Archive for June 2016
early schools – Arbour Day
Trees in the school yard, especially big trees suitable for climbing and swinging, would have been an appreciated feature of the school landscape. On a hot June day, students would have enjoyed the shade under a big tree.
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In the 1940s and 50s, some of these trees may have been planted sixty years before by students learning about abouriculture. By the early 1900s, there were Arbour Day celebrations in Canada when students planted trees at school and elsewhere in the community. The first official Arbour Day in Canada was established in 1906 by Don Clark of Schomberg, Ontario to remember his wife Margaret.
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big spruce trees in the yard of the Cumberland Bay School, New Brunswick
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In Nova Scotia, schools celebrated Arbour Day by 1929 and perhaps before. In May and June that year, officials organized the planting of trees and shrubs in the school yard and involved community members and local dignitaries in the events to encourage their interest in the school system. In 1928, the newspaper Halifax Harald offered, province-wide, a $700 prize for school beautification, which would have included the planting of trees (Jane Norman, Loran Arthur DeWolfe and The Reform of Education in Nova Scotia 1891-1959. Truro, Nova Scotia: Atlantic Early Learning Productions, 1989).
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The idea of planting trees in school yards continues to this day. Trees are important because they:
- clean our air of pollutants
- remove carbon dioxide, to reduce the contribution to global warming
- prevent soil erosion
- trap water pollutants by directing flow downward
- provide habitat for birds, bees and squirrels
- raise property values
- provide the oxygen we breathe
- provide shade
- make great places for climbing and swinging
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Copyright Jane Tims 2016
morning chorus
This morning it began at 5:02. First the relentless delirious Robin.
Cheerio, Cheerie, Cheer-up … Robin
Oh dear Canada, Canada, Canada … White throated sparrow
Whee, whee, whee, wheezie … Black-throated green warbler
Ah-ah-rooo … Local rooster
Teacher, teacher, teacher … Ovenbird
Tweet-terreet-terreet-tereee … Goldfinch
All happy to greet the day.
Now 5:42
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November 3, 2015 ‘morning fire’ Jane Tims
winner of cover art for ‘within easy reach’
I am so pleased to announce the winner of the painting ‘brambles’, the cover art for my book within easy reach! The winning raffle entry was drawn at my book launch at Westminster Books on June 9, 2016.
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The winner is Carol Steel, a long-term follower of my blog and a blogger at http://carolsteel5050.blogspot.ca/ . Carol posts her beautiful photographs, her published poems and her insights into the wildlife she sees. Carol also won First and Second Place in the 2016 Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick Writing Competition — Dawn Watson Memorial Prize.
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Congratulations Carol!!! The painting ‘brambles’ is yours. Thanks to all those who entered!
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February 29, 2016 ‘brambles’ Jane Tims
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The names of the other entrants, and the names of all those who purchase a book from my publisher or at any of my reading events, will now go into a draw for another painting ‘berries and brambles’ (18″ X 14″, acrylic, unframed, gallery edges). Names will be entered until June 30, 2016 and the winner will be announced in July.
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April 02, 2016 ‘berries and brambles’ Jane Tims
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Holding the raffles for my paintings has been a very enjoyable part of the process of marketing my book!
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June 9, 2016 book launch at Westminster Books – almost 50 people attended! (photo courtesy Chapel Street Editions)
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Copyright 2016 Jane Tims
songs in the grey woods – ovenbird, over and over
This week we had a meeting of our writing group Fictional Friends. We are trying something new – dedicating our whole meeting to one person’s writing. The writer ‘in the spotlight’ talks about writing goals and the problems they encounter. Then they describe their current project, giving a synopsis. They read and the group provides constructive comments. We found this first session helpful for everyone present and we plan another session, with a focus on another writer’s work. I think each member of the group learned something applicable to his or her own writing.
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This session was held at my house. I left the back screen open, to let in some air. More than air comes in – at a meeting last month, the sound of our next door neighbour’s rooster crowing provided a backdrop to some reading about rural themes. At this week’s meeting, an Ovenbird decided to start singing in the woods behind our house. ‘Teacher, teacher, teacher’ he said, over and over. Perhaps he was making a commentary on our particular way of learning.
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The Ovenbird is a large warbler, olive-brown. He reminds me of a thrust because of his streaked white breast. He has an orange crest, a white ring around each eye, a white throat and a dark line below his cheek. My drawing is from a photo by Ann Gardner, used with permission. http://www.anngardnerphotography.com/
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Do you belong to a writing group? What methods does your group use to help one another?
