Martha’s Story
In 2014 I enjoyed reading from We All Become Stories at many venues throughout the year, and listening to other writers read from their work too. It was a cool summer, but I loved it, because I was able to finish my 5th book which was submitted for publication on December 23rd. The fall brought art shows, concerts, plays and outings with friends and family to Whole Village, Stratford, Cobourg and St Anne’s. Of course the highlight of the year was the birth of my first great granddaughter Majka Taylor on May 23. I’ll be visiting her as often as I can before her parents take her all the way to Winnipeg in February as they explore exciting new job opportunities. And I’ll be preparing for a concert on March 6 at the Heliconian Hall with Peggy Mahon and Noriko Yamamoto. 2015 is shaping up to be another creative and adventuresome year.
The year began with catching up on alumnae news during a delicious lunch at the Faculty Club on January 22 before reading from We All Become Stories for the University of Toronto Women’s Club.
Jackie provided the stage light at the National Eating Disorders Clinic’s fund raiser on February 7 where we read to a good crowd-thanks to Robin’s organizational expertise, and the inspiration behind it all.
John Rammell and I read from the Rath/Layton letters at The Ulyssean Society. on March 9 to an attentive audience full of questions about this fascinating literary relationship.
I spent a delightful morning wandering around Canada Blooms on March 18 before joining the group for the afternoon’s readings. All the chairs were filled- and an overflow onto the patio.
Meg’s birthday treat to me was two days at St Anne’s Spa on March 16/17: a cozy room with a spectacular view, massages, hot tubs, steam rooms, yoga, wonderful food—but the highlight was lounging in the outdoor hot tub as the snow made snow-caps on our heads.
Friends Marilyn, Paula, Erin and Carolynn took me to dinner on March 19 to celebrate my 85th and there was a family party a few days later at Meg’s and John’s.
The Draft Reading Series is always an interesting venue. Five authors presented new work on March 23 and I read excerpts from We all Become Stories as well as from my book in progress
A change of pace at Portobello Saturdays on April 5, where I read some of the poems that end each chapter of WABS.
Neighbourhood Link, an east end institution, holds a seniors lunch every month where I was invited me to read on May 14.
May 23, the most important event of the year! My great granddaughter Majka Sophia Taylor is born. She had a rough beginning with a few days all tubed up in an incubator. This photo was taken a week later on the day she came home form the hospital.
A full house at Carolyn Bennett’s May 25th Town Hall at Christie Gardens. I enjoyed kicking off the panel with readings from We All Become Stories and being a part of the panel addressing issues of importance to the elderly.
Ellen Jaffe and I had a great time at our series of Toronto Public Library readings. Here we are at the last one, at the Queen Saulter Branch on June 5.
The “Fashion Show, Tea and a Book Signing” at JD’s Garden Centre in June with the indomitable Bonnie Kogos was a great way to begin the summer on Manitoulin Island.
A pleasant rainy day afternoon visiting Shannon McMullan at the Perivale Gallery on Lake Kagawong in Manitoulin Island. I did not come away empty handed!
A very relaxed readingat Kagawong’s Word in the Park with authors Paula, Linda, Chuc, Bonni and Vince, Kate, Jan and Marion. Many thanks to Sharon Jackson for putting it all together.
Aftermath of a storm on Lake Mindemoya.
It’s July 30 and I’m inside reading with my jacket on–that’s how cold it was mid-summer!
Claire Grandy, home from New York City for a few days, managed a day on the island on July 31, including lunch at JD’s Garden Café.
Jan McQuay and I read from our respective books at “Two Island Authors” on August 12 at the Mindemoya Public Library.
I wandered around Providence Bay on a misty-moisty morning in August. I love this weather, it’s ocean like.
My island summer ended with a visit to the amazing Quilt of Belonging Show at the Creative Spirit Centre in Manitowaning on September 13. When my writing feels stale I look through their book, one page for each of the stunning quilt blocks created by women from across Canada.
Back in the city it was a treat to see Karen Hendricks work at Four Women/Four Walls at Wytchwood Barns on September 23.
Charlene Jones launches her new book The Stain at Portobello Cafe on Saturday September 28.
A lovely Thanksgiving day in October with Marilyn Luciano and Carolyn Bett: at Mrs. Mitchell’s for lunch and afterwards a visit with Mairy and Martha at Whole Village.
Off to New York City on Oct 24/25, with Meg to visit granddaughter Claire Grandy: walking Greenwich Village-where Meg bought a fedora-the amazing High Line, the lower East Side and my first time at the Met! (Rigoletto)
On November 3, I joined Sonia D’Placido’s friends to celebrate her 40th birthday at a delicious dinner at Zucca.
Portobello morphs into Vino Rosso after several months of renovations, read there on Nov 8.
Jayne Bell came for a visit in November and she talked me into a walk down by the lake on a blustery November day at the lake (Ontario)
The last blooms of autumn in my small patio garden.
The Literature Section of The Heliconian Club had a table at the annual Art Show and Sale and did a brisk business in author books at Saturday Nov 29.
The first snow in my city patio garden 
A lovely treat to have Michael, David and Ryan with me on Christmas Eve. Michael and I had time to see Clare Twomey’s amazing installation, Piece by Piece, at The Gardner Museum on Christmas day before dinner at Meg’s and John’s where all eyes were on Majka as she gazed in wonder at her first Christmas.
