Fall 2009

Readers, I've taken a short sabbatical from writing over the summer. Not from a lack of things to say (I've always got something to say) but just a kind of ennui with the whole thing. But many readers -- OK, four -- have prompted me to get back at it, so here I am.



Fall is definitely here when you hear the kabang of nuts falling on the tin roof of the neighbour's shed. It's also fall when in the dark of an evening's hot tub you hear the raccoon family munching on said nuts. It's ducking as the local jet fighters, better known as humming birds, caroom crazily over your head, protecting their turf, chittering frantically in their eensey weensey tiny bird voices. It's here when you look across the lake and discern burgundy amongst the green leaves. It's here when you sense the need to cram in as many golf games as you can since the good weather can't possibly last. Fall is pulling out gone-to-seed radishes from your garden, sharing oodles of cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchini with friends and praying the geraniums still have more bloom time. It's no longer back-to-school for us although I do intend to go back to piano lessons, yoga lessons and to following Canada's Food Guide. So many good intentions, it almost feels like New Year's. It's a time of warm days and cool nights and the breezes hold a hint of chill, just enough to want a sweater. Yes, it's Fall.

Playing Catch-up

I've been remiss, dear reader, in not keeping up! So...here's an update:

• Unhappily, something got the baby robins. We found baby-sized feathers on the lawn. Not a beak or a claw was left. We can only hope at least one escaped the massacre. Mother Nature can be so cruel. They were so close to fledging. My heart breaks.
• We've painted the deck. Yes, my darling. Blue again.
• The perennials are doing their thing so I've added some annuals. Ye olde garden is looking pretty good. Now to tackle the veggie garden.
• Dear friend T visited last week from BC. What a girl. We had our fill of girlie talk, catching up on years apart. Funny, we haven't changed a bit. We miss her already but she tells me she and her special man are making a road trip here next summer. Yes!
• I have a new project underway: a neat flag hung between the two birches which, unfortunately have died. Surely we can resurrect them as works of art? Only Rona can say (the flag I want is one of Rona's display flags).
• My sister L's concert was excellent. Check out the Capital Chordettes if you ever get a chance and certainly the men's quartet Real Time. They were professional level and the best I've ever heard. What a show!
• Golf is taking a back seat for the moment but I promise to tell you about my last but best game soon.
• Gotta go hot tub...catch ya later!

Can do, Condo?

I realize I've left you hanging re the long sad condo story. So, to set the record straight, here's an update:

We didn't buy the condo we fell in love with because:
a) the Florida seller wanted to close June 1; and
b) we didn't have a firm date on the closing date of our own sale in Ottawa; and
c) we didn't want to take on bridge financing as that could have potentially had us on the hook for 3 places: the condo we're selling, the condo we were trying to buy and our own home in Ontario.

As you know, God opens a window when he closes a door. We met Mrs. L. who is trying to swap her upper condo (in the same Florida project) for the lower condo underneath her's. We suggested that rather than do a swap with her lower neighbour (he'd been reluctant to do the swap then try to sell her upper - confused yet?), we would offer to buy her upper so she could buy her neighbour's lower unit. So, long story short: now we wait to find out if Mrs. L. is successful. Her unit is lovely, in great shape and has water view from both front and back. Plus it'll come partially furnished!

If Mrs. L. isn't successful, no worries. We hope this fall we can re-rent the unit we had. Time will tell. In the meantime, it's so nice to be home although our backs are aching as we weed, weed, weed! Once the weeding is done, then the spring planting starts, then the spring spruce up begins (painting, painting, painting) then back to a little golf...that is: if we remember how and our bodies cooperate! Hubby better get that hot tub up and running soon!

So, no. We are NOT the owners of a new condo but ya never know....

I was missed!

Now I know why people so love dogs. It’s because the dogs so love them.

I learned this upon our return from the south. One of my first visits was to the owners of the dog I walk: Spencer’s people. I was a little disappointed. Spencer, himself, was out being walked by Mrs. C’s daughter so we sat and chatted, awaiting his return.

Eventually, in comes Himself, feeling happy and cocky after a satisfying walk. Ever polite, he trots up to acknowledge his master, nudges his mistress then he sits and looks at me. There’s a little pause, maybe 3 seconds. Then…he explodes! He’s like a dog with an interior firecracker! He jumps, and barks, and sniffs, and spits, and licks, and wags, and wiggles and wildly cavorts on me, off me, at me! We laugh just as wildly at his antics.

To put it in Mrs. C’s words: “Well, I guess he knows who you are!”

It was nice to be missed if only by my little four-footed friend and wonderful to see how a dog can show you how much you were missed.

Mother Nature at Work...

We are welcomed home by a new arrival: a spring robin has made her nest over the living room window which also faces our deck. So, to enter the house, we’re disturbing the robin. I promptly put up a sign: Ssh! Robin on nest. Use garage entry.

Everyone is very respectful.

Ms Robin sits dutifully on a clutch of who knows how many eggs. Periodically, she flies off but always faithfully returns. One day we are rewarded with the view of not one, not two but FOUR bald little heads -- beaks open wide, on scrawny bare-skinned necks -- wobbling to and fro they look for all the world like little flowers swaying in unison in the breeze.

It amazes me Mother Robin is so diligent. What is it drives her to feed those hungry, demanding mouths? How does she remember where the babies are? Sometimes we worry when she stays away too long but sure enough, one more look and there she is. Standing on the nest edge, filling beak after beak, with still wriggling worms.

The nest is very full and we wonder how everyone will fit in once they grow a little. Someone might have to move out on the ledge. The good news is, once they try flying, the deck isn’t too far a fall.

We hope as we shiver under our own covers on cold nights, that mother is keeping them warm under her rusty feather breast.

Mother Robin’s steadfastness and the babies’ fragility touch me. Watching Mother Nature at work, I can only hope She’ll let this little mother succeed so these four little robins survive and thrive.