Finished! by Susan L.

  I was up and out this morning fairly early. The end was in sight and I wanted to beat the heat which is downright suffocating with the humidity today, probably somewhere near 40 C. So with a nice cup of coffee and something sweet I am holding a quiet celebration almost a month to the day the big build was started.
  I almost feel like smashing a bottle of champagne against the corner to launch her!
  There are little things I would do differently should such a project ever come my way again. Most of it was because this has been a huge learning curve for me. I thank the Lord that nothing had to be ripped out and redone, that mistakes were small enough to ignore or easily fixed. I thank Him for the foundation in construction fundamentals that have found their way into my life from watching my dad and working with my ex on renovations. Little things like always cutting the wood on the waste side of the line or how to straighten a nail. The nail trick was the only carpentry skill my dad actually taught me. A different generation who felt hammers and such were the domain of men.
  NOT!
  I am thankful for the provision that made the shed possible.
  I am ever so grateful it turned out as well as it did.
  With deepest gratitude I never hit my thumb with the hammer. Finger, yes. And I think of another Carpenter who probably did the same as He learned His trade...

  The coffee's done, the dishes aren't. So here she is:
 

 
 
    "So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil." Is 41:7
 

Taking a Chance by Susan L.

  I spent another four hours after work last night on the shed staining the walls and painting the trim and door. The stain ran out. I need to get another gallon and quart to finish and do a second coat. It will be much faster than the first. It sure took a lot of brushing back and forth to get the stain worked in to all the rough spots on the barn board. There's a small chance of thunderstorms but I think I'll risk spending the day working on getting all the brushwork finished. It'll mean a full day but if I can get it ready to install the trim, the final task, I'll be so pleased.
  I said before how much I want this job finished!
  I need to head out to the hardware store before I can start and I want to get going so that's it for today.
  "Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Lk 20:26
 

Gentle Morning by Susan L.

  At last a morning I can slide in to without being rushed to get my blog done before the busy-ness of the day takes over. I miss having these moments when they aren't there. Somehow the day doesn't feel quite right.
  After work yesterday I spent a few hours working on the shed until the sun vanished behind the trees and the light was too poor. All the windows and trim are now ready for paint and two walls are stained with a first coat. It's a slow and painstaking labour of brush because the barn board is rough and it takes a brush to work the stain into all the various grooves and knots of the pine. I picked a putty/gray clay colour that is in the shingles to soften the appearance and have it blend in a bit. In surveying the job I realised it matches the 1950's stone cut cinder block foundation of the house. The trim is going to be a medium dark taupe, again a colour from the shingles. I chose a grayish denim blue for the door to give it some oomph.
  I'll be glad when it's finished. I never thought the big build would take so long. Although with all the rain, work and with going away it delayed the process somewhat. I just have to remind myself to be patient, to not rush the finishing touches, something I am prone to doing. That's when mistakes are made.
  It's nice too to take this time to daydream a bit about the flower beds I am going to put around it next spring. I hope to put some different plants in instead of simply dividing what I have which is how most of the other gardens have been created. That's one downside to having mostly perennials. When they get too big, what do you do with the pieces divided from the main plant? Simple. Create another flower bed!
  I'm still thinking about a saying to put above the door although I'll make a plaque instead of painting it directly on the trim. That way if it needs re-painting I only have to take it down instead of standing on a ladder doing the lettering. I have a steady hand but it's not that steady.
  But I get ahead of myself. Let's get her finished first.
  "Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."" Lk 13:18-19
 

Simple Lessons by Susan L.

  Every outing is an adventure waiting to happen. We took a couple of guided hiking tours at Killbear. One was about ferns, the other about lichens, the flat extremophiles who live on bare rock. The fellow who did the lichen talk, a subject matter I thought might be rather dull, had such passion about these plants that aren't really plants that he made it exciting and fascinating. We walked with him back to the car after the tour was over and had a great opportunity to learn even more about other plants in the forest.
  I learned another rather important point as well. Marshmallows don't keep in a hot car. They didn't go bad but became a mass of sticky goo impossible to get a fork into for roasting.
  The best moment for me was when I clambered out to a rocky point and stood looking at the magnificent scenery all around and beneath my feet. The granite was twisted pink with bands of rose quartz running through it. Green, gray, black, silver, and yellow lichens mottled the surface where winter ice doesn't reach. Tiny pockets of earth held plants and small shrubs. There was one spot where the granite in its perpetual dive beneath the surface made the water shallow. A large group of minnows swam lazily about within this haven. Puddles in some of the indents held their own mini-environment. Diving beetles and other swimming insects held court over these small areas.
  It's a beautiful piece of God's green earth.
  "Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honour of His name; make His praise glorious." Ps 66:1-2
 

Home Safe by Susan L.

