Roots, Hoots and Salutes!

Hi All!

I apologize for not getting my ramblings up last night, as promised, but by the time we got home and had everything unloaded and cleaned up, it was pretty late. And I, my friends, was beat!


It was completely worth it!

Let's start off with my niece's graduation. It was so cool to watch her accomplish this milestone with such maturity and grace. Even better, was watching my little brother, as he watched her. He has 3 kids, and this is the first to leave the nest. It's very bitter sweet to see your babies graduate. On one hand you are so proud of them you just want to burst, on the other, your buffering days between them and the huge world out there, are coming to an end. They are, for all intents and purposes, grown up.

The graduation brought back all kinds of memories, those of our girls' graduations, and even those of my own. Which brings us to the next part of my ramblings. The Denzil Centennial!

To start things off, I did a reading/signing on Friday afternoon. It went pretty great! Some of the faces in the crowd were those of people I used to babysit in high school! Others were the faces of their kids, some were Aunts and Uncles, some were covered in face paint and cotton candy. The best part is, that when I was finished reading both books, they were all covered in smiles!

So after we finished up signing books, we headed back to the lake for a bite to eat and a bit of a wade in the water. It was gorgeous! Then, it was back to Denzil for the first of 2 nights of dancing!

The band the first night, was, well, disappointing. Two guys on guitars, a lot of canned backtracks (and not great quality ones), forgotten lyrics, and missed chords. All in all, it seemed like a band dipped heavily in rust, that didn't really bother to shake off the cob webs for our little country town.

Now, did we let this hamper our good time? Of course not! My hubby, some cousins, and I still had a complete blast!

Now, on to Saturday. Through the course of this gorgeous day, we were able to pick up a few missing or forgotten pieces of camping essentials (we are pretty much novices), to meet my newest little cousin, Elijah, who, by the way is adorable, and get ready for the next round of food and dancing!

We drove back to Denzil for an awesome supper that fed well over 500 people. Here is where I was able to meet up with a few familiar faces! I was a little disheartened to see only 2 of my graduating classmates during the weekend, but there were a lot from the classes a little older and a little younger, so a person was still able to get caught up with a few people.

The band for the dance on Saturday night was phenomenal! They had a huge arsenal of songs, which they played and sang with perfect three and four part harmonies.  The hubs and I had a hoot and spent very little time on our chairs that night!

Also, on Saturday night the little town of Denzil put on the best fireworks display I have ever seen! They hired a company that has been honored with all kinds of national and international awards, and, Wow! It was absolutely spectacular! We were standing with the band, watching, and the lead singer, commented on how it was the best he has seen, way better than Disney World! A huge salute to Denzil!

During the bands' breaks, we had a chance to chat with them about music, dance crowds, venues, etc. Through the conversations, we found out the lead singer has a CD out and a 5 year old son. Well, we did a little swap, and now his little guy, Noah, has a signed copy of " A Crazy Day," and we have an awesome CD to listen to!

The combination of my niece graduating, coming back to the town where I grew up, and capping it off with a reading/signing of my very own books, sure makes a person reflect on your roots.

It was good to go back and see where and who I come from. Roots are important, even if they aren't perfect. The hard soil and rocks our roots go through to thrive, is what makes them strong enough to withstand the harshest storms.

Now folks, as for the upcoming week.

Armed with some tips from Saturday night's band (The Hudec Brothers), I will take a fresh stab at the guitar.

 I also need to start the music prep for Milden's Centennial.

We are also doing that wedding is early September. I need to start the initial prep work on that.

I need to work on more childrens' songs.

I have to get in touch with the Sundog Craft Show people to find out if I made the cut.

Shaping up to be a busy enough week!

Until then.


May you see your roots for what they are, the beginnings of who you've become.
May you let the solid ones run deep, let the ones carrying poison die, for they can only hinder your run.

May you become a root in another's life, one they can hold on to, a deep runner, solid and true.
May you find being that root for others, makes you, your happiest you.

May you accept your roots, both good and bad, and turn them into gold.
May you accept that they are only the beginnings of who you are, the rest is for you to own.



www.margyreidbooks.net

Camping and Dancing!

Hi all!

