My weaving Swedish Point

Nancy Today: Soapmaking Adding colour (soap 530)

Smashing teapots

Nancy Today: Free LeClerc Floor loom (weaving 59) ASMR weaving basketmak...

Nancy Today: Respect for the dead ASMR

Nancy Today: Porcupine eating buds in tree closeup 1 ASMR

Failed soap batch (soap 522)

Nancy Today: How to drill holes in glass ASMR

Nancy Today: Treasures from the dump for garden art ASMR

Nancy Today: Treasures from the dump for garden art ASMR

How to be happy

Nancy Today: Crock pot hamburger stew & geography lesson ASMR Cooking

Nancy Today: How not to get out of a kayak ASMR 'Sounds of Nature'

Nancy Today: Dust is a protective coating... be happy ASMR

Entertainment for cats 1: red squirrel ASMR

Nancy Today: Be fat, be happy and healthy! ASMR

Nancy Today: Dutch oven Scalloped Potatoes ASMR Cooking

Spring Peepers to put you to sleep

Nancy Today: Snowplow in a winter wonderland!

Nancy Today: Frog chorus 'Sounds of Nature'

Nancy Today: How to draw a Labyrinth on the beach ASMR

Nancy Today: How to make it snow in slow motion

Nancy Today: Pottery seconds and thirds review

Happy Gratitude Day!

Happy thanksgiving!

Feeder filling

Snowstorm!

Snowstorm!

Nancy Today: Writing Again!

Good morning update

Violin playing 2

Nancy Today: dance to the music

http://www.youtube.com/v/ggLNv_ed8Bo?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=9YbBznUyg-xAgiayuaWTFw&autohide=1&showinfo=1&feature=share&autoplay=1

Toothless update

http://www.youtube.com/v/_dm2np_vm5Q?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&showinfo=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=ysnfiOaKIRbjP6PQdSktCg

Nov. 1, 2013 Overtired

 

We are on the way to the temple in Toronto this morning. We are going to endure these gale force winds. I do hope there is not a disaster to have to go around on the 401, some truck blown over or trees on the road. I pray we won't be hit with any flying debris.

 

Willem is driving today. I've been very tired. I will see if I can recall why. We left Mary's on Saturday morning and I drove to Kingston for district conference. We drove home and I loaded the kiln and went to bed at 11pm and got up through the night a few times to deal with the bisque firing.

 

I stayed up at 5. We drove back to district conference on Sunday and home in the afternoon.

 

On Monday I emptied and glazed and fired the kiln again overnight. No, that's the night I fired it overnight and turned it off in the morning. On Tuesday I unloaded the kiln and threw 18 plates, or trimmed them. On Thursday was my busy day at Mera teaching cedar basketry.

 

I think it was 1 am when I closed my eyes. I didn't let myself get up till 9 this morning. That was a good thing. There were gale force winds which blew the table over the porch railing. It didn't' break it though.

 

I went to check on everything down at the pond. I think my green table is missing. The alder boughs that were lying on the lumber had blown over into the side of the pond. The clothwalk was fine. I'm glad to see that.

 

I love weaving. I enjoy our weaving meeting on Thursday mornings at 10. Kelly is threading the heddles and slaying the reed for the tea towels we are going to make. Lise is aware that we'd all like to be doing things, so she is going to teach us how to use the rigid heddle loom. I know nothing about how to use one. This will be a good experience for me.

 

I think we should organize ourselves and become a guild, the Mera Weavers Guild.

 

I borrowed a spinning wheel so I can work on the fiber I have washed. I'd like to spin it very thick and make a nice wool rug out of it. I wonder if I could make a double weave rug. I wonder if I could make a double weave on the warp that is already on my grandmother's loom. That would be very interesting. I imagine it would have to be all tabby. I'm not sure how it works though.

 

I have some broken or very loose warp threads on there now, though. I am going to try using a shuttle for my weaving, but I'm not sure I like the idea of winding the shuttles. I think it will take a lot of time to do that, actually.

 

I brought a few of them along with me in the car so I can wind them while Willem drives.

Oct. 12, 2013 6:47 am 3rd glaze run

I have been dealing with my kiln all night. We got home around 10. I'd had the kiln on low and open for the moisture to escape and for everything to dry thoroughly. I set the alarm for 1 am when I got up and turned the kiln to medium. At 4 I turned the kiln to high. At 6:40 the cone hadn't bent and the kiln was still orangy white, but not white enough like it gets, o so I think. We are heading to Tornonto to the temple today, so I had to turn it off before the cone bent. The kiln setter had fallen last night when I had had a kerfuffle with the kiln. I had remembered I hadn't put in a cone. The lid had been propped open, but it was pretty hot in there anyway. I had to poen the kiln a it to put in a cone 6 cone, but found I had a bowl in front of the hole. So I reached in with tongs and moved it over, having to remove one cremated bowl first. I wasn't sure where to put it incase it exploded from the change in temperature. Not on the ground beside the kiln, I had to go there. The ffreezer? It might explode and hit willem. Si I opted for the wet grass outside as better than the cold cement pathway. It was already cremated, so it was okay, I guess Anyway, it didn't even break. So that moving things around and putting the cone in there was a hot and tricky job. I was not impressed that id forgotten to do that. The heat had been so hot that id inadvertanly dropped the lid five inches, which made the kiln setter cone fall out of the kiln etter pegs and the flap bang down turning off the kiln. So I had to fire it witout a kiln setter cone as well.

 

I used my welders glasses to see inside the kiln. I think I should put it up higher, perhaps on cement blocks. Perhaps I should build a platform in that corner for it then put it back in place. Ill have to keep my eyes open for cement blocks. Perhaps my mason friend knows where I can find surplus.

 

I had two experiments going on. In one of my books, it said you could glaze greenware without bisquing it, eliminating the cost of the additional run. I wanted to see if it would work and what would happen, so I dipped two bowls in glaze, wiped off the bottoms and loaded them into the top of the kiln.

 

I also glazed the cremated pottery and put that in. There were several bowls from the Turq/green kiln run that had holes in the glaze inside. So I put fresh glaze on the holes and put them in the kiln. So here were cremated pottery freshly wet with glaze, unfired greenware with wet glaze and bowls with the first glaze, the green in two shades according to the constitution of the claybody and more bowls with the turq glaze on thickly.

 

So each of the children should have a set of bowls that will match and likely will be different from the rest. I will have to mail Virginia her set to Germany, or give them to her when they come to Canada in March. Her birthday is in two weeks and there's nothing in the mail for her yet.

 

How do I feel about doing pottery? What are my goals?

 

I love it. I love that things are turning out properly. I love that I'm learning by my own experience. I have made many mistakes, a cremated kiln at the dump proved that! Plus having taken my poor quality work to the final glaze run, I have those heavy small thick handle less mugs to prove it!

 

My goal I think is to let the creative juices flow, to learn to make complete sets of pottery, plates, mugs, bowls, saucers, and many other items, pitchers, large mixing bowls, apple bakers, honey pots with lids, teapots, small bowls like my little salt and pepper bowls…

 

I enumerated to Willem the price of all these things I bought so that I can have a pottery studio. He was amazed at how much it had cost. I think it was probably around $2000 all together. I'm so grateful that we are out of debt, the house is paid off and all is well. I'm so grateful to have this amazing life.

 

I love learning. I think if I already knew how to do it all there would be nothing to learn. I'm also so glad not to have to clean up after myself in my sunroom studio. It is lovely to just get up and walk away from it when I'm done. At Mera they were obsessive about cleaning the studio, even unbolting the stainless steel bowls and removing them from the wheels and washing the out in the sink whenever we were done working! I love my wheel where all the bits of clay can accumulate and dry out before being dumped back into the pot of water to reconstitute them!

 

I love that it's all right there, so handy. I love being able to just play in my studio for awhile and accomplish what I want to accomplish. I got a cupboard at the dup on Thursday. It's such a lovely place to be, in there. I think I'll put the cupboard behind the wheel against the wall. I can store in there the things that I don't need to use very often. I don't want to have to move the wheel too often to get into it. I will then have more room to place bowls I have tjust thrown. I wonder what the little batts are made of. I would like some smaller ones so I don't have to use so much room while the bowls on them are drying.

So needless to say, I am a bit concerned about the kiln and how well the run went. I'm glad I was able to fire it again, even if it didn't go all the way to cone 6.

 

I liked firing it at night. I can do that, turning it on at noon to warm fire and then turning it up at 7pm, or at least closing the lid for a few hours to fire on low, and firing through the night, getting up with the alarm clock to make the necessary heat adjustments, then turning off the kiln by 7am when the rates go back up high again.

 

 

 

    

Friday, Oct. 9, 2013

I was standing by the hammock alongside the lane that was filled with tussock sedge grass that we'd dragged back from Triaqua Trail. I picked out all the canary grass and bundled the grasses together. By the third bundle, I had decided to take them over to show to Ankaret.

