"I like good strong words that mean something."- Louisa May Alcott

Blog

September Blues

"Labour Day can be bittersweet when it's time to leave a Muskoka summer behind and return to the city", writes author, Beth Parker....

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Sing out to RPSM

Regent Park School of Music performs at Harbourfront. A school that for over a decade has had a mission to bring music education and experience to kids in Toronto by removing financial barriers. ...

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Ode to a boathouse

Boathouses aren't meant to last on Ontario lakes but our grand old dame of a boathouse on Lake of Bays served us well, until this spring....

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Pay attention to your knitting

No, I haven’t got the quotation wrong. Like many sayings, the phrase “Stick to your knitting” has actually morphed from its original intent, “Attend to...

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Name this person

Remember when the big reveal following the birth of a baby was the question, “Boy or girl?”
The answer’s not the mystery it used to...

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Plein air Nova Scotia style
100

It was a rare opportunity: a good friend donated her lovely farmhouse in Nova Scotia to selected artists so they could paint. I was asked...

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Hello, pioneer Beth

For 10 months of the year, I’m “urban Beth”. I hang out on Queen Street East, enjoy downtown shows and theatre, and when bored with...

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Near wins and finger puppets

After two weeks in an Olympic-induced comma, I couldn’t stop thinking about those who almost made it— the bobsled team that fell behind by two...

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A jar of moral obligations

At the beginning of December, store shelves were brimming with Advent calendars filled with chocolates.
Not for me. I was presented with an “Advent Jar”...

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Northern Lights Unplugged

Okay, folks, loosen up. Today’s challenge is a biggie. We’re going to pick a stunning place to visit, take in a breathtaking, awe-inspiring, once-in-a-life time...

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A rodent ate my garnish

The waiter explained that the restaurant had a rodent problem. I’m still speculating on what happened when he returned to the kitchen to explain to...

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All I need

When you pack for your vacation, what is “all you need?”

Assume that the basics of life are covered (i.e. food, shelter).
These are...

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Dr. Seuss, my writing coach

I’ve learned quite a bit from Dr. Seuss over the years. He’s been a career counselor (Oh, the Places You’ll Go!), a guide to hiring...

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Beth Parker meet Beth Parker

It started with misdirected email. For a few exhilarating seconds, I believed that US authors and publishers were tracking me down. Then I realized that...

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What’s my password?

Technology has made my life (mostly) easier—thank you, IT gods, for that. But there are details that need to be worked out. Take passwords, for...

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Tea tales

Thank goodness for Downton Abbey.
The art of drinking tea had been reduced to warm water in a Styrofoam cup or some concoction of berries...

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On Painting Tulips

This month I participated in my second art show, which means not only do I submit a new piece of art but also a new...

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January Goals: Lost in Space

During those first bright, new days of January, I love writing down goals for the coming year —not necessary doing them—but definitely writing them down....

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Merry Christmas, Clark
100

Every year at this time, there it is—the prerequisite article about the commercialization of Christmas and why we should all feel guilty about too much—too...

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Private time with J.M.W. Turner

I recently visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art with one objective in mind—19th century European (including British) painters. I even narrowed my focus down to...

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