June is Pride Month

Conspirituality = conspiracy theories

When we know better –we do better. Some of us. Some use click bait, and use confirmation bias to mine conspiracy theories. This is why we need diverse sources and a means to identify unreliable sources. This is a new book on the market:

    Conspirituality takes a deep dive into the troubling phenomenon of influencers who have curdled New Age spirituality and wellness with the politics of paranoia—peddling vaccine misinformation, tales of child trafficking, and wild conspiracy theories. ... Google Books

🌈 I watched an interview with someone who is part of Stand In Pride. These are people who will stand in during Gay marriages, for *nearlyweds who are alienated from their parents who do not accept their choices. There is a Canadian Facebook group for them, as well. 

Stand In Pride Canada 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

:  I think it is brilliant! 

         *Gender neutral terms for non-binary or LGBTQ weddings include marriers, celebrants, nearlyweds. Bachlorx, best person, person of honour, attendants, are some other handy terms.

There was an incident, in Kelowna, B.C., east of Vancouver. Thankfully, we can learn from it. This grandfather, Tesar, accused a pair of girls (gr. 4, age 9) for being boys or trans kids. Such ignorance. Prior to puberty, kids are pretty equal. They said the man's wife then started calling her (the parent) "a genital mutilator, a groomer, and a pedophile." 

We of the older generation must do our best to learn about young people and society today. We cannot 'judge a book by its cover.' Those accusing people of being groomers, are hurting innocent children. The poor 9-year-old was distraught. You cannot convince someone to be gay. Let's worry more about actual predators. 

Alright, back to nature. Tuesday afternoon I visited my client. We watched the Trump indictment. It was entertaining for both of us! 

Breeding season unfolds

The geese are raising their goslings, who are growing!

House Wrens!

House Wren June 10 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Canada Geese June 12 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We had lunch out!

 These are some drive-by photos on our way home from the Beckwith Heritage Festival. It was a busy day beginning with the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour on Saturday, June 11th. 

I like Pop's Cannabis sign: "BEST JOINT IN TOWN!" The figures in the next photo amuse me, I don't know where they came from, or what they are, but the owl and eagle are quite something. Smiths Falls is under construction. Downtown is quite the mess. 

The last photo, above, is a creative patio for the pub. It caught my attention.

Rideau Ferry bridge is getting a rehabilitation, with one lane of traffic only. It is lovely stopping at the light on this side of the bridge: you can look out into the Big Rideau!

If you click on the above photo, you'll see that they wrote on the black covering, 'no jumping!' Lots of kids jump off the bridge for fun in summer. 

We made it to CC's for lunch. This is our first restaurant meal since the fall. Lots of people were out and about using various means of transportation.

When we were stopped at the bridge, I could see the geese and goslings.

They turned up when we were waiting for our meals!

 

geese and goslings from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Clouds on the horizon:

The diversity of life!

The diversity of our spring wildlife continue to amaze me. Many fly south for the winter. They are such an amazing spot of beauty when they come back. It's all the more lovely when you miss something and it returns.

Swallowtails, osprey, goslings, for example. The flowers, as well, are so wonderful to behold.

I am continuing to monitor our nests. It's all very much fun.
🐦FLICKERS 🐤WOOD DUCKS 🐣PHOEBE 🐣ROBIN
You'd laugh if you saw me with bug hat, down at the pond. The last duck box is still full.

I had lunch in Carleton Place, yesterday, with a friend I haven't seen in years. We taught together for many years, gr. 6. We used to go to the GCTC small theatre with subscription tickets. Then, I moved to Muskoka in 2006. We returned, moving here in 2010, and saw one another only a few times. She, as I had, was managing her parents' declining health, and only retired two years ago. It was bittersweet, as she and her husband are likely moving out west.

I had a lovely spinach salad, as I am working on my weight. I've lost 2kg. I've come to terms with losing Daisy, as well as other issues, and things are evening themselves out. Now, it is just discipline.

I drove home, picked up hubby, and off we went to the auction house near Brockville. We have done this drive several times, this time was for a couple of Christmas presents! That said, each time we go, I find other things to photograph.


This house had a theme of repainted red artifacts. I love it.


Free range chicken!


Trains still abound.


And water! Cool, blue, running water.


They have converted decommissioned railway tracks, and turned them into multi-use paths. This is a snow machine trail in winter.


On our way home, we went out to dinner at our favourite waterside restaurant on the patio. This time I had pasta.

We watched the osprey fishing, as well as the goslings ambling around. So precious.
Osprey 1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Goslings from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Of course, I have many photos of them all. This nesting platform is near my house.

Last night we were up late watching the basketball finals. Wow. This isn't for chumps. Saturday, we plan on going to the third annual Spirit of the Drum Pow Wow.