Otis.....

What a splendid day it has been! first of all, it was warm and sunny and bright....and i planted the rest of the tomato plants, watered the garden and generally mucked about outside...it was delightful!

Then we headed off to a book and cd launch for one of Cape Breton's best known and well respected musicians - not only that, he is also well known for the instruments he creates. I've blipped about Otis before...he is such an interesting character... down to earth...he has that amazing ability to be in the limelight without being full of himself - a beautiful spirit of a man!!!

He has spent the past year or so writing this book, that he self published, and it includes a cd of his amazing music - i can't wait to start reading the book tomorrow....what an inspiring group of folks were gathered at Sarah Beck's Pottery, Wildfire ..... up on the northshore of the island. We were treated to an amazing array of delicious treats....sushi, guacamole, fish, cheese and all sorts of other wonderful tastes....then came the wine and a chunky pot of chili! I so totally enjoyed moving between the conversations and the music being played, and the food table...it was hard to stay in one place!!!

Sunday: I just want to add a bit more to this entry! Having started reading Otis's book The Fiddletree, it is important to know that this book is about this very old sugar maple tree, about 250 years old he estimates, which grew near his home here, on Cape Breton Island. In 1994 he cut down this tree and has made many beautiful instruments from it - and even altho I haven't read very much of the book yet, what i know is that there is a group of musicians here that play together, with the instruments made from that tree! Very cool!