 

She was happy to see me. As soon as I arrived she pulled out her book of grasses and we identified the sedge. It's a Peterson guide to the grasses. I had timed my visit just right, arriving after they'd finished their lunch but before naptime. So it is called Tussock Sedge, as it grows in hassocks, the new grass with its triangular leaves with edges and so long and lovely, too.

 

She suggested I use the newly donated red raffia for coiling a beeskeep. Perhaps I shall. I said I'd show up next week and we could make them together.

 

I went over to Mera and harvested a bit of willow. Most of the back bunches are depleted, perhaps from my plantings and perhaps from Ankaret's well woman and heron she made this summer from the fresh willow. I took it down to the pond to plant it.

 

I also sorted some more sedge and decided we could manage the Sunday thanksgiving. I sent text messages to everyone about it. They all decided they can come, so at 5 will be thanksgiving, or when Alida is done work and thereafter we can have thanksgiving.

 

I went to town, bought some corn on the cob, a turkey and some cookies. I have everything else we will need.

 

I came back and loaded the kiln with glazed mugs and bowls. Then I dipped two dry but not bisque bowls

 

I turned the kiln on at 4:20 or so, got ready and headed out to the door with willem to go to here he was going to pay.

 

 

Sept 27, 2013 Temple drive

Wllem is driving today as we go to the temple. I decided that he sleeps so late anyway, it's no use to make sure he doesn't drink coke. I've spent my morning very well today. I got up and made a video. I had a hard time sleeping after 5this morning, but made myself stay in bed and go back to sleep. The problem comes when I start thinking about my kids. That probably keeps many parents awake at night.

 

I packed my good saas shoes into my temple bag, picked out a change of clothes and posted a video. Wilem had packed a lot of his stuff last night.

 

He's driving today so I have craocheted myself another little iPod bag as the other one seems to be oming apart.

 

I played the violin for over an hou. I phoned my mom, Now I'm going to try to catch up on my journaling. I see that for many days I didn't journal. That's no good! I'm glad the tweets post on here, though as that Is now where I can begin and fill in the blanks from there.

 

It's been so nie this week, temperatre wise! I have really enjoyed spending time at the pnod working on the boardwalk and relaxing in the sunny tipi by the aders wehre I have been cutting out the bent alders so we can walk through there esily.

I didn't want to drive today because I've had enogh of driving for awhile.

 

Wednesday: We stopped in at Dottie's. She'd paitned an amazing cow on a piece of cardboard. I was very impressed with how well it had turned out! Outside the sound of the brook in the backyard and the river across the road were other worldly! Just lovely!

 

Thursday: Mary and I went for a nice walkup towards the brook. We photoed all the wooley bear caterpillars. Their brown was extensive, which means a mild winter! They were walking north which meant that the weather wasn't going to be getting really cold anytimes soon. Good. I love global warming!

A friend came over to get peaches to make them into preserves. We went to Wassaic, then back to his house beside dottie's where I sat on the back porch and rocheted a bag for ary's iPod out of yarn she'd gotten in Estonia

Friday: Mary and I went for a walk along the river. We walked wy too far and had a hard time walking all the way back. A class of teens doing cross couirntry ran by us. Then they ran back. We drove along and handed out water bottles to them al. It was a really good feeling giving ou water bottles to them all. I filmed it but it wasn't filming, as the kids were so glad to have he water. In Canada the kids would have all had water bottles before they left the school, their teacher would have made sure of it, as would their parents!

We went fishing off the bridge for carp. We were just walking across the bridge, but when I pointed out the three carp to mary, she went back to her car and got the fishing pole out! She had all sorts of lures and other odds and ends she'd need for fishing. But the fish would have been to big to pull up onto the bridge if we'd have caught him. I don't't go much for catch and release. Seems like a waste of time and not such a nice thing to do to the fish either!

Saturday to Debrah's farm and visited with Sally.

Sunday I went to church in Goshen. There were peaches on the tee in the chapel yard. Unbelievable! We stood by the raging brook, nnear the Appalachian trail near mary's house and filmed the water. Sounds of nature, I called it. Mary showed me some pictures of us when we were young with mom. Amazing photos!

Monday I drove home from Connecticut. I photoed my grandfaterhes practice in millerton, drove through Ghent, then went to Albany and visited with Nicole during her unch hour. I drove home. Willem had made a passive solar dehydrator. I made a sign for it for him. He was sp pleased with it.

Tuesday we went to Ottawa to Willem's eye appt and to see three of the kids

Wed. I drove to town to see about boardwalk fabric and to take a photo of Alida.

Thurs: I drove to Mera, to the dump and then to the chapel.

 

 

Morning pages

I am lying in the hammock in Deer Blind tipi. I have come down early this morning to enjoy the sunrise, to pray, to read my scriptures, to walk the clothwalk triangle which connects the three ponds.

 

This tipi, though dew free, is filled with hiding mosquitoes. They love the darkness and the coolness. I rolled up all the sides so I can have a breeze that will blow away the mosquitoes. All's that's missing is the breeze!

 

I can't pray because my mind is so distracted by the mosquitoes, so I'll pray on paper.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I guess I'll write Thee a letter since my mind won't focus properly. Thank Thee for giving us this incredible land with all its beauty, varied bushes and trees, colours in autumn, and all the seasons.

 

Thank Thee for the birds in these alders that I can look for and watch. Thank Thee for the deer that sometimes happen along. Thank Thee for the three ponds thou hast provided for us. Thank Thee for this screening to cover myself for protection from the mosquitoes.

 

Thank Thee for providing the factory with the fabric that we can use for making this boardwalk. Thank Thee for its usefulness in covering tipis, making hammocks; laying on the lane and whatever else I've used it for.

 

Thank Thee for my family, mostly for my husband who loves me so dearly. Thank Thee for who he is, for the intelligence he brings with him, all the music he plays and composes, the calmness of his personality, all he blesses me with.

 

Thank Thee for my children and Willem's. Thank Thee for their love for me. Thank Thee for their jobs, their ability to support themselves. I'm so grateful that they are taking care of their own expenses now.

 

Thank Thee for Willem's pension. Thank Thee for blessing us with whatsoever we have needed through these many years of raising children. Thank Thee that I can be a part of his pension even though I've never worked outside of our home.

 

Thank Thee for all the things Thou hast taught me. I'm so grateful for my curiosity and my ability to retain and to learn new things. Thank Thee for my courage to try new things. Thank Thee for all the crafts that I have learned and the things I have learned how to produce.

 

Thank Thee for my grandmother's loom and for the training in how to use it that I've received from those at Mera. Thank Thee for helping me get interested in warping this old loom and for being provided with the opportunity to have this new white cotton to weave with.

 

Please bless me today that I might uplift others, that I might serve Thee, that I might do good in the world. Bless me that I can make some pottery bowls to fill the kiln so that I can run it this weekend.

 

Please keep me mindful of whom I am in Thy sight, and help me not to sin, help me to repent as I do make mistakes. Please forgive me of all that I have not done and inspire me to do those things so that I may be worthy of being filled with Thy Holy Spirit.

 

These blessings I thank Thee for and ask Thee for in the name of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, Thy Son.

October 10, 2013

I got up early, went out in the lovely early morning fog and over to Joanne's. She gave me six boxes of clay to reclaim. I filmed my happy place on Silver Lake as I drove past.

I got there around 9, phoned ahead to let her know I was nearby.

 

I got back home and picked up some yarn which I took over to Mera to make the tea towels with. I enjoyed Lise's teachings on how to figure out the amount of thread we need to make the warp. They started with the dimensions of the hand towels, two each for eight people. Then how many ends per inch, so how many feet long it would be and how many ends per inch made up how much yarn we needed. Five spools to make a 16' warp. 477 threads wide.

 

We had a warping mill which was small and a whole lot of work to use. I stayed and helped wind it on. I learned a few things today. Putting your finger between two threads as you wind them on at the same time so they don't tangle as they leave the spools.

 

I came home around 3, trimmed 10 bowls, three of which had to be chucked because of unevenness. My knife isn't as sharp as it was.

 

I went to the dump after Willem unloaded my clay for me and replaced the trash and reusables into the car.

 

I came back and went down to the pond with Willem who was going to swim in the cold pond. I walked to Iceberg pond and nailed up the signs for the spring and the waterfall. I also hung up y hammock

Sept. 19, 2013

We had a wonderful walk this morning, investigating and filming the wooly caterpillars.

 

Sept 20, 2013

We went for a walk along the river in the warm sunshine, then handed out water bottles to the high school

Morning pages

I am lying in the hammock in Deer Blind tipi. I have come down early this morning to enjoy the sunrise, to pray, to read my scriptures, to walk the clothwalk triangle which connects the three ponds.

