Canada Day Gathering 2013

Canada Day Gathering

June 28 at 1:00pm until July 1 at 3:00pm

on The Land aka Amber Fox

Eau Canada!

How roam a neigh tough land?

Troop ate rot love-in

awl thigh suns come hand.

With glow ingots

We seethe here eyes

That rue north Strachan unfree,

Frum Faron why d'eau Canada

Wheeze tendon guard 'fore thee.

God key power land

Gloria's unfree!

Eau Canada, 

Wheeze tendon guard 'fore thee.

Eau Canada, 

Wheeze tendon guard 'fore thee.

(Mark M. Orkin, "Canajan Eh?")

Canada Day, often referred to as "Canada's birthday", marks the joining of the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada (Ontario & Quebec) into the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867. Originally called Dominion Day, the holiday was renamed in 1982, the year the Canada Act superseded the British North America Act as the country's constitution.

There is no standard formula for Canada Day celebrations. In various communities across the country, the day is observed with parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, bonfires, air & maritime shows, fireworks, free musical concerts, as well as citizenship ceremonies for new citizens. 

How will the Fae ones celebrate Canada's birthday this year? Come join us and help decide!

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Many activities are scheduled and more will be planned when we are all on the Land.  Crafts, outings, rituals … the only limits are imposed by our imaginations.  The gathering begins and ends in Circle, with brief organizational followed by longer Heart Circles on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The Meditation Hut is half-built, and with enough carpentry-Faeries it can be finished this weekend. Late night fires and saunas will heat things up.

The Land is beautiful at this time of year, and provides many awesome places to be alone or together on its 75 acres of glorious wilderness. The weather will be perfect for tenting, and should be warm enough for swimming trips to the mighty Mississippi nearby. Don't forget your sun and bug protection!

Saturday night we will enjoy the many talents the Fae folk bring to the Know Talent Show.  Can you sing, dance, recite a poem or play an instrument? Or do you have a flair for performance art? If so, we would love to have you join us on stage! A bit shy but want to try? Talk to the show's organizers and they will be sure to find a suitable role for you. More of a watcher than a performer? An appreciative audience is the other essential ingredient for this ever-popular event!

As well as supplying costumes for the show, the Foxy Boutique is available for all your dress-up needs. The Fae certainly enjoy a good outfit, so bring your gayest apparel! Boy drag, girl drag, animal drag, even tree or straight drag is cool. And in the naturist tradition, un-costuming can often be the best. It's your call!

Our communally-prepared vegetarian meals are quickly earning us a reputation as the Gourmet Gathering. Cooks, bring your favourite veggie recipes. Not up to preparing a full dish? Don't worry, there's always lots of chopping and prepping you can help with while you learn from the kitchen divas! And dish washers are always appreciated!

We do not charge a fee to attend the Gathering; instead we rely an voluntary donations of cash and labour. Suggested contribution for the Purse is $45 to $105 for the weekend (average $75 based on $25 per night, more if you can, less if you can't), or $35 for a single night. 

Equally important is your willingness to contribute in other ways: building, cleaning, shopping, cooking, etc.  If you don't know what to do to help out, just ask. One of the most enjoyable aspects of our created community is working on projects with your fellow Faeries.

The map will get you near but won't show you all the way to the Land. Contact us and we will provide directions. We can also arrange to pick you up at the bus depot in Perth or the train station in Smiths Falls if you let us know ahead of time.

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Victoria Day Gathering 2013

Victoria Day Gathering

May 17 at 1:00pm until May 20 at 3:00pm

on The Land aka Amber Fox

It's Vicky's birthday and the queens are celebrating!

The Victoria Day long weekend marks the unofficial beginning of Canadian camping season. The Land will be coming awake with greening leaves and grass, and a multitude of spring flowers. All that is missing is you.

As always, this will be an activity-filled weekend, with communal work and play. The Foxy Boutique is fully stocked for all your dress-up needs, and the ever-popular Know Talent Show will be sure to thrill. Meals are vegetarian, communally-prepared and delicious! 

The gathering begins and ends in Circle, with brief organizational followed by longer (optional) Heart Circles on Saturday and Sunday mornings. 

On Facebook? Sign up for the Event!

Suggested contribution for the Purse is $45 to $105 for the weekend (average $75 based on $25 per night, more if you can, less if you can't), or $35 for a single night.

It may be a bit chilly, but don't worry, the Land will keep everyone warm. The Erection is heated, bonfires will make us toasty and the sauna is always steamy. Tenting may be cool and some will opt for snuggling in the Bunk House.

