May 4, 2025
Hello You,
As of this morning, I’ve entered the much-anticipated time of rhubarb days, and the ruby-throated hummingbirds have returned to my yard for another year. Huzzah to rhubarb crumble, rhubarb jam, rhubarb syrup, rhubarb everything! And huzzah to really-truly spring!
According to local sources, the three enormous crowns of rhubarb that sit out back near our frog pond have been in residence at this old homestead for at least 80 years, and quite likely for even longer. That means some iteration of them existed on May 5, 1945, when German forces surrendered to Canadian Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes and HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, commander of the Dutch armed forces. Bonds of friendship and kindness were forged between Canada and the Netherlands all those years ago and are still celebrated in many ways, including the blooming of hundreds of thousands of tulips each spring in Ottawa, their bulbs sent annually from the Netherlands as a gift of gratitude and remembrance for the great sacrifices Canadian soldiers made during WW II.
Two years ago on May 5th, I stopped with Eldest Son and the wee grand-kiddo to share a few moments of joyful dance with the Mona Parsons statue in Wolfville, NS. Originally from the Annapolis Valley, Mona Parsons— actress, nurse, and former Ziegfeld chorus girl—played an important part in the resistance network in the Netherlands by helping several Allied airmen evade capture. She was the only female Canadian civilian to be imprisoned by the Nazis. After the war, she received commendations for her bravery from both the British Royal Air Force and US General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eventually Mona returned to Canada and lived out her final years in Wolfville. Three cheers for the women of the RESISTANCE!
Block Shop Books is turning TEN !
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be appearing as part of the line up for the fabulous Block Shop Books birthday bash on Saturday, May 17th in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. I hope you’ll join me along with Jane Doucet, Dean Jobb, and Tom Ryan in celebrating this magical, community affirming place of books and wonder on their special day. Spoiler alert: I’ll be reading NEW work from the book-in-progress.
And if you’re not already familiar with this amazing independent bookstore, let me share a short tale with you that illustrates how truly special the shop and its owners are. Way back in the winter of 2022, I got a lead on a swanky, blue Olivetti Underwood 315 typewriter for sale in the South Shore area of the province. It was priced right, in great shape, and had only ever had one owner. Score! Sadly, the day I was supposed to make the two hour drive to pick up the typewriter, a winter storm rolled in and made driving conditions absolutely rotten. To make matters worse, the seller had stipulated that she needed it gone that day or she’d sell it to someone else. Sob!
Cue the voice of a rescuing angel in the form of Jo Treggiari, author, friend, and co-owner of Block Shop Books! After a few IG messages and a series of texts that read like a clandestine spy operation, Jo (who lives near the agreed drop off location) had successfully obtained the typewriter and then stowed it safely at the bookstore until I could pick it up. Wild cheering!
On a beautiful, bright February day, I visited the shop to collect the machine and reconnect with Jo for the first time since the start of the pandemic. What a gift it was to see an old friend and to feel the warm embrace of a beloved bookstore again.
If you’ve got a keen eye when it comes to typewriters, you’ll recognize “Dolce Blu” as the same typewriter I use for all of my Notes from Destiny pop ups! There’s no better machine to make impromptu poetry magic with than one that lived briefly in a bookstore, and holds GHOSTS. (You can read about the ghosts by following the link.)
The Awe Report
So I have to confess, I recently decided to try a little magic of my own in order to conjure up an early rhubarb season. Spring has had a bit of a slow start around these parts, so after watching a mesmerizing video about farmers in the “Rhubarb Triangle” in West Yorkshire harvesting gorgeous, leggy stalks of rhubarb in a dark shed by candlelight, I decided to try my hand at forcing some of my rhubarb by growing it “in the dark.” While I don’t have a spare shed to store rhubarb crowns in, I did have an old garbage bucket kicking around to use as a forcing cloche over 1/3 of one of my three crowns. A few weeks ago I weighed it down with an old cast iron teapot that’d lost it’s bottom, and yesterday when I checked on the patch, the rest of the rhubarb was only starting to leaf out, but the part under the bucket had enough tender, sweet stalks to harvest for a batch of muffins. Bliss!
Closing thoughts.
Thanks as always for reading my words and for lending your kind support. If you’re down Lunenburg way on the 17th, I’d love to see you at Block Shop Books!
Until next time, I wish you good book shops to visit, strength in the resistance, and plenty of rhubarb delights, if you’re so inclined. And here’s six and half minutes of magic for your day…
Yay rhubarb, yay Spring (finally), yay the South Shore, and yay indie bookshops. Great post, as always. Sorry I won't be able to attend the shindig.
I love Wolfville and I love the typewriter story. Also rhubarb.