The Wonder of Colour - with 'u' in it

Finally, after a couple of years of relocating, healing from a broken back, and more, I finally got out the chalks to create some art. It felt good to sit outside under my awning in this beautiful area of British Columbia, Canada, to rub the chalks and watch the colours blend, layer upon layer. I just love the pun - "Colour You Healthy - with 'U' in it." We all see and experience colour differently, and here I sit at this moment, enjoying the various greens of the trees around my new home, the blue sky, and the whispy threads of cloud floating by. I look forward to creating more drawings.

Remembering Alex Trebek

Alex Trebek passed away today, November 8, 2020, after a challenging time with pancreatic cancer. He is now free of the pain and distress. My condolences go to his family, his friends and co-workers.

This past February I received the attached photo and note from Alex after I had written to him to wish him well. I had evidently triggered some memories for him as I referred to the time we worked together on Outside-Inside for CBC Television in 1972-73. He was co-host with the late Ray Staples, producer Shirley Franklin, executive producer Dodi Robb, and director Chris Paton. When the season finished, Alex made his way to California and his career as TV show host, and eventually Mr. Jeopardy.

My thoughts are with you, Alex.

There is short story titled "Doors" - a bite of Sliced Bread - www.quillsquotesandnotes.com/bite-doors.htm - about a gag we pulled on Alex - LIVE.

Happy Canada Day 2020

Happy Canada Day everyone.
I am so grateful to be living in this country, and this place, at this time of such global chaos. So I thought I'd share with you this video by the Tenors to salute Canada, with participation from people across the country.

Thank you Fraser Walters and the Tenors, and thank you everyone who participated.
Wishing you all peace and good health.
Rosemary ♥

Hold on to your socks!

I recently received a message in a reading which told me of a catastrophic event around the New Year. The advice given is to: HOLD ON TO YOUR SOCKS!

This past month and week that message has become reality.
It's going to be a rocky ride all right, as the play acts out on the world stage.

For Australia I'm praying for cooler temperatures, and rain to help put out the bush fires. Such devastation, such loss of wildlife, and nature, never mind human property and life. While bush fires are a necessity for regeneration of many plants, this particular set of fires are a catastrophe.

For the Middle East and US I'm praying for cool heads, cool decisions, peaceful resolutions.
And I'm visualizing all armaments dismantled - every where.

Yes, HOLD ON TO YOUR SOCKS!

OM SHALOM ASHA INSHALLAH!

 

If everyone stayed home for a day...

If everyone stayed home for a day
How quiet this planet would be
No zooming trains and roaring planes
Or noisy ships on the sea...

By Rosemary

A Candle of Light

Season's Greetings to One and All!
For the Festive Season of Light (be it Solstice, Hanukka, Christmas and more) in the Northern Hemisphere, after December 21, the shortest day and the longest night of the year, there will be 2 minutes more light... every day.

To celebrate, this year I have posted "A Candle of Light" as a sing-along video.
Wishing you all peace, comfort, joy and love over this Festive Season and throughout 2019.
With gratitude for all that is
Rosemary 

UN International Day of Peace

Today is Peace Day - the United Nations International Day of Peace. And the world sure could use it.
I'll be out on the highway here at noon, with some placards - doing my little bit.

Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me
Let there be peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our Creator, Family are we,
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me let this be the moment now.

With ev'ry step I take let this be my joyous vow
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me

 

Songwriters: Jill Jackson / Sy Miller with a wee revision by me...

 

My own feeling is that there will only be peace on this planet when every single soul has peace in their hearts. It's a tall order.

 

Meanwhile I wish you peace...

♥ Rosemary

Reworking Quills Quotes & Notes

Well, after some major changes with security certificates, and after a few years of deliberation, I've finally got started on redoing the web site. Of course it's been a great way to stay out of the smoke.
I realized I needed to change around the words Quills Quotes and Notes.
Now Quills represents all the publications, little books and so forth.
Quotes is for all the Interview Articles I've done over the years and have posted on the web site - great artists from across North America.
And Notes of course represents the musical side of things, and of course, all the songs and recordings.