Well, it's been a pretty good week, even if taking into full consideration, that I have not yet conquered the skill of playing the guitar. I know you must be getting tired of the mere mention of the dang thing, and I promise there will be no further mention of it today!

I do have to share with you, though, a very cute grandson story.

My daughter had taken Ethan to the doctor's office, as she suspected he had an eye infection. Being a walk-in clinic in the middle of the day it was predictably busy.  A couple came in  carrying a little one in a car seat, and of course Ethan started chatting to the baby. Now, this couple was dressed in traditional clothing of their culture, she in a beautiful, colourful sari, and he, in a turban. Ethan hadn't noticed anything until, in his fully engrossed conversation with the baby, he glanced up and saw the gentleman.

He then promptly turned to the baby with huge eyes and declared with great awe, "Dude, your grandpa's a Genie!"

Luckily everyone had a good sense of humour about the whole thing, and had a good laugh. Ethan, on the other hand, talked about how lucky that baby was, how he will get wishes, and how wouldn't it be cool if his grandpa was a genie, all the way home!

And people wonder why I like hanging around kids!

This week, I'll be getting ready to attend, and do a reading at the Denzil Centennial Celebrations! It's going to be a lot of fun.
First, we will attend our niece's graduation in Unity on Thursday. Then, on Friday, July 1st, (Canada Day) I'll be doing a reading/signing at the Hall in Denzil at 4 that afternoon. The rest of the weekend will consist of a lot of visiting, food and two, count 'em, two nights of dancing!

So, I'll need a float, and to figure out how many books I'll need to take. I'll need to plan menus and grocery shop as we are camping while we are there.

I'm looking forward to the weekend, and am really hoping to run in to some old friends!

Also, this week, I will be working more on the stringed thing that is the bane of my existence these days. That, along with prepping for the weekend, working on more songs, going to work and packing, it should be a fairly full week!

Next week, my ramblings will be a little late, as I'll have to wait until we get home to write them.
So, until next Sunday Evening,


May the chance to touch base with old friends present itself wrapped in a bar-b-que and a smile.
May you find lots of easy conversation, and time just to sit in it for a while.

May the occasion that brings old friends forward, bring new ones to you as well.
May you be surrounded by good, trustworthy people, to whom, all your secrets you can tell.

May you celebrate this Canada Day with family, fireworks, good food, and a cold one.
May it be followed by so many more good times to come, that you lose track of the fun.


Until then, You can find books:

McNally Robinson @ Saskatoon and Winnipeg
Crandleberry's @ North Battleford
Prairie Rose @ Kindersley
Our Drug Store @ Unity
www.margyreidbooks.net

Happy Daddy Day!

Hello!


First off, I want to wish my Honey the happiest of Father's Days! You know, to this day, every time I see him with his girls, it gives me a deeper appreciation for the term, "Daddy."


I think there is a reason that there are terms like "Father knows best", and "Daddy's little girl." just as there's a difference, in my mind anyway, between being a "Mother" and being a "Mommy", the same holds true for Daddies.

A Father takes on the responsibility of being a parent very seriously, as he should. Helping to protect his family and make sure they have a roof over their head, food in their stomachs, and clothes on their back.

A Daddy, does all that, and...... chases the boogie men from under the bed with his special "monster spray," he sits and watches "The Little Mermaid" for the 26th time without complaint. He welcomes the screaming, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" from his kids at the end of a long and tiring day, without them having a clue just how tired and achy he might be.
As the children get older, the boogie men change, "The Little Mermaid" becomes "A Walk to Remember", the "Daddy! Daddy!" becomes talks about boys and how they should treat you. It becomes picking them up at various events in the wee wee hours of various nights, pulling friends from snow banks, comforting a crying teenager with a broad shoulder, all without them having a clue just how tired and achy he might be.

And best of all, he wouldn't have it any other way.


Yes, there is a significant difference between Daddies and Fathers, so hug the Daddy in your life with a little extra squeeze today, and maybe a little thank you wouldn't hurt.


I know, ramblings, right?


Well although this week did not provide any brilliant breakthroughs in the guitar playing department, I did get my first childrens' song written! Hey, it's a step in the right direction! I'm still struggling with the guitar, oh, who am I kidding, I definitely still suck!

