Tea. Toast. and Trivia.

Season 2 Episode 52: Martha’s Story

I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Manitoba Canada. That was my home growing up. If you look at a map of Canada, Manitoba is the in the centre of the country with its provincial neighbours, Saskatchewan to the west, Ontario to the East, and to the north, the territory of Nunavut. To the South, we share the US/Canadian Border with North Dakota and Minnesota.

You may know of some others who came from Manitoba. Neil Young, Burton Cummings/The Guess Who, Randy Bachman/Bachman Turner Overdrive, Bif Naked and Fred Penner. In fact, Tom Cochrane lived for a time in my hometown of Lynn Lake. From literary authur, Carol Shields, to WWII spymaster Sir William Stephenson who was the inspiration for James Bond, to Bobby Hull of the Winnipeg Jets, to the character of Winnie-the Pooh who was named after Manitoba’s capital city Winnipeg – Manitoba is a place of many stories.

Today I want to go back to the past, and hear a story from the 1940’s. It all started when I left Lynn Lake to attend college. That was when I first met Martha. Students in residence at the college were given a task. Martha was a library helper, and I was given the task of vacuuming the library. Martha became a librarian, and I well, I still enjoy taking the vacuum out for a spin.

This is Martha’s story to tell, but there are times when it is impossible to connect across the miles via technology. Thankfully, letter writing continues to thrive. While Martha cannot be present in the form of her actual voice, she has given me permission to share the story of her parents, Diedrich and Sarah, and of their life on the farm in the 1940’s. For those who have listened to my conversations with my mother, Frances, you will see the similarities of communities working together.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this vibrant discussion on Tea, Toast & Trivia.com.

Season 2 Episode 51: The Trio on Dunbar’s Number

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada.  What better time than today to discussion the idea of friendship?

I am joined by my mother, Frances, and my sister, Sarah, to consider Dunbar’s number, which is a theoretical limit to the number of people with whom any individual can sustain a stable or meaningful social relationship.  This term was first proposed in the 1990’s by Robin Dunbar, a British anthropologist and psychologist.  The number that is suggested is 150 people.

Does Dunbar’s number signify friendship?  How do we define friendship?  Is friendship the same as a stable or meaningful social relationship?

We invite you to put the kettle on and add to the conversation.  We would love to hear your thoughts on TeaToastTrivia.com

I am your host Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

S 2 E50: Klausbernd Vollmar on Colours of Life

"Every colour has its personality and a different impact on us. Colour sends out a vibration like every person does. This vibration interferes with that of its onlooker. That’s why we like certain colours and dislike others even if this is mostly unconsciously.." Klausbernd Vollmar, Scientific Psychologist, Author

I am travelling over 7,500 kilometers to  Cley-Next-The-Sea, an idyllic artists’ village situated on the River Glaven in Norfolk, England. I am meeting up with my dear blogger friend, and professional author, Klausbernd Vollmar, who is an authority on colour theory and in the language of symbols in dreams and art.

Klausbernd Vollmar graduated with a (MA) in German and Nordic literature, philosophy, geology, and linguistics at the University of Bochum/Germany. In Finland and Germany, he worked as assistant professor specializing in symbol systems. Winning a postgraduate scholarship by the Canada Council , he came to Canada and worked for four years as lecturer at the McGill University/Montreal. He was an editor of several magazines in Germany, Canada, and Greece.

Klausbernd studied and graduated in general and clinical psychology at the Ruhr-University/Germany. Working in Germany and England in a private practice, his writing specialized on colour and symbolism.  His website is www.kbvollmar.com

I enjoy following the extraordinary adventures of The Fab Four of Cley on their blog, The World According to Dina. I continue to learn from the vibrant discussions that open new avenues of exploration.

I am thrilled that Klausbernd has graciously agreed to share his insights on colour theory with us on Tea Toast & Trivia podcast.  He wrote that “I dealt life long with colours as my friends.”

This is your invitation to join Klausbernd and me in an extraordinary conversation on the vitality and influence of colour in our lives. So, put the kettle on add to this exciting discussion on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Dear listeners, thank you for joining Klausbernd and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And remember –  you are only an internet click away from Klausbernd on The World According to Dina, where you will meet up with The Fab Four of Cley. It is a place that welcomes life-affirming discussions.  Until next time, stay safe, be well.

Season 2 Episode 49: Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene on Writing Steampunk

just finished reading a riveting tale of an old lost Valentine and the shenanigans that ensue when it turns up. The intrepid, Fiona Finch, and her brother Steele – along with a helping “wing” from Quellie the duck, work to bring two long ago sweethearts back together.  This story is a Steampunk Novelette. Steampunk is a new word for me and the first time I have encountered Steampunk literature.  I want to know more about this form of writing

Today, I am connecting across the miles to meet up with my blogger friend, Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene, the writer who gave us ,“Fiona Finch and the Pink Valentine: A Steampunk Novelette.”

Be prepared for an exciting adventure – Teagan is taking us back into time. But first put the kettle on and add your thoughts on Tea Toast & Trivia.

I am your host Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Thank you for joining Teagan and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a very special thank you and shout out to you, Teagan – I enjoy our conversations and following your remarkable blog.

