Smooth transition
From Cousin It to Pippi Longstocking to Respectable Music Teacher (well, he was respectable before, too), Isaac Moore transforms after getting his hair cut at Friday night's South Huron District High School Relay for Life. He raised $250 for cancer charities.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2 Light: Existing ISO: 800 Exposure: f4 @ 1/200 sec.
I walk the line
Teachers Erin Murphy and Rod Culham get into the spirit of Tractor Day at North Middlesex District High School by line dancing with their students. And then my favourite lens, my 100mm f2 died. It's been quite the week!
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 Light: Fluorescent ISO: 800 Exposure: f2.8 @ 1/125 sec.
Snug as a bug
Can't say I would feel too comfortable climbing this if I were this bug's size, but s/he didn't mind. If you can identify this bug, I'd love to see a comment. It was pretty small, about half the size of the width of my pinkie fingernail.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Light: Existing ISO: 200 Exposure: f0 @ 1/200 sec.
Long petals
They're actually quite small, but they look big here. This flower is about the size of my thumbnail (likely a weed of some sort).
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Light: Existing ISO: 200 Exposure: f0 @ 1/125 sec.
Flying feet
I didn't have time to shoot a new photo today as I was preparing files for the printer for my art show. Instead, here's a scene from this weekend's Crediton Fun Fest.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 Light: Existing ISO: 200 Exposure: f5.6 @ 1/200 sec.
South Huron DHS’ cafeteria operator reflects on turning 80 and the funeral celebration she wanted to be alive to see
Jennie Rowe has run the South Huron District High School cafeteria for more than 40 years, along with other food enterprises including the cafeteria at the Exeter canning plant, the booth at the arena and the pool, and catering local events.
Rowe turned 80 May 22nd, and the school has named the cafeteria in her honour. Then her “fabulous” kids (Kathy, Bob, Jim, Lori, and Jeff, and an “add-on”, Dale) threw her a three-day party to celebrate the milestone.
As told to Casey Lessard
I have always worked where there has been food. Beaver Foods had the service here (at South Huron) and when I went to apply for the job, someone called me and told me that they thought this would be the job for me. I went to see this guy, and he was a tyrant. I thought, I can’t work for this guy. But by the end of that school term, the board came to me and asked me if I would take it on and I said yes. At that time, I did work for the board, but after about a year, the board wanted to walk away from it, and they said it was mine. It became my own enterprise. We didn’t even have a contract; it was just by word of mouth back then. Ten years ago, the board came and said that all of the contractors had to buy what was in the kitchen, and I said I wasn’t afraid to buy. Everything in the kitchen belongs to me, and it’s my little corner in the school. I’ve only had a contract with the board for the last ten years, and it’s renewed every five years. It runs out this August. I talked to one of the other contractors and we haven’t heard what’s going to happen. But I’m not going to let them take it away from me. If they have to buy everything in the kitchen, I’m going to price it so high that nobody will want to buy it. I don’t do it for fame or glory. This is my life. One time I realized that I could cook anywhere. I can’t meet these kids otherwise. So it’s basically all about the kids. And I have had the most amazing employees. Whether they were students or grown women, they have made me what I am today.
I used to feed the multitudes for the Sportsman’s Dinner, and Lincoln Alexander was one of the invited guests. They had just built the arena, and they said, “Jennie, we will be touring the arena, and we would like to show him the kitchen facilities.”
I said, well, I run a pretty ship most of the time, but give us a little warning before you come. They said they’d be bringing him in around 5 p.m..
Well, at 3:40, the kitchen door opens and who walks in but Bruce Shaw and Lincoln Alexander. I had buckets on the counter and Jennie has her arms elbow deep in coleslaw. I said, Excuse me, sir.
I washed my hands and shook his hand, and said, You caught me at a very inopportune time.
He looked at the bucket and said, “Not being a cook, I can’t imagine mixing coleslaw in that amount any other way.”
Now I had battled with the Lions because dinner we always served it country style so people could take what they wanted. They said, We want the head table served on a plate. I said no. I said, He’s human like us, and I’m going to give this man an opportunity to put on his plate what he wants. They didn’t think that was the right idea, but they went along with it.
He came back in and commented and said, “It was kind of nice to be able to put what I wanted on my dinner plate.” I didn’t ask him if he had any coleslaw.
Despite the fact that I’m 80 and people ask me when I’m going to retire, well, I’m widowed now and what do you do? What would I do if I retired? I think I’d be totally lost without it. Anyone that can work should, if your health is good and you’re in a position that you can. I feel too vibrant yet to want to go home and sit on the back deck. Because I live such a busy life, I don’t bowl, I don’t golf, I don’t curl. What do I have left?
