106 Days

For the last 106 days I have not had a visit, or visited, in person, with anyone but Attila. No runs to the grocery store, or any other store, except for pickup, which does not involve contact with another human. So far, so good.

Since the mid-90s I have had very little in-person contact with friends or family, so the the transition to no in-person contact with friends or family hasn’t been shocking, just more of the same. Now that Attila is working again I see him for a few hours a day. It was unbelievably pleasant to have him here all the time during the lock-down! I think a lot of seniors have similar experiences with isolation, but who would know, they aren’t in contact with anyone, lol.

I have worked hard to strike an internal balance with isolation (not solitude, that is when you have a choice), it was a rough go at first. So I do feel some sympathy for those who are finding it challenging to be suddenly alone all the time during the pandemic. I acclimatized to isolation, so for me it eventually got easier, I hope it does for others too.

Attila and I took a run out the Camp, to check on things and trim the weeds. We drive there, no stops, and drive home, no stops. We keep masks and disinfectant in the car at all times. He trimmed the weeds near Grace the trailer, around the fire pit, down the driveway, and along the road. If he didn’t trim the growth along the road the weeds would cause visibility issues for vehicles traveling along the road, so he likes to keep up with it as a community courtesy. He also worked on the Hugelkultur bed we are building in the clearing, and transplanted some volunteer Ground Cherries that self-seeded from last year’s plants at Mist Cottage. As usual, we had dead mice to deal with, as we are still catching them in Grace the Trailer, our mouse house in the bush. He was very busy!

On our last visit I had pushed down three 20 foot high dead trees in the bush, and dragged them to the fire pit area. Yesterday they were burned, along with some logs from a dead ash tree that was felled two years ago. I tend the fire constantly when it is lit, never leaving it, because an open fire, even one in a legal, well built, contained fire pit, needs supervision. Usually at the Camp my day is spent burning dead wood, and there always seems to be plenty of that in the bush. Camp fires are wonderful, and one of their features is that they are great for cooking meals! We had a lovely lunch, cooked over the coals. Wieners were slowly roasted, then enjoyed on the 100% Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns that were baked last Friday, with a vegetable side of Home Canned Coleslaw.

The time at the Camp was at first quite hurried, as there was a lot to accomplish on a short day trip. It was cloudy, windy, and chilly upon arrival, only 11C. Within a few hours the sun came out and since so much had already been accomplished, the pace slowed and the day was enjoyed. Last summer there were few birds, but yesterday the air was filled with bird song, Robins, Scarlet Tanagers, Blue Jays, and many other calls that we did not recognize. The leaves rippled in the wind, and the sunlight played constantly across the clearing. A perfect day.

There were a few dozen Army Worms on the tree trunks, which were quickly dispatched. Perhaps this year there haven’t been swarming masses of them, as there have been the last three summers. They are usually plentiful in late May, early June. We may have missed them, as this is only our second day visit in 2020. However, they will strip a tree of it’s leaves, and none of the trees were missing any leaves, so perhaps they aren’t so bad this year.

On the last visit, a few weeks ago, the black flies were numerous but not swarming. Their season is over. There were surprisingly few Mosquitoes! There were a dozen or so young Dragon Flies in the clearing, darting here and there, dipping and diving. I love Dragon Flies, as they are pretty, and they eat biting bugs, like Mosquitoes. As we sat eating our lunch, we were surrounded by swooping Dragon Flies, who feasted on all of the Mosquitoes who thought to make us their lunch. We were surrounded by body guards! Mother Nature has her ways of balancing our universe.

Today Attila made Wild Strawberry Pancakes for breakfast, with the wild strawberries he picked at the Camp yesterday. Since breakfast he has been in the garden planting the small pots of plants that he started from seed. I’ve baked five loaves of bread for Attila’s lunches, and washed and hung to dry a load of laundry. I will also make 4 liters of Switchel for the coming week. So it has been a busy day again today!

Worldly

Weather

18°C
Date: 4:00 PM EDT Sunday 14 June 2020
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Pressure: 103.0 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 18.1°C
Dew point: 3.9°C
Humidity: 39%
Wind: ESE 16 km/h
Visibility: 24 km

Quote

“Time is a cruel thief to rob us of our former selves. We lose as much to life as we do to death.”
Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey
1938 –