Hello Country Magazine: May 2023

MASTHEAD FIAT LUX CONTRIBUTORS

Roger Tumminieri, Publisher

hellocountrymagazine@gmail.com

Instagram: @hellocountrymagazine

(416) 788-0716

Single Copy: $1.50

Annual Subscription: $54

Published by Fiat Lux Media www.fiatluxmedia.com

Robert Iantorno

www.robertiantorno.ca (Mind Over Motor)

Jason Todoroff www.jtlawyer.ca (Family Matters)

Kevin Arthur Land

www.speakingvolumesbooks.ca (Arts & Culture)

John van Goch

All rights reserved

Written, Designed & Conceived on Hello Country Farm Flesherton, ON NOC 1E0

Candace McIntyre www.shine-1-1.ca (Oral Health)

Tyson Rier

www.hurontractor.com (Tractor Talk)

johnvgoch@gmail.com (Thinking Outside The Blue Box) READ

Welcome to our Arts & Culture edition! I’m excited to showcase work from an artist based in Toronto who also spends part of her time in Grey County - Carolyn Graziani. Her work strikes a chord with me. For years, I’ve been focussed on supporting local in South Etobicoke neighbourhoods and now, towns and villages in Grey, Bruce, Dufferin, and Simcoe Counties. The locations Carolyn choses as the backdrops for her pieces seem to dovetail perfectly into the focus of my labours. Her subjects are iconic, recognizable visuals that showcase these respective locales. I’ve featured just some of her work in this issue, but you can find more of it on her website:

www.LocalesDesign.com

Thank you for reading!

Roger Tumminieri, Publisher

Hello Country Magazine

hellocountrymagazine@gmail.com

Instagram: @hellocountrymagazine

www.fiatluxmedia.com

(416) 788-0716

Photo: Jenn Bechan

TABLE OF CONTENTS MAY 2023

Publisher’s Note

Welcome to our Arts & Culture Edition

Page 6

Cover Story

Featuring Carolyn Graziani

Page 8

Mind Over Motor

Beasts of the Southern Wild Page 10

Tractor Talk

Ride Into the Sunset Page 12

Family Matters

DIY Legal?

Page 14

Flesherton Calling

Featuring Delia Eastwood

Page 15

Mental Health & Wellness

How To Intentionally Direct Your Thoughts www.fiatluxmedia.com

By: Roger Tumminieri

Words

I’ve always had an affinity for Toronto neighbourhoods. Growing up in the city (Agincourt, to be exact), I developed a passion for the uniqueness and diversity of every distinct pocket of Toronto - which is effectively a city of neighbourhoods.

I’ve been ‘Supporting Local’ with my work since 2015 when I started the Etobicoke Lakeshore Press (even before that, if I take into account the first magazine I published back in 2006 for West Queen West) and have carried that passion with me ever since.

After moving from Long Branch in South Etobicoke to the village of Flesherton in Grey Highlands, I began to view our new country communities through that same lens - seeking the subtle and not-so-subtle differences between places like Meaford

and Thornbury, Southampton and Duntroon, and even Markdale and Collingwood.

How happy was I when I stumbled upon Carolyn Graziani’s social media accounts: Instagram: @totesplustoronto Facebook: @totes+toronto

Her illustrations of Toronto neighbourhoods and locales across Grey-Bruce-Simcoe struck a chord with me. So much so, I was inspired to profile a collection of her work as the feature story in this month’s Arts & Culture edition.

If you’re a fan of locally-inspired art, consider ordering a print featuring your own town or neighbourhood.

All work credited to Artist: Carolyn Graziani

www.LocalesDesign.com

Arjan is a graphic designer with over 25 years of experience working in the Toronto advertising world. Originally raised in Owen Sound, Arjan and his family left the Big Smoke in 2020 and built a home in Priceville. With a passion for conversation, Arjan loves connecting with local businesses to capture the heart and purpose behind each brand. Need some help getting clear on your logo and branding? Arjan’s your guy! He can create postcards, stationary, flyers for mail-outs, tradeshow banners, vehicle design wraps, real estate/ construction site signs, as well as online assets for social media, magazine ads, and websites. Arjan loves working with people to see their vision come to life! In his free time, you’ll find Arjan cycling the stunning landscape of Grey County and tending to his homestead with his wife, Allison, and their two daughters. They host guests at their air bnb “Kinfolk Cabin” and love introducing folks to the many incredible businesses in the area!

