Season's Greetings! + 2025 Wrap-up

 

Late afternoon light on south-side of sandstone home of MLH  

Hi y'all :)  - Another busy year here! - NB: Best to read/look at this on your desktop or laptop.   (The images following are 'fused' together in threesomes. Don't ask: I'm still rusty at this newly re-designed format!) -- Anyway, here's to a quick re-cap of another good year - 2025! ...

Reno Work - Before, During and After :)   

First up, on-going renovations included a total gut and rebuild of the downstairs bathroom in January and February. New flooring was also put into the kitchen and the living room. Then, surprise, three exquisite beds I designed and made in the1990s arrived in near-perfect condition from a retiring island cottage in Georgian Bay! Their arrival necessitated some juggling in the three bedrooms upstairs. Today, they fit-in perfectly! 

New 'Old' MLH Fine Furniture BEDS in Guest Rooms

As the summer unfolded, work began on the river front. I had to clear out all the overgrowth on an old 150-foot drainage trench, set-in new gravel and add fresh top-soil - and then landscape it anew with earth-holding grasses and flowering plants, (30 Siberian Iris bulbs and berry-producing low-ground junipers now dot that upper tier!) The worst job - by far, ever - has got to be shovelling gravel. Absolutely hated that job. But, even in the sizzling swelter of July, it got done. 

The new pool deck was MOVED DOWN to the river for new 'marine storage'. Centre image is trench.

Then, an unexpected bonus, I caught wind of a 'deal' on a 12' aluminum boat with a 9.9 Mercury engine. I jumped at it. Premature, really, considering where I am with the 'front' ... Yet, the boat-on-trailer was promptly delivered by the owner who drove it down the day after purchase from Spencerville. The boat's official launch was mid-August via the iconic Hudson's Point with neighbours and friends helping out. That first 'zoom' over the twinkling waters to MM's dock was the RUSH I knew it would be ... It was totally exhilarating - and what I am AIMING for, overall: ready access & easy exploration of the mighty St. Lawrence River!

With a little help from friends & neighbours, the putt-putt boat LAUNCH!

 Sadly, after that thrilling inaugural run, the wee 9.9 Merc pooped out. My shiny putt-putt was grounded for the remainder of the season as that dang engine, (after various on-boat fixes didn't fix it), went off to Arnie, local boatman mechanic extraordinaire, who has ASSURED me, it'll be ready-to-go next year ... SOOOO .... here's hoping!!! Fingers crossed!!!  

With luck, the bottom end of my river front will be complete by the end of April 2026 with the 'marine storage' finished for the boat. (I got the 1" jute railing rope for it this week.) Literally, it's moving forward inch-by-inch down there ... Two steps forward, one step back ... Still, river access is a rare privilege and, long term, I know it will be divine. 

Life on the River: Present - Past - Present

 All to say, it does take time to SETTLE ....Hard to believe, but, amazingly, after two full years here, and after turning the big 7-0h! in April, I finally swam in the river. - I even managed to convince MM, my good-natured neighbour, to go in too! It was the first time she had been in the river in over 16 years. (Imagine that: 16 years of living ON the river and not going IN to it - ?!? - Kind of incomprehensible to me, really, but then, everyone has to go at these initiations in their own way ... Long widowed, MM had seemingly settled into a "very quiet life on the river" ... Then, well, I arrived!... :) -- Poor gal!

MM & me, in our 70s, frolicking in the river, pool and roaming the countryside ... o'yeah! 

I have since managed to entice and insist we "tour the area." MM has been a very good sport about my enthusiasms. She's been most obliging and very informative during our often unpredictable day-jaunt escapades. In total, we made eight (8!!!) 'day-trips' this year, starting in February with a meander up to Westport on the Big Rideau Lake after a wild back-roads trip to Robert McEwans 'sugar shack', a 3rd-generation, 3200 maple-tree bush-farm tucked away back of the back-of-beyond ... 

