Sunshine in a Jar

Arts and Creativity

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  • Home
  • About
    • Calendar
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Blog
  • Books
    • The Thing with Feathers
    • Sunsets in Britt
    • The Writing Spiral
    • Once Upon a Rocking Chair: A Play
    • From the Cottage Porch
  • Creativity Coaching
    • Creativity Spiral Series
    • Virtual Classes
  • Podcast
  • Poet Laureate
    • Community eChapbooks
    • Weekly Poetry Present
      • Archive of Poets
      • Submit a Poem
      • Subscribe to Poetry Present
    • Monthly Poetry Column
    • Poetry for Occasions
    • Poet Laureate Gallery
  • Stories of Place
    • Georgian Bay
    • Michilimackinac
    • Northumberland
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  • Georgian Bay

    Southeastern Georgian Bay Landscape Photos

    September 8, 2021 /

    Every summer I spend hours in the boat taking photographs of the landscape I love so much. It still amazes me how every day is different out on the bay.

    • purple sunset
    • South Shore, July 2018
    • August 2016
    • Northern sky.
    • Georgian Bay Sunset with Rainbow, 2015
    • Georgian Bay Sunset, 2015
    • Clouds, August 2015
    • South Shore, August, 2016.
    Read More

    You May Also Like

    Family Recipe: Mom and Her Homemade Butter Tarts

    August 10, 2015

    Family Picnic Magic

    November 4, 2017

    My Métis Family Story: A Video for Students

    June 20, 2020
  • Georgian Bay

    Lessons from the Métis Sash

    December 14, 2020 /

    In November I was invited to participate in some sharing in our school board for our Indigenous People’s Awareness Month. I decided to begin with my family’s story, showing how they moved and adapted from the fur trade to today. I wanted to post the talk here so my family would be able to easily access it.

    The talk was delivered on Google Meet and then posted on the board’s YouTube channel alongside the videos of other guests so classes could go back and access it when needed.

    The sash is a symbol of the history of the Métis. I am proud of my heritage and look forward to continuing to learn more.

    Click here to watch the video.

    Read More

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    My Métis Family Story: A Video for Students

    June 20, 2020

    Lighthouse Keeper Louis Lamondin

    December 27, 2013

    Family History in Britt, Ontario

    March 16, 2019
  • Georgian Bay

    To Stand on the Family Rock

    October 20, 2020 /

    I wanted to stand next to Gereaux Island Lighthouse, my feet on the rock my ancestors stood upon for so many years. I dreamed to see Georgian Bay from their perspective. What did Grandpa notice here growing up as a child? How can I see through his eyes? How can I learn about living on an island?

    This summer everything aligned beautifully. We finally docked our boat and took a self-directed tour of Gereaux Island. For over 60 years my ancestors lived on this land, fed from these waters. My Grandfather grew up living here. Today, my parents live about 1 km away.

    Vibrant energy. Time disappeared. The sun, breeze, and waves all sang the same song: welcome home. How can a place hold so much?

    The island felt bigger on shore than looking at it from the water. It was hot when I thought it would be cool. My feet ached to memorize each step, each crevice in the granite. My eyes squished to gaze through the walls of the house and tower to imagine life inside. Unfortunately, the building was closed. The Coast Guards told us everything has been stripped inside and it’s unsafe for people to enter.

    I took home a piece a granite to remember this visit, to hold onto the energy. We will visit again. This island has more lessons and stories for me to learn.

    Here are some pictures from the visit:

    Gereaux Island Lighthouse
    Read More

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    Our Family History of Bingo

    April 29, 2017
    purple sunset

    Sunrises and Sunsets on Georgian Bay

    August 24, 2019

    Georgian Bay Sunset Cruise in August

    August 11, 2015
  • Northumberland

    My First Garden

    July 14, 2020 /

    This morning I sit by my first garden, between the early morning shining sun in the east and the fading moon in the west. My feet in the cool grass. Two cardinals sing in the trees. A gold finch waits by the feeder. Ravens fly from rooftop to rooftop, watching me as I watch them. Since yesterday’s rain the humidity is gone and a breeze rustles the trees, their arms sway against a cerulean sky. It is then I knew my gardener’s soul arrived.

    I’ve always loved the book The Secret Garden, a story about the healing power of a garden. Although my garden is for vegetables, the process of bringing it to life and watching it grow is more rewarding than I could have imagined. My only regret is not planting one sooner.

    Read More

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    Life is Just Better in the Hills of Northumberland

    July 13, 2015

    May in Northumberland

    May 11, 2019

    On the Rooftop: VOS Theatre Cobourg November 15-23

    August 22, 2013
  • Georgian Bay

    My Métis Family Story: A Video for Students

    June 20, 2020 /

    June is Indigenous History Month in Canada. To acknowledge and celebrate with my students this year, I created a video to share my family’s story.

    Read More

    You May Also Like

    More About Gereaux Island Lighthouse

    September 8, 2019

    Southeastern Georgian Bay Landscape Photos

    September 8, 2021

    Family Recipe: Mom and Her Homemade Butter Tarts

    August 10, 2015
  • Northumberland

    Sunshine on Port Hope Beach in Winter

    February 17, 2020 /

    What a beautiful Family Day long weekend! A friend and I took advantage of the sunshine and went to Port Hope for a walk along Lake Ontario. Finding a sculpture family and seeing a swan was a wonderful surprise! I haven’t used my camera since the Fall so it was nice to take it out to play.

    Read More

    You May Also Like

    Lavender Labyrinth

    July 7, 2019

    The Secret Garden: The Musical

    July 28, 2015

    “The Secret Garden” Has Many Lessons to Teach Us

    January 17, 2016
  • Northumberland

    In Winter: A Poem for Eric Winter

    January 18, 2020 /

    In Winter
     
    In Winter the sun winked
    from over the lake
    welcoming our voices to
    wind Cat to King.
     
