Jane Spavold Tims's Blog, page 57

winner of cover art for ‘within easy reach’

I am so pleased to announce the winner of the painting ‘brambles’, the cover art for my book within easy reach! The winning raffle entry was drawn at my book launch at Westminster Books on June 9, 2016.

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The winner is Carol Steel, a long-term follower of my blog and a blogger at http://carolsteel5050.blogspot.ca/ . Carol posts her beautiful photographs, her published poems and her insights into the wildlife she sees. Carol also won First and Second Place in the 2016 Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick Writing Competition — Dawn Watson Memorial Prize.

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Congratulations Carol!!! The painting ‘brambles’ is yours. Thanks to all those who entered!

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February 29, 2016 ‘brambles’ Jane Tims

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The names of the other entrants, and the names of all those who purchase a book from my publisher or at any of my reading events, will now go into a draw for another painting ‘berries and brambles’ (18″ X 14″, acrylic, unframed, gallery edges). Names will be entered until June 30, 2016 and the winner will be announced in July.

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April 02, 2016 ‘berries and brambles’ Jane Tims

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Holding the raffles for my paintings has been a very enjoyable part of the process of marketing my book!

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June 9, 2016 book launch at Westminster Books – almost 50 people attended! (photo courtesy Chapel Street Editions)

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Copyright 2016 Jane Tims

songs in the grey woods – ovenbird, over and over

This week we had a meeting of our writing group Fictional Friends. We are trying something new – dedicating our whole meeting to one person’s writing. The writer ‘in the spotlight’ talks about writing goals and the problems they encounter.  Then they describe their current project, giving a synopsis. They read and the group provides constructive comments. We found this first session helpful for everyone present and we plan another session, with a focus on another writer’s work. I think each member of the group learned something applicable to his or her own writing.

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This session was held at my house. I left the back screen open, to let in some air. More than air comes in – at a meeting last month, the sound of our next door neighbour’s rooster crowing provided a backdrop to some reading about rural themes. At this week’s meeting, an Ovenbird decided to start singing in the woods behind our house. ‘Teacher, teacher, teacher’ he said, over and over. Perhaps he was making a commentary on our particular way of learning.

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The Ovenbird is a large warbler, olive-brown. He reminds me of a thrust because of his streaked white breast. He has an orange crest, a white ring around each eye, a white throat and a dark line below his cheek. My drawing is from a photo by Ann Gardner, used with permission. http://www.anngardnerphotography.com/

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Do you belong to a writing group? What methods does your group use to help one another?

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Copyright 2016  Jane Tims 

early schools – the rope swing

Students in the one room school may have appreciated apple trees growing in the school yard. But there would have been other trees too. A hefty old red maple would have been a good place for a swing. Perhaps a simple rope swing, with a loop over a horizontal tree branch and a big old knot at the end for sitting.

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rope swing

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lunch hour

best spent

upside down

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legs wrapped

tight as twist

of hemp

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splayed ends

of the big knot

trail on the ground

follow hair and

dragging fingers

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world tipsy-turned

maple branch – a bridge across the sky

other kids stand on their heads

school house and outhouse

hang from the hill

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Copyright  2016  Jane Tims

‘within easy reach’ – cover art

This is reminder that I am offering a chance to win the painting ‘brambles’ on the cover of my book ‘within easy reach’. The last day to enter is June 7, 2016.

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The draw for the painting will take place at the launch for my book, on Thursday June 9, 2016 at Westminster Books in Fredericton (7 PM).  I’ll let everyone know who won the painting on Friday, June 10.

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Those who entered for the draw are also entered in another draw to win another painting ‘berries and brambles’. Anyone who has purchased a book from me or the publisher is entered for this second draw, to take place June 30, 2016.

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To win the cover art ‘brambles’, you have to do three things.