 

This tipi, though dew free, is filled with hiding mosquitoes. They love the darkness and the coolness. I rolled up all the sides so I can have a breeze that will blow away the mosquitoes. All's that's missing is the breeze!

 

I can't pray because my mind is so distracted by the mosquitoes, so I'll pray on paper.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I guess I'll write Thee a letter since my mind won't focus properly. Thank Thee for giving us this incredible land with all its beauty, varied bushes and trees, colours in autumn, and all the seasons.

 

Thank Thee for the birds in these alders that I can look for and watch. Thank Thee for the deer that sometimes happen along. Thank Thee for the three ponds thou hast provided for us. Thank Thee for this screening to cover myself for protection from the mosquitoes.

 

Thank Thee for providing the factory with the fabric that we can use for making this boardwalk. Thank Thee for its usefulness in covering tipis, making hammocks; laying on the lane and whatever else I've used it for.

 

Thank Thee for my family, mostly for my husband who loves me so dearly. Thank Thee for who he is, for the intelligence he brings with him, all the music he plays and composes, the calmness of his personality, all he blesses me with.

 

Thank Thee for my children and Willem's. Thank Thee for their love for me. Thank Thee for their jobs, their ability to support themselves. I'm so grateful that they are taking care of their own expenses now.

 

Thank Thee for Willem's pension. Thank Thee for blessing us with whatsoever we have needed through these many years of raising children. Thank Thee that I can be a part of his pension even though I've never worked outside of our home.

 

Thank Thee for all the things Thou hast taught me. I'm so grateful for my curiosity and my ability to retain and to learn new things. Thank Thee for my courage to try new things. Thank Thee for all the crafts that I have learned and the things I have learned how to produce.

 

Thank Thee for my grandmother's loom and for the training in how to use it that I've received from those at Mera. Thank Thee for helping me get interested in warping this old loom and for being provided with the opportunity to have this new white cotton to weave with.

 

Please bless me today that I might uplift others, that I might serve Thee, that I might do good in the world. Bless me that I can make some pottery bowls to fill the kiln so that I can run it this weekend.

 

Please keep me mindful of whom I am in Thy sight, and help me not to sin, help me to repent as I do make mistakes. Please forgive me of all that I have not done and inspire me to do those things so that I may be worthy of being filled with Thy Holy Spirit.

 

These blessings I thank Thee for and ask Thee for in the name of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, Thy Son.

August 18, 2013 932am

We are on the way to church with Michael and Maryjane. They are taking their own car cos they have their big doggy who takes up the whole back seat. It's so awesome to be here with our friends. We have a new ability hnow that Willem and Michael have retired, they can hang out together while MJ and I hang out.

 

I'm so blessed to have her for a friend. I'm so lessed to have such a patient husband. I'm so blessed to have a temple recommentd. It's a very fragile thing, just one slip up and you can lose your recommend.

Aug. 15, 2013, 3 pm five soap batches total

I made two more batches of soap today. Tea tree and woodland. I put green food colouring into the woodland, but it turned brownish pink. Guess there is blue in the green, which turned pink. So that means I now have five five-pound batches of soap. Vanilla, Lavender, Rose, Tea tree, Woodland

 

The Rose contains olive and vegetable oils as well as some coconut oil and food colouring water, lye

The lavender contains lavender buds and oatmeal, vegetable shortening and coconut oil, colour, w, l

The vanilla contains vegetable shortening and coconut oil, water, lye

The Tea tree contains some green tea leaves, vegetable shortening and coconut oil, water, lye

The woodland contains vegetable shortening, coconut oil and food colouring, water, lye

Aug. 15, 2013, 4:30 pm dump

I went to the dump while I was waiting for the lye and oils to cool. I found a juicer, a toaster oven and a cover for it to protect the cupboard above it, a stainless steel wok with a lid and a curtain the same colour as the living room drapes.

 

There were a million people there shopping. I saw Ankaret, Jennifer, Shirley and Gloria. It sure is a nice spot to visit, I must say.

 

There isn't anything too important in the metal pile, so I'm not missing picking from it! No lovely porch swings or anything!

 

I made a couple of videos while I was there, too.

Aug. 15, 2013 5:45pm

I'm kinda missing travelling. Being with Willem is nice, but I miss meeting up with all my YouTube friends. It's been 4.5 months. L LOL.

 

I'm lying in the hammock in Sumac Hill. The branches are all much farther above me than they were last year. I wonder if that's because of the water, or if it has just been growing this much every year. Perhaps all the rain.

 

It's so nice to lie in my hammock again. There have been so many bugs I've not been able to lie down much at all!

 

Willem got worn out today, first helping me with my planting, then helping Rolene move.

Aug. 14, 2013 2 pm perennials, D.s

We had a busy day today. I had the stress test in the morning. My heart attack was five years ago now. I went for nine minutes and got my heart rate up to 152, but it didn't stay up there, it kept dropping back down, I'm in such great shape! Round is a shape! LOL.

 

Willem had a chiropractor appointment in the meantime. He came back and heard Dr. LeGrande's assessment. Pretty interesting doctor.

 

We came home afterwards. Willem helped me to plant a lot of perennial daylilies that I'd not been able to get done yesterday, I was so exhausted and in a lot of pain by the time I came inside. So they are all in now, but there aren't 20 of them. I paid for 20, but only got 17, so they said I could come back and get the missing ones.

 

So I went to the clinic for my TB test to be read, then we went to the perennial place. We chose four more with lovely flowers on them, but some weren't labelled.

 

We went over to Peggy and Tony's. They were babysitting the most darling grandchildren! We visited with them, had a meal and hung around afterwards till after dark. I was late going to bed, but got up at the usual time. Not a good plan!

 

August 18. 4:25 pm

My laptop is going to die.

 

425pm

Ash meadow lane

I think I'd like to lie down with a paper and pen, a notebook and pen and just write. I love to write in a journal. We're staying at Maryjane and Michael's. We went to church with them this morning. I like their little branch. It's a nice group of people.

 

I liked the lessons and the talks.

 

My laptop is about to die, but if I had an extension cord I could use it from this hammock longer. It's a lovely hot dy today. It's a nice spot out here with chairs and a table and the two hammocks. They have really been using it since I put the hammocks up here. I'm so glad! It's in ash trees that could be dying, judging by the amount of dead brnhes on the tree at the moment. The ash borer is getting them.

 

When my laptop dies I'm going to go get my iPod and lie here reading the scriptures with it. I haven't been stuying them much at home. I' glad we study the at church. I have to vaccuu out my cd player in the car so I can play Preach my Gospel again. It's such a great book. I wonder if there is an app for it.. That would be good to have if there is.

 

There is nothing like bbeing outside in the shade on a warm day. In the sun on a cooler day is good, but today it's 29C, I think. I'm glad we're here.

 

Mjs friend is over for a few minutes. I'm a bit worried about these straps holding me up properly in the hammock. I'm very aware of the huge aount of weight ive been carrying around with me everywhere.

Putting 70lbs in a bad and then removing two cups of it whenever I lose a pound would be a great idea.

 

I did some yoga yesterday. It felt good to stretch. I'm trying to do the knee thigh stretch. I never knew that my hip joints awere so low on my hips. I always measured my hips at the largest part of my hips, so to find the joint is at thebottom of the hips is kinda strange. Where the dent is in your skin. So strange.

 

So the joints are pretty seized up. I'm trying to loosen the up so I can sit crosslegged on the floor.

 

Bucket list goal is to make a grass basket with the African women in a village on the ground. I 'll have to be able to sit on the ground to do that!

 

I'd like to bring my violin out here and play in the woods. It's kind of an oasis of trees in the fields.

 

The meadowhawks are the dragonflies that are flying around now.

 

I guess I'll go plug my laptop in inside and bring out the violin and the iPod and make a video.

 

Aug. 15, 2013 10 am Daylilies

Willem helped me with the 4 new daylilies this morning. He brought them out of the car for me and put them by the holes I'd dug earlier this morning. I filled the holes with water, divided two clumps with his help and he put them in the holes and covered them up for me, the bending is the hardest part for me.

 

I am so pleased with the lovely flowers we have blooming on the daylilies now. They are quite beautiful!

 

Aug. 15, 2013 518 pm In the hammock by the pond

It's been pretty buggy in this hammock all summer, likely bedcause the Joe pye plants aare so enormous!

 

The frog with no skin on one leg is still doing well, not seeming to notice that he hasn't got any skin on one of his legs. Poor thing! We were going to put him down, but didn't, so he is still doing fine several days later. He was under the dock when we got on it and walked out and dove into the water.

 

I didn't swim for the past couple of days. I will swim later, I guess. I'd like to have a hammock in the sunshine, but so far that's not happening. I need two posts to hold it up!

 

We went to Rolene's and helped her move, making a long line to pass boxes to the truck. Gerald did the packing. He's amazing! He got all but the smallest bit of stuff into the truck.

