A Kind of Theatre Sept 5, 2020

 Sat., Sept. 5, 2020 ***

This blog is kind of turning into my morning pages, in a way. I blather on about whatever is on my mind today. I do not think it would be of much interest to other people, but then again, who knows? I am not a deep thinker but I can be mildly interesting sometimes, and occasionally even funny. No promises, however.

THEATRE - Last weekend we had an invited public reading of Wendy Judith Cutler's new play, Undutiful Daughter. (See photo)  There were about 15 people in the audience, a cast of 4 and of course Wendy and Cory. Everyone wore masks as they entered, and they took them off once seated. We had sanitizer and paper towels available, too. Dr Bonnie would have been proud of us!

 

The cast was (left to right in PHOTO) Wendy Beatty, Barb Slater, myself and Kevin Wilkie. Robert was the usherette and also facilitated the short talkback; Cory handled the front gate and telling about protocols how to socially distance in their chairs. Jean brought a sound system which Wendy used for the introduction.The rain held off for most of the time, but people all stayed regardless of the rain. (Most of us are so starved for socializing, I suppose.) It went well and I think Wendy was pleased. And of course, Sadie made sure to meet everyone in the garden.

GARDEN - As regards my garden - I had to finally let my caretaker go. He had worked for me since 2013 but his alcoholism was taking over and he was either showing up later and later on days when he supposed to work the whole day (like arriving at 1130 and leaving at 4 but expecting a full day's wages). Or he would not show up at all, putting me off time and time again for another job, usually one that involved getting cash that day. He always had alcohol on his breath for the last year or so, and sometimes he was actually drunk and slurring. I certainly did not want him using power tools on those days. It's too bad because he used to be the most amazing worker, and he even worked for Elsy here before I bought the place. He sort of "came" with the place. Things change. 

So - I wanted to find a new handyman and remembered my friend's husband.  I wasn't sure of his skillset but he assured me he does it all - painting, carpentry, etc. and can easily change up my water filter under the house. Yeah! What a relief. No more drunk or stoned people working here.  (Sadie even knows him since she once stayed at their house.) Good people.

I also bought myself a lawn mower, weed whacker and a lopper for pruning and now I do my lawn and garden! I even tried a little carpentry, building myself two new garden beds. Nothing fancy, but it sure took a lot for me to get it done. If anyone had been watching, I bet they would have gotten a laugh or two out of it.

I have many plans for the yard, as per usual - building trellis' and doing tree pruning and maybe building or installing a greenhouse somewhere. I've thought about adding vinyl blinds around the roofed area of the deck so I could work on the borrowed pottery wheel out there in winter without freezing. Or maybe get one of those patio heaters? (Since my garage still has not even been started. Will it ever?) It's fun to contemplate changes, and look up videos on how to do things, etc. I need to write down a list to make it more doable in my mind. And now that Guido can come to help with the more complicated things, I am laughing. 

I spend an hour or two every day watching gardening videos and I am learning a lot. I have started a few seeds for winter planting - rutabaga, kohlrabi, peas, beans, beets. Should be interesting as I have never tried that before. Plus I have those parsnips in the front yard, and there are still potatoes in the ground, one pumpkin, a few zucchini, a couple leeks, some lettuce, brussel sprouts and artichokes. It has been a fantastic summer for food. Oh yes, the tomatoes. Still waiting for them to turn red, but I may have to harvest them and just bring them onto a windowsill inside and watch them ripen. So delicious with salt, pepper and mayonnaise. YUM.

I love calling my garden my garden as opposed to my yard. It sounds more lush and alive! I have been moving plants around, pruning that big overgrown flowering pear tree and intent to do the same to the apple tree. I did harvest a few apples and made some dried apple slices, but they just aren't that great. Danielle says she wants to dehydrate some pears when they come in season. Now that sounds delicious. The zucchini chips and kale chips are turning out wonderfully in the dehydrator. And I dehydrated a ton of different herbs for the winter - baby tomatoes, rosemary, chives, parsley, garlic, sage. I still want to try frying sage in butter as a treat. They are very good fried on oil, kind of like a sage chip. Apparently Italians like to fry sage in butter so who am I to argue? They know about good food.

This Covid-19 has been a bitch. Firstly, just the virus itself and the harm it causes. And secondly, and more immediately, the huge weight gain I suffered. Stevie and I have joked that Covid-19 refers to the extra 19 pounds everyone has gained since the initial lockdown in February. Ok, maybe weight gain is not as important as people getting sick, but still it matters to me, and my vanity and my health. I figured I am up about 15 pounds and I am finally back on track doing intermittent fasting. In fact, last night I was freezing cold all night in bed due to the fasting. I had forgotten about that. I even turned up the heat on the mattress heating pad and I still couldn't get warm. Tonight I will try my flannel pjs - oh yeah. They are so cute too, red and black stripes like you always see in Christmas advertisements. I look adorable. 

Later today I go to a friend's house to say goodbye to Diane who is leaving the island after getting notice to move out of her rental. It is so difficult to find decent rental accommodation here so she is just moving back to Kimberly, from whence she came. It's kind of the same reason Jeannie and David ended up in Saanich - well, that and it's closer to medical facilities and I think they were able to actually get doctors too.

OFF ISLAND - I went off island to see Jeannie and we met up in Duncan in the park across from the Garage. She brought some amazing burgers and onion rings, and then Karen Arney turned up and hung with us for quite a while. I didn't know they knew each other so well - used to be housemates, it turns out. Then we went for a walk near Jeannie's Cowichan Bay house and Sadie got to play in the ocean. She made us laugh a lot, which is her job actually. To make me laugh and to cuddle. Pretty great job description, eh? It was great seeing her and man has she done a ton of work on her place. Whoo! She is getting anxious about David returning home, of course. So David - get your ass in gear already!

HOSPICE - It has been a relief being off the Hospice board, but I am still connected to one of the people who called Hospice for support. She is a most interesting, articulate, intelligent woman who suffers from severe Lyme disease and so far has not found any relief - either a cure or relief from pain and fatigue. I do my best to offer support, but alas it is only emotional. I cannot help her physical ailments at all. I truly enjoy talking with her and am glad to know her. Sometimes, I suppose, that is all one can do. 

Time for a quick trip to town to order some water filters. Now that's exciting, right?