Canada US relations are touchy

 Canadians are really ticked off with the US Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra. This was an interesting interview. We aren't rolling over. We are not accepting US goods as we once were. 

 

 PM Carney stood up to a NYTimes reporter.

 

🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day!

 These are my friends, Andrew and Wendy Donaldson. We sang in LPCC Church Choir together in Toronto back in the day. I was in high school, my mom and dad were in the choir, Wendy and Andrew were in university. I attended their wedding in Timmons, Dec. 21st, 1974.

Both amazing musicians.

30 Jun 2025 TORONTO 

An ode to Canada's past, present, and future by Toronto composer Andrew Donaldson, written to mark Canada's 125th birthday in 1992. (Turn on "CC" to view the song lyrics in real time.) 

We had a big storm last night. Tornado warnings on media. Jordan, in Kingston, had one as well. We had 10 mm rain in the day, another 12 mm last night. That's about an inch! 

July 1 morning skies:

I put these bulbs in the basement cold cellar after winter. I ignored them, having brought them upstairs. Lo, and behold! This was taken before Butch came to visit and snapped off one bloom. I put it towards their curiosity, rather than malice. 

Last night, I put the tall one on top of the BBQ. Of course, Butch knocked the little one over. No damage, though.

 

Garden delights

The milkweed in the foreground has had its buds munched! (Guess who?)

In spite of that, I put some barriers in, and I actually have one zucchini! And milkweed.

Then there is my formerly beautiful, pink petunia planter. I moved it here, since Fred cannot climb the metal. So far.

They are growing back after Fred mowed them down. Fingers crossed!

Cinnamon was doing his part. The Freds bear watching...

 

Do you enjoy clouds? 

I had a pedicure. I match my garden art!

The Cedar Waxwings are amazing. I videotaped them, but used the zoom lens for photos, as well. They are so quick to move.

 I caught one on the Gardepro camera. BTW – Phoebe's eggs have hatched. You can see one flying about at the 7 second mark. Then the Cedar Waxwings do a fly by!

 

Fred is a tireless worker, until they are not! You can see dirt on its nose. Look at those claws! We've a heat wave and I didn't see much of them yesterday.

#75  (I think!)

Song Sparrow must have another brood.

Even the Pileated Woodpecker gave me some trouble. This is a screenshot of the video (below left). The 2nd image is from the archives.

Caitlin has travelled from YOW to YUL, to ZRH and on to HEL, Finland. She had a lovely ferry ride around some islands, then went by ferry to Tallinn, Estonia. 

This is the Russian Embassy in Tallinn!

Flowers, gardens, deer and Fred

This is such a wonderful time of year. Everything is growing, if not in bloom.

The Catalpa tree is in bloom. 

Sweet William and Day Lilies

Wandering out to the front yard, I wanted a photo of the milkweed plants! The field is full of them. Bring on the Monarch butterflies!

Just after I clicked the photo, a deer poked its head up, and took off. Can you see its rear end?! 

This is why they are called White Tail Deer!

Then I looked down, here was Nutmeg looking for mice. She couldn't have been more than a couple metres from the deer. I have her on a trailcam carrying her prey up to the house. 

This is Cinnamon showing off. 

Fred has been shifting the tarp that will go over the wood pile in winter. It's been doggy digging, and shuffling rocks with its nose. 

Now, they used the tarp to cover up their hole. I knew Momma Fred had done this in the wood shed, but now I have proof.

3 Freds were gallivanting on last year's wood. I think they spend much time on top of the wood pile as under the ground. 

Fred, AKA Trouble!

But first, some funnies.

🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀

 I am pleased that people are wanting more of Fred Groundhog! I hope not to bore you. They are truly taking up my leisure hours, as well as my work efforts in the garden. I find it immensely entertaining. So far! The summer is young, though. 

Big Auntie Fred and #75 squirrel. You can see a kit in the background.

Fred makes its bed. Leaves in the mouth, a big sign. They've been working under the deck, under the wood pile (burrow #8). The people that built the house put lots of large gravel loads around the house for drainage. Fred pokes a piece of gravel with its nose. 

   

 I find it funny trying to keep track of them. I remember taking my three kids shopping. Madly counting: 1 – 2 – 3, all is good, all 3 accounted for. We've 4 kits, plus Auntie Fred, last year's kit. The coyotes grabbed a couple of them last year. All they need is 'one and a spare!' We've still 4. 

   

 I spotted a Fred on the driveway. I wonder where they go. There isn't a lot of land where they can dig burrows. The shallow soil doesn't lend itself to deep groundhog burrows.

   

 The sidewalk trailcam captured one in the act. FREEDOM!!!

 

Caitlin's Trip overseas

 Switzerland (SRH) 

In Switzerland, she went into the FIFA Museum. There was a shoe from a game in New Zealand. Barbra Banda's boot used to score the 1000th goal. Zambia's first appearance at FIFA. It was a game they attended when they were there a few years ago.

to Helsinki (HEL), Finland. Close to landing! 

sauna in the harbour

Suomenlinna Island by Ferry

The weather is good. In the 20s, not like Europe which has a heat wave. 

"The barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a species

 of goose that belongs to the genus Branta of black geese..."