weekends & tourists

It is so peaceful here during the week. We have many visitors.

As the tourists fill up the lakeside, the geese, whom we feed every day, become wary. We have two pair of geese (one pair is Edie and Eva), who keeps the other pair away from the cracked corn we throw out for them. There is one lone goose and a flock of single ducks, as well as a pair of mallards we call Oscar & Myrtle. We have told the neighbours that we are escaping the tourists for the city. We know how many ducks we have and they all better be here when we get back, as we have full counts of our populations. There is a pair of loons, and couple of mergansers, too.

We have a raccoon who visits looking for food, the cat usually trees it or chases it off the property.


We abhor the weekends when the tourists come. When they arrive they seem to have to honk at the top of a driveway, letting the entire peninsula know that they are here. They the shouting and laughing seems jarring after a week of bird calls, squirrels chirping at the cats, and the murmur of the geese and ducks. Not that the laughter is not welcome, but it seems so intrusive as sound can carry across the still lake. A motorboat went by as we sat by the shore, watching our geese preen and primp. The goose watched them pass, as they commented on them. But s/he held fast on our "Flower Rock", as we call it. The geese bobbed up and down, then did a complete flip, soaking their backs, feet up in the air as they soaked their feathers. Then, back upright they used their beaks to preen their beautiful bodies and wings. They did this several times, completely soaking one wing first, then repeating with the other one. Once that was done they stretched their wings to the full 3 or 4 ' width, and flapped very hard lifting themselves slightly off of the water with a deep, drum beat as their wings flapped back and forth to dry. They are so marvellous to watch. We sit in awe.

Everytime they come in for a landing they arrive honking. I am not sure if it is to warn the smaller ducks. Another pair of geese came by, I could see Edie becoming agitated. He honked up a storm warning. He got off the rock, and lowered his body into the water. Then, he stretched his neck out, as if trying to hide himself. Eventually, he rose up to meet the other bird. He was not amused. He flew up as if in a rage, and flew at the duck. It took off about 5 or 6 meters and stopped. He kept at him. And kept him away. Eva just kept up her preening, content to let Eddie do the work.

Yesterday, a lone goose came by. This time, Eddie chased it off about 10 m. then returned to his rock by his mate. The goose repeated the movements towards the shore and the bird seed. It wasn't until the third time the goose came close, perhaps 2 m in front of us, and Eddie accepted the fact and, while he watched him closely, Edie permitted him to feed off the bottom. A veritable soap opera, for sure! I wished I'd had the videocam there.

But everyone settled in, the men next door BBQd their meal, on their "boys only" weekend, promised to watch out for our friends while we escaped to the city to visit Shaw Festival and see our son's performance in The Stepmother.

Seniors Driving

With an increased life span, and many people with health issues we must be more vigilant in monitoring health issues in seniors. Current buzz revolves around keeping senors off the road.

The Star seems concerned about this issue with two articles!

Physicians, health care providers, family members and insurers are responsible for reporting seniors who are unable to drive. Despite the magic age of 80, we must be aware and take responsibility at the earliest signs of dementia. Families have a responsibility to monitor their aging family members to protect society. If a family member has shown dementia-related factors, then adult children must monitor these issues.

CBC this morning featured a clip that stated that "100,000 drivers over the age of 65 will be on the roads in 2028." I was quite surprised. How certain are they that these folks will have dementia? I hope to sail through my 60s in good health. Such ageism in this day and age...

We can prevent, identify and ameliorate dementia symptoms, but they must be recognized and faced up front by family and neighbours. Most are in denial in my experience. When accessing services caregivers and family members might be at their wit’s end.

In Ontario the CCAC oversees patients released from hospital, but their mandate does not cover frail or ailing seniors at risk in the community. Very few resources exist. Some seniors can find resources through non-profit agencies (see my links), but these agencies rely on donations, rather than tax dollars, and care is finite and difficult to arrange. Aging at home funding agencies and programs have been slow to develop, despite a long-standing client bases in those who are disabled and in supportive living and day programs.

Health Issues in Ontario

Changes must occur before the Ontario initiative towards establishing Family Health Teams will have an impact. Physicians are not trained to look at the whole person. They tend to treat symptoms and not conditions or diseases. With limited time they may not be able to devote time to more than one issue. If their client faces a major issue, such as cancer, or depression, other comorbidities will remain untreated as they attempt to spend time on the most serious issue.

Currently, if you have physical issues you may or may not encounter a physician who understands mental health issues. In my situation, I was facing depression issues due to various personal factors: moving, changing jobs, living apart from my husband, working in a new environment with a new boss and a stressful job. As time passed, I then began giving palliative care to my mother.

Concurrently, I faced menopause symptoms that affected my sleep patterns, energy levels, gave me acne, dry skin and many other symptoms. But some of these symptoms were attributed to my bereavement and depression issues.

What would help a Family Health Team, would be either a patient navigator, nurse practitioner, or a case manager who can help patients oversee management of their care. An holistic approach is the only way to ensure that physical and mental health issues are dealt with in a timely and auspicious manner.

Death in LTC

The most recent death while preventable, is not unexpected. http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/421017
I predict an inquiry in which, as my husband said, will only result in two deaths: the already deceased frail senior and the truth.

A new long-term care act, part of Health Minister George Smitherman's "revolution" into nursing home care, promised after a 2003 Star investigation into nursing home neglect, will further tighten the rules around restraints. Homes must first show that there is no alternative before they can be used.

The truth is clear. Some seniors must be restrained. Seat belts must be tight. If a senior is determined to get out of a chair, they will worry it with all their might.

