Hello! My name is Kate. This summer I have been learning to write poetry. Here is a short poem I wrote, and the pictures I took that inspired it.
In my green backyard
I set up my new sprinkler
A beautiful day!
Summer Day
September 25, 2012
Skaha Beach is Fun!
August 1, 2012
July 30, 2012
Hello again! My name is Madison, and I am nine years old. A few days ago, I told you a bit about Penticton, on my blog post, Here’s Penticton! Today I am going to tell you about Skaha Beach at Penticton, and show you some pictures of it.
Skaha Beach is a really fun beach because you can go swimming. There is a kilometer of sandy beach to sunbathe. There are docks you can swim out to and jump off. There are lots of buoys you can swim out to. You might want to be careful because there are a lot of boats, jet skis, and parasails in the summertime, past the buoys. Please keep an eye on the swimmers, because they could go missing, and that would be sad.
At Skaha Beach there is a tennis court, food vendors, and a little shop area to buy bracelets and all kinds of other things like hair feathers. There are volleyball nets and there is a water park. There is a big playground with slides, swings, spider webs, and other things to ride and play on. There is a pond with two fountains. You can fish in the pond.
At Skaha Beach there are beautiful lawns, shady trees, benches where you can relax and look at the beautiful scenery, and picnic tables where you can eat your lunch.
I love to go to Skaha Beach!
Here’s Penticton!
July 23, 2012
23 July 2012
Hello, my name is Madison. I’m nine years old and going into grade four. I am today’s Penticton Pedestrian.
If you are going on the main highway on the Channel Parkway you will see this big bird’s nest. It is an osprey’s nest. If you look, you can see I have circled the head of one of the birds. The nest is on a pole taller than the trees.
The beautiful church on Baskin Street lets us see the beautiful mountains of Penticton.
Our small little community has lots of fruit. It also has lots of pretty flowers. And it has lots of bright yellow cars 
There is also a duck pond by the Channel Parkway.
Thunderstorm!
July 10, 2012
July 9 2012
While the Penticton area is generally sunny and hot in summer, we do get occasional rain – usually in the form of amazing downpours following awesome displays of thunder and lightning. We were treated to a wonderful display of nature’s glory last evening, topped off with beautiful skyscapes following the thunderstorm. Then off to sleep in the peace following the storm – only to be awoken several times during the night with several encore performances by Mother Nature.
July 2-7 2012
Another very successful BC Youth Writers Camp was help July 2 to 7, 2012, at the Penticton campus of Okanagan College. Sixty-eight youth between the ages of 9 and 18, both former campers, and new ones as well, attended the camp, learning to hone their writing skills, and learning about editing, illustrating, publishing, and more.
This year’s keynote speaker was 23 year old poet Amanda Lewis of Penticton, who, despite physical disabilities, is an active and enthusiastic poet and speaker. The students were so impressed by Amanda’s presentation and her passion for writing. They have taken home with them Amanda’s personal credo: “The impossible just takes a little longer,” and personally autographed copies of her book “One,” which were provided courtesy of Raise a Reader.
Each morning, the students attended lectures related to writing. Presenter Karen Autio of Kelowna (www.karenautio.com) is an author of historical novels for young readers. Karen shared with the students how to research and unlock history.
Presenter C.A. Lang, also of Kelowna, has written everything from historical fiction to experimental novels. Lang presented a workshop on science fiction and fantasy worldbuilding, covering logic, social structure, religion, technology and magic.
Presenter Lorna Schultz Nicholson (www.lornaschultznicholson.com) is a full-time writer who divides her time between Calgary and Penticton. She has published over 20 childrens, youth, and sports books. Lorna presented a workshop, “Page Turning Fiction!” in which she shared how to use breathtaking description, page turning plots, setting, gripping conflict, and real life dialogue to make a good story great.
Presenter Endrene Shepherd (facebook.com/endreneshepherd), of Penticton, has been writing, painting and drawing her entire life. She has completed one book so far. Endrene’s workshop, “Ready, Set, Illustrate!” gave participants a chance to view some famous illustrations from well-known children’s literature, and learn the “whys” and “hows” of selecting scenes from their stories for illustration. She also led the students in doing illustrations for their own works.
Presenter Mary Ann Thompson is a freelance editor. Mary Ann’s workshop had the students get out the blue pencils and play with story. Through games and editing exercises, they learned to transform boring beginnings, shake out muddled middles, and create thrilling endings. Mary Ann also talked about what an editor does and the steps that go into publishing a book.
