Monday, 8 June 2020

What're you at?

Black Lives Matter

I am reading, listening, to the horror stories, as we must bear this testimony in Canada, as well. CBC News: "Protests across the country have given voice to the belief that there is an anti-black, anti-Indigenous bias that has poisoned police forces from coast to coast to coast."

Why are police using guns and tasers to deal with individuals on a consistent basis? I had non-violent crisis intervention training when I was teaching violent students in Parry Sound. In the UK, police don't commonly carry weapons. These violent police officers must stop assuming that every person is armed and dangerous.

As a privileged white woman, I must bear witness. This cannot be ignored. After our local MPP's stupid tweet, there was an peaceful protest outside his office:

‘Racist, offensive and disgusting’: Protesters call for MPP Randy Hillier's resignation in Carleton Place

COVID–19

Ontario is reporting about 300 new cases a day. Most of these are in and around Toronto. Lanark County is doing pretty well. I know people were amazed that our dumps are open. This is why. We're in good shape here, all told.

JB managed to get a COVID–19 test, as Ontario testing has now opened up to anyone who feels they should have a test. It took four phone calls, but I snagged it for him. He has a cough, and wants our GP to check out a sore throat.

The next project is to get his quarterly PSA test prior to his quarterly injection/cancer treatment. I tried online. It did NOT go well. I tried 5 times.

This was an interesting study. Men are more likely to get COVID, they think, but this is what JB is on!

Olga's comment, after our disaster Saturday, nails it:

"But the stretch of dithering panic -- oh, yeah, I know!"

It all sets me off.

What has helped me is the change in weather, until the last few days!
It's been cold, with a polar vortex coming through. The rest of the week should be better.

I noticed that the poor milkweed fold up their leaves in the cold of the night.

Otherwise, we are ready for the monarchs who are working their way up the continent. Journey North reported one from a citizen in our area, Lanark County, around June 4th.

The critters are out and about. The song birds are missing my feeder, but I had to take it down, with two or three bears in the area, as well as the rascally raccoons. The chipmunks are escaping Nutmeg.

I was happy to get out and garden. I was happy to have any motivation at all. As I weeded, a great flock of geese flew north! There are always some later ones, headed to the far north.

The phoebe babies are a couple of days old, now. JB held the mirror for me and we grabbed a photo. They should fledge in 15 days. We'll watch for that! In the meantime, we are avoiding the basement door area for now. It's been cold, as I said, so the poor little things need to grow some feathers.

Our patio door screen is ripped. Poor Nutmeg banged into it as I opened the glass door. In the recent warmth, she didn't realize the screen was there. I'm going to switch out the basement screen, once the phoebes have fledged. (Non-mental note!)

Things are unfolding as they should. I hope you are taking care of yourselves. It's not easy.

Friday, 1 March 2019

Monarch butterfly news

On a brighter note, March is here. This is the wreath Isabelle and I made, shining in the sun. The camera doesn't pick it up, but it shines rainbow colours. It is light about 6 a.m. these days, this is a good thing! The trailcams show the usual suspects: snowy deer and turkeys.

I shall have to use my snowshoes to change the red ribbons to green. It's on my To Do list.

Happy March! I'm looking forward to it... stuff will thaw, green things will grow. Well, I anticipate, perhaps in April.

There has been both good and bad news about North American Monarchs. In the depths of winter, it's good to remember our other seasonal friends. There were reports from the south. Monarchs have two separate populations, one in the west, and ours in the east. Our eastern ones have had a population increase. The ones in the west, wintering in California, are at risk.

There was a press conference in Mexico City. The butterfly sanctuary numbers came in. They estimate their populations by how much of the forest is covered by butterflies. They had the highest recorded since 2006: 14.9 acres of forest was covered in butterflies, a record high and an increase of 144%!

Population News From Mexico: Highest Since 2006 (<= read more)

We had a banner year, last year. I tagged a few [Monarchs, deer, turkeys], and so did my grandies, just for fun. This was the last one of the season.

UPDATE: I realized from comments that I didn't talk about the tagging. I ordered them from Monarch Watch (UKansas) they give you directions, you register your numbers after you tag them. If your numbers are found, they let you know.