Blog Posts

making the mental shift to positivity

10/13/2023

Yesterday, I made a quick trip into town to run a couple of errands and pick up a few things. It was a beautiful fall day. The sun was shining. The leaves on the trees were starting to burst into glorious autumnal colours. And in amongst all of this loveliness, do you know what I noticed? A whole bunch of seriously grumpy faces. There was not a smile to be seen when they were speaking with a cashier – if you could call the blunt, one word answers “speaking”. Folks getting out of their cars with a scowl on their faces that could freeze the warmest hearts. (photo is AI generated)

I get it – I acknowledge that some people may be having a truly dismal day. I understand that the prices of just about everything have jumped dramatically. I don’t like it either. But this is not the fault of the store clerk. A cranky attitude is just going to worsen the mood of everybody in proximity to that scowl! I just don’t understand why anyone would want to spend days on end – in some cases their entire existence – being rude, cantankerous, snippy, short-tempered. I can’t imagine it makes that person feel any better. And those on the receiving end of that misery are more likely to be a little short-tempered in return. (photo is AI generated)

It's amazing to me how, if you are wondering about something, oftentimes the universe will send you an answer if you are open to receiving it. Last night, I read posts from two friends.

The first friend spoke about how she used to get up early in the morning and take at least an hour to leisurely knit before starting her work day. She found that it really helped with her mental health and established a good work ethic. But, for the last year or so, she got out of this routine – sleeping later and then scrambling to get her day started. She acknowledged that she now feels more temperamental, has a more negative outlook. So she’s going to go back to her early morning knitting routine with the goal of giving herself (in her words) a “brain reboot”.

The second friend was commenting on how, as a society, we place such an emphasis on our problems, our anxieties, our stressors. In order for her to shift her thoughts to a more positive outlook, she kept a “happy thought journal” in which she jotted down one line that made her happy that day. By placing the focus on joy and physically recording it in a journal rather than focusing on melancholy, anxiety or disappointments, her entire outlook in life became more positive. It took some time and consistency, but she found it was worth it.

In my June blog, I wrote about “glimmers” – those tiny moments that bring joy if we take the time to simply experience them. Having a more joyous outlook is hugely beneficial to both our mental and physical health.

Life speeds by in the blink of an eye. One day you’re in the first quarter of your life, dreaming of finishing school and moving into the perceived freedom of adulthood. Then, in just a moment, you realize that you are approaching or are in the last quarter…..Life is not meant to be a trial. There is beauty all around us. Even in the darkest of days, there will be those who will reach out their hand to help. October 10th was World Mental Health Day. Let’s strive to make every day a positive mental health day.

is september your "new year"?

9/7/2023

Everybody knows that New Year’s Day is January 1st. But, for me, the beginning of September feels so much more like the start of a new year, a new season. The summer heat is waning, and youngsters are back to school. I recall the excitement of getting new school supplies and new (at least to me) clothes for school. September was the time to reconnect with all of your school chums, meet your new teacher, start learning all sorts of new things.

That sense of a fresh, new start in September has never really left me. Last week, I got out the beeswax and polished up my fall boots and shoes. You’ve been fun, flip flops – but your season is nearly over. I’m looking forward to cozy sweater weather. The autumnal wool colours are calling my name and my knitting needles.

The shorter daylight hours are also creating an urge to nest, to get my house in order after a very busy summer. It’s time to sort through clothing and donate pieces that I simply haven’t been wearing for whatever reason. You know what I’m talking about – those pieces that just don’t make you feel comfy or energized when you put them on, but you keep them anyway “just in case”. It’s also time for me to toss those clothing articles that have been so well loved, so worn thin that they are no longer mendable. I took the time to review what I had in my medicine cabinet and elsewhere – things like expired cold remedies, hand lotions that were almost but not quite used up, old herbs and spices that have long since passed their “best by” date.