Purchase my book through my publisher’s website  (www.chapelstreeteditions.com)
Leave a comment on any of my Blogs (www.nichepoetryandprose.wordpress.com or www.janetims.com or www.janetimsdotcom.wordpress.com) with the words ‘within easy reach’ somewhere in the comment
Be prepared to send me, via email, a scan of your purchase receipt.

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The cover painting ‘brambles’ is done in acrylics, size 10″ by 10″, with gallery edges.

February 29, 2016 ‘brambles’ by Jane Tims

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Your name will be entered once for each book purchased. The contest will run for the first five weeks following the publication date of within easy reach  (until June 7, 2016). At the end of the contest, anyone who has purchased a book from the publisher and left the comment as described above will be entered for the draw.

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I hope you will enjoy my book. And some reader will be the winner of the painting ‘brambles’!

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Copyright Jane Tims 2016

early schools – school gardens

It’s gardening time in New Brunswick. While I tend my little tomato plants, I wonder if one room schools in the early 1900s kept school gardens.

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Was there once a school garden in the yard of this one room school near Gagetown, New Brunswick?

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In the province of Nova Scotia, some schools had gardens. My aunt, Dr. Jane Norman, in her history of Nova Scotia’s schools, tells about the Travelling Teachers program and the ‘Garden Score Card’ (Jane Norman, Loran Arthur DeWolfe and The Reform of Education in Nova Scotia 1891-1959. Truro, Nova Scotia: Atlantic Early Learning Productions, 1989). The Travelling Teachers operated from 1918-1920, bringing knowledge and help to schools in their districts about rural science, including home-making, healthy living and gardening.

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In 1918-19, to encourage gardening as part of the school program, the Rural Science Department of the Nova Scotia Normal College (where teachers were trained) donated $10.00 to each Travelling Teachers’ school district. School children and schools who obtained the highest scores on the ‘Garden Score Card’ shared the money as follows:

three school children with the highest scores won prizes of $2.50, $1.50 and $1.00
three schools with the highest scores won prizes of  $2.50, $1.50 and $1.00

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The ‘Garden Score Card’ rated the school gardens and the efforts of the children with the following criteria:

Condition of Garden:

Planting and arrangement of plants (5)
Thinning, training, regularity in row (5)
Cultivation and freedom from weeds (10)
Freedom from diseases and insect pests (10)
General neatness of paths, labels, stakes, etc. (5)
Consideration of adverse conditions, if any (5)


Range of variety in flowers and vegetables (10)
Amount and quality of bloom (flowers) and crop (vegetables) (15)
Amount and value of canning or sales (20)
Showing made at exhibition (15) Total Points (100)

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The school children in my drawing are working hard, but based on the ‘Garden Score Card’, they would not have received a prize for their gardening! No stakes, no labels, no regularity in the row.

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How would your gardening efforts be scored??? I would not make good marks on any criterion!

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Copyright Jane Tims 2016

Norman Families Living in Missouri in 1870

In my search for my Great-Grandfather Frank Norman, I became interested in where Norman families were living in Missouri in 1860 and 1870. Frank was born around 1855, so it is likely his family was still in Missouri for the 1860 Census and may have been there in 1870. Locating all the Normans in Missouri also helped me be certain I have not missed any possible Frank Normans in my search.

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In a previous post, I located the Norman families living in Missouri in 1860 on an 1856 map. Today’s post shows the Norman families in Missouri in 1870. Each black dot represents one to three households living at that location in 1870. I have included the table of households at the end of this post, in case this information would help other Norman families in their genealogy searches. I have double-checked the information but please be aware, there may be households missing or incorrect. My next genealogy project is to map the Norman families in Missouri in 1880.

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In 1870, there were 148 households in Missouri with people having the surname Norman (in 1860, there were 92). Some of these were families, some with more than one generation in the household, some with as many as nine children. Some were young men or women living or working as servants or laborers with other families. Some were young children, living with foster families or in one case, in an orphanage (Lucy Norman, 12 years old).