The map will get you near but won't show you all the way to the Land. Contact us and we will provide directions. We can arrange to pick you up at the bus depot in Perth or the train station in Smiths Falls if you let us know ahead of time.
   
   
 
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2013 Gathering Schedule

Beltane Gathering (all gender)
May 3 - 5, 2013

Victoria Day Gathering
May 17 - 20, 2013

Canada Day Gathering
June 28 - July 1, 2013

26th Annual High Summer Gathering
July 31 - August 5, 2013

Thanksgiving Gatherette
October 11 - 14, 2013

LumBearJack Weekend
dates to be announced, 2013

Beltane is as old as the fracking hills and a radical faerie stand-by

Beltane May 4 to 6th

Beltane is as old as the fracking hills and a radical faerie stand-by. Traditionally it's a celebration of Spring, fertility, good fortune and good harvests to come, though for those of us this far North it's also something of a victory party for Spring and life over our longest season by far, Winter. (Not that we're the only faeries partying- trust me.)

This will be our second Beltane gathering at Amberfox and an inclusive gathering (Amberfox hosts gay men identified gatherings throughout the year). All are welcome to join us and we are hoping for many visitors from near and far. Suggested donation is 25$ per day. That includes meals- delicious ones hand prepared. It may be a bit chilly, but don't worry, the Land has enough infrastructure to keep everyone warm, and the bonfires will keep everyone toasty. And unless something drastic changes, things seem pretty end-of-the-world Summer-esque anyways! So I don't imagine we'll be holing up inside.

Beltane is known for it's great bonfires and fire-play, especially on the eve beforehand, and has countless manifestations and names, though most include fire in their festivities. May 5th there will be a bonfire party and purification of the cavity where the may pole will stand. The next day at noon, May 6th, we will have our Beltane ceremony and raise the maypole (oh yes, you know we weren't going to leave the cavity unfilled darlins').

If you wish to camp you are more than welcome to and there is plenty of space. The Land is beautiful and spacious and we hope to share it with you. 

2012 gathering schedule

It's time to plan your trek to the country. A return to the land, to let the inner child, that little, hunky, fem or perhaps grinning, sexy faerie dancing around in your heart out! The gathering schedule is below.

We are planning a celebration and remembrance (Victoria Day Gathering) of Howie-Sue, who lived it to the end, who managed uniqueness, a little harmless hitching and wee sarcasm to perfection and couldn't let a heart circle go uninterrupted, many times! Come share your stories and help us send Howie-Sue's fae Spirit out to the universe as only fae ones can.

Plan it now, we pick people up in Perth at the bus station or in Smith Falls Via Rail.  If we know ahead of time we can help arrange car pooling to the The Land from Toronto, Montreal and or Ottawa.

There will also be Beltane on the Land this year.  May 4 - 6, 2012. This event is open to any all gender Fae ones!  Last year's Beltane was well received and attended, we hope to see more this year!


2012 GATHERING SCHEDULE
Victoria Day

May 18 - 21, 2012

MedItATIon Hut Floor work weekend Late May/early June, 2012 TBA

Canada Day

June 29 - July 2, 2012

25th Annual High Summer Gathering

August 1 - 6, 2012

Thanksgiving Gatherette

October 5- 8, 2012

I'm probably going to hell via the karma of pedantry

"I'm probably going to hell via the karma of pedantry, or at least end up 'tarred & feathered' {wink}." - Howard Ish

Howard was kinda like that crazy uncle we all know of.  I would be hard pressed to find or hear tell of someone that could match him. Eccentric is not enough to describe him, besides I think you need to be rich to be eccentric, poor folks like Howard are bat shit crazy!

A few years ago he moved to a house built for and by other fae boys. His father passed away and left Howard enough to get a car and house. Shortly after the sale of the house closed Howard got very sick.  I took him to his doctor in Kingston, whom immediately called the hospital.  He was in there in a flash, albeit he insisted on stopping to mail some bookkeeping stuff  and post cards.  He was insistent. Here I was with a guy the doctor said had to be in emergency asap and he wants to mail a postcard. Everything had stamps on them.  The irony was one of the post cards was sent to me.  I didn't know that at the time.

Jules, bless him, looked after many things for Howard after he got his house. The Patron Saint of Fae ones in need you are Jules.  Howard was in hospital for a week and Jules asked me if I would like to go down and visit and help Howard pack up his ChatchKas.  He has so many!