These things are finally in place now, but it's slow slogging, one page at a time in HTML.
It will no doubt be a couple of months before the whole site is complete, with new colours, side bar with content and more. I like the new look and I hope visitors will too.

That's to quillsquotesandnotes.com.

So far I have One Seed completed and a few other titles.

I hope you like how it's coming along.
Cheers
Rosemary

Gathering to Remember Graeme David Willson



There will be a Gathering to remember Graeme David Willson

On Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 2 p.m.

at the Senior's Centre in Grand Forks City Park

Refreshments provided.

 

 

It was his last party. Alone in his trailer, 52-year-old Graeme David Willson succumbed to a fatal dose of fentanyl. He was found on December 1, 2017.

Graeme was the grandson of the late Katherine Berg of Grand Forks, and son of the late Sonia Willson. In 1995, with Graeme (who was self-taught and had a natural gift for design, decoration, and gourmet cooking) they purchased the derelict Victorian mansion overlooking the city and transformed it into Golden Heights Estate Inn and Restaurant (see photos below). It became a work of art, was the ‘in’ place to meet and eat, and was used to promote the City of Grand Forks. Tragically, through unfortunate timing and events beyond their control (as victims of embezzlement and legal misconduct), in 2002 Graeme and Sonia lost their total investment, valued at over $1 million.

While Graeme had moments of total despair, challenges with mental health, and an eventual opioid addiction, underneath he was a gentle soul. He had his good and bad moments. Many were hurt by his actions, many disliked him, while others loved him unconditionally. We can but ask, ‘What if…”

May your soul finally find peace, Graeme. May you be surrounded by love.

Donations in memory of Graeme may be made to Whispers of Hope.



Graeme with his grandmother Katherine Berg at Golden Heights, on her birthday.

The restored and renovated Golden Heights Estate Inn and Restaurant, Grand Forks BC

 

The original Golden Heights Victorian mansion overlooking Grand Forks.

Mind control and Internet, iPhones and more

Ever since I first hooked up to Internet I've thought about this. I was very reluctant to get 'hooked' as it were, and then found myself getting into the habit of checking e-mails every morning... and still do.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-addiction-silicon-valley-dystopia

I can't quite get into the iPhone scene, or Smart Phone, or Smart anything. My Smart Meter for electricity is shut off and has to be read by a meter reader (which costs an extra $9 per month), and I use a land line telephone, which is very beneficial when power goes out... it still works, especially when using an old phone that doesn't require power.

I notice young people constantly with their heads down. I wonder if in the future they will suffer from physical conditions in the upper shoulders and neck, like a rounding of the shoulders... time will tell.
I have witnessed the distraction of social media, how people are constantly checking their iPhones, or talking on them wherever they are.

I have a phone at home, wired. When I am out and about I feel a freedom, one that used to be considered 'normal'. If a person needs to reach me, they can call my phone and leave a message on what is now called 'voice mail', which used to just be called an 'answering machine'.

I think of my grandparents who had no such devices. Actually, we didn't even have a telephone when I was young. We had to go to the red phone box down the road, pop in a few pennies, and dial.

There was a freedom. We were not in touch with hundreds of people every day. In the office in the 60s and 70s and even 80s, we corresponded by letter which usually got to its destination in one day, unless it was to another community or country. And then of course, in the late 80s and 90s there was the fax machine.

What is missing now is time. Everything is instant. And as the article above explains, distracting humanity from simply being, with constant distractions preventing all users from being able to focus. And that also is most noticeable in drivers and on the highways. Distracted. Not focussed.

So when does the back-peddling start?

Earth Day 2017 - The Day the Wind Changed

This year for Earth Week I was invited to Okanagan Falls Elementary School where, in a school assembly, we featured my new storybook and song, The Day the Wind Changed, followed by hopes and wishes for Mother Earth. The following is the video of the event, filmed by students with still photos by my 90-year-old cousin Ken.

