1987
Pine Island July 20th
Wednesday and Thursday night, Steven, Rachel,
Joanna and I were here and Friday, Christina, Tricia Ryan, Joanna, Amy Ryan
arrived and Steven and I were here.
Saturday night Suzanne came down with
Tarryn and Steven went to Rennie’s overnight Sunday. They are going in so many
ways!
Catherine
came to get Tarryn and Rennie John and Steven took the sailboat into town. John
brought Rennie and Steven back down and we barbequed. It was cold and damp in
the cottage so we lit a fire in the acorn fireplace. It smoked but gradually
settled down, and took the chill off. I came into town for the night and will
pick Rachel up by 10:30 AM, and then we will go down to the cottage to relieve
Suzanne. If it is nice and clears, Rachel and Joanna and I will stay for the
night. I may bring them up for the night so I can go to the old Stone House
advisory meeting at noon tomorrow.
Mrs. Ross accosted Suzanne and said she and
her husband had decided to charge us $50 a week more because we had more people
than they had assumed we would have. Suzanne said that she said,” that was not
acceptable” and enumerated some of our disappointments with the place: for
example the fridge was not working, there was no swimming near the cottage, and
she could've added the oven on the stove, which has a bad connection, and will
only heat on one element. I burned my chocolate cake! The landlady is trying to take advantage of me
and I won't have it.
I
told her that there would be a constant flow of family and friends. I told her
different family members would be staying, and the investment is $1000 for four
weeks very high!
She
has succeeded in taking much of the joy out of my holiday. The first season and
how many, 30 maybe, that I have been spied upon. We are taking excellent care
of her property as we always do and I will be glad to be home.
Tuesday July 21st
I
sat outside in the shade today-a breeze the sun hot. Last night I had Amy
Michael Joanna and Rachel. They slept on pillows in their sleeping bags in the
big room-squirming like worms, giggling. Michael got the mattress from the roll
away but didn’t use it to sleep on –draped it like an awning from the couch
over their heads. They finally slept about 1130 after I threatened that I would
put Michael alone in the front room Rachel alone in the middle room. I knew
that would silence them-they are all easily spooked and would be in horror of
being alone in a room.
I
relieved Suzanne, came down at noon yesterday. She stayed over on Sunday night
and I went in to have a shower and wash my hair. I have only had one bath here-the
second evening I think –anyway it was before Mrs. Ross’s first encounter. One
of her complaints is that we would use too much hot water so I am extra careful
and we bath in the Sault.
Suzanne was accosted by her again. Suzanne told her again that we made a bargain,
and we were keeping our part of the bargain. She told her the stove sparked and
sputtered, only works sporadically, and put a hole in aluminum tray and that
was not what she had told us when we were renting. She had nothing else to say.
Mrs. Ross hasn’t said anything else to me
and I am the one she should be talking to. I paid her the $1000.00 and she
cashed the check. Mrs. Ross walks to the end of her dock and looks back at our
lawn where we sit in front of the cottage and I am sure she is counting heads. I
wonder what her husband George thought of me being so delighted when I looked
at the cottage, that it was a big old cottage with large sleeping quarters. He
even showed me the extra bed on the back porch. Why would he think I wanted a
large cottage if it wasn’t for family to enjoy?
When Suzanne went home yesterday Steven
went with her for a doctor’s appointment and to sleep the night. That left me
without any way to get Amy Joanna and Rachel to swimming I don’t even run my
own motor boat, so we drove to Women’s Institute Park on St Joe’s at Richards
Landing. There is a beach and two rafts for swimming and diving. I then took
them to “Nook and Cranny” for their mega sized ice cream cones.
Steven came back today, and has been the
ferry to the island for swims and rides. He is a great help, and seems to
realize that Rachel is a bit “out of things”, Joanna is 10 Amy 13 and Rachel is
not quite 8.
On Saturday Suzanne insisted that I go with
them to the Island-so I did. I swam, one of the only times so far. Right now there
is a chipmunk foostering under the chair next to me. Rachel put peanuts out for
him.
Steven and Rachel followed an otter across
at the little rock outcropping, I can’t really call it an Island. The rock is
smooth with tall coarse grass growing out of its crevices. Sea gulls sit in the
sun.
There are four rocky pine crested islands.
The children swim from one to the other. They can almost walk from one to the other
but not quite.
I meant to bring my wildflower book down. I
have my bird book but can’t identify one slim brown bird smaller than a robin, not
at all like a sparrow.
The Toronto flight is going over.8:45pm. It
is a lovely still evening. Steven is following the far shore. I could not have
functioned without him and I am sure he is often bored. He referee’s the
children’s fights not fights constant nattering. He barbecues and is pleasant
company for me.
Suzanne just delivered some groceries,
picked up Michael, and was gone again. She works 3-11.
I just finished “Light a Penny Candle” by
Maeve Binchy. It made me lonesome for Mother and for Ireland. The Irish
expressions I haven’t heard since Mother died. My Father used “eejit” for idiot,
the simple Irish Catholic faith, the candles, the prayers, the simple rituals, and
the male domination of women yet the matriarchal power structure of some
families. Some of the expressions in the book were
"let it stay that way" ( don't do anything about it),
"I've got the tea wet", "Eyes like two big holes in a
blanket”, Strealish hair" a streel a slovenly untidy person, a child"
a little love" just what Mother called Michael, "Let the little love
be!".
Suzanne
read it and wept copiously. There was a male in it “Johnny Stone” who has the
same moral standards –rather lack of them as her last boyfriend. The identical
charm too. Or perhaps she was weeping for Mother-they had a great and close
relationship. “Aileen” died in a scene that could have been mother’s room in
the hospital that last evening.
It is so pretty here. There is a tall
purple marsh flower like a lupine but the leaves are not the same. I must bring
my flower book down. There are birds busy in the marsh grasses-water lilies in
the little curved bay (and blood suckers as well!)
We are cut off without a phone. I was told
I could use theirs but I don’t want any more arguments. We may move in early on
Wednesday of the last week as Suzanne and Mary Jane are both working. We’ll see
how it goes. In all the years of renting I have never felt so uncomfortable.
Brendon is not down much this year and
Christina complains about coming. If Steven is working next year this may be
our last expedition. I will miss it! I have read “Until the Colors Fade” about
the Crimean War, “War Brides”, “Golden Boy” (biography of William Holden) and
“Light a Penny Candle”. Utter luxury to spend hours reading. I waken early but
don’t move about because the children are up late and then sleep late.
Mary
Anne’s two have the chicken pox so have not been down.
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