Places on the map.

Yesterday, exploring.
Observation: sometimes beauty
can be overwhelming.

Egmont

Egmont

Madeira Park

We had planned to explore Garden Bay, as well,
but couldn't fit it all into one day.
Aw: we'll have to go back.


Greg at the Back Eddy Pub in Egmont
(the dark clump of trees is an island ... the multi-millionaire
who lives there apparently helicopters to work in Vancouver every day)

 

The little things that amaze.

Ruby Lake Resort Bird Sanctuary

Stream in Sargeant's Bay Provincial Park

I was picking my jaw up all day.

West Coast Wilderness Lodge

Madeira Park

February Fog

Today the fog rolled in and it never rolled out. 

Timing: today was the day we were going to go sailing with our friend, Claude, who owns a stunning 40 foot sailboat.

Claude

She's a beauty.

Greg takes lunch to the boat.

Shelley at the Stalashen Drive house.

It has been a wonderful weekend, despite the weather fogging up our plans.
Last night at 5:30 a friend called and said, "Come down the beach ... we're drinking wine and watching the sun set." We went, and that little party eventually moved over to another friend's house, also on Stalashen Drive.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl party, at Claude's house, with all the usual suspects.

I love this place. I really, really do.

Launched!

Does this look anything like a book launch? No? Well, good!

I prefer to mix things up.

I read from the new book, accompanied by multi-media (on the white screen) and by my fabulous musical friends, Rob Van Bemmel and Claude Boisvert. Good times, late night.

Wretched Beast was officially launched on Stalashen Drive (Sechelt, BC), on January 28th, 2012.

_____________________________

Next BC event:

Y O U \ A R E \ I N V I T E D  

to a

L I T E R A R Y  S A L O N

at the home of Jennifer Eberts & Gerard Geling

featuring

Sunshine Coast multi-genre writer

S h e l l ey  A.  L e e d a h l

and her latest book

W R E T C H E D  B E A S T

(Poetry, BuschekBooks, Ottawa)

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

7 pm

2442 Grant Road, Roberts Creek

__________________________________________________

RSVP TO: jennifer@ebertsenterprises.net or shelleyaleedahl@gmail.com

E V E N I N G   I N C L U D E S   A   R E A D I N G

&

B O O K S   W I L L   B E   A V A I L A B L E

see The Writers Union of Canada website for info about Shelley’s work:

www.writersunion.ca

Beasticizing, and other things.

The first launch for Wretched Beast is getting closer (Jan. 28th, 7:00 PM), and we're trying to stay ahead of the game re: stocking up on wine glasses, cleaning the house, thinking about appetizers, etc.

Attendees are asked to wear something wretched or beastly.

I'll be stepping out in this lovely orange shawl.

Greg will be wearing his fancy hockey slippers.

On Monday I'll be spending the day at Madeira Park School with the kindergarten to grade 6 students. Looking forward to it!

February 4th, 2:00 - 3:00 PM (CST) I'll be appearing on John Cunningham's Winnipeg radio show about my most recent work.http://ckuw.ca/programs/speaking-of-poets 

The next event is the Wednesday, February 8th Literary Salon at the Roberts Creek home of our friends Jennifer and Gerard. If you would like an invitation, please e-mail me.

  ________We have snow now, so I'm feeling right at home.__________

_____________________on the wildlife front___________________

The birds seem to be wild about this cooler weather. Every day I have a gorgeous Varied Thrush visit, and the usual carnival of Dar-eyed Juncos, Flickers, and illustrious Stellar's jays.

Raccoon got into the garbage; only a little mess.


Here is one of local bald eagles ... (I asked him to turn around, but he said he no dice).

Common Mergansers with their blown-back 'dos'.

And an item from a little game we like to play: "Is it something or is it nothing?" Greg -- although he continues to suffer from pneumonia -- stood outside the other day and watched the water with camera and binoculars. He thinks the image below reveals a whale of some kind. What do you think?

(I think he's right.)

A bunch of beastly events.

Tug struggles in the Georgia Strait, January 2012.
(Photo taken from our yard.)

Ahoy. I've had a few people say they've been on my blog recently, and I've been trying to get here myself to add some new posts. The muck and minutae of life have bogged me down. 

Truth is, apart from my Saskatchewan friends Kelly, in North Battleford, and Jeanne Marie, in Biggar, both of whom became grandparents to baby boys in early January, most folks I know have thus far found 2012 to be a little stormy. I say we're just getting the worst of the year's waves out of the way, right up front.

Gregor McGregor (aka my partner) has been hit hard with the Plague (aka what I thought was just a bad Man Cold.) Wrong, Shell. Should I have done more mollycoddling? Probably. This insidious cold\flu that's going around likes to get its hooks in and stick around. Gregor's back from the doc today with a diagnosis: bronchitis or early pneumonia. More tea with honey, Darling? He'll be out of the classroom for a week or so.

