Aaron A. Lehman
Author of Dog Island Trilogy
Aaron A. Lehman New web page
Mystery on Dog Island
Chapter1
Chapter 1
Grease! Raymond had grease everywhere.
He had smears of the slippery, gooey stuff on his hands and face and stuck in his long, black hair. Grease decorated the walls, dripped from the ceiling
and a black slime oozed from cracks in the floor of the old, two car garage, revealing a history of wrecked cars waiting for
repairs. Even the cracked windows on the big overhead door, that drooped on one
side, had grease spots. The smell of exhaust filled the air.
Mom’s not going to be happy about the grease on my pants, Raymond thought. Why should I care? Good mechanics just get greasy and
I love it.
New Offer for Teachers!
By Author
Aaron A. Lehman
Purchase a set of the Mystery series books and get a Free Teacher’s Guide!
Get a package valued at $60.00 for $40.00
Mystery on Dog Island matches the Alberta Curriculum for Grade 5 Social Studies and Grade 6 English. The Teacher’s Guide gives specific lesson plans with activities that match the
curriculum objectives. The Teacher’s Guide can be used with all three of
the books in the Mystery series and can be adapted to any course and grade level that requires content with an Aboriginal
perspective.
Mystery on Dog Island
Return to Dog Island
North of Dog Island www.blcitours.com
Teacher's
Guide
For
Mystery
on Dog Island
By
Aaron A. Lehman
The Mystery Series is coordinated with the Alberta Grade Five Curriculum
Contact me if you are interested in a copy and wish to write a review.
aaronl@incentre.net
View a page from the Teacher's Guide on Aaron's Blog
Aaron's Blog
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Two black sentinels Standing in a sea of green Contrasting our moods |
Not all of Slave Lake is black and charred. Visit us and see the beauty of the area.
New trees from old.
From black to green.
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Presentation in Red Earth today. Success. |
Rain
Copyright June 10, 2011
Aaron A. Lehman
Parched
garden cries out
God of fire
God of rain weeps
Tears descend
to earth
Darkened
skies cool breeze
Gentle rain
drops imprint char
Earth swallows
moisture
Air cleansed
of pollen
Captured
dust turned into mud
Breathe
easy fresh air
T-shirts Edmonton Fire Dept. Fund raiser for SL |
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Evacuation
By Aaron A. Lehman
Special to Canadian Mennonite
“Where have you been today?” the customs officer at the Edmonton International Airport asked.
My wife
Winifred named the places: “Meridian, Miss.; Atlanta, Ga.; Minneapolis, Minn., and here.”
“What have
you heard about Slave Lake?”
“We haven’t heard anything since we left home eight days ago.”
“Slave
Lake is on fire.”
“You mean a forest fire?”
“Yes, and the town.”
“Oh
no!”
“I’m sorry. Go ahead.”
At 1 a.m. on May 17, our emotions tumbled forth. We were
tired from the long trip, waiting in terminals, eating airport food and dealing with a delayed flight. Now, an hour behind
schedule, we were standing bewildered waiting at the baggage claim.
Our trip to Mississippi had been planned for some
time, the latest in several Voluntary Service reunions for us. We had a great time of sharing and fellowship, listening to
the night sounds of frogs, cicadas and other animals.
“Slave Lake may have ice and snow during a long winter,
but we don’t have to worry about tornadoes and floods,” I recall saying, oblivious to what was happening in Slave
Lake at that very moment. I had forgotten—or ignored—the fact that we live in the middle of the Boreal Forest,
prone to forest fires in May.
At this time in Slave Lake, some seven thousand people and numerous pets were being evacuated.
Some barely escaped with their lives as acrid smoke darkened the sky and surging flames torched their homes and businesses.
How
could this have happened? As is often the case in northern Alberta in May, there are days with southeast winds that bring
hot, dry air. Everyone enjoys these spring days.
All was fine until May 14, when a spark ignited dry grass east of
town. Such fires are common in our area. The forest service was prepared to take immediate action. Firefighters were called
in. Air tankers and helicopters with buckets scooped up water from the lake and dropped it and flame retardant on the fire.
But
wind was the culprit. Fanned by strong winds, the fires got out of control. By that evening, a combination of abnormal factors
combined to bring a forest fire “tsunami,” as one firefighter described it, over the town. Winds of 100 kilometres
per hour made it too dangerous to use air tankers or helicopters. Fire-fighters bravely battled the onslaught, but lost. Most
of the institutions, including schools and the hospital, were saved. The new library, town office and some 300 homes were
gone by the next day, however.
At the last minute, residents hopped into their vehicles and joined the procession out
of town. Some saw their houses flash into flames as they drove away. They gathered again in evacuation centres in Smith, Westlock,
Athabasca and Edmonton, to hug and share stories and get aid provided by generous Alberta donors. We met our family members
in Edmonton and learned that our places were spared, but homes of our neighbours and friends were lost. Courageous actions
by firefighters ensured no one died.