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To see the change in the Norman families, compare the 1860 and 1870 map below. The numbers of Norman families have increased due to migration from other states, or because older children have established their own families. Some families or their members have migrated to the cities of Saint Louis or Kansas City.

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By comparing the family lists, the whereabouts of various families can be traced. For example, in Laclede County in 1860 there were two Norman families, including Moses and Betsy Norman who I think may be Frank’s parents. By 1870, this family is no longer in Laclede County or anywhere else in Missouri. Also, I know from other records that their son Benj has died. The other 1860 Norman family (Moses and Lucinda with eight other family members) is now represented by Lucinda and four other family members (Moses died in 1873, so it is unknown why he is not with the family at Census time). I can trace remnants and descendants of this family through to 1880 (Lucinda died in 1891).  There are two other Norman families in Laclede County in 1870, Newton Norman and William Norman. Newton Norman is Lucinda’s son and has his own family.  I do not know the relationship, if any, of William Norman to the Moses and Lucinda family.

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Six of the 1870 Norman families had sons named Francis/Frank. There is also a Frank L (born 1836) in St. Joseph, Buchanan County who is too old to  be my Frank, and an ‘F. Norman of uncertain age in St, Louis.  I think my ancestor was Francis M. Norman, son of Moses and Betsy Norman, living in Hooker, Laclede County in 1860. In 1870, he is 18 years old and if his parents have died, he could be anywhere. Sad sentence for a family historian!!!

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Copyright 2016 Jane Tims

Family Number (for my own reference)
Male (usually husband but also father or son)
Age
Female (usually wife but also mother or daughter)
Age
Number Other Normans in House-hold

