A Lazy Week

A lazy week at the church, doing puzzles, watching The Chosen, reading Ann Patchett, and taking long walks. My friend Sheri, whom I've known since kindergarten (we had chicken pox together at age 5), is visiting, as she does almost every year. We've wandered the ReStore and dollar store, poked around Peavey's (so sorry to see it closing! Now where will I daydream of being a beekeeper?), and hopefully today we're going to see a friend's newly-hatched chicks. Sheri's taken on the task of feeding me all week, teaching me to make some new low-carb dishes, including a cauliflower-crust pizza last night with caramelized onions, arugula, mushrooms, and cheese. I've also been basically sugar-free all week. The trick will be to continue this trend when I go back home, where there are men to feed who expect pasta and potatoes.

I turned in another manuscript last week to the publisher, and now I'm in that delicious period between books, when ideas percolate and I sort out what I want to write next. This has been the perfect space and pace to consider it. I have an inkling of what's coming, and I do know the main character will have a Snack Box, in which she puts all the treats and chocolate she wants. She allows herself one piece, and then she locks the box and mails herself the key. It takes a week for it to arrive via snail mail. When it does, she unlocks the box, allows herself one more piece, relocks it, and mails herself the key again. Thus she maintains her diet.

Dual Purpose

It occurs to me---sometimes I'm late to the party---that the church serves two polar-opposite purposes for us. It gives us a place of retreat and solitude, and it gives us a place of connection and gathering with other people. Most of my life, I've craved the former, but as I grow older I see more and more the need for the latter.

I'm increasingly interested in minimalism, and the other day I was listening to a podcast on the topic. They said something about making sure the things you possess still add value to your life. I would add: then assess whether that value exceeds the price you pay for them. That's something we've needed to periodically revisit during the nearly-five years this reno project has taken. 

Dance in the Light of the Full Moon

March 14 was the night of the full moon (blood moon), the day before a friend's birthday, and also the last day of March Break. We took the grandkids to the church and held a dance just for the fun of it. About 21 people attended, and someone kindly played the role of DJ, taking requests. We got to test out our Bluetooth speaker (very good), eat some snacks (also very good), and bust out our dance moves (mine not so good), and it was just a fun time. All the kids especially enjoyed it, having room to run and do cartwheels after a winter of being cramped indoors.

I'm happy to know that the hard work and expense is starting to pay off, and now we have a space where we can host events and enjoy people's company. It feels good to use the place and not just fuss over it!

I forgot how small towns work

I spent my childhood in a smallish town in a close-knit neighbourhood. Everyone knew everyone, a lot of us were related, and we were quite involved in each other's lives. But I've spent the past 34+ years in a large city. I know a couple of my neighbours there, and we do things for each other from time to time, including shovelling snow. It's just what people do in a cold climate. But I've learned it's done on a much larger scale here in Warwick.

About 8 inches of very heavy, wet snow fell last night. I was one of the first out and spent close to three hours shovelling. Also did one neighbour's porch, and another neighbour's driveway. I was just finishing when a couple of people with powerful, tractor-pulled snowblowers appeared and started working their way down the street, plowing out everyone's driveways in minutes, including widening my own. So my work was for naught, but I've learned how it all goes now, for next time. And I've met a new neighbour from around the corner.

I've also had a couple of friends over for lunch and a chat this week, which I never do at home. Like, ever. But here it feels natural and normal and fun.

I'd kind of forgotten what it felt like to be part of a community. But slowly I'm integrating into this one.

p.s. If anyone is looking for something to do while they're snowed in, I'm giving out free books at the church. Walk on in and help yourselves!

Snuggling Down for the Winter

Snow and freezing cold. Sheer ice on the sidewalks. Little fake woodstove heater glowing cozily. Hudson Bay blanket. A Preston & Child novel. A container of pretzel sticks and a hot mug of Inka. Dog sleeping with his head on my leg. Looking forward to a couple of weeks of writing. It doesn't get better than this.

Sign the Pledge, Stand up for Canada

MP Charlie Angus is circulating a pledge for Canadians to sign showing support for our core values. Please read and consider signing if you agree.

 Pledge for Canada | Engagement pour le Canada

Where I've Been

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. I've been snowed under (sort of literally) with writing deadlines and medical appointments, but I've resurfaced now. I have noticed the light is returning, and I actually saw buds on the maple trees, so there's hope of spring at some point.

It's always in February-March that the gardening bug hits me hard, and I start pawing through seed catalogues and drawing up diagrams of what I'll plant in the garden. We have a lovely big space to the side of the church where I wanted to put a jillion raised beds, but the septic system took up most of the area, so now I have to rethink and figure out what's safe to grow there. And then I have to talk myself out of doing any of it, anyway, because there's still a ton of work to do indoors, and there simply isn't time to do both. Maybe if I do a blitz for the next month or so, I can get things indoors to a point where I can focus energy elsewhere...but I'm not holding my breath. I'm finding it's the little things---the trim, the doorframes, the flooring, the cupboards and shelving---that take the most time.