When you look at the people in the Villa or the hospital, they get stuck there. It’s not that family doesn’t love you, but they’re busy with their lives. Kids move on.
I don’t think people realize the lonely hours. That’s why I said I would go to the hospital, if only to wash their hair, massage a little oil on their arms, read their cards, or whatever. Watching my mother go downhill, I said, Mom, what do you want? Do you want me to read to you? She said, “No.” Do you want me to rub your back? “No.” She closed her eyes, and I know the first two lines to most songs, so I just sang some songs to my mom. The next time I came back, she said, “Thank you for singing all those songs to me. I heard you.” This is what people need. When the day comes that I have to move out of here, I hope that I’m healthy enough and still able to go and do that for someone else.
Every day is a day in the sun for me. Be it a phone call from someone just to talk, or someone popping in the back door with a coffee in their hands from Timmy’s or whatever. The kids at the school and how they respond in conversation with me; the things they ask of me, they think it’s me that’s giving, but it’s them that’s giving because they’re doing me a favour that they care enough about me that they want me in their lives.
My husband Elmer died four years ago of a heart attack. He was 76. He always said, “Jennie, when I die, don’t have a flowery splash. Tell people to come in their work clothes and just have a good time.” Elmer liked his Scotch, so he said to line up a bar full of Scotch and everybody had to have one drink of Scotch on Elmer. We had it at our farm and people were told to dress casual. Some came dressed up. My kids came in shorts and sandals because it was the 15th of June. Our son Jeff got up and spoke, and people said the comments he made about his dad sounded more like he was roasting him. I said, Then you didn’t know Elmer, because that’s exactly what he would have expected. But he wasn’t there to celebrate. When you die, they always say they’re going to celebrate your life, but you’re not there anymore. You’re gone. I decided that after making all the arrangements for my funeral and for celebrating Jennie’s life, I decided I wanted to be part of it. I wanted a great big tent open to whoever wants to come, there would be loud music playing (ABBA), there would be an abundance of good food to snack on, and just lots of love and friendship. I wanted to be part of that. Not a dead body. A one day deal turned into three days. It was lucky that my birthday was on a Friday. If they had done this when I died, I wouldn’t have gotten to enjoy it. I highly recommend this. Think about it. I said to my kids, when I die, bury me. That’s all. This is my day in the sun.
South Huron District High School’s music department spent four days from May 13-16 in Chicago as part of an experimental type of band trip. The Strip’s Casey Lessard tagged along.
Story and photos by Casey Lessard
“Two years ago in Cleveland, I met Benjamin Washington by happenstance,” says South Huron music teacher and band director Isaac Moore, speaking of Chicago King College Prep High School’s band director. “He needed a bass amp and I needed a trumpet, so we ended up talking and exchanging instruments for an hour or so. Because of that, we ended up talking about where each of us was from and how neat it would be if we tried to do something together. ” Each year, South Huron’s music department takes a trip, but most of the recent trips have been for competitions. “We could have done that again this year. But I wanted to give the kids a varied experience; we had never gone to Chicago, and a lot of kids were interested in going there.” Sixty-six members of the band joined the trip, along with eight chaperones. The visit to America’s third largest city included sightseeing, a trip to the famed Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Sears Tower, and lots of music. The band performed all day its second day, starting with a master class at a college for music teachers, followed by a jazz combo performance at Buddy Guy’s Legends bar. Then it was off to King College Prep for an afternoon and evening collaboration, which started with watching the one of the city’s best marching bands practise. “Our marching band is everywhere, winning competitions,” says Benjamin Washington. “We’re like the Soul Train of Chicago. Just last year, we opened for the Stone Temple Pilots concert, Wynton Marsalis dropped by and played with us here. [U.S. President Obama’s house] is about three or four blocks from here. Marching around in the summer time, we would pass by it. I didn’t even know he lived there until the presidential election.” Whether Obama ever noticed King’s marching band or not, percussionist Joe Pavkeje of Exeter found it valuable to see how King’s musicians perform, bobbing their heads while playing. “It showed we could be doing a lot of things we’re not doing. Not that we’re not doing enough, but they have a different style that I thought was interesting. They really got into their music, which helps them with their stage presence. It makes them sound better. If they’re more into it, it makes it more enjoyable for everybody.” While Pavkeje noticed the contrasts, Moore hopes he also noticed the similarities. “We often think these major cities are better than what we’re doing here. Rural schools are have not and city schools are have. It shows the kids how special this school is and gives them perspective on how great they’re