We’ve used all of our grant funds provided us by the Oregon Country Fair this past year and until we can get additional grant funding, we need to strictly adhere to our limits on the number of copies we print each issue. We’ve allotted ourselves three toner cartridges for each at a cost of ~$170 per cartridge. I usually get about 600 copies out of the three cartridges, depending on how well they stretch. We’ve printed all 600 of them and have distributed over 500 of them through subscriptions, distribution sites and restocks. The remaining ones aren’t going to last much longer. I can maybe squeeze another 30-50 copies out of the remaining cartridge.

So, we’re counting on our readers and supporters to help us once again with letters of support, subscriptions, advertising and donations to keep us going. We could also use a few more sales of our poetry chapbooks. They make wonderful inexpensive Christmas and holiday gifts for friends and family. The 2-volume set is $10; individually, the books are $6 each. They can be ordered directly from us on-line (http://www.groundwaterspublishing.com/Poetry_chapbook_ad.html) or via mail at P.O. Box 50, Lorane, OR 97451. They are also available at the Broadway Events Center in Veneta or at the Groundwaters production office in Lorane (call ahead at 344-0986).

Thanks to all of you for your great help and support in keeping Groundwaters in print!

I keep looking towards Fall and the feeling I get when the weather turns nasty… when I can snuggle into the warmth and comfort of home without feeling guilty that I’m not out working in the yard, mowing grass or driving a tractor. Actually, I love to work in the yard, ride my lawn mower in slow, lazy circuits of the yard and even drive the tractor… for awhile, anyway. It gives me the time for reflection and a chance to gather my thoughts as I make those HUGE slow, never-ending, lazy circuits of the hayfields. But, as I get older, the heat and rays from the sun play havoc with my energy level.

This summer has been a particularly difficult one for our family. I’d like to write off the worries and concerns over health and personal issues of family members. Fortunately, some are being resolved; others are being accepted. We’re no different than most other families. It’s just that ours has been so fortunate and seemingly blessed for so long, that it is hard to watch any of our special people hurting.

Despite my focus on other things, I think our readers are going to agree that the October 2009 “journey” issue of Groundwaters is something special. Our cover, I believe, is one of our best and the stories and poetry inside are wonderful, as usual. Enjoy!

Jennifer Chambers, her husband Ryan and two sons, Riley and Quinn, camped out at the Oregon Country Fair as they usually do. Jen works in the OCF’s General Store each year. She distributed quite a few copies of Groundwaters. The Chambers family have also taken a couple of mini-vacations.

Jim Burnett and his wife Jonni have decided that their short-lived days of retirement, roaming the U.S. with their 5th-wheel RV home in tow were going to have to come to an end. The price of gas and health issues dictated that they put down roots and be content with occasional vacations, instead. They just purchased a home in the Portland area and he will continue to work with us via email and occasional visits.

It was a long haying season for Jim and me. In fact, Jim is baling the last five acres today… much too late in the season for the hay to be top quality, but with periods of unsettled weather, thunderstorms and hot weather that shut down mowing operations after 1:00 p.m. and equipment breakdowns, it seemed to go on and on and on for us this year. Inspired by Norm Maxwell’s story that he wrote for the April issue of Groundwaters, we made reservations to stay at Crater Lake for two nights this month as a late 45th anniversary celebration. We aren’t going to stay at the lodge. We decided that the cabins were more our style. I made reservations for the boat tour, too, which we’re both looking forward to. Even though I’ve lived in Oregon most of my life, I’ve never been to Crater Lake. It will be a nice break for us. Someday, we’ll get a longer vacation in, but for now, we enjoy sticking close to home. The long ones are fun to do with family.

We’ve begun work on the October “journey” issue. We have a beautiful cover by Alix Mosieur for it and have already received several wonderful submissions, both prose and poetry. I think our readers are going to be pleased…

The Chateau Lorane Fine Art and Wine Festival, held over Memorial Day weekend, was the first time that Groundwaters has hosted an Oregon Author book signing event. The three days spent lakeside at beautiful Chateau Lorane Winery near Lorane was a wonderful experience for all of us who participated. Our tables were set up in front of the art display building and everyone who entered the festival walked past our tables. We had four or five invited published authors in attendance at all times and Groundwaters had its own table where some of our regular contributors handed out back issues of the magazine and signed copies of their articles, stories and poems for people who wanted autographs.

On the first day, Saturday, May 23, the Groundwaters table was manned by Bridgett Johnson-Elliott, Millie Graves and Jean Marie Purcell. Gary Lewis was there, too, to provide back-up. Our published Oregon Authors that day included Jo-Brew, Marva Dasef, Dan Armstrong, Robert Chambers and our own Jen Chambers was there taking orders for her soon-to-be-published book, Living Life Again. I was there all three days with my own book, From Sawdust and Cider to Wine. Marna Hing, my co-author on the first S&C book, joined me on the first day, too.

