Final Blue Moon launches Picking Flowers
Posted by Violet Nesdoly on October 16, 2012
The MSA Poets Potpourri Society members ended the season’s series of public readings on a high note by launching their newest anthology.
Blue Moon Reading and the launch of Picking Flowers
The 160-page volume Picking Flowers – Poems by Thurlow Gowan with Tributes and Poems by Friends was the product of months of work by editors Alvin Ens and Violet Nesdoly. It contains over 50 poems by Thurlow Gowan and comes out just in time for his 100th birthday (November 28th). PPS members contributed to Tributes and Member Poems sections.
The book is a treasury of poems rich in history and rife with homespun wisdom and the pioneer spirit of the Canadian west. (Thurlow grew up in Manitoba and, after stints of beekeeping and logging, taught in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia.) Black-and-white photos sprinkled throughout illustrate the changes one hundred years have brought to Thurlow and the world he and his wife Vivian inhabited.
For the first half of the evening members took turns reading Thurlow’s poems. The fact that we all found something to read that was to our taste speaks of Thurlow’s range in both subject matter and style.
MSA PPS Members read from Picking Flowers
After a refreshment break contributors read their selections from the Tributes and Member Poems.
Socializing during the break
Unfortunately Thurlow was not well enough to attend the evening. His niece Beverly Urschel represented the family. However, a group of MSA PPS members presented Picking Flowers to Thurlow a few days before the launch.
Alvin Ens, Brayden Sawatzky, Thurlow Gowan (holding his book), Nicholas Roberts & Shelley Haggard.
Thanks to Shelley who brought bouquets of carnations. We ended the evening by picking flowers, and everyone took home a memento of the evening.
Picking Flowers is available for purchase ($20).
Contact Alvin Ens
Two more events remain on the MSA PPS 2012 calendar:
- November 12, 2012 – MSA PPS Annual General Meeting. (Open to all members.)
Kariton Gallery
2387 Ware Street, Abbotsford, BC
OR alternate location (check back for confirmation of meeting place)
6:30-8:30
- November 29th, 2012 – Christmas get-together (potluck or restaurant meal). (Open to all members and their guests.)
Check back for venue and time.
Fraser Valley Poets Society 
Paul Mckeown said
What a lovely evening, thoroughly enjoyed it. I saw Thurlow today , we had a good time together, Paul.
vnesdoly said
I agree Paul; it was a fabulous night. So glad to hear that Thurlow is up to having visitors. It would have been such a treat to have him there!
Donna Bishop said
Congratulations on the book launch “Picking Flowers”. It was a great pleasure to view the Celebrations on the PPS website. Well done
Donna Bishop