A lonely little Petunia becomes more beautiful as time passes.
So, we move into August, half a year since Covid-19 grabbed the world and flipped
it off it's axis. I sure thought that I would have taken down my "decorative thank-you
to essential workers" globe that hangs at our driveway's entrance by now. I also
hoped that we would have a pair of tickets for Australia to spend Christmas and a
couple of our winter months with the family.
We are lucky here in Bayfield to be in Stage 3 where businesses, shops and restaurants
are open with caveats in place. Customers and employees must all wear masks and
many places have security to ensure that happens. Social distancing is in place, hand
washing stations and sanitizer is everywhere and all venues limit customers.
Many towns have adapted parking spots to create patios for restaurants. Chris and I
had a fun lunch on The Albion's patio in Bayfield recently. We also sat on the patio
for lunch at the Beach Street Station overlooking Lake Huron in Goderich.
People flocked to the beautiful Sunflower Field in Bayfield for photos and flowers by
donation. The field of sunshine was a bittersweet tribute to a local family whose two
year old son Max died of Leukemia this winter.
I have been enjoying outdoor yoga where a couple of volunteers mark our spots
with small flags so participants lay their mats at a safe distance from each other.
Our Yogi Jennifer is fabulous and provides an inspirational "stretchy" hour for us
twice a week in Pioneer Park overlooking Lake Huron. Namaste!
Friend/neighbour Linda at Yoga, Pioneer Park, Bayfield.
The view from my yoga mat in Shavasana pose.
Bayfield is famous for its sunsets and Chris and I enjoyed one recently nibbling
ice cream cones and watching folks set up cameras and focus their binoculars.
We were there to see "Comet Neowise". It took a long time for true darkness to
fall so that the stars were visible. We were able to view the comet as a blurry
fuzz-ball and the Mosquitoes were busy feasting on us and everyone else in Pioneer
Park. We decided to drive up to the cornfields on Bayfield River Road where we
were rewarded with a much clearer view of the comet with her long, peacock tail.
It is amusing to hear friends gleefully announce that they had a haircut or visited
the dentist or hiked in a public park or that their favourite dry-goods are back in
the stores. I am reminded daily of things to be thankful for that we often take for
granted.
Fresh Cherry pie baked by chef Wendy and shared during a blackout; thankful!
Most people know me as a very patient person however my nemesis happens to be
"The Lineup". Right Wend? Oh how we can learn new tricks! The early bird no
longer seeks a worm but entrance to the grocery store without lining up.
Whining in line while I wait to buy wine!
 |
Many of my friends with health issues or compromised immune systems seem
slightly less stressed. As we know, stress only triggers more symptoms and
suffering. Individuals cope in their own ways. I think for me the strangest thing is
the concept of time and planning for the future.
People are waiting all over the world for various things: medical appointments
and surgery; return to work or school; delivery of an important package; safe local
and world travel; solving dept issues; reuniting with loved ones; spontaneity; for
theatres, concert venues, galleries and museums to open; community parks to open;
competitive sports to return; to leave the masks behind; socializing without rules;
finding a cure or vaccination and to watch the collective fear dissipate.
For me, the paradox of these times is how quickly the hours and days pass, but with
the brakes on and locked.
July has been steamy with drought-like conditions. The farmers' fields of soya beans
and corn have really suffered. The corn growth was accelerated in June's high
temperatures but then stood still for weeks unchanged. Tassles did not form or
appeared very late and ears were tiny or nonexistent. I was introduced to the term
"Spiking Corn" observing the leaves curled inward to conserve moisture and looking
more like cacti than corn. Some areas of Southern Ontario have benefited from a few
rainfalls whereas adequate moisture here has been very scarce.
The large storm that brought tornadoes to a few places pulled down many beautiful
old trees and knocked out power in the region. For all its pomp and circumstance, it
brought very little productive rain. Luckily, a couple of long gentle rains have come
by over the past week, hopefully not too late for the farmers and their crops to
recover.
The backyard remains a source of nature's entertainment. We have seen the
clumsy young Grosbeaks, Grackles, Bluejays, Crows and Finches chattering
and fluttering their wings until a parent feeds them. The Hummingbirds sip
refreshment at our window feeder after visiting the brightest flowers in the
garden. With high temperatures, my five water sources need regular filling,
especially after the refreshing baths that take place throughout the day. I
love to watch the puffy, dripping visitors, preen their feathers back to a
recognizable species. We observed the Wrens frantically bring insects to their
four babies who squawked and jousted beaks to receive the nourishment.
I am convinced that Red Squirrels suffer from "Little Squirrel Syndrome"
I was lucky to be able to water my gardens although it became tedious, the fruits of
my labour were worth it!
Planter boxes sported Mini Sunflowers then Zinnias. Tomatoes, basil, squash in pots.
Under the Pines, backyard garden.
Front, sunniest garden spent June and July wilting and coming back from the almost
dead. Their perennial thirst is insatiable and their resistance incredible.
I take way too many photos of the bunnies, so many that even my food is
beginning to look like a rabbit.
Bunny bread?
Regular blog readers know that we put up our motor home for sale last autumn.
We decided that we would spend part of our winters in Australia as we really
want to spend time with the family, especially the quickly growing grandchildren.
We also plan to travel in Australia, hopefully sooner than later.
Over the winter we had a few calls about CC but things really began picking up in
June. We spent a lot of time cleaning and preening. Chris checked out all the
system and took the coach in for a safety check which passed with flying colours.
As interested folks toured and test drove CC Rider, we remembered our many
travels and experiences with Dixie and realized we had a strong emotional
attachment to our former home.
If you have not followed our travels, check out: ccanddixie.blogspot.com
The first offer was squelched after the buyer sadly discovered that he had
advanced Prostrate Cancer and needed to begin treatment immediately. With
his health and future in jeopardy, buying a motor home was not in the cards.
We were excited with the second offer with nothing but positive comments about
the coach. A week later, with a couple of lame excuses, the sale was cancelled.
A few other viewers came for a tour with the response to the front page Kijiji ad
peaking interest.
Everything is not what it seems, what looks like snow is actually sand.
We will be honouring with the cliche "Third Time Lucky" as the sales agreement
that Kathy and Mike made was true! The showing process had been rolling on
since the beginning of June and it was now early July and we were exhausted.
True to their word, the new owners returned on July 17 headed to the bank and
Service Ontario to get the ownership and license plates sorted, then took us out to
lunch to celebrate. Mike are Kathy are great people and their enthusiasm for RVing
is high. We know that CC is now in good hands and will soon be enjoying great
adventures with her new family. Chris and I waved a teary goodbye as CC Rider
drove away leaving an empty space in our driveway and our hearts.
This time of year is so wonderful for its variety of fresh produce. We are lucky
to have a Fruit and Veggie Market, a Berry Farm, a Mennonite Store brimming
with produce, meats, cheeses and baked goods and a Mennonite family selling
free range eggs and corn; all a close distance from home.
I have been canning; two batches of strawberry jam, raspberry jam, dill pickles,
two batches of bread and butter pickles, pesto sauce and Thai chili sauce so far.
The newest edition to our garden menagerie is a baby bunny. It has been fun
watching him interact with birds, squirrels and other rabbits. He has grown
quickly and knows "the carrot delivery times" arriving for a munch-fest.
WARNING: Those who are sick of bunny pictures, sign out now!!
The gang's all here.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.