I did some work this morning, while debating whether to try to get to Fredericton again. I worked on the cedar cladding in the new part and then hauled muck and widened and deepened the creek by the swamp. It is perhaps inadvisable to modify a watercourse, but that one is hardly natural. It is the wheel tracks of the skidder from when it was a tote road. I am trying to make the water dig a bit deeper and in that way not erode so much of the bank so crossing the stream might be easier and I might even be able to use it to generate some power.
After I hauled muck for the garden, which is starting to wear, I noticed some mosquito larvae in a pool near my trail. I debated how to deal with them. First I scooped up some water with mosquito larvae in it so I could see how quickly they mature. Then I thought to pour detergent on the pool, which prevents them from breathing. I don’t want to cover my land with toxins though, even if I use biodegradeable soap. Instead, as I was returning with a bucket for some more muck, it occurred to me to scoop up the water with larvae and throw it into the dryer leaves. They will dry out without immersion in water. Once I was finished with those tasks, I thought I should try the road again. This weekend is Victoria Day weekend, and I don’t like to be around on holidays, since cops are on the outlook for drunks and my friends are usually busy anyway. I have nothing to fear from the cops, but I really hate dealing with them, with their superior and power-hungry attitude and their assumption of your guilt.
I thought the rough pile of mud would have dried by now so I packed and drove over my increasingly rough road. Luckily, some trucks have packed some of the pile, and even rutted it, so I was able to get a run for it and skitter through, scraping a couple of times. I had brought boots and a shovel just in case, but the car was fine.
I had sixty emails to deal with in Millville, but I first set about emailed those I had promised to talk to last night. I lined up tonight with Ann for dinner, and I’d brought her some fiddleheads, although I’d eaten the ones I’d picked for Mike and Carol when I couldn’t get out of the bush.
Ann and I had a great evening but I never heard back from Colleen and Tara. Luckily, Eileen was easier to contact and we had a great talk that must have lasted for over three and a half hours. We really range from topic to topic and she is really interesting. I think one of the things I like the most about her is her unconventionality. She seeks those elements of her personality, seemingly, that encourage a fresh view of the world. Her mind is lively and creative and that is expressed in her tone, content of her conversation, and interests. She is a delightful woman I am so happy to have met and I am gratified that she will give me some of her precious time.