 

I love the drive over there. I nearly ran out of gas. It cost $57 to fill it up. Lots of money.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Maryjane is here visiting. I got up and went for a bike ride. I sat by the bee balm and filmed a hummingbird on the flowers. I also discovered that I can zoom in to take a photo with my iPod! Yippee.

 

I broke up the broken windows and put the glass in a pail. I sat by the entrance to Perennials and played my violin a little, Not Hillside perennials, not sloped perennials, not downhill perennials. Ah, perennial slope! Good. Willem told me the name of it cos I forgot!

 

It was really mellow sitting there playing and enjoying the beautiful colours! Maryjane wanted to paint her gourd. She'd started it yesterday and had painted it with a pink wash, but then decided to paint it white with pink flowers and a heart on it.

 

I cut a piece of fabric for a door for the tipi, took one of the tipi poles off and nailed the fabric onto the board. It was rather difficult to set it up, but it did work pretty well.

 

I sat in the kitchen and worked on the gourd weaving I'd started. I added cedar bark, then bulrushes then more cedar bark. It turned out very nicely! Good job Nancy!

 

We went to the pond and swam, then went to the village for my pre missionary physical appointment. Willem printed out the forms for me so I could take them along and have them filled out by the doctor.

 

I dropped MJ off at the corner. She shopped at the thrift store and then went to a garage sale at the Catholic Church hall.

 

I had a two hour long appointment. I saw the placement doctor in training. She worked hard at filling out all the forms. She discussed my cholesterol with me and showed me the numbers. They want me on anti cholesterol medication and ramipril to keep me from having another heart attack because I am now at very high risk, since I've had one before. I thought that for Willem, so he won't be left alone, I will take some of it. I worry more about me being left alone!

 

We went to town after I picked up MJ. We stopped partway to town and checked to see if they had anymore of those long flowing dresses that are thin and lovely. We found stuff we liked. I was glad she wasn't referred to as my daughter again! Then I took her to see the quilt show but they charged admission, so instead we went to get my glasses straightened as I had stepped on them at the pond yesterday. Then I dropped her off at an antique store and went to the bank.

 

I went to subway and bought a dozen chocolate chip cookies, then picked up MJ. Jillians dad and stepmom run the antique shop.

 

August 6, 2013 Tuesday 12:15 pm

We are down at the pond. Willem has been working on the shoveling and I have been doing the raking. We have moved everything out of the tipi so we could add some soil in there. It seems to be clay which gets slippery when it's wet. We have all of this pit run gravel that we can use instead, so we are doing just that.

 

We can still put that piece of Albany cloth on top of it so we don't get sand on our feet, but this is going to do just fine!

 

I put all the chairs outside around the porch swing so it is a nice little gathering place circle. I have been playing my violin a bit, filming a bit and now journaling a bit, too.

 

Willem swam, but it was too cold for me today. I'll have to put on my wetsuit I guess. It'll warm up later this afternoon, I suspect, at least if the sun comes out. The clouds have come over now, so the sun will have to wait.

 

I would like to find my pottery glaze ingredients. They are all together in a box, but I'm not sure just where they are at the moment. I think I asked Abe to bring them inside, but I don't know if that happened or not.

 

Maryjane is on her way here. She's probably got errands to do before she can leave home, so she probably won't be here till this evening. We'll stay here anyway.

 

Willem did up all the receipts to send in for our insurance to pay for. I hope it all worked out well. I am ready for a chunk of money to pay off what I've given to Abe so he could have this wonderful summer in SF. Thousands of dollars to do this! Geepers! It sure has put us into a lean situation.

 

It's looking like it might rain in a little while. I should probably do some more on the tipi floor so we can put some of this stuff back inside.

August 10, 2013, Saturday

I set my iPod alarm for 4:45am. I got right up and woke up Maryjane so she could leave on time to get the car back to the rental place.

 

I stayed up for awhile, doing videos uploading and answering wonderful video comments. Around 7am I went back to bed. I needed the sleep I guess cos I snuggled up with Willem to warm up and didn't wake up till 10;30! Now that is very late for me! I love getting up early and experiencing the sunrise and the mist floting over the pond. It's so relaxing and wonderful.

 

I put the bucket of broken glass in the car and the garbage in the woodshed, then headed of to the

 

Idump. I had a good time there, finding a mosquito catcher. I've got to look it up online and see what it is missing so I can get it working. These are very expensive machines.

 

I went over to Mera to the market. That was nice. I enjoyed sitting at the table visiting with Sandy and wynn. Suelynn had brought a scarf for me in exchange for the one that she has of mine, the beige one that is two sewn togetether to be a poncho of sorts.

 

I paid my 2013 membership, $30, and bought a schoolhouse mug for $10 as the price has dropped. I am so glad to have the mug. I do love Mera! I went inside and visited with Lise and Florence. They are selling their woven cloths and rugs inside. So pretty. I think I will try doing a summer and winter pattern. Lise wrote a pattern that is just lovely. I like it so much! Perhaps she will tell me the tieup and the threading. I wouldn't blame her if she couldn't believe she didn't ask permission from everyone before using theirsdoesn't, though.

 

Wille came over to the market just s I was about to go home and get my gourd basket to show Ankaret. We traded some of the soap inside for cheesecake and brownies from Sally. She's going to send them home with her family who are up from Atwood to visit.

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Someone was packing up the lanterns in the shed to take over to Rosie for a party she is having tonight. I couldn't believe she didn't ask permission before using them. Mine with the green candle wax in it from her last borrowing. Maryjane helped me to fix that, though. I've got to let go of this.

 

I went back to the dump and found a few books and two teapots for my pergola. The back half of it doesn't have any teapots.

 

Willem helped me dig holes for posts along the edge of the driveway at the edge of the flowers. He started oving wood into the woodshed, so I carried on planting posts on my own. I made the hole digger narrower so it wouldn't make such huge holes. I'll have to take the hammock in front of the sunroom off the posts and make smaller posts for it. I'll put short teacup posts into those spots instead.

 

We went to the pond for a swim. I re-wove the seat of the porch swing from the dump. It is so much better now. Now we can sit on it nicely.

 

Meanwhile Willem pulled out weeds, grass, Joe pye and thistles from the Ostrich fern patch beside the parking spot.

 

We went for a swim. It was a very good swim. I swam laps on my side. We came back up and I heated up the leftovers from Maryjane's visit. We ate in the kitchen as I was cold.

 

I did some work on my laptop. Willem read Harry Potter and played Shostakovich prelude and fugue #9. It's very pretty!

 

We went to bed about 10:30. It had been a long and busy day.

 

At the pond again

I brought down the cushions for the porch swing that's beside Jopi tipi. Willem is cutting down some of the towering Joe pye weed which is growing in the ostrich ferns.

 

I put together my little screen tent so I could work on the privacy fence, but I think it should go across the road instead of along it. I am not ready to work on it yet, either. I am tired out now. It's a quiet day for me today. Just puttering around. The kayak has blown to the other side of the pond. I think I should get into it on that side and then paddle it back over here.

 

The sun came out. My goodness does it feel hot on my hands and wrists. I have this little roof over the swing bench. I really liked having the campfire this morning. It's completely different down here now.

 

This morning I watched a phoebe sitting on the posts at the end of the willow blind. He swooped down on the pond and ate bugs on it. Five times. What a nice thing to watch.

 

I want to put together a hammock to hang in the tipi where I can lie down without all the bugs bugging me. I didn't bring down the new hammock by the sunroom, sunroom corner. I brought out the one we have been standing on when we get out of the pond with wet feet and have to be hiding from the bugs.

 

The water truck makes a lot of noise when he fills up.

 

I heard a sound like a peacock. It could have been anything, I guess.

 

This morning the sun was on Canary meadow (need a sign) and on the sides of the trees. Now the sun is on the backs of the trees and silver on the top of the sumacs clustered about on sumac hill.

 

 

 

The kayak keeps blowing from one side of the pond to the other.

 

It's so amazing here. I used to have to drive a long way to find a place where I could sit and enjoy nature when we lived in town fifteen years ago. This is so much better!

 

I should try making some trails. Perhaps ill cut another trail through the alders to the stream today. I like to have a place to walk to.

July 28, 2013 9:03 am

I feel quite groggy today. I took a muscle relaxant last night around 10:30 to loosen up my leg and took one of the strong pain pills that don't work so well. I had a good sleep, but had to turn over a lot because of the pain in my SI joint.

 

I took extra ibuprophen today; I wanted to be able to go to church in case Esther came, and so I wouldn't have so much pain as I did yesterday when we came to town. I also have along my walker.

 

It rained last night. It's a nice calm day. It's cloudier here on the way through the great divide than it was at home. Low clouds.

 

I should go for a walk to loosen up my body.

 

Lately I have been very aware of our aging. Willem has retired. I' not ready to get old and decay away.

