The Fractal Harvest
My aunt called this morning.
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to market, to market
C is sitting in the kitchen doing the last bit of prep for tomorrow. It's the first day of school.
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eclipsed
I will admit I'm not someone who gets excited about celestial events. I wasn't thinking about today's eclipse and might have missed it completely if C hadn't come into the office with an empty cereal box looking for tape to make a pinhole camera.
But I heard someone on the radio telling a story about another eclipse and how their science teacher very excitedly told them to "go find a tree!" The leaves on trees would function as a whole collection of pinhole cameras, projecting hundreds--even thousands--of little eclipses onto the ground below.
( Obviously, I had to find out if it was true. )
But I heard someone on the radio telling a story about another eclipse and how their science teacher very excitedly told them to "go find a tree!" The leaves on trees would function as a whole collection of pinhole cameras, projecting hundreds--even thousands--of little eclipses onto the ground below.
( Obviously, I had to find out if it was true. )
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the future and the past
Our internet is back. After replacing the cable ourselves (disturbing two wasp's nests and getting locked out of the house in the process) we ended up having to bring in professionals anyway. Turns out our fittings were bad--something something compression.
Did I mention we got locked out of the house? We tried to "break in" six different ways over two hours, but eventually we literally had to bash in the door. To be honest, it was kind of nice to know our house is hard to get into. When we finally got in the door I went to find the cat. I assumed with all the noise he'd be hiding under a curtain. But no, he was stretched out in the hallway. I have no idea if he registered my concern. I never know if his half-closed eyes import sleep or disdain.
Last night we went to a Hog Stomp. ( you know you want to know )
Did I mention we got locked out of the house? We tried to "break in" six different ways over two hours, but eventually we literally had to bash in the door. To be honest, it was kind of nice to know our house is hard to get into. When we finally got in the door I went to find the cat. I assumed with all the noise he'd be hiding under a curtain. But no, he was stretched out in the hallway. I have no idea if he registered my concern. I never know if his half-closed eyes import sleep or disdain.
Last night we went to a Hog Stomp. ( you know you want to know )
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Oh, technology.
Yesterday we (and by "we" I mean "not me") accidentally severed our satellite internet connection cable while digging. I'm typing this at the library. I haven't used a library computer in a very long time. I do not care for this odd keyboard.
Fingers crossed the issue's resolved in a couple of days (or less--please less). Until then I will be "doing things" and contemplating my somewhat unhealthy attachment to the interwebs.
Wish me luck.
PS: Whoa--I almost forgot the magic of city internet. This connection is way faster than mine.
Fingers crossed the issue's resolved in a couple of days (or less--please less). Until then I will be "doing things" and contemplating my somewhat unhealthy attachment to the interwebs.
Wish me luck.
PS: Whoa--I almost forgot the magic of city internet. This connection is way faster than mine.
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nature is amazing
We planted everything late again. We should have started the plants from seed in April or May; a lot of them didn't go in until June. But it rained a lot, and it was sunny a lot, and things grew.
I have been watching this process unfold since before I can remember and it astounds me every time.
( the garden in June, the garden in August )
I have been watching this process unfold since before I can remember and it astounds me every time.
( the garden in June, the garden in August )
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the summer of our discontent
The well ran dry yesterday. Not metaphorically. It happens at least once every summer, so it was hardly a surprise. It still makes me irrationally furious, though. Nothing winds me up like a minor inconvenience.
be bothered
Meatball is not making an effort.
Less than a week ago, I signed up for my first massive open online course (MOOC). It was all very impulsive. I was reading an article with a link and, before I had time to second-guess myself, I'd enrolled.
( of MOOCs and mindsets )
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"My honest opinion and my friendly advice is this: do it or do not do it — you will regret both."
from Either/Or: A Life Fragment by Søren Kierkegaard
Lately, I've had several conversations about the difficulty of making decisions--especially when faced with sets of similar options. Sooner or later we find ourselves stuck, worrying we'll make the wrong choice.
But the notion of a "wrong" choice implies there's a "right" one--one with no disadvantages. I find it liberating to think there may be neither. Whatever we choose will come with a measure of disappointment (or satisfaction) that often depends more on our own perception than on the thing itself.
