free MAY 2011 p.24 & 25 May’s Events p.17 Putting a SPIN on It The Art of Laurel Cook p.3 p.21 An Arty Walk in Almonte p.30 To Market, To Market PO Box 1391 Almonte ON K0A 1A0 Phone: (613) 256–5081 Editor: Kris Riendeau [email protected] Who’s Reading theHumm Who’s Reading Layout and Design: Rob Riendeau [email protected] Advertising and theHumm really got around in 2009! Promotions: (above) Elizabeth Sampson writes: Here’s a photo of the de Pater family reading theHumm on a houseboat in old Kris Riendeau Amsterdam. We’re having a great vacation! Dear Editor, Phone: (613) 256–5081 (below): Marianne Lods of Lanark Village reads the April [email protected] A group of Mississippi Mills residents did a “walkabout” edition of theHumm at a sidewalk café on Vaci Utca in the in Almonte, looking at ways to enhance the town for the middle of Budapest, Hungary on May 1, 2009. Assistant Editor: Communities in Bloom program. We found an astonishing Rona Fraser number of poop and scoop bags, containing the appropriate (below left): Jim Mountain writes: Our daughter Liisa [email protected] contents but lying about in inappropriate places. So I wrote Mountain took this photo while visiting ancient Celtic standing stones in the highlands of Scotland. She’s been Readers Write Readers this poem, hoping to inspire dog owners to follow through theHumm is a monthly arts, en- with the Poop and Scoop ideal. there since January working as an intern at an architectural tertainment and ideas newspaper — Fern Martin fi rm, and has been saving her copy of theHumm until the delivered free to businesses and appropriate moment and place. visitor attractions in Almonte, When you scoop the poop and bag it Perth, Carleton Place, Westport, Job’s not over, no sirree Pakenham, Carp, Arnprior, Lan- Th ere’s a place you got to put it ark, Smiths Falls, Burnstown, And it’s not up in a tree White Lake, Balderson, and Ot- tawa. Our mandate is to connect The river’s not the place for it and promote people and events And neither is a hedge in the small towns and rural com- Nor by the neighbour’s wooden fence munities of the Ottawa Valley — Nor underneath a ledge where the arts fl ourish and enter- taining characters run amok! No ~ you’ve got to fi nd a garbage can Or take it home with you Submissions Th ere carefully undo the bag By email or on disk. And fl ush it down the loo Deadline So when walking your Irish Setter nd Well, I don’t want to be a nag is the 22 of the month prior to But the town would look much better publication. If you just take home that bag! Subscriptions cost $35 (includes HST) for one year (12 issues). Send a cheque with your name and address to: theHumm PO Box 1391 Almonte ON K0A 1A0. Opinions and information pub- lished in theHumm in letters, press releases, or individual col- umns do not necessarily refl ect the opinion of this newspaper. Who’s Reading theHumm Who’s Reading he greatest gift of the garden All writing, artwork, and photo- graphs published in theHumm T is the restoration of the five senses. are copyright to the author, or to — Hanna Rion theHumm in the case where no author is specifi ed. Reprinting any content without permission Proudly serving customers with quality bulk & natural alternatives since 1978. Whether it be promoting a healthy lifestyle or protecting the natural environment, The Granary is your best destination for a wide variety of organic, natural & health related products. violates copyright and is prohib- ited (and despicable!). On Staff Registered Holistic Nutritionist Thanks this month to: Nutritional Seminars & Monthly Newsletter Maestro Stan Clark, whose tal- Commitment to Local & Sustainable Products ent and generosity were an in- spiration to our family, to his Eco-Friendly Products for the Body and Home geographical community, and to the wider musical community of 107 Bridge St., Carleton Place 613-257-5986 [email protected] www.granary.ca Ottawa and area. His was “a life Open: Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 9-6. Thurs 9-8 & Sat 9-5. well-lived” indeed. 