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Copyright 2016 Jane Tims
early schools – the rope swing
Students in the one room school may have appreciated apple trees growing in the school yard. But there would have been other trees too. A hefty old red maple would have been a good place for a swing. Perhaps a simple rope swing, with a loop over a horizontal tree branch and a big old knot at the end for sitting.
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rope swing
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lunch hour
best spent
upside down
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legs wrapped
tight as twist
of hemp
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splayed ends
of the big knot
trail on the ground
follow hair and
dragging fingers
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world tipsy-turned
maple branch – a bridge across the sky
other kids stand on their heads
school house and outhouse
hang from the hill
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Copyright 2016 Jane Tims
‘within easy reach’ – cover art
This is reminder that I am offering a chance to win the painting ‘brambles’ on the cover of my book ‘within easy reach’. The last day to enter is June 7, 2016.
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The draw for the painting will take place at the launch for my book, on Thursday June 9, 2016 at Westminster Books in Fredericton (7 PM). I’ll let everyone know who won the painting on Friday, June 10.
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Those who entered for the draw are also entered in another draw to win another painting ‘berries and brambles’. Anyone who has purchased a book from me or the publisher is entered for this second draw, to take place June 30, 2016.
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To win the cover art ‘brambles’, you have to do three things.
- Purchase my book through my publisher’s website (www.chapelstreeteditions.com)
- Leave a comment on any of my Blogs (www.nichepoetryandprose.wordpress.com or www.janetims.com or www.janetimsdotcom.wordpress.com) with the words ‘within easy reach’ somewhere in the comment
- Be prepared to send me, via email, a scan of your purchase receipt.
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The cover painting ‘brambles’ is done in acrylics, size 10″ by 10″, with gallery edges.
February 29, 2016 ‘brambles’ by Jane Tims
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Your name will be entered once for each book purchased. The contest will run for the first five weeks following the publication date of within easy reach (until June 7, 2016). At the end of the contest, anyone who has purchased a book from the publisher and left the comment as described above will be entered for the draw.
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I hope you will enjoy my book. And some reader will be the winner of the painting ‘brambles’!
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Copyright Jane Tims 2016
early schools – school gardens
It’s gardening time in New Brunswick. While I tend my little tomato plants, I wonder if one room schools in the early 1900s kept school gardens.
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Was there once a school garden in the yard of this one room school near Gagetown, New Brunswick?
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In the province of Nova Scotia, some schools had gardens. My aunt, Dr. Jane Norman, in her history of Nova Scotia’s schools, tells about the Travelling Teachers program and the ‘Garden Score Card’ (Jane Norman, Loran Arthur DeWolfe and The Reform of Education in Nova Scotia 1891-1959. Truro, Nova Scotia: Atlantic Early Learning Productions, 1989). The Travelling Teachers operated from 1918-1920, bringing knowledge and help to schools in their districts about rural science, including home-making, healthy living and gardening.
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In 1918-19, to encourage gardening as part of the school program, the Rural Science Department of the Nova Scotia Normal College (where teachers were trained) donated $10.00 to each Travelling Teachers’ school district. School children and schools who obtained the highest scores on the ‘Garden Score Card’ shared the money as follows:
- three school children with the highest scores won prizes of $2.50, $1.50 and $1.00
- three schools with the highest scores won prizes of $2.50, $1.50 and $1.00
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The ‘Garden Score Card’ rated the school gardens and the efforts of the children with the following criteria:
- Condition of Garden:
- Planting and arrangement of plants (5)
- Thinning, training, regularity in row (5)
- Cultivation and freedom from weeds (10)
- Freedom from diseases and insect pests (10)
- General neatness of paths, labels, stakes, etc. (5)
- Consideration of adverse conditions, if any (5)
- Range of variety in flowers and vegetables (10)
- Amount and quality of bloom (flowers) and crop (vegetables) (15)
- Amount and value of canning or sales (20)
- Showing made at exhibition (15) Total Points (100)
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The school children in my drawing are working hard, but based on the ‘Garden Score Card’, they would not have received a prize for their gardening! No stakes, no labels, no regularity in the row.
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How would your gardening efforts be scored??? I would not make good marks on any criterion!
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Copyright Jane Tims 2016
Norman Families Living in Missouri in 1870
In my search for my Great-Grandfather Frank Norman, I became interested in where Norman families were living in Missouri in 1860 and 1870. Frank was born around 1855, so it is likely his family was still in Missouri for the 1860 Census and may have been there in 1870. Locating all the Normans in Missouri also helped me be certain I have not missed any possible Frank Normans in my search.