doing and how wonderful the music they’re doing is.” Kristy Pavkeje is thankful for the experience, and knows who should get the credit. “It’s a really high quality program. If you look around (elsewhere in our region), we seem to be more dedicated or something. A lot of that is due to Mr. Moore. He knows how to get the most out of this program for us. With the SHSM (Specialist High Skills Major) program (in Arts & Culture), it looks good when you go to university or college, and he worked hard to get it at the school.” For Moore’s part, he notes he couldn’t pull it off without the overwhelming support of the community. “The community is so, so important to what we’re doing here. They support our concerts to show our kids that what they’re doing is important. The fact that we have this extremely supportive community and excellent tradition of music at this school, it’s a machine that doesn’t seem to stop. Every day I come here, I don’t know who I’m thanking, but I’m thanking someone.” Moore is eager to show the music program’s supporters what King College Prep is doing, and hopes Washington is able to bring his students to Exeter next year. “Having the opportunity to see their marching band and the enthusiasm they have for music, it was infectious. Our kids loved watching their band perform, and this community would love seeing it, too. It’s really fun to watch.” Washington is on board, too, and hopes it can happen. “It gives the kids the opportunity to see children from other areas and see we’re doing the same thing,” he says. “I’m sure Mr. Moore is saying the same things: you’ve got to practise, you’ve got to listen, you’ve got to watch the rhythms. It gives the children a chance to see that what I’m trying to provide for them is what others are trying to do as well.” Looking back on the trip, Moore hopes his students got enough time to interact with their Chicago counterparts. “The students said the best part of the trip was socializing with students from the other school, and you can’t plan that. It would have been nice to have more time for that. It’s through that social bond that they see that we’re doing the same things here.”
Star Wars
A battle of light sabers using a black light and the camera toss method.
Camera: Canon EOS D30 Lens: Canon EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Light: Black light ISO: 400 Exposure: f11 @ 4 sec.
Still water
Another photo from prom night. We couldn't believe the stillness of the lake, with many of the ripples coming from passing boats.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2 Light: Existing ISO: 200 Exposure: f8 @ 1/1000 sec.
The next step
Jenna Regier dips her toe into Lake Huron at Grand Bend on prom night.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 Light: Existing ISO: 200 Exposure: f10 @ 1/500 sec.
That's just grate
I need to get out more.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Light: Speedlite from below ISO: 200 Exposure: f0 @ 1/200 sec.
Bound
Sending out invitations to my Bliss show tomorrow... they're going out with subscription requests for the Grand Bend Strip, so if you haven't subscribed yet, please do at http://grandbendstrip.com/!
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Light: Speedlite ISO: 200 Exposure: f0 @ 1/60 sec.
Mmm, Pizza
This was really good... another from the Eddington's shoot. Made my promotional mailer today for the Bliss show. If you want me to mail you a physical invitation, drop me a note with your mailing address. Regardless, you're invited! It opens July 4 from 2-6 p.m at Bliss Studio in Port Franks.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2 Light: Cameron hotlight ISO: 100 Exposure: f11 @ 1/4 sec.
Cool as a Cucumber
A glimpse into what James Eddington has cooking for the Grand Bend Strip this year. Green pea and cucumber shooters. Look for the recipe when you subscribe to the Strip (the paper will no longer be free as of July 8)!
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 Light: Cameron hotlight ISO: 400 Exposure: f11 @ 1/15 sec.
Tangled up in Blue
Anjhela. Sorry for not posting this last night, but I got caught up doing work out of town. Hope it was worth the wait!
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.4 Light: Cameron hotlight ISO: 100 Exposure: f2.8 @ 1/60 sec.
Surf's Up
Went out to the beach with Brian Dale (left) this afternoon, who kitesurfs with Zoltan Karvas, Mike Sloan and Mark Johnston. I'm looking forward to photographing them more this summer as this is a little niche in Grand Bend's culture. Very cool to watch.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 Light: Existing ISO: 100 Exposure: f8 @ 1/250 sec.
Stone Angel
This is a statue at the other Stone Angel's house. Thanks for letting us use your TV, Gloria!
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Light: Existing ISO: 400 Exposure: f6.3 @ 1/60 sec.
The Furrow
Angela's big toe in macro.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Light: Speedlite ISO: 400 Exposure: f0 @ 1/60 sec.
Lion's Feathers
Thought these looked interesting after the rain, when the hairs were all matted together.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Light: Existing (not much) ISO: 1600 Exposure: f0 @ 1/100 sec.
Summer Food
We've had watermelon all week, and it reminded Anjhela of hot summer picnics. Pretty messy, but it tasted really good.
Camera: Canon EOS 50D Lens: Canon EF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Light: Speedlite bounced off white card ISO: 100 Exposure: f0 @ 1/200 sec.