"It was imprudent of us, in the first place, to become authors. We could have become something regular, but we managed not to.
We were lucky, but we were also determined." Roy Blount Jr

"I don’t change the facts to enhance the drama. I think of it the other way round, the drama has got to fit the facts,
and it’s your job as a writer to find the shape in real life."
Hilary Mantel

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

On the Waterfront

Jewel, Ruth and I arrived at the Big Lake late yesterday, just in time for their supper. Mine was delayed because Ruth insisted on going for a walk.... We followed our usual route to the Point, accompanied by a cloud of mosquitoes and the occasional dive-bombing deerfly.

After a warm and busy day--and an energetic walk--I desperately wanted a swim (the water is 68 degrees now). But the layer of yellow pollen floating around the dock deterred me.

Instead of cooling off in the water, I imbibed a refreshingly cold cider on the dock and watched the occasional boat pass up or down our Bay.

A sailboat was enjoying a sunset cruise.



Jewel fears pirates might be aboard.



But great danger lurked very near to us...

a duck!




Last night we slept like logs, until dawn when the terrifying duck and her spouse started up their quacking. Then we heard the young crop of phoebes shrieking incessantly. No sound of a loon...yet. (Back at the Lodge on the Little Lake, we wake to a loon's call every morning.)

The 4-legged inhabitants of the cottage had an early breakfast, then we all went back to sleep.

While making tea just now, I spotted a familiar presence. A huge-normous spider is always positioned near the kitchen window, creating beautiful and intricate webwork.



A very big girl, an entire inch all the way round. She's probably glad to have me in residence: at night, the kitchen light must attract lots of flying insects for her to feed upon.

It's drizzly this morning--I hope we're getting enough rain to sink that dratted pollen layer so I can swim. Weatherman promises sunshine later today.


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