September also feels a bit contemplative. It’s time to review what has been working in my life, both personally and professionally. Where are advertising dollars best spent? What knitting workshops are most loved? What habits aren’t working for me? Do I even need to talk about checking e-mails just before I go to bed?!? Anything that is there at midnight can certainly wait until morning. What routines do work? I used to have just coffee for breakfast. Then the day would get away on me and I might not have time for lunch. By the time evening rolled around, I was famished and light-headed, and looking for something that took little to no prep time. These days, I’ve been sourcing more and more of my food locally. I bake my own bread and enjoy eggs donated by Gracie and Lilly, my summertime chickens from Barnyard Organics. I eat smaller meals and snacks on a more regular schedule and feel so much better for it! (photo courtesy of Barnyard Organics)

Scottish poet Donna Ashworth wrote a beautiful piece entitled “Autumn” that is included in her soon-to-be-released book “Wild Hope”. It speaks about how letting go of burdens creates space for new, exciting and creative adventures. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

And so begins the season of letting go,
when Mother Nature shows us all,
how it’s done.
Let go,
free yourself,
shake it off,
drop it,
give way for the new.
Create space for new thoughts, new ideas,
new adventures and new connections,
by shedding the dead weight you’ve been carrying around,
for so long.
And whilst you are there, being reborn and renewed,
let go of old anxieties too.
Let go of any doubts, fears or beliefs which no longer serve you well.
Release bitterness or past hurts which feast on your beauty.
Be brave,
Don’t fear the nakedness as your leaves slip away.
Mother Nature doesn’t,
watch and learn.
Donna Ashworth
Autumn, from ‘Wild Hope’

ARE WE HUNGRY FOR A RETURN TO CIVILITY?

8/9/2023

“Many feel exhausted from excessive contact with partisan politics and toxic social media. Amid such turmoil, there appears to be a growing call for civility – not one that’s merely polite or well-mannered, but one that acknowledges our common humanity, treating others with the dignity and respect we all deserve.
Being civil isn’t just about being nice. It is an understanding, a willingness to listen to other perspectives to carve out something better together. It’s about cultivating an atmosphere where differences can be aired, and disagreements worked through. When we abandon civility, we aren’t saying goodbye to our past. We’re leaving behind our future. And in the process, we’ll foment distrust, hostility and abandonment. There will be no common ground, just dirt. We will retreat into our own echo, which eventually will become deafening.”

This quote is from an article written by Glen Pearson for The London Free Press. And his words so strongly resonate with me, especially in light of what I experienced recently.

On July 31st, I attended a public meeting held by the Resort Municipality of Cavendish, chaired by the Mayor. At this meeting, members of the business community and area residents were invited to give feedback on this year’s Cavendish Beach and Sommo Music Festivals, held on back-to-back weekends in the month of July. More than 60,000 attended the Cavendish Beach Music Festival and approximately 20,000 attendees were at the Sommo Festival the following weekend.

Photo courtesy of CBC Compass

On the whole, the meeting was quite calm. After input by the Resort Municipality, Ben Murphy of Whitecap Entertainment, the Provincial Fire Marshal’s Office, the Department of Health and Wellness and the Liquor Control Commission, a few business owners, including myself, spoke about our concerns with respect to the negative financial impact area businesses such as restaurants, accommodation providers and retailers experienced due to having back-to-back major festivals on consecutive weekends in July.

Teagan Pringle, La Rose Bistro (photo courtesy of CBC Compass)

From there, discussions became more informal with other business owners, Councillors and members of the public speaking from their seats rather than standing up and using the provided microphone.

Sandi Lowther, Fairways Cottages (photo courtesy of CBC Compass)

It all sounds quite civil and reasonable, right? Well, it was until one business owner was trying to ask a question, making reference to the Municipality’s “Special Events Guidelines”. The guidelines state that "preference for new or large major events will be given to those that take place outside of peak season and compliment the core brand values and target audience of Cavendish." The business owner, in the preamble to her question, omitted the word "preference” as she wasn’t reading directly from the guidelines and thus it wasn’t a word-for-word quote. Much to my shock, the Mayor, from his spot at the miked head table, started to shout overtop of her, telling her to speak the truth or she would not be allowed to speak and, furthermore, that he was chairing the meeting and, as she had the chance to run against him at the last election but didn't do so, it's pretty much "too bad so sad" (my expression, not his). The business owner, to her credit, remained calm throughout and simply continued to say "Can I ask my question?".

I have sat on numerous Boards and Committees here on the Island - as a committee member with Artisan PEI, PEI Business Women’s Association and Central Coastal Tourism Partnership (CCTP), and as Vice Chair of CCTP and founding Board member and Treasurer with Glenaladale Heritage Trust. I have also worked in Ottawa, Toronto and Saskatoon, and have served as an Executive Director for various not-for-profit organisations. Never have I witnessed such appalling behaviour as the Mayor displayed on Monday evening. Should we not expect – and even demand – a higher standard of behaviour from our elected officials?