 

I heard a really good neuroscience talk on ideas in the afternoon the other day on CBC. I want to hear it gin. I had to get out of the car before it was over so I didn't hear it all. I forget where I was, though, except near the next closest dump.

 

July 27, 2013 2 pm fiber roads at Mera

I was glad to find that there were tons more shelters at the farmers market today. It was really quite lovely. There is a group called Fiber Roads. Lots of alpaca people were there. Ankaret was also there, with a display of her baskets, various types she's made.

 

Before I left home I had planned to take along materials and make a basket. But then since nothing had been soaked for it, I changed my mind and took soap and fleece to felt them. So I sat near Ankaret as she made a cedar hat for awhile, then she left. I felted my soaps till they were all done and explained Ankaret's natural material baskets display. I would like to make a small bulrush basket with a lid on it like the one she made. It's a lovely design she made. It may be pairing.

 

Also a beautiful shawl woven by the girl that weaves silk, had a lovely open diamond pattern in it. I will look it up on the Davison book.

July 27, 2013 307pm

9:30 am

Willem finished helping me work on the daylilies. I got ready and went to the dump, to the etal pile. I was thrilled to find a porch swing! I found the frame before I found the seat and was glad to find that they were both there. I didn't find the prings, though.

 

I used a comforter and a mattress cover to protect the roof of my car. Someone offered a hand and helped me load it onto the roof.

 

I also found two swimming pool ladders which I think will work well for the docks in the pond. Plus I could some extra poles for the tempo!

 

July 24, 2013 weeding, campfire, Willem

We didn't get up till about 8:30, even though I wanted to get up really early. It had cooled off incredibly. I made an update video and set some of yesterday's videos to upload.

 

Willem had agreed to mow the lawn, so he got to work on that. I had a lot of pain in my back, probably from lugging the boards across the pond and nailing them onto the other dock yesterday while we were swimming.

 

I used my walker and pushed it out and weeded the grass that was in the lovely new daylily flower beside the hostas in bloom in the end stump bench garden of thyme and blueberries.

 

Willem worked on mowing the perennial slope. It's quite a lot of work to mow it. I usually have to stop a few times in the process to recover from the effort. He asked me about where the plants were and such. I was so glad to show him where to mow.

 

I heard our neighbour with his tractor and went over to ask him if he'd agree to grading the new pond entrance. Al phoned from T to say that it was so wet in there that not to let anyone in there to grade it or anything. It's rock hard at the moment, but okay.

 

So they will leave the caterpillar bulldozer there for awhile and then grade it in a couple of weeks when they find it has really dried. He said it was six hours of work so far. That's about $700 before tax. Eeek. But it's so good to have it smoothed out.

 

I sat looking at Doris, the mannequin from the dump, the wire woman. She really needed to be inside the garden bed, not on the outside of it. So I untied her raincoat belt and moved her inside the garden bed so she is inside of the windows and can appear to be looking out. I videoed that and then took the videos when Selene and I found her and put them all together.

 

I went inside to check on the videos from yesterday and to keep uploading the next one. Willem helped me to move the swing over beside the house. After a rest from mowing and a read of harry potter, we had lunch on the porch and went back out to pull the weeds, mostly grass that is in-between the plants flowering long the pathway into the house.

 

Willem worked along the edge and I worked on the other side of that bed in the Perennial slope. I trimmed off the branches of the spruce and of the hop hornbeam and of the elm that were extending so far onto our pathway. I sat on the ground and pulled the grass out. It was great to get rid of so much of it and make the bed look nice. I have to work on the other beds some more, but we did a lot of good work out there.

 

We were ready for a swim and to work on Willem's blind. He wants to be private as he swims so has an idea about how to do this.

 

So we took the roll of fabric down to the pond, along with the roofing nails he bought yesterday on the way to Ottawa. He had to walk around the pond to get the hammer off the dock where I'd worked on it yesterday.

 

He was busy digging a post hole, so I thought I'd build a little campfire. I needed some dead alders, so got some from the edge of the alder berm. I couldn't light the fire because of the wind, no matter what I did. I had brought my saw down yesterday, so took it over to the berm to make a little pathway into the alders.

 

It was easy to cut the well bent alders. There were a few bent and a large bird's nest in them. I wasn't sure what kind of bird had made it. I'll have to look it up in my bird nests book later.

 

Willem had me help him with getting the post into the hole and holding it while he filled it up.

Afterwards, I helped nail the cloth in place as he held it. It was hard to make the top tight and straight. He sure has a long, ugly privacy fence now! But it makes him happy. I will plant willow on both sides of it, paint it and also build a natural fence out of alders.

 

I was able to get the fire going, then go for a swim with Willem. He is very pleased with his privacy fence now.

 

I made a crockpot dinner which wasn't cooked yet, so I moved it to the pressure cooker and videoed making this Indonesian dish with the spices Lily brought over as time she came.

 

He practiced the piano while I worked on my videos. We didn't get to bed till about midnight again.

July 23, 2013 privacy fence, Erin’s in ottawa

Willem wanted a privacy fence, so stood looking to see where he wanted it from. He decided on putting a post behind the tipi.

 

He wated to buy himself an electronic autoharp. I dove us into Ottawa so he could go to Steve's music on Rideau. There is construction, so it was hard to get near the store. I let him off and drove round the block. I want in and bought a tiny tuning screw for my violin where it had lost one.

 

Willem was waiting for me by Domino's Pizza Pizza and walked with me through the path and up the stairs to my car.

 

Then we went back to Bank Street to find the Ottawa Folklore Center, which may have had the autoharps. Willem went over there while I went to the Starbucks across the road where I have spent many days relaxing online while waiting for him to finish work.

 

They didn't have any there, so we got back on the expressway and headed over to Kanata to go to the grocery store for some salad. Afterwards, we went over to E's. We visited with little L and Chris and E till James and Nick came. We had a very nice time with everyone. It was Willem's birthday party, plus his retirement.

 

We got home about 10pm, after he had been reading harry potter to me in the car on the way.

Monday, 2:16pm July 15, 2013 Clauedette Hart

Merrickville, Ontario. I just stopped by to see Claudette who makes gourds. She's an amazing woman. She makes all sorts of fabulous things, from holes in caved, painted gourds, to woven tops on gourd bodies, to painted ones, to bowl bottoms with much decoration above, woven. She uses clothesline, rolled paper, twine, yarn and anything else to weave up the walls above the gourd. She used a stool disk for a bottom of a basket. She dyes fabric, the gourds, uses pattern paper glued on the sides, painted, waxed afterwards.

 

She adds things like door hinges to open the doors to the king within, a dragon curling around the top, knights on either side. She makes spring drums hanging upside down from the sock shaped gourd.

 

It was amazing to visit with her. Everything she touches is fantanstic. She's got her garage as a gourd workshop. A place to sit and work away at her creations. I don't have a place to sit to work at the moment. I'll have to work on that. Oh, my kitchen table perhaps!

 

She puts grommets in the gourd, sews with imitation rawhide, uses all sorts of materials, paper, metal, buttons, all sorts of things. She has Marianne Barnes' books. I'm glad I went over to meet her. I'm glad I went there and got so inspired. Merrickville is such an inspiring little town. It's just filled with artsy folks. I would retire here if we didn't have our own place already! If I ever had to move to 'town', I would like this one. I'm not sure if there's a grocery store here, though. Tons of gift artsy shops, though, lots like Westport, but better.

July 11, 2013, Thursday in Ottawa

9:03am

I went for a nice walk this morning down to the bridge. I walked at a rather fast clip, my repellant working against most of the mosquitoes. They have signs up this morning about loose sand on the shoulders. They are going to put down some sand and cover it with spray of tar or something. The shoulders are quite easy to ruin at the moment if you step on the edge of them. I should be there asking them to improve my pathway down to the tipi. It's too steep for me now.

 

Anyway, I walked along making a video as I went, checking on the tamarack trees's growth. It's a cool morning today, not hot like it's been for awhile. Not humid either. Much nicer, indeed.

 

I decided by the time I got back that I'd be doing better if I went to Ottawa and spent the day being available to my kids. Willem was ready to go, so we headed out. I did pick up my violin and my laptop before we headed out.

 

It was a nice cool drive this morning. There's nice breeze and it's cooled off so nicely. I dropped Willem off at 8:30 am.

 

I went over to Ben's and there was Daniel coming out of the house. So I gave him and his bike a ride over to work. I sat in the passenger side of the car in the shade on the side of the road afterwards, played my violin and wrote in my journal. I couldn't get my phone to work, to charge or anything. Finally after removing the battery twice, it started to work.

 

I played Black Jack, a jig, on it for awhile, then when Daniel came out to go work from home at Ben's, I let him drive, since he's got his licence now, anyway. He didn't mind, so I played while we drove. DJGJ, Home on the range, Somewhere over the rainbow, Red River Valley and Mari's wedding. He thought my playing has improved a lot! Woo Hoo!