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

Habits, along with many other experts believe that it all comes down to one thing: our habits.

Our brains are wired for us to do what feels good; to be rewarded, even if it doesn’t serve our best interests (i.e., binge eating processed foods). Because these habits lead to a positive stimulus or outcome, they keep us stuck in a state that isn’t aligned with what our body truly needs to thrive.

Habit Change for Health

By: Kira Bauer

When it comes to feeling well, there are three main areas of focus that many of us require: eating nourishing foods, exercise, and getting adequate sleep. These pillars, when functioning optimally, are the foundations of vibrant health. And yet we have never been more sick, sedentary, sleep deprived, and dis-eased as we are today. So where do we start?

James Clear, respected author of Atomic

A valuable evidence-based tool that you can implement today for your health is called ‘habit stacking’. First, identify a current habit you already do each day, and then stack your new behaviour on top. For example: after you brush your teeth, go for a 10 minute walk.

And remember... small changes make for big rewards!

Looking for support in sustaining these changes? Let’s get in touch: kbauercoaching@gmail.com

KIRA BAUER

Beasts of the Southern Wild A First Hand Account of Automotive Culture Down South This Winter

By: Robert Iantorno

Vehicles project the paradigm of their owners -thus, car culture varies widely from place to place, and changes based on the people who inhabit the area and animate the machines. This past winter Down South was a fascinating exploration of this phenomenon.

St. Augustine Beach is a pleasant, surfy seaside strip on the North East side of Florida. It was home to the Timicua, and was then conquested by the Spanish in search of The Fountain of Youth. The long, slim strip of land is now home to a cohort of retirees from the Northeast US, mostly in search of the same. Sunsets are beautiful, people are friendly, and you can ride bicycles on the Sandy beach. Here, I saw plenty of old vans covered with kooky stickers, curtains on the windows and surfboards lashed to the roofs. All the vans were poorly maintained with squeaky brakes and dried out gaskets, but they just weren’t about that, man.

On a brief sojourn to New Orleans (I tried a Sazerac, ate beignets at Café du Monde, and found the city to be filthy and delightful), I spotted this buttercup yellow Thunderbird -ratty and fun; itself a filthy delight.

In rural Western Florida, the “No Trespassing” signs read, “POSTED”. The insinua-

tion is, “This here sign is POSTED. I have POSTED it and letting you know so that I can legally shoot you on my property.” People down in this part of the world are forthcoming and unapologetic about their politics and religion, and the machines are the same.

This nasty yellow Frankenstein of a Studebaker spotted in the parking lot at Coney Island Hotdogs in Webster. This, kids, is what we call a “Deathtrap” -a tube framed, fibreglass bodied dragster on slick tires. The big, jovial owner tells me that it’s been totalled twice, sawn apart and welded together repeatedly, and that it’s currently powered by stroked 390 Chevy engine making I-don’t-know-how-many horsepower (it doesn’t matter -it’s a lot). It’ll do 0-60 in 2.1 seconds, and it sounds and smells like it wants to hurt you. The owner has grease under his fingernails, wears suspenders and has a huge smile across his face as we talk about carburetors and zoomie headers. We each said, “you got

ROBERT IANTORNO

that right, Brother” more than once, then slapped high five. Then I proceeded to smash 2 foot long hot dogs and a Texas Chili burger. Things down here are straight forward.

