Al Zylstra

Our latest project has finally taken shape. When we moved here back in 2013, we saw our backyard as a tiny oasis full of possibilities. It was, at the time, a veritable jungle of weeds, vines, morning glory, dead and dying shrubbery. I had my doubts but Alex saw the potential!

The yard was not very deep but Alex could see what it could be.

Fast forward a few years and Alex and I were able to transform the yard. We dug out all the vines, the kudzu, the morning glory, the garbage plants and we were able to get a vegetable patch, fenced in both sides for our four legged family members, and more.

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This year, we were able to add in the new pond.

Then, we were able to get a FREE Greenhouse from our new neighbours, Ted and Jean. Alex and I jumped at the opportunity to get it. I took a week off from work and we began in earnest on a bright and sunny Monday morning.

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We first had to built the foundation for it to sit on. That took 3 days. Alex is like a man possessed when it comes to his projects. He will work until he drops. After the foundation was built, we started on the greenhouse itself.

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Getting the walls up took us a bit of figuring out, then getting the roof on and finally setting the glass panels in…. The glass panels are 24″ x 24″ and very thin and VERY VERY SHARP EDGES. I have more battle wounds from assembling this unit and cleaning the windows than I have acquired in my previous 60+ years on this planet.

But, the end result is worth it.

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We are putting in shelving units this week as well as getting it wired for a heat source and lighting for those cold winter nights. Alex is giddy with joy at the prospect of growing stuff in this unit all year long.

When Alex and I first moved to our current abode back in 2013, one of the first things we put in the backyard was a small pond. We found a small round pond shell which we put in one corner of the yard. It was cute and was big enough for 4 or 5 small goldfish.

This is the oldest picture I have of the pond. It was taken in the winter of 2014

We then discovered after that because it was uncovered, it became an “All You Can Eat Sushi Bar for Raccoons and Herons. To discover half eaten fish corpses scattered across our backyard was definitely traumatic. Except for Nike, he thought they were tasty!

Fast forward to the spring of 2015 and we decided that we would rebuild the pond, make it bigger, stronger and COVERED.

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This set up lasted quite a long time. We had filtration and a small waterfall feature. The fish loved it and we were secure in knowing that because we had a cover on it, Raccoons and Herons couldn’t get to them.

Which now brings us to the present. We have new neighbours and they were moving out of a mobile home park that is being redeveloped as a townhouse complex. They had a pond in their backyard that they didn’t want to see destroyed – their new yard is much smaller than our and there just isn’t the room for a pond – so they gave it us!

We happily accepted their generous offer and two weeks ago, we began to construct the new pond.

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Here is the completed project (well, it will never be completed but, it is where Alex and I are thrilled to have it.

When the Pandemic of 2020 hit the world, everything and I mean EVERYTHING came to screeching, grinding halt. It has been felt around the world and it is just now that things are SLOWLY (ever so slowly) coming back to a semblance of normal.

My gigs as a Stage Manager evaporated. The play that I had spent months working on – Next Year halted production a mere four weeks from opening. I am still sad about this one as it was a labour of love for me. The subject matter was near and dear to me.

The next gig to fall away was a play by Neil Simon that was being directed by a good friend, Miles Lavkulich (an amazing director and great source on how to survive in the theatre world). That one didn’t even get past the first stage of auditions. *sob

Then came word that the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival was being cancelled. Bye bye World Beat Stage.

After that, it was Canada Day on Granville Island followed by the Steveston Dragon Boat Festival. I cannot begin to tell you how sad I was to see all these events just stop. I understand why they had to stop and I agreed with each and every person who made those difficult choices to halt the events.

My days as a stage manager seemed to be disappearing right before my eyes.

Then, a few bright lights: The Vancouver Fringe Festival held a “Mini-Fringe” and I was tapped to Stage Manage the Musical: Trudeau-mania. What a fun show this was. The cast were amazing. Their vocal talents were so impressive and I had a blast working with this team.

After that, I was tapped by Peg Keenleyside, who I worked with on a play at the Metro: Calendar Girls. She has formed a theatre company called Delta Stageworks. She started a project on the Covid-19 crisis and tapped me to be her stage manager. We are just in the preliminary stage of developing content but, it is going to be a great production. I have done a few limited workshops with her and the cast and crew. Keep tuned for more info as it comes available.

Which brings us to now. After my show at Vagabond Players halted production, I was approached by Val, the president of the Board of Directors of Vagabond Players. She saw that I had the skillsets and the mindsets to play a bigger role with this organization. So, we talked and the Board asked me if I would consider being a board member.

I talked it over with Alex and, after a few concessions on my part, I agreed to sit on the board.

I am now officially a member of the Board of Directors for Vagabond Players and I am thrilled!

So, I will be spending a lot of time working with the other Board members to market this amazing theatre company to EVERYONE!

Keep checking this site for updates on the upcoming season. It is going to be so much fun!

So, this heat wave has taken its toll on residents of the Lower Mainland. I am sad to report the loss of a dear, sweet neighbour of mine and Alex.

Alex and I met Maggie and her husband shortly after we moved into this complex back in 2013. They welcomed us with open arms and were so thrilled to meet a same sex couple.

She was fierce, strong willed, funny, compassionate and caring. She went out of her way to make Alex and I feel welcomed. When her beloved husband, Rob, passed away a few years back, she was so lost. We tried to spend as much time with her as we could but, life got in the way.

We would see her at least twice a month and I would go over to her house to help with computer issues that she invariably had. In recent months, her health declined. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer a number of years ago and it flared up again last year. She fought it valiantly but, you could see that it was wearing on her.

I hope that she can rest now. She definitely earned it.

Rest In Peace to two amazing women in my life.

So, on top of being the best person in the world to take care of me and all my foibles, my husband rocks at gardening. Since 2013, when we first moved here, he has taken a bare patch of grass and weeds in the back yard, a disaster of a front yard and two non-existent patches of dirt on either side of our house and transformed them into the most amazing showcase of greenery, flowers, veggies and fruits.

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June 8, 1949. That was the day that my parents were married.

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Thinking of my amazing parents on this day. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

So, the city of Surrey, BC has, once again ignored the residents of Surrey and are planning on building a road through one of the most pristine parks in the region.

April is one of those months that I have become very ambivalent. Spring is here, the flowers are up and there is a warm feeling in the air.

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But, April also is the month where I miss my Mom and Dad. Dad’s birthday is on April 20 and Mom’s passing was on April 22.

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Our household has grown again.

After the debacle of the four big comet goldfish constantly harassing our big female goldfish…. they were banished to our pond in the backyard where they are THRIVING.

In the meantime, I found that our big girl was feeling lonely. So, back to Craigslist I went. Found our newest additions to the family: Meet Quasimodo, Hunchback, Igor, Thing and Myrtle….

This is the latest news.

We will have some BIG, BIG, BIG news in the next few weeks. Stay tuned