 

We are at Ben's. Tas is working from home upstairs and Daniel and I are at the kitchen counter bar. It's nice here with them. I like being around them! Cool beans! I'm eating Ben's mangos! J

 

I'm so glad he has a good job and is doing so well. I'm glad they have their own home and it's large enough for the boys to come stay here or work here. Daniel has his own place now, though.

 

 

June 27, 2013 4 pm town, transplanting cranesbill, pond

I went to town, full of ideas, but just went to Giant Tiger for salad and some snacks for Willem to eat at the temple tomorrow. I had a harder time moving now that I'd been sitting. I was glad to have my car back, though.

 

I was going to do the rounds, get some dead plants and soil, get some free straps and lumber plastic wrap, go to the bank, but I didn't feel like walking, so just came home.

 

At the intersection near his house, I picked up Ryan and took him back into town as he wasn't having any luck hitchhiking on this hot humid day. It wasn't as hot and as humid as it had been yesterday.

 

By the time I got back home, it was too late to go over to Susan's for a spinning lesson. So I lay in my hammock in Cedar Cove, under the mosquito screen for awhile.

 

I painted the lettering of the sign for the Husker Red digitalis plant and stuck it in the ground. I shouldn't have painted the lettering, though.

 

I dug up all the little cranesbill plants under the big willow bush. They just don't grow under there at all. I took them down to the pond and planted them where the Joe pye isn't growing. I marked the areas where they are planted with short stakes around the two areas.

 

The bugs were after me, so I went swimming in the pond. After a few laps and transplanting some of the willow sticks that are hopelessly underwater, I got back out and rototilled the garden. I threw the rocks into the pond and the grass clumps and other plants and weeds into the marsh meadow.

 

The black flies were getting me, so I hurried around the pond to the entrance and got back in. I heard the veery today like I did yesterday. I also heard the indigo bunting. A robin dashed across the pond and into the trees on cedar hillside. I was surprised at how fast they can fly into the dense foliage without knowing for sure what is in there. I had no idea they did that. They must see a long way ahead of themselves so they can do that without crashing into anything.

 

I was waiting for Willem to come home and swim in the pond with me, but he didn't realize I was down there. So I was in the pond for a couple of hours, relaxing, twisting, investigating frogs and swimming laps.

 

 

 

June 27, 2013 9:10 pm Wove on Ankaret’s fence

We are listening to Alida sing at the pub. She's so good. She's got a new guitar. It's an electric acoustic guitar. It's really nice making a good sound.

 

I have had a good day. I couldn't find my teeth this morning, but I wanted to go to Ankaret's to help her weave her willow fence. I walked all the way there without my walker or my sticks. |When my leg/SI joint started to hurt I stood straight for a moment. I was amazed that I walked the whole way without getting too tired or in too much pain to go on! I knew that I could always stop and hitchhike the rest of the way there. But I arrived before I needed to do that!

 

Ankaret had been weaving on the fence already, but had stopped for breakfast when I arrived at 8:35am. We got to work after some strawberries and juice. She's been using three kinds of willow. White and buff peeled and some Mera willow are what she's used so far. Shes left some gaps with crossed willow uprights. She has made some straight weave, some twinning and it was up high enough I could stand up.

 

She uses three willow sticks at a time, adding one after every other upright. I did about six inches or more on the fence, then Linda came with some unpeeled cedar bark. We wove it in the top and the bottom of the open spaces. It was not long enough to go very far. I like it when the cedar bark is peeled apart instead of on the inner bark.

 

I loved weaving on the fence. It was wonderful to be there working with Ankaret. I am so grateful for all she has taught me about weaving baskets with natural materials. She's such an amazing person. She'd asked the fiber arts group to come help her if they wanted to. I was glad I had the ability to get there, even though my car was in the shop.

 

At about 12:30, I was given a ride home and could show off my hothouse tipi garden. It sure is growing fast! I'm so pleased that it is just shooting up with this moist air and the heat. I am glad I also labelled the motherwort cos I could show it to their granddaughter who is learning about edible plants. They showed me Wood sorel. It looks just like clover, but it's not. It's edible and has a nice flavour they said.

 

Thursday, June 20, 2013 all day

Willem and I were invited over to E's for Father's day dinner, so I went into town with him. I dropped him off at work, then went over to Ben's. I ran over his hose and broke the end off it! Good grief. So I went in and turned off the water from inside. I also cleaned out the liter box as it smelled.

 

I went over to Future shop and to Wal-Mart to buy a handsfree device for my phone. It is an old variety and has a big hole, so it needed a different kind of end. I found one for $10 which I bought, but it didn't work, or the hole in my phone doesn't work, so I took it back. The first time I went in without my walker, but the second time I needed it.

 

I went looking for a place to sit and flick card my fleece. I finally landed upon the Billings Bridge park on the Rideau River. I sat in the shade and carded the burdocks out of the alpaca fibers I bought from Jen. I don't think I'll buy fleece with burdocks in it again. I hadn't realized I had chosen alpaca today instead of sheep wool. I need to work with wool to practice spinning for the sheep to shawl on July 6^th at the museum.

 

One person thought I was combing my dog hair for making a sweater. Another realized what I was doing. I was quite by myself. It was nice to be amid people but to be alone in the shade nearby.

 

Afterwards I sat next to the river and played the violin. A couple of people came over to listen to me. Embarassing, eh. I saw a family of wood ducks on the river. She has a sideways white teardrop marking on her eye. All the babies looked like her, grey and white. Lovely family!

 

I picked up Willem and we headed over to E's for dinner with her family and K. We had a very nice time on the back deck. Little Liam is a darling!

 

We drove K back to her new home, then went to listen to Al sing in the pub she used to work in. It was nice to be there with them again. I love hanging around when she sings!

 

We didn't get home until about midnight, but at least it wasn't a temple Friday tomorrow!

Sunday, June 23, 2013 8:36am

I came along early to church today as Willem was preparing to do clerk work. I've been playing Oh My Father and I Need Thee Every Hour on the violin. It sounds like a song now. That's good. I am glad I'm improving.

 

It is very overcast and foggy today. Gona be a hot one they say. We have a broadcast meeting this evening. I think I was supposed to bring something for it, but I didn't. Calendaring problem again!

 

I put the chairs up for church today, but I didn't hook them together. I always unhook them, so it's done the way I like it! Hehehe

 

Church was nice. We left after Willem did his clerk work. We went for a swim in the pond, had some lunch and headed back to the chapel for a missionary broadcast. It was very inspiring. I've been stalling with giving copies of the Book of Mormon out to my friends. Now I have the courage to do it, I think.

 

It was hot outside, but not too bad in the house with the doors and windows closed all day. We slept with the window open, though.

Monday, June 24, 2013 7:22 pm

I have had a lovely day. I got up not knowing what I should do today, but I knew I should take the Book of Mormon over to D. I was afraid to do it, but did it anyway. It worked out wonderfully. He has such a sweet innocent face. I hope he and D. read it!

 

Afterwards, not sure how to best use my day, and knowing Ankaret would like to weave some cedar into her fence, I went over and asked her if she'd like to go peel some cedar bark. Sure enough, she thought it was a good idea. She'd been working on her fence again and has planted more bushes in front of it.

 

It was a hot day today, 33C is what it got up to in the end. We filled a basket with cedar rolls. I was surprised at how quickly we were able to do it. I was so amazed, in fact, that I went back after taking her home and peeled cedar bark for another two hours.

 

The worker was taking away logs near us, so I moved my car out of the way. I'm grateful that the owner, John, is happy to let us peel bark. It came off so readily today. At least on some logs. We found a good set of logs to peel it from. I think all together we peeled four or five whole 8' cedar logs.

 

I was very hot and weak from the sun and humidity and the temperature. I came home and just sat in my chair for awhile to recooperate.

 

I had a message from a friend saying they'd had Ankylosing Spondilosis for the past 25 years. Oh my goodness. You'd never know it to talk to her. So that's one example of a woman who has it.

 

Then I found my swimming dress, switched the laundry and mended the arm seam on my little mending sewing machine.

 

I came down to the pond, took the seven rolls of cedar I'd peeled over the past few days to the car, then walked into the water. It was nice and warm. I swam in the top couple of feet of water and didn't need a wetsuit, just my swimming dress. I did a few leisurely laps. It was very pleasant to be in the warm water. I'm so glad we have this pond now.

 

I got out to lay in my hammock, but it ripped away from the ties. I took it down and was going to bring the other one over to replace it, but went back in the pond, instead.

 

I sat in it and peeled more willow that I've had soaking in it for the past month and more that has been in it for a year. I peeled seven more strips, but they were rather decomposing as I worked and the fibers were flaying away.

