I'll have you know that it's precisely 9:00 p.m. on Saturday night and I had no intention of writing a post for Sunday but then I decided to quickly write a really short post so I just hope you aren't expecting anything great because you're not going to get it. What you will get is run on sentence.
Before we get to David, a brief synopsis of how the rest of my week has gone. Fine. My week has been fine. Actually, our city got shoved into the next highest COVID category which wasn't very fine.
I'm no authority but I would make a bet that we're shut down completely again within the length of time it takes to move your clothing from the washer into the dryer - which translates to approximately 2 weeks for me which is why sometimes I smell musty.
That means ZOOM Christmas. In other Christmas news, I went to Dollarama today and managed to leave without buying any tacky-yet-comforting cheap Christmas chachkas. I left only with a salt shaker, the only 3 packages of fire starters left in the city and cheesecloth. And yes, I do make my own fire starters, but I like to have some of these on hand.
Now what were we talking about? That's right, David.
When last we met, I had made my new friend David. If you haven't met David yet, you'd better go read this post first. As you know, I had big plans to give him a few logs to chop. I rethought those plans. The truth is I'm out of kindling and have been so busy that I haven't had time to chop any. I thought if my new friend hinted that he needed something to do I'd have him chop kindling because - I really do need it and really don't have time to do it.
So I watched out the window. I'd check out the front door. I wasn't obsessive about it but I did do it every 7.5 minutes for 168 hours. No dice. My new friend had disappeared into the wind - or maybe into one of the many superhero sized piles of leaves I haven't raked up.
Then this morning as I was walking to my car to get groceries (one of the few things we're still able to do) up walks David.
We met in the exact same spot we encountered each other before and had a talk again. David is the perfect conversation companion. We are interested in the same things, we hold similar opinions, and he doesn't stand and talk for hours.
The conversation headed towards wood immediately because it is the fibre that bonds us. He asked if I'd been having fires and I said, Yes, I had actually, now that the temperature has dropped. Here we go. My opportunity I thought.
You know, I haven't had any kindling though, I haven't had any time to chop any. David, as it turns out, had just chopped kindling the day before. All kinds of it from dry scaffolding wood. David did not offer to chop any kindling for me, lol.
Which I saw as a good sign. I don't think David needs to be needed. Or pretend needed. I think David's life is probably pretty full and happy. It's now my opinion that David is just generous. Nice.
After we had exhausted kindling we started talking about fire starters and chimney cleanings. He mentioned he had just picked up a few fire starters at the local hardware store. I told him, I get mine at Dollarama, that I really like them and they're safe for chimneys. David has tried the chimney cleaning logs you can buy and deems them crap. So do I. I told him that I get my chimney cleaned once a year and maybe I should up it to two.
He thought No, once should definitely be enough. I agreed, I thought so too, the only reason I thought I should up it to two cleanings is that I had a terrifying chimney fire one year.
Oh! Me too! said David At 10 o'clock on a Sunday night.
Really? I blinked. That's weird. Me too. My chimney fire was at 10 o'clock on a Sunday night.
David didn't seem to think that was as cosmically charged as I did.
And then he asked, How's your mom?
Ohhhhh David. Betty is fine, lol.
She should come for coffee.
But Coronavirus, she can't! And you aren't supposed to even let anyone else in your house right now.
We'll sit outside.
When he saw this probably wasn't going to happen today we moved onto discussing Trump, the Red Lobster and shopping locally.
After 10 minutes or so we were both done and went our ways. Before leaving, David told me he liked talking to me, that it was a nice break. I told him I liked it too and then I got invited for coffee. Suck on that Betty.
The rest of the today consisted of digging up my dahlia tubers, getting a few groceries, possibly killing my sourdough starter by accident, going to the garden to pick lettuce and as I said, going to Dollarama.
Add in cleaning up the kitchen, washing pots from what I think is probably the entire week and making a coffee and we land here. Now 10 o'clock at night.