Finally, the call has come to go home. Everyone will need to help rebuild the
community. Some people will need more help than others, but there is a strong community spirit and we will get it done.
God of My Dreams Copyright 2011 Aaron A. Lehman
Chorus:
You’re God of the mountains
and God of the streams
You’re God of the sunshine
and God of my dreams
You’re God of the thunder
that brings us the rain
Through all of the turmoil
My God you’ll remain
Verse:
You’re God of the valley
with rivers that flow
Some times rising high
sometimes very low
You’re God of the good times
with friends all around
Other times the friends can
never be found
Chorus
You’re God of the blessings
we rarely admit
It’s easy to blame you
for the wrongs we commit
You’re God through the heartache
and the sorrow it brings
Yet after the trouble
a thankful heart sings
Chorus
Haiku for Slave Lake (2)
Copyright May 28, 2011
Aaron A. Lehman
Coming home Yahoo
Maybe not what’s there to find
Town is burned out yuk
Acrid smoke stink rot
Be aware bears may be there
Wildlife lost home too
How can I help you
Freezer in basement food spoiled
Strong muscles up stairs
Burned trees gnarled in wind
Buds replaced drops of black char
Pale green hint of life
Moaning throat tightens
Choke back tears for what was lost
Hug from friend see smile
Crying for dog cat
Will they know we still love them
Burst of fur jumps licks
Power gas water
Technician restores service
Done done and done thanks
Stop by for coffee
Tell your story heal the pain
Step up help neighbor
Writing well goes dry
Sucked out by a raging fire
Small bubble springs hope
Fire burst of red
Flames leap high smoke billows up
Who should leave who stays
Puppy left behind
Pets lost we cry in the night
SPCA hope
Tears for Slave Lakers
Fire storm houses flame lost
Evacuation
Flee who will help us
Friends strangers all Albertans
No words to thank you
Crushed hopeless crying
Hope comes on wings of our friends
Look up help is near
Wait and wait some more
Kids screaming want to go home
No home to go to
Teddy bear gone ash
Bicycle melted down gone
Friends found in strange town
Spring rains cool Slave Lake
Town fires contained soon go home
Phase one two three four
Follow officer
No one crosses chain link fence
See devastation
Some homes still standing
Fire fighters heroes stand tall
Men and women thanks
Some homes an ash pile
See through tears stomach churns pain
Accuse in anger
Officials take blame
Try to explain no one’s fault
Did the best they could
Healing begins now
Pick up the task get involved
See you in Slave Lake
Aaron's Blog
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Picture and Haiku by Aaron A. Lehman |
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Picture and Haiku by Aaron A. Lehman |
New Haiku
A new story and some Haiku
New songs on my blog:
Long Haul
Sugar Shanty Blues
Mystery on Dog Island is now available from Kindle. Here is the url. Copy and paste. Let
me know if it doesn't work.
Northern Alberta Authors' Gathering in Slave Lake Feb. 19, 2011.
Check out the new short stories on my blog.
Song: Long Haul
Song: Sugar Shanty Blues
Song: Ten Mile Ride
Bird in Hand
Cops and Robbers
Marooned on Dog Island
Louis David Riel
Shields, Swords, and Race Cars
Bubbles
Tornado
Trainload of Trouble
The Sugar Shanty
Book Order Form
Eileen Schuh Alberta Author
Need a gift for a young reader, or someone special? A Gift package of the Dog Island trilogy
is $40.00. E-mail me or use the order form.
Sales are going well at Sobeys again this year. Check in the book section or give me an e-mail.
Aaron was selling and signing books at the Slave Lake Christmas Craft Sale on Nov. 19 and 20.
Fall in Slave Lake 2010
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Dog Island from Devonshire Beach Fall 2010 |
Order your books from this site with the Book Order Form, or purchase them at the following:
SOBEYS- Slave Lake
Frankly Flowers-Slave Lake
Visitor Information Centre- Slave Lake
Boreal Centre- Slave Lake
Museum- Kinuso
Grouard Museum- Grouard
Pegasus- High Prairie
The Bookstore on Perron- St. Albert
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Dog Island from Marten Mountain |
Aaron is now on Facebook. If you have read any, or all the books in the Dog Island Trilogy,
Aaron would be happy to discuss them with you, and get your reactions and feedback. Let me know if you have read the
books, give me your information, and then ask to be a friend.
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North of Dog Island |
June 11, 2010
Beautiful day for a book sale at
Slave Lake Visitor Information
Centre.
Books For Sale at Sobeys |
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Between the nuts and the fruit cakes! |
Dog Island Trilogy
New book, Return to Dog Island released at the new Slave Lake Library
Harry and Heather Bartlett winners
of "Guess the Title" contest.
Donation of two books to
the new library.
Release, sale and signing of Return To Dog Island |
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Big Lake Country
Interpretive
Tours
Slave Lake Alberta
.
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Lesser Slave Lake with Dog Island |
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Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park |
Aaron Lehman can be Your Step-on Guide on a tour of Lesser
Slave Lake
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