These past couple weeks have brought a whole new level of neglect of communication. The messages on the phone, the emails in the box… both of those things require me to be inside of my home to receive and respond to and I just have not been. At least not for any duration that allowed for such activities. I always know when my son refers to the laundry pile as “Skull Mountain” that it’s gotten way, way too high.
I have been gardening my face off. Trying to keep my mother’s day fruit trees alive, so far so good. Scott tells me if I kill this lot, they’re the last. I am now fretting over some rusty looking spots on one cherry tree and some brown dead leaf tips on the plums. The black bugs have eaten my pak choi already and almost all of my heirloom tomatoes got frostbite and I’ll be shocked if they make it. And they’re not even in the ground yet, heavens. Nature does abhor a garden, Michael Pollan you are right again and again.

Below is a picture of Scott holding the Meeps after running his first 10k. Have I mentioned how insanely, rabidly proud I am of him?

I haven’t been running races, but I have been running my tail off. Made lotion specifically geared towards tattoo healing. Appears to be working great on my back and Scott’s ribs, which are both seriously soaking up some nice black ink. Made the most delicious ice cream the other day. After multiple failed attempts to get the whipper snipper started, I found a Gerry Can of gas and some oil and managed to get our push mower to start. Cutting grass so tall you could bale it means the mower bogs down and stops. While it fires up in a couple hard pulls, after what was surely at least a hundred cranks on it, I can hardly use my right hand. At least the edges of our lawn look beautiful now. Fixed the giant gates on our back pasture so I could put the new four month lambs out with the goats.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Sheep sound like people making sheep noises. Honestly.
Our goats are being nicer to them than I thought they would be. I thought it was going to be 9 goats chasing 2 lambs in endless circles around the shed. So far the majority of the butts they’ve received (and there have not been many) have been from the Nubian/Boer babies who are the lowest on the totem pole. Like somehow the other goats higher up the totem pole are too important to be bothered with the business of these new stupid sheep.
I am posting the following picture because I have had several people tell me to ” just plant trees” when I talk of neighbours installing multiple industrial wind turbines beside our property. Unless I am transplanting a fleet of Mighty Sequoias, no tree is going to buffer us from the 100+ meter tall turbines. We are having a public information night at the local Davidson Centre June 24th with speakers starting at 7pm. Please any Kincardinites, mark this on your calendar and attend. These things are not green and they are not safe. Optioned, contracted, or just curious, this information night is for everyone.

Here are the children playing in a pile of topsoil. The Eisen lads cleared the topsoil off the spot where we put the 20×24 foot pad our playset sits on. The kids love that topsoil. And I love having the Eisens over. These guys are punctual, polite and hardworking. They are also quite attractive and well, it is summer… so Kincardine housewives, you know who to call for any landscaping needs, OK? You will not regret your decision, I assure you.

Here’s Bob doing a crazy monkey dance in front of the pig tractor Scott built today. And the kids pretending to be pigs inside of it. And one of a few dozen handfuls of grass the kidlets deposited in it. Thank you Richard for your innovative and afforable design!



I am reading Will Ferguson’s Beauty Tips from MooseJaw. I got the book because (1) Bob loves the word MooseJaw thanks to Alligator Pie and (2) it’s about Canada, eh. While I find his humor a little soft in spots, I have to admit I am inspired to do the following: (A) read more of his titles including Bastards and Bonehads, Canada Glorious Leaders Past & Present (B) go to Churchill and have a polar bear encounter before we kill them all.
I am getting into taking Vega. Scott has been taking it. It’s pretty incredible. It is spectacularly full of of vitamins and minerals, vegan, gluten & soy free and here’s the best part: it doesn’t taste like you are cleaning our your child’s fishtank with your mouth. At least, the berry flavour doesn’t taste that way. Scott would go so far as to call it “delicious”.
I am going to go to bed now. And try to sleep through the BAA-ING that is going on practically underneath my window. Wish me luck, eh.