You can view the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ-9uJiVJv0

And also at www.thedaythewindchanged.com.

The students brought the story to life, with NO REHEARSAL... just reading from scripts. It was amazing.

Thanks go to Ms. McCall, principal, to all the staff and students at Okanagan Falls Elementary... you are just awesome!

The new song is now available and is partly included in the video. Thanks go to Leeza LeClare who provided harmony, and Zak Eburne of Odyssey Sound Services in Grand Forks. NEXT will be the read-along and sing-along videos... coming this summer.

Over The Rainbow - Concert scheduled June 2

Here it is... the information about a Fun-filled Weekend, a FUN-draiser and FUN-shop for the Universal Brotherhood Spiritualist Church in New Westminster...

 

Tears

Dear Reader,

Today I am in more grief... more tears... as news of an attack on a mosque in Quebec fills the airwaves. Six are dead, many more injured. This follows in the wake of an Executive Order from the new US President Trump, denying entry to the US to people from 7 nations of Muslim majority. These are 7 nations the US has interfered with in their audacity. Refugee programs are cancelled.

People have been taken in airports, families separated, there is confusion, anger, fear for all Muslims, for travellers, for people with duo-citizenship and passports. All this in Trump's mind to deal with terrorism and to protect the people of the United States - to fulfil his political platform.

And now it is in Canada... an attack. So sad, so sad...

Trump has put a gag on scientists, supported coal energy, removed the national health plan, is putting up a wall between Mexico and the US, and withdrawn many civil rights, denied climate change, approved two controversial pipelines... and pushing for Made in USA... and that in just one week.
It is all political.

While the rest of the world is working towards peace, unity, harmony... helping others... and the planet, and Trump, in one week, is destroying all that.

Sorry, I just had to say something.
I know very few people read my blog, but at least I have it out there... I went off Facebook and Facebook actually removed my Timeline after I said I would be going off... so this Big Brother thing is very real.

I pray for peace...
What can we do as individuals? Hold on to the positive of life, come from love.
Rosemary

 

There is Hope! - The Day the Wind Changed

I sit here, my heart aching, with tears in my eyes and being. People around the world are marching at this very moment to support human rights for all, to support the use of renewable energy, and much more, with the biggest of those marches heading towards the Capitol in Washington. It's the first real day of Donald Trumps presidency and already he has taken action to support coal energy, and removed from the federal web site all those things to do with climate change, human rights, and more. He has already signed an executive order to end what has become called Obama Care... a form of health insurance for all Americans. Yes, I feel very, very sad.
The snow is coming down here in the mountains so I am not driving anywhere to participate in any march. There is one in Grand Forks, BC, where I live. Instead I have chosen to wear blue, from head to foot, for I feel blue... and I am heading to the drawing board to finally begin the illustrations for The Day the Wind Changed. That will be my contribution to the energy that is being created around the world in support of Human Rights, Women's Rights, renewable energy, and more, for the story is about a girl called Hope who brings her community together The Day The Wind Changed.
When listening to Trump this past year I have found him to be a total example of what I have always thought of many Americans (until I grew up and got to know many who are not) as being arrogant, loud, confrontive, dominating, and so forth. Trump in my eyes, my mind, my gut, is all those things and more. I do not see dignity or diplomacy. And so I feel very sad that Americans elected him in.
When he spoke of 'American carnage', about putting America first. He fails to say it was Americans and the greed of industry and corporations for cheaper labour that sent industry and manufacturing to China and Mexico and other countries, where labour could be bought really cheap and therefore improve their profit. (The same has happened in Canada.) So Mr. Trump, look at the origins of the problem... your own corporate world. I wonder if Mr. Trump has anything in his possession that is Made In China?
And as for supporting the coal industry, the rest of the world is working on obtaining energy from renewable resources. Tut, tut, Mr. Trump. This is a time when we should be working together as One World to improve the conditions of the planet and all life upon it... NOT... America First...
And so, I sit here watching the snow come down... and head from the drawing board to bring Hope to life. And I send blessings to all those who are marching.
In gratitude and sadness,
Rosemary

