in Chinatown, and a town near the Squamish village, called Moodyville. So much rewriting to be done, and in so little time if I'm to keep my promised date of "by Easter". So the novel is still progressing, ever so slowly. Good thing I love research.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Saturday

Saturday afternoon I attended our SCBWI critique group. I didn't bring anything to be critiqued because most of what I've already written has been critiqued by members by email. I'm still struggling with a few of the chapters. Talking about it to the other writers helped a quite a bit. It's great to network, anyway. On Wednesday evening, I'm going to attend a meeting of the Editors Association of Canada--BC. David Stephens, senior editor at Tradewind Publishing, will be the speaker. The topic is writing and editing children's books. He was one of our speakers at our SCBWI Fall Event in 2007.

the past ten days

The past ten days have been mostly devoted to family and friends. I taught Sunday School last Sunday. It's odd having the children only once every four or five weeks. I have a hard time remembering their names, and that's not good. Tuesday, March 10th, was my first day at kindergarten this year. It's fun helping them with their reading and writing. It amazes me how well some of these little ones can read. They love counting things, too. It was day 69, I think, so day 100 will be coming up in a few weeks. I have to think of something I can bring for day 100. Last time I brought a package of 100 paper clips, and the teacher set them out, ten at a time on pieces of paper. Another time I gave them a roll of 100 pennies. I'll have to think of something different this time. This coming Tuesday is in spring break, so I won't see the little ones again until March 24th--the day before my next UBC Farm day.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

UBC Farm Friends

Yesterday was our Visit #5 with the grade 5 kids at the UBC farm. We, my fellow volunteer and I, had only two girls. So the four of us were kept quite busy, especially as the girls had the "chore" of being the reporters of the day. This meant that they were given the use of digital cameras, and had to go around and snap the work being done by their classmates. Stacy, the coordinator, first gave the girls a short course on how to take the photos and gave them lots of hints on what to look for. So, while the four of us had to work on our garden plot, the girls sometimes took off to take photos. Nevertheless, they were very good at doing the necessary work. We had to check the wireworm trap (a potato on a stick buried in the earth). Then, we dug in some lime to raise the pH of the soil, and planted a row of broad beans and covered it with a plastic umbrella to keep them warm. I expect they'll have sprouted by the time we see it again in a few weeks time. The tulips the girls planted last time are now up, one even has a red bud visible. Then, in the greenhouse, they made more paper pots and filled them with potting soil. We needed ten pots to plant the seeds of the snap peas, sweet onions, radishes and one other vegetable that I can't remember right now. After the farming session, we ate some pumpkin muffins that were made from pumpkin harvested and frozen last Fall. I hope the kids love the farm days as much as I do.

Stanley Park

Catching up on last month's activities! It was the month of birding, but also the month of Stanley Park. First, on February 15th, I went to the Vancouver museum to see the exhibit called "Unnatural History of Stanley Park"--documenting the changes the park has gone through over the past 150 years (more or less). A few nights later, at the Vancouver Historical Society meeting, we had an information session on the plight and future of Stanley Park's Hollow Tree. It has been dead for over a hundred years, but has recently started tilting and the Parks Board had voted to cut it down. The tree, about 1000 years old (yes, one thousand years old) is well-loved and has always, from day one, been one of Vancouver's most popular tourist attractions. The men who spoke at the meeting are part of a group who have researched the possibilities of saving the tree as it has been for the past century. They also have raised most of the money to save it. The Parks Board has reversed its unanimous decision to destroy the tree, and work is now progressing to save it. I think the link is http://www.savethehollowtree.com . Finally, on February 28th, our last birding field trip, I went with our instructor and classmates to see the varieties of birds around Lost Lagoon, in the forest, and in Vancouver Harbour adjacent to the Stanley Park seawall. The big treat of the day was the barred owl in the forest. One event I wish hadn't happened is that a gang of irresponsible "runners" ran me down, yelling that we shouldn't be on the forest trail. Actually, I was OFF the trail but the hooligan that ran me down--literally flat on my back--was cutting the corner. One of his fellow runners came to me later and apologized, but the guilty one didn't bother. At age 70, I don't bounce as well as I used to. My companions were very concerned about me, and the woman who had driven me to the park offered to take me home, but I refused to let my day be spoiled by one unfortunate incident.

TSSF profession

Today I received a letter from the provincial chaplain of the Third Order of the Society of St. Francis, saying I have been elected to profession. It's a long journey. About four and a half years ago, I became an enquirer. Next, I spent at least six months as a postulant. I've spent the rest of the time as a novice. This means that all of this time I've been learning what it is to be a Franciscan by reading about St. Francis and studying the formation literature. To keep on track, I've been obliged to send my formation counselor monthly reports of my progress and my adherence to my Franciscan Rule of Life. Also, as part of following my Rule, I've had to study scripture and consult monthly with my spiritual director and go to confession at least once a year.
So now, I have just to have my profession service and send a copy of my certificate.