Sunday, May 24, was our biggest day as far as sales and people stopping by the table. Groundwaters was represented by Norm Maxwell, Pat Broome, Gary Lewis and Jean Marie Purcell. Our Oregon Authors included Carola Dunn, Dan Armstrong, Jo-Brew, Sharon Brandsma, Joey Blum and Nick DeAngelo with his book of panels from his comic strip, Just Add Water.

The final day, Monday, May 25, brought Gary Lewis and Tom Howell to the Groundwaters table and Oregon Authors were Douglas Card, Joe Blakley and Marva Dasef.

The book sales weren’t too brisk, but the company and the venue were exceptional. Everyone is hoping that we’ll be invited back next year.

Thanks to all of you who took part in the event!

The last two months have been extremely busy and stressful for me and I’ll be glad when things can settle down a bit. Some of the things — the poetry chapbook, the author’s table, preparing the July issue of Groundwaters and submitting a new grant application — have all been very enjoyable, too; but, with them all being overlaid, one upon the other, without any break in between, it kept me jumping. Add to all of that was the fact that a very special brother-in-law has been very ill for the past two months, in almost constant pain and misery. Our whole family has been trying to help John and his wife Vicki keep their animals fed and their yardwork done so that when he returned to good health, their home life would not be in ruins. I’m glad to report that John is home from the hospital and although he’s not well yet, he’s on the road to recovery. Thanks to all of you who have been sending your prayers his way.

Haying season is now upon us, as well. In fact, I’m using a little time to write this blog before heading to Coastal Farm Store to buy some baling twine. Then, I’ll climb aboard our tractor for a day of raking hay in our Lorane fields.

We finished folding and stapling our July issue on Tuesday and I dropped them off at most of the distribution points that same day. We still have to make runs to Cottage Grove and Creswell. The subscription and contributor mailing has gone out, as well. This issue is jam-packed with poetry this time… much of it submitted as “extras” by those contributing to our book of poetry. I was very very impressed by the quality of the the submissions, poetry and prose alike, and I think that you’ll enjoy this issue. We have several new contributors and many of our regulars. I must apologize for the print quality of this issue. We are experimenting with using some “compatible” or “remanufactured” toner cartridges. The authentic HP cartridges which we have always used are skyrocketing in price… $180 to over $200 each when you add in shipping… and we use three cartridges each issue. Our regular supplier, in fact, did not even have any of the HPs on hand this time and most are going to the compatibles. The compatibles sell for half that price. Some of them work just as well as the HPs, but many do not. The one we tried this time was not one of the good ones and the pictures are not as sharp and the print is lighter than I like. Fortunately, it was used for only one-third of the printing. So, if your copy looks a little dim, that’s why and I apologize! I promise to figure out something that will maintain our normal high-quality print standards.

Well, it’s time to head for town. I’ll see if I can do a better job of keeping you posted on what’s happening with Groundwaters. And, please send us your feedback on the July issue. We love to hear from you!!

Come see Jen and I at the Art in the Vineyard celebration at Alton Baker Park on Friday, July 3. We’ll be at the author’s table!

The ART, Inc.’s “Open Mike Poetry Night” and the Oregon Country Fair of the presentation of the $1,500 grant award to The Groundwaters Magazine Project was a big success. We had more than 20 people in attendance. The Oregon Country Fair was represented by Clare Feighan, who presented the check, Charlie Ruff and Steve Wisnovsky. Jen Chambers, Pat Broome and I represented the Groundwaters staff. We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the board of the Oregon Country Fair who demonstrated their support in our efforts.

Since our last blog entry, a lot of things have been happening with Groundwaters. We have been wanting to put together some chapbooks to promote the magazine, showcase some of our contributors and provide a means to raise funds towards the costs of buying a new printer for use in producing the magazine. When we accepted the job of sponsoring and organizing an author’s table at the Chateau Lorane Fine Art and Wine Festival in Lorane on Memorial Day weekend, we decided it was the perfect time to design a book of poetry – The Best of Groundwaters – that we could introduce to the public. (Please note: I will write a separate blog on our fun experience at the Chateau Lorane Fine Art and Wine Festival.)

We contacted our poet/contributors who had published more than three poems with us over the years to ask their permission to use some of their poems. We had such a good response, that by the publication deadline, we had enough to fill two-volumes of the book. The books are now available for sale. See the ad for them in the July 2009 issue of Groundwaters or the ad on the home page of our website at http://www.groundwaterspublishing.com.

After a short hiatus, we are now back on-line with our blog. It was necessary for us to restructure the blog on our own website instead of on Pat’s Sawdust and Cider site where it was set up. The former blog entries are not lost, however… if you want to read all of what went on previous to this entry, please go to http://sawdustandcider.com/blog1/

After a short hiatus, we are now back on-line with our blog. It was necessary for us to restructure the blog on our own website instead of on Pat’s Sawdust and Cider site where it was set up. The former blog entries are not lost, however… if you want to read all of what went on previous to this entry, please go to http://sawdustandcider.com/blog1/

Please send us your comments and feedback on not only this blog, but on Groundwaters Magazine, Groundwaters Publishing, LLC and on our services. It’s always good to find out how what we are doing is being received by our readers. Thanks always for your support!