Part one of my summer reno project dressed up concrete, with a bit of insulation for frills. I called it unsexy renovations, but the climax did spew paint all over the basement, leading to a modest, post-exertion haze of satisfaction. Part two of the basement remediation has a less aesthetic outcome but is more exciting because it involves tools. And… Read More »Joist Support.
Many of us know a person, a needy, kinda demanding person, who is always looking for a ride to wherever you are going or might not be going but they need to get to. The opposite of that person is the one who joyfully chooses to take public transit. An interesting thing I’ve experienced: I take the bus to meet… Read More »Public transit – a complex relationship.
In southern Ontario, squirrels are a fast-moving fixture. They have adapted nicely from whatever their original habitat was to living amongst humans, although this arrangement seems to work better for the squirrels than some humans. ‘Squirrelly’ means erratic behaviour. It should be upgraded to include annoying, destructive, nasty, invasive actions, with occasional cute frolicking. And respectful acknowledgement of hanging out,… Read More »Squirrelly in the Backyard
There are some things a home owner has to do that are boring, dirty (not in a pleasant way) and don’t have much visual appeal. My first experience with this was roof reshingling the roof. Thousands of dollars and a lot of banging (not in a pleasant way) later, there was the new roof, same as the old roof, only… Read More »Unsexy Home Renovations.
Gardening seems to consist of pulling out one kind of plant and replacing it with a plant of another kind. Makes me wonder how natural modern backyards are and how kind to the environment, especially native plants. How do decorative plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees, fit in the native/invasive/cultivated plant story1? It makes me think of the settling of North… Read More »Learning about Colonization in a Backyard Garden
Recent moves by various governments have declared dolphins, dogs, cats, chimpanzees, and even animals in general, sentient beings1. What does this mean – the definition of sentience is consciousness of sensory perceptions, but how does it specify the way animals should be treated? A declaration that animals are sentient, like humans, provokes visions of trying to get dolphins to vote… Read More »Do I Know What’s Good for my Cat?
Seems like a simple concept: my stuff. You point into your purse, house, or phone screen to indicate your belongings. A story about Justin Bieber not being able to paint his car the colour he chose https://www.distractify.com/p/why-is-justin-bieber-blacklisted-ferrari got me riffing on the concept of ownership. It’s complicated, lots of laws and cultural influences modify what it means when you own objects. When we take… Read More »Ownership.
As a fitness fanatic, I feel guilty not doing pilates, lifting weights or cardio workouts in the summer. Instead, I spend all day, every day, physically active: gardening, cycling, walking, and doing home renovations. To decide if I’m getting enough exercise or fooling myself into fun summer pursuits, I’ve sought some data-backed advice. Three sources1 recommend adults do 150 minutes of… Read More »Regular Activities are Exercise 😉
While on the topic of macro-trends that rule our lives (my previous post about the economy), does one of these labels resonate with you: Baby boomer, Millennial, mod or rocker1? I wasn’t born a Baby boomer but later became one2, somewhat against my will. I’m thinking a new subcategory of Baby boomer would make more sense of the macro-trends of… Read More »Generational Labels: Baby boomer punks.
Arugula and rapini planted in my greenhouse in the first week of April are now ripe for the picking, as are some perennial herbs, particularly chive blossoms. Nature waits for no one, so the time is now to savour the tenderness and rich taste. Another week’s growth will make for tougher greens and woody flowers but the sudden abundance is… Read More »The Joy of Loads of Leafy Greens and Herbs.