Just now an older man, over 70, stiff gait, came to my door, after parking his very large, very new, tan coloured SUV in my driveway. He knocked, and I got up immediately to answer the door. He had tried to open the screen door, which was locked. I hate that, people trying to open doors to houses that don’t belong to them. Anyway, he was heading back to his car lickety-split when I got the door open. He knocked and wasn’t waiting for anyone to answer the door, the first bit of strangeness.
He asked me if I was Michelle, who did hairdressing and nails. Nope. And you know what, no one on this street is Michelle who does hairdressing and nails. He said he was sorry to bother me, and then left quickly, getting in his SUV and driving away. He left our street. I got his license number, sent it to a friend to keep a record of it. Very, very strange.
Yesterday the weather was lovely, and this morning it was lovely again! The sky has clouded over now, and rain is predicted for this evening.
Wanting to spend time out of doors during these first few days of lovely weather, I got out my bucket and ladder and began the process of washing the exterior of Iris the trailer. The top of the Iris is covered in lichens, which when washed disintegrate to leave stubborn black polka dots. The sides of Iris sported significant patches of green algae. Yesterday the sides were washed with a mixture of Dawn detergent and 1/4 cup of bleach in a bucket of water. This morning the roof was tackled. The first pass was completed, removing chunks of lichen, that left behind large black dots that need a lot of scrubbing to get off. Most of the black dots were removed from perimeter of the roof that was easy to reach. The rest were scrubbed with a brush, then rinsed. It will take another few days of elbow grease to remove all of the black dots. After that task is completed, a marine wax will be applied. This whole process will take more than a week of sunny days to complete.
The lichen, (Foliose Lichen), comes from the ash tree branches, that hang high above Iris, and has been accumulating since she arrived in our driveway. Hopefully a good coating of marine wax will prevent this from happening again!
Yesterday evening I sat out on the back porch for the first time in 2018. Attila joined me and we spent a pleasant half hour soaking in the setting sun. But we were not alone. Mosquitoes! Those little biting buddies are back. Sitting out on the porch was wonderful, despite having to share it with small and sneaky companions.
After a bit of a break, dinner preparations will begin. Tonight’s meal will consist of Coconut Lime Fish, rice, and two vegetables.
Worldly Distractions
Weather
11°C
Date: 1:00 PM EDT Tuesday 24 April 2018
Condition: Mostly Cloudy
Pressure: 102.3 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 11.3°C
Dew point: 2.2°C
Humidity: 54%
Wind: SSW 18 km/h
Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“Silence is a text easy to misread.”
A. A. Attanasio
Sounds peculiar indeed. Such things can be unsettling.
Hope the rest of the Iris project goes well.
Wendy, it was peculiar! He didn’t seem in the least bit surprised that I was not Michelle the hairdresser, just intent on leaving as quickly as possible.
I am enjoying the Iris project! It is supposed to rain for a while now, that will give her a good rinse!
The peculiar visit might have been related to a “return to sender” letter recieved here at Mist Cottage last week, addressed to a Michelle xxxx. Never heard of her, so put the letter back into the system to be returned to sender, so that whoever sent it can figure out what her real address. I had forgotten about that letter, Attila reminded me of it. Perhaps the man was seeking that same Michelle. So weird because as far as we can tell, there was never a Michelle that lived here. Something is very wonky. If there is a third event related to this Michelle, I will probably decide to investigate the whole thing further, to put an end to it.
Sunzabitzes! Mosquitoes already!
I’ve yet to spend much time on the deck but today is the first day it’s been warm enough; I took a small glass of wine out for a few minutes when I got home from my sister’s late this aft.
-Kate
Sunzabitzes, oh how I love that. A new word for my vocabulary.
It sounds lovely on your deck!
Aw! Don’t say mosquitos already! The very first nice days and they’re already out?!
Won’t be long before the nights are above 40F. We’ll have to see about getting the heartworm pills for our dogs…
Teri, LOL, yes they arrived as the last bit of snow melted away in the sun. Warmer weather is on the way, even below average tempteratures rise as the spring progresses.