At home
Thursday, 6 January 2022
Allan built a gate frame, one of three new ones that will be needed for the south fence. We don’t need that many escape routes, but due to the willows, we need some access for maintaining outside of the fence. If developers rudely chop off our willows right at our property line, we will have one gate more than necessary.
Friday, 7 January 2022
We got another delivery of 2x4s from Oman and Son Lumber. It will speed the project along if Allan does not have to painstakingly salvage every scrap from the old fence. Any leftovers can be used for future projects. I thought it too windy to work in the willow grove so there was no weather solidarity from me.
The lawn was a boggy mess on the way out.
He got an impressive amount of crosspieces installed just in this one afternoon.
Another reason, other than wind caution, that I did nothing outdoors today was that I had gotten a new book from the library for which I had been waiting for weeks. By my current favorite author (she also wrote Advice for Future Corpses and Stepping Westward), it was excellent (although probably not if you don’t watch Survivor). I actually discovered all her other books when I placed an order for this one.
Just a few of my favourite bits:
After describing the years of her young adulthood (almost same age as me) of not watching television and feeling rather superior about it (same here), she starts watching again and adds, “People sometimes tell me they don’t watch TV, with a hint of pride. And then they send me YouTube videos and stream Netflix.”
“I’ve written at length about private matters… But writers reveal only what they wish to reveal and take great care about it. You have no idea what I’ve left out.”
“Being a snob about reality television is a little different than being a snob in the world of, say, quantum physics.”
“I am eternally curious about people, even when I can’t stand them, even when I don’t know anything about people.”
I had a delightful afternoon reading it all in one sitting. I have another book (about food) by her lined up next, but I do hope to get out to the south fence project again tomorrow.
Tangly Cottage Gardening 
A big job! As for writing what you wish to reveal…yes, indeed, and very applicable to blog writing. I always tell the truth, but I am careful about what I tell, especially when it comes to friends and family.
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Yes indeed. Although Anne Lamott said, ““You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” I kind of love that.
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Here’s an opposing view from Calvin Trillin (I’m paraphrasing): “If you are Dostoevsky, you can write anything you want about your family. However, lesser writers should use discretion.” However, Anne Lamott does make a good point. 😉
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That is hilarious, thank you!
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That fence is coming along and looks great. Can’t wait to see the gates in place. Will you be accessorizing them as you did your front gate with the hoops?
About “I’ve written at length about private matters… But writers reveal only what they wish to reveal and take great care about it. You have no idea what I’ve left out.” This is SO true. In my sister’s book, it is almost as if the marriage of our father to my mother never happened. This half-sister doesn’t like me. (It’s sad/Makes me sad.) She also portrays her mother as a shrinking violet and honestly (in my opinion) her mother is anything but a shrinking violet.
I haven’t watched TV since 2001. I don’t own a TV, but I do look at YouTube videos (Monty Don & gardening shows). If someone invites me over and they are watching TV, I will watch with them. I don’t watch TV because I want to live my life and not fill it up by watching someone else’s life. I don’t, however, look down on anyone who watches TV. It’s a personal choice.
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In her book of essays, Violation, the title essay is about how mad her sister is at the way that Sallie Tisdale portrayed her as a child! Probably made the sister madder. It’s a touchy subject. I am glad I don’t have a sibling author as it could be quite painful.
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Oh, I forgot to answer: I think the gates will be pretty plain back there. We don’t have extra hoops now, for one thing…although there are a couple of decorative items kicking around.
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I expect that Allan is quite pleased that he has a handy boat in his shed for when the rain really gets going! The fence is a wonderful work.
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Thanks, Mr T!
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