Trail camera trials!

Things are horrid in Canada with these anti-everythingers. Skip this, if you like. It is truly discouraging, but writing about it helps me come to terms with it.

Misinformation, lies, conspiracy theories touted as news. Don't believe a lot of what you are hearing, check your sources. We know the lies are being perpetuated by news agencies who aren't checking sources. No, Mr. Trudeau did not leave the country, he was taken to a safe place. He was whisked away by his security detail when threats began. Anarchists from the US are sending money to support local whack jobs. 

We've court injunctions on GoFundMe, as well as the new site, purportedly Christian, where US anarchists are sending money ($10 million). Truckers anarchists, some in trucks, some in SUVS, some funded by international whack jobs, trolled the airport for two hours, slowing traffic, while talking about hazing the schools next. (Pat King is a whack job, calling for action.) One guy did just that to Alta Vista school, where the cops were called. The school board sent a tweet out, warning parents. They crafted a letter and sent it to OCDSB schools (where our grandies go) warning them about more protests.

There were calls traced to the US Thursday morning, flooding Ottawa 911 (emergency) phone lines. Paramedics are having to escort fearful seniors to doctor's appointments. The borders are still closed in those US/Canada border crossings. The automotive plants have cancelled shifts. People are out of work. It is truly discouraging. 

The police are in on it. This is a Twitter video showing cops gabbing and sharing phone images with protestors. This is horrid. I turned off the computer and the TV, and headed outside. They are ramping up for the weekend. Handing out envelopes of money to people showing up at the ARC hotel.

Hubby went out and fetched us dinner from a local restaurant.  We watched Olympics. 

We did have good news this morning. Logging into his online test results, Joseph Brian's PSA tests were that same as last time. They've held the same number, 0.008, since March 2020. This was comforting.

I'm still playing around with my new trail camera. It's a mental challenge, as well as a physical one. You know, you set it, realize you did it wrong, and have to rush out in jammies to: a) turn it on, b) insert the memory card, c) change the time, d) set it to videos not photos, or goodness knows what, once I view the old footage! It keeps me off the street.

This time I forgot to reset the new camera, and realized all I had were photographs. They were funny! The screen captures were quick and fun. I cropped them to capture the action. The red squirrel is quite fun. I'm quite happy with the action photos.

I saw Henry out back, still two antlers. Grabbing the zoom lens, I tried for photos. I switched it to automatic, after realised it was on manual, and that didn't work well. I just didn't have time! Well, you get the picture.

Sauntering down to the back yard, I checked out the aspen grove. The deer have been helping themselves, trimming the tops. (Another pair of lively mittens, both are missing the forefinger tip!)  The little aspengrove is growing. The previous owners mowed all this down in the past. I'm letting it grow. 

The LDD caterpillars ate them bare, they grew back, but we aren't going to think on that right now.

The aspens are ready to pop! Little teeny buds are ready and waiting.

I went for a lovely walk out back. Walking is tricky. I followed the deer paths, I had to keep ducking branches they can walk under. It's all good exercise.

The birds have been busy on the trees. It gets the bugs out.

 

We were watching, near dusk, and the robin landed right on the railing. The camera settings befuddle me, but it was fun to watch. It sat and sat, looking out and around, back and forth, eventually, it landed back on the birdbath.

robin on rail from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

robin on birdbath from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Bark butter, and other chores

 Are you tired of my wee goldfinches? I'm not. We're still in chaos here in Ontario. Six of our automotive plants are shut due to the occupiers. It is defeating. They have gathered at the borders, Sarnia, Windsor/Detroit, shutting down the supply chain.

Our premier, who is the one with the authority to bring in SWAT teams (the feds do not), has been silent. He is up for re-election June 2nd. No one is happy with him digging in his heels. The crazy people, who don't listen to scientists, and entertain conspiracy theories, are getting air time. They aren't even making logical sense. OK, back to nature, and my goldfinches. 

I keep watching them for signs of their spring/summer colours. Below: now and Aug., 2015.

This is a photo fail! It wouldn't look at me! American tree sparrow. I kept waiting with baited breath!

