Here I sit at the kitchen table, surrounded by lists, coffee cup at hand. Preparations for migration north have begun!
There is much to do, and it is difficult to focus! The thought of seeing Attila again is overwhelming. So much so, that I suddenly realize that my awareness of the world has been burrowing deeper and deeper, as the quiet and lonely winter has progressed. Feelings are running high now, with the spring water, cascading over rocks, flooding the shores, heading for home.
There is shopping to do, a short list of things Attila says are needed. The car fuel tank was topped up last week in anticipation of this weeks migration. Foodstuffs need to be carefully stored here at the little house in the city, in the event that a mouse wanders through the house while we are absent. WE, what a word! It isn’t a word that is important to everyone of course, but my world revolves around it.
Oh yes, my lists. I have lists of chores to do before I drive away from the little house in the city. I have lists of chores to do when I arrive at the country house. I have lists of things to bring north. I have lists of things to ready to bring south, once I am in the north. I have lists, and lists, and lists.
Lists keep me grounded. Lists keep me focused. Lists provide lines for me to colour in, so that I don’t float away on winds of change. When I am thinking, pen in hand, I doodle on the lists, absently. The doodles add weight and whimsy to my plans.
All this excitement, just because, by the end of the week, I will be sitting across the dinner table eating beans with Attila. Small blessings can be the best blessings!
The only flat note in the experience is preparing to say farewell-for-now to Diesel. He can sense a change coming, and has distanced himself from me, just a little. Terra has been alerted to come and fetch him home. He is well loved at Terra’s house, so I needn’t worry about him on that score. It is possible that I will miss him far more than he will miss me. But no matter, I will miss him. I am hoping that when I return south for the black fly season, Diesel will come and visit with me again.
A busy day awaits me. The grey skies, and the intermittent rain are having no effect on my ebullient mood, no effect at all!
Worldly Distractions
Weather
Little House in the City
5°C
Date: 7:00 AM EDT Wednesday 22 April 2015
Condition: Mostly Cloudy
Pressure: 100.2 kPa
Tendency: falling
Visibility: 24 km
Temperature: 5.3°C
Dewpoint: 2.1°C
Humidity: 80%
Wind: SSW 28 gust 39 km/h
Country House
2°C
Date: 6:36 AM EDT Wednesday 22 April 2015
Condition: Cloudy
Pressure: 100.0 kPa
Visibility: 16 km
Temperature: 1.6°C
Dewpoint: 1.2°C
Humidity: 97%
Wind: SSW 8 km/h
Quote
“Success is following the pattern of life one enjoys most.”
Al Capp
1909 – 1979
“Success is following the pattern of life one enjoys most.” Now that is well-said, and so true! I heartily concur.
Maggie, are your writing a book about your life? I hope so. Because it’s such an interesting compilation of thoughts and events, a lifestyle far from ordinary, and one that would make a wonderful book. xox
Bex, the book is right here and we get to read it as it is being written!
Maggie, best wishes for a smooth transition and safe travels north.
Bex, you are always so encouraging!
I have thought about writing for publications for years. I have published, poetry, in obscure journals, and that was fun. I wrote a short story once and made the mistake of thinking that Chatelaine magazine might consider it. They didn’t. As I grew older I realized the rejection was a compliment, as my story was far from the ordinary. Rejection did not mean it wasn’t any good, it just meant it wasn’t marketable. A good lesson for me. I had to ask myself, do I want to write for a market, or do I want to write for me? I won.
My other publications are in academic journals, and are not so dear to my heart. One of my research publications was vetted by the Library of Congress, where it sits in the stacks to this day. I was rather proud of that one, as I had not yet graduated with a degree when I was approached by the Library of Congress for a copy for their stacks. I loved academic study, it was something I was good at! Perhaps I peaked too early there, don’t know. I faced a lot of scathing commentary from tenured professors over the publication; made a lot of enemies without knowing it. I was warned not to publish other articles that I wrote, but did it anyway. I suspect I was too “free thinking” for the collegial academic crowd.
Wendy, exactly!
This space is where I am most comfortable in my writing, I feel closer to the universe here, or as some might say, closer to God.
Thank you for the bon voyage wishes!!
Aw! So glad to hear you’re getting ready to head back to Attila. I’m sure you’re being with him will make his time at home more restful for him, just as it will make the days more full for you.
Safe journey, Maggie!
All good things, Maggie and Tiller. Safe journeys, big hugs.
Thanks Teri! I think Attila and I both feel inspired to amalgamate our living arrangements! I am looking forward to looking forward to him coming home at the end of the day!
Steve-Paul, “Tiller”, love it, so will Attila! 🙂
Me and Tiller. Tiller and me. It’s not in the country, that we want to be!
I am glad that you are headed back north. To be away from your partner is difficult. To be back again will bring joy to the both of you!!