Shout out to my son, Logan, and his girlfriend, Kira (from Hamburg, Germany), who spent countless hours cleaning my home and property in Middle Lake, SK in preparation for new tenants. Flowers also to my good neighbours there, especially Eileen, who put in much time on my behalf.

Now, events and more events. If you live in BC, SK, AB or PQ, I may be coming to a library, school, house or bookstore near you with Wretched Beast (poetry, Buschek Books) and Listen, Honey (short stories, DC Books). Please see my events schedule below for a partial listing of what's happening when, and where. Please stay posted for updates.

   ___________________

MONDAY, JANUARY 23 – ALL DAY AT MADEIRA PARK ELEMENTARY, MADEIRA PARK, BC

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 7 PM – HOME BASED BOOK LAUNCH \ PARTY, WILSON CREEK(SECHELT) BC-  (contact me if you wish to attend ... please wear something wretched or beastly from your own wardrobe, ie: alarming socks, a ludicrous tie, scandalous earrings, etc.)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 7 PM - LITERARY SALON AT JENNIFER EBERT’S HOME, ROBERTS CREEK, BC (contact me for details)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 – PRO “D” DAY – WORKSHOP FOR SUNSHINE COAST LIBRARIAN-TEACHERS IN SECHELT, BC

THURSDAY, APRIL 26 – READ AT SHELF LIFE BOOKS IN CALGARY, 7:00 PM

APRIL – EDMONTON AT (TBA)

FRIDAY, MAY 18 – SUNDAY, MAY 20 –  LEADING A WRITING \ WALKING RETREAT IN CHATEAUGAY, QUEBEC  FOR THE QUEBEC WRITERS FEDERATION (contact Lori at admin@qwf.org for details, registration)

THURSDAY, JUNE 7 – READ AT John M. Cuelenaere Public Library (125 12th Street East) PRINCE ALBERT, SK, 7:00 PM

MONDAY, JUNE 11TH – READ IN REGINA, SK (VERTIGO SERIES)

TUESDAY, JUNE 12TH – READ AT MCNALLY ROBINSON (SASKATOON) 7:30 PM, TRAVEL ALCOVE  Mcnally Robinson Events 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13TH – READ AT FRANCES MORRISON LIBRARY, 7:00  PM  (DOWNTOWN SASKATOON)

Ninth born.

"I love these new poems and find the writing irresistibly energetic and imaginative. It's a beautiful, bountiful piece of work." -Barry Dempster


Wretched Beast
by Shelley A. Leedahl


BuschekBooks
ISBN 978-1-894543-71-2
17.95


The latest poetry collection by multi-genre writer Shelley A. Leedahl is a visceral and imagistic sojourn documenting a poet’s walk through prairie woodlands and forests (“moose tracks on the moose tracks”), urban Canadian streets and foreign country lanes, and across significant life transitions.

The poems in Wretched Beast bridge signpost personalities, destinations, intense phases of self-imposed solitude, and sometimes raw experiences , leaving a never-before map in their emotional wake. Ripe with birds and garter snakes, with awe for the unlikely (“skates slung over shoulders in the old way”), with whimsy, praise, and with poems unafraid to ring in the minor key, Leedahl meticulously delivers her passionate art of walking, of listening inward and out, and of rising when it is no small thing.


Leedahl frequently presents her work and leads writing workshops across Canada. She was born and raised in SK, recently lived in Edmonton, and is currently based in Wilson Creek on BC’s Sunshine Coast.


Contact her at shelleyaleedahl@gmail.com to have a signed copy mailed to your address. ($25, includes shipping\handling)   Books can also be ordered directly from the publisher: http://www.buschekbooks.com/buy.html
Book launch and tour details are forthcoming. Please stay tuned.

Saskatchewan retreat house (for writers, visual artists, and other creators).

Making art.

Sometimes it requires solitude.

And listening to the quiet voice that's your own.

Imagine an extended retreat with inspiration drawn from walking

through woodland trails, interacting with gentle wildlife,

and circumnavigating a quiet prairie lake.

Enjoy the luxury of time and space ... for your art, and for yourself.

Literary writer Shelley A. Leedahl is offering her home in the scenic village of Middle Lake, Saskatchewan (1.5 hours NE of Saskatoon) for creative or contemplative retreats. Individual or two-person residencies preferred, and two month minimum requested. Dog companions welcome.

The two bedroom plus study, perfectly private house with large garden and two-car garage is on the village edge. The home floods with light. The broad western sky provides a dramatic backdrop to your creative work. A postcard ten-minute walk through the woods leads to the quiet lakeshore. Birds and nature are abundant.

Retreat rate is $800\month (single) or $1200\month (double),

wirelss internet and utilities included. 

Better rates negotiable for longer retreats. 

Your view (woods just to the left of image).

Dining room with window toward the sunset.

House is furnished and includes upright grand piano.

Lucien Lake.

One corner of the large private garden.

Please contact Shelley A. Leedahl shelleyaleedahl@gmail.com

or 604-989-4959 for more information

or to reserve your private retreat now.