Helping artists through coaching and big picture planning, to get clarity on the next best steps, so they can be confident, breathe easy and build a sustainable, successful career.
[Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter] Time to curl up and keep warm... and find our favourite reads
|
“It was the best kind of November day. ― Rainbow Rowell As I write this, Reader, nearly all the leaves have fallen from the trees in our neighbourhood, while our feisty smoke tree hangs onto hers, all round and copper coloured at this bleak time of year. The sky is mostly grey though the sun is trying hard to shine through the tiniest patches of blue, and the late afternoon edges of the cloud cover. It's warmer than it ought to be, but still cold enough that I'll need to wrap up when I take my little white bichon mix, Boulo, out for a walk a little later. My long suffering husband is bemoaning the drab tasks of raking and mulching... and laying aside the Summer tools and furniture to make way for shovels. My grown kids, their little families and I are already making plans for filling Christmas crackers and stockings, baking sweets for the family and friends' cookie exchange, and so much more for the coming festive, wintery season. It's that time of year... chilly and grey. So... as I write this, I send you all the warmth of a hot cup of sweet cocoa covered in fluffy, melting mini marshmallows, held firmly between hand-knit mittens. How I Make it Through November I will own that I am one of those people who struggle to chart a clear path, with hearts intact, through the grey and chilly time between the crisp colours of Autumn and the bright frost of Wintertime. I may tell myself that November's rains are just practicing for what will soon be sparkly white snowfalls, turning into blankets just waiting to be stitched with snowshoe tracks. I tell myself that it's the perfect time to curl up by the fire and read my favourite stories - even those I've yet to discover as favourites. I'll even plan and sink into cozy gatherings filled with the warmth of friendship and the savouring of tasty, shared meals. And yet... Even with these, I'll find myself staring out the window, my heart a little heavy, longing for life and light. Amidst the necessary death that surrounds us at this time of year, and the scurrying of creatures getting fat'n'ready for their own hibernating months, I'll long for life. Under the gloom of a dismal sky, reflecting underground spaces, dark and sombre, where everything is preparing to sleep and to die as part of the phenetic cycle of our earth, still I will long for light. Then I remember... I am part of that cycle, too. I must not resist my own journey towards the withering and shedding that will, in many months, make way for the life and light that I long for. I am not alone in this longing... the earth, the sky and all creatures between them long for the vibrancy and spark that will soon call us all back to the dazzling Spring of this cycle. But, not yet. First, I must make friends with this dreary time, determined to embrace the shriveling decay that will carry us to sleep. I shall breathe in the musty, musky, dank smell of the earth and rotting leaves; I shall breathe out the dregs of a year well-lived with all of its valiant attemps at living another yearful of a good life... its accomplishments and its failures. And, for now, I shall rest. · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · It's been awhile... I realise that it has been a month since I've written! According to the usual rhythm of this newsletter, I skipped one. One opportunity to share with you, to keep you up to date on what's going on, tell you what's coming up and to thank you once again for reading... and welcome you, sweet Reader, if you have just signed up. If this is your first #sbc613 email, I take this tiny moment to say thank you. All of my stories and thoughts, my reminders and lists... as much as I love writing them and sending them to you, the absolutely astounding part is knowing you click open the email and enjoy reading! I know this because some of you write back to say so, to tell me about your own seasonal, reading journeys and to share what you're reading & what's in the pile of stories to come. For all of this... Thank you, thank you, thank you. · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · These days, I am reading a whole bunch... Our last book club book (chosen by Fiona) was dark and tasty, filled with clever breadcrumbs and slow burns. For me, Masters of Death by Olivie Blake was the perfect October read. I am finally wrapping up The Book Woman's Daughter: A Novel by Kim Michele Richardson (sequel to The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek - a compelling book that had me further-reading on the interwebs, to find out more about the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Service and the blue-skinned people of Kentucky.) These two books are some of my favourites. I also read through Daily Rituals by Mason Currey, an interesting collection of information on the daily routines of creative people, "from Beethoven to Donald Barthelme, Kafka to Georgia O’Keeffe". Though I skipped some chapters, I enjoyed spying on authors and other artists to find out how they made their way through their creative practices. I finally got The Embroidered Book back from the library... an historical mystery by Ottawa's Kate Heartfield. I love how Heartfield weaves magic through history and stories we might be familiar with. Up next is Aunt Dimity's Death the first of 25 books in a mystery series by Nancy Atherton, which features the paranormal sleuth Aunt Dimity and her partner Lori Shepherd. A friend recommended this series when I mentioned that my favourite palate cleansers are cozy mysteries. Our next book club book is Foster by Clare Keegan. Waiting on that from the library. 