Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

S4 E30:  Valerie Peachey on Time and What is Next is Now Søren Kierkegaard “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia! Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Oxford Languages defines the word “time” as the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.  The idea of travel through space and time.   It can also be described as a point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon. And that is only the beginning, for there are many meanings embedded in this 4-letter word. I am delighted that Dr. Valerie Peachey has joined me on Tea Toast and Trivia to share her insights on our relationship with time throughout our lives.  Valerie has lived many adventures and continues to add new adventures to her life story.  So put the kettle on and add to this exciting discussion on

S4 29: Pete Springer Reading “They Call Me Mom”  Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in.  I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops are great places for book readings. There is something extraordinary about hearing the voice of an author reading their stories. Their voice and intonation are nuanced by the many hours of effort putting pen to paper.  They created the characters, structured the plot, and lived every twist and turn that creates bumps in the storyline. Public libraries and bookstores have expanded their reach into a global community. Book readings have gone virtual.  We are learning to embrace technology in new ways.  Welcome the podcast series, “Authors Reading their Books”, which brings authors and their books from across the world to your home.  I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am thrilled to introdu

S4 28: Colleen Chesebro on the Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry silver Luna’s soft glow highlights night sky echoes stars, hoarfrost lace glints upon fallen leaves of gold tree shadow skeletons shiver in the wind autumn rushes in the cold before dawn. Colleen M. Chesebro Word Weaving # 1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse Welcome to Tea. Toast. & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that writer and poet, Colleen Chesebro, and I are connecting Michigan and British Columbia to discuss the art of current and traditional forms of syllabic poetry. Colleen believes that the art of crafting poetry strengthens our writing skills.  In her book, Word Craft: Prose & Poetry: The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry, she writes: “When we create poetry, we gain command of language; cultivate a healthy vocabulary, master literary devices such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, and allegory.&nbs

S4 E27: The Trio on Living the Age We Are, Right Now Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you. Today, I am joined by my mother, Frances and my sister, Sarah for a discussion on the question: What does it feel like to be the age that you are, right now? I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.  Frances, Sarah and I look forward to your thoughts on Tea Toast &Trivia! Until next time we meet, safe travels wherever your adventures take you. Music by Howard Harper-Barnes "Memories of Marigold" #Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/YldSXDgo21/

S4 26: Travelling to New Zealand with Mandy Henderson RETURN I am home again. My house seems too large, too empty. In the silent hollow, I fill vases with flowers. Flowers for the kitchen window sill, Cornflowers, lavender, nasturtiums. Flowers for the bedroom, Geranium, roses, And some for the table. The old posy ring brims full, And in the stillness of the blooms, There travels birdsong without, And words within. Mandy Henderson (Written in Dec 2014, after a family visit in Timaru) Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this adventure with you. Living in the reality of Covid-19, travel has been curtailed, internationally as well as domestically.   While travel is coming back, I have found, over the past months, that travel is possible through the alchemy of technology. Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia – “The Virtual Journey” which will explore new horizons through the eyes of a friend.  As Marcel P

Season 4 Episode 25: Tea & Oranges Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. This is a podcast in the series called, “It’s all about tea.” I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you. So put the kettle on and join me for Tea, Toast. and a little Trivia, where we will discuss the mysteries and adventures of tea: their origins, stories, aromas, and delicious tastes. I’m making a special cup of tea today, one that is a reminder of friendships, past and present, and the conversations in between. This story dates to the early 1970’s when I moved from Winnipeg to Edmonton.  It was a time of beginnings, and I was eager for new adventures. For me, the 1970’s meant change and forging new possibilities and opportunities.  I was ready to meet new friends, live on my own and embark on an academic journey at University of Alberta. Canada is a huge country.  There are 1,304.8 kilometres between Winnipeg and Edmonton, which according to m

Season 4 Episode 24: Lyn Morton on Photography, Stories, and Community Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that I am travelling virtually to Hawthorne, New Jersey, where I am meeting up with photographer, mentor, and personal branding coach, Lynford Morton. Lyn and I have known each other ever since I joined his on-line photo group that he mentored several years ago.  During this course, group members posted a photo a day with a short explanation. I confess being intimidated by the calibre of photographers, but soon felt a kinship and camaraderie within this group.  Lyn’s enthusiasm and inclusive approach opened the world of photography for me. Branding & marketing is in Lyn’s blood. He sold his first logo at 12 years old when his school held a contest to see if anyone could create a logo. Lyn won first place and pocketed a tidy $25 prize. The school is still usin

