Where did this week go?  Mystified.  All I can say is that it is now winter here and I have struggled with an overwhelming desire to "hibernate" all week!  I drove home from Saskatoon on Monday with perfect weather and road conditions only to wake up Tuesday to a blanket of snow and cold temperatures.  Here we go!

What a joyous time I had in Saskatoon last weekend with family and friends!  Being able to spend time with my Mom is always so special, although it sadly never seems like enough time.  I was able to get in a few visits with her on the night I arrived, and on Thursday after setting up for the show and then on Monday before I left.  We even made seven minute icing together for my sister Kathy's birthday cake and while these little moments are brief, they are always so sweet.  I was thrilled when Kath brought her down to the show for a rare outing on the Friday.   Mom even did some Christmas shopping and was not too overwhelmed with the crowds in her wheelchair.  I am kicking myself though that we did not get a picture of Mom in the booth.  Lost opportunity.  

Must thank you Kathy for putting me up and yet again, for being my biggest fan and giving up your weekend to help me at the show!  The whole weekend was really about friends and I cannot thank them enough for supporting me!  Marcia, you were a riot to spend the day with on Friday in the booth!  Nancy, Laura, Alvin, Anne - what a delight to see you all!  Thank you for coming by to say "hi" and buy a copy!  It meant the world to me!

A special thank you to all of the Canada Post colleagues that work with Kathy too.  It was a pleasure to meet you all and sign the books you ordered as a group!  Then of course, there were all the people we met or reconnected with over the course of the weekend.  I got to see some friends from High School and even Public School.  Fun!

There is just something special about going home.  While I have been gone now from Saskatoon for 23 years, it still feels like home to me and always will.  I would be back to live there in a heartbeat if it was possible.  The dinners we had and ALL the laughs with my BFF's ... I thought we were going to get kicked out of a couple of restaurants!

I did have some private moments that were bittersweet though too.  I made the mistake (?) of driving by 1802.  So sad to see the lack of pride the new owners have for the house.  Not just our house either - the whole block was in a sad state of disrepair with the exception of one home that is still owned by the original owners and is right across the street from where we lived.  So - at least when I was parked in front, I could look across the way and still see the same view we had from our living room window.

The names I inscribed into books were pretty standard this week except I had to laugh a bit when I was asked to dedicate a copy to., "The Myszczyszyn Family" ... yup, I was back in Saskatchewan where there is a high preponderance of "Z's" used!  And why not?  It is just as good as the other letters in our alphabet!  LOL!

Our EWI of Calgary meeting this week featured the ED and Founder of Calgary Reads as our guest speaker.  How alarming to hear the stats on illiteracy in our city, province and country.  Anyone who believes that literacy is not an issue in Canada is kidding themselves.  Fascinating to know that most adult achievements, final education, earnings,  incarceration rates, etc. can be predicted by a child's Grade 3 reading level.

When I see a child at the show walking by, I always ask them, "Are you a reader?  Would you like a bookmark?"  It always spurs on some great conversations with children.  One such conversation Kath and I had this weekend was with a boy whose parents were making the commitment to spend two hours of their day driving him to a smaller school in Pike Lake.  They were hoping to buy a home there soon but did not want to delay getting him into a smaller specialized class that can help him with his dyslexia.  He told us he was dyslexic himself in a very positive voice.  He said he had to work "real hard" at reading but he was "exceptional" at math!  And he rightly shared with us that you need to achieve literacy in both!  He was such a delight to interact with.  The pure joy radiating from him at his own sense of achievement was a gift to witness.  Bravo to his parent's for making that drive every day!

Calgary Reads shared with us that the first 2000 days of a child's life are the "make it or break it" period.  That refers from the time a child is born until they enter school.  I am excited that our Chapter donated $1000.00 towards the purchase and placement of 4 Little Libraries in Calgary.  We will be painting the library boxes at our January dinner meeting which we are holding at the Calgary Read's offices.  A great organization if you want more info on how you can positively impact literacy in our city.  They have so many great programs if you are looking to donate or volunteer.

