The 'season of giving'

Five Easy Ways YOU Can Rethink the Season of Giving - Stepcase Lifehack 
Not a bad post.

Prompted by a tweet from Volunteer Canada, they said you can't volunteer at a food bank, or Christmas meal in November or December. They are booked with volunteers well ahead. That made me think.
Today is International Volunteer day.

Perth: Dignity Day Hospice
McMartin House

The Spirit of the Season is wrong. We should be good-hearted and willing to share of ourselves year-round. The food banks, for example,  need our help all the time, since many choose not to donate at other times.

I give monthly to organizations, such as the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Kiva.org has been a wonderful place for microloans.

I loathe going through cash checkouts where they ask me to donate $2 to some cause or another. Nope! I make my choices, and select charities whose practices I know and understand.

Period Greeter

R. Kerem - corn brooms

wool

We were glad to help, and buy some sweet gifts. This is part of being a locavore. Buying locally, where possible.

B & D Jehu - soaps, candles

With local producers and a fabulous organic grocery store, we feel blessed. We can buy local goods, meat, wonderful natural personal products.

Coutts farm is a 4th generation famiuly farm located 8 KMs south east of Perth on County Road 18. They produce a wide variety of maple syrup products, naturally raised beef, vegetables, preserves, jams and home baking.

local emu breeder 

We volunteer our time. With life experiences, we can share what we have learned with people who need our help. This is priceless.

Many do so, as well.

Grannies Helping Grannies
We donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.org

Grannies helping Grannies, in Perth, sponsored a booth at a recent fair. Donations to Stephen Lewis Foundation.

For Isabelle Coccinelle!
Shhhh! It's a surprise. 

But, back to the wonderful Perth event.
We spotted some nice things from Sundance Studio, in Maberly.


Then, we bought some secret things, from someone who lives and works just down the road from us. Handcrafted Children's Wear, by Madeleine Hollingsworth. Beautiful fabrics.

Then, the products by Emu & You. Lovely soaps, meats and crafts; the painted eggs are fragile and gorgeous.

Dagmar Sagat

Muskoka Artisans

A long time visitor to various art shows, Fall Fairs, and markets, I feature a photo of three local artisans:

• Margo Gracey 

Bramblewood Art Studio of Muskoka

• Penny Varney  

 Jewellery Gallery & Gifts,

• Bonnie BewsHinterglass Paintings
  

 We visit many events over the summer, while we hibernate, the artists are busy making new items for a greedy public, anxious to take home a part of Muskoka.

What great news for Muskoka. This program will help students find their niche:

Project aims to bolster Muskoka’s creative economy
December 16, 2009 - by Karen Longwell


Creative Paths, a $40,000 provincially funded project was launched on Nov. 30 at Rene M. Caisse Theatre. Creative Paths is collaborating with the Arts Council of Muskoka, Muskoka Lakes Music Festival and Huntsville Festival of the Arts. It aims to educate students from Grades 9 to 12 about the arts as an economic growth sector, said Carolyne Wagland, Creative Paths project co-ordinator.

What a fabulous event for our young people. My Toronto-based actor-son participated in the Canadian Improv Olympics, and sang in all the school musicals at Bell H.S. in Ottawa. It prepared him for many life lessons. It gave him confidence and stage presence.

Visual artists, musicians, photographers, metal workers, potters, craft folks of all colour and persuasions participate in making Muskoka a beautiful place, with beautiful people.

These folks all show at local markets or craft shows during the summer. I imagine them working indoors, or taking a break while the snow flies!

There are many choral groups, my parents sang in the Elderberries Choir!

I participated in the Blues in the Schools Project in Ottawa, when I was teaching. Bringing musicians in to the schools to learn about the roots of the blues, and rock and roll. What a time we had!

It is with great delight that we often travel out and about to the Farmer's Markets, the craft and art shows. Artisans in Muskoka are plentiful, almost as plentiful as retired teachers and nurses!
Other posts: more photos!

• Muskoka Lakes Art Tour
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  June 13/14 Spring Arts Tour