I'm not giving up, by any means, I am, however, getting extremely frustrated. I'll keep plugging away and hope for the best!

I mentioned last week, a festival thingy I received an email about. Well I checked it out and am going to participate. It's called "The Word On The Street Festival." It's on Sunday, Sept. 25th in front of the big Downtown library in Saskatoon. It involves, publishers, book stores, distributors, and independents like me. They are hosted by a handful of cities across the country and this is Saskatoon's first whack at it. I think it could be really great. I'll keep you posted.

Also, this week, I dropped my original Lexi puppet off with Amy aka "the puppet lady" hopefully for an eye transplant. The original eyes were pretty googly, if you recall, and kind of freaked kids out a bit. I'm hoping the operation is a wild success!

I didn't get to fabricland this week, though, so the search for some of the fabric for Lexi's clothes continues.

Now for the next week,

Fabricland! Of course, more guitar, then, more song writing, work on some new stories, go to work and while I'm at it, an end to the postal strike and peace in the middle east.  Okay, so maybe I am feeling a little overwhelmed and intimidated by the whole guitar thing. I'm a writer, I'm allowed to be over dramatic!

Well, folks, my Honey and I are off to meet our kids for a Daddy Day lunch followed by smuggling them all back to our hotel for some killer water sliding!

So Until Next Week,


May your "Father" become a "Daddy", if he isn't one already.
May your Daddy be like your PMS pants, forgiving, comforting, and  steady.

May you find the words to tell your Daddy truthfully how you feel.
May you have the honor of spending the day with him, and share a family meal.

May those of us out there who can only wish our Dad's a happy day with a whisper from our soul.
May we do so with a light heart, fond memories, maybe a tongue in our cheek, with grief taking a lesser toll.



Thanks for putting up with my Ramblings for another week!


www.margyreidbooks.net

Appliances, Guitars & Surprises

Well, Hi!


It's been a pretty interesting week in the Reid household.


First off, and I am perfectly aware of how dorky this sounds, I am sooo happy to tell you that I am the proud owner of a brand new, yep, you read it right, I said BRAND NEW washer and dryer!!!!!!!!


Like I said, I know it's very sad that that news gets me that excited. But in order to appreciate my enthusiasm, you first have to understand how badly I've been needing said appliances. You see, my 20 something year old washer was a little schizophrenic, had the shakes, and I'm pretty sure was suffering from some sort of prostate disorder. The dryer, on the other hand, simply liked to dance across my laundry room floor on a regular basis. I had to shove an old dustpan under one corner to keep it from doing the Watusi out the door!

Now, I can go to my laundry room, put clothes in my washer, and they come out clean! And wouldn't you know it, stuff comes out of the dryer, dry! And I don't have to rely on my spanky new GPS to track where it's waltzed off to!


Okay, now for the guitar portion of this week's blog. Well, apparently I still suck at it, but with the help of my friend, Darren, I've purchased a new "how to" book on learning the basics. He seems to think that I have tons of time to learn what I need to for the Fall. He is a music teacher by trade, so he should have good judgement about these things. But, on the other hand, he has never witnessed the miscommunication that can take place between my right and left hands!

Before you ask, yes, he is a music teacher, but he is also a friend, and I'd like to keep it that way. I have a sneaking suspicion that taking lessons from him could end badly. Besides, I really don't want to go on record as his most frustrating student.

He thinks I can do it on my own. I think I have a shot. We'll just take it from there. I've posted a picture of my youngest daughter playing, to see if it will inspire me and my hands into some state of nimble, coordinated bliss. Here's hopin'.


Now, my surprise, this week, came in the form of a phone call. It was from Eileen, a 77 year old sweet lady from Southwestern Saskatchewan. She had seen my picture in the paper last year, regarding "Lexi" and again, lately, with "A Crazy Day." She said she wanted to call me last year, but couldn't work up the nerve. But, this time, when she had seen that I had come out with another book, she worked it up and called.