The many RV Resorts in Florida host “Snowbirds”, a term broadly applied to transient or seasonal peoples who live in wheeled domciles. This way of life has a far reaching comaraderie and a culture of lending a hand and exchanging stories. At one of our RV resorts, I had the pleasure of attending Cars and Coffee each Wednesday with some gentlemen Snowbird gearheads, where we would sit for hours and geek out about our love of valve actuation, body lines and fuel delivery systems. My new buddy, Jim is originally from Illinois, and is a retired Master GM Mechanic with a profound connection to machines. Jim and his wife are “Full Timers”, meaning that they embrace RVing as a way of life. Doing so in this case required the humility to leave behind the physical manifestations of a love of vehicles, and instead opting to carry only the beautiful memories. Above is a spread of Jim’s personal vehicles, includ-

ing Jim astride his 1987 GSXR-1100 (this is significant, as I once owned a blue ‘86), complete with matching Dainese leathers and Shoei helmet -even a period-correct moustache.

I wrote this account while pulled over in our Vixen21TD (pictured bottom left), somewhere in North Carolina. Birds are singing, there’s a light rain, and we have begun the long trek back home having added thousands of miles and memories to the odometer. So what does this peculiar 1987 fibreglass RV project about us? I guess it’s that we don’t give up, that normalcy doesn’t cut it, and that we can’t help but ramble on down the road.

TRACTOR

WITH TYSON RIER

inch, full digital fuel gauges, 4 wheel steering, and premium engines. These are great machines. The X500 is the next step up in our line-up, with many of the same features as the X300’s. These offer larger engines and bigger tires which will help with traction. Once we step into the X700 series, the sky’s the limit. With available 4 wheel drive, 4 wheel steer and either gas or diesel engines, these are the ultimate mowing machine.

TYSON RIER

Spring has finally sprung and with the current discounts on at Huron Tractor, now is the time to get into a new riding mower.

With great cash discounts, no payment, and no interest options, as well as great financing options, a new mower is now more affordable than ever.

With many options to choose from we are sure to have a mower for every yard. Our X300 series is the perfect step up for somebody wanting a solid mower without breaking the bank, with deck sizes from 42 to 52

Across our line-up you will find warranties of up to 4 years. With our tractors we offer tons of attachments - everything from front mount snow blowers, rear dump carts, material collection systems, and available mulch-on-demand system, our machines will keep your property looking its best.

TYSON RIER, Salesman

Huron Tractor - Chatsworth (226) 668-2063

Connecting Oral Health & Heart Health

By: Candace McIntyre, RDH

This time of year is so exciting when the snow melts and vegetation starts to appear. One thing our family loves to do is grow our own veggies each summer. The size of garden doesn’t matter, but the benefits of getting additional vegetables into our diet can help overall health as well as oral health. My youngest son is not a fan of vegetables, but this same little man was often found in our pea patch and eating fresh carrots from the garden last summer,

which has led to an overall increase in his veggie intake. We will be planting another garden very soon so we can continue this trend of increasing our intake of healthy foods to improve our oral and overall health.

Dental hygienists want to remind everyone not to overlook their oral health when seeking to improve their physical well-being.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 80% of cases of premature heart disease and stroke are preventable through healthy living, eating, and daily habits. While quitting smoking and enjoying foods rich in vitamins A, C, and D are well-known strategies for reducing risks, developing a good daily oral care routine is also important. As Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) President Anne Caissie explains, “There are millions of bacteria in the mouth. Poor oral hygiene allows these bacteria to grow and spread into the bloodstream, where they may contribute to clogged arteries. Just as bad, if these bacteria reach your heart, they can cause a serious infection called endocarditis.”

Dental hygienists in Canada, essential primary health care providers, can help you understand the connections between oral and heart health.

Help to protect your oral and overall health by following five simple steps:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste.

2. Clean between the teeth and rinse with an antibacterial mouth-rinse daily.

3. Eat healthy foods and avoid sugary treats.

4. Eliminate tobacco use.

5. Visit your dental hygienist regularly.

For more information visit:

www.dentalhygienecanada.ca/hearthealth

Candy McIntyre

Registered Dental Hygienist with Shine-1-1 Mobile Dental Hygiene

www.shine-1-1.ca

(519) 373-3519

One of the things that I am seeing in my practice is the growing popularity of “do it yourself” packages. I have seen fill-in-theblank wills that are terrible, and will likely cause more problems for the estate than if there was no will at all. I have successfully challenged and overturned, fill-in-theblank separation agreements, which one judge described as “not worth the paper it was written on”.

