John Kitsco

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Back at the acreage, the garden has been off to a slow start. Rain, lots and lots
of rain and these cool Canadian nights could be the reason.

If you have planted a garden you understand very well how some plants prefer
sunshine and some prefer shade. Just like people. The sand and silt and clay
make up the texture. Sandy soils drain easily. Loam retains moisture and makes for a good garden. We started out with mushroom manure hoping it would be a good place to start. But it basically slowed down the growth process
for a couple of years. And our garden is a country garden, pretty much looked
after by mother nature. Problem being, we live in the city and do not get out
often enough. Still working I tell my brother and sisters..."Hey - you guys
are retired. I'm simply t-i-r-e-d. " Still a working man...

Like most folks my wife and I simply want to plant and want for things to grow.
We have not gotten into the issues like porosity (low porosity soils are compacted)  or worried about fertility (thats soils ability to store and release
nutrients). So for now, the plants have started. We'll simply hope for a good
season.

Well, on Canada Day, July 1 - our friends Tom and Delsey came out to the
acreage. These folks are really wonderful boat people.  I decided it was time
for a verdict - so I asked Tom - "Okay, give me the bottom line - is there
hope for this old boat?" And like a moment of absolute inspiration, Tom
glanced over at the boat and back at me and said - " John, this boat is going
to see water. But you have to do a few things. Like get the water out of the boat."
So we looked for and found the drain plug (it was actually plugged with mud). So
out-flowed the water. The transom was solid. It would hold a motor, outboard, not
the inboard they had on this old boat previously. And it needs some TLC
(tender loving care). I had to rip out some old lino to reveal a nice looking
sub floor, I needed to take out the old equipment. Tom has a motor and steering
wheel. Thats going in soon. And I need to do a little fiberglass work. Ok, I can
do that.

I shout to my wife: "Honey, Tom tells me there is hope for the old boat..."

The blue sky announces its Canada Day. The tall aspen sway all around us.
The boat moves a little in the wind...and its not even in the water yet. And our
dear friends Tom and Delsey join us for some ginger ale and hot dogs.

I dream of being on the lake. I dream of catching a fish. Gosh, I have not done
anything like that since I fished with Dad. That was  long ago. The trees
sway some more....