All it takes is one person to light the spark of imagination in a child by reading to them.  I hope I was able to do that with the family I encountered at the 7/11 in Rosetown on the way home on Monday.  Mother, Grandmother and four kids, two of which were twin toddlers.  They were from Manitoba and still had a long way home so I gave them a copy of my book for the car ride.  The oldest boy was so good at looking out after the twins in the store that I thought he might also enjoy reading to them.  Hope they had safe travels home.

I am really looking forward to tomorrow afternoon when I will be at Fisher Crescent Retail in Okotoks!  A proceed from my books and also from purchases made tomorrow are going to go to the Foothills Country Hospice.  The store's owner is a good family friend who has an amazing boutique of women's fashions and accessories.  Today I am going to bake some Gingersnaps, Shortbread and the Raspberry Coconut Tarts from the book's recipes to take.  So, on that note ... better get moving!

Shine on!
- Karen

I cannot imagine what it would be like to be illiterate or to struggle with reading.  Twice this past weekend my heart broke a little while at the show in Airdrie.  The first time was during a conversation with a woman who had struggled with reading and literacy skills her whole life.  She was completely in love with the idea of my book and thought it was probably what she had needed herself when growing up.  She had two daughters at home but because she struggled and did not enjoy reading herself, she never encouraged reading in her home.  She was very aware that this was a huge loss but just did not have the strength within her to "struggle" through 24 stories with her daughters.  I was so sad for not only her but for her daughters too.  Tragic.  How can this still happen in Canada?

The other conversation, while also dealing with literacy challenges, was far more positive.  A grandmother bought a copy for her granddaughter Ariel who is 8 years old.  Ariel struggles with reading and needs practice.  Her Grandma bought the book so that every day in December when Ariel arrives at her house after school, Ariel could read one of my stories to her while enjoying a snack.  I hope my book helps them to create some wonderful shared memories that they will cherish!

Again this weekend, I sold two copies to teachers in the Catholic School system who plan on using the book as a daily reading exercise in their classrooms.  That makes my heart sing because of how many children will be able to enjoy the stories because of these two teachers.

I also got a thrill when chatting with a British woman who had two little ones, Yorick and Heddwyn.  She and her husband were moving back to Bristol with the kids next month.  She said she is an avid reader of bedtime stories with her children, but her husband ... not so much.  He is from the Czech Republic and only reads Czech stories to them.  As Czech children's material is hard to find, she tends to do the majority of bedtime reading in English.  We discussed some of the ingredients for the recipes so that she knew what to look for in England, i.e. Golden syrup.  A fun discussion and I am glad my book is going to the UK!   I know one copy has already made it to Beijing as my friend Susan sent one to her son's girlfriend for Christmas who is trying to build her English vocabulary.  What more can I ask for?

My Mom's maiden name came up a couple of times this weekend too.  Most of the classic recipes are from my Grandma Hein.  One girl said she had a cousin who married a Hein.  Another said her Grandmother's family were also named Hein.  They had immigrated from Poland to East Germany and she still had relatives there.  We too have Hein relatives in what was East Germany.  We chuckled to think that maybe we were related.  Always fun to have these conversations at the shows about one's heritage!

One final observation from the show was that I am continually mystified as to what people spend their money on.  The gal in the booth next to mine was selling leggings in wild patterns and cartoon characters.  $25.00 a piece or 2 for $40.00.  I cannot even imagine how many sets she sold but suffice to say it was A LOT!  If she had sewn these herself, perhaps one could justify the costs.  However, having spent the last 5 years in the apparel industry and knowing that her imported cost for these tights were about $2/pair, I cringed every time someone would shell out $40.00 for nylon leggings that were made in SE Asia by women who were most likely paid $1.00/hr for 150 pieces sewn.  I  get upset every time I see stores advertising dresses for $10 or jeans for $20.  The only way you are able to buy these for those costs is that someone in the developing world is being taken advantage of.  It drives me crazy!  Then of course, there are now "24 Beer Advent" packs and "24 Scotch Advent" packs that people were so thrilled to tell me about.  Really?  Is this what Christmas has come to?  I pray not.  Okay - rant done for today!

The weekend ended with a glorious Remembrance Day service at Church and then I read two of my stories in our Fellowship Hall afterwards.  Lovely day and perfect ending to my week!

Looking forward to heading home to Saskatoon this coming weekend!  Hope to see many familiar faces while at the "Our Best to You" show at Prairieland Park.  Please stop by the booth if you are coming to the show!

