Dunnville resident, Josie Penny, was born in Roaches Brook, Labrador, to Metis parents. She has written a book, So Few on Earth, that is making waves in literary circles. An autobiography of a girl growing up in the forties and fifties, the book describes a disturbing childhood that might have ended quite differently. Today, Josie, travels talking about her writing with a life philosophy that anyone might envy.

She was recently nominated for the Atlantic Book Award in the category Historical Writing. She was honoured at a big event in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where, although she did not win, she said, "I made new friends...and gained a lot from the experience."

We have spoken with Josie's husband, Keith, who assures us that Josie will soon visit The Neat Little Bookshop. We look forward to meeting her and hearing about her experience. http://www.sofewonearth.com/

So Few on Earth, A Labrador Metis Woman Remembers, Josie Penny, published by Dundurn Press, 2010.

My Pop is always buying books:
So that Mom says his study looks
Just like an old bookstore. The bookshelves are so full and tall,
They hide the paper on the wall,
And there are books just everywhere,
On table, window-seat, and chair,
And books right on the floor.

And every little while he buys
More books, and brings them home and tries
To find a place where they will fit,
And has an awful time of it.

Once, when I asked him why he got
So many books, he said, "Why not?"
I've puzzled over that a lot.

~ Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894) Child's Garden of Verses, Scottish novelist, poet.

Thought for Today:

"Let every man, if possible, gather some good books under his roof, and obtain access for himself and family to some social library. Almost any luxury should be sacrificed to this."

~ William Ellery Channing, A Passion for Books, 1999, edited by Harold Rabinowitz & Rob Kaplan

Muddy Creek ~ Central Florida

"We have always thought that The Grand River was under used," former Town of Haldimand Clerk

A Couple Guys are planning a canoe festival on The Grand River, Haldimand County Saturday, June 25. Not so far-fetched when we think about the tourist attraction on Muddy Creek, Central Florida. Former Town of Haldimand Clerk, Janice Lankester, said, "We have always thought that the Grand River was under-used."

Photos: Lorna (For larger image, click 3X on photo)

Smile for Today:

Two confirmed bachelors were sitting and talking. Their conversation drifted to the subject of cooking. "I got a cookbook once," said the first bachelor, "but I could never do anything with it."
"Too much fancy cooking in it, eh?" asked the second bachelor.
"You said it. Every one of the recipes began the same way: 'Take a clean dish and..."

(Above is not the opinion of the editor!) The Little Big Book of Laughter, 2004 Welcome Books
Check out our Recipe Book section at The Neat Little Bookshop.

Day of One Thousand Canoes ~

For a preview of this event, visit http://www.1000canoes.com/ and click on News and Stories for a recent radio interview with co-founder, Blaine Nicholls. Blaine talks with Andrew on That Channel WMV about the Grand River canoe festival, Saturday, June 25, 2011.

Photo: Viking Boat, curtesy of James Walker; Photo: Caledonia on The Grand River, Lorna

Thought for Today ~

"All things at first appear difficult."

~ Chinese Proverb