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In a previous post, I located the Norman families living in Missouri in 1860 on an 1856 map. Today’s post shows the Norman families in Missouri in 1870. Each black dot represents one to three households living at that location in 1870. I have included the table of households at the end of this post, in case this information would help other Norman families in their genealogy searches. I have double-checked the information but please be aware, there may be households missing or incorrect. My next genealogy project is to map the Norman families in Missouri in 1880.
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In 1870, there were 148 households in Missouri with people having the surname Norman (in 1860, there were 92). Some of these were families, some with more than one generation in the household, some with as many as nine children. Some were young men or women living or working as servants or laborers with other families. Some were young children, living with foster families or in one case, in an orphanage (Lucy Norman, 12 years old).
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To see the change in the Norman families, compare the 1860 and 1870 map below. The numbers of Norman families have increased due to migration from other states, or because older children have established their own families. Some families or their members have migrated to the cities of Saint Louis or Kansas City.
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By comparing the family lists, the whereabouts of various families can be traced. For example, in Laclede County in 1860 there were two Norman families, including Moses and Betsy Norman who I think may be Frank’s parents. By 1870, this family is no longer in Laclede County or anywhere else in Missouri. Also, I know from other records that their son Benj has died. The other 1860 Norman family (Moses and Lucinda with eight other family members) is now represented by Lucinda and four other family members (Moses died in 1873, so it is unknown why he is not with the family at Census time). I can trace remnants and descendants of this family through to 1880 (Lucinda died in 1891). There are two other Norman families in Laclede County in 1870, Newton Norman and William Norman. Newton Norman is Lucinda’s son and has his own family. I do not know the relationship, if any, of William Norman to the Moses and Lucinda family.
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Six of the 1870 Norman families had sons named Francis/Frank. There is also a Frank L (born 1836) in St. Joseph, Buchanan County who is too old to be my Frank, and an ‘F. Norman of uncertain age in St, Louis. I think my ancestor was Francis M. Norman, son of Moses and Betsy Norman, living in Hooker, Laclede County in 1860. In 1870, he is 18 years old and if his parents have died, he could be anywhere. Sad sentence for a family historian!!!
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Copyright 2016 Jane Tims
| Family Number (for my own reference) | Male (usually husband but also father or son) | Age | Female (usually wife but also mother or daughter) | Age | Number Other Normans in House-hold
(* son Francis) |
Township | County | Living with another family |
| 135 | Salina | 26 | Rochester | Andrew | Cook | |||
| 139 | Laura E. | 20 | Lincoln | Andrew | Jackson | |||
| 124 | Alexander | 16 | Nancy | 57 | 1 | Deer Creek | Bates | |
| 47 | Caleb | 37 | Josephine | 35 | 4 | Boone | Bates | |
| 110 | William | 29 | Julia | 19 | 2 | Capps Creek | Barry | |
| 80 | Marion | 24 | 1 | Fristoe | Benton | |||
| 7 | W. L. | 59 | Mary | 60 | 4 | Cedar | Boone | |
| 35 | James | 41 | Armina | 23 | 5 * | Cedar | Boone | |
| 138 | Maj | 21 | 2 | Cedar | Boone | |||
| 22 | Enos | 48 | Nancy | 47 | 6 * | Jackson | Buchanan | |
| 121 | Charlotte | 63 | Center | Buchanan | Smith | |||