Remembering Windstar

Memorial Day weekend fast approaches in the US and with that comes the fond memory of attending the Windstar Foundation Volunteer Work Weekend at Snowmass in Colorado. The Windstar Foundation, originally founded by John Denver and Tom Crum, has now folded, but the Land Conservancy still remains, pristine land in the Rocky Mountains.
That weekend in 2010 was a treat for me, to celebrate my 60th birthday, the equivalent of a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, and an adventure. It was a chance to be in that incredible part of the world, even though I live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains.
I met wonderful people from across the US and from the UK. I met: Allison Smith, Blaine Deeming, Dawn Wright, Dreux De Mack, Jeanie Marie, Joy Wyse, Karmen Dopslaff, Ken and Karen, Linda Edmonson, Shari Sullivan and Tom Chatch. (I may have missed someone... Karen... and the children...)

This picture is of most of the volunteer working team wearing those fantastic shirts (I'm wearing mine today) taken at the John Denver Sanctuary in Aspen, at our picnic.

It was a weekend I will never forget - camping out at night as the temperature dipped right down; hiking up to the meditation platform above the John Denver Meadowlands at 5:30 a.m. to get warm and being nudged, like a tap on my shoulder, to turn around and take a picture just as the sun came up over the mountain ridge.
We worked weeding, re-soiling the greenhouse, planting, cleaning up the Windstar section of the local highway, and whatever needed doing. And we ate great food, went for an incredible hike through the Meadowlands, among the wildflowers. and just enjoyed being there. The scenery was stunning.

I extend my gratitude to all those I met, especially to Shari and Dreux who did so much of the organizing, along with Linda Edmonson, and to all the great folks who opened their hearts and were part of an amazing working team.

And to show that the Windstar effect continues, here is the YouTube video of Earth Day 2016 at Okanagan Falls Elementary School, here in Canada. We created a whole school story, some verses for a song, a drawing mural, and a mural with Dreams, Hopes and Wishes for Planet Earth. All grades were involved, from Kindergarten to Grade 7. It was amazing.

 

 

Thank you all... and thank you JD... for your legacy...

I'm smiling... such great memories... and such incredible photos to review...

 

 

"One Seed" released as FREE PDF-E-Book, MP3 and Video

At last! It's SPRING in the northern hemisphere and "One Seed" the story and song, has now been released as a FREE PDF-E-Book, MP3 and Video (www.oneseedstory.com) just in time for seed sowing and preparations for growing summer gardens.

The FREE PDFs are in English, French, Persian and also English-Persian. The English PDF has been revised to include the educational element as in the One Seed Video, as seen on YouTube - with images of seeds, of seeds as ideas, and also examples from the Kids Art Gallery (www.oneseedkidsart.com).

The "One Seed" story and song are also available FREE as the Read-along and Sing-along MP3s for your computer and iPad, iPhones and so forth.

The educational "One Seed Video" that now has over 575,000 viewings, is also available as a FREE download, along with the "One Seed Sing-along Video".

On the web pages at www.oneseedstory.com you can also see links to the lyrics, actions for children, and the sheet music.

As retired UK teacher Christine Carruthers prophetically said in 2002,  One Seed is; "A simple story about life which children and adults the world over will treasure - and the seed will be sown in many a classroom and home..."

And another story, "The Whales' Secret" illustrated by Julie Draper is also released as a FREE PDF-E-Book. (www.thewhalessecret.com) 

Enjoy - and Happy Spring!
Rosemary

Spring is coming!

