Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Wednesday on Gabriola

First of all, I would like to apologize to all six of my readers for being such a neglectful blogger.
 It was not for a lack of things to write about.
 Being new to the blogosphere, I am very unsure of how much to reveal....how personal do I want to get?  So, when in doubt, error on the side of caution, that's my motto....anyway, all is well....back to the blog.

On Tuesday I was released from work at 5:15am and made a B-line for the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal to catch the 6:20 to Nanaimo.
I had a nice snooze in the truck and woke up 95 minutes later at my destination, happy to be one of the first cars to unload.
 I gunned it to the Gabriola Ferry Terminal to try to make the 8:20 sailing.  The MV Quinsam was already docked and loading and I was stuck in a line-up for the toll booth.  I was the 3rd from the last car to board and landed on the Island in just 3 and a half hours.  That, I believe is a record for me in all of the 19 years I have been coming here.

A month has passed since I was here last.  It is shocking to see how quickly nature wants to take over when there is no one to keep it at bay.


Weeds have taken over the garden and are trying to take over the front porch.


I found this owl feather on the porch as well.....there was obviously a party going on at my house while I was away.

There is always a spider waiting for me in the kitchen sink.  A big , black , pulsating spider.
I don't mind mice , snakes , rats or ugly babies.
I cannot stand spiders.
When I see one , my brain can't process it.  I just have to walk away.
I don't hate them.  I don't want to kill them.  I can't even imagine scooping one up in a tissue and flushing it down the toilet . When I see it move I have a weird reptilian , paralysis responce and indescribable sounds come out of me.
The spider removal method I have come to is this:
-drape a rag or paper towel from the counter into the basin for spider traction
-turn on the tap, just enough to make the bottom of the sink wet but not enough to wash the spider down the drain.
-retreat to a safe distance
-tell the spider about the evacuation drill
-leave

Usually the spider is gone when I return.  I don't care to know where.


I decided to snip the flowers off the Milk Thistle that grows in one area of the property  to prevent it from spreading.
 I noticed that there were many more bees this year and that they were getting very annoyed with me.  I decided to clip only the flowers that were ready to go to seed and leave the good  flowers for the bees.  They do good work pollinating and we should help them every chance we get.


Check out the blackberries that those bees made possible!


I can't wait to pick these when they are ripe.  This is the first year this bush has produced fruit.


I mowed and mowed and mowed.

Then a rest on the porch with a glass of wine and the Sounder.



A very good day.


Cheers!

2 comments:

  1. SO glad to have you back in the Blogosphere, Carmpie! Hope all is well!

    We have the SAME response to spiders. But I cannot rest until I know its gone AND gone for good. Outdoors. Somewhere far, far away.

    Your front porch looks so idyllic!

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  2. Thanks Jesse. Hey good for you for getting into the running thing....I always wish I could get to the point where I can enjoy it but it is always very uncomfortable for me....prefer the water. Also, if you can burn all those calories so efficiently, it makes those Saturday beer tastings all that much better. Cheers kid!

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