Sugar Shack Backwoods Adventure somewhere on Big Rideau Lake

Other jaunts included attending the 'Tall Ships Festival' in Brockville in sweltering heat - [trivia insert: did you know the phrase 'a loose cannon' comes from an 'untethered cannon rolling around on a ships deck'-???] ...

Tall Ships were an essential part of the opening-up of the St.Lawrence River via commerce & war. 

 ... We continued on with an early morning breakfast run at the incomparable and family-centric Glen Resort on the St. Lawrence River followed by a tour of the charming mini glass museum in Mallorytown; we took a memorable night-time river cruise during the inaugural St.Lawrence Writer's Fest; and took detours and explorations of the massive Moses-Saunders power dam and various lock system that control the St.Lawrence River - with a fascinating side-trip to the 'Lost Village' and the glorious Long Sault Parkway. [After construction of the impressive St.Lawrence Seaway in the mid-1950s, a number of villages along the river bank were flooded by rising waters so that ships could navigate through the otherwise treacherous rapids and tumbling waters. As a result of the dams and lock system, most homes and businesses were re-located, but, for many, early settler family homes and memories were submerged forever ...]

We wrapped up our touring this year with several fall festivals and fairs, starting with a double-decker ice-cream cone at the famed Opinicon Restaurant at the Caffey Lock junction on the Rideau River and ending with an impromptu raclette spread in the quaint village of Perth after attending the chilly, yet lovely & quaint Country Fair on the Tay River, a tributary of the Rideau River. - Phew! For two old gals, we sure packed it in during 2025! 

Exploring ... East to Cornwall, West to Gananoque and North to the Rideau Lake System

Aside from these domestic adventures, I was lucky to have Scottish and Toronto-based relatives visit through-out the year. Helen and Brian arrived late June: booted & spurred. We clambered over rocks at the river, swung golf clubs in my backyard, and eat & drank WELL for four days straight. Dear cousin R and husband T dropped-by too. Next up, an old pal from Switzerland, darling Janie, stayed over. Time has sure aged us both. Yet, thankfully, beneath our well-worn wrinkles & visible battle scars remains the bright-eyed spark of youth. After decades of living, it seemed just like yesterday as we reminisced about that seminal year overseas in 1974 ... We managed to channel-in our two other Suisse house-mates, Jane & Deb, via an inventive mash-up of Zoom/Facebook & iphone hybrid cross-wiring while polishing off a delicious cheese fondue. Finally connected, the 'Battista Babes' babbled on happily for hours like the teenagers-we-once-were. Priceless and memorable: then and now.

Relatives stay, 'Apollo's Moon Shot' (painted by me) & the 'The Battista Babes' connected on-line

Two gentlemen callers also passed through this year. Dear 'Apollo', who after several stiff martinis went a-wandering at midnight under a starry-lit, full-moon night and ended up, head first, in the pool ... and then, dependable Doug, on route to the East Coast. He arrived with plenty of gossip from Toronto that I never knew I missed. 

The fall wrapped-up with a lovely lunch and walk-about with old family friends from Port Hope. Our familial roots go deep. Conversations are so much richer when there are several generations familiar to us all swirling between the words we shared. All those long-gone 'grand ones' live on within the vivid and fond memories from our somewhat enchanted childhoods. 

On the MLH art-producing front, well, honestly, not that much this year. Only four paintings this year. -- BUT -- a new children's book is now in-the-works (- with tentative release in 2026). I'm also looking forward to doing much more painting as I settle into the snow-bound winter months ahead. 

In truth, I'm STILL settling in - to my very own 'Sweetie-Pie Sweet-Pea Home!' (Not sure yet how to turn that into a memorable house name ... but I'm working on it.)

Season's Very Best to you all - and a Very Merry Christmas. - Ho! Ho!

-- Margaret Lindsay Holton 

p.s. If interested in my recent novels, TRILLIUM, an award-winning, "epic" multi-generational tome set in the Niagara region of southern Ontario, or the re-released Gilded Beaver - or my first short story collection, STICKS and STONES - kindly consider the format you prefer - (ebook, softcover or audiobook) - via this Book Link (... And thank you all very much for your much appreciated on-line reviews. They do make the world of difference.)