She had some great questions, and said she has been thinking about writing a book for years. I answered her questions about the background work that goes into writing and publishing your own book. I could only share what I've learned in my experiences thus far, letting her know that I'm learning more all the time, and have a long way to go. She was very kind and generous with her congratulations, and the fact that she might be even entertaining the  thought of pursuing her writing dream at this stage in her life, is freakin' awesome! It's never too late to chase your dreams. Heck, maybe later in life, they slow down enough so they are easier to catch!

All in all, a very pleasant way to wind down an evening.

Never in a million years did I ever think I would be receiving phone calls like that, and from total strangers, no less! Yep, another pinch myself moment.


Now for the upcoming week:

I think you have probably surmised that my day off on Wednesday will include, you guessed it.....guitar, guitar, guitar!
 I also need to head into Fabricland sometime this week to find fabric for the last of the Lexi puppet outfits.
 This week, too, I'm going to be looking into a kind of trade show/festival thingy I received an email about today. It looks interesting, could be something worth doing. I'll keep you posted.

Until next week;


May your passion become your livelihood so your happiness can bring you money.
May you have a laugh so long you can't even remember what was funny.

May you feel every day, a bit of the thrill that came from so many firsts, firsts that cannot be denied.
May you feel the butterflies of first bike rides, first kisses, first dances,  the first time down the "big kid" slide.

May you find a job that feels less like work, and more like a good way to spend a day.
May you flourish in whatever you choose to do, in every conceivable way.



Books Available:

McNally Robinson in Saskatoon and Winnipeg
Our Drug Store in Unity
Prairie Rose in Kindersley
Crandleberry's in North Battleford
www.margyreidbooks.net

The Battlefords, If I Can Make it There.........

Hi!


Well, it was fast-paced, noisy, a little time crunchy at times, and a complete blast!


Yep, my most awesome "roadie" as she was most lovingly dubbed, and I covered 6 elementary schools on Friday.

The first stop was at 9:15, where I read both books to about 60 kids. Next one was at 10, another 60 or so kids. Next, I think was at 11, another group of about 70 or so. Then it was time for a lunch break.
After lunch we headed over to another school, another group of 65ish or so kids that contained 6 different sets of twins! Kindergarten to grad 3, six sets, Crazy! Anyway no time to doddle! Next reading was at 2:45 I believe, with another 60-65 kids. Then last but not least, I did two readings of each book at the final school for about 75-80 kids. It's a pretty big school, so they had split up the groups.

So fun! Read Lexi and Crazy Day to almost 400 kids in one day!

Now, don't get me wrong, by the end of the last reading of the last book, my tongue was starting to feel like it belonged to somebody else, and I was starting to run out of gas a little. But, I just kept reminding myself that, yes, this might be the 6th time I'm reading this today, but it's their first time hearing it. I want this to be just as fun for the 400th kid as the first.

As always, after each reading, I opened the floor for questions. I love the way kids think! Yes I got the usual, "How long did it take to write this book?", "How many books have you written?", "Where do you get the ideas for stories?". But I also heard a few new ones like "Do you know Robert Munsch?", "Do you make big bucks doing this?", "How does it feel to be a famous author?". So funny!

Oh yes, and of course the inevitable " How old are you?" "How many kids do you have?", and "What are their names?"

As each group left the room, I was given high fives, asked for autographs, hugged, thanked, and told over and over again how much they liked the books. Pretty incredible stuff! Another pinch myself to see if it's real, kind of moment.

Still have to shake my head occasionally, and let it all sink in. Sometimes I just can't fathom that this is my life!

It was an incredible experience, and I would be remiss if I didn't thank Dana and Lori profusely! Lori, for co-ordinating and setting up readings, and Dana for being an incredible host and the most fantabulous roadie ever! Last, but not least I also need to thank Garmin, for creating an idiot proof GPS system that brought my sorry butt to Dana's door, safe, sound and in the dark, without further assistance, Thursday night. On the drive, I was hoping I wouldn't have to call Dana to get her to meet me at the edge of town, again, and let me follow her. I kept thinking, if I can just make it there.... if I can just make it there..... And it brought me right to her doorstep. Easy as that!

So Friday evening after a long day of readings, it was very nice to kick back with a couple of old friends, partake in a couple of cocktails, some bbq steaks, and make each other laugh until it hurts.
I am a very lucky person.


