reckless precision

Our builder has begun to place one stone upon another and a wall is emerging. It looks easy enough. All the stones are squarish and you would think that they would fit together without much argument. Yet each granite block is unique, with a bump on one side or a dip on the other. Watson is puzzling out the fit and the progress puts a very large smile on my face.

primitive lego

The porch project has limped along for weeks. The pace is straining my nerves and forcing me to develop a greater capacity for patience. Things have progressed to the point where the stone work can begin which makes the rock delivery a literal and figurative milestone. This 10 ton clump of granite blocks was dumped with a ground shaking thud at 7am. Order will be imposed on the jumbled pile and a retaining wall and a set of steps will emerge from the chaos. It's tres exciting and I will keep you posted as the wall begins to take shape.

cue the crickets

You can feel it getting close; the surprise of an early sunset, a little snap to the breeze, a certain something to the light and you know it is upon you. Then there it is, September 1, the most melancholy of days. A day that makes you wish you had seized more opportunities, savored more sunshine and had been more grateful for the slack-tide of summer.

Grade School starts on Wednesday and all over town backpacks are being hunted down, pencils are being sharpened and lunches are being packed. I envy the students and the bright, clean slates that are laid before them tomorrow. Tabula Rasa. Next week the Universities will open their doors. Some students have probably already taken up residence and tonight as I looked across the Arm toward the Dalhousie campus I thought I could hear the whoops and laughter of this year's crop of giddy freshmen.