Margaret McEachern, Knit Pickers PEI (photo courtesy of CBC Compass)

I was equally appalled to hear that one of the Councillors who, at a March 1st meeting, having voted in favour of the back-to-back weekend festival schedule, received threats of harm and vile comments about his lifestyle.

Vitriolic comments on social media channels and bombastic, narcissistic and arrogant political leaders have created a society that is utterly toxic. There is very little collaboration between people, between political parties of differing affiliations. We have become so used to abusive and rude behaviour that, it appeared to me, the Mayor’s behaviour hardly even created a ripple of discussion or outrage.

Every single person has the right to their perspective and has the right to voice their perspective without fear of ridicule or being treated in a contemptuous manner, being shouted at, or being threatened and subjected to abuse. While my perspective may differ from others, we should all feel heard, respected and, most importantly, safe.

Civility shouldn’t be demanded of only leaders. Each and every one of us should strive to treat one another with respect.

With that in mind, I will not respond to any crude discourse about current or past political leaders and any vile comments will be deleted.

Lessons I Learned from Anne of Green Gables

7/8/2023

I was lucky to have a pretty uncomplicated childhood. Like most kids who grew up in the '60s and '70s, ours was a much simpler life. No computers or cell phones. No social media accounts or online bullying. No permanent online photographic records of every foolish decision I made to forever haunt me! Summer was a joyous time – running and jumping through garden sprinklers to cool off after riding your bike, free as a breeze. Forts were created in fields. When your mom asked you to pick peas from the garden, more peas were probably eaten fresh off the vine than ended up in the bowl! Your only responsibility was to be sure to be home in time to help with supper.

Like most Canadian youngsters, or at least those on the east coast, I read the Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery. No, I didn't watch the movies - they hadn't been made yet. Looking back, reading those books truly shaped me as a person.

When I started working at Avonlea Village, I re-read the books, at first as a way to remind myself of the story and characters and then just for the simple pleasure of reading the stories again. It was so interesting as an adult to read about making cotton warp quilts (they were knitted quilts, not sewn from fabric as we might think), gardening and farming, Anne’s challenges in knitting socks (she always asked Marilla to turn the heel). It was fun remembering why Christmas songs said "presents ON the tree" and not under and how one Christmas present each was a real luxury. It reminded me that, as much as life has changed so much since Anne’s time, much has also stayed the same. It opened my eyes to the simple things – to gratitude, to perspective, to the value of good friends, to doing things to help your neighbours, to having the courage and strength to speak out if you feel something is wrong, to following your dreams.

Living in rural PEI has allowed me to adopt a simpler lifestyle and truly appreciate the value of keeping things simple. I oftentimes laugh at the daily “commute” from house to studio – a far cry from my corporate life when I lived in Toronto and faced that daily commute across the 401 and down the Don Valley Parking Lot. Living in Toronto, I dreamed of one day owning perhaps a small townhouse with a tiny plot of land where I could plant some flowers. Now I have a house on one acre with a home-based studio, a garden, 3 apple trees and my summer chickens! And there are plans for a dye garden and berry bushes.

Of course there are challenges. Life isn’t a daily stroll through the White Way of Delight. I constantly struggle with setting boundaries for myself – especially when it comes to running my business. If you sent me an e-mail and got my reply at 1:30 a.m., you know what I’m talking about! (original artwork credit to Island artist: Maurice Bernard)

Anne’s love of nature is always an inspiration to me. Walking on the beach and stopping to listen to the waves. Sitting on the porch with my knitting and breathing in the scented air after the lawn has been mowed or there’s been a rainstorm. Watching the bumblebees and butterflies enjoy my less-than-perfect flowerbeds and the clover in my lawn.

I am thankful every day that life has brought me here. Like Anne, I have made some colossal mistakes! But each mistake, each misstep is an opportunity to learn something and to grow. My wish for all of you who have taken the time to read my ramblings is that you find your path and follow your dreams to your own fully authentic life.

Have you heard of “Glimmers”?

