What were your parents doing at your age?

How’s that for an answer! I know that’s a bit harsh, and it’s true. My mum was doubling down raising her surviving children. Her eldest son had his bags already packed to move out and do something with his life. During the summer, he (meaning I) was attending sea cadet camp… trying to become a staff member on site, and also trying to get into the Navy’s Regular Officer Training Program (ROTP) with the Canadian Forces (he later failed their intake aptitude test [how’s that for irony]). My mum’s daughter had her own challenges to deal with (that I won’t share here as that’s her story [I regret not supporting my little sister more than I did; I shared that piece-peace with my sister the last time I visited Maple Ridge, BC]).

My dad… ah yes. He had already divorced his first wife (my mum) and was maneuvering for a 2nd codependent relationship (eventually, he’d be served separation papers for that debacle… things supposedly improved, until that also backslide into dysfunction). When my dad was in his late 30s, 40s and early 50s, the bastard was sleeping around. Williams Lake? Aldergrove? Bellingham? 100 Mile House? Bella Coola? Yep. Eric (my dead brother) and I met many of his “friends”. The rumour mill is certain I had half-siblings in Williams Lake and other parts of northern British Columbia. Incidentally, one of the more fucked up things Eric shared with me was that he wanted our mum to get a boyfriend, tit for tat and all that douchebaggery. Rein-dad had many lovers in the United States — it’s one of the reasons that he moved to the USA. He agreed with their politics, and he wanted to double-dip into Canada’s socialized medicine & pension (fucker). I’m surprised offspring didn’t come out of the woodwork when my dad’s estate was dispensed — and demand some dough.

PREPARING FIREWOOD FOR SALE, CLEANING UP OUR SOUTH LAWN AS OF TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2026.

TS and I are resuming our forest landscaping about our home. We’re still cleaning up broken trees from the March-April 2025 ice storm. TS’s methodical clearing makes the process bearable. The hardwood tree species (and my inexperience) are playing havoc with our chainsaws. Sometimes, it’s easier to buck firewood with razor-sharp Japanese-made hand saws and Swede saws!

I can hear you asking: NeemTree, why don’t you just use a gasoline-powered chainsaw for your firewood preparation? Answer: I do that too, and I reserve it for larger diameter hardwood pieces! For my health, I like doing the manual labour (and I can then justify the prices I’ll post for firewood at the sales’ booth).

All of this exercise helps me enjoy TS’s culinary creations, like blueberry bars and too-salty-yet-tasty pizza:

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Meanwhile, TS is knitting new creations for her sales’ booth. Despite the awful geopolitical situation and economic shock, TS wants to offer quality products to pet owners!

Click on the image for details.

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A REQUEST TO THE LOCALS: do you know where one can aquire storm windows for a freestanding outbuilding? At home depot, they’re called veranda windows (and they cost $700-1000/window). That’s waaaaaaaay too much money for us.

I need to get 8 storm windows and a door. So that’s 6 windows (to fit a 33.25″x48″ gap) and 2 smaller windows (to fit a 22.75″x48″ gap). Plus a door to fit a 36″x81.75″ gap.

I’m going to scout out the Owen Sound ReStore, see what Lion’s Head Wilson’s Home Hardware Building Centre, and East Owen Sound’s VanDolder’s can offer us. TS has already assured me that if we have different window types for each gap, that’s A-OKAY. It’ll be quirky and functional.

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