  Killbear Provincial Park is a massive tract of land with over a thousand camp sites spread over six or so areas. We had one of the best, I think, because it was more private than some of the others that seemed to be crammed one on top of the other. It's a beautiful place nonetheless. The Canadian Shield bubbles up between patches of mixed forest in great swooping embankments of pink and gray granite. Small coves provide sandy beaches with breath taking views and crystal clear water. The forest floor is littered with boulders deposited there from the last ice age.
   It is home to bears, which we didn't see and a healthy population of white tailed deer. We saw several does and best of all a young three point buck which is a real treat because they tend to be more shy. We saw a doe with twin spotted fawns just as we were leaving to come home. What a great farewell to an awesome trip.  
  The highlight was seeing a small rattle snake, a species at risk. There's approximately two hundred an fifty in the park. Because of its size, sightings are rare. We were blessed. Another hiker had spotted it while we were on a guided hike with a park naturalist. The park asks if you see one to let staff know. They microchip them and take general statistics. This little one was too small for that so our guide simply made note of its location via GPS.
  They have short fences to stop the snakes from crossing the road and have provided tunnels underneath for all sorts of wildlife, not just snakes. The low tunnels are monitored by motion sensor cameras and microchip readers. If a snake goes through, they'll know exactly which one it was. They can also see what other animals use them to get across the road as well. The park services as many as five thousand visitors a day. The roads are a dangerous place for wildlife.
  The weather was perfect, not a drop of rain fell. The mosquitoes were no where near as bad as I expected them to be. I didn't even need repellent! Except for the potential for bears, the only real risk we faced was the danger of being beaned by falling acorns.
  It's good to be home. My goodness how the grass has grown since I've been gone!
  "The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad!" Ps 97:1
 

We're Off by Susan L.

  A restless night, too hot, too cold, waking every time I rolled over. Too much excitement I guess.       
  The car is mostly packed. There's just the cooler and clothes to go in. It gets easier each time the routine is exercised. Every item has its place. It helps too that the camp kit is growing. Small items keep being added that stay with the gear instead of having to raid the kitchen cupboards for bits and pieces other than food. A few more trips and it'll be a matter of grabbing a couple of boxes and we're ready.
  The mosquito repellent is right on top.
  I am looking forward to the drive. I've never been up that way before.
  I'd best go. Don't want to be rushing around at the last minute. I'll be back in a few days. God willing.
  "The earth is the Lord's in all its fullness. The world and those who dwell therein." Ps 24:1
 

Of August Storms by Susan L.

  The watery air is thick with anticipation. Not a breath of wind touches the treetops. Smoky gray replaces idyllic blue. Darker. Darker. The sky presses down heavy. Brilliant flashes dance. The one second, two second, three, fo... a feel-it-in-your-bones grumble echoes and echoes as far as the ears can hear. Counting the miles from the when/where lightening sliced pierced the ground in trepidation. Is it coming? Will it pass? Distant rumbles draw nearer. One, two... The static, cellophane crackle of a nearby strike; a pointed, blinding barb of light too close for comfort. O (A jump making, heart stopping booming snarl) ne.
  Pumpkin fur flying flees from my side at the window to a refuge under the bed.
  Fat drops gain momentum. Silvered cousins, brothers, aunts join the monsoon torrent. Too much too fast. The ground rebels. Temporary rivers along the side of the road race the cars tearing by in a whoosh and a splash. Tree boughs laden with water bow before the storm. The apples on the driveway float in a newly formed mini-lake.
  One, two, three...seven, eight...do I hear it? Faintly, faintly...twelve.  
  A cricket tentatively chirps an angel harp chorus, "Rejoice! Rejoice! The storm has passed!"
  The lowering sun bathes glistening greens in a light rarely seen this side of heaven; a light tasting of newness, of sins washed away. The fleeing clouds are painted colours no earthly artist could ever duplicate: unimaginable shades of pink, lavender green, purples deep, and gilded billows. Yellow flowers gently sway in an aura of gold as they shake the rain from their petals. Tree trunks shimmer old penny copper. The dark ribbon of road steams iridescent droplets.
  It lasts only breath holding, heart aching at the beauty moments before the clouds thicken, drawing a curtain over the light.
   A soft rain begins to fall.
  "You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side." Ps 65:11-12