    We meet poetry in kindness
    as he sips sweetly
    hugging our words
    as we share poetry.
     
    We taste his twelve ways
    of graceful inspiration
    his voice inviting creation,
    offering spaces for all of us to raise
    a community of poetic relations.
     
    A story of a witty
    Laureate unwilling
    to live flatly
    on the page…
     
    He sways and he sings
    verses outside of time
    building ballad opera  
    among habitats
    for laughter and sanity
    a legacy of shelter,
    a town of poetry:
     
    In Winter, the sun winked…
     
     
     
    By Jessica Outram
     
    Written in honour of Eric Winter: February 4, 1923 – December 21, 2019.

    “Eric Winter was appointed as the 1st Poet Laureate July 21, 1997. He continued in the role until August 24, 2009. Eric was made the inaugural Laureate in anticipation of and as part of the 1998 year-long Heritage Celebration to mark the 200th anniversary of the first settlements that now make up the municipality. Eric held the post for 12 years, 1 month and 3 days.”

    James Pickersgill

    Sept 19, 2019. In this photo is me, Ted Amsden (Poet Laureate Emeritus of Cobourg), and Jason Heroux (Poet Laureate of Kingston), plus our first Poet Laureate Emeritus of the Town of Cobourg, Eric Winter.

    Eric Winter was featured in Poetry Present twice.

    • Click here to read “Guilt”
    • Click here to read “The Less Inspired”
    Read More

    You May Also Like

    Life is Just Better in the Hills of Northumberland

    July 13, 2015

    On the Rooftop: VOS Theatre Cobourg November 15-23

    August 22, 2013

    Smudging Feather

    March 21, 2019
123

Hello, I'm Jessica! (she/her)

Métis writer/educator with roots in the Georgian Bay Métis Community. Poet Laureate of Cobourg, Ontario. Principal of Indigenous Education for KPRDSB.

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Read Poetry, Write Poetry

jessicaoutram

Thrilled to have some poems included in this new c Thrilled to have some poems included in this new collection. To be launched @northumberlandfota this fall!
Over 2,000 plays of the Hummingbird Podcast!! More Over 2,000 plays of the Hummingbird Podcast!! More episodes coming  soon. The conversation evolves out of the episode before, but there are no rules, so feel free to try one of our top 5! 

https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/

#poetry #poetrycommunity #poetsandwriters #artspodcast
Looking forward to reading with @catgrahampoet for Looking forward to reading with @catgrahampoet for an in person gathering of @thehummingbirdpodcast co-hosts in Cobourg at the fabulous @letstalkbookscobourg on Aug 20!!
A beautiful cool morning for walking by the lake. A beautiful cool morning for walking by the lake.
So delighted to meet my youngest nephews today, Hu So delighted to meet my youngest nephews today, Hudson and Grayson!!! Born Aug. 1. They are even cuter in person!!!
Finished a puzzle today!! It’s called Poet’s G Finished a puzzle today!! It’s called Poet’s Garden. Can you guess the names of the poets here? (And there is one piece missing but I’m hopeful it will turn up one day).
Good morning, lake. Good morning, lake.
What a gift to start the day with such a beautiful What a gift to start the day with such a beautiful morning.
So grateful for peaceful summer evenings by the wa So grateful for peaceful summer evenings by the water.
A perfect summer’s evening by the water. A perfect summer’s evening by the water.
Blue sky day on the bay. Blue sky day on the bay.
Beautiful day on the water. So delighted for a cha Beautiful day on the water. So delighted for a chance to wear my new hat!
This month in Letter to a Poet, Katie Hoogendam is This month in Letter to a Poet, Katie Hoogendam is featured. You can read her poem 'Gratitude' and my letter to her in Cobourg Now: http://www.cobourgnow.com/?p=23319

#poetry #poets #poetrycommunity #weeklypoem  #readpoetry #writepoetry
Can’t get enough of this view. Can’t get enough of this view.
High winds! Standing on land and trying to find th High winds! Standing on land and trying to find the right angle so I can see in the winds.
We've been hearing from listeners of the Hummingbi We've been hearing from listeners of the Hummingbird Podcast that we are missed. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. We will be back soon with a whole new season.

In the meantime, Catherine and Jessica will be doing a shared reading at Let's Talk Books in Cobourg on August 20th if you'd like to connect in person.

#poetry #poetrycommunity #poetsandwriters #artspodcast #thehummingbirdpodcast #poetrypodcast #creativeconversation  @catgrahampoet @jessicaoutram
Entering into reading this book for the third time Entering into reading this book for the third time. @kprindigenous will be leading book clubs in the upcoming school year for various groups across KPR with Braiding Sweetgrass. Message, comment, or email me if you think your employee group would be interested.
Books are restocked at Let’s Talk Books in Cobou Books are restocked at Let’s Talk Books in Cobourg. So grateful for our local bookstore. Look for it in the window and if you can’t find it, just ask @letstalkbookreviews !!
Are you a #poetrylover? This may be your #nextread Are you a #poetrylover? This may be your #nextread. 

#TheThingWithFeathers is a story of becoming whole by reassembling broken pieces of self, holding onto hope in the darkest moments, and seeing everything in a new light. 

Learn more here: https://www.creativitycoaching.ca/shop
Energized by these blues at the lake today… Energized by these blues at the lake today…
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Over 2,000 plays of the Hummingbird Podcast!! More episodes coming soon. The conversation evolves out of the episode before, but there are no rules, so feel free to try one of our top 5! thehummingbirdpodcast.com/#poetry #poetrycommunity #poetsandwriters #artspodcast ... See MoreSee Less

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