Hullaba Lulu, a Dieselpunk Adventure is finally at the dieselpunk train station.  Teagan has given us another brilliant escapade. We are embarking on a wild and woolly 1920s fantasy story. I am looking forward to meeting Lulu and tagging alone on her adventure.

Listeners,  I invite your to meet up with Teagan at  https://teagansbooks.com/ You are only an internet click away from being swept away on a daring adventure.

Teagan on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13707141.Teagan_Geneviene

You can also visit Teagan at:

Season 2 Episode 48: Mary Jo Malo on a Poet’s Calling

A word has power

Mary Jo Malo, Stele

I am your host Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.  There are times when it is impossible to connect across the miles via technology.  Today, Mary Jo Malo and I are establishing a new dynamic in podcasting in the form of letter writing, which many consider a lost art.  And yet, Mary Jo and I believe that letter writing has not been forgotten.

Thank you dear listeners,  for joining Mary Jo and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a very special thank you and shout out to Mary Jo.  I invite you to meet up with Mary Jo on her blog, This Shining Wound, Original Poetry by Mary Jo Malo.  It is a place where the music of words dwell. 

Until next time, stay safe, be well.

Season 2 Episode 47: Tides of Change with Joan Dunnett

It is May 1704, and we are at sea just off the east coast of Scotland….

“James Lightfoot didn’t want to be put ashore at Figgate Whins. It was a dangerous place. He might be robbed of his remaining few possessions. He waited on the deck of the merchantman while the crew loaded bundles onto the boat: probably luxury goods to be smuggled into England. The ship’s legitimate cargo was bound for Leith.” Joan Dunnett, Tides of Change.

Pirates, spies, danger, and Scotland are all found in my current read, “Tides of Change.”

You will be happy to know that I am heading over to Edinburgh, Scotland today to meet up with Joan Dunnett, the author of “Tides of Change.”  We are going back in time, so take a warm coat and be prepared for an extraordinary journey.  But first, put the kettle on and add to the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am your host Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Thank you for joining Joan and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you, Joan, for sharing your love of history and storytelling.  And a shout out to my dear blogger friend and frequent podcast guest, Liz Humphreys, from “Leaping Life” who recommended, “Tides of Change.”  I am adding my recommendation to Liz’s and invite you to meet up with Joan Dunnett on Goodreads.  You are only an internet click away from being swept away on a daring adventure.  Until next time we meet, be safe and be well.

I am joined by my mother, Frances, and my sister, Sarah, to share our thoughts on milestones.  What are they?  When to they occur?  How do we remember and celebrate these pivotal moments?

So put the kettle on and add to the conversation.  We would love to hear your thoughts on TeaToastTrivia.com

I am your host Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

“Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead.” Nelson Mandela

Season 2 Episode 45: Brian on Fear of Missing Out

I am you host, Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.  Today,  I’m heading over the Canadian Rockies to St. Albert, Alberta.

Brian, my brother, has come back to continue the conversation  on embracing a greater journey. In our last podcast, we discussed the stages of life, from childhood to old age.  How do we live the fullest in that stage of life that we find ourselves in? How do we embrace the twists and turns that life gives us? How do we gracefully give up the things of youth and embrace the age of active wisdom?

Today, Brian and I will be discussing FOMO, which is the short form of “fear of missing out” is that uncomfortable, even anxious, feeling you get when think that other people might be having a good time without you.  Going back to the stage concept, FOMO can happen at any place on that life I understand that this can happen at any point on that “from childhood to old age” timeline.

So put the kettle on and add to the conversation on TeaToastTrivia.com

Season 2 Episode 44: Heading into the Library with Dave Astor

Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.” Neil Gaiman

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in.

Dave Astor and I are once again  bridging the 3,923 kilometers between New Jersey to Vancouver. Today, we are heading to the library.

So, listeners, put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on TeaToastTrivia. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Welcome Dave, thank you stopping by for a visit. You once said that “Books are there for us, even in the most difficult of circumstances.” If books are the best companions and a comfort during times of uncertainty, libraries are the places to go to build our resilience and courage.

We are entering our fourth month of what I call the Covid19 solitude, which began on March 11, 2020 when the WHO declared a pandemic. During this time, libraries have closed their doors but have continued to be an invaluable resource and guide to the virtual and digital world.  Dave and I are celebrating libraries and librarians who share their knowledge, wisdom, and experience.

Thank you for joining Dave and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a very special thank you and shout out to Dave. He continues to inspire me.  You can connect with Dave on Dave Astor on Literature. There is always an adventure in reading waiting for your arrival on his blog.

Season 2 Episode 43: Elizabeth Gauffreau on Tanka Poetry

Wilderness Tanka

snowy wilderness

Elizabeth Gauffreau, Tanka Poetry

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in.

I am delighted and thrilled  that my dear friend,  writer and poet, Elizabeth Gauffreau, has come back to share her insights into an ancient style of poetry.  We are once again bridging the 3897 kilometers, as the crow flies,  between New Hampshire and Vancouver.

Several months ago, Liz introduced me to Tanka poetry.  In a few words, emotions, memories, and intentions come together.  This is going to be an exciting conversation. So put the kettle on and add to the discussion on Tea Toast & Trivia.