We made it to Friday!

 It has been quite the week. Trump has been indicted. 😼 Things are awful in Ukraine. 

We've had a reprieve from the smoke from Quebec, and Ontario fires are getting under control, although there are 34 fires in northeast Ontario. We are very lucky, here.

More smoke later today, though. It's coming from the north, now. Some weird counterclockwise front from the maritimes. I cannot complain, as many have lost homes, or are displaced across Canada. 

This is worth a listen.

200+ South African firefighters landed in Edmonton, Canada to assist in the fight against the raging wildfire. 🇿🇦🇨🇦pic.twitter.com/flXKqlvYxG

— Made In Canada (@MadelnCanada) June 8, 2023

Still no rain for a few days. It has been cloudy and cool, which has helped in this situation. I am watering outdoor planters once every two days, whereas in the heat it was daily.

I strolled around the garden Wednesday, wearing my N95. I am playing with my iPhone. I think it: peony 'Yellow Crown'. The smoke lessened Thursday, but I was fatigued, and feeling a bit of vertigo. I took it easy. Happily there was 🎾tennis to watch, in between indoor chores. But, I should be gardening!

Thursday, I thought better about my photographic choices, and did better. I pulled up the netting and held the flower. That is much better! There is another bloom, well-hidden, and a bud to come. 

My lilies are growing, protected by my Lee Valley netting. I have high hopes! I haven't seen any deer about, but I am ready. They are likely have their fawns now. There is lots to eat, besides my plants. 

The cherry tomato plant is doing well! I'm thinking I will need to support the plants! Tying them up last year didn't work well. They sagged and sat on the soil. My indoor orchid is tipsy. It, too, needs a bolster. I am working on that.

Our nesting birds have been busy. The robins are gone. The phoebes under the upper deck continue to feed their nestlings. The cowbird, laid in their nest, seems to have flown away to another lilac tree. I've been wrestling with Siri to get a one-handed photo. It isn't working too well! 

According to my notes, they hatched May 25th, and should fledge in 15+ days. That would be June 8th. Any day now, and I'll be able to stack my wood. 

I post an archival photo to help get a picture. 

Isabelle (gr. 8) and Josephine (gr. 10) are finishing up school events. They are housed in Bell High School, where their mother and uncles attended. The school is now a joint space for the high school and middle school. There was an art show. Both girls are excellent artists. 

Isabelle's piece is the lower right.

Josephine's artwork is the skull, on black.

I'll leave you with critters. We've had many bugs, setting off the alarm. 

bugs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

What a pain, the camera is so slow!

coyote June 1st from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I've been watching for Fred Groundhog, they seem to have vanished. I did get a skunk crossing the lower deck! I haven't seen one in the daytime in ages.

Skunk from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

UPDATE: I began writing this previously. Fred turned up Thursday. Dunno what they are up to. I did barricade them out from under the propane tanks. 😜