6/7/2023

The world has changed dramatically in the past 25 years. Prior to 2004, there were no social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube. You couldn’t “google” something 26 years ago (although you could “Ask Jeeves” in 1996)! CNN was the first to offer a 24-hour news cycle back in 1980 although some say that the popularity of 24-hour news didn’t really take hold until the O.J. Simpson murder case in 1994 and 1995.

If you go back 30 years, folks subscribed to a print newspaper, listened to the radio for news updates and tuned in to their local news program on TV in the early evening or at evening’s end.

Today, our poor brains are inundated with a constant flow of information – good and bad, true and sometimes misleading. We constantly see a flow of picture-perfect lifestyles that can make our own lives appear dull, drab and uninspiring. Then there are the social media “trolls” who seem to get a cheap thrill out of cruel, hurtful comments.

You often hear that people are “triggered” by a comment, a news story or even a social interaction. Triggering can cause us to become hyper-vigilant. We can lose the ability to connect, to find joy.

Oftentimes, people believe that they will find their joy when a major life event occurs. I’ll be happier…. when I find my life partner, when I graduate, when I lose weight, when I land my dream job, when I retire and have more time. But, in fact, if we focus on those tiny moments in life that bring joy, we can actually work to reprogram our brains to be less affected by our triggers and gain more calm, more peace and tranquility.

Those tiny moments are called “glimmers”. And when you encounter a glimmer, you must take a few moments to simply enjoy it. These moments help to reset our nervous systems, improving both our mental and physical well-being.

Everybody’s glimmers are different. Here are a few of mine….

Whenever I take a drive into town, if possible, I drive past a farm with the sweetest Black Welsh Mountain Sheep. Just seeing the lambs and ewes grazing brings a smile to my face.

My crab apple tree is blossoming and looking pretty healthy despite its post-Fiona tilt.

I love to see the geese with their goslings at Rollings Pond in North Rustico.

Starting my day spending a few minutes with Gracey and Lilly – it amazes me how much they chatter at me!

And, of course, time spent with my fur babies.

A glimmer could be a favourite scent. I enjoy using my “Ewe Love” soap – it’s silky smooth and my personal favourite scent is Morningstar (Lavender Peppermint). Before a workshop, I’ll also use my “Ewe Love” inhaler in Morningstar. The lavender keeps me calm while the peppermint makes sure that I’m not so calm that I’ll fall asleep!!!

And of course, for me, knitting is a glimmer. The feel of lovely wool in your fingers. And the idea that you are making something from two sticks and a string never fails to astound me!

Glimmers can be found in nature, in music, in scents, in spending time with people who love and accept you, who bring you peace. In recognizing those small moments, every day can be filled with joy and harmony!

What are your glimmers?

Earth Month and No Mow May – Does It Even Matter?

5/3/2023

April is becoming known as “Earth Month", with April 22nd set aside as Earth Day – a day when environmental issues are at the forefront. Well – we are now into May. But that doesn’t mean that we should forget about how our actions and lifestyle impact the earth!

Mother Earth is in our hands

It's "No Mow May"! Did you know that 1/3 of human food requires bee pollination? Simple changes in mowing can result in enough nectar for ten times more bees and other pollinators. According to Plantlife, just eight dandelion flowers produce enough nectar sugar to meet an adult bumblebee's baseline needs. So, if you're wondering why we won’t be mowing down our dandelions this month, it's because these beneficial weeds are often the sole source of food for our beloved bees in the early days of spring here in PEI.

No Mow May - a field of dandelions in PEI

I’ve read some information recently that, due to climate change, grass is growing longer and faster in the month of May than it used to. So, the conclusion was that “No Mow May” was detrimental to keeping a lovely lawn as it may be harder to mow at the end of the month. Well – I have a couple of suggestions! A non-profit organisation based in Detroit called “Bees in the D” came up with “Mow Less May”. Rather than not mowing at all (which may be against the rules in some jurisdictions), you simply mow less frequently in the month of May. You know those little yellow dandelions will poke their heads up within hours of mowing – and the bees will be thankful for that.

The life cycle of a bee

Don’t use weed killer on your lawn. Instead, water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Don’t cut your grass too short – thick grass deters weed seeds! And maybe we should look at moving away from yards that resemble manicured golf greens and instead plant more flower beds, fruit trees and shrubs, and veggie gardens.

