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Music, More Music, All About Famiy

Good Morning from Prince Edward Island, 

Put the kettle on, there are quite of few friends coming with me and they all drink tea.  Thanks for opening your door to us. 

Three large events this week on Prince Edward Island. 

Cruise ship season, lobster season, and East Coast Music Awards. 

It is anticipated that our little Isle will showcase itself to 150,000 passengers this year, 100,000 last year.

Setting Day has come and gone.

Island fishermen have taken to the waters after months of preparation.
 
I love the tradition of friends and family lining shores and wharf to send them off with cheers and well wishes.
 
The heartbeat of the East Coast music scene is pumping strong!
 
This past week the East Coast Music Awards descended upon Charlottetown from May 1 to May 5. One big celebration of East Coast music culture. 
 
We are so happy to share videos and lyrics of some of the artists who have either won this weekend and or nominated.
 
KINLEY is a talented vocalist and multi-instrumentalist from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. KINLEY was a member of Newfoundland’s indie ensemble Hey Rosetta! for ten years. She describes her music as "tropically tinged indie-pop".
 
Her "Golden Days" video nominated for two ECMA 2019 awards: "Video of the Year" and "Fans' Choice Video of the Year".
 
It showcases the beaches of Prince Edward Island in a wonderful way, and I found her story and voice to be touching.
 
 
The next video is from Prince Edward Island group called Paper Lions. Two of the four, brothers John and Robbie MacPhee worked for us cooking many moons ago. They won an award this week for Pop Recording of the Year.
 
Here is their video Believer.
 
Last but not least is Lennie Gallant. Prince Edward Islands most recognized singer-songwriter. He has won more East Coast Music awards than anyone in history. His music has never had commercial success. But his songwriting skills remain unmatched. I have chosen to include the lyrics of one of my favourite songs of his, Island Clay. A song about the bank taking a farmer's home and land. Sad but true today more than ever.
 
ISLAND CLAY
 
This old house once stood proud on a hill
Of pine and cedar from the land
Cut by my father's hand
And hauled up from the mill.
 
Now she stares, at her life spread on the lawn,
 
At strangers picking through her bones.
They take them for their own
And haul them far away.
 
And the auctioneer he sings his songs and the people pay.
Old voices echo from this house now dark and grey
And cold as Island clay.
 
This old farm, eighty acres of life,
Sweat, and iron-reddened soil,
Paid little for our toil
But saw us through all right,
 
Till the company came
And bought land up all around.
Soon the market prices fell.
We took another loan
And ploughed it underground.
 
But tomorrow morning they will come and have their way,
Though their hands touch not the soil and never will pay
 
The price of Island clay.
 
These old hands turned the sod and tossed the seed.
These hands worked hard and they were strong,
But they couldn't hold a printed paper deed.
From the moment that they signed this land away,
These old hands are getting colder every day,
As cold as Island clay. 

I hope you enjoyed a taste of Prince Edward Island musicianship. 

We wish you a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead. 

Take care of each other. 

With love from Prince Edward Island. 

Sincerely, 

Bruce

ps. 

I'm not the easiest guy in the world to get along with.

So when our anniversary rolled around, I wanted my wife to know how much I appreciated her tolerating me for the past 30 years.

I ordered flowers and told the florist to enclose a card that read, 'Thanks for putting up with me so long.' 

When my wife got the delivery, she called me at work. "

Just where do you think you going?" she asked. "What do you mean?" I said.

She read the card aloud as the florist had written it: "Thanks for putting up with me. So long."

pss. grammar is important and this was a joke. LOL

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Comments

Paula Mueda - May 8, 2019

Thanks for your always-interesting Blog, Bruce — and for the music and the “so long” joke!

Julie - May 6, 2019
Absolutely loved your blog, each time I read one I’m missing the Island and wishing more and more I had a little piece of the island land near the ocean. If only!!!

Thank you so much.

David White - May 5, 2019

Bruce

Boil 1/4 cup of white wine until reduced by half
Add 2 heaping tbs of spreadable lime and stir until heated through
Drizzle over pouched haddock (I imagine chicken breasts, pork, etc. would be fine)
Absolutely delicious.

Xandra van der Geer - May 5, 2019

Hi Bruce,

You always make my day with your blog.
This one was really special. 🦞 Lobster, The harbours and boats, lobster traps and fisherman. I’v seen it all. I LOVE this Islander.
I went to the ECMA on Thursday night, and what a great musicians we have on the island. I’m probably going to share some of the videos and pictures.
You have so much to share and I just love your writings.

Thanks again!!

Blessings, Xandra

Dr Bob Griffin - May 4, 2019

Cruise ship tourism is how we wandered from Green Gables to your delightful paradise at New Glasgow. Trust some tours still stop in the shop and meet you as we did 9 years ago. Might PEI have a great 2019 season in all the endeavors – lobstering, tourism and music.

Playing thru that haunting Island Clay song and seeking more like it. Touches notes deep inside.

Down to my last jar of preserves, so will be ordering another case-lot soon. Always a tangible way to touch a place I fell in love with years ago.

Stephanie Vargas - May 4, 2019

I enjoyed this blog and the end made me laugh!! Thank you!!

Tom Menzie - May 4, 2019

Thanks for sharing the music.

John Dawes - May 4, 2019

Greetings from Regina. Thanks for sharing the video about the PEI lobster fishery. Very informative. Brings back a memory when we were living on the Island in the 1980’s, We followed a local tradition of celebrating Mothers day at a Lobster Supper. Mothers Day coincides with the opening of the spring lobster season.
Love listening to music from Lenny Gallant and other Island musicians. Thank you for reminding me to watch my grammar when I ask the florist to include a message for delivery of flowers to Valerie to express my love as we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary on May 24.

Judy Donovan Whitty - May 4, 2019

Ah Bruce…your overview above is so touching; I took my 87 year old friend to her first ECMA’s (first to a reception SMU hosted for alumni and friends!) and she loved it all so very much; it was an exciting p.m. & all the musicians were amazing; when Lennie sang Sequoia I thought I would cry…tks for sharing the words of the Island Clay…we are so blessed to have YOU, your wife and Island Preserve…very best, as
ever judy and family (ps – looking forward to the gluten free options and that raspberry pie that is perfection!!)

Brenda - May 4, 2019

I so enjoy reading your blog every week. Thank you for a glimpse into lobster fishing and the music videos. Loved the music!
Have a great week!

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