The Incredible Lightness of Blogging

I am on a dialup connection.  Little thing really, but a big, big deal when all is said and done.  I have tried valiantly to keep up my entries here on WordPress, but with one thing or another it takes wayyyyyy too long to accomplish anything that requires loading pages web pages as part of the writing process.  I do have an entry today at Maggie Turner: Page by Page <http://www.maggieturner.net/journal/2007_Journal/102007/10162007.html>, and I am not going to try entering part of it here.

Please visit www.maggieturner.net if you would like to ready my journal, my poetry, or view my naive photography.

Green!

Quiet has descended. They have faded into their real lives, somewhere out there, in randomly scattered points on a map. A few will briefly return over the course of the autumn, arriving in random clusters. By November they will disappear altogether until next spring. They are those with second seasonal properties here, and primary permanent residences elsewhere. They are a relatively small group of people who recreate here and upon whom the local economy depends almost entirely. Consequently, the year round residents are always glad to see them.

The autumn has always been my favorite time of year. Harvest season, the embodiment of fulfilled promise… more at Maggie Turner: Page by Page

Black!

Black. The concrete mantle on the fireplace is now black. It might have been a foolish decision, but it has been made. The paint is high heat enamel, meant to withstand high temperatures and usually used on stovepipes. The mantle never gets beyond warm to the touch, so it will more than do the job, but we are mindful of the distance to combustibles issue.

The paint was applied, by me, this afternoon. Still, well into the evening, the paint fumes are lingering. Tomorrow afternoon I will apply a second coat of paint.

I like the look of the black concrete, it nicely balances the two black chimney pipes… more at Maggie Turner: Page by Page

Clunk!

They say a change is as good as a rest. Generally, this has been my experience, and August has been a month that has put this adage to the test. We have been very busy this summer, August in particular, with the wedding. Our family has gained a new valued member, and a whole new branch. These are wonderful changes to experience.

Over the years, Attila and I have adjusted to isolation. It is not what we prefer, or desire; it is just what life has offered us. We must make the most of what we are offered… more at Maggie Turner: Page by Page

Terra’s Wedding

Terra’s wedding was all that a bride could hope for. She looked beautiful. She was marrying a perfect groom. Lares. She married on a perfect day, sunny, cloudless and mild. The ceremony and reception were perfect, reflecting Terra and Lares personalities, determination and strengths. The wedding party was a happy, warm and very attractive group of supportive friends and family. From pregnancy, through infancy and on to maturity, my girls have been my first priority, for close to thirty years of my adult life. As one era ends, another begins… more at Maggie Turner: Page by Page

Public Trust

We got a notice in the mail reminding us how important it is to vote in our Ontario provincial election. I see there will be a referendum included on the ballot, to change the provincial electoral system. Not my area of expertise. So I started at the beginning and began to research the Citizen’s Assembly.

I was at first heartened that the membership of the Citizen’s Assembly were allegedly “selected at random.” The Citizen’s Assembly made the decision on just what alternative electoral system would be offered to us in the referendum. The first draw of names for the Assembly membership, by their account, was randomly selected from voter’s lists. That random list was narrowed down by undisclosed methods to include only those who “responded”, then narrowed further, again by undisclosed methods, to chose only some respondents for personal interviews. Then the list was narrowed down again, when members were chosen from those interviewed. First time I ever heard of being interviewed to be a member of a randomly selected list… more at Maggie Turner: Page by Page

Summer!

What weather we are having! Summers like this have, up to now, only existed in my imagination. We have had a few heat waves, with very high humidity, but none that made it impossible to sleep at night. Most days have been sunny, breezy and warm but not hot. Pollution has been low, allowing the scent of the surrounding forest its due. I am experiencing these soft summer days as a caress, as a balm.

Process. The past must be woven into the present. My days are filled with process. Process is expensive… more at Maggie Turner: Page by Page

Waiting for Rain

We have been waiting for rain. Local government has banned all outdoor fires, of any kind. The fire hazard rating is extreme. Many small trees that sprang up on thin soil have died. The leaves on all the large trees around our house have curled, but are still greenish. Lawns have died. The UV index has been high or very high almost every day. We have been waiting for rain.

We decided to head into the bush to look for wild raspberries and blackberries… more at Maggie Turner: Page by Page

The Magic of Mice

Mice! This one got away, at least for the moment. Just after we retired to bed last night, Mist appeared in the bedroom doorway, mouse in mouth. However, as I turned on the light, Mist must have been slightly distracted, for just at that moment the mouse leapt from certain death and ran for his life. He escaped into the spare room, hiding effectively from Mist and Attila, who was also hot on the trail, under a heavy bureau. Attila made a few feeble attempts to assist Mist in a recapture, but efforts failed… more at Maggie Turner: Page by Page

Baking Bread in the Summer Kitchen

The joys of a summer kitchen! Two baking pans went into the Nesco this morning. The first was a loaf of bread, the first to be baked in the new oven. The second was a pan of sliced potatoes and onions. Both went into the oven at the same time.

The bread took ten minutes longer to bake in the Nesco than it usually does in the range oven. The baking results were quite differently in the Nesco, as the parts of the loaf in contact with the pan were well browned and slightly crispy, while the top of the loaf was not browned at all… more at Maggie Turner: Page by Page