A happy bumblebee

May 20 is World Bee Day! Here's a few fun bumblebee facts. Did you know that bumblebees don't build traditional hives? Instead, they nest underground or in thick grass or holes in trees. These nests only last one season. Bumblebees don't produce much honey - just enough to sustain their colony - but they are better pollinators than honeybees! If you see a bumblebee, be kind. They hardly ever sting. They will even give you a warning that you are truly annoying them by lifting a hind leg! Unlike honeybees who die when they sting you, bumblebees do not have barbs on their stingers and so they can sting more than once. But you really have to get them perturbed. I love it when I walk to the studio and see those fluffy little bodies enjoying the flowers in the morning sun.

Ewe Love Bumblebees and No Mow May

I also put out a shallow dish with marbles in the bottom, then top it up with fresh water. The bees can get a drink without drowning! Birds enjoy it, too.

We hold Mother Earth in our hands. We often wonder what can we do, what can we accomplish as just a single individual? If each person makes a few simple changes to their habits, the effects of these changes will build and grow and our planet will be happier.

We hold Mother Earth in our hands

What’s Fashionably On-Trend this Spring? Slow, Eco-Fashion!

4/5/2023

February is traditionally the month of summer wear “Fashion Week” events held in Paris, Milan, New York and London. Designers present their latest collections. Shows are attended by celebrities, models, the media and, of course, buyers. The latest trends – colours, patterns, silhouettes – are adapted into clothing that is manufactured at a price point that is more affordable for the average consumer. And of course, the designs are modified to become more wearable on a day-to-day basis. Then the whole process starts up once again for winter wear Fashion Week events in September.

(photo by @ann.winslow, courtesy of Jems Boutique, PEI)

It's fun, it certainly piques our curiosity, and it is designed to make us want to toss out last year’s fashion must-haves and load up on the latest and most desirable, on-trend items. Some retailers offer new clothing collections 12-24 times per year!

Did you know that, in North America, the average piece of clothing is worn only 4 times before it ends up in landfill? And most of it, including footwear, has been created out of petroleum-based, non-biodegradable synthetics. Recycling clothing is a wonderful concept but only 1% of all clothing is recycled into new garments. Most donated clothing ends up in landfills overseas.

More and more frequently, we are experiencing the impact of climate change. Our beautiful Island “cradled in the waves” is experiencing shoreline loss at astounding rates. And fast fashion is a major contributor to climate change. I certainly have become far more aware of what I wear, what materials my clothing choices are made of, where has it been manufactured. The feeling of being well dressed is certainly a boost to one’s confidence. So….what to do? Check out the slow fashion movement!

Over the past number of years, I have been purchasing far less. But I have been looking for timeless, classic, well-made pieces of clothing that can be worn for many seasons. I want clothing that is compostable, breathable, made of natural fabrics. I want easy pieces that can be washed – no drycleaning chemicals for me. And I want to have interchangeable wardrobe basics that can create a variety of outfits without having to have a huge number of pieces of clothing.

If you knit, crochet, weave, hook or participate in any fibre-related craft, you are already contributing to the slow fashion movement by creating quality pieces with a long lifespan.

Consider choosing wool for your projects. It’s compostable, fire retardant and regulates your body temperature – important if you are having hot flashes, or you have a newborn baby who is unable yet to regulate their body temperature. And thank heavens for sheep. By munching on underbrush, they can help to reduce the spread of wildfires. Their hooves aerate the soil. They convert plant matter into a beautiful fibre year after year. This fibre can be used in clothing, home insulation and furnishings and even in your garden in place of fertilizers and mulch. Their responsible shepherds ensure that absolutely no harm is done to these sweet creatures when shearing takes place. Have an older, perhaps arthritic pet? They love to cozy up on a wool blanket!

Lots of folks think that they are allergic to wool. I certainly did! I remember trying on a wool sweater and pretty much ripping it off my body because it was so prickly. Much of that itch factor depends on the breed of sheep, on how the wool is processed and spun, and even on the dye used! In many cases, it’s the lanolin that is in the wool, not the wool itself, that people are allergic to.

So let’s forget about that prickly, itchy sweater that your mom or grandmother made for you eons ago. And check out the beautiful wool fibres available from your local wool stores, mills and shepherds. We are not separate from nature – we are a part of it. With every small step we make, including choices for sustainable, eco-friendly fashion, we are reconnecting to nature.