On Saturday, after a wonderful brunch at Lori (the sewing goddess) and Jeff's house, it was time to go shopping for material and patterns for the Lexi puppets!  Yay, one step closer! Still need to find the material for her ringmaster outfit. Who knew that blue with red dots and yellow and purple striped fabric would be so hard to find! Lol

I can't wait!


Just so you know I did sit down with a guitar this week and try to play. Apparently, I really suck at this, so I'm going to have to be very diligent about working at it, or the musical portion of my trips up north this fall will be extremely short! lol

I'll figure it out, right?

For this upcoming week,

Guitar, guitar, and more guitar!!!!!!!!!! Everything else? As of yet, unplanned.

Until next week!



May your life take you places you never knew you'd go.
May you be open to the whatever happens, try to say yes, not no.

May you conquer something scary, be it speaking, singing or dance.
May you give every opportunity, even frightening ones, a fair chance.

May you find what truly makes your heart sing, and hang on fiercely with both hands.
May you know in your heart you deserve to live every happiness and not just watch it from the stands.


Where to find books:

Crandleberry's : North Battleford
Our Drug Store:  Unity
Prairie Rose: Kindersley
McNally Robinson: Saskatoon and Winnipeg
www.margyreidbooks.net

Moms, Uncles, and Tradeshows, Oh My!

Hiya folks!


Well, I must say, the Kindersley Spring Home Business Trade Show was a great show. It was very well organized, and run really well. There was a terrific variety of businesses, and lot great people that run them.

I had a couple of enthusiastic helpers in my Mom and Uncle Tom, and I can pretty much guarantee that the other vendors were extremely happy that I brought them along. They weren't just enthusiastic helpers, they were very talented shoppers as well!

Then, as an end to a great day, when I got home, my hubby and I went down to our local pub for a rib supper, a fundraiser for our local "relay for life" team. They had a good crowd and the food was great. Good luck in the relay next weekend in Outlook!

Also, this week, the other 3 Lexi puppets were completed and are home! They look awesome! Thank you, Amy!

I'm getting so excited about getting them complete with clothes, so I can get my "test group", aka grandson, nieces, and the little girl I care for, playing with her and giving her a good test drive.

I'm hoping to get together with Lori, the sewing goddess, this coming weekend, while I'm in North Battleford, and see how things are progressing. Maybe a trip to a fabric store, or something, I really don't know. The whole sewing thing is completely foreign to me. Thank God I know brilliant people!

And that, my friends, brings me to the activities for the upcoming week!

As the teachers are on a "work to rule" action this week, my readings in North Battleford should still be a go. I hope it doesn't change. Six schools in one day is a new challenge, and I think, a very enjoyable one to undertake. I mean, it's just not possible to have a bad time looking into the smiling faces of about 100 or so munchkins throughout the day!

I'm looking so forward to the day itself, and then, to spend time with some of my best and oldest friends on the planet as a top off to the day? Who could ask for anything better?

Also this week, I am giving myself a stern talking to about finally sitting down and starting to learn to play the guitar.  Hopefully, I will have some kind of progress to report on that front, before too long.

I also have new ideas for some stories that need to get jotted down and maybe fleshed out a bit. They are just kind of flying around in there willy nilly right now, so I need to tie them down a little and get them moving in a direction that makes sense.

Now, my friends, my hubby and I are going to go out to our local golf course where they put on an incredible brunch.


Thanks so much for putting up with my ramblings!

Until Next Week!

May every seed you seed, sprout and grow as if it has wings.
May every plant you plant  flourish with ease and enthusiasm, and produce beautiful things.

May every iota of positivity in your life grow as strong, and be as hearty as a prairie dandelion.
May it be as hard to squelch or kill, no matter how hard some people may be tryin'.

May your good fortune put down roots as deep and as a mighty redwood or a giant oak.
May your week be as bright as a field of wild flowers, and like a bath,  may you lie in the brightness and soak.

You can find Lexi and Crazy:

McNally Robinson: Saskatoon and Winnipeg
Our Drug Store: Unity
Prairie Rose Floral and Gifts: Kinderlsey
www.margyreidbooks.net

We Are Still Here! Woot!