(Disclaimer: I'm referring to relatively harmless choices that are somewhat matched and not obviously terrible. Between "should I betray a friend or eat a salad" I hope we can agree one comes with notably fewer regrets.)
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I think you're thinking of someone else.
I've fallen into this trap of wanting everything I write to be less than 200 words. I'm writing to match my attention span, which has been waning for a decade. I love you, internet, but you've rewired me. I'm a goldfish.
( a little bit more and the ridiculous cat )
( a little bit more and the ridiculous cat )
I don't even know.
Today sucked. Today was one of those days where everyone misunderstands everyone and trying to fix it just makes it worse. I can't stand myself or anyone else.
Please enjoy this picture of my cat pretending not to judge me.
( fine. )
Please enjoy this picture of my cat pretending not to judge me.
( fine. )
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The Room of Requirement
After dad left the house it stood uninhabited for one year. My brother checked in; he cut the grass to keep things from looking abandoned. Our across-the-road neighbour kept his eye out for anything odd. We drove back and forth from the city on the weekends we could. But even after we'd decided to take the place, there were considerations. We had jobs and commitment, so the house waited.
There was a smell when you opened the door, like a cottage after winter. Though we kept the furnace circulating, there was always a hint of rising damp. It was the smell of the dirt basement, stale air, and mice. I put sonic repellents in the outlets. Then, when you opened the door, there was a smell and a buzzing. And the house was full of stuff.
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There was a smell when you opened the door, like a cottage after winter. Though we kept the furnace circulating, there was always a hint of rising damp. It was the smell of the dirt basement, stale air, and mice. I put sonic repellents in the outlets. Then, when you opened the door, there was a smell and a buzzing. And the house was full of stuff.
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Organisation is the key to productivity.
The day is hot but not unpleasant. I spend some of the afternoon outside, deadheading the bloody William. The flowers are so prolific, this is an ongoing task. A few days ago, I started counting the dead heads as I clipped. Yesterday two hundred; today three hundred. How is that possible? It doesn't even take very long.
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a holiday
Today was a weird, good day. Everything seemed to align in a way that made me feel content. We did some work in the garden and had beer and hot dogs for lunch. I spent an hour on the phone catching up with a friend. I read part of a trashy book and had a nap. Most importantly, we had a thunderstorm and, soon after, a rainbow in our garden.
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Meatball and the chair
We moved an old armchair up into the office yesterday. Meatball seems pleased.
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stuffed
The problem of moving into a house full of stuff is that it's a house full of stuff. We already had stuff. After two years, we still have unpacked boxes because there's nowhere to put what's in them.
Yesterday I spent the whole day tackling a pile of boxes marked "office." It was mostly music and assorted desk trash. The last box was a collection of magazines--I thought. But when I opened it I found a slew of reference books I'd totally forgotten. Now, as ever, I'm faced with one of the recurring dilemmas of my life: do I get rid of my old literature anthologies or what?
They're so big and pointless... but what if there's a Keats emergency? What if the internet closes? What if there's a total societal collapse and our only chance at survival is to fall in with a band of militant intellectuals who demand we quote Adrienne Rich? What then, hey?
At least I've found my DIY taxidermy book. Maybe the preppers will barter.
♦
[image source]
Yesterday I spent the whole day tackling a pile of boxes marked "office." It was mostly music and assorted desk trash. The last box was a collection of magazines--I thought. But when I opened it I found a slew of reference books I'd totally forgotten. Now, as ever, I'm faced with one of the recurring dilemmas of my life: do I get rid of my old literature anthologies or what?
They're so big and pointless... but what if there's a Keats emergency? What if the internet closes? What if there's a total societal collapse and our only chance at survival is to fall in with a band of militant intellectuals who demand we quote Adrienne Rich? What then, hey?
At least I've found my DIY taxidermy book. Maybe the preppers will barter.
♦
[image source]
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first we have to see
A few years ago, we (partner, cat, dog) moved from an apartment in a rapidly gentrifying urban neighbourhood to an old house in the country. It's been an adventure with a steep learning curve--not only in its practicalities, but in its more existential readjustments.
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