Author: brin

Time. All in good time.

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This sounds like a cliché, but if I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that everything happens for a reason. I know many people disagree with me, and that’s their prerogative, but in my case, I know when things happen, it’s because there’s a learning in it for me.

Case in point, on June 1, I slipped in the garden, hit my left wrist on a cement block, and broke both wrist bones. Three weeks in, it was decided that I needed surgery so my time-frame was effectively set back. I saw the surgeon last Wednesday for a new x-ray and consultation and was pleased to learn things are progressing well. I can increase my wrist and finger exercises and wear the wrist brace less often. That being said, it’s unclear when I’ll be working again. I’m hopeful early September I can slowly start seeing clients again.

The lesson for me?

Surrender. To have no preconceived notion of anything, or any outcome. To be still.

To be helpless. To do everything with one hand. To learn to ask for help. To learn some things – most things, can wait, or ultimately don’t matter.

It’s easy. Not.

We’re brought up thinking we have to be busy, doing things, accomplishing things – every waking moment. We must be constantly striving to reach our goals and ambitions. We must always be productive. Proving our worthiness.

To simply sit and be still, observing the world around me has been, at the end of the day, a gift. That most of what I thought matters, actually doesn’t. The joy in birdsong, Roo snoring, Harold purring.

I’ve turning an energetic corner. I feel the shift move from healing the bones in my wrist to experiencing an encouraging urge to begin writing again. This time an opportunity to complete the next draft in my novel.

British Columbia is suffering some of the worst forest fires in 60 years. There is a creepy haze to the sky and even under ideal circumstances, outdoor activities for everyone are curtailed. The air quality is awful.

This might sound like a gloomy post, but it isn’t. Despite the broken wrist, it’s been a positive learning for me. The torrential rain in early spring has created a glut of blackberries, and I have been one handedly picking like mad. I’ve also enjoyed taking magical walks with Roo.

I’m curious. How do you view the unexpected? Do you find it easy to surrender?

With loving and warmth,

Brin

 

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April. Hello, Spring?

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Over the past few weeks I’ve nibbled away at the bramble pile. Yes, that bramble pile. It’s half gone. It’s like my own personal Everest I scale from time to time. I’m both delighted and overwhelmed to discover soil and worms at the top of the pile. It’s so thoroughly packed down I’m hoping when the fallers fall the maples, the pile will fall apart. Somehow I think that’s wishful thinking! There’s going to be great dirt in the middle of it though! There’s a pic in the slideshow below, of a friend standing beside the pile. For scale, she’s 5’5″.

Things are slowly greening out. Spring is late. We had a teaser of sun this morning, quickly to fade back to grey and cold. I’ve yet to start seeds in the greenhouse. The veggie garden area will be smaller this year. I’ve arranged for a young man with a backhoe to come in and dig two jolly great holes and a trench joining them — in early July. He’ll need maneuvering room, hence the smaller garden. I’ll plant squash and things closer to the house. I’m looking forward to this!

Gardening is magnificently expressive. Trying new things, new places to grow things, successes and failures, I love the adventure of it!

Roo’s growing like a weed. Just over fifty pounds at 7 months. He loves the water which is unusual for Sharpei. Great fun watching him! It’s his last Best Manners class this evening. He’s a clever boy and loves learning.

I’ll spare you a rant about plastic.

Harold is sleeping. He’s looking forward to long snoozes on the futon on the porch when the weather warms up. We’re all looking forward to that!

Do you have an Everest of a gardening project? Are you still in the depths of winter?

Here’s wishing you all well!

Warmly,

Brin

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Hello, Spring? Where are you?

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Agh, this winter has trudged on and on. The weather is unpredictable and we’ve had an inordinate amount of snowfall. According to some sources, between October and now, the power has gone out at least eleven times, for a minimum of six hours, more often than not, considerably longer. As this is a small island, it’s inevitable we lose power during a late evening storm and the repair crews can’t get here until the first ferry in the morning. They do an incredible job, and I wholeheartedly applaud them, but this wintry weather is quite enough, thank-you-very-much!

Roo, bless his little heart, turned six months old yesterday. He’s a whopping 44.3 pounds of joyous, loving, sharpei. Here’s a pic. I think he looks like a tadpole.

Last year was all about the house and I’m delighted with the results. I have the tile for the kitchen and laundry room. Those jobs will get done during the summer months. The bathroom reno will have to wait, as will the baseboards. This year is all about the garden.

I developed my five year plan and a “fellow in the permaculture know” dropped by to walk the property with me and go over my notes. I’m pleased he agreed with my ideas and added some great ones of his own. (No surprise there!) In between snowfalls, I bought and planted a bare-root apple combo. It has Fuji, Braeburn, Red Delicious, Gala, and Honecrisp grafts to the main root-stock. How wonderful that tree will be in the future! Tomorrow afternoon I meet Peter of TreeEater Nursery on Denman Island and pick up the following: 2 Autumn Olive “Portunguese Superhero, 1 Goji Berry, 1 Goumi Berry, 1 Jujube – Li, 1 Pomegranate, 2 Paw Paw, 2 Persimmon, 2 Seaberry/Seabuckthorn, 1 Honey Locust, 4 Comfrey, and 2 GOBO! Yeehaw! This is the beginning of my forest garden, I’m bursting with excitement.

First things first, though. Clearing up the brambles which were cut down last year. What a mountain that is. Each time I slot time to get outside and tidy up, it snows. I am hopeful this weekend will be different. Things must get done this weekend, rain or shine. On Thursday the faller will arrive with his crew. They’ll tidy up the front part of the property to let in more light, that’s the side the persimmon will go on, and they’ll cut back the maples. My intention is to let the maples naturally coppice. That way, I’ll be able to supply some of my own firewood about every six years or so. I’m hopeful to get some seeds started in the greenhouse soon too. More bull-work required getting the veggie garden area ready — sigh — brambles.

People comment how nice the property is looking now and they’re pleased to see it come back to life. This heartens me greatly.

Harold lounges in a rather ungentlemanly pose in my lap and Roo is plastered to my side. It’s a challenge to type.

My challenge reducing plastic continues. The stuff is on everything. I wish the government would ban it completely, but that seems unlikely. Shopping bags would be a good start.

What projects are you working on this year? Are you working on Zero Waste? What successes and failures have you had? Do you have a Forest or Permaculture garden? I hope you’ll comment!

I am grateful for my many blessings.

With loving and warmth,

Brin