I forgot to mention. After running around all day, ruining my sourdough starter and lugging in the groceries something caught my eye on my front porch. It was a box.
David had left me a box of kindling.
I emptied the box, left it on the porch and placed 2 of my fire starter packets in it.
You have yourselves a good remainder of your weekend. Please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors, but I did warn you this wasn't going to be a very good post.
What I did this Week
Just some of the stuff.
How to Divide & Store Dahlia Tubers.
I got them dug up (in the dark) but I still have to wash and split them which I'll do tomorrow.
Heirloom Tomato Soup.
I know. Weird. I have all kinds of tomatoes that have ripened from green to red in my mudroom (these tomatoes are good, but typically don't have as much flavour.) So instead of turning them into sauce I think I'm going to make Heirloom Tomato Soup with them. Is that weird at this time of year?
The Best Christmas Gift Guide with Ideas for Everyone on Your List!
In case you missed it, I released my Christmas Gift Guide on Monday!
Terri
I feel like I am reading my new favorite novel. Can't wait for the next chapter
Jody
Awwww, David...
Mary W
There are plenty of David's and Karen's around - I love when I get out of myself and find them. My life is always happier for it and for this blog - thank you 'my David'.
KimS
What a Sunday morning blessing! Thank you so much for sharing! My mom lives pretty far away from me. She’s 81. I can’t really physically help her right now, but I’m trying to share soup, cornbread, casseroles and baked goods with a couple of my elderly neighbors. I just text them what I’ve got and ask if they’d be interested...if so I run it over to their doorstep! ( always in disposable throwaway containers— here’s looking at you yogurt tubs!)
Deb Wostmann
Ahh Karen, what a heartwarming story and a new friendship seems to have begun. The David stories make my heart happy as does your wicked sense of humor. I do believe Betty just better find her own David so that you don't have to share yours.
Joe
Funny, this kindness thing. About a year and half ago i read a blog (can't remember where ) and it suggested the whole world would benefit from kindness. It was basically free of charge. One easy way of showing kindness was to make eye contact and smile at someone. Incredibly powerful. Did this and it worked 99.9% of the time. Obviously, there are other kinds of kindness but, the smile was easy and cool.
Karen we live near numerous mennonite communities, south of Woodstock Ontario. Mennonites suggested a tin can for cleaning your chimney like the above post ( the zinc in the tin does the job) but not all cans have zinc in them today. One other solution they recommended was to add freshly cut potato peels to your burning fire. Did the later and never experienced a chimney fire.
Karen
Potato peels??! ~ karen!
Joe
Yes, raw potato peels. After peeling your potatoes just toss them on a burning fire in your fireplace. We did this years ago and we checked our chimney at the end of winter and it was clean. This was recommended to us by a mennonite man. We used to use the tin can system but, as previously mentioned the cans used today may not have as much or any zinc in them. So, we switched to potatoes as it was easier. Hopefully this works. If you decide to try it, please let us know.
BTW we love the David story also.
LS Nelson
This is something I've never heard, and it's so easy! Next fire will include raw potato peels!
Marie-Claude
Love, love, love the David stories!!! There is something so heartwarming and beautiful in it's simplicity about a tale of 2 unlikely friends striking up a conversation and simply enjoying a nice chat. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!
Linda in Illinois
Karen thank you for the David story. It’s so great to know you have a friend. I’m still waiting for mine.These are some hard times everyone is going through
Lucy Waugh
Love your posts , glad you got another encounter with David . I wanted to tell you about a tip burning wood in a stove a older gentleman gave my husband and I years ago , it was burn tin cans in your wood furnace /stove . There seemed to be something in the tin when it burned that kept creosote from forming or sticking to the insides of the chimney. The nice thing about it is it gets rid you your cans ( except for a occasional ring from the can ) as well as keeps the chimney clean .
Karen
Weird! I'm going to have to look that up! Thx. ~ karen!
