Heritage Salvage: Reclaimed Stories
Read this book and you’ll never look at an old barn the same way again. You’ll also realize that at least one of your favorite Bay Area restaurants and buildings probably features something created by Heritage Salvage. Most likely, you’ll recognize many of them.
Authored by Michael “Bug” Deakin [see “Go with the Grain,” Sept. 2013], Heritage Salvage: Reclaimed Stories not only features tales of buildings past, but also covers the man behind their repurposed magic. It’s heavily illustrated with photographs and other memories, and takes readers on a journey that explains Deakin’s love for breathing new life into wood salvaged from buildings, silos, elevators, fallen trees and other sources. It tells the tales of many people who’ve influenced and inspired him, and includes a foreword by Julia Butterfly Hill.
Readers are reminded of the importance of sustainability and of a true appreciation for our environment. It describes redwood trees as fog catchers (yes, that’s how they get their water) and weaves tales of family, friends, travel and more. It emphasizes Deakin’s desire to reinvigorate small, seemingly hopeless towns by repurposing their forgotten buildings—thus creating jobs, community, art and a renewed vitality. And it reminds us that taking steps toward preserving our environment for future generations is a very positive path. Find it at your local bookstore or Amazon.com.
Light Verse for Dark Days
Feeling stressed? Spike the Chicken can help. She’s written a book of uplifting limericks so you can shift your perspective and focus on the positive. It’s short, sweet and to-the-point, tackling anxiety, transition, creativity, job loss and the search for happiness. You could read it all in one short sitting, but we suggest taking it slow and letting a new limerick light up your day when you need it most.
OK, it’s not really a chicken that wrote the book (although it’s named after the author’s queen of the roost), it’s one of our long-time freelance writers, Bonnie Durrance. Based in Napa, Durrance is both a writer and visual artist. You’ll enjoy her whimsical illustrations on each page as well. Find it on Amazon or Lulu.com and then get ready to smile.
New World
First came a beautifully illustrated poster of a wise-looking man in what looked to be an enchanted forest. The words: “Something ‘wickedly’ wonderful your way comes…keep an eye out!” were written on the upper-right corner, along with the initials G.W.K. (Norm immediately decided it was his, and he now keeps it in his office.)
Obviously, we were intrigued. What was going to happen? So we waited (somewhat impatiently) for the self-described wonderful moment to arrive.A few days later, another package came in the mail with the same handwriting. “Hey! This is it!” we thought. And it was. Turns out that’s a musician on the poster.
Singer-songwriter Gary Wm. Koehler’s new CD (the first he’s released in nine years), “New World,” features multilayered melodies and touching lyrics about life, love, loss and hope. It features Koehler on lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Bernie Chiaravalle on backup vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, ukulele, drums and percussion; and Tim Lorsch on violin, cello and mandolin. The result is certainly a “wickedly” wonderful journey, and we’re so glad he shared it with us.
Its cover (which is the same image that’s on the poster) is by Disney artist Bruce Eagle, and the CD is dedicated to him, as he passed shortly before it was released. Koehler, who’s been playing guitar and writing songs since age 14, has released five CDs over the years. “I’m still enjoying the magic of it all,” he says. “I’ve been championing singer/songwriters all my life, from promoting small venues to large ones with Michael McDonald.
“I did a series of concerts in the caves at Dutch Henry Winery, I called them ‘Cave Ins.’ Now I’m at Capp Heritage [downtown Napa] and will be hosting a series called ‘Songwriters in the Rounds’ featuring singer/songwriters performing their own material in a performance/storytelling venue. We have a beautiful 1930s Art Deco lounge as our setting.” The series is planned to begin later this year and will continue indefinitely. Email Koehler at gary@garykoehler.com to order a copy of the CD or to learn more.