You're never too old!!! OR - WHY 70 IS THE NEW 30

3/8/2023

A short while ago, I overheard a conversation where someone suggested that their friend try a new adventure. It wasn’t anything too frightening or life-altering. It didn’t require changing jobs, moving cities, getting married or divorced, having a child. It didn’t involve bungee jumping or parachuting or swimming with sharks. I was heartbroken to hear this person say “I’m too old.”

Many folks believe that, as we age, little bits of our brain start to die off. They believe that, the older we get, the less effective we are mentally. So, you can imagine how excited I was to read some information from the George Washington University College of Medicine that said “the peak of human intellectual activity occurs at about 70 years old, when the brain begins to work at full strength”. After the age of 60, it is far easier to use both hemispheres of our brain at the same time, helping us to solve more complex problems. In fact, if we strive to lead a healthy life, we won’t reach our mental peak until we are 80-90 years old!!!

But there is a caveat. If a person stops learning, stops taking on new mental challenges, the connections between our brain’s neurons simply disappear. Granted, the older you get, you may start to experience some forgetfulness, feel a little absent-minded. But that’s simply because our brains have an overabundance of information! Kind of like a computer that has used up most of its RAM, we need to let go of the unnecessary, especially if it is negative in nature and pulling us down.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, at the age of 60, you reach the peak of your emotional and mental potential. And this carries on until you are into your 80s.
So – pick up that new craft or hobby! Engage in new activities. Direct a play, go into politics, become an advocate, speak your mind! And, if someone has the audacity to say “Aren’t you too old to….”, be sure to let them know you’re just now hitting your stride!

SHOULD THERE BE A JULY ROCK CONCERT FESTIVAL IN CAVENDISH?

2/10/2023

MY LETTER TO THE RESORT MUNICIPALITY OF CAVENDISH

I am not against a rock concert in Cavendish, but I am adamantly against a second concert in the month of July.

The vast majority of businesses in the Cavendish/Stanley Bridge/Rustico area would agree that business comes to a standstill during the Cavendish Beach Music Festival. There is no increase in business for restaurants or accommodation providers because, with or without the concert, they would be fully booked in July. In fact, hosting concerts on back-to-back weekends in July would definitely result in a downturn in business. It is well known that residents and visitors alike avoid Cavendish during the CBMF. If a second consecutive weekend is also taken up with concert attendees, that is 2 weekends of lost business in the prime summer market. Those folks who may want to book a week-long vacation in mid-July will not do so because all of the accommodations will be booked up on the weekends. Accommodation providers are already reporting booking cancellations as visitors do not want to be here during a rock concert. While I appreciate the creativity of featuring an onsite culinary component during the Sommo festival, concert attendees will not be going to local cafes or restaurants to eat.

Onsite vendors will make sales but local businesses – the ones that make Cavendish and surrounding areas vibrant and interesting for the rest of the season – will NOT make money. Concert goers are not partaking in deep sea fishing, visiting local shops and artisan studios, attending local ceilidhs or theatre.

I don’t buy the suggestion that, once the Sommo festival is “established”, consideration will be given to moving the dates. Once it is established, patrons will be booking their accommodations at least a year in advance. The outcry from concert attendees due to a change of date will ensure that the July date will remain as established.

I also don’t buy the fact that it is so very difficult to gain interest in a concert series without an established brand or website and that the only interest could possibly be the weekend following CBMF. Any promoter worth their salt would be able to clearly demonstrate the success of the CBMF – that mega concerts can and are highly successful in Cavendish, that big names have headlined CBMF, that the promoters’ experience in successfully establishing CBMF points to a similar successful venture in creating a rock concert series.

While it may be true that CBMF has attracted a younger crowd than may normally visit Cavendish, beyond the festival(s) weekend(s), what would encourage them to return and stay in the Cavendish area for a longer period of time? They haven’t been to shops or restaurants. There is very little for them to do in the evenings. Rather than focussing on concerts that disrupt the already busy tourism season in the month of July, perhaps look to encouraging the development of pubs with live entertainment in the evenings. When folks dock at 8 pm after deep sea fishing, or when visitors have finished a leisurely dining experience, when they ask where they can go for some local entertainment, there is next to nothing available.