Kristen McGinnis
I love your David posts. My favorite by far!
Nina Margo
Karen, this post just massaged my soul. Seems like opportunities for this kind of beautiful connection can be so easily missed these days.Reminds me of the John Prine song “Hello In There”.
Karen
OH! John Prine!❤️ ~ karen!
Janet
I rarely comment, but I read your every post. You warned this one would not be a good post...it wasn't good...it was riveting!! So much so it made me take pen to paper and...I mean get on my keyboard and comment. I even read your posts about chicken "back end problems"...and send them to my daughter who has around 50 chickens. And one turkey. Who she bought at the local farm store because the others were picking on her. Now, as thanks, she lays a huge egg almost every day. I think you two would get along. :) You and my daughter, not you and the turkey.
Karen
I'd probably like the turkey too! ~ karen
Barb
What a lovely treat on a dull rainy morning! I read your David story while having my morning coffee and smiled. Karen you are the female version of my favourite Canadian story teller, Stuart MacLean. How about writing a screen play for a Hallmark movie. The beginning is already done.
Marie-Claude
Love, love, love the David stories!!! There is something so heartwarming and beautiful in it's simplicity about a tale of 2 unlikely friends striking up a conversation and simply enjoying a nice chat. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!
Diane R.
Love David stories and you too Karen! I'm in Mass. and everything is starting to close down here.
Maryn
Yesssss. Thank you for this wonderful David update! Never wanted to read a post so quickly before haha.
Carrie Anne
WOW!
From every post I’ve read from you, this is my favorite!
Last year while I was shopping(before the world flipped upside down) A very elderly woman came up to me and asked me how to prepare the bok choy I was holding.
From there I learned her families names, where she was from, her favorite foods.
An hour and a half later we said our goodbyes. She looked at me and said I’m so sorry to have taken up so much of your time. I told her, thank you for allowing me to meet you, I have all the time in the world.
Kindness doesn’t cost a thing but the feeling of worth and being heard that it gave her is everything. The feeling it gave me is priceless.
I think of her often as I have not seen her again and hope that she’s doing OK through all this craziness. I wish I had gotten her number now to be sure.
Any impression I have left on her she has left double on me.
So go ahead, give that person five minutes of your time....or an hour and a half:) You’ll feel so good!😊
BTW Karen, I have the exact same wheel barrel. It’s just the perfect size for me and I love it.
Great taste.....again 👍
Karen
It's a perfect wood hauling wheelbarrow! ~ karen
Melissa
Carrie Anne, as I was going through the various comments about Karen's second encounter with David, I read yours and the tears began flowing. I'm sending love out into the world for you and for the elderly woman. And for David. And Karen.
And honestly, as campy as it sounds, sending love out toward anyone who stopped here today. I'm grateful for the unexpected moments of beauty and human connection, mine or someone else's. The ripple effect can't be understated.
This post and its comments have filled my heart.
And I'm reminded I need to check on my elderly neighbor...
xo
Karen
:) ~ karen
Carol
New friendships are particularly delightful now. The tough part, for me, is remembering not to run up and hug David.
leo muzzin
Load bait before arming the mouse trap! LOL Saves fingers!
Jennifer
This David series is giving me life...and hope. I shared the first one today in my weekly Sunday Morning Coffee blog post on Simple Local Life...the message that people want to feel needed...was so true. As I read this...I started thinking...oh...he’s after something...or rather someone...named Betty. 😉 Bless him. I’m glad you have found each other. I look forward to chapter three. 😊 PS. This could be my favourite post of 2020.
Karen
Really? Wow! Well thanks. ~ karen!
Catherine Naulin
Oh Karen ! This is so heartwarming and sweet. Made my (early) morning.
Thank you for this lovely story, and I AM relieved that David came back. It was something of a let down when we last read about it. Now it's real: you have a new friend. And these days, friends and being kind to one another is precious indeed.
Catherine