(* son Francis)
Township
County
Living with another family













135


Salina
26

Rochester
Andrew
Cook


139


Laura E.
20

Lincoln
Andrew
Jackson


124
Alexander
16
Nancy
57
1
Deer Creek
Bates



47
Caleb
37
Josephine
35
4
Boone
Bates



110
William
29
Julia
19
2
Capps Creek
Barry



80
Marion
24


1
Fristoe
Benton



7
W. L.
59
Mary
60
4
Cedar
Boone



35
James
41
Armina
23
5   *
Cedar
Boone



138


Maj
21
2
Cedar
Boone



22
Enos
48
Nancy
47
6   *
Jackson
Buchanan



121


Charlotte
63

Center
Buchanan
Smith


41
Charles
39


4
St. Joseph
Buchanan



42
John
39
Mary E.
21
9
St. Joseph
Buchanan



55
Frank L.
34
Stacy J.
26
2
St. Joseph
Buchanan



68
James
30



St. Joseph
Buchanan



69
Jas
30



St. Joseph
Buchanan



115
B.F.
27



St. Joseph
Buchanan
Thompson


141


Mary
16

St. Joseph
Buchanan
McClean


144


Josephine
13

St. Joseph
Buchanan
Cunningham


32
Smith
44
Hannah
41

Hamilton
Caldwell



71
Fayett
29
Elen
26
4
Warren
Camden



48
Caleb
33
Josie
26
4
Dolan
Cass



9
George W.
57


5
Cedar
Cedar



131


Hillina
32
1
Twnshp 53
Chariton



15
Hiram
52
Juda
52
4
Polk
Christian



62
William
33
Sarah
30
3
Polk
Christian



91
William
26
Elisabeth
22

Wyaconda
Clark



143


Mary
14

Jackson
Clark



54
A.M.
34
Fannie
26

Saline
Cooper



113
William
28
Eleanor
20
1
Greenfield
Dade



27
Eldridge
46
Julia
40
2
Benton
Dallas



57
William
34
Lucy
30
8   *
Benton
Dallas



107
Thomas
21
Adeline
20

Benton
Dallas



24
Joseph
47
Phoeba
43
3
Jefferson
Davies



117
John F.
27



Sherman
Dekalb
Tenneson


99
James M.P.
23
Mary F.
23

Findley
Douglas
Ellison


31
Henry
44
Emilie
24

Boles
Franklin



72
James T.
11


1
Miller
Gentry
Setzer


82
William J.
23



Miller
Gentry
Sutzer


94
Louis C.
25
Martha F.
25
2
Cooper
Gentry



16
James
52
Sarah
40
4
Pond Creek
Greene



25
William
47
Mary
41
6
Center
Greene



56
Robert
34
Mary
30
2
Wilson
Greene



60
Josiah
33
Sarah A.
34
1
Taylor
Greene



108
Jesse
29
Susanna
23

Taylor
Greene



123
Daniel
17
Malinda
58

Taylor
Greene



112
Olon
28



Trenton
Grundy
Hansen


147


Hattie
12

Marion
Grundy
Johnson


77
Milton S.
25



Lewis
Holt
Prie


88
Andy
20



Richmond
Howard
Patterson


2
Thomas
64


3
Kansas City
Jackson



45
Thomas
38



Kansas City
Jackson



63
Henry
32
Laura
21

Kansas City
Jackson



95
A.J.
24



Kansas City
Jackson



96
Thomas
64


3
Kansas City
Jackson



105
James
21



Kansas City
Jackson
Madison


118
Joseph
27
Mary J.
23
3
Kansas City
Jackson



3
Thron
62
Mary A.
55
3
Marion
Jasper



20
Aaron Vanormond
49
Sarah
44
4
Benton
Knox



5


Lucinda
52
4
Hooker
Laclede



46
William
38
Mary
33
3
Lebanon
Laclede



111
Newton
28
Virginia A.
35
3
Hooker
Laclede



102
Joseph
22



Buck Prairie
Lawrence
Cummings


109
Milford
29
Mary
23
3
Buck Prairie
Lawrence



132


Amanda
30
2
Monticello
Lewis
Howard


33
William
44
Mary
32

Chillicothe
Livingston



51


Minnie
12

Chilicothe
Livingston
Reugger


140


Namie
18

Chillicothe
Livingston



142


Basha
15

Chillicothe
Livingston
Bargdoll


65
Henry
31
Alice A.
25
2
Medicine
Livingston



129


Elizabeth
35
2
Blue Mound
Livingston



83
George
22



Warren
Marion
Hanley


134


Nancy L.
26

Somerset
Mercer
Duree


28
J.B.
45
Rosan
38
7   *
Pilot Grove
Moniteau



86
James M.
21
Anna
66

Pilot Grove
Moniteau



64
J.W.
32
Mary J.
31
2
Willow Fork
Moniteau



92
Joseph W.T.
25
Louisa A.
20
2
Clay
Monroe



122


Eliza
58

Jackson
Monroe
Vaughn


18
Allen
50
Catherine
40
4
Danville
Montgomery



90
Robert
19
Melissa
23
1
Danville
Montgomery



29
William
45
Sarah
35
6
Mill Creek
