"Love Letter"

I must confess that I've always had a weakness for trashy tough-girl femmes, prison settings and pretty boys in stilettos. And this video has them ALL! Take a few minutes and listen to "Love Letter" by Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes -- you won't be sorry!



*sigh* Aren't they FAB? Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes are a new Australian band and this is the first video from their debut album. Thanks to Diane Cayton-Hakey on whose blog I first saw this video.

[Reminder -- if you haven't entered my giveaway yet, there's still time -- click here!]

Michelangelo in America

You know, it's a damn good thing that Michelangelo lived 500 years ago in Renaissance Italy instead of today in modern America. Thanks to that one simple fact, we can feast our eyes on this Creation of Adam . . .

. . . not this one.

In Italy, we can see this magnificent statue called David . . .

. . . instead of one called David in America.

Even Michelangelo himself would look different than he did in Italy . . .

. . . if he lived now in America.

[And a reminder -- if you haven't entered my giveaway yet, there's still time! Click here!]

Carol Shields Giveaway!

I have a brand new copy of Larry's Party by Carol Shields to give away to one lucky winner! Here are the rules for entry:

1. You must be an official Follower to enter. Old, new or just signed up to enter the contest, it's all good. And it doesn't matter where you're from in the world, I'll mail this book anywhere!

2. In addition to being a Follower, you must leave a comment on this post. If you leave a comment but don't want to be entered, just say so (and that's fine).

3. One entry per person (leaving 10 comments will still only result in 1 entry).

4. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Savings Time) on Wednesday, September 12, 2012.

5. The winner will be chosen by a random draw made on Thursday, September 13 and the results will be posted here on Friday, September 14.

Good luck, everyone! Thanks for being interested in my labyrinthine ramblings on this blog!

Walking the Carol Shields Memorial Labyrinth

It was a blisteringly hot August day when I visited the Carol Shields Memorial Labyrinth in Winnipeg. Thank goodness I had the foresight to wear a hat because there isn't a single trace of shade built into this design. The labyrinth is a 7-circuit Cretan one, with walkways of crushed reddish gravel outlined by countersunk brick walls.

The labyrinth's entrance is beautiful and unique -- paired "Quote Walls" of textured and engraved granite displaying various quotations from the works of Carol Shields. Her words form the physical gateway through which you enter to walk the ancient symbol of life's journey.

Prairie grasses, flowers and foliage line large portions of the walls as well. Bees, dragonflies, grasshoppers and Monarch butterflies all accompanied me on my labyrinth walk.

Native plants at the labyrinth include black-eyed Susans, harebells, lambs ear, June grass, sweetgrass and prairie lilies.

There are 3 or 4 benches found in little alcoves along the labyrinth's path in case you want to sit, rest and contemplate. The centre of the labyrinth is marked by raised walls.

It was very quiet in the park on the day I was there. It was easy to listen to the sounds of nature and have a nice meditative walk.

Tomorrow: A Carol Shields Giveaway!

[All photos by Debra She Who Seeks]

Building the Carol Shields Memorial Labyrinth

Following the death of Carol Shields, the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba wanted to publicly memorialize her in a fitting manner. The Manitoba Labyrinth Network agreed to fundraise and oversee the design and construction of a beautiful labyrinth in King's Park near the University of Manitoba.

Major funders of the project were the City, the Province, the University of Manitoba and many local and national corporations, along with Carol Shields' publisher, Random House of Canada. But a long list of ordinary citizens also bought "donor bricks" which now form part of the labyrinth's walls. My Rare One and I each have a donor brick at the labyrinth.

As you can see from this photo from the Carol Shields Memorial Labyrinth website, breast cancer groups were also involved in memorializing her.

The labyrinth was officially opened in May, 2009. I was finally able to visit and walk it last summer.

Tomorrow: Walking the Carol Shields Memorial Labyrinth

Carol Shields Memorial Labyrinth -- Introduction

Carol Shields was one of Canada's finest novelists. Born in the USA, she married a Canadian man and came to live in Winnipeg. She worked as an English professor at the University of Manitoba and afterwards was chancellor of the University of Winnipeg. Her novel, The Stone Diaries, won the 1993 Governor General's Award for Literature in Canada and also the 1995 U.S. Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

One of her most beloved novels is Larry's Party, which won the 1998 Orange Prize for Fiction. Set in Winnipeg, the story recounts the life story of Larry Weller, described by Shields as an "ordinary man made extraordinary" by his unique talent for creating mazes and labyrinths.

I have enjoyed reading several of her books, especially Larry's Party. Carol Shields had amazing insight and perception into human nature. A committed feminist, she drew on her own deep understanding and experiences as a woman, wife and mother.

Carol Shields died of breast cancer in 2003 at the age of 68. Her loss was keenly felt right across the country but especially in Winnipeg, of course.

Tomorrow: Memorializing Carol Shields in Winnipeg

Happy Labour Day!

We must always remember who does the real work in building countries and economies. That's right, the ones who don't get the multi-million-dollar salaries, bonuses, bail outs and tax breaks.