From Layoff to Ladle

It has been a long, cold winter in Ontario. It’s now mid-May and nighttime temperatures are still hovering near freezing. I’m also readjusting to winters in Ontario after living on the much more temperate Vancouver Island for four years, and I’ve been missing the humidity more than I expected. It’s been very dry here all winter. Still, there are signs of spring in the backyard: the sounds of birds waking me in the morning and frogs settling in at night. I’ve started my seedlings (tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini) and I’m looking forward to transplanting them into the garden in early June. I’ve already planted my potato starts and onion bulbs, and a batch of sauerkraut is currently fermenting on the counter for summer BBQs. I didn’t write any entries for a couple of months, as I’ve been working a contract that has left me quite exhausted. On top of that, a few family members and friends have been diagnosed with cancer in the past while, so we’ve been spending time visiting and helping ...