What a wonderful few months it has been here in my new home in Winter Wonderland. While most of Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada, has green grass showing, up here in the high country above the town, there's still piles of snow, but it's melting fast. The snow this winter has been wonderful, picture-book scenes with the trees heavily laden and white everywhere.
I did get to stand under Great Grandmother Cedar yesterday and feel her energy, in anticipation of the new life that will be coming in the next few weeks... The spring flower bulbs are still under a good couple of feet of snow, but the rain is washing that all away. I'm so excited to see what will be coming up, in this garden at my new home. It's going to be an early spring.
Yes, loving being here. Grateful to be here.
And watch for changes to the web site here... in the next couple of weeks.
I'm smiling!

FOUND a new home!

I'm really excited. I've found that perfect home... all the things on my wish list and MORE! There's a garden to tend and work with, a greenhouse, and space to write, sing, make music, do art, finish furniture, and have company... YES! I'm really excited! YES! Something wonderful has come out of this tragedy of the Rock Creek wildfire.

Needing new home ASAP - Evacuee of Rock Creek Fire

Hi Folks,
Funny how the Universe works at times... this time the push has become a real shove. My housing situation has become quite urgent, meaning, I need to find a home ASAP, a quiet little house that I can call home, away from highway noise, and a place I can live for a few years.



Looking back at the neighbourhood going up in smoke.

You see, last Thursday, August 13, while I was working at the computer in my studio on Zamora just north of Rock Creek, in Westbridge, the power went out. I went outside to check what the problem was and saw this huge plume of black smoke with shots of red and orange flames and it was heading right in my direction. The roar was frightening, as was the hot wind, and the speed at which it was approaching. No time to think... it was time to evacuate and I didn't have a proper plan. I did check on an elderly neighbour first, she had already left, then grabbed the computer tower (no cables etc... no time), my guitar and binders of my original music and more, then a suitcase with a few things, then it was time for the cat. She hid of course, anywhere she could. So in the van, along with my two folding tables for market, the awning, legs to another table (the top is lying by the porch) I added a suitcase of whatever I grabbed in my hands for clothes, the above items, some bottles of water, the cat in a carrier and headed out.

I joined Elva on Hwy 33 as we began a convoy of cars moving slowly along ahead of the fire. We eventually made it to Beaverdell thinking we could stop and have a coffee or cup of tea. It was a 45 minute drive, But there was no power, no radio, no phones, no service, at Beaverdell and we were unable to find out what to do. A group of us decided to head for Kelowna and a motel.
North of Beaverdell, at the highway rest stop, folks managed to get phone reception. One neighbour found out, from their family in Ottawa, that we were to go to a particular church in Kelowna and register.
In all we drove 1 1/2 hours from Westbridge to Kelowna, pulled into the church and there was nobody there. Someone from the church arrived shortly after we did and re-directed us to the Salvation Army where we were then welcomed and truly taken care of.
I was put in a hotel overnight, then I chose to stay with friend Carol in Naramata for a few days, all the while thinking I have lost everything. But it seems the trailer is still standing, however the condition of things is not known. I will find out shortly.
Meanwhile, I am now back staying in Grand Forks with friend Joyce. I will have to make that journey to Rock Creek to see what I have left, then figure out how to relocate, in a hurry. So if anyone knows of a place I can call home please do e-mail me at rosemary@qqandn.com or phone 250-442-8658. My own phone does not exist at this time.

Meanwhile, I do know of friends who have lost everything. Nothing left. It is those I feel so deeply for. At least I have a few things in my van, and also, maybe, STUFF in the trailer. Meanwhile I give gratitude that we are all alive, and also gratitude to all the firefighters, volunteers at the evacuee centres, and all the back-up crews of police, regional district etc. who are taking care of everything. I hear the fire has already cost over 200 million dollars.

And it started with a CIGARETTE BUTT!

Nicolas Karl Kossakowski 1961-2015

 



Love you forever, Bro.

Man of heart
Man of soul
Forever giving.

Cabinet maker extraordinaire
Farmer
Wood chopper

Gentle human being.



Will miss you, and our phone calls.
Vinyl Café will never be the same.

Love ya - Sis...XOXOX