Hello and happy Victoria Day long weekend to my fellow Canadians, and I hope all my blog reading friends from around the globe are also having a great weekend.


I must say, it's nice to be here, writing my blog, sipping coffee, listening to the birds sing and the sound of visiting kids sleeping. Yes, it sure is, on this day after "rapture day."

I read last night that the man who is responsible for provoking people into selling everything they own, walking away from jobs and homes and who knows what else, has made an obscene amount of money off of the hysteria. And the kicker is, they may not be able to prosecute him for any crime. As I understand it, he can simply claim "oops," and walk away.

All I know for sure is this. He has done this twice now, so, if and when, the second coming, or rapture, or apocalypse or whatever does actually get here, I don't think I would want to be standing within a 1000 miles of that particular guy!


So on to other things!


This past week has been pretty cool. Last Saturday night, if you recall, we had a grad party to DJ. It went pretty well. The kids were great. They danced their little faces off until about 4:30am. Yep, we went to bed that night around the same time we usually get up! Lol

There was only one small hitch in the otherwise awesome evening. And, that was something no one could control. The weather! Yeah, not too surprisingly, being Saskatchewan in the middle of May, it got pretty frosty around 3 in the morning. So chili that my laptop protested for a bit, and caused somewhat of a hiccup in the flow of music. It didn't last long, though, soon we had them boppin' and hoppin' around the tent once more.


I'm happy to report that the glitch in my website is fixed! Whoop Whoop! I would try to explain what the problem was, but I have zero understanding of how those things work, and pretending would only serve the purpose of making me look and feel like an idiot. I believe I do that enough by accident.


The reading at the Kindersley library went really well. We had a great group of kids and adults come by to hear "A Crazy Day," and pretty much all of them bought a copy! A few more copies of  "Lexi" found their way into little hands as well. Topped the day off with two interviews. One with the local paper, and another for the radio station. So, keep a look out for the Kindersley Clarion and and have a listen to 1220/1330 CJYM and/or 104.9FM the Mix on, I think he said Monday! I know, cool right?! It was the closest thing I've ever come to a media blitz! lol

Also this week, I received an application to the Mistletoe Craft and Gift Show in North Battleford. I will definitely be sending that away right away. I don't want to miss it! It was such a good time last year!

I was lucky enough this week, too, to receive a very nice card from my Aunt Cathy. It was a congratulatory card with some very nice sentiments inside. I always, and will always, be very grateful for those acts of unexpected kindness. You can't have them happen, and go on to have a bad day. That's why I feel it's so important to pass them onto others. Yes, I said it, "Spread the Love"! Now you can consider your daily intake of cheese fulfilled.

So, for the upcoming week!

I need to get my ducks in a row for the tradeshow on the weekend. It ought to be pretty fun. It is comprised of home businesses, alot of which seem to be moms looking to make extra income. Sounds almost like a time travel experience to me! Anyway, my helpers for the day will be my Mom and my Uncle Tom. It will be a blast hanging out with them for the day!

Also this week, I look forward to hopefully some good weather so my "work" days can include taking my twin munchkins outside to play on the new play structure, which is being set up in their back yard as we speak! I know I say "my" twin munchkins, but I should probably clarify that they are a set of twins that I take care of 4 mornings a week. Yep, for those of you who didn't know, you can begin to hate me a little bit. My "job" is to play with two adorable toddlers 4 mornings a week. Yes, it does involve some diaper changing and nose wiping, but those of you who know me, and even those of you who know me only through my ramblings, have probably figured out I would be lost without having either of those things to do for any significant period of time.

So, if you are in the Kindersley area next Saturday, come by and see me at the Elks Hall!

Until next week!

May your troubles all be tiny, and your good fortunes, tremendous.
May any hiccups be smoothed easily and productivity be stupendous.

May your days become a little brighter as they pass on by.
May your nights be filled with rainbow dreams and the softest of soft lullaby.

May your "end" bring you to a place where your loved ones' hearts you'll capture.
May you find yourself, on that day, light years away from the guy spewing "rapture."


Have a great Week!

Where to find "Lexi" and "Crazy"

Our Drug Store - Unity
Prairie Rose Floral and Gift - Kindersley
www.margyreidbooks.net