Season 4 Episode 23: Looking Back with Frances “Milk cows were an asset to any farm.  They were “milked” morning and evening.  Some were easier to milk than others. The milk was a valuable food source, useful for a healthy drink, for cooking, and of course, for homemade butter.  At first, we had a daisy butter churn that resembled an eggbeater.  Later we had a large crock and a doweling with little boards attached to the bottom that Dad had fashioned to “stomp” up and down until the cream turned to butter. But, equally important, cream could be sold.  This cash could be obtained to trade for food at the grocery store.  Mother used to ask: “Where are we going to ‘trade’ today”.  That would determine, of course, where the cream was sold.”  Frances, My Mother’s Memoirs Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you. When I entered the world of podcasting in 2019, my first g

S4 E22: Elizabeth Gauffreau & Sonia Elwood on Grief Songs - A Family Remembers Wilderness Tanka snowy wilderness cold winter sun, soaring trees a small lone figure for a time she stood fearless my protector, my mother Elizabeth Gauffreau from her book of poetry, Grief Songs: Poems of Love & Remembrance Welcome to Tea. Toast. & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that my dear friend, writer and poet, Elizabeth Gauffreau and I have come together to discuss her book of poetry, Grief Songs: Poems of Love and Remembrance.  I am equally thrilled that her daughter, Sonia Elwood, has joined the conversation to share insights gained from her creative journey. Sonia is an avid reader who enjoys various types of writing as long as it is compelling and either provides an escape or invokes an emotional response. In her 18 years of experience as a training specialist, Sonia presents new materials and info

S4 E21: Kim Mooney on Stories of Courage and Reslience Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted and thrilled that my long-time friend, Kim Mooney has joined me on Tea Toast & Trivia to talk about her soon-to-be published second book, which is about profound stories of resilience and courage. Kim has a degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in leadership. Her career has been an eclectic one, moving between teaching and hospital administration and back to teaching.  She retired in 2018 after fifteen years of teaching at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC.  In addition to her academic responsibilities at Royal Roads, Kim ran a consulting practice for fifteen years. How can we learn from stories? How do we give honour to another person’s story? How do we connect with past stories and how do we create stories for those who come after us?  These are the questions t

Season 4 Episode 20: Dave Astor on Misty’s Adventures Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. Neil Gaiman wrote, “I would like to see anyone, prophet, king or God, convince a thousand cats to do the same thing at the same time.” Cats are mysterious creatures that charm us with their antics and comfort us with their soft purring.  I read that petting a cat helps us to meditate and causes a release of oxytocin, which has been found to increase our emotional perception. But do we truly understand them?  They retain remarkable control over their lives, coming and going as their please.   There are many books that will help you connect with cats, some promising techniques to train and learn cat language. But I have another source of expertise. Today, I am republishing Misty’s Adventures on Tea Toast & Trivia. Dave Astor and Misty are a dynamic duo. Together, they provide insight on the strong and vibrant relationship humans have with these amazing creatures. Dave

S4 E19: On Location Victoria British Columbia - Emily Carr, James Bay Inn and Beacon Hill Park (audio version) Tea Toast & Trivia Podcast hosted by Rebecca Budd On Location, James Bay Inn and Beacon Hill Part Victoria, British Columbia. Passages from Emily Carr’s Autobiography “Growing Pains” Public Domain (Canada)Voice and photography by Rebecca Budd Music by #EpidemicSound 1) Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen “End of an Era” www.epidemicsound.com/track/dgEeXjlQge/ 2) Howard Harper-Barnes “A Leaf Falls” www.epidemicsound.com/track/vCliROg8VZ/ 3) Johannes Bornlof “I Will Love You To The End” www.epidemicsound.com/track/VAhZ2EgIiq/ 4) Howard Harper-Barnes “No One Else on Earth” www.epidemicsound.com/track/722bbcNU24/

S4 E19: On Location Victoria British Columbia  - Emily Carr, James Bay Inn and Beacon Hill Park Tea Toast & Trivia Podcast hosted by Rebecca Budd On Location, James Bay Inn and Beacon Hill Part Victoria, British Columbia. Passages from Emily Carr’s Autobiography “Growing Pains” Public Domain (Canada)Voice and photography by Rebecca Budd Music by #EpidemicSound 1) Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen  “End of an Era” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/dgEeXjlQge/ 2) Howard Harper-Barnes “A Leaf Falls” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/vCliROg8VZ/ 3) Johannes Bornlof “I Will Love You To The End” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/VAhZ2EgIiq/ 4) Howard Harper-Barnes “No One Else on Earth” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/722bbcNU24/

