August 3, 2010
Whatever BC Day is, I had a good one in the Downtown Eastside. Had a bowl of sausage and kale soup at Carnegie, and a good chat with some women about knitting. I wanted to find some particular buildings today for an idea I am smouldering on. I almost found them, but was much more interested in the street activity and human interactions going on around me and with me.
An ambulance attended at Insite and likely saved another life, thanks to a progressive and intelligent approach to addiction continually under threat by our unprogressive and distant Federal government, whose approach is tantamount to lighting a bonfire around the problem, and expecting whistles and spittle to put it out.
The Army and Navy were selling, front of the store, the thickest woolly jumpers and cardigans, while the welly boots were on floodlit display downstairs. Outside it was scorching hot. I enjoyed the contradiction and indulged in a bit of cardigan shopping because it is over very quickly. Cardigan? check, black? check, arms? check. you’ll do.
On the way back, again I tried to find a particular buiilding, but instead I ended up noticing how many people were reading or searching for things on the pavement. I was trying to look for the less obvious, quieter moments. The hind milk, as it were. There’s a lot of waiting and searching happening there.
August 2, 2010
My dudes have gone camping, and this dudette has gone to the virtual City Archive and has built and hung enough shelves to accommodate the world population of matchstick people.
As each shelf rises — it has been a 6 foot learning curve of gouging holes and the wrong screws — I enviously wish I were a jam jar.
August 2, 2010
43 new wildfires caused by lightning strikes
13 new wildfires caused by humans.
**
Here is the danger rating map, based on data gathered from the weather station to predict. Note the small blue dot in top right hand corner.
August 1, 2010
Things are looking extremely tentative on the arugula transplant situation. He, the rocket plant, has spread his palms out in despair. I am going to have to head over there later and have another coaxing chat with him. He could be overwhelmed by the second generation sprouting potato franchise, who being BC organic are to be reckoned with.
The arugula is a Van. Island plant, so maybe he is having urban adjustment issues.
I impaled my face briefly on a tomato stake today, but it’s not such a dramatic outcome. One zuccini has been reserved on stalk for a friend’s dinner next week. That plant has fed 5 families in the past week. That is very useful methinks. Friend sent photos of her garden yesterday — individual portraits of her veggies. Very endearing. Kind of like getting snaps of someone’s new born baby. We are in the crook of the arm of middle-aged gardening!
July 31, 2010
Have just completed the Olympics of shelf hanging. 12 anchors, 12 screws, four shelf brackets on shelf a great deal longer than myself, hung by one short woman, standing on one leg on edge of a bed (acrobatics training useful) and rickety chair when bed did not extend itself far enough.
Few minor calamaties.
Shelf on wall.
But forearm envy.
I need bigger, fatter ones if I am going to become seriously useful.
July 31, 2010
Not quite up, ach
one to bookmark: Redcar Made of Steel (BBC Radio 4)
“..with the decommissioning of Redcar’s Corus plant, it means the end of an industry which defined the region and defined it’s people. It also means a bleak future for jobs on Teesside.”
Felicity Finch of ..du du dah du da du da da…The Archers fame goes back to the town she grew up in..
July 31, 2010
I had a very unique experience the other day. Early eve I sat in a garden with a Beekeeper (Mme Beespeaker) and her bees. It was very educating and I have a calmer approach to the wasp population since.
I was particularly touched by the tone of voice which Mme Beespeaker talks to her flutterers. The note of inquiry is very tender and circumspect. I learnt about what happens if a pesky wasp comes robbing the hive amongst other things. All round I was struck by the note of strategy involved. The buzz in the human tongue is a hmmmmmm.
My ma kept bees for a time I must ask her about that experience since they were always away up the field (garden sounds too manicured for the country) behind the house and I never paid them any heed because at the time there were pheasants, pigeons, or was it doves? goats, donkeys, sheep, and a pot bellied pig making a great deal more noise and getting up to louder escapades.