In the afternoons, students were involved in a variety of activities. These included a book signing event for the “Gems of British Columbia,” in which each young author signed their own works in each published copy of the anthology; a “cowboy poetry” event led by PWAP poets Alan Longworth and Herb Moore, in which each student completed a “cowboy poem” of their own; an open mic young writers showcase talent event (plays, music, readings, and more), emceed by past camper Taylor Attril; a calligraphy event taught by calligrapher Dave Cursons; and a book store event at which the students had the opportunity to purchase books written by the camp presenters.
As always, the camp students sent in samples of their story writing and poetry with their registrations, and their work was published in the annual “Gems of British Columbia” anthology. It is a great encouragement to these young writers to see their written works in print.
Many thanks to camp coordinator Yasmin John-Thorpe, and her volunteer helpers – PWAP members who critiqued the anthology entries, community members who prepared and served snacks and lunches for the campers, registration day helpers, the Rotary Club who provided the end-of-camp barbeque, and more. Special thanks also to the generous sponsors, without whose support this camp could not take place.
7 July 2012
Summer has finally arrived in the sunny South Okanagan. The thermometer is pushing well past 30 C every day, and the Penticton Saturday Downtown Market has become so popular that it now fills four full blocks! Check it out!
Happy New Year Penticton!
July 5, 2012
January 1, 2012
What does New Year’s look like, the morning after? Here are some New Year’s shots in and around Penticton…
Junuary 30 Downtown Market in Penticton
July 2, 2012
June 30, 2012
– or as some remarked rather cynically, “Junuary 30th!” What a day! One minute pouring rain, the next sun doing its best to pour through, rain battling back, sun peering out again. It seemed early in the day that it might be a “lost cause” market-wise, as the only folks on the street at Penticton’s downtown market were the vendors. But the amazing thing was that every time the rain let up for a moment, and the sun’s rays broke through, suddenly the street was flooded with customers, feet sloshing through the puddles even as they turned their faces happily upward toward the warmth of the sun. Then the rain would pour again, and they’d disappear - I assume it was a great day for the coffee shops along the street!
It was my first day at the market as a vendor. Fortunately for me, I was placed under an overhang — for shade! Well, it turned out I didn’t need much shading, but I was certainly grateful for the protection from the downpours.
Anyway, here are some snapshots of Penticton Downtown Market on the July Canada Day long weekend in Penticton in the sunny South Okanagan. Well, the mostly sunny South Okanagan, that is…
Oh, yes, the next day, Canada Day, started out the same. It was definitely an on-again, off-again morning, weather-wise. But the sun redeemed itself in the afternoon, and except for occasional splatters, the big birthday party in the park was a success I’m told. Happy 145th Canada!
After the Storm
June 23, 2012
June 23, 2012
Late yesterday afternoon I wrote on my facebook status: “I love the smell of summer rain before it actually arrives.”
And then, a few hours later … it arrived!
This morning, the world is quiet, as these pictures illustrate. But last night, oh my!
The smell of summer rain turned into the wildest, more wonderful summer storm imaginable. Non-stop sheets of lightning, enormous thunder rumbles (my mom used to say they were moving the furniture in heaven – goodness! they must have been moving – and dropping – grand pianos this time), downpours with raindrops bouncing a foot or two off the ground, rain blowing sideways into the windows, and the trees, oh my, the trees! in such an amazing dance, bowing deep, twirling in great circles, leaping skywards! And it went on and on and on – not just one of those sudden-storms-and-then-its-gone, but all of nature joined together in a great celebration that no one wanted to end. To top it off, there was a steady stream of sirens and flashing lights zooming by on the highway bypass, and some pretty wild and crazy young folks whooping it up in the neighborhood, hooting and hollering and laughing. What an introduction to the first weekend of SUMMER! …
Now a few hours have passed, the sky is gray, the world is damp, only a tiny breeze is left to remind us of last night’s amazing moments (along with a scattering of leaves and twigs all over the ground, and a fairy ring on the grass to let us know the wee folk were out enjoying it too).
And now, I’m off. The Downtown Saturday Farmers and Artisans Markets, the annual Elvis Festival, and the annual antique car Beach Cruise beckon. Ah, summer in Penticton!
June 10, 2012
What? A snowstorm in mid-June in sunny Penticton? Actually, just a fluff-storm from trees shedding their seeds!
