Blue Moon on All Hallows

Awakened to a bright, moonlit morning at 6am. Silver circle in the sky. The man in the moon peeking through the skylight, casting shadows. An early start to sly mischief on the Blue Moon of All Hallows.

  the moon is officially full at 10:49 am

Homebodies

We've been spending a lot of time at home due to Covid, and appreciating all the more any enhancements we're making to our living space. Generally, the home improvement business is booming and it's hard to find and book contractors for smaller jobs like ours. 

Our projects started in the spring, but with various mix-ups and contractor availability, final deliveries and installations are being made this week. Phase Two of our reno will be almost complete, except for painting in the home office and main floor hallway. No changes to footprint, just some door and window upgrades, new hardwood floors, resurfacing lumpy walls in the home office, and upgrading storage for our music/art/yoga loft studio.

Lots of progress happened this week but it's not quite done, not quite yet.

Monday: The last of the carpets was cleaned and delivered after a lengthy delay... not sure if it was forgotten in some factory corner, but now the dining room rug looks like new. The close pile and pattern have held up well for 25+ years. Gleaming hardwood under the table was quite nice but so is having the rug back in its place. A repair caused about 7" to be removed from width, which actually fits in more nicely with the room. 

Tuesday-Friday: Home office mural and skim coat done! Originally this was to be tearing out the old plasterboard and installing insulation, which would also get rid of the visible folds and indentations in the wall. When I heard the old window frames would also need to be replaced, I modified the scope to a good skim coat with wallpaper overtop instead. Wallpaper led to murals, and the mural led to Van Gogh's Almond Blossoms. The vibrant colours are energizing, and a unique background for all those virtual meetings. More to do before the home office is complete, including final painting, getting the books back in their shelves, and finding a comfy reading chair and lamp. Very happy with the way the mural turned out.

Wednesday: Wall unit installed upstairs in 'loft' after picturing the transition back in May. The install will need a few touchups, including longer side doors next to the rad and replacing a cracked shelf. They'll be back in two weeks. I'm already finding the doors a bit of a pain when it comes to accessing my yoga gear, but this is a definite improvement as far as organizing space and increasing storage. 

Friday: The third wrong door was delivered today, so not installed, because when it finally arrived it had the wrong glass. I think the contractor was hoping we'd take it anyway, but we specifically ordered that pattern because it reminded us of Frank Lloyd Wright. Although not quite right, quite yet, this new front door is one of my favourite improvements because it lets in so much more light and totally opens up the space in our tiny foyer. After a few months wait, the first door that was delivered was the wrong panel design, and we had to wait 4 more weeks for the next door. When it finally arrived, it opened on the wrong side but we had it installed anyway. We've lived the righthand opening for awhile but the proper welcome will provide guests to a view of the living room instead of the radiator wall. Hopefully the right door (with the lefthand opening) will be delivered and done before the cold sets in, but we'll have to wait to see when the factory can deliver. 

Putting everything back in place is an opportunity to get better organized!

Autumn colour

The Sumac we planted in the spring has turned the most amazing autumn colours, and is the perfect background for the monkshood as it pokes up from behind in the ravine. Next year it should make an even stronger impression as it increases its height.

The ravine itself started changing colour early September, and we've been enjoying the show daily from our windows.

Working from home has its perks, including watching the birds. There is a regular show at the backyard feeder of cardinals, jays, woodpeckers, doves, nuthatches, chickadees and grackles. From my home office that faces the front garden, I've been able to see cardinals and smaller perching birds feeding on the hydrangea and ivy. 

The Barbados Cherry bonsai that was blooming in the backyard in September moved inside, and under the grow lamp, blossomed again in its new home.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Grateful for my many blessings of family, friends, home, and health. 

Due to Covid, annual festivities on the Hill were cancelled. Missed the Cowan clan feast and bonfire that have become a tradition these last few years, but also grateful for the memories of years past.

On Saturday, we decided to make an afternoon drive to continue the Thanksgiving weekend tradition of apple picking and watching the salmon jump in the Ganaraska. The fall colours were glorious. The weather was warm and skies overcast to saturate colour. Rob, Alex, Penny and I picked 20 pounds worth between us and sat in grass, enjoying a little picnic of sourdough bread, some cheese, chocolate, and a wee taste of single malt whiskey.

Sunday was gardening, a few hours of digging and raking to prep for winter. That night, enjoyed the fire in the chiminea, and the cozy glow coming from the house windows. Warmth all round. My brothers Dave and Mike joined virtually and the next day we met up in person to toast Thanksgiving with some of Mike's India pale ale he brewed from home.

Thanksgiving dinner on Monday with Alex, Penny and Rob was prime rib, mushrooms with white wine, garlic smashed potatoes, brussel sprouts and bacon. Also a fine Spanish red 2002 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión, a little past its prime but still round and delicious. Pumpkin pie for dessert.

Home again home again

My home office is in a state of transition, and so am I.

My secondment was to end January 20 but I was 'called home' again, as of October 19.  While on the one hand, it's good to feel wanted, the return feels very abrupt. 

I did appreciate the eight months, even though they didn't turn out quite as imagined. Covid compressed the timeline to centralize procurement for critical supplies and equipment. It was good to be "on the ground" to witness and be able to help make a difference even in a small way. In the process I learned more about the Ministry of Community and Children's Services and the important programs they support across the province. The departing manager thanked me for my contributions toward setting up a new branch and relayed positive feedback from my ministry point of contacts. 

So.

Home again home again. The focus will be on service planning and role of stakeholder relations will be applied across all divisions in Ontario Shared Services, so will still be in touch with the Supply Chain crew and able to apply newly gathered insights.

Harvest Moon

The full moon closest to the Fall Equinox is Harvest Moon, so it shifts months from September to October.  It keeps a regular schedule of its own lunar cycle, decided long before the Gregorian calendar set our dates. 

I knew Harvest Moon was coming, and I knew it had passed, but I just couldn't see it in the sky. 

Celebrated with a wonderful harvest meal on Saturday, of turkey and turnips and gravy. A nice long leisurely supper with Rob and Alex and Penny. No photos taken. Just because you can't see something doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Pre-thanksgiving thanksgiving.

Moon was full October 1 at 5:05 pm

illustration: wattpad