Next...we have been overrun by flies. First it was the fruit flies, which we're trapping by the score and still can't seem to eradicate. Extremely gross, and in almost 10 years of living here, I've never seen the like. But now we have big ol' ugly house flies. What's creepiest, as if having scores of them all around is that they're not moving. At all. Everywhere I look, they're just sitting, often in pairs. Everywhere. I mean it. So what's with the weather/climate this year that's causing this? Or what fates have I offended to have our home thus invaded? It's been extremely warm and dry, and we had a mild winter (which, as an aside, has brought hundreds of slugs every night to my parent's gorgeous garden. Picture them - 69 and 79, out with flashlights and shovels every night at 11:30 - prime slug hunting time, apparently, and killing well over 100 slugs each and every night for the past 3 months. BIG slugs -banana and leopard, not the little tiny sneaky things. Aside now over).
Anyways, I'm guessing its the weather. And maybe they've all just hatched or traveled over from the creepy things dimension, and are too worn to begin buzzing. But I know it will come....
What else is filling my brain past full tonight? Oh yes - camping. Xander and I are off camping for 8 days, leaving Sunday evening. Traditionally we go with my mom (dad and Rob both stay home), and last year my best friend joined us for a night. But last week my one of my parents' close friends was told she had lung cancer - maybe 2 months left. This after battling uterine, ovary, and intestinal cancers for years, as well as loosing her husband in the spring. So needless to say, they're off to visit her, though I think mom'll join us for the last few nights, which will probably be good for her, but hard for my dad... And my friend should be joining us for a couple of nights at the start.
In case there's any misconceptions, it should bementioned that I camp like a queen. I can rough it, butprefer not to. Big tent, flannel sheets and down comforter on the air mattress, all the accoutrements that could possibly be desired. Great food - we're not that far from a town (which is itself right on an amazing beach), so we shop every couple of days for whatever tickles our fancy. And that includes dessert. The best s'mores ever. Here in Canada we have digestive biscuits (cookies) that are chocolate covered on one side. I say it like that since every US friend I've tried to describe them to has no idea what I'm talking about. A roasted marshmallow is placed on one chocolate side, the other biscuit is put, also chocolate side in, on top, and when squished, the marshmallow spreads to fit the round cookie right to the edges. The thin layer of chocolate melts instantly...mmmmm...marshmallowy goodness from start to finish.
We bring crafts. Lots of beads and beadwork. Boardgames, dice and cards...I may teach Mr X some gamblin' games this year, as that's how I spend my summer camping trips. And tarps. I always bring plenty of tarps, from a small 6' x 8' through to my best camping friend, a 20' x 30' tarp. And tons of rope and bungee cords (a tarp's best friend). Why, you ask? It's all because of the curse. The curse that has not allowed to camp, even once, in all my life, without the pitter-patter of rain. Or the torrential downpours that have seen me packing up, cussing and laughing, because, when you have a curse like that, you have to laugh. Or cry. Or refuse to go camping, or even set up a tent. Seriously. And its not just because I live in a damper climate and go for longer trips, which, granted, do raise the odds in rain's favor. I can go for a weekend, when the forecast is gorgeous, and still be rained upon. Last summer I got ready for camping - took all the gear out and organized it on the lawn. Got a sunburn. Not a cloud in the sky. Last thing I did was set up the tent to air out the damp smell from the last trip, and then I went in to organize the stuff in the house. 45 minutes later I take my sunburned self out...and sure enough, Rain. Seriously! But I do the best tarpage ever. When D., my best friend, came to see us last year, she was astounded by the sight of our campsite. Well here - I have a photo:
You see, she sees me as a girly-girl, and yet between us my mom and I had got the tarp ropes over 20 into a tree. Strung beautifully as you can see so as to protect us from the inclement weather. And that's also why I pack all the crafts and so on. Anyways, the forecast is for hot, dry and sunny...I can only hope that this year my tarps will be left unused! But camping is on my brain as I plan what to take and how to go about it. And pondering xander and I camping alone for the first time, even just for a few nights. It's a provincial campground, and goodness knows we travel supremely well together. But I still feel a bit weirded out by the idea. This is phase one of my beingbold and wild this summer, I guess.
I'll explain phase 2 another time. Its little enough, but really nerve-wracking, and exciting too.
I think phase 3 may be looking for a guitar and learning to play...
I think I'd better stop there. I have no idea if anyone reads these, but if they're too long no one will care to. Though that's okay too, except that they're in lieu of regular emails to some camp friends. Well not in lieu of, but they'll just get shorter hello's rather than these long rambles.
I should stop there. I was going to write about Luminara (Victoria's amazing festival of lights), which is Saturday night, but I think I'll do that tomorrow...In between the making of lanterns withMr X and the clearing out of a corner of the kitchen so I can move the rabbit in. A non-food preparing corner of the kitchen. If you're really curious, you can check out last years' photos and stuff at http://www.luminaravictoria.com/
That's all - signing out with sweet dreams (if you're reading this at night - otherwise good morning's) to all
No comments:
Post a Comment