The cool breeze is in the air which means Autumn is coming and we are going. Yesterday we had the last party at the cottage, eight good friends eating hamburgers and chicken on the deck. No swimming. Tomorrow Ken and I and Vinal go back to the cottage to bring in the dock and store the furniture. I bring sheets and towels back to the house, also clear out the refrigerate. Soon the plumber will close down the water system, all ready for the winter.
Thursday we begin the drive home, leaving early. Today Ken has harvested the vegetables, to be given to Jackie and Bryan for their use. The food bank is delighted to have any extra fresh vegetables, a suggestion of Jackie's and a good one. All the traditional endings are under way. Tonight we dine with Gill and tomorrow night with Gary and Barbara to say good-bye. The weather this summer has been extraordinary, warm and sunny all of July and August. No one recalls such sustained beautiful weather. But now summer is over and we will say goodbye to our friends.
Two weeks ago, we were all at a big party. It turns out that several people at the party had colds. Unfortunately, Gill, Mary, Cliff and I have come down with this bad cold and we are all suffering. Miserable being ill. People who are ill should stay home, not spread their germs. I accomplish by work in fits and starts of energy, hoping I will soon get better.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
September 5, 2010. Western Head, N.S. Conversations.
It must have seemed like a good idea when I read the review and down loaded it into my Kindle, but the reality was much less that the promise. The title was intriguing, "A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Conversations", by Daniel Menaker, but do not buy it or read it. Over promised and under performed, in every category. I kept thinking that if I just kept reading further into the book, I would find the meat, but no such luck. The book content is pathetic and the writer in love with himself. The book is not worth reading.
I was looking for some ideas. One of the problems being around retired people is that the discussions seem to center in the past, stories that occurred twenty years ago, when I really like to talk about the future. It is a problem, so I was looking for suggestions. I just remembered one part of the book that was mildly helpful. The author gave several hints when in a conversation with a very boring person. That was actually funny. So I must look further for better ideas. Definitely, "A Good Talk..." was not much help.
I was looking for some ideas. One of the problems being around retired people is that the discussions seem to center in the past, stories that occurred twenty years ago, when I really like to talk about the future. It is a problem, so I was looking for suggestions. I just remembered one part of the book that was mildly helpful. The author gave several hints when in a conversation with a very boring person. That was actually funny. So I must look further for better ideas. Definitely, "A Good Talk..." was not much help.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
September 4, 2010. Western Head, N.S. Storms.
The storm Earl has gone, but the strong wind is still blowing. Our bay was filled with white frothing water, with the waves pounding into the shore. It was exciting. All our preparations yielded good results. Nothing blew away, when the electricity failed for several hours our toilets could flush and we had plenty of good and water available. Now the power is back on and we are watching the US Open tennis on TV. The wind is still blowing very hard, so everyone is staying home and hunkering down, safe inside their own homes. It certainly is not a day to go for a walk to check out the causeway.
The sound of the wind is the first thing that you notice when you wake up. It is loud and only gets louder. Ken went down by the shore and sat in a chair watching the waves. "It was very dramatic", said Ken. I stood on the deck and watched the sea. Everything shook, even the deck. The water in the commodes sloshed around so I guess the whole house was moving. The sea never reached the new wall and no water came up into our yard so the damage was not as bad as the storm of last year, but the winds were greater, and I have never seen the whole bay full of white water. We love storms but we are always pleased when they have passed up the coast to Newfoundland.
The sound of the wind is the first thing that you notice when you wake up. It is loud and only gets louder. Ken went down by the shore and sat in a chair watching the waves. "It was very dramatic", said Ken. I stood on the deck and watched the sea. Everything shook, even the deck. The water in the commodes sloshed around so I guess the whole house was moving. The sea never reached the new wall and no water came up into our yard so the damage was not as bad as the storm of last year, but the winds were greater, and I have never seen the whole bay full of white water. We love storms but we are always pleased when they have passed up the coast to Newfoundland.
Friday, September 3, 2010
September 3, 2010. Western Head, N.S. Storms.
We are getting ready, even though Hurricane Earl will not come here...probably. The bath tub is full of water, all the furniture has been turned over or brought into the garage, the whirly-gig has been taken from it's spot beside fisherman Joe and the buckets are in the bathrooms, all ready when the power stops working. One of the problems of having a well means using an electrical pump which will not work if the electricity fails, thus the toilets will not flush, except once.
Yesterday at the cottage we brought the boat lift into shore, also put the boat safely into the boat house, folded down all the furniture and stored the light chairs in the woods. So we are ready, both here at the shore and at the cottage. The storm is the first topic of conversation in town. "When is it coming and how bad will it be? Of course no one knows but you can bet, everyone will be doing the same as us, which is getting ready.
"Will the new wall stay in place?" everyone is asking too. One thing we know for sure. Mary and I will not be beside the wall during the storm. We learned our lesson.
Yesterday at the cottage we brought the boat lift into shore, also put the boat safely into the boat house, folded down all the furniture and stored the light chairs in the woods. So we are ready, both here at the shore and at the cottage. The storm is the first topic of conversation in town. "When is it coming and how bad will it be? Of course no one knows but you can bet, everyone will be doing the same as us, which is getting ready.
"Will the new wall stay in place?" everyone is asking too. One thing we know for sure. Mary and I will not be beside the wall during the storm. We learned our lesson.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
September 2, 2010. Western Head, N.S. The Last Supper.
Today Wendy, Claussen and the dogs begin their drive back to Maryland. Last evening we ate dinner at our house to wish them well, all fourteen of us. Once again, it was a lovely evening. This summer has been different, in that we have been in residence for a longer period of time which has been nice, but actually we have seen each other less. Now summer 2010 is ended and we celebrated in style.
First cocktails down by the water. It was so hot that we decided that the breeze, even though it was hot, would feel better, so we ate smoked salmon and shrimp down on the deck by the fire pit. When the evening cooled a bit, we retreated to our dining room where we ate chowder, made by Betty. It was delicious. Small squares for dessert. By 10:30 Ken and I were watching the US Open, the kitchen and dining room all clean and tidy.
Every year, something is added to our routine. Suzanne always enjoyed appetizers and a drink down by the water, so this Spring we bought three sturdy benches to use as tables for food and drinks down by the water. It has worked very well. Ken used linseed oil to protect the wood. Ken uses the tractor and cart to haul the supplies down so it makes for few trips down the path. This is the first year when we have served cocktails down by the shore. It is nice. The summer season is just about over, but what a wonderful summer it has been.
First cocktails down by the water. It was so hot that we decided that the breeze, even though it was hot, would feel better, so we ate smoked salmon and shrimp down on the deck by the fire pit. When the evening cooled a bit, we retreated to our dining room where we ate chowder, made by Betty. It was delicious. Small squares for dessert. By 10:30 Ken and I were watching the US Open, the kitchen and dining room all clean and tidy.
Every year, something is added to our routine. Suzanne always enjoyed appetizers and a drink down by the water, so this Spring we bought three sturdy benches to use as tables for food and drinks down by the water. It has worked very well. Ken used linseed oil to protect the wood. Ken uses the tractor and cart to haul the supplies down so it makes for few trips down the path. This is the first year when we have served cocktails down by the shore. It is nice. The summer season is just about over, but what a wonderful summer it has been.
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