There is no shortage of unscrupulous vendors online willing to sell you these “magical” documents. Many of them are not specific to Ontario, some are not even Canadian and do not comply with statutes like the Family Law Act. No one wants to have to retain a lawyer. I think we are more dreaded than the dentist chair (no offense to dentists). However, I have seen many cases where people ended up spending more money trying to untangle the mess resulting from these types of agreements than what they would have spent if they had simply obtained the services of a professional to draft a proper document.

It is not just the drafting of the document

itself that is important. You could have a beautifully composed will, but do you know how to properly execute a will? It is kind of important.

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BLUE BOX

My last name always reminds me I was born, “one starry night”, in the Netherlands. However I am proud to call Canada my home!

The Netherlands produce a high average of 2500 kg per person of waste, (720 kg in Canada), but the Dutch also recycle 1700 kg, (75%) of that total. They also use the highest % of recycled materials in their manufacturing processes. In Canada we only recycle 30% of our waste.

They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Consider this please. I am always gobsmacked at how many receipts I’m presented with when I shop locally. If I want them or not, they get printed and if I refuse to take them, they end up in the landfill.

Imagine no receipts. How many trees could be saved? How much less CO2 would be produced? How much landfill saved? An error made by a salesclerk two days ago

produced, for me, a receipt of nearly TWO FEET!!

Of the three R’s please remember that REDUCE is the most important.

JASON TODOROFF

JOHN VAN GOCH

For Markdale artist Delia Eastwood, it almost always begins with a few colours and a sense of pattern. The relationship between the two is what fascinates her, even more than the subject, if there is one. As a child, she would draw and sketch using magic markers. Doodle art was her passion. Wallpaper patterns and album covers were a constant source of inspiration.

After completing high school in Waterdown, it likely surprised no one that Delia enrolled in the Graphic Arts program at Sheridan College. It became clear to her in the first term that she was not a good fit for the program. Delia was not as detail oriented as the program demanded, given that most of its graduates were looking for a career as commercial artists somewhere. Her second term saw a shift to the Liberal Arts, but at the end of the year, she decided not to pursue the diploma.

The experience at college, however, did yield one very important result for her. She was introduced to Betty Edwards “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain”. It was life changing for Delia. For the first time, she saw drawing as something which could be learned, as opposed to something she just did. It also opened the door to an understanding of drawing as a meditative process, a spiritual journey. Undoubtedly, the practical exercises the book offered were useful, and the discipline and commitment they instilled in the young artist were undeniable, but for Delia, the most significant benefit she received from the book’s influence were the meditative qualities inherent in working without words above and beyond the intended lesson. Much of this she attributed to the similarities of the drawing exercises to the meditative process--- simple materials, privacy, stillness, and focus.

Once she elected not to return to college, Delia spent a couple of years in the food service industry. In many ways, this would be her apprenticeship, for she continued to practice her drawing. To establish her value as a professional artist, it would be all about her commitment and her approach. She understood inherently that the work she was doing during this period was not only part of her developmental process, it also served as a diary.

Although Delia did not really know what she wanted to do with her life back then, she did know that drawing would continue to be a part of it. So would her ongoing education. She enrolled at McMaster University, studying Philosophy for a couple of years, and finishing her degree with an emphasis on fine art. After graduation, she married, moved to Markdale, where she had three children, all the while continuing to draw as time permitted.

Over the years, whatever her job, whether a stint at Chapman’s or her time as a bookkeeper, her drawing, and increasingly, her painting was the throughline in her life. The pandemic, strangely enough, was good for her art, resulting in her leaving her job to concentrate on her work. She approaches each piece in a fresh way, almost like improvisation. The composition was planned, the undercoat was planned, but beyond that, the product was a response to what had already been done. It invariably grew out of a drawing, but she would often impose rules, like sketching to a clock as an exercise, for example. Like Harold Klunder, the individual piece is layered, and that takes time. To some degree, they are never really finished in her mind. Each painting is then signed and dated, but never titled, beyond as a reference the buyer creates.

Although every work becomes a moment in time, time itself remains fluid.

By: Kevin Land