Ann’s Weblog

Our Virginia Creeper vine on the porch has already turned red and has lost many of its leaves!

Don’t get me wrong… the weather has been fantastic! It has been very warm for the last few days, with hardly any rain for a month. The lack of moisture is a concern, and we’ve been hauling tanks of water to recharge our well.

We had Gary’s brother and family here for almost a week; now they’ve been gone for a few days and I still miss them all terribly. Our three nieces are 7, 9 and 13, and they seemed to have a terrific time here. I’d write more about that, but I’m getting tired. Perhaps another evening, I’ll find some pictures for you.

Our skies are hazy because of smoke from forest fires hundreds of miles away in Washington. Very recently, the fires have crossed the border into British Columbia, but they are still far from us, although still threatening the homes of others. 

Finally, I’ve found a little time to write to you. Thanks so much for your patience, and for checking my blog. I appreciate your friendship.

~Ann 

I heard something about Andrew today; he told a friend that no one in our town likes him because he’s “too smart”. He IS a very intelligent person, but now I’m piqued because he is arrogant.

Yesterday I wrote for almost an hour in this weblog, and then my browser quit. That is why there isn’t a glowing report about an interesting exchange with this old Hungarian dude already. He asked me to make Blackberry Jam for him, and I sold him that and gave him a head of our own garlic.

I also asked if I could take his picture. I think I took him by surprise, and he said normally he would refuse. I even told him that he would be on the Internet. Friends who witnessed this exchange were amazed that I “got away with” photographing Andrew, as he is very worried that others will find out where he lives.

Andrew comes into our little town on the train once per month to shop and presumably exchange pithy words of wisdom with SOMEONE. He calls me “Lady”, as in, “Lady, that was good jam, but I’d like some blackberry jam without papaya in it, and not as much sugar, and not in those fancy jars, but in bigger jars.” When I gave him the head of garlic, he said that he was going to photocopy some information about the medicinal properties of it and leave it somewhere in town for me next time. Okaayyyy

So this is Andrew, one of Robson Valley’s colourful characters. I haven’t told you where he lives, and I’m told that his Hungarian last name is virtually unpronounceable by we English. Just as well.

About a week ago, I “inherited” a very, very old cat.

An elderly lady in my town had died, and her adult children left behind “Hannah” in a shed, with instructions to a neighbour to feed her. When it occurred to the well-intentioned neighbour that the cat was not thriving, he offered it to me, or more accurately, asked for my help.

When Hannah was brought to me, she was almost comatose. We had three little girls visiting here at the time, and they thought the 21 year old cat was beautiful; they lavished her with kind words without handling her. I dribbled chicken broth in the cat’s mouth, and after a day, when Hannah looked like she was going to live, I sponged her filthy emaciated body gently and dried her. That seemed to perk her up further.

During the week, Hannah mostly slept but got up to eat and drink the “real” tuna that we had for her, canned cat food, milk and water. I thought perhaps that the old cat had a couple more years, or a couple more lives.

Despite our loving efforts, Hannah died this morning. She simply awoke, ate a little bit, and curled up to sleep again, this time for the last time.

Goodnight Hannah, dear old cat.