2 www.thehumm.com May 2011 Laurel Cook — THE HUMM Capturing Dog Moments Art… and Soul What struck me driving up the lane to Cu- credits a multi-media course taught by wonderful landubh Kennels in Clayton was the abso- artist Mary Pfaff of Carleton Place with the inspi- lute absence of barking. I could see beauti- ration for her “personality portraits” of her dogs. ful Labrador Retrievers bounding about on “Th ere are just some dog moments that should be the fenced grounds, but even when I got captured in paint,” she explains. out of the car, not a single dog barked. My mission was to interview Laurel The Evidence is Everywhere Cook, dog portrait painter extraordinaire. A walk through the house provides overwhelming Her acrylic paintings are as lively and cap- evidence of this creative artist’s prodigious capabili- ties. Laurel has just completed the conversion of an by Sally Hansen upstairs hallway into a new gallery for her dog por- ARTIST TRADING CARD tivating as her handsome, lovable subjects. What I traits. She experimented with various off -the-shelf discovered is that the degree to which she captures products and developed a technique for creating determination and humour. At the age of seventeen she applied their personalities is a mirror refl ection of the degree faux textured stone wall tiles. Guests are treated to to join the Canadian Air Force because a guy in her high school to which her most recent life revolves around dogs. their choice of fi ve diff erent colour-themed rooms, math class suggested she wouldn’t be accepted. She was working With her husband, Ross McLaughlin, Laurel with window treatments, pillow cushions, lamps as a cook at a summer camp near Kenora, ON, when she received breeds, nurtures and trains gorgeous Fox Red, Black and other touches all conceived and executed by her instructions to apply to the University of Manitoba Engineering and Chocolate Labrador Retrievers. Th e couple also Laurel. She has painted portraits of dogs and other Program as part of her offi cer training program. She became the off er a boarding service at their carefully designed favourite animals on furniture, stools, walls, and second woman to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel facilities at 355 Bowland Rd. in Clayton (near Union countless other objects. Th e house probably con- in her trade of military communications electronics, and she did it Hall at Wolf Grove and Tatlock Roads). Culandubh tains in excess of a hundred carousel horses and as a single parent until she hooked up with Ross who was a Major is a Gaelic word (pronounced cool-ann-doo) that models, restored and sometimes refashioned into in the Army infantry. means “little dark dog.” new pieces by Laurel. “I love colour!” she exclaims Laurel bought their fi rst Lab in 1988 when Ross was serving in superfl uously. Cypress. Th e experiment was a life-changing success; today Ross is a The Proof is in the Paintings Qualifi ed Judge for Canadian Kennel Club Hunt Tests and Laurel’s irresistible portraits of the Labs she an expert obedience, gun dog and hunt test trainer. Togeth- raises perfectly portray the key to her success er the couple have successfully titled numerous dogs in- both as a painter and as a dog breeder. She cluding one of the fi rst fi ve Labradors in Canada to receive knows and loves her dogs. Ross and Laurel the title of CKC Grand Master Hunter. Laurel is achieving work together on the three essential aspects wide recognition as an exceptional trainer of young pup- of raising a great dog — genetics, nutrition pies. Th eir goal is to “breed the best working retrievers in and training. But from the moment of their the world!” I’d bet on it. birth until they are eight weeks old, Laurel micro-manages all aspects of their develop- Art in the Attic Too ment. Since her retirement from the Cana- From May 6 to 8 you’ll get a chance to enjoy Laurel Cook’s dian Air Force in 2003, she has worked con- perceptive, humourous and loving portraits of her mag- stantly to hone her skills as a breeder and nifi cent Labrador Retrievers at the annual Art in the At- young puppy trainer. She is an adherent of tic exhibit in the Almonte Old Town Hall at 14 Bridge St. the “Super Dog Program” developed by the Don’t miss the wine and cheese reception at the grand U.S. Military to improve the performance of opening at 7pm on Friday, May 6. Th e show is presented dogs used for military purposes. Based on by the Almonte and Area Artists Association, and as di- early neurological stimulation, the program gives Downstairs, the living room coff ee table sports rector of the show this year, Laurel is delighted that works by high puppies a “head-start” on brain development. a wrought iron hunting dog emerging through the school artists will be included. Another aspect of Laurel’s artistic A few years before her retirement she also glass top with a duck tenderly secured in its mouth. versatility also will be on display through her intarsia collaboration started working on her art. She explored diff er- No, Laurel did not make it.