| 41 | Charles | 39 | 4 | St. Joseph | Buchanan | |||
| 42 | John | 39 | Mary E. | 21 | 9 | St. Joseph | Buchanan | |
| 55 | Frank L. | 34 | Stacy J. | 26 | 2 | St. Joseph | Buchanan | |
| 68 | James | 30 | St. Joseph | Buchanan | ||||
| 69 | Jas | 30 | St. Joseph | Buchanan | ||||
| 115 | B.F. | 27 | St. Joseph | Buchanan | Thompson | |||
| 141 | Mary | 16 | St. Joseph | Buchanan | McClean | |||
| 144 | Josephine | 13 | St. Joseph | Buchanan | Cunningham | |||
| 32 | Smith | 44 | Hannah | 41 | Hamilton | Caldwell | ||
| 71 | Fayett | 29 | Elen | 26 | 4 | Warren | Camden | |
| 48 | Caleb | 33 | Josie | 26 | 4 | Dolan | Cass | |
| 9 | George W. | 57 | 5 | Cedar | Cedar | |||
| 131 | Hillina | 32 | 1 | Twnshp 53 | Chariton | |||
| 15 | Hiram | 52 | Juda | 52 | 4 | Polk | Christian | |
| 62 | William | 33 | Sarah | 30 | 3 | Polk | Christian | |
| 91 | William | 26 | Elisabeth | 22 | Wyaconda | Clark | ||
| 143 | Mary | 14 | Jackson | Clark | ||||
| 54 | A.M. | 34 | Fannie | 26 | Saline | Cooper | ||
| 113 | William | 28 | Eleanor | 20 | 1 | Greenfield | Dade | |
| 27 | Eldridge | 46 | Julia | 40 | 2 | Benton | Dallas | |
| 57 | William | 34 | Lucy | 30 | 8 * | Benton | Dallas | |
| 107 | Thomas | 21 | Adeline | 20 | Benton | Dallas | ||
| 24 | Joseph | 47 | Phoeba | 43 | 3 | Jefferson | Davies | |
| 117 | John F. | 27 | Sherman | Dekalb | Tenneson | |||
| 99 | James M.P. | 23 | Mary F. | 23 | Findley | Douglas | Ellison | |
| 31 | Henry | 44 | Emilie | 24 | Boles | Franklin | ||
| 72 | James T. | 11 | 1 | Miller | Gentry | Setzer | ||
| 82 | William J. | 23 | Miller | Gentry | Sutzer | |||
| 94 | Louis C. | 25 | Martha F. | 25 | 2 | Cooper | Gentry | |
| 16 | James | 52 | Sarah | 40 | 4 | Pond Creek | Greene | |
| 25 | William | 47 | Mary | 41 | 6 | Center | Greene | |
| 56 | Robert | 34 | Mary | 30 | 2 | Wilson | Greene | |
| 60 | Josiah | 33 | Sarah A. | 34 | 1 | Taylor | Greene | |
| 108 | Jesse | 29 | Susanna | 23 | Taylor | Greene | ||
| 123 | Daniel | 17 | Malinda | 58 | Taylor | Greene | ||
| 112 | Olon | 28 | Trenton | Grundy | Hansen | |||
| 147 | Hattie | 12 | Marion | Grundy | Johnson | |||
| 77 | Milton S. | 25 | Lewis | Holt | Prie | |||
| 88 | Andy | 20 | Richmond | Howard | Patterson | |||
| 2 | Thomas | 64 | 3 | Kansas City | Jackson | |||
| 45 | Thomas | 38 | Kansas City | Jackson | ||||
| 63 | Henry | 32 | Laura | 21 | Kansas City | Jackson | ||
| 95 | A.J. | 24 | Kansas City | Jackson | ||||
| 96 | Thomas | 64 | 3 | Kansas City | Jackson | |||
| 105 | James | 21 | Kansas City | Jackson | Madison | |||
| 118 | Joseph | 27 | Mary J. | 23 | 3 | Kansas City | Jackson | |
| 3 | Thron | 62 | Mary A. | 55 | 3 | Marion | Jasper | |
| 20 | Aaron Vanormond | 49 | Sarah | 44 | 4 | Benton | Knox | |
| 5 | Lucinda | 52 | 4 | Hooker | Laclede | |||
| 46 | William | 38 | Mary | 33 | 3 | Lebanon | Laclede | |
| 111 | Newton | 28 | Virginia A. | 35 | 3 | Hooker | Laclede | |
| 102 | Joseph | 22 | Buck Prairie | Lawrence | Cummings | |||
| 109 | Milford | 29 | Mary | 23 | 3 | Buck Prairie | Lawrence | |
| 132 | Amanda | 30 | 2 | Monticello | Lewis | Howard | ||
| 33 | William | 44 | Mary | 32 | Chillicothe | Livingston | ||
| 51 | Minnie | 12 | Chilicothe | Livingston | Reugger | |||
| 140 | Namie | 18 | Chillicothe | Livingston | ||||
| 142 | Basha | 15 | Chillicothe | Livingston | Bargdoll | |||
| 65 | Henry | 31 | Alice A. | 25 | 2 | Medicine | Livingston | |
| 129 | Elizabeth | 35 | 2 | Blue Mound | Livingston | |||
| 83 | George | 22 | Warren | Marion | Hanley | |||
| 134 | Nancy L. | 26 | Somerset | Mercer | Duree | |||
| 28 | J.B. | 45 | Rosan | 38 | 7 * | Pilot Grove | Moniteau | |
| 86 | James M. | 21 | Anna | 66 | Pilot Grove | Moniteau | ||
| 64 | J.W. | 32 | Mary J. | 31 | 2 | Willow Fork | Moniteau | |
| 92 | Joseph W.T. | 25 | Louisa A. | 20 | 2 | Clay | Monroe | |
