Your Smile for Today:

Found on a nineteen-forties bookplate:

"This Book is from the Hoard of Dr. Alex Turnbull.

Read Thoughtfully. Handle Carefully. Return Promptly."

~

~

Background graphics: Appropriately, a squirrel reading a book under a chestnut tree.

Dr. Alex Turnbull is our uncle. He served overseas as a doctor and later in London, Ontario. He is buried in the little church cemetery in East Seneca, Haldimand, Ontario, with his wife, Molly.

(Click on photo for larger image.)

The book? HAMEWITH and other Poems by Scottish poet, Charles Murray. Constable and Company Ltd., London, first published 1929. Reprinted 1944 & 1948.

The Neat Little Bookshop Closed

The Neat Little Bookshop will be Closed

this Saturday only, August 21. We apologize for any inconvenience.

(Photo by Lorna.)

Ghost Stories ~ Cheryl MacDonald

Captain Al Robinson and Cheryl MacDonald

Museum curators: Dana and Anne with Captain Al and writer Cheryl MacDonald. As the sun sinks and night falls, guests are captive to scary, gruesome tales of hauntings and murder.

If not in your own backyard, be assured it took place in your neighbour's. Spine-tingling stories of murder, grave-robberies, drownings ~ not to mention the hangings and demonic dogs, buried treasures and ghostly native warriors. Cheryl MacDonald, well-known author and historian, will convince both the curious and the cynic.

Everyone loves a ghost story! Two August boat trips along the Grand River are SOLD OUT. Haldimand Museums present an evening of story-telling at Big Creek Boat Farm, Caledonia. As the sun sinks and darkness falls, sixty or so guests are subjected to scary, gruesome tales of haunted sites allegedly in the Haldimand and Norfolk area.

Look around. Be aware... Contact your museum curator or Cheryl to inquire about future cruises.

Photos by Lorna. (Click on photo for larger image.)

Save to your Favourites: http://www.heronwoodent.ca/

William Bart ~ Half of Me

William Bart is a career graphic illustrator/designer/artist. Along the way, he added author and photographer!
His first book, Wibby the Peanut Butter Rat, is an epic tale of cat and mouse ~ or rather rat. Wibby and his antagonist, Blink, prey on the same peanut-butter jar in a kitchen battleground.
William will be at The Neat Little Bookshop to talk about his latest book, Half of Me.
Thursday, August 26, 1:30 p.m. Mark it on your calendar. The coffee pot is always on...

Check out William's website at http://www.williamjbart.com/
Don't miss clicking on 1. Children's Books 2. Newspapers. 3. Illustrations great too!

Sports at Its Best ~

Duff Gibson knows "Sport at Its Best!" For an excellent review on the book The Dynamic Path*, go to our favourite Olympic-athlete's blog: http://www.sportatitsbest.com/
Watch Duff Gibson's video review of The Dynamic Path by James Citrin. "Access the Secrets of Champions to Achieve Greatness through mental Toughness, Inspired Leadership and Personal Transformation."

The author interviewed such well-known achievers as Buzz Aldrin, Colin Powell and Magic Johnson, identifying characteristics and disciplines that led to their success.

Some of our readers will recall from earlier posts that Duffy, as we knew him, spent many of his summer holidays in Cayuga. (For earlier posts, click on Labels: Health and Fitness.)

*Rodale, 2007

Defining Edge ~

For some exceedingly beautiful artwork and poetry, visit personal trainer, Krista Schaus' Defining Edge. http://www.definingedge.blogspot.com/

For inspiration and motivational tips, scroll through Krista's fascinating and informative posts.

August is Laughing Across the Sky

August is laughing across the sky,

Laughing while paddle, canoe and I,

Drift, drift,

Where the hills uplift

On either side of the current swift.

The river rolls in its rocky bed;

My paddle is plying its way ahead;

Dip, dip,

While the waters flip

In foam as over their breast we slip.

And oh, the river runs swifter now;

The eddies circle about my bow.Swirl, swirl!

How the ripples curl

In many a dangerous pool awhirl!

E. Pauline Johnson, Flint and Feather, The Song My Paddle Sings, 1912

Photo: The Grand River. (For larger image, click on photo.)

Note: Pauline Johnson, daughter of a Mohawk Chief and an English gentlewoman, grew up at Chiefswood, the family home on the Grand River near Brantford.