Thanks Lee Ann! It is difficult being away from Attila, and joy is exactly the word to describe how it will feel to be together again!
Have a safe, happy trip North, and a happy reunion with Attila.
Thanks Joan!
Happy travels and reunion. Love.
Maggie, I am very excited for you to be able to return “Home” and to be with your Attila. I know how difficult it is to be away from a partner but I/we have never been separated for more than two weeks and that was just twice. I don’t know that I could be as strong as you are.
My world revolves around lists. The clincher is to remember to look at them!
When does black fly season start? There is actually a season! Wow.
Congrats on your publications! I would be proud too. It’s important to be recognized.
Diesel will be waiting for you and intuitively know when you’ll be arriving…meow!
Thanks Reenie! Hugs
I have to admit Nora, this five month separation was far beyond what I thought I could tolerate! We both feel we don’t want to do it again!
Aha, another list aficionado! Yes, I agree, looking at them is crucial, 🙂
Black fly season usually starts in the Muskokas mid-May, and lasts through much of June, eventually giving way to the mosquito season in June. If it is a wet year, the biting fly season lasts longer, as it is does during a cool summer. The worst conditions are cool wet summers, then the bugs are in bug heaven!
Meow indeed! Terra will be spending time with Diesel today, and I with Mist, queen cat of the north!
There’s what others think we should write, and then there’s what WE want to write. Shall the twain e’er meet? I sometimes wonder. Like you, I enjoy the freedom of personal blogging; no one’s dictating, editing or criticizing and that, frankly, is a relief and a pleasure. It’s like being among friends! Can’t fault that. And after many years of doing it and wondering why, considering the minutes added up to hours added up to — well, you know — I now realize it strengthened my voice, my confidence in writing, and the ease of it. Great practice for any other writing I choose to do.
I enjoy being taken along with you on your travels through your kitchen and everywhere else. Next best thing to being there!
Tell us, have there been many lookyloos to the country house, or what is happening there?
Spending the day with Mist, Maggie? Are you back at the country house again?
Kate, my favourite reading material is women’s journals, past and present. I got started on that road about fifteen years ago, when I received a book as a gift, called Women’s Diaries of he Westward Journey by Lillian Schlissel (thanks Joan, Paul, and Alexis!, haven’t forgotten!). Later another book was gifted to me, about Kate Rice, a Canadian prospector, not a diary but a respectful description of her life. I was hooked!
To me the journal is a best form of history ever written. First hand accounts of lived life, not stories written by men (and more recently women also), stories with morals, and agendas, both being I think of as dishonest intentions.
I wish my Granny had written more! And my Mom!
Maybe I’ll have my computer read to me in my dotage, about the wonderful life I was given!
I arrived home yesterday just before Attila came home for lunch! So here I am at the country house!
The paperwork was literally several feet deep and I have been wading through it. I have it sorted into pile, just getting that done took until bedtime last night!
The house has a few tweaks left to do, a new bathroom floor, not a big job, but no time to get it done until next week. We will be bringing in the realtors for evaluation and their spiels, and hope to have it on the market by the second week in May.
It snowed yesterday for the last three hours of my trip home! There is new snow on the ground here at the country house and the house is chilly! We are out of dry firewood, so I am bundled up as the firings are sparse. Hopefully by early next week the snow will be gone and we can take a run at cleaning and sprucing the place up.
Teri, yes, I am with Mist!
She is a very elderly cat, and I have to admit I was shocked when I saw her, she aged tremendously over the course of the winter! She has lost most of her body fat, her hair if falling out, and there is much stiffness in her walk.
But she is still enjoying life to the fullest! She has been following me around, here and there, when she isn’t sleeping. I pause often to bend down, pet her, look her in the eyes and talk to her. She can’t hear me, but she really likes it when I talk to her face to face! The dear old girl is winding down, but not done yet! She is such a happy little thing, still curious about everything, enjoying her food, watching the animals outside the windows, chasing her ball… I am so glad she is here with us!
Maggie, she may have missed you a little too much. I had that happen with an elderly dog that I couldn’t keep for a shortwhile after my divorce. Crocherlady/LeeAnne kept her for me and the next time I saw her she was terribly changed. I noticed her start to comeback when I visited her and paid her a great deal of attention.
I worked hard finally get a home I could bring her to but she died before I could get her back again. I always felt so bad about leaving her alone and wish she could have lived until I couldmbring her home again.
Still makes me tear up, 22 years later. Her name was Jesse. She was a wonderful dog.
You might be right Teri, she was used to having me around during the day. Attila doesn’t get much down time, and I know he spent all of it doting on her.
What a harsh experience for, and with, your dog Jesse! At least she was in a loving environment while you could not be with her. Gone, but not forgotten!