'Looking forward to this next read, too. Oh! And I am taking a quick jaunt through The Mistletoe Mystery: A Maid Novella by Nita Prose... well, just because. Please reply and let me know what's on your nightstand or cozy fireside table, what has you compelled to read just one more chapter. I'd love to know. · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · As always, please make sure you use the signup links... Another thank-you coming your way: we are so very grateful to those of you who are using the signup link: https://www.ticketleap.events/events/silent-book-club-ottawa. It truly helps us to keep our host venues up to date with how many people to expect at any meetup. So... thank you! Please bookmark that link and use it when making your SBC plans. Also... you can subscribe to the Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter's Google Calendar (if you use Google Calendar, that is) so that all of our meetups show up on your calendar. Go to our webpage scroll all the way to the bottom and click where the arrow points to. Follow the prompts and you'll get the info directly on your G'Calendar. In the description field of each meetup "event" in the calendar, you'll find the link you need to sign up. Easy peasy! Once you've visited the link and explored what's there, please let me know what you think! · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · That's all from me for now. Happy reading! Warmly and bookishly, as always, nicole · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · NOVEMBER & DECEMBER EVENTS So excited to let you know that the Constance Bay meetup will be starting up again, come November: on the first Wednesday of each month, at the same location: The Bay Cafe on Constance Bay Rd. Also, the East End meetup has had a shift in scheduling, seeing its gatherings happening on the fourth Wednesday of each month (NOT Tuesday). Stayed tuned for some news about the Hintonburg meetup: plans are simmering! 📆 If you'd like to add our events to your Google calendar, please click here and subscribe! 📝 All meetups are now available for signup here! This helps our hosts know how many people to expect. Thank you! As always, please pay close attention in the list below to the start times for various gatherings. Not all meetups are at the same time. We have one that starts a touch earlier than most, one over lunchtime, and one that's in the afternoon! Read carefully below and when you sign up. ⭐ = New! (Click here to email me, if you're looking to host a meetup in your area!) Upcoming events
How does it work?
Make your experience fit your vibe
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, please click here. |
little acorn creative coaching
Helping artists through coaching and big picture planning, to get clarity on the next best steps, so they can be confident, breathe easy and build a sustainable, successful career.
April 2025 SBC613 is pleased to announce its first-ever Book Swap! Book swaps are great opportunities to shed some of your old reads and welcome in some new ones: a wonderful, free exchange of recycle, re-use, and RE-READ. Join us at Anina’s Café in Vanieron Wednesday, May 21st from 6-8pmto refresh your seasonal book list & commune with your fellow reading enthusiasts. Tasty snacks, treats, and beverages will be available to purchase as you browse! How it works: Register on TicketLeap...
March 2025 “For most of history,Anonymous was a woman.” ― Virginia Woolf Welcome to March. In this part of the world, it came in like a lion, indeed. As I sit here with my hands paused, fingertips poised and ready to write to you, my mind swirls with the maelstrom happening outside of my safe little office walls. Inside here, I can convince myself that the world can be safe and calm... just not right now. Because even inside here, there are too many things, impossible to deny; impossible to...
February 14, 2025 “What a blessing it is to love books.” ― Elizabeth von Arnim, The Solitary Summer We're about halfway through February and we've just had the heaviest snowfall of the Winter. No surprise, really. But it does mean that many folks spent the better part of the last 24 hours digging themselves out of over a foot of snow... 32 cm to be precise, according to some reports. AND... there's more coming this weekend. But you know... this is a good thing. It's supposed to snow, in this...