Happy to be Canadian

Send us Fan Mail On Canada Day, Susanne thinks she should make a bucket list to see all of the stereotypical symbols that are used to represent Canada in all kinds of artwork. She realizes many that she had not seen are from the far north of Canada.   Luckily, she remembers that there is an out-of-place northern land marker not too far from her home in southwestern Ontario.  She and Manfred start...

Send us Fan Mail We had a bus tour visit Crazy 8 Barn this week. It was a mystery tour from Chicago. That is a curated few days where the exact location and each event is a surprise to the participants. As we waited for their arrival, we joked about them arriving at the Canada US. Border saying they didn’t know where they were going. Could this be a hostage taking of 50 American Senior Citizens? W...

Send us Fan Mail I’ve written often of my dad but I thought today, that I would write about his dad, my grandpa Spence. My grandfather had a life of major heartbreaks and tragedies but he didn’t seem broken, to me as a child. And, I've found something that immortalized what a good day might have looked like in those trying times.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email...

Send us Fan Mail Susanne is looking for a dreamer with a destiny.  Join her on her first trip inside a rare octagonal barn to find out who will be loving this magnificent structure next.  She's also going to be asking you for a big favour ...  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design an...

Send us Fan Mail When Susanne attends her granddaughter's annual dance recital she recalls an earlier recital when she had wished she had practised more diligently and was as cute as the littlest performers. Join her as she talks about oil boom days and Edwardian construction in this dance down memory lane.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my origin...

Send us Fan Mail No, this isn't another crazy wildlife episode, well, wait a second ... it may be consider a wild life aviation episode.  Find out what happens when Susanne's Dad buys a Canadian military primary training aircraft and sparks a love affair that will affect generations of her family.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original st...

Send us Fan Mail There's a networks of people in Ontario working to save injured turtles and return them to their native habitats.  Susanne and Manfred found out how it works when they came into close proximity of a snapping turtle. Join them on the journey to the Turtle Hospital.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book r...

Send us Fan Mail When Susanne is researching details for a story she is writing about a man in 1800's Ontario, she goes down a rabbit hole of history to find some gritty details about Queen Victoria's birthday celebrations in the backwoods in 1887.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quil...

Send us Fan Mail If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design and a recipe or cycling route (depending on the season), sign up here .  Follow me on Facebook and Instagram My website to join in our barn quilt painting experiences is www.crazy8barn.com

Send us Fan Mail You might wish for blue skies and tailwinds but Susanne is trying to capture the beauty of the headwind this bicycling season.  Join her on this breezing tale to find out just how much we are blown about by something we cannot see.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design a...

Send us Fan Mail To celebrate one year of podcasting, Susanne is rebroadcasting her first podcast episode that was lost in a shuffle from podcasting hosts. While out campaigning in the federal election, Susanne comes across a vivid reminder of the days when muscle cars were family cars and kids roamed the back seats like stalking tigers.  Join her to discover what is important to salvage.  If you...

Send us Fan Mail When Susanne meets a barn quilt painting workshop participant whose father hybridized Amaryllis in Holland over 75 years ago, she embarks on a discovery of the flower that leads her to her own back yard.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design and a recipe or cycling route...

Send us Fan Mail A kitten was left in our garden many years ago.  Since then, he has a comfortable forever home but he spends many days wandering through the flowers and along the paths just like Susanne on a Spring day.  Find out how that turns out on this week's episode.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommend...

Send us Fan Mail Snow storms that blow enormous flakes onto the grassy ground where they soon melt and welcome sunshine that brings cyclists onto the roads in March are all part of early Spring in southwestern Ontario. This week Susanne notices nature's determination and foibles as a long winter ebbs into the warm days we have waited for, for months.  If you would like to receive my weekly Sa...

Send us Fan Mail Susanne loves walking (and cycling) through local cemeteries, finding forgotten stories and wondering what certain inscriptions might mean.  Join Manfred and her as they discover a swashbuckling tale told be the early settlers.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design and a...

Send us Fan Mail Susanne faces the challenge of bicycling over 100 km from her home along the north shore of Lake Erie to visit all four ports in Elgin County. It's a test of will and a little tailwind wouldn't hurt. Find out where Manfred will be waiting for her.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendatio...

Send us Fan Mail When some porch chairs with creative innovations are separated in the spring weather, Susanne and Manfred have to figure out where like sitting best, or do they.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design and a recipe or cycling route (depending on the season), sign up here ....

Send us Fan Mail When Donna Sue Grove's mother bought a farm with a run down barn in Ohio at the turn of the 21st century neither she or her daughter had any idea how they were about to changed to rural landscape across North America.  In this week's episode Susanne recounts the unlikely barn quilt movement and reveals her favourite pattern.  (Don't tell anybody, the other patterns...

Send us Fan Mail The week before St. Patrick's Day has Susanne yearning to know about Ireland.  Join her as she captures the mythology and heart-breaking realities and stereotypes of Ireland through sunshine and in shadow.   If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design and a recipe or cycli...

Send us Fan Mail Susanne's Scottish ancestors may or may not have spoken Gaelic when they landed in the colony of Canada in 1854.  Somehow she's drawn to the language either by blood memory or wishful thinking. Join her as she attends an introductory Gaelic lessons and finds out how much she is missing.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my origi...

Send us Fan Mail From snow storms to once in a lifetime opportunities, travel with Susanne and her daughter Kate as they take on one of the seven wonders of the world. If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design and a recipe or cycling route (depending on the season), sign up here .  Follow me...

Send us Fan Mail Maple Syrup making has changed significantly over the centuries, but a day in the forest in the 1970's is vivid for Susanne.   Join her this week as she recounts this truly Canadian experience.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design and a recipe or cycling route (dep...

Send us Fan Mail More than 50 years after the first efforts to orbit and land on the moon, there is another NASA-led enterprise to circle the moon.  And this time, a Canadian is scheduled to be on board.  Susanne remembers the success of the Apollo missions and recounts what heroes look like in this episode.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original s...

Send us Fan Mail When Susanne finds a letter from 1965 address to her Grandfather she is taken back to a terrifying afternoon when the grandkids were terrified of an attack but one of them was brave enought to make a run for it. Join her as she remembers a simpler time when bad news took 10 days to be received.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my origina...

Send us Fan Mail A photographic family tradition has stretched over 130 years and across the North American continent. Susanne shares a family tradition that still gives their family joy.  If you would like to receive my weekly Saturday morning email that contains my original stories, Canadian book recommendation, new barn quilt design and a recipe or cycling route (depending on the season), sign...