 

I swam around the edge of the pond, checking out the three big huge bullfrogs that have grown from the large tadpoles I brought home from that pond near Kingston. They are doing so well here! They are huge and quite content.

 

I got cold, even though the pond was 86F, so I came up to the house and showered, then lay in the hammock in the pergola and watched a pair of wasps go into the spout of a sealed closed hanging flowery teapot. Neither of them came out.

 

Willem came home, so we headed back down to the pond. I journaled while he swam some laps. The reflections of green on the pond in his ripples on his first lap over was so lovely. I didn't take a photo, though.

 

Friday, June 21, 2013 9am

I was pretty tired when I got up and had a hard time waking up completely, but I knew it was the muscle relaxant that was working on my behalf. I wanted to go for a walk while my body was moving well.

 

So I gathered my iPod, laptop, violin and zoomy camera and headed down to the bridge. I didn't bring either a walker or canes. I didn't hurt so I thought I'd be fine. Dancing last night probably did a good job on my back as well!

 

I arrived at Sedge Meadow tipi and left everything on the roadside, eased my body down the steep roadside, crossed the ditch and walked carefully on the boards to the tipi entrance at the back where my screen tent was lying on the hammock.

 

Water has puddled along the pathway, so I imagine it's too wet to walk with socks and crocks to the screened bench swing. It faces the sun, so sitting in it to play the violin wouldn't be a happy experience.

 

I returned to the road, gathered up my belongings, walked to the bridge and climbed over the guard wires. It's hard to do that with my bone fused together at the sacroiliac joint.

Friday, June 21, 2013 Sumac Hill hammock

I'm finally in my hammock on Sumac Hill. It's lovely out here. The sun is shining through the whorls of lined up leaves of the sumac trees overhead. They just don't grow like this. What a miracle that they have grown like this and that I can now appreciate them and lie in a hammock tied to them with a screen hanging down above me, keeping me free from the mosquitoes.

 

A pair of swallows, perhaps barn swallows, are swooping across the pond, diving down with their bottom beaks open to have a drink, swoping up to catch another of their 1000 daily allotment.

 

Many birds are singing overhead and in the surrounding trees. The wrens are in the alders. A flycatcher just came to join me here in the sumacs…for only a moment. Others are in the trees which I haven't taken the time to listen to yet.

 

I am invisible to the birds here in this little screened hammock tent. I am so glad I brought it down the other day as one of the many things on my to do list.

 

I just got this white sloth strap from the Jopi Tipi to use to hold up the screen overhead.

 

There are tall dock plants, at least that's what I think they are. They are quite tall with lots of seeds on them. I have my shovel down here from working at transplanting the evening primrose the other day. They didn't wilt, in spite of the sunshine yesterday and the day before.

 

I checked on the tamarack tree babies and the forsythia sticks I pushed into the ground around Sedge Meadow tipi a few months ago. Some have leaves on them! Two of them, I think. I took photos of them. Several of the tamaracks have put on a few inches of new growth at the top! How exciting! It won't be long before the tipi is hidden from view from the road! Yippee!

 

 

 

June 18, 2013 7:16 pm

Willem and I drove home and are now at the pond. We have discovered the grass is in head, ready for pollination and to go to seed. So we have been harvesting all the seed heads and removing them to the car to take away from here.

 

A bluebird is in the alders, singing in his whispering song, over the beautiful reflection on the pond. We haven't been up to the house yet, but have just arrived here from Ottawa. Ben offered or us to stay over at their home to keep from having to drive the long way to and from home.

 

But I love being here. It's so wonderful, so large and spacious and all ours! Even paid for! I feel very grateful for all we have. There's much privacy here, much wildlife, many birds and so much foliage that I have invested my time and energy into.

 

I love the wild plants as well as the lovely cultivated sort of other plants. Willem is in the water now. It's such a perfect place.

 

As I have sat on the porch at Ben's with the neighbour's porch no more than ten feet away, I feel so very much different about where I live. So many people, even with their lovely homes, still don't have anything like this in town. This is the cottage, or the tipi, I guess. So perfect.

 

I think I'll go kayaking while Willem swims.

June 18, 2013 1:56 pm morning pages

Well, I'm just going to journal whatever comes into my mind, but o course my mind works lots faster than my fingers on the keyboard.

 

Dropping off Ben made me remember my days as a travel writer. Willem's not too keen on me doing it anymore now.

 

Today he is putting in his papers for his retirement. He had a physical yesterday and got the all healthy thumbs up, so he's retiring in August sometime. Gona be a new life. Gona be quite interesting!

June 17, 2013 7 am Monday

I spent some time this morning filming and doing a little bit of email. I had a nice talk with Virginia, too. I had a nice sleep, too. A nice sleep is important!

 

It was sunny at sunrise but clouded up again and rained a bit before I left for Ottawa.

 

On the way, I recalled my friend Darlene and where she said she lived, so I drove over there. She was dropping in for five minutes, so our paths crossed for a moment.

 

I told her about Gospel Library which will make it easier and quicker to write a talk, as you don't have to look up the scriptures, but can click on the links after finding them in the topical guide.

 

She's so back to the earth, but super tidy and organized! Lovely gardens, living right on the large lake on the river, hand well pump, such a nice little house. I would love to live in a small house like that!

 

I think the reason I eat while I'm driving is from boredom. I think that's what happens with me. I like listening to the news, or to the cd player, but inevitably I eat when I drive. I think that's where I gain all that extra weight!

Saturday, June 15, 2013 Toronto temple

I'd had a hard time falling asleep, so hadn't had enough sleep by the time we got up to be at the temple for the 6:30 prayer meeting.

 

I was assigned as initiatory coordinator for the whole shift. I spent a lot of time at the desk as well as working with the patrons. It was a busy Saturday. I enjoyed it a lot. I liked helping the new workers as they learned their parts and got the hang of things.

 

For the afternoon session, I was again initiatory coordinator, but this time I had enough workers that I was able to sit and rest at the desk.

 

We had brought our food again. This time I had pulled pork, which I had to pull myself. That wasn't very easy with the plastic cutlery. We also brought Tupperware containers for our food. I forgot to leave some of them in my locker for next time.

 

MJ came to the temple in the afternoon. Michael wasn't well she'd come alone. She went on a session while I worked in the locker room. There are many patrons who speak Spanish or mandarin. I'm surprised. I think there are two mandarin wards in Toronto now.

 

Fern had be a patron where I was able to experience things differently and feel the love of each of the sisters, especially Maryjane. How wonderful that she and I can work together in the temple. It's so nice!

 

We left around 6:20, bought some samaras and headed home. Because we had missed seeing Alida on her birthday, we went to the pub where she works. She waited on us and we gave her the clock that shines the time onto the ceiling and two samaras. They always got samaras when we'd come home from the temple. There was a rocking band at the pub, so willem and I danced up a storm. It was very nice! We got home before midnight.

Friday, June 14, 2013

We drove to the Toronto Temple and arrived there around 2pm. I drove all the way, taking 7 to the 401. It wasn't any slower than taking 32 through Tweed.

 

I had been concerned about not being very spiritual, so made sure we listened to Preach my Gospel on the way in. I was driving, both ways, actually, to give Willem a chance to rest. I didn't get a chance to journal, so was getting further and further behind.

 

We arrived early at the temple. Willem used the stake center to change from his traveling clothes into his Sunday best. I spent some time in the temple in quiet prayer. It was what I needed to invoke the Spirit to be with me. So I began my shift on a spiritual note.

 

I was initiatory coordinator again. I liked that job. I also worked in a session with Willem. That was so nice. We were there with old friends from Ottawa. I hear that the montreal temple is going to go through extensive renovations and be closed for some time, so the members will be attending Toronto. That will be nice to see people I know from long ago!

 

We returned to our accommodations with B. who rents out a room to us for $20 a night, at about 10pm. We st in the living room and visited with her for about an hour beore we ent to bed. I didn't have time to journal but was able to upload the videos of the day today. I too a very nice photo of the Toronto temple with the moon and dark sy behind it, or maybe a tree over the spire.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Today I am going back to Ottawa with Willem again. Ben and T are flying to Atlanta for her work and then to see Mom on Friday and Saturday.

 

Vi and Bo are looking for a hectare sized farm to buy in Germany. They have done amazing things with the yard where they live now. So many perennials and bushes. They do such beautiful landscaping. Their business is going well so they don't have to go to the office very often. They may hire Manuel to run the farm.

 

D now has his G2 drivers licence so he can buy a moped when he is in China to explore the countryside, instead of staying in the city all the time. He has a very polite Korean friend who bows when he speaks to me. Andre works with Daniel at his new job. Daniel hired him, he says. He is working on a project which he thinks will do very well.

 

Al loves her new job at a different pub. She has excellent hours, lots of customers and loves her coworkers and bosses. She's also quite happy with where she lives. She has written more songs. They are commentaries on society generally. She has a bass player who has his training in recording, so they will be cutting a cd soon.

