Here is the thing about Moms.. They give you unconditional love and support when you need it and ongoing concern and advice even when you don’t know you need it. Moms…… complicated relationships for sure and yet we all have a Mom and I can tell you from personal experience, no matter how lame you think she is or how many arguments you have had, she has loved you and only wanted the best for you since the moment the nurses lay you in her arms. When you are sad she is sad. When you are happy she is happy.

I haven’t written for almost a month because my mother drilled into me “if you can’t say anything nice don’t say it”. Even if I often find it difficult to follow that rule in conversation, I like to think I succeed here on the blog. The only way I succeeded this month was by not writing at all..

But I’m back. The mystery of whatever is killing the deer on this island will either reveal itself or go away with time. Me dwelling on the issue here won’t make any difference, but I will summarize that I have seen or heard of more dead animals in the last few months than I have in thirty years on this island and I hope it is over. So let’s move on.

I have been sewing most days. The eagles, seals and otter are usually close by. Yesterday a couple of sea lions joined me.. They snuggled beneath my window obviously enamoured with each other.. Was it rude to watch their mating dance?

E is plugging away at the cabin. He has been working on the window trim and batten boards. There is no deadline, no rush. I like to think he is working at a sane relaxed pace. But it is looking pretty darned good…

The new coil in our fireplace which we use for hot water heat, disintegrated.. Who knew that you have to keep water in the pipe at all times.. We didn’t and as such the first winter before we found our water tank and set up the system, the thermacoil sat empty and became compromised. Yadda yadda yadda..don’t leave your thermacoil empty.

So we went to town to get our new coil , E will install it tomorrow and we will be set for free hot water with this system for fifteen years… You live, you learn…

We stopped for groceries down island after visiting the fireplace guy and while I was in the vegetable aisle I watched a young mom with her two young boys. Thinking while I looked at her that I missed my two sons and where did all that time go …. I overheard her say to the youngest… “ Gordon, don’t spit on people’s vegetables”…

So what has made my mood improve? My ability to move past the dead deer. My daughter is happy, really happy and found herself at the beginning of the best days of her life. We couldn’t be happier for her and her news has really lightened the moods around here.. It’s time to move on and remember what is really important..

And with that, I’m off to wash my celery, tomatoes and red peppers. Well really, I’m going to wash

All the damn vegetables