| 122 | Eliza | 58 | Jackson | Monroe | Vaughn | |||
| 18 | Allen | 50 | Catherine | 40 | 4 | Danville | Montgomery | |
| 90 | Robert | 19 | Melissa | 23 | 1 | Danville | Montgomery | |
| 29 | William | 45 | Sarah | 35 | 6 | Mill Creek | Morgan | |
| 13 | Thomas M. | 53 | Julia A. | 37 | 5 | Oak Grove | Oregon | |
| 100 | John | 23 | Nancy | 25 | 1 | Oak Grove | Oregon | |
| 120 | George | 26 | Mary | 23 | 2 | Oak Grove | Oregon | |
| 127 | Hester | 49 | Oak Grove | Oregon | ||||
| 38 | M.G. | 40 | Mary | 38 | 6 | Piney | Oregon | |
| 11 | A. | 54 | Roda | 36 | Marion | Ozark | ||
| 67 | James | 30 | Bowling Green | Pettis | ||||
| 74 | Jas | 26 | Mary | 24 | 5 | Bowling Green | Pettis | |
| 75 | John D. | 26 | Calumet | Pike | Kissinger | |||
| 116 | C.N. | 27 | Carroll | Platte | Adams | |||
| 61 | Thomas F. | 33 | Mary | 28 | 4 | Madison | Polk | |
| 85 | William T. | 22 | Lucretia | 52 | 5 | Looney | Polk | |
| 1 | Stephen | 64 | Mary A. | 38 | 2 | Sherman | Putnam | |
| 43 | L.M. | 39 | Susan | 34 | 4 | Sherman | Putnam | |
| 101 | Eph | 22 | Sherman | Putnam | Neff | |||
| 14 | George | 52 | Eliza | 46 | 5 | Center | Ralls | |
| 73 | Harry | 17 | Margaret | 14 | 1 | Jasper | Ralls | Brasher |
| 79 | Johnithan | 24 | Saline | Ralls | ||||
| 81 | Thomas | 24 | Mary | 23 | 1 | Salt River | Ralls | |
| 78 | Jas B. | 24 | Sarah | 19 | Polk | Ray | ||
| 104 | Jack | 21 | E.D. | 45 | 2 | Current River | Ripley | |
| 26 | Albert | 46 | Mary | 39 | 6 | Fabius | Schuyler | |
| 37 | James | 40 | Hannah | 66 | 3 | Fabius | Schuyler | |
| 39 | Minor | 40 | Ellen | 34 | 5 | Fabius | Schuyler | |
| 50 | Doctor | 35 | Martha | 25 | 4 | Independence | Schuyler | |
| 6 | James | 60 | Kelso | Scott | ||||
| 128 | Caroline | 37 | 1 | Kelso | Scott | Hankerson | ||
| 23 | Charles W. | 47 | Mary E. | 41 | 4 | Moreland | Scott | |
| 53 | William | 35 | Diana | 45 | 2 * | Moreland | Scott | |
| 70 | John C. | 30 | Ann E. | 23 | 2 | Moreland | Scott | |
| 84 | Reuben | 22 | Harriet | 25 | 2 | Moreland | Scott | |
| 89 | James K. | 20 | Altha | 24 | Moreland | Scott | ||
| 145 | Mary L. | 13 | Commerce | Scott | Archer | |||
| 12 | Birkett | 54 | Carlonie | 54 | 3 | Tiger Fork | Shelby | |
| 40 | Thomas | 40 | Sally | 24 | 1 | Osceola | St. Clair | Barth |
| 8 | Daniel | 58 | Bonhomme | Sr. Louis | Campbell | |||
| 17 | John | 52 | Mary | 38 | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||
| 19 | Pat | 50 | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||||
| 21 | Daniel | 49 | Lucy | 39 | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||
| 49 | David | 35 | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||||
| 66 | F. | ?? | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||||
| 87 | Saml | 21 | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||||
| 93 | Leslie R. | 25 | Mary | 26 | 1 (Eliz 49) | St. Louis | St. Louis | |
| 98 | Henry | 24 | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||||
| 103 | Michael | 22 | St. Louis | St. Louis | Heinsey | |||
| 119 | Dennis | 26 | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||||
| 126 | Lizzie | 50 | St. Louis | St. Louis | Washington | |||
| 133 | Angeline | 30 | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||||
| 136 | N. | 25 | St. Louis | St. Louis | ||||
| 137 | Louisa | 22 | St. Louis | St. Louis | Nayler | |||
| 148 | Lucy | 12 | St. Louis | St. Louis | Winter Orphanage | |||
| 10 | Christ | 56 | Catherin | 56 | 3 | Ste. Genevieve | Ste. Genevieve | |
| 4 | William | 62 | Sarah | 38 | 2 | Castor | Stoddard | |
| 30 | Wm | 45 | Sarah | 38 | 8 | Castor | Stoddard | |
| 44 | Matthew J. | 38 | Christian | 35 | 6 | Castor | Stoddard | |
| 106 | Levi | 21 | Missouri | 21 | 3 | Castor | Stoddard | |
| 58 | Andrew | 36 | Martha | 34 | 6 | Liberty | Stoddard | |
| 36 | Eli | 40 | Eliz | 40 | 4 | Liberty | Stoddard | |
| 125 | Elizabeth | 42 | 3 | Liberty | Stoddard | |||
