Sunny Summer Days

Hi Penples!

We are now halfway through 2026, and we are excitedly looking forward to our 5th annual (!!) Pen meet at Deas Island Park on June 14! I was shocked when Sharon sent me the email that noted the 5th anniversary, and she congratulated me for all my (cough cough) work?

Let’s get it straight, my friends: Sharon is the muscle behind all of this. She schedules, organizes, prepares notices, bakes cookies, and even puts up the rental fee! I do nothing.

But oh, how I enjoy being in a green park on a sunny west coast afternoon, surrounded by woods, breathing the pacific air and mixing with my favourite people. We are so blessed to be a part of this community and enjoy seeing it grow.

We had a conversation at our Thursday meeting of The South Fraser Pen Club in the lovely village of Cloverdale, BC. It was around the idea of ourselves as caretakers, not consumers of vintage pens. We get the pleasure of their use and their beauty for a time and pass them off to someone else who will love and treasure them as much or more than we. Perhaps it is our way of mollifying some misplaced guilt for our peculiar fetish, but knowing that others will take them on after us is a pleasing thought.

So, if there is any way you can make it next Sunday to the Park in Delta, BC, there will be many of us anxious to let you see and enjoy pens, inks and paper that gives us all such a thrill. You are encouraged to bring treats or snacks to share, and Sharon is planning on making some of her fabulous cookies.

Business for us has been going quite well and our reach is expanding across Canada, as we had hoped it would. Several of our dearest friends have recently graced us with some particularly beautiful and rare pieces which really does make us all the more grateful for them sharing their precious time with us.

I sincerely hope all of you readers can enjoy the coming months in peace and health, and we look forward to seeing and chatting with you any time.