Merry Christmas! -- Here's to a Happy & Healthy New Year -- One & All!

Greetings from Canadian Artist & Author, MLHolton

'Good Vibrations' by MLHolton, acrylic on canvas, 6'x20", 2021

Ok, 2022, here we come ....

... I painted the above, 'GOOD VIBRATIONS', at the tail end of 2021, to send to you all ... 2021 was, without a doubt, a very difficult pandemic year.

With growing proof the initial 'COVID19 virus' was man-made, we are now beholden to 'for-profit' Big Pharma to 'save us' from the mutating variants with more experimental pharmacology ... Talk about a perfect storm!!!

Yet, as long as COURAGE and HOPE remain, we CAN STOP the intentional, (or accidental), deployment of genetically-modified, gain-of-function viruses designed - for no other purpose - than bio-warfare.**

Sensible and compassionate human beings MUST stand-up for future generations against this reckless, unnatural and heavily-subsidized wickedness. -- What to do? Start by signing this ADVOCACY PETITION. Then, please, pass it on through your social media networks.

Enough is ENOUGH - WE MUST STAND UP! 

In other news ...

I'm very warmed by the positive response to my new short story ebook collection, STICKS and STONES released last fall. Originally written to offer solace to attentive readers during these troubled times, it is a very good introduction to the way - and why - I write. 

Set primarily in Canada, the stories explore delicate, yet deliberate, human interactions within families - between children, parents, adults and seniors. STICKS and STONES is now available as a paperback.

... It is my hope that the short stories will lead readers to the "epic" tri-family saga,TRILLIUM, set in the beautiful Niagara wine region ...

... and/or ... the 2020 Edition of The Gilded Beaver, a "well-crafted" 'faction' about an extraordinary Canadian fine furniture design commission for a wily Toronto-based financier.

Both novels are available in ebooks or paperbacks. TRILLIUM is now a stellar 14.5 hour audiobook - (best via iTunes!)

So, that’s it for now. :)

My plan this year includes more painting, writing and thinking about us all ... Trust me, that's plenty.

Stay Safe, Sensible & STAND UP!

Margaret - LINDSAY - Holton

Canadian. Artist & Author.  Proudly serving CANADADA since 1975. 

p.s. ATTN: Global CO-PRODUCERS: My 'pitch package' for the 9-part series, based on the award-winning, well-loved, Niagara-centric novel, TRILLIUM is ready to go! - Please contact me for a review copy. - Think interwoven Irish, Italian, Mexican, German & Canadian family dynamics playing out on two very different vineyards. A global Win-Win!

 

MLH BOOK LINKS on AMAZON

- - - 

 
**  AUXILIARY LINK via independent journalist Glen Greenwald

 re: GAIN OF FUNCTION RESEARCH ...

The Gilded Beaver by MLHolton - Extract & Review -

Great shout-out from #author and blogger, Sally G. Cronin of Ireland, for the paperback version of my award-winning Canadian novel, The Gilded Beaver, (2nd Edition). 

The Gilded Beaver is a SUPER title to add to #summerreading lists - especially for #DIY #cottage & #lake crowd who have acute interest in #trees, #design and #woodworking ... 

Story is set in #Canada. Have a gander. Order via Amazon 

#literature #novels #writing #readerscommunity #booknerd  #interiordecorating #finefurniture #Canadian #decorativearts

 

Easter is Coming! What's on your #TBR List?

 

 

 

Families keep Humanity Alive. 

Without them, we are cut-off from our species. 

... Love your Family ...

Care for your Family. 

 Encourage Reading, at all levels. 

Open Minds Expand through Exploration. 

 

The two titles I am offering here are novels for mature readers. 

The Gilded Beaver (Second Edition) and/or TRILLIUM. 

(Women seem to prefer them more than men, but hey, that's up to you. )

The stories I share are intended to help you find your way ... 