I have no doubt that, after the hard work that goes into hosting CBMF, the Whitecap Entertainment staff and volunteers are exhausted. Are they going to have the energy, the wherewithal, to host a second concert the following weekend?

If the Sommo concert series was held in June, university students would be finished their spring semester and would be available to staff the event. If it were to be held in the fall (September to early October), students are certainly free to work on weekends. And – because all of the shops and restaurants at the Boardwalk and Avonlea Village are closed following Labour Day, and because venues like Shining Waters close following Labour Day, there would be plenty of people who have been laid off and would be available to staff a major event in September or early October.

I agree that Cavendish can’t just be Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery, amusement parks and beaches. Guess what – it isn’t! Perhaps that is the focus of the “Cavendish Beach” area – stretching from approximately Shining Waters to Green Gables. However, the Resort Municipality of Cavendish and surrounding area is so much more than that! We encompass the businesses that are striving to extend the season beyond Labour Day. When guests express some surprise that we are open because they have heard that “Cavendish closes down after Labour Day”, we explain that it is that small stretch of “Cavendish Beach” that is closed and there is still lots to see and do from New London and Stanley Bridge to North Rustico and south to New Glasgow.

Is the Resort Municipality supportive of these hard-working small businesses – inns, cottages, restaurants, cafes, shops and artisan studios - or is their only focus on the big players, most of whom close their doors after Labour Day? By giving approval to host the Sommo Festival on the weekend following CBMF, it would be a clear demonstration that, in the eyes of the Resort Municipality, we don’t matter. Many, many business owners have spoken up about how hosting a second concert series in July immediately following CBMF would be detrimental to their businesses. They are supportive of giving the go-ahead at an earlier or later date, just not in the prime summer season. It is not a secret that any business in the tourism sector here in PEI has had a rough go these past few years. Hurricane Dorian started the downturn, effectively ending the season in early September, 2019. Then along came Covid and all of the shut-downs and restrictions. Just as we were seeing things pick up once again, along came Hurricane Fiona in the fall of 2022. Do you really want to add yet another event that will create a downturn in revenue for local businesses? A second concert festival in July will do just that. Your decision will let us know.

Are you "wintering"?

2/8/2023

By the time mid-February rolls around, are you done with winter? This has been a particularly strange winter here in PEI. Very little snow….and it’s often followed by ice pellets, rain and freezing rain. It doesn’t make for a pleasant winter at all. Just a rather icy mess. My niece’s husband broke his ankle heading outside to salt the sidewalk. My sister took a tumble on our driveway and sprained her ankle.

Another weather warning is in place for this weekend – more rain and ice pellets. Makes you just want to pull the covers up over your head, doesn’t it?

Well, every now and again, that’s not such a bad idea. We lead lives of such “busy-ness” – squeezing in work, volunteering or serving your community, raising a family, keeping a house in some semblance of order and, on rare occasions, taking a deep breath and getting ready to do it all over again. Striving to find and possibly even maintain some kind of life balance.

My “go to” is knitting – 100%. Some people meditate or do yoga; some folks go for a run (with or without a four-legged companion). Maybe you bake or play the piano or get lost in a book. I find that, if I don’t spend a little time each day relishing the repetitive rhythm of my knitting needles, my brain feels exhausted. And winter is the perfect time for knitting. The evenings are long and the temperatures are chilly. At the end of the work day, to curl up in my chair with a fur beast (or two) in my lap and work a few rows, perhaps lighting a lovely scented candle….well, to me, that is as good as a vacation.

We sometimes have to remind ourselves that we not only deserve to do those things that replenish our soul – we need to do so! Both the human spirit and physical body are no different than other living things in nature. You would not expect your garden to thrive without water, sunshine and nourishment. Your garden needs you to pull those weeds that will take over if given a chance. Crop rotation allows the garden to replenish its nutrients. We also need to nurture ourselves if we expect to be able to grow, to give, to love. And we need to be able to do so without any guilt.

When I read this piece by Donna Ashworth, it really resonated with me. With her permission, I am sharing it today.

It’s February – often the coldest and snowiest month of the year. Be gentle with yourself if you find you are “wintering”. If you allow yourself that time, your personal spring will most certainly return and you will face the longer days refreshed and ready to be the force of nature that you are!

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