gardens.

(sunshine)

dear em,

these photos were taken in the garden, in my parents' back yard.

this garden was a project that james and i constructed in the first summer that we were together. he hauled all of the dirt (about a ton, or so it seemed) down two flights of stairs (with a wheelbarrow) because i had to go to work. when i returned, the task was complete.

the garden sat stagnant last year - unplanted, unloved - this year, we are reviving it. new soil, young, healthy plants, lots of water. all of those good things.

so far, we have planted: cabbage (3); lettuce (5); peppers (3); marigolds (6) (they ward of the pests). so far, it looks like the garden will thrive.

the evening sun makes this exact spot one of my favourite places in the world to be at around 7:30 pm.

in these pictures: the sun looks warmer than it really was. it's funny how images and words have a way with life like that - they mix and mingle and make things seem, well, a certain way.

love, kay.

untitled but precisely quoted.

"kendra and i find the same things funny."

yes. yes, we do. all of the things.

garden bloom.

it always catches me by surprise, this spring time thing.

the long winter makes me forget that there is anything other than bundled days and a sigh before going for a walk.

geography has something to do with it. the winters

of toronto and michigan are ruthless, grey. they leave you pondering flights

[and residency]

in jamaica.

and then one day, you realize it has been weeks

since you were cold. in fact,

yesterday

i escaped the muggy heat in the basement, and coming of the shower

actually welcomed the blast of cold water that the shower down there

greets you with.

anyhow.

i have been spending time with the gardens.

it has been a delicious challenge with julius

following after me

picking the flowers and buds.

it goes like this:

dig [look about for julius who usually already has a mitt full of dirt]

plant

water

[by this time julius has picked and is trying to eat the plant that i put in the ground before this one]

but. april rains have prevailed, and the blossoms are out.

not even julius could steal the petals of a lady slipper.

miss you so much kendra.

it's a babe's world.

it's a babe's world.

i throw open the french doors and dine him in sunshine

(do you remember these doors, and how much he has changed in ten months?)

likes: playing dry clean steam machine. this includes pushing him around the house at mach speeds in a laundry basket.

likes: guitars. obviously. and anything else i can touch/eat.

likes: orange baseball caps. i mean, really? really? really.

likes: casper the kitty. he loves to pull and chase casper's tail. poor casper. great for julius.

dear kendra.

i can't believe how much time has elapsed since i visited the imaginarium,

and how much longer still,

since i popped something up here.

embarrassed sigh.

the world is whirling, mdear. i am also still feeling the waves of conservative canadian politics lapping at my brain's shore. mostly in my dreams. what a sad, sad day for canada. i hope we survive. why does everyone want to be like the united states? i dare them to come live here for 2 years and then re-evaluate.

annie arbor is bustling.

so is my brain.

but time is busting at the seams.

julius is beyond incredible - his entire world is blown wide open.

he is trying, with utmost precaution, to stand on his own.

he has really learned how to howl. you would laugh. i do sometimes.

i have a new job.

whoa.

more on that little guy.

i feel as if it will be a constant and consistent source of imaginarium material. alice would approve.

it is a bit of a corporate nightmare hiding behind the precious veil of ann arborite individuality. we shall see how things unfold, but there are a few tidbits you won't want to miss.

think office space.

flair.

no more needed.

i miss you and love you so much.

xoooooooox

your first momma's day

em : sorry i missed you yesterday. i wanted to wish you a very happy mother's day. wow, the first one ever, hey? you are definitely at the top of the mountain when it comes to moms. high peaks, sun burned faces, and even a few mountain goats. wait, i would put you above alpine. so forget it, no goats. julius is a lucky little boy and i know that you are going to help him to become an amazing person in this world. you two have the same smile and nothing could make me happier than to have an emma smile replicated in this universe - some how, some way, it happened. i'm sending my love, across the mountain tops, prairies, wheat fields, and planes, to you and julius. big kisses, love k.

p.s. the succulents are my babies. happy mother's day to me too.

ha.

Sunny Days

Emma, my darling friend in the south.

I woke up this morning feeling like had a bad hangover. Election hangover. I now feel as if I was being naive - having faith in people's respect for the importance of democracy and the principles that hold it up. Instead, people voted with fear. "It's about the economy" he kept saying, with a blatant self satisfaction that, after two terms of a minority, he would walk into a majority. H spent this campaign disengaged. Quiet, almost. Well, accept for the attack ads. His campaign was essentially a one-lined tweet: "Canadians don't want an election. This is about the economy." What's the rule? 145 characters or less? Those are the terms we communicate with these days. He figured that one out.

I am afraid that H will take full advantage of the fact that the PM, if he so wishes, has all the power he wants. He will pass bills through, stack the senate, disregard the opposition - like a whiney mosquito in his arrogant ear. My biggest fear is that he is actually smart and is aware that Canadians will respond to drastic changes - sweeping shifts. In this case, he'll play his cards right and pass things slowly but surely, assuring a fundamental change in the way this country operates. He won't illicit protests, rises to revolt, civic outcries. He'll just plug along, as he's always done. And then, one day, we'll wake up and we'll pay 500.00 for a doctor's visit. First 50, then 100....and on it goes.

And then what will we say? Well, it's about the economy. Somehow we forgot that "the economy" is code for the interests of the wealthy elite. What about trickle down? Well, look at America. That's what happened. It's funny look across the tree line and into the United States, at an example of a hyper capitalist system that DIDN'T work. That is declining. The truth is out; yet, we want to follow that example? You have to be fucking kidding me. America has collapsed and now we want to use its cupcake recipe?

Bad idea, my friends, bad idea. I've chatted with my Gramps and with a few friends. They don't seem to be as miffed. Somehow, things will be okay - maybe even better. This may be true. In most cases throughout history, things had to get way worse before they got better. This is probably something like that. Even if it can pull Canadians out of our state of apathy and our strive for mediocrity, this will have been worth it - I hope.

Sending love and kisses to you and the Caveman. Perhaps a cottage in the forest, with a small mushroom garden and plenty of Hariboo really is the way to go?

xox, kay