Dianne & DR Day

This is my new screen door, made by Darrell of course. If today’s as warm as yesterday, I’m going to be leaving my front door open from now on.

Yesterday was sunny and wonderfully warm — 23° in the village. It was a finesummer day. After I washed Swamp Dog I went into the village and bought myself a Maple walnut ice cream cone to enjoy in the sunshine.  

I came home to spend an ideal afternoon listening to music, painting the studio window and getting the pinecones onto the sides of one window - this is, after all, Pinecone Park & Spa. It was the kind of day I envisioned for myself when I moved here — just doing little jobs around the property almost all day, more for fun than out of need.

And for the first time since 1994, I mowed lawn. Not only that, but with a gas fired lawnmower. That was a first ever.

DR and Dianne arrive tonight in time for dinner so, of course, I’m baking a cake this morning: A Japanese cheesecake.

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This morning began with baking. I made a Japanese (jiggly) cheesecake. It’s not too sweet and its served without icing so it’s my version of cutting down on sugar. I allow myself to bake when I have guests. My adage: Live happy, not long.

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Steve and I used to love gamping — gay camping. When we broke up and looked back, the favourite memory for both of us was a camping trip we took together. 

All my life I’ve been a very early riser. I loved having the early morning hours, the dawn and the avian chorus to myself (and our dog). Here on Gabriola, when I first step outside, the smell of the forest air always takes me immediately back to memories of camping.

That smell, the birdsong — plus the fact that these is otherwise total silence — and that first touch of the hot sun on my skin is an incredibly great way to start each day. 

When I’d go outdoors in the city it would shut me down. I’d retreat from the very hostile downtown world. Here, it’s the opposite; I’m pulled out into nature.

Fred and Ethel Find My Earbuds

If there's anything they love it's "Get The Thing Out Of The Box."

Dog Walk

What a great morning!

At ten I went to meet other dog owners for an hour-and-a-half walk through the woods. We were a baker’s dozen of dogs and owners and it was wonderful — it’ll be even better when Sheba gets clipped. It happens every Sunday and the guide means I don’t have to do any navigation. It was really wonderful and I met lots of people.

At the end of the walk my poor exhausted and hot dog found a nice big muddy went ditch full of stagnant water to lie in.

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Darrell has finished the screen door for my front door (above). It will give me great cross ventilation. He and Elaine also convinced me to get a lawnmower. I may try it today.

“It’ll give the yard that tidy look,” Elaine assured me. I’ll see how I like it. I can always let the grass grow back; I’m not convinced of my interest in nature “conquered.”

Yesterday afternoon I painted the first of the window frames. I’m painting them a deep wine red. Long before I finished, cramps in my hand were so bad I had to take a break. I’ll try to do the other one today. It’s details like this — painting some colour into the landscape — that make the place look cared about. When the pinecones are added, it should look great.

Today I’ll be painting the other window and adding pinecones to the border of the first one.  

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I’ve got to go through Defiant Dressagain and fix critical parts. Both readers said the same thing. I am not dissuaded; I’ll really be applying myself and soon as the Arts Club is ready to receive it.

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I’m truly and happily stunned: I’ve been doing my exercises and taking a long hot tub beforehand so as to be more relaxed and I already notice the difference.  This is because falling led to the best of prescriptions: Better self-care; Dr. Majic recommended flexibility exercises. 

Trump's Banished Twin Sister Olga Oyveyovitch

Slowing Down

I couldn’t resist posting this shot of the fountain I took this morning. I like the sunlight shining on it. Later I'll plant things in the empty bowls and do more planting in the gardens around the edges.

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Darrell’s wife now wants a paver driveway and patio at their place and Darrel said, “No f-cking way!” That’s his back speaking, but that’s how great it’s looking.

When Paula was here, she came in after spending about twenty minutes talking with Darrell and said, “He’s a hoser, but I love him.” I hadn’t heard the word for years; she was noticing what I’ve said here before: Darrell and I come from opposite ends of a spectrum and that why our comfort and joy together moves me so deeply. 

I told Paula that. She works in a bar and said immediately: “I know exactly what you are talking about. I work with these guys and guys like Darrell have hearts of pure gold and are the kindest nicest people you will ever meet.” 

His has a mullet!

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At the beach, Paula and I met Sean and Marie, an absolutely delightful Irish couple who immigrated here. When Paula said how nice people were on the island, Sean said, “Don’t be fooled. Once you’ve been here a while you find out they’re even nicer.”

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D’Arcy the physiotherapist was great. I was there for two hours — including some comfortable waiting — all for just sixty bucks. As per his suggestion, I began today with twenty minutes in the hot tub before I did my first set of exercises.

He has four beds in one large well-windowed studio built of lovely wood and he has a wood stove. I was there with other patients; it’s all quite informal and lovely. I amused everyone when I started speaking as Rand (with an Aussie accent).

Rand used to be more South African but he’s becoming more Australian. I may change his name to Roo.

I’m going back on Tuesday. It’s quite wonderful to be doing something good for my health and to feel confidence in D’Arcy. 

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It’s a beautiful day and the morning air is already warm. I have two lovely days alone to work on the fence and garden and to take Her Highness on several beach/trail walks.

Next week Darrell will certainly finish up here and the last of scheduled visitors come. Dianne and DR have been here before, just after I got my pets, and so I’ll enjoy showing them the changes. Starting the week after that I have no scheduled guests and no more renovations.

This morning I thought to skip submitting the Defiant Dress script to anyone, show the dresses and their letters here. I may have been discouraged by Margot’s response to the script or I may just be getting lazy; I may be ready to end my professional life in the arts and just cruise in the slow lane here at Pinecone Park & Spa.

Courtyard

The courtyard is close to finished. Darrell and Kenny will finish it and do the driveway next week. Finally, after living here for seven months, the renovations are coming to a close. Next I wait for rain to settle the sand and after that, I start planting moss in all the cracks.