S4 E18: Sarah McBurnie on the Stories of Shetland “You must never call it the Shetlands. Islanders are proud and can be prickly about the name: it’s either Shetland or the Shetland Islands.” Anne Cleeves Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am you host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that I am travelling virtually to Unst to meet up with my dear friend, Sarah McBurnie who was our guide on our 2018 Shetland adventures. Sarah conducts exclusive guided tours with personalized itineraries for visitors to Shetland from all over the world.  We came as visitors to experience this amazing place and left as friends, thanks to Sarah and the many people we met along the journey through the Shetland Islands. I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting dialogue on Tea Toast & Trivia. Listeners, thank you for joining Sarah and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a special thank you, Sarah, for sharing the stories, the histor

Season 4 Episode 17: Pete Springer on Embracing Life-Long Learning ”When I think about why I decided to become a teacher in the first place, I believe it primarily was because of the role models who were/are in my life.” Pete Springer, from his book, “They Call Me Mom" Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that I am travelling virtually to Eureka, California where I am meeting up with writer, teacher, and mentor, Pete Springer. Pete is a former elementary school teacher (grades 2-6) in Eureka, CA.  He said that he retired in 2016, but from what I have read, he is far from retired.  His passion will always lie with supporting education, kids, and teachers, which is demonstrated by his dedication to lifelong learning. What is lifelong learning?  When does this journey begin and how is it nourished throughout our stages of life?  How do we inspire others to embrace the joy of learning? 

S4 E16: Lily Style on Horatia’s Secret and Bringing the Past Alive in Stories “Horatia Nelson Ward has a terrible secret. She is the illegitimate daughter of British hero Admiral Lord Nelson, while her mother is the despised Lady Hamilton. And if she claims her heritage to redeem herself, she’ll ruin her children. Her silence is tearing her apart. Concerned loved ones coax her to disclose. But a sixty-year-old promise of silence seems impossible to break.” Lily Style “Horatia’s Secret” Welcome to Tea. Toast. and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am excited that Lily Style, writer, historian, and genealogist, and I are connecting the village of South Brent in Devon, Britain and Vancouver, Canada to discuss the remarkable life and legacy of Emma Hamilton, the great love of Admiral Lord Nelson. Lily is the direct descendant of Admiral Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton.  She explores the past to piece together the re

S4 E15: Paul Andruss on Writing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am you host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am heading across the ocean to Wales, that beautiful country full of magic, mystery, music, and great writers. I am excited to reconnect with one of those writers – Paul Andruss. Paul is the author of the Young Adult magical realism trilogy, the Jack Hughes Books, and the forthcoming (very adult) Finn Mac Cool – a mythological saga. He has also written several short stories and novellas. Over the past several months, Paul and I have been exploring the evolution of writing. What will the future bring in a world where different artistic disciplines are blurring: books to movies and the advent of gaming. How will different creative disciplines merge and cross over?  Or are they bounded by the current product format? These are the questions that will be discussed today. So put the kettle on an

S4 E14: Traveling to The Erzgebirge with H.S. Eglund Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. Living in the reality of Covid-19, travel has been curtailed, internationally as well as domestically.   While travel is coming back slowly, there are places that I will never visit in my lifetime.   Over the past months, I have found that travel is possible through the alchemy of technology. Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia – “The Virtual Journey” which will explore new horizons through the eyes of a friend.  As Marcel Proust reminds me, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” I am thrilled that H.S. Eglund has invited us to travel with him to The Erzgebirge, The Ore Mountain. I understand that there may be some time travel involved back to the Bronze age. Eglund is an engineer, writer, journalist, and publicist. He worked as a science journalist and reporter in Africa for several German newspapers.  Since 2005

S4 E13: Martina Ramsauer on Adventures in Life-Long Learning Martina Ramsauer“Learning should be a joy and full of excitement. It is life’s greatest adventure; it is an illustrated excursion into the mind of the noble and the minds of the noble and the learned.” Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am delighted that my dear friend Martina Ramsauer from Rivella49’s Blog and I are connecting Ticino, Switzerland and Vancouver Canada to discuss travel, lifelong learning and the power of language. Martina believes that the most important adventure in life is learning. She combines travel experiences with the knowledge of language.  Her community is global, a consequence from her dedication to language studies. Why should we learn a new language? What is involved in language studies?  Where do we begin? These are the questions that will be discussed today. Thank you for joining Martina and m

S4 E12: Shetland, Herring & The Gutter Lasses Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia! Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Storytelling has been with us since ancient times beginning as an oral tradition.  When writing arrived, these oral stories would find new homes in stone, papyrus, and parchment. Found in every culture and civilization, stories have taken on the form of epic poems, chants, rhymes, and song.  It is one generation gifting their knowledge and wisdom to the next generation. My story looks back to the turn of the nineteenth century as told by the good people of the Unst Boat Haven. The gutter lasses have faded into history, but their story remains ever vibrant, a reminder that we are at our best when we build a community based on friendship and common purpose.  This then is the essence of belonging, to be affiliated with and accepted by others within a group.  To work together in difficult times,