Morgan



13
Thomas M.
53
Julia A.
37
5
Oak Grove
Oregon



100
John
23
Nancy
25
1
Oak Grove
Oregon



120
George
26
Mary
23
2
Oak Grove
Oregon



127


Hester
49

Oak Grove
Oregon



38
M.G.
40
Mary
38
6
Piney
Oregon



11
A.
54
Roda
36

Marion
Ozark



67
James
30



Bowling Green
Pettis



74
Jas
26
Mary
24
5
Bowling Green
Pettis



75
John D.
26



Calumet
Pike
Kissinger


116
C.N.
27



Carroll
Platte
Adams


61
Thomas F.
33
Mary
28
4
Madison
Polk



85
William T.
22
Lucretia
52
5
Looney
Polk



1
Stephen
64
Mary A.
38
2
Sherman
Putnam



43
L.M.
39
Susan
34
4
Sherman
Putnam



101
Eph
22



Sherman
Putnam
Neff


14
George
52
Eliza
46
5
Center
Ralls



73
Harry
17
Margaret
14
1
Jasper
Ralls
Brasher


79
Johnithan
24



Saline
Ralls



81
Thomas
24
Mary
23
1
Salt River
Ralls



78
Jas B.
24
Sarah
19

Polk
Ray



104
Jack
21
E.D.
45
2
Current River
Ripley



26
Albert
46
Mary
39
6
Fabius
Schuyler



37
James
40
Hannah
66
3
Fabius
Schuyler



39
Minor
40
Ellen
34
5
Fabius
Schuyler



50
Doctor
35
Martha
25
4
Independence
Schuyler



6
James
60



Kelso
Scott



128


Caroline
37
1
Kelso
Scott
Hankerson


23
Charles W.
47
Mary E.
41
4
Moreland
Scott



53
William
35
Diana
45
2   *
Moreland
Scott



70
John C.
30
Ann E.
23
2
Moreland
Scott



84
Reuben
22
Harriet
25
2
Moreland
Scott



89
James K.
20
Altha
24

Moreland
Scott



145


Mary L.
13

Commerce
Scott
Archer


12
Birkett
54
Carlonie
54
3
Tiger Fork
Shelby



40
Thomas
40
Sally
24
1
Osceola
St. Clair
Barth


8
Daniel
58



Bonhomme
Sr. Louis
Campbell


17
John
52
Mary
38

St. Louis
St. Louis



19
Pat
50



St. Louis
St. Louis



21
Daniel
49
Lucy
39

St. Louis
St. Louis



49
David
35



St. Louis
St. Louis



66
F.
??



St. Louis
St. Louis



87
Saml
21



St. Louis
St. Louis



93
Leslie R.
25
Mary
26
1 (Eliz 49)
St. Louis
St. Louis



98
Henry
24



St. Louis
St. Louis



103
Michael
22



St. Louis
St. Louis
Heinsey


119
Dennis
26



St. Louis
St. Louis



126


Lizzie
50

St. Louis
St. Louis
Washington


133


Angeline
30

St. Louis
St. Louis



136


N.
25

St. Louis
St. Louis



137


Louisa
22

St. Louis
St. Louis
Nayler


148


Lucy
12

St. Louis
St. Louis
Winter Orphanage


10
Christ
56
Catherin
56
3
Ste. Genevieve
Ste. Genevieve



4
William
62
Sarah
38
2
Castor
Stoddard



30
Wm
45
Sarah
38
8
Castor
Stoddard



44
Matthew J.
38
Christian
35
6
Castor
Stoddard



106
Levi
21
Missouri
21
3
Castor
Stoddard



58
Andrew
36
Martha
34
6
Liberty
Stoddard



36
Eli
40
Eliz
40
4
Liberty
Stoddard



125


Elizabeth
42
3
Liberty
Stoddard



146


Elizabeth
42
3
Liberty
Stoddard



97
Enos W.
24
Mary E.
20
1
Clay
Sullivan



59
John A.
33
Margaret
23
4 (Louisa 53)
Cass
Texas



34
Alfred R.
43
Cornelia
39
6
Henry
Vernon



52
Jacob F.
35
Eliza
33
3   *
Henry
Vernon



76
George
25
Nellie L.
29
1
Osage
Vernon



130
Henry
17
Nancy
33
3
Warrenton
Warren



114
W.S.
28
Sarah C.
22
2
Various
Wright

update – ‘within easy reach’

This past weekend, I attended the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick WordSpring event. This is an annual celebration for writers in new Brunswick and includes readings and workshops. On Friday evening, I participated in the book sale and readings for my poetry book within easy reach. My publishers (Chapel Street Editions) came all the way from Woodstock to attend the sale and signing. Showing my book to the people at the event and signing books was a wonderful experience! The other author at my table was Edith Miller who has just published a book of poetry, Crow Impressions & Other Poems, also by Chapel Street Editions.

