Fletcher

During the cold months especially, I like to make spiced coffee. This is easy in the French press. Just throw some favourite whole spices in the carafe along with ground coffee. I use a couple cardamom pods, allspice berries and cloves. I'm out of cinnamon sticks, but those are good too, of course. Add boiling water, stir and let sit a few extra minutes to bring out the flavour.

Dusk is my favourite time of day, but Lake Fletcher is at its best at sunrise. With my improved sleeping habits and a later-rising autumn sun, I had an opportunity to go out in the canoe Thanksgiving weekend and photograph morning mist for the first time with a digital camera. These mists are a common phenomenon in cottage country. I could explain why, but that would detract from the magic.

This is without rival the most simple, beautiful place I know. I am so grateful to have it a part of my life. You get four photos because I can't choose between them: first two from Saturday morning, then two from Thanksgiving Sunday, all taken around 9 a.m. The fourth one is especially effective in larger size. You can easily view any photo in my journal in 800 x 600 format: just click on the photo to go to Flickr, then click "ALL SIZES" immediately above the photo.

These are among my favourite digital photos so far. The Kodak could not have handled these light conditions as well. These are part of the reason I was so upset when I arrived home to find I couldn't clear space on my hard drive. I still don't have a working CD burner, although I expect to pick a used one up from Danny later this week. For now I have copied a few photos off the memory card.





( Sunday )

Job

Starting next Thursday, I have a job once a week looking after a friend's autistic 13-year-old son for 90 minutes after school. I'll call him Luke. I know the family through Two Rivers, and have spent time around Luke before. He has a pleasant disposition, likes science and science fiction, and has recently become an avid reader.

This happened because the previous social worker stopped coming to their appointments. Luke's mother will be able to get the financial assistance she receives to pay me directly rather than hiring someone through an agency.

I have no experience in this field, except from raising two active daughters of my own. Although I'm not necessarily comfortable around kids, I have grown into being patient and respectful toward them, and apparently they're comfortable around me. At least that's my interpretation of why I received this offer. Our mutual friend Laura probably orchestrated this.

Luke's mother suggested we could spend time at the public library, where we can play board games and I can help him with his homework. Luke also wants to write a book, but has trouble with fine motor skills, so he could dictate it to me.

This isn't the kind of challenge I had anticipated in easing back into employment. It won't be easy. It will stretch my creativity. I'm scared, but have nothing to lose by trying.