 

A is in San Francisco working in my sister's lab, doing research on genetics. He's not being paid, nor displacing another volunteer, which are the guidelines for a non American to volunteer in the states. He's loving San Francisco. He's staying in Berkley's at his uncle's house and gets a ride to BART every morning from his uncle. My sister goes horseback riding every morning, so isn't there at that time, I don't think.

 

Ti is happy working in the kitchen in the hospital nearby. They had a wonderful party or their friends and coworkers a few weeks ago on their lovely property. She's so organized and does such a wonderful job. Everyone loves her as she's the life of every situation and a wonderful mother to everyone around her.

 

Ka has been teaching herself through homeschool for many years and is always learning new things which she imparts to Tisch. She's so mature and so smart. It's neat to see how she has grown into a wonderful woman!

 

G is happy with his job and his position of seniority. He's so helpful to us, always wanting to ease our burdens and do whatever he can for us and for his family. He's a thinker, contemplating things that are said. He adores his wife. They are go good together. They have us over after church on many weekends.

 

E is happily married and has a sweet son L who is now in junior kindergarden. She works at the hospital. They have a nice house. She's very organized and a good mom. We don't see them often, only for fathers day and birthday get togethers.

 

N is running his own company now, organizing conventions. He's in Ottawa, too.

 

K is working as a radiologist now. She has a new fellow in her life who is very nice. They are a good couple.

 

L is a goalie in soccer. He plays very well and is a good member of his team. He's growing up so fast. I think he's a preteen now.

 

 

 

June 17, 2013 5:28 pm Monday

I came into Ottawa today to let Daniel do some driving before taking his test. It was nice to just hang out while he drove around here and there, did some errands, stopped at his apartment, stopped at the market, stopped at Ben's, subway, Tim Horton's and finally the driving place.

He passed his test, so now has the next level in the graduated licence. There are four levels before you are a full driver, each with a year in-between, I think, as well as limitations at each level. I think they are: 365, G1, G2, G. So he's now at the G2 level. I like riding with him. He's confident, but not cocky, which is so important in driving; especially while driving MY car.

 

I have so many friends and acquaintances whose children smashed up or totalled their cars, that there is no way I was going to let my kids ever do that to mine. So none had their licences when they left home. All three boys have taken drivers' ed. I'm not sure I Virginia took it. Alida hasn't. Anyway, there is no way I was going to let my children drive my cars till they could pay for their own insurance. My job as taxi driver is a nice one, I get to spend time with my kids! J

 

June 12, 2013 1:25 pm

I am in Sunrise hillside hammock. I drove up and down the lane after the grader went by, trying to pack the road down again so it wouldn't be easily eroded tomorrow or this afternoon later when it rains.

 

I have been drinking motherwort tea today, as I seem short of breath, easily exhausted when I do anything at all. I thought that would be good for my heart.

 

I went over to Mera and dug up some thyme, or ripped it up, I guess. I am going to put some nice new soil in the cracks and plant it in the patio stones, if possible. I hope it works well. But it's sunny out and only when it's raining do all plants not wilt when transplanted.

 

Here on sunrise hillside I like looking at the plants that are growing here on the hilltop. I have an entrance pathway of hostas over to the hammock here. I suppose I should take better care of this spot. There are many plants here, but not in groups as they should be. Perhaps I should move them around so they are in clusters and not just haphazardly here. I can do that when the sun is lower in the sky too, not in the heat of the day. The hydrangeas are looking quite lovely, too. I see a few baby elm trees, too. Not a good spot during the Dutch elm wipe out we are now experiencing! I'd rather have some birch saplings here. I'm not sure how to recognize birch saplings, though. I'll have to do some research, I guess, study a birch stand and the saplings that grow beside the parent trees.

 

The elm which used to shade me here has a lot of thinning going on now. No bugs today. Yippee!

June 12, 2013 7:45 am

I am at the bridge, my feet up on the cement wall, glad to be here on this new sunny day. The rain has lasted for a long time. But I am quite content to be here listening to the sounds of the stream and to see the vibrating of the alder as the water rushes around it. I have become more prepared as time has gone on. I have my walker, my violin, my laptop including the cord and the cord to my iPod, my iPod, black plastic garbage bags to cover the chair, the iPod swivl and my little blue Fuji camera for close-ups as it does do wonderful still photos.

 

I couldn't find my regular zoomy blue camera this morning. I vlogged about it on a short video update from the stream and also filmed the stream at the culvert. I wanted to go to the pond, but thought I should get a bit of exercise, walking to the bridge instead.

 

Dr. Moore, cardiologist said it's more important to walk briskly for 30 minutes a day than to be in skinny. It's also easier. So walking is a good idea. I guess I haven't done any of it or any swimming for awhile because it has been so wet outside. Gee, what have I been doing for the past few days, anyway? I'll have to go figure that out and update my journal for Sunday afternoon after the MRI and yesterday when I went to town.

 

I realized that there is an indigo bunting that lives at the culverts. I knew that years ago, before we had a pond or anywhere to sit around there. I will have to film him. That will be quite nice.

 

This stream is very high right now. It has swallowed the bottom leaves of the overhanging alder branches. The grass is also six inches deep in water. The water is clear rusty brown today. I love that it's always clear, no matter what colour it is.

 

I am going to practice my violin again this morning. Willem taught me a song a month ago or more, but I can't' remember how it goes now. My bow strings get very loose when it's too damp and humid outside.

 

The pileated woodpecker is relaxing in his hole with his face out. He or she does that often. I guess it's the she. The he has a lot of red on his face at his beak.

 

I don't want to walk to my chair swing screened tent because the water is so high. I will certainly get quite soaked if I do.

 

I see some birds over there, though. Enticing, I do admit.

 

The little tamaracks we have planted look quite good, the ones I could see from the road, anyway.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 in town

I went to town for Willem's stress test, then went to see if the purple bouncing bet flowers were findable. I knew where they were located, generally, across from a factory by the traintracks, but it was raining and wet, so finding them wasn't an easy task. The bouncing bet, or soapwort leaves didn't show up against the grass readily, so I didn't have much luck figuring out where they were, or even which ones they were.

 

So I scratched that off my mental list and went into town. I felt like going to the flea market, but squashed the idea, in the hopes of not spending money I didn't have. It worked. I didn't spend any money today! Good work, Nancy!

 

Instead I drove over to Alida's apartment and found a parking spot on the road alongside her building. My iPod picked up her wifi and since I am allowed to use it, I have the password already in it, too.

 

I sat and read facebook entries. So nice to read what everyone is doing. I love that. I also read some mail. I didn't have the time to wait for the internet to open so I could respond at youtube, so I just read wonderful comments. They inspire me, congratulate me, compliment me. They give me a reason to film more things in my life. I do love sharing my life. It is really a life of ease, compared to so many who have to work at jobs they don't like in cities that are noisy that they find no joy in being in.

 

I saw Matt going over to Alida's to take her shopping.

 

I phoned Lori and asked about the tax form my mom needed the accountant to have. She will drop it off. She's taking care of so many things down there for me. Mom has become a part of her faily, too. How wonderful for Mom, and for me! It's nice not to feel guildty about being there! It's so much better this year with Erika and all that mom thinks about ahead of time to do with Eirka, play dough, showing her bugs, blowing bubbles, so much to do together. It's really giving Mom a good life down there! I have a hard time sleeping if it is over 64F in our room. Opening the window brings in all of that dampness which is also very difficult for me to take. I like sleeping with the dehumidifier by the bed so I can turn it on if it gets too damp for me. Georgia would be way too humid for me and way too hot.

 

Alida got in the car and visited with me for a few minutes, sharing what she was buying for a birthday. I'm so glad she has good friends, a good job and is enjoying her life. I heard an interview with Joni Mitchell. It was quite an interesting look into her aversion to fame and to people that pursue the famous. She retreated to the BC wilderness to hide away from all of that. Society is rather crazy for famous musicians.

 

I was also sitting there trying to remember why I was in town anyway. I had my little iPod to do list which I made on Monday. It reminded me of looking for pallets. I drove past the pool, saw that it was 12:09 and that I could have gone swimming, but I didn't feel up to it today.

 

So I went looking for pallets. Then I came home.

 

At home I worked on linking my pond videos together. I linked and numbered over 200 of them together. Some are linked out of order, but it's so hard to figure out, I just left them that way. I think I'm up to April with them now. I have only 10 more videos to upload to be caught up, so I can sort out the pond videos when they're all up.

 

Willem came home and we had Ben's amazing shish kabobs. He made some hamburger ones that are amazing, too. We also had some of my fiddlehead chicken stew. There's a lot of broth left so I will use that to make another stew after this one is done.

 

He read Harry Potter, the next book, to me. I wonder what it was that Dumbledore had said to Harry's aunt that convinced her to take Harry in.