 

ENJOY! >LINK

WINTER 2020 NEWSLETTER from MLHolton

Harvest Moon - Photo Zapped by MLHolton

 

Who knew, mid-March, that we'd still be stuck here? ... ... Well, it's not all been bad ...

In fact, in some instances, it's been a welcome improvement ...

The Gilded Beaver 2nd Edition & TRILLIUM by MLHolton

 Most importantly, the pandemic 

has been a hearty wake-up call to 're-calibrate' ...

 

See more of what  

 I've been doing about that this past year ...

>>>>   HERE  <<<<<

p.s. TRILLIUM, the #audiobook version, is now on iTUNES !!!

HO-HO-HO!

 

 

Cover Design - A or B?

 

Now listed on AllAuthor.com - Link on image to go there. 

Otherwise, just let me know. A (Trillium) or B (The Gilded Beaver, 2nd Edition)?

Wonderfully Thought Provoking - The Gilded Beaver, SecondEdition

 A wonderful Amazon Review shout-out! 

Thank you dear readers! 
Plus, a wonderful profile of the title & author - from #Ireland.

 THE GILDED BEAVER - Get it HERE.

     

Author & Fine Furniture Designer, MLHolton

Cover Design - The Gilded Beaver E-book

The Gilded Beaver by Margaret Lindsay Holton, Second Edition - June Release, 2020

NOW AVAILABLE on AMAZON

It is with both sadness and delight that I can now able 'reveal' that yes, I, Margaret Lindsay Holton, am the author of the award-winning 1999 novel, 'The Gilded Beaver by Anonymous'. 

It's sad, because the 'verbal deal' that I made with the antagonist of this quasi-fictional work died this March of natural causes in his 80th year. Yet, I am delighted because, now, I can rightfully claim this 'story' as my own.

Why did we make this 'deal'? 
It's complicated, but suffice it to say, that on successful completion of an ambitious design commission, I wrote about the nit-grit of what REALLY happened during the process. When I asked the client for permission to publish our story, he agreed, on one condition: we were both to remain anonymous, until, quote, "one of us dies."

'Anonymous' 1st Edition  

- I agreed to that, and soon released 'The Gilded Beaver by Anonymous' in a limited-edition paperback under my own artists' imprint. It did well enough, even though, at the time of release, no-one had any idea where it had come from.

Newspaper reviews, at the time, had some fun with it, calling it 'a mysterious psycho-sexual tug of war in the design world' and 'a dance of intellect and eros that expertly unfolds ... closes with panache'.  I was eventually outed as the author by The Ottawa Citizen, but by then, the initial interest had subsided, and life went on. For all intent and purposes, the title remained 'anonymous' and has sold that way for the past twenty years. However, overtime, I began to regret my 'anonymous author' decision. Why?

Because, in simple terms, very few people understand what transpires when an artist - or designer - interacts with a client. It is often so much more than just a financial transaction or a power dynamic exercised by one - (who has money over one who does not) - to 'do what they want'.

Carving Detail on the Winter Chair

When a self-professed mover & shaker, (in this instance 'G'), offered an ambitious designer, (in this instance, me), the opportunity to do BETTER than their BEST, the design dynamic changes dramatically.

'G' did offer an opportunity to do something spectacular to ADD to 'Canadian Material Culture', and I did just that. But, on route, there were bumps, lumps, periodic disagreements, confusion and personal upsets.

We did manage it in the end, but, believe me, it was not easy. As a client, he was imperious, moody, petulant, demanding, and in the end, a bit of an a**hole primarily because of the money issue ...

Money is an on-going concern for small business owners to keep 'cash flow' going. (It's not of such concern for big-wig financiers who always have easy access to bank credit.) One of my reasons for initially writing this work was to articulate - and demonstrate - what a fine line it is between feast and famine for those who live, out of necessity, paycheck to paycheck.

