Lost in cyberspace

April is almost over and the yard is still a work in progress, but then so is much of life. I wrote a long entry a few days ago and it disappeared into cyberspace and I was not impressed. I want to keep writing but my memory is so bad I can't even remember what the blog address is to tell friends. I'm using Dylan's computer and can't download photos since they are all on my laptop.

This has been an interesting weekend with the visit of my youngest brother Mark's son Nicolas and two of his buddies. They are looking for work not because they want to work but because they are broke and figure that is about the only way they will have any money. Mostly they were looking for trouble, though wouldn't admit it, but since it found them each night after midnight I figure they were in the right place for it - trouble I mean. Unless they thought they would get some job offers after midnight in a field beer bottle in hand. The frightening thing is that I can recall all too clearly those years and how I acted and I know people, including family, or perhaps mostly family, helped me out. I also know that no one especially parents could tell me anything.

There was a shower for Tracy on Saturday afternoon. She is marrying Don, my cousin Jack's son and they are pushing thirty so have lots of life experience and a very good chance of making it work. I don't like showers as a rule because of the silly games but this one was fun with Don's mom Margie, sister Bobbi and her daughter Jaycee singing; then a cool fashion show with friends who could fit into their wedding dresses, including the mother of the bride. She said it was only because it had some stretch.

Saturday evening was the annual Perspective Women Artists show and it was a wonderful gala event. The talent is overwhelming for this small rural outback nowhere place-Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. It was a late night as I hung in to the end and got home at eleven. Today, Sunday they had a workshop from 1-4 using several different kinds of paper, tar paper, rice paper, etc. and different mediums-oil pastels, ink, charcoal, etc. It was fun and we had two young models [with their clothes ON].

Last Friday we picked up a new Honda Civic in Saskatoon and it is wonderful to have New wheels again. Its got loads of pep and is so quiet and comfy-I love it. So tomorrow I can just head into Saskatoon to meet my sister Cathy who hooked me up with her hair dresser, who knows how to cut curly hair. I want to have it long again but need a better shape to start out. Dylan has given me a list of clothing he wants from a special Boardstore. The only Board store I know about is the LCB [liquor control board], but thats not the one, thank goodness.

Hope you are all having a great week and I promise I will try to keep writing here and hope I don't bore you. adios amigos

Spring in Saskatchewan April 18, 2007

After 3 days of raking in the yard my back cried for a rest and since my sister Cathy was here for the weekend Sunday seemed a perfect day to take a break. We filled garbage bags of old frozen food and cleaned out the freezer and fridge in mom's house, then on Tuesday I dragged them to the street. The blueberries melted and ran all over the porch rug staining it dark blue. Clean up one mess and make another.

Today, Wednesday, it is raining lightly but it is the first day without bright sunshine so I can't complain. Dylan and I got up early and walked Milkshake down by the old train station where he is taking a two week gun safety course [Dylan, not Milkshake]. He really is a guy guy and though it worries me that he handles guns it is far better that he have all the knowledge available. He doesn't seem very interested in hunting but has a paint ball gun and the novelty seems to have warn off quickly, as well as a pellet gun which he uses for target practice out at the edge of town in Grandpa's yard.

Gradually I have taken art supplies up the block to my mom's house that she left to me in her will. I am hoping to get inspired by the bright kitchen or verandah [on sunny days] and will be able to leave things spread out which I can't do here at home. I am in the process of figuring out what to do with the house. It is worth very little here in our small outback town of Kerrobert, Saskatchewan but I could likely rent it this fall for enough to cover expenses and perhaps occasional repairs, though it is in fairly good condition for such an old bungalow.

Another big concern is that Dylan is digging in his heels about staying in Canada for school once he enters junior high this fall in grade seven. I expect he gets just as good an education in LosBarriles as he does in Kerrobert but it is more difficult to slip back and forth breaking up the continuity of the school year in two countries. It would be easier if he was a scholarly kid, but he's a real boy and school is just something he is forced to do. He used to enjoy it up to about grade four. This past winter I experienced 3 months of cold bitter weather and can barely fathom the six that those who couldn't leave had to endure.

Monday evening I started a running/walking program with a group of women and tonight we will go come rain or shine [though only not if it is lightening-bring on the lightening!] I missed last week when they started with 30 seconds running and 4 minutes walking. This week I started at 1 minute run and a 4 minute walk for 45 minutes. I'm not convinced I'll ever be able to run more than a minute, but who knows-quisas/perhaps!

Have a good week and know that I'm thinking of you all even if I don't e-mail you individually.

Much Ado About Nada

Armando and Xochitl, the Oaxacan artist friends are here teaching art classes. Xochitl is leaning on Juanita's shoulder, Armando's mom from Mexico City. Roxanne was staying with me from Cabo San Lucas for the two weeks of Baja Shakespeare.



Paul Flowers, 14, the son of Roxy's friend Deborah stayed with us for the 2 weeks and entertained us with the theme song 'Nonny, nonny'


I have a disk full of rehearsal photos and will continue to post more of them.


Another season of BS [Baja Shakespeare] is history; but we had so much fun amidst the struggles, frustrations and just plain hard work.