| 146 | Elizabeth | 42 | 3 | Liberty | Stoddard | |||
| 97 | Enos W. | 24 | Mary E. | 20 | 1 | Clay | Sullivan | |
| 59 | John A. | 33 | Margaret | 23 | 4 (Louisa 53) | Cass | Texas | |
| 34 | Alfred R. | 43 | Cornelia | 39 | 6 | Henry | Vernon | |
| 52 | Jacob F. | 35 | Eliza | 33 | 3 * | Henry | Vernon | |
| 76 | George | 25 | Nellie L. | 29 | 1 | Osage | Vernon | |
| 130 | Henry | 17 | Nancy | 33 | 3 | Warrenton | Warren | |
| 114 | W.S. | 28 | Sarah C. | 22 | 2 | Various | Wright | |
update – ‘within easy reach’
This past weekend, I attended the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick WordSpring event. This is an annual celebration for writers in new Brunswick and includes readings and workshops. On Friday evening, I participated in the book sale and readings for my poetry book within easy reach. My publishers (Chapel Street Editions) came all the way from Woodstock to attend the sale and signing. Showing my book to the people at the event and signing books was a wonderful experience! The other author at my table was Edith Miller who has just published a book of poetry, Crow Impressions & Other Poems, also by Chapel Street Editions.
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photo courtesy of Chapel Street Editions
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The painting on the table beside me is ‘berries and brambles’, the second I have painted to celebrate my book. Anyone who purchases a book from the publisher will be entered in a draw to win this painting. Blogging friends who buy the book from my publisher have a chance to win the cover art for the book, the painting entitled ‘brambles’. They will also be entered for the draw to win the second painting ‘berries and brambles’. That’s right, two paintings to be won!
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This is also a reminder that the draw to win ‘brambles’, cover art for the book, ends June 7, 2016. To enter the draw for ‘brambles’ (and be entered in the draw for the second painting ‘berries and brambles’), purchase a book from my publisher ( www.chapelstreeteditions.com ) and leave a comment on my blog. See the post for May 25, 2016 for more information https://janetims.com/2016/05/25/update-my-book-within-easy-reach/
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I am busy, practicing for my reading this evening at 6:30 at the L.P. Fisher Library in Woodstock, New Brunswick. Wish you could be there!
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Copyright Jane Tims 2016
early schooling – apple trees for climbing
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When I find an old one room school still standing, there are often apple trees in the yard. I realise these trees may not have existed a century ago, but it makes me think how important trees are to kids. I can imagine, if there was an apple tree or an orchard near the school yard, it would have been a favorite place for the students to play at recess and lunch-time.
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Apple trees were made for climbing. And for hanging swings. Perhaps for carving initials. Or shaking loose blossom petals on friends standing beneath the tree.
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Lower Queensbury School, York County, New Brunswick
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I grew up in a city in the 1960s when authorities considered concrete the best play surface for a school yard. Run and risk a skinned knee. There were monkey bars for climbing, but I find myself wishing my school yard memories included an apple tree with a big horizontal limb.
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Did you have trees to play on where you went to school?
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Copyright Jane Tims 2016
nichepoetryandprose 