The Fernie Writers Conference wrapped up last Sunday after the 14 day gathering of award winning writers from around the Pacific Northwest and their students. As mentioned in an earlier blog, I attended the poetry round table at the Brick House last Wednesday night. Included is a photo of Albertan author, cowboy poet & musician Sid Marty gracing us with some of his fine lyrics and musical abilities. The evening was a huge success with over 40 people attending the reading.
We have had some wild storms in Fernie this week. I have still managed to get out for a hike or ride every day between the thunder and lightning storms. Once the storms have passed the sun comes out and it has been very hot and humid. I have been taking the dog to the river everyday for a swim; the river feels so refreshing in the heat of the day! We see loads of fisherman and whole families out enjoying the river in inner tubes every time we go to the river ~ mid day the river is definitely the place to be.
I am off to Slocan Lake this week for a little R&R and some lake time. I will catch up with my blog again the week of Aug 17th.
Blog posted by Christa

We have had a string of hot and sunny days and I have been riding almost every day.
The trails are in great shape and mountain wild flowers are in full bloom! Riding during the day and attending free readings at the Arts Station each night as part of the Fernie Writers Conference. Tonight is the poetry round table at the Brick House. 3 award winning poets as well as poetry workshop participants sitting in the round reading poems. The first person reads a poem and the next person has to pull a thread from the first poem, find something similar from one of their poems and read it. And so on. Should be interesting!
Blog posted by Christa

Last Saturday night I attended the Island Lake Lodge Cookbook Media Launch. It was spectacular with many of the chefs featured in the book cooking their recipes from the book. They served 4 appies, 2 entrees and 2 desserts to a happy group of local and regional guests and media. The food was amazing and the wine was sensational. Our glasses were never empty! Free flowing BC wine all night. The chefs talked about the ILL food philosophy, which is to buy organic, local and sustainable food for the menu. Keith Liggett the author of the book talked about how “interesting” the cookbook project was, and the publisher of Whitecap books Robert McCullough got up and spoke about his first experience at the lodge, and how impressed he is with the food, the chefs and Fernie in general! He was blown away by this little town and all that it has to offer. Henry Georgi the photographer was also there signing books and accepting praise for his incredible food shots from everyone at the event. All in all it was a great evening. You can pre purchase your copy of the Island Lake Lodge -The Cookbook at Polar Peek Books in downtown Fernie, oncc they arrive there will be a book launch at the store mid August.
Blog posted by Christa

I did another big grunt mountain bike ride with my friend Shannon this time up the fire road out Coal Creek. I guess it is an old access road, and it is steep and grueling and a killer workout. It was an overcast day but the fog lifted long enough to get this picture of the ski hill across the valley. We tried to go out yesterday, but it was one of those days in Fernie when it just rains all day. The gardens appreciated it, the valley is extremely lush and it also keeps forest fires at bay. Looking forward to the sunshine the weather man is forecasting for the rest of the week and through the weekend.
Posted by Christa

I did another big grunt mountain bike ride with my friend Shannon this time up the fire road out Coal Creek. I guess it is an old access road, and it is steep and grueling and a killer workout. It was an overcast day but the fog lifted long enough to get this picture of the ski hill across the valley. We tried to go out yesterday, but it was one of those days in Fernie when it just rains all day. The gardens appreciated it, the valley is extremely lush and it also keeps forest fires at bay. Looking forward to the sunshine the weather man is forecasting for the rest of the week and through the weekend.

Last Saturday night I attended the Island Lake Lodge Cookbook Media Launch. It was spectacular with many of the chefs featured in the book cooking their recipes from the book. They served 4 appies, 2 entrees and 2 desserts to a happy group of local and regional guests and media. The food was amazing and the wine was sensational. Our glasses were never empty! Free flowing BC wine all night. The chefs talked about the ILL food philosophy, which is to buy organic, local and sustainable food for the menu. Keith Liggett the author of the book talked about how “interesting” the cookbook project was, and the publisher of Whitecap books Robert McCullough got up and spoke about his first experience at the lodge, and how impressed he is with the food, the chefs and Fernie in general! He was blown away by this little town and all that it has to offer. Henry Georgi the photographer was also there signing books and accepting praise for his incredible food shots from everyone at the event. All in all it was a great evening. You can pre purchase your copy of the Island Lake Lodge -The Cookbook at Polar Peek Books in downtown Fernie, once they arrive there will be a book launch at the store mid August.
Blog posted by Christa

I recently got back into single track mountain biking after a 15 year break (while I raised my kids) and am loving the riding in Fernie. A girlfriend and I have discovered riding early in the morning when the air is cool and there is no one on the trails. The smell of the forest early in the morning is incredible and the views as the fog lifts from the valley floor is most amazing!

Other than mtn biking, I spend a lot of time hiking the very same trails with a girlfriend and our dogs.

This week I am gearing up for the Fernie Writers Conference. It is the 3rd annual event with award winning writers from Alberta and B.C running weeklong and 3 day workshops for aspiring poets, novelists, creative nonfiction and youth writers. There are open events for the general public all week, including movie screenings, readings, performances and concerts. The event runs from July 12- 26 and Fernie is going to be buzzing with creative energy you won’t want to miss. Last year I took the 3 day poetry workshop with Brenda Schmidt and really loved it! This year I am helping to run the event but still hope to sit in on the Zen writing workshop held Sunday July 19. For more information please visit www.ferniewriter.org

Other than the Writers Festival, the next most exciting thing happening is the launch of the Island Lake Cookbook writer by Keith Liggett, photos by Henry Georgi and published by Whitecap Books. The media launch is this Saturday July 11 at the Island Lake Lodge by invitation only, but the book will be available to the general public in mid August at Polar Peek Books in downtown Fernie, and of course you experience the food at the Lodge any day of the week all summer long. I was involved in the creation of the book, helping out as a pseudo food stylist during the photo shoots. Many of the photos for the book were shot in my home last spring. My family got spoiled eating every dish that was created for the book! It was a blast and the book is going to be as incredible as the views are stunning at the Lodge!
Blog posted by Christa