Autumn, The Four Canadian Fireside Chairs by MLHolton

When the anonymous first edition come out in 1999, I was not able - or permitted  - to 'claim' the good work that was done by so many skilled craftsmen. Nor was I able to promote these new furniture pieces for their good design and exemplary workmanship that would have legitimately positioned them in the international global arena of FINE #DECORATIVEARTS. I was just not permitted to speak about them because of the aforementioned 'deal'.
Admittedly, this is all very obscure to most, but for those 'in the trade', they understand that fine decorative objects artfully reflect the culture from which the items spring. Ultimately, well-designed decorative art works honour the precise hand-skill traditions of solid eye-hand-and-heart co-ordination. My hired hands did an exemplary job - and those craftsmen deserve the recognition and reputation for doing so - even if it is 20-years late.

My specialty, at that time, was the designing and making of 'Canadian Fine Furniture'. I had learned the rudiments of this craft from my cabinet-making father, Luther Janna Holton II, and had refined my skills and interest with further self-study and application. By the time I was doing this 'commission' for 'G', aka Gordon, I was, without exaggeration, one of the best 'fine furniture designers' in Canada. I always worked with the best hands I could find to make beautiful 'things'. The revealed chairs in this post, and other items that I produced in the 1990s, attest to that.

'Winter' Chair, The Four Canadian Fireside Chairs by MLH

But, again, life goes on ... I finally left this discipline, after spending 10 months on another high-end commission, when the client ran their hand down the beautifully french-polished and intricately-carved mahogany 16-foot dining room table and asked if it was 'oak' ...

That was it for me. I just lost interest in designing and making 'things' for people who had absolutely no idea what they were getting, or what was involved in the design and crafting process. I soon left the 'business' of designing 'Canadian fine furniture'.

That's not to say that my own interest in fine craftsmanship and good design waned. It did not. I still swoon over a beautifully made object - from any culture or from any era. I am just no longer willing to do it - or sell it. 

In the late 1990s, I started to do other things and developed other marketable skills, like my ever-popular pinhole and photo-collage photography, and, as always, I continued on with my signature paintings and my writing, found all over this site.

'Autumn', Four Canadian Fireside Chairs by MLHolton

So, that's the backstory ... 

The final - and most relevant - reason for releasing this title again - with my name on it - is to DIRECTLY and DELIBERATELY tie this book to 'The Four Canadian Fireside Chairs'.  These four well-made chairs now exist in Time & Space. This book, The Gilded Beaver, intimately explains how they came to be. There is, finally, some faint hope that someday, someone, somewhere will finally 'get it'. It is hoped that a few decorative arts connoisseurs will recognize this #Canadian #design contribution for what it really is ...

There are no other chairs on the planet like this set of four.

The Four Canadian Fireside Chairs are a  fusion of English-French and Inuit IDEAS that place them squarely IN CANADA at the end of the twentieth century. Made of blemish-free hardwood, selected from a private mill in Ancaster, these black walnut chairs should easily last for 300 to 400 years, with, perhaps, a restoration or two on route.

I know, without any doubt, that they are GOOD chairs. They will stand the test of time. In the end, I was happy to have designed and created them. I am now, with this new release - with my name attached - willfully putting them into the broader arena of the DECORATIVE ARTS FROM CANADA at the end of the TWENTIETH CENTURY.

2nd Edtion - E-book -NOW AVAILABLE

Yes, they were designed FOR Gordon, but more importantly, they were done FOR CANADA and our own 'material culture'  heritage. 

I hope you will now consider this revised title, by yours truly. Give the story a read, or even a re-read, knowing now that it is a 'true story'.

Consider what went on, and why. Consider this title knowing that what artists and designers build - as 'cultural artifacts' - comes from inherited and invented narratives that manifest in material form. Yes, we artists 'make things', that not only mark our time on the planet, but we also make things to WITNESS and DOCUMENT the dominant stories of our own times for future generations.

Have a read. Learn more about this grand & beautiful country of ours, Canada, on this amazing planet, Earth.

Now Available as an E-book on Amazon
The Gilded Beaver, Second Edition, 
by Margaret Lindsay Holton

BOOK LAUNCH of The Gilded Beaver by Margaret Lindsay Holton