The male house finches have arrived. I thought they might be purple finches.

Things have been treacherous here indoors. I had a bit of an argument with a sardine can. Nurse JB fetched a bandage, and went to buy more finger bandages later on. It's like a thick paper cut. Yowzers. 

Sewing a hem on my pants, after months of having it on the To Do list, I was making progress. Sadly, the pins were on the arm of my chair. They began to slip, and I caught them, and caught a needle in my thumb. My nurse wasn't home, but the finger bandages came in handy.

The front walk was slippy, I chucked some sunflower seeds on it. The birds eat the seeds, leave the hulls, and a little bit of traction. The freeze and thaw is difficult on walking. We're at 2 C., this a.m., with maybe rain and/or snow ahead. 

Cinnamon had gone back to bed, and didn't even venture outdoors. Clever lad!

I learned a word, or maybe I'd forgotten it: pareidolia. Where you perceive a face in objects. What better than a pansy face? It's a bright spot of colour for us. I'm happy visiting my blogger friends with lots of greenery and many colours, far to the south. We are getting there!

I made bark butter for my Fat Head, inserting it in the holes. This is great stuff. There are lots of recipes, a small batch recipe, or another. Cornmeal, lard, flour and peanut butter. I put it up at 4:30 Wednesday afternoon. We'll see what happens today. I may have to move it away from the underhang. Those raccoons will be awake soon. It's a dreadful photo, but you get the picture. I'll do more when the sun rises.

#FluTruxKlan Truck Ottawa Convoy

I must document, as the city of downtown Ottawa is still under the thumb of anarchists. I am so sad for those suffering at their hands. The endless honking dominates the news. It is illegal, and violates noise bylaws, but some of the cops are told not to engage them for fear of violence. It is awful to witness, let alone experience it. I feel badly for those living, working (or not working), or trying to travel. They've set up, again, at Coutts, Alberta/Montana border, and at the Windsor/Detroit border. Such a travesty. I fear for this precedent. Be wary, people, this is spreading around the world. It's the sheer numbers of people doing mischief, as well as illegal acts. On Twitter: Alaska, Brooklyn Bridge, New Zealand.

Part of the problem are the Ottawa Police (OPS), I think. They are either afraid to take action (some of them) or agree with them, according to witnesses who have asked them about it. They are investigating an arson and attempted murder attack in a downtown apartment building. Residents had yelled at protestors, and they were attacked. The OPS aren't required to have a vaccine, ironically. 

The Ottawa mayor wants our Prime Minister Trudeau to negotiate with these terrorists. These idiots are demanding citizens take off masks, which seems to go against their demands for freedom, to limit others' freedom. They aren't a gifted bunch. They still don't believe in science, and do believe in conspiracy theories, racism, bullying, evidenced by this rant by a newly self-appointed covidiot. He's willing to reshape the government, by forming a coalition between the other parties, and meeting with the US president. 

The protestors are attacking media personnel,  both in person downtown, and by other methods and threatening their children. 

Our premier is nowhere to be found. He won't ask for federal help, in this chain of command. Rumours are the SWAT team from Toronto is on the way. Good.

Citizens are taking action:

They are posting images of the trucks and talking to their insurance companies. The truckers are violating their terms of their insurance. Also, there is a list naming companies who received CEWS, which provided money to those trying to pay employees during the height of COVID–19.

 Convoy traitors names and shames truckers involved in the chaos. They have people phoning or contacting the head office of those parked downtown. 

A lawyer took the three leaders of the truck convoy to court to demand $100 per affected citizen in a class action suit. They were granted an interim injunction to prevent truckers from honing their horns.

Heavy tow truck operators, on contract with the city, are refusing to move the illegally parked trucks. The mayor said he is reviewing their contracts.

The mayor had an emergency meeting, and they upped the fines for the illegal behaviours:

Watson said the fine for idling would increase to $1,000 from $100, the fine for violating the noise bylaw would increase to $1,000 from $490 and the fine for encumbering a roadway would be increased to $1,000 from $350.