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photo courtesy of Chapel Street Editions

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The painting on the table beside me is ‘berries and brambles’, the second I have painted to celebrate my book. Anyone who purchases a book from the publisher will be entered in a draw to win this painting. Blogging friends who buy the book from my publisher have a chance to win the cover art for the book, the painting entitled ‘brambles’. They will also be entered for the draw to win the second painting ‘berries and brambles’.  That’s right, two paintings to be won!

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This is also a reminder that the draw to win ‘brambles’, cover art for the book, ends June 7, 2016. To enter the draw for ‘brambles’ (and be entered in the draw for the second painting ‘berries and brambles’), purchase a book from my publisher ( www.chapelstreeteditions.com ) and leave a comment on my blog. See the post for May 25, 2016 for more information  https://janetims.com/2016/05/25/update-my-book-within-easy-reach/

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I am busy, practicing for my reading this evening at 6:30 at the L.P. Fisher Library in Woodstock, New Brunswick. Wish you could be there!

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Copyright Jane Tims 2016

 

early schooling – apple trees for climbing

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When I find an old one room school still standing, there are often apple trees in the yard. I realise these trees may not have existed a century ago, but it makes me think how important trees are to kids. I can imagine, if there was an apple tree or an orchard near the school yard, it would have been a favorite place for the students to play at recess and lunch-time.

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Apple trees were made for climbing. And for hanging swings. Perhaps for carving initials. Or shaking loose blossom petals on friends standing beneath the tree.

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Lower Queensbury School, York County, New Brunswick

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I grew up in a city in the 1960s when authorities considered concrete the best play surface for a school yard. Run and risk a skinned knee. There were monkey bars for climbing, but I find myself wishing my school yard memories included an apple tree with a big horizontal limb.

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Did you have trees to play on where you went to school?

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Copyright  Jane Tims  2016 

Growing and gathering – Spring salad

I make a new batch of sprouts weekly. This week’s crop was something I haven’t tried to grow before … pea shoots. I sprouted the peas in my 8 X 10 Sproutmaster from Sprout People.

https://sproutpeople.org/sproutmaster-8×10-tray-sprouter/

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Pea shoots sprout sooner if they are soaked in water first. I let mine sprout with just the rinse water.

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For me, a twice daily water rinse and careful draining is key to growing the best sprouts. I know pea shoots can grow quite tall with a vermiculite base and some propping at the sides but I was content to just let them peak above the sides of my sprouter.

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To prepare the pea shoots, I washed them well and harvested them with scissors.

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Then I added a chopped onion, chopped celery, chives from the garden and a sprig of mint. Just plain mayonnaise for a dressing. Yum!

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My husband shook his head and said (as a joke) I would have to survive the Apocalypse all by myself.

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Copyright 2016 Jane Tims

songs in the grey woods – northern parula

A friend, a knowledgeable wetland biologist, has been helping me learn some new bird songs. Last week, I identified the song of the Northern Parula. This is a bird I have never seen, though I scan those tree tops with the binoculars until my arms ache. I have heard its song so many times and always wondered what it was. The song is a long whirrrrr, flowed by a short, upward flip.  Whirrrr -flip. Whirrrr- flip. This morning it was the first song of the morning bird chorus!

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It drives me crazy to hear him sing, be able to find the tree he is perched in, but not see him. My painting is how I think he must look, based on descriptions on the net.

The Parula is a blue-grey bird with a yellow throat, and a yellow and white breast. He has a white crescent above and below his eye and two white wing bars. A bright and beautiful bird! He has an association with a lichen I love, Usnea subfloridana, Old Man’s Beard. He uses the lichen to build his hanging nest.

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Usnea subfloridana on the snow – usually found hanging in our maple, spruce and fir trees

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Copyright 2016 Jane Tims