Rashland

Monday was a tremendous day because I felt so incredibly happy to be twenty pounds lighter. Dear readers, this will pass.

I went on the dog walk and then decided to get started on tidying the last part of my backyard that is not landscaped—the part where the hammock is. But the hammock won; I felt compelled to engage with it, and so I did, on a lovely warm soft slow Monday afternoon.

I was punished for my sloth: I arose to discover a rash on my upper legs. I smeared it with Polysporin, hoping for the best. I felt like Doris Day who slept swathed in Vasoline. It’s better this morning and far less itchy. A good wash in strong soap and another application of Polysporin should do the trick. 

Late in the afternoon, I took Sheba for a long walk through the forest in the happy hour sunshine. But it was too hot for her, I reckon, because she did not want to walk. Back we came, and then I went down the road to Kevin and Shelly’s house for dinner. It was a pleasant surprise to be invited.

I’m glad I’m getting to know these neighbours. We had a great visit, eating in their brand new home that I watched them build. They are terrific people who are becoming lovely friends.

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Today, Her Highness will walk this morning and then I expect I’ll work in the edible garden and start cleaning up the land I plan to till and seed next year. I want to ensure that no Spear Grass matures and seeds. 

I’d never heard of Spear Grass before I moved here, but every dog owner learns about it. It has sharp, pointed leaves with backward reaching hooks that can penetrate skin and fur. The seeds are capable of causing severe damage, even death, to dogs.

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The birds are back. Is it coincidence that it’s cooler or was the heat the reason they were gone for a while? I’m super glad to have them back—especially now that I am learning what each species is called.

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Crisis alert: There’s not a single Diet Coke to be had on the island. 

Hurray: Off the Plateau!

The incredibly long waits to get the ferry make day trips to the big island unappealing. I’d anticipated far more day trips this Summer than I’ve had. And the situation with Sheba’s feet has precluded the long walks I’d envisioned for us as a prime Summer activity. Hence, I wind up working around Pinecone Park each day.

In two weeks, Dianne comes to visit (and stay here) and the week after that, Sue and Pam are coming to stay in a B&B on the island. I look forward to their visits as the routine of my days here is becoming uninspiring. I’ve naught but to press on with yard work.

The dog walk was lovely because it was not too hot. I mostly walk alone, but I say hello to many and often have short chats with some. It feels good to be part of a group.

A heartbreaking moment occurred when I got home. A Red-breasted Nuthatch flew into the glass door of my office. I was incredibly sad to see it so disabled by the accident, so I stayed with it until it opened its eyes and moved its head. But it was in a bad state. I stayed with it until it seemed able to hold its head upright and then I moved it to a quiet spot in the garden. I prayed it would recover and fly away. And it did!

Al the rest of the day, I did nothing, absolutely nothing. I didn’t read or do any work. I had a great spa, an even greater nap and then I watched a movie before making dinner and going to bed early. A true day of rest.

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And great news for me: The scale said 192.9 this morning. That’s twenty pounds lost and I’ve only twelve pounds to go. Hurrah! I’m “off” the plateau and in descent again and I could not be happier. I’m amazed by how much I’ve embraced losing weight. Every day that yields a lower number, I am almost euphoric. 

Tilling Done!

Sheba is, I believe, healed. It’s good to see her walking without limping and her energized spirit.

I, on the other hand, feel frustrated by the plateau I seem to have reached in my effort to lose weight. I’ve had such a wonderful rush, losing so much so quickly, that this pause is a disappointment. (I’ve lost no weight for five days in spite of no variance in my strict dieting.)

By nine-thirty yesterday morning, I was tilling. It was cool and the air was fresh; it felt good to be back at it. Except for one aspect of my process: I hand pick the many large pebbles from the debris I bring to the surface and pile them around the plants. It involves a lot of bending, first to pick them up, and then to place them in an orderly fashion around the base of the plants and trees growing like the area I plan to seed.

It was hot and tiring, but progress was constant. I keep thinking about how the vast new back lawn that gives me so much pleasure this year, began with the process I’m doing now last year. I also think about how lovely it will look to have grass growing around my fruit trees (instead of weeds).

I got the whole area done! Then I had a spa and took Sheba for a nice long afternoon walk. It felt very good to have the garden task behind me. I celebrated by returning to the village for Feta cheese with which I could make myself a huge and delicious Greek salad for dinner.

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I went into the area I’m leaving to next year to do and when I came out, my socks were absolutely covered in burrs and Spear Grass seeds. And damn; my weed whacker won’t work until the new battery arrives in three weeks. So, I have to mow that area today, to ensure the Spear Grass seeds don’t get into Sheba’s paws.

But first, we go on the big community dog walk.

A pop-up theatre of hay bales.

Raúl Esparza

Now here's a handsome man! Oh, and he sings and stars on Broadway. Look at his hair. Is it not perfect, the way it curls up to frame his handsome face? And look at those eyes? Holy smokes, those eyes! He's Raúl Esparza and I'm in love. Here. he's singing the ballad from Sweeny Todd. It's called Pretty Women.

Carpentry

I went on the walk and then came home to sit on hold for bloody ages waiting for advice from Black & Decker about how to replace the useless battery that came with my brand-new weed whacker. I was on hold for thirty-six minutes; a new battery is on its way.

Then, under welcome cloudy skies, I watered the gardens. By then, it was almost eleven. Harvesting Blueberries afterwards was a delight: Eat one, put two in the bowl and repeat until all the bushes have only green berries left. I added a fresh Raspberry amuse bouche between mouthfuls of blue.

It felt good to water all my plants. They are as friends to me.

I read to harvest Garlic when the bottom three leaves are dead or dying. Most of my leaves, at present, have only one dead leaf, so harvesting them is getting close. When they come up, all my Raspberries move into their bed.

It took forever to water the garden, so I didn’t get to tilling in the fruit tree area until late. But it was nice to have overhead clouds and cooler temperatures; the weather made working more comfortable.

Then I “fixed” the fence between and my eastern neighbours. And I’m no carpenter. The fence is built of large, thick planks fastened vertically into the frame. One plank had fallen down, leaving a huge gaping view directly in front of their front door. They can look directly into my yard and that ain’t gonna work for me.

Kyler, my neighbour who lives in the house, is a professional carpenter, but he’s a renter and seems to not care about the fence. It’s the second time I’ve had to fix this failing structure, and nails aren’t an option. I have to use screws to make the repairs. If I use a hammer, more of the fence will fall apart. Sigh. And my work looks shitty, but it works and it’s in a part of my yard where neither I, not guests, venture.

Doing the watering, fixing the fence and forest bathing with Her Highness took up the day. I didn’t have time to do any tilling. I’ll get to it today.

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The weirdest aspect of yesterday was the total—and I mean total—silence! There were long stretches of the day when I heard nothing, not even a single bird. Not even a Raven. Nothing! And there were no birds in my fountain or the bath, and none at the feeders either. It was weird. 

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I found a great website about local birds. They have photos, of course, but also sound files so I can identify the birds by sight and sound. Today I learned about the Red Breasted Nuthatch. I’d long admired it and been unable to identify it, but today I learned all about them. They are a really beautiful almost-blue. 

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After such a successful start, I’ve hit a plateau. I’ve not lost a smidge of weight for four days in spite of saying on point with my diet. Pooey! However, I am persevering knowing that eventually it will start declining again. Perhaps after a heavy day of tilling, I’ll see some progress this week.