Jules and I drove down and this is the result of our visit...  Check out the video, Howard loved it.  After leaving Howard that night, we drove back to MacDonald's Corners.  It was after ten that evening and found we had no wine.  I had beer at the Land, alas Jules wanted wine.  Out of the blue, (Jules is going to kill me for this story) Jules said, "you know, I bet Howard still has some wine."  He was saying it shyly, not wanting to completely admit we were so desperate as to check Howard's place for wine.  "It's Kelly's," I added, "it's fortified."

"what the heck, lets go, I said to Jules. Now I had let him off the hook, It was me that said okay!  We got in the car and headed to Howie's Chatchkas palace.  Once inside, we found the Kelly's, a whole unopened bottle. (How lucky was that!)   I grabbed a cider from the fridge. It was like being in high school.  We laughed at ourselves, all the while clutching the bottle of Kelly's.  Back at Jules we sat outside and savoured the sweet Kelly's wine.  (I added water to mine, but Jules was tough, he drank it straight up).

I often picked Howard up in Perth or his house to bring him to the Land. He was always charming. Harmless really!  I would always give him a hug, pick up his bags, tent, sleeping bag and throw it in the truck. Then as I was doing it I would hear, "I can do that Ricky."  Almost always I would respond, "So can I, see Howard its in the truck." It was a game in a way. Howard was having a tough time of it. He couldn't move much faster than a turtle on the Lanark road.

At the Land, Howard would usually be the first one up after me, arriving at the Erection (Summer Kitchen folks, when you build something you are erecting!) about 6:30.  He would come in and see me. One look at me would tell him if I had my coffee and was ready for his renown waggishness!  He would get the old flower vase for water to drink out of. Fill it with ice cubes then after he settled at the end of the table, silently gathering the playing cards, positioning the salt bowl, he would start playing solitaire.  Not a word spoken between us.  Snap went the cards.  Snap, snap.  Chomp chomp went the ice.  He couldn't resist making his presence known. Finally, coffee brewed, we would move outside to the fire pit, me with my coffee and Howard with his fancy flame throwing lighter and pipe.

We would chat about lots of things.  He would entertain me.  I was a good listener, he liked that, he wanted to be liked, he tried so hard.  He made me laugh so many times. Irony was his forte. It could be about the news, or some happening at the gathering.  I have not met his equal in that department.  His quick turn of phrase was always on the mark, often irreverent, mostly  irreverent.

After moving to the country Howard often had appointments in Ottawa, He would stay at Pinkie and Roy's. He would have a a few glasses of wine, (Okay he had many). Pinkie would help Howard out and the next day Howard was still there.  It was funny, that weird Uncle thing again.  Howard would be off, back to his home.  

Howard of course had to survive in a redneck village. That did not deter him. I would often find him hitch hiking into Lanark,wearing a fur stole and Purple overcoat. I can only guess the reactions he received, yet he was able to get rides. Howard wore his life on his sleeves. He was out there and it worked.

Howard loved being a Canadian. He loved being a subject of Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second. He was for a time a member of the Monarchist League of Canada. He took it seriously, trying to be more Canadian than the rest of us. He would always vote, and he voted in the US elections as well.  He hated George W Bush and Stephen Harper. He loved Bernie Sanders, the only socialist Senator in the US and a Vermontian.  He loved Vermont.

When he lived in Gananoque, he would hitch hike to Perth.  I or someone else would pick him up in Perth.  I always marvelled at how he managed to get rides. He looked kinda rough to me. He would hold up a sign that said "Harmless".  It worked.   Often at the end of the gathering, Chiplandia would load up all the beer cans and take Howard to the outskirts of Perth after cashing in the cans, handing Howard the money when he dropped him off.  Howard was struggling so it helped a little.

I will miss Howard, especially on those early mornings on the Land.  It was home to Howard.  It was his community. Howard was an important part of that community.  Below is a video of Howard singing "Run around Hugh" during one of our 'Know Talent Shows'.


Howard had many friends at the Land, aka AmberFox. Don was one of them who would stop and pick up Howard these last couple of years, run him home to get his meds, feed the cat and get another lighter because he lost the last Flame Thrower. This passed summer we heard from Howard's mother.  She had not heard from him in four or five days.  We checked the hospitals, all his friends and nothing. Don drove an hour down to Howard's and broke in through the Kitchen window. No Howard.  He was eventually found in hospital.  We were all concerned.  He was okay in the end and we rejoiced in that.

Howard, I will miss you. You lived it to the end.

Howard on the Land, aka AmberFox

Some photos of Howard on the Land recently.  He was helping lots as you can see...

Howard on the Land, aka AmberFox