Have a glorious week!
Shine on!
- K

Well - here it is Tuesday already!  I must admit I took some extra time Monday morning to sleep in.  The time change and the road trip did me in.  Alas, I am writing this today instead.  This might just turn into a Tuesday blog folks if this keeps up!

The trip to Lethbridge really brought home to me, yet again,  how powerful a force women supporting women can be!  I did the show on my own for the first time and while it was lonely at times and I missed my booth buddy (Sister Kathy), I had incredible support and made it through with some help from my fellow EWI members. 

Huge thanks to Lynn from EWI of Lethbridge for volunteering on Friday afternoon!  It was great to really get to know this remarkable lady that I had only met a few times before.  Everyone has a story in them and to hear the journeys of others is always so inspiring to me.  As well, I must thank the other Lethbridge Chapter members who pre-ordered or stopped by; Michelle, Cathy, MaryAnn, Beverly, Ronnie and Jessie.  Your support means the world to me ladies!  If that were not enough, their Chapter is also going to sell my book as a fundraiser at their upcoming Christmas market on November 14th.

When I left my hotel room the first day to head to the show, I noticed a sign hung up beside my door.  It said, "Let your light shine!"  It was a great motivation for me each day.  While I knew being in Lethbridge was going to be a friendly time because of all the people I know there, I also made two great new friends with the vendor beside me and across the way from me, David and Heather.  Learning the stories of how they each came into their crafts and ended up doing what they love for a living was amazing to hear!

In addition, pleasant surprises awaited me ... one of the first ladies that bought my book was a gal whose friend had bought one in Medicine Hat two weeks ago and told her that she must get one!  Nice!  I inscribed it to, "Ava & Ethan, with love from NuNu" as that is what her grandkids call her.

Inscriptions this week and the stories behind them moved me yet again!  A grandmother bought one for her granddaughter Nevaeh.  When I commented on it being a unique name, she took my breath away when she explained it is Heaven backwards.  Other unique spellings this week were Emerie, Aaliyah, Wanita and Kadin.  Wanita wants to make something special for her grandkids to go along with the stories ... she thought she would find 24 inspirational thoughts to tuck into an Advent quilt she was making.  I hope she sends me a picture of it!

And then, there were the "Anne's!"  A mother along with her daughter and granddaughter - all named Anne.  We started talking about the recipes and she asked what my heritage is.  When I explained that most of the classic recipes are from my Grandma Hein, a German woman who immigrated from Russia with her husband and toddler, the connection was made!  Her grandparents had had a very similar journey to Canada from Russia.

Like my grandparents who had a baby en route in England, her Mom was born en route in Winnipeg.  Her grandparent's sponsors never met them just like my grandparents whose sponsor had moved to another province by the time they got off the train in Rosthern, Saskatchewan.  Anne Sr. was so eager to try the recipes because she too had fond memories of her grandma's baking, but did not have any of their recipes saved.  Passing down recipes is such a great way to share your past and for those loved ones to live on!

When I think of what our ancestors went through as new immigrants, my heart breaks a little but I am also truly humbled by their courage and strength.  I cannot imagine what they, or those who are now fleeing countries, face, just to survive.  I feel so blessed to be living in this country which is such a mosaic of nationalities and cultures.

There is so much dialogue now about immigrants having to conform to their new country.  So much of my own personal heritage could have been wiped away, but it was not. Were people more tolerant in the 1920's because there were so many immigrants?  I don't think so.  I remember my Aunties telling me stories of what is was like to be of German ancestry, living here.  Especially during WWII.   I feel so blessed to be able to not only have & know my families different histories (my Dad's family were from England), to draw upon and inspire me but to also share with you in this book and with these recipes.

I am going to post photos of the recipes that I bake this Christmas on the website so you can see them before you try making them yourself.   I know I prefer to see a picture of a recipe and just wish we could have included them in the book.

I have also decided to find out how we can get a chat going after each story.  That might be easiest on The Shining Star Facebook page.  I think it will be fun to have a daily "review" session so that we can all share the experience!

Thank you all for your support!  Last week the book was #9 on the top 10 sellers list at Friesen.  Has dropped down off the list again though.  Remember to order by November 15th so that they have time to ship them to you!


Shine on!
-K