Clearing the Backyard Day

I was giddy al day today. I burned the stuff I picked up off the grounds in both fireplaces and in the incinerator. Looking out at the studio and seeing smoke curling from the chimney—even on a gloriously sunny day—does something wonderful to my spirit. I have fallen deeply in love with my studio. And with crafting again! 

But the major task of today was clearing the backyard. My yard looks so small compared to the lots of Jay, François and Eoin. They have estates. But when it comes to clearing new delicate lawn of forest fall, it is backbreaking work and the place seems huge! 

I gather the shite in a bin, and then dump what I’ve picked up into the incinerator. And while it burned, I gathered another bin full. The thick smoke swirls up each time I add a new load; my clothes stank of wood smoke.

It was slow going. If I used a rake, I tore up the new lawn, so clearing the backyard will take at least two days. I’m picking up every Fir cone and there are thousands of them. I mean it; I’m not exaggerating. And I’m picking up everything by hand (and bent back).

It was a perfect day for burning, though. The wind blew all the smoke into the forest and away from my neighbours. And while I work, Sheba checks out the empty lot next door for new smells. It’s great, because she doesn’t run or do anything to strain her paw. She just moseys around.

I’m writing on a break I took at 2:00. I’m going back to it but I won’t last long. But I don’t have to; there’s always mañana; I so  love being retired! Once I’m finished, I’ll so a little work in the nice warm studio and then got into the tub, well before the sun goes down, to relax before the best night of the week on television.

Storm! Power Failure!

Friday dawned drizzly, but at around 8:00 am, it started to blow and when there’s wind like there was yesterday morning, it’s scary when the trees are bending over and branches are snapping off and falling on the ground.

Looking out at my courtyard, all I can see is a sea of Fir needles, twigs and branches; everything is yellow/green with windfall. You’d never imagine that the courtyard is made of concrete paving stones. Even the roads were yellow with needles. There were times, outside, when I’d hold by breath because there was so much stuff in the air. Clouds of Fir needles, dense as snow in a Christmas dome, would be released by the strong gusts of wind.

When it blows, I turn up the music. I don’t want to hear the roar of the wind or the snapping sound as branches break.

At nine, I went to meet my fellow dog walkers and there were two new people with a really yappy dog. I had a seizure, even though I walked a ways behind. I hate having this condition, but I am getting to understand it. When I heard the relentless and loud  barking on my arrival, I knew I was in for trouble. God I hope those new people and their dogs don’t come back.

But … I felt strong during the seizure; I stayed on my feet and felt very solid and stable. And, for the first time ever, I kept my eyes open during the whole thing. They’re getting weaker and weaker, just very, very slowly.

At ten, the sun came blazing out from behind the clouds but the wind continued. I went to Jay’s to get his mail and check on his plants, and I did some shopping. I did some laundry, cut back plants and did some raking; all of it was a total pleasure. It’s joyous to have little jobs to do, but not a compulsion and endless one like I had all summer landscaping the backyard. I even managed to fix the front door handle.    

The blue/grey leaves are Rose Campion. They grow wild here; they were here when I moved in. Come Springtime, I’ll weed between them and lay in some new soil and plant some more wildflowers. I came on the Mushrooms as I was clearing away the stalks from last year’s Campion flowers. The photo with my hand is to give you an idea of their size, but it’s their colour that is so amazing.

•

I live streamed Greta Thunberg’s speech at the Vancouver Climate rally yesterday. She delivered her speech beside Severn Suzuki and quoted Severn’s words from twenty-seven years ago about the need for climate action. Severn was twelve at the time; she’s the activist daughter of a high-school friend. 

The crowd was absolutely huge! And what a stroke of brilliance: Several young students filed suit against the federal government over inaction on climate change just before Greta spoke.  

•

The power went on and off a few times later in the day when the wind picked up. At 7:30 it went out for good and so I went to bed around 9:00 and had a lot of trouble going to sleep. At 10:30 the power came back; my radio and lights were on, so I got up and read awhile before going back to bed.

This morning, it’s clear what I’ll be doing today: There’s a ton of stuff in the yard to clean up after the windstorm… and it’s still blowing (but not nearly as hard).

My Little Life

This has to be the most beautiful pasta in the world! It would have to be  served without any obscuring sauce!

Well I feel stupid! It wasn’t the generator that was the problem; it was I! So now I’m making a “How To” poster to post in my generator’s shed. I did not know where the choke was or how to use it. Darrell, bless his wonderful head, showed me what to do and it started immediately. Lesson learned.

And Sheba is healing nicely, the cistern is full and the wire arrived for the armature of the papier-mâché sculpture I’m going to make. All’s right in my world!

The leaves in a pile are the leaves I first harvested. I think they are lovely but I left them to air dry and so they’re warped. My only disappointment in them, however, is that the brilliant yellows have faded to browns in all but a few that have retained their golden colour.

The leaves in rows are my latest harvest and I am drying them between towels and under weights. They will take a while to dry and then I’ll varnish them and see what I get.

This is the plan for the grotesque I want to make. I reckon she’ll be about a meter high. I’ve to build an elaborate armature first and then I’ll cover it with an initial neutral layer of papier-mâché before I do the decorating. I’m already having second thoughts about using the leaves. I think I’ll just use paper and paint or pastel for depth and the face. I’ll be working on both the frame and the leaves over the next few weeks.

Our afternoon walk was fabulous. It was lovely and warm and I continue to see signs of improvement in her paw. And when I got back, I got into the spa. My God, I love the spa. It’s such a privilege to be so delightfully warm and to have so a big tub that I can stretch out and float. What a great life I have.

And I’m doing very  well working in the studio with no heat. It’s not nearly as cold as outdoors and I do just fine doing short stints of work. On days when I want to work in there all day, I’ll definitely light the fire. I love having the studio so much more now that I’m suing it regularly.

Have you heard about the film, JoJo Rabbit? Or seen the trailer (here's a link)? It’s based on a book about a young German boy who’s in the Hitler Youth and discovers his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. The director, Taika Waititi, plays the little boys imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler. Oh my God it looks hilariously funny!

•

In the evening, I went into town to get a pizza for dinner and I baked some cookies. I felt good. It was my second day in a row without a migraine.

This morning I go on the small community dog walk—half of it, anyway. I recon I’ll continue to limit Sheba’s use of her paw for another week so that it gets strong again. And when I get back, I hope to fix the front door handle. I fixed the chair already—Fred had torn it apart underneath. 

“It’s always something!”

Meryl Streep as Donald Trump.