Archive for the ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’ Category
Bell Bridge
Over the past weekend, we were inundated by heavy rains and a sudden rise in temperature. The resulting meltwater and rainwater combined to cause flooding in much of the province. There has been lots of damage to homes and roads and other infrastructure.
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One of the casualties is the Bell Covered Bridge, also known as South Oromocto River #3. Although its ultimate fate is unknown, the damage will be assessed and perhaps we will lose yet another of the 59 covered bridges remaining in the province. I am not alone in hoping this bridge can be repaired or preserved in some way as a reminder of our history and the importance of these bridges to our communities and our heritage.
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Copyright Jane Tims 2018
for covered bridge enthusiasts
I am looking forward to the New Year 2018 and to the first of my 2018 book readings!
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On January 6, 2018 I will be at the Sussex Public Library to read from my book ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’ and sign copies. I will be joined by a well-known covered bridge enthusiast Ray Boucher. Ray is the author of ‘A Photo Tour of the Covered Bridges of New Brunswick’ (Kissing Bridge Publications, 2014) and his 2018 calendar featuring photos of some of New Brunswick’s covered bridges. Books and calendars will all be for sale.
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We will be telling about our various visits to some of the province’s covered bridges and I will read poems from my book, focussing on covered bridges in the Sussex area.
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Those who come to the reading (no purchase needed) will be able to enter a draw to win one of my paintings. ‘black, blackberries’ is 12″ by 9″, acrylic, gallery edges.
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‘black, blackberries’, Jane Tims, Oct.1, 2017, acrylic, gallery edges, 12″ by 9″
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Hope you can attend. We will try to warm you with covered bridge stories.
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Copyright Jane Tims 2017
painting of a covered bridge
When I was preparing the basics of my new book, ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’, I did a couple of paintings as a possible cover image.
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One of the paintings I prepared was ‘choke cherries at Ellis Bridge’ (24″ wide by 20″ high, acrylic, gallery edges, painted June 2016) a study of late summer at the covered bridge over the North Becaguimec River in Carleton County. Since another painting was chosen as the cover art for my book, ‘choke cherries at Ellis Bridge’ is my new submission to Isaacs’s Way Restaurant for their art auction. My painting ‘Farmyard in Winter’ sold before the Autumn Art Auction #31 was over and most artists submit a painting to fill their ‘space’.
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‘choke cherries at Ellis Bridge’ by Jane Tims (24″ wide by 20″ high, acrylic, gallery edges)
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The Ellis Bridge is a charming covered bridge, situated on a little-used road near Carlisle, Carleton County, New Brunswick. Built in 1909, it is one of 59 covered bridges remaining in New Brunswick and a lovely spot to pass a summer day. Two poems in my book are based on our visit to the Ellis Bridge. One, ‘bunches of bitter’, features some of the initials carved inside the bridge.
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bunches of bitter
Ellis Bridge
North Becaguimec River #4
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beside the Ellis Bridge
choke-cherries hang in mist
and berries blacken
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R.S., E L O
who were they?
Braxton, KAMRYN
S M, G M P
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did they wade the shallow water?
fish for trout?
shout and listen for echo?
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did they strip berries from branches?
pucker lips and cheeks?
does Eric still love Linda?
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I love showing my work at Isaac’s Way. The art is viewed by everyone enjoying a meal at the restaurant and 50% of the proceeds from my sales are donated to ART lessons for kids-in-need. If you love covered bridges and would like some original art for your home, drop by and have a look at my work.
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Copyright Jane Tims 2017
announcing the winner of a copy of ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’
I have a winner in the 500th follower contest! (Anyone who entered a comment on my blog between October 15, 2017 and November 20, 2017 inclusive was entered in the draw to win a signed copy of my new book ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’).
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We drew for the winner at my reading at the Authors Coffee House on November 23, 2017.
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signing books at the Authors Coffee House where we drew for the winner of the book …
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I am happy to say the winner is ‘Rebecca’, writer of the blog ‘walking on a country road’. I will be sending Rebecca her copy of my book in the next couple of days. Rebecca is an avid bird watcher and naturalist and I know she will enjoy the book. If you love bird photography and would like to know more about the natural history of Tennessee, visit her blog at https://walkingonacountryroad.com/
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Thank you to everyone who entered. I will be having another contest soon, so keep reading!
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Copyright Jane Tims 2017
book launch for my covered bridge book!
I hope you can join me for the launch of my new poetry book ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’ (Chapel Street Editions, 2017). The launch will be at Westminster Books in Fredericton on December 2, 2017 at 2:00 in the afternoon.
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Anyone who buys one of my books will be entered in a draw to win one of my paintings. This painting (11″ x 14″, ‘apple orchard green’, acrylic, gallery edges) is a companion to the painting on the cover of my book.
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Hope to see you there. For those of you so far away, perhaps there is a book reading in your own area to attend.
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All my best!
Jane
new book and new line-up of readings!
With the publication of my new book ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’ comes a new series of readings. I wish you were near so you could attend.
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I love to read in public. Reading about covered bridges will be lots of fun because people love the subject matter. In New Brunswick we still have 59 covered bridges and most people can tell you a story about their local bridge or about one they cross as they travel the New Brunswick roads.
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Readings lined up so far:
Authors Coffee House, Nasonworth, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, November 23, 2017 … 7 PM
Book Launch, Westminster Books, Fredericton, December 2, 2017 … 2 PM
Library Reading, Sussex Public Library, January, 2017 …. keep watch for details
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My reading at the Authors Coffee House will be a bit different. I have prepared a slide show of some of the bridges in my book. $10 from the sale of each book will go to a church outreach project in Uganda. And we will have cookies from the Goody Shop in Fredericton!
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Hope to see you there!
Jane
covered bridge at the foot of the rainbow
I have covered bridges on my mind … this great view of our Patrick Owens Bridge in Rusagonis, taken last summer on a drive home through the rain!
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Copyright Jane Tims 2017
my new book of poetry available now!
Late at night in February 2015, as my husband and I crossed the Patrick Owens Covered Bridge on the Rusagonis Stream, we startled a rabbit in the middle of the span. The rabbit raced through the bridge in front of the truck. I can still see the shadow of his long ears and the scurry of his feet. Since the incident occurred during the February 21, 2015 conjunction of Venus and Mars with the sickle moon, I thought of all the legends about the hare and the moon. This led to the poem “conjunction” and a question about what other plants and animals find shelter in or around our covered bridges in New Brunswick.
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I am please to announce that my resulting book of poems ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’ is now available. The book includes 21 of my drawings and more than 70 poems. The Foreword is written by my friend Brian Atkinson who wrote New Brunswick’s Covered Bridges (Nimbus, 2010).
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‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’ is now available through my publisher Chapel Street Editions http://www.chapelstreeteditions.com and at upcoming readings. You will soon be able to find it at Westminster Books in Fredericton and Tidewater Books in Sackville.
I hope you enjoy the book and take every opportunity to drive through one of our covered bridges in New Brunswick!
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conjunction – February 21, 2015
Patrick Owens Bridge
Rusagonis River #2
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Venus and Mars
sickle of mid-winter moon
planet and moon light scamper
into crevasses
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headlights of the half-ton enter
overwhelm planet shadow
startle a winter hare
erect on haunches, paw lifted
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frosted by sky-gaze, worshiping
the sliver of moon, dismayed
at desecration, round glare
of the truck’s predatory eyes
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fright to stop a heart
or flight to mobilize
hind-legs straighten
before fore-legs turn
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long ear shadows
quit the length of the bridge
ahead of whiskers, chin velvet
and rabbit wisdom
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From ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’, Chapel Street Editions, 2017
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Copyright Jane Tims 2017
New Maryland Fall Show – Jane’s books and paintings for sale!!!
Last year I tried selling my books and paintings at a local craft fair. I had so many ‘fears’. I wondered if I would sell anything. I wondered how it would feel, sitting there waiting for someone to be interested in my wares. I wondered if I would have any money when I went home (I saw so many things at the fair I wanted to buy)!
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I was pleasantly surprised. I sold both books and paintings. Sitting, watching the vendors and browsers, was very relaxing. And I loved meeting the other vendors and bought some items I still love!
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This Saturday November 4, 9AM – 2PM, I will be at the New Maryland Fall Show (held at the Faith Baptist Church, 525 New Maryland Highway, New Maryland, New Brunswick). I will be selling copies of my books and some of my paintings.
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my books:
‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’ (Chapel Street Editions, 2017) – my new book of poems about plants and animals living in and around some of the covered bridges in New Brunswick (if the book doesn’t arrive from the printers in time, I will be taking pre-orders)
‘within easy reach’ (Chapel Street Editions, 2016) – poems about wild edibles and other local foods
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three books in my science-fiction series (CreateSpace, 2017):
Meniscus: Crossing The Churn
Meniscus: South from Sintha
Meniscus: Winter by the Water-climb
some of my paintings:
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I am getting close to my 500th follower! If you leave a comment on this post (WordPress or Facebook), you will be entered into a draw for a free, postage-paid paperback copy of my new book ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’! One entry per commenter per post.
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If you live in the New Maryland area of New Brunswick, I hope I will see you on Saturday November 3, 2017 at the New Maryland Fall Show!
at the Faith Baptist Church on the new Maryland Highway, 9 AM to 2 PM.
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Copyright Jane Tims 2017
winter reading
Today in New Brunswick, it’s just a little colder than yesterday. Leaves are falling from the trees and there are lots of bare branches against the blue sky. Yesterday I switched our thermostats to auto mode. And yesterday we stopped at a roadside stand to buy a small store of pickles and jams for winter eating.
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My pile of winter reading is also growing. I am looking forward to days by the fire reading many of our New Brunswick authors.
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I can add to your winter reading pile in a couple of ways:
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A chance to win a copy (paperback, postage-paid) of my upcoming book ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’ (Chapel Street Editions). This book includes 73 of my poems about plants and animals living in the vicinity of 35 of our covered bridges in New Brunswick. The book also includes 21 of my drawings of bridges and wild life. To enter for the draw, just leave a comment on any of my blog posts at http://www.nichepoetryandprose.wordpress.com or the Facebook posting. one entry per person per post.
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Get a free copy of the Kindle version of the third book in my science fiction Meniscus Series from October 22 to October 25, 2017. ‘Meniscus: Winter by the Waterclimb’ will tell you everything you need to know about how to survive winter on an alien planet!!! Although the book is part of a series, it is also ‘stand-alone’. To get a free copy of the ebook, just click here.
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Enjoy your day!
Jane
nichepoetryandprose 