My heart goes out to families who must choose LTC and leaving family members in profit-oriented institutions. Long-Term Care has faced a great deal of criticism and the current crisis overwhelms a system unable to care for its seniors in dignity and respect. The barriers are immense: lack of funds for more staff, untrained staff, lack of staff to hire, and the inability of a system to maintain already high waiting lists of ailing seniors. We cannot meet their needs either at home or in the LTC sector. There are not enough nurses, physicians, or PSWs.
The food is bland and unappetizing.
Issues include:
• More palliative care rooms.
• More staff
• Better trained staff with a wide-range of expertise to manage chronic disease
• Family health teams that include PSWs, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, as well as Physicians, to address issues and deliver a full range of care
• More funding for staff
• Requirements for in-service training of PSWs, and medical staff, including nurses and physicians in geriatric issues: physical and mental health issues which require specific treatments
• More continuity of care, with staffing levels that permit this to occur


I recall my father desperately trying to release the seat belt mechanism on his wheelchair. In his advanced state of dementia he could not understand that he needed to stay in the chair. More often than not I would go into the LTC residence and find him worrying the seat belt, trying to take it off, instead removing his pants, and knocking things over in the process.

Restraints are important. Dad would continually get up out of bed in the night, fall, and then lie on the floor. First they raised the sides of the bed. This did not work. They put mattress pads on the floor around his bed and lowered it to the floor. Eventually, he was physically unable to roll out of he bed. It is heart-breaking to see.

April snow showers

What a surprise the ducks and geese had today. The sun shone, then it clouded over, then the snow fell and the sun appeared again. A brisk wind blows cold.

The daffodils are drooping; shivering in the cold. Overnight there was frost on the cottage roof. We were teased with double-digit temperatures last week. Hopefully, these temperatures will return soon. The wildlife are hungry, and most are in the midst of breeding and raising hungry young.

With overnight lows below zero, I hope cottagers haven't turned their water on yet. There likely isn't much risk, as the temperatures are not going far below zero, but it depends upon the location of the cottages.

The cats are pretty much upset with the weather. They have been out trolling for vermin. One day they caught two moles, and two mice and left the remnants of another critter by the door (a tail and two feet!). Yesterday, Sady was quite proud of herself as she chased a raccoon off our property, across the road into the forest. She came back quite proud of herself, almost wiping her paws as she brushed the dirt off.

You see, the ducks and geese are allowed to go after our birdseed. I think that the raccoons are too much mammalian for her liking. She chased one her size, and treed another twice her size the other day. Today, the went out briefly, and now sit wailing by the door. Who turned off the furnace? I shared some of my lunchtime salmon with them, feeling sorry for them.

We cannot complain about the weather. With issues around taxes, job losses, and an industry that is jeopardized by our failure to plan for a changing economy, we are grateful to be retired and living our quiet lives. Travel is expensive, and we refrain from big trips. There are many people with far more money, but many more with far less, no savings and work very hard at their jobs.



Many rely on tourism, and others travel far for work. There are large distances between towns. Let us hope the politicians do the right thing to ensure we have a viable economy, with people finding meaningful work. Work that gives them a good quality of life, contributes to the economy and does not harm the environment.

Spring is here

Despite swollen rivers, the lakes are moving and the land is dry. I think all of the snow is gone, except in deeply shadowed, shady forest. The last bit of ice melted in our above 20 degree temperatures.

April 13th the water was open at the shore. By April 18th it was open on our small lake. The ducks returned, as did the Canada Geese.


There is an open fire ban due to the lack of moisture on the land. In other places some roads are impassable due to the meltwater.

The birds are building nests wherever they can find a spot. The fish have become active and I can spot the dragonfly larvae as they work at their growth. Their are a few tadpole and lots of frog's eggs ripening with the warmth.

Internet Safety

Dear SLC,

I think your guest, "Beatrice", doesn't know what she is talking about. I am quite shocked. She demeans the entire school system in Canada.
There are many, many school with Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs). Just google that and you will find them. (TDSB, Wessex, Ottawa, Durham, NNDSB) You're giving air time to a woman who has no statistics, other than American ones, and doesn't know what she is talking about. That doesn't "sound like Canada" to me!

Parents and students must sign forms, usually embedded in a planner or school agenda. It is a standard practice.

For the most part, teachers must be vigilant in supervising students. Students cannot be left alone in a computer lab.

Vancouver is a different state than other provinces. That said, kids exploring site like Facebook in school time - that is the best time to do it. Most schools have created safe conditions, i.e. all the computers face the middle of the room and the teacher walks around surveying use. Most teachers assign work to do and surfing is not an option.

I have given many talks/workshops for parents and teacher-colleagues, and it is the parents who need more information. It is some principals who are afraid to institute discipline, but, for the most part, the schools are doing a fine job on educating kids on Internet Safety.

There are many things parents can do. But it is the parents who must be vigilant. Suggestions are here:

http://www.jilks.com/articles/InternetSafety.html

http://www.jilks.com/articles/InternetSafety.ppt.htm

Muskoka Weather

It always amazes me the power of the lake effect. Georgian Bay, to the west, both moderates and provides extreme weather, and dumps precipitation on us.

Our wee lake must have some effect as well. Our deck faces south. The sun warms the property, the trees keep in the warmth. There were days I could sit by the mostly frozen lake with only a t-shirt. More often than not, the weather station for Muskoka Township has quite varied temperatures from ours and forecasts tend to be inaccurate in our area.

This morning, the Weather Network told us to expect -2 degrees, with blowing snow. While we woke to very thin ice on the goldfish pond, frog pond, and the lakeshore that is open, the temperature was a solid zero degree, and the sun shines between clouds. The frost on the dock and deck has now melted.




The birds are busy eating and feeding. The bulbs are starting to appear. The buds are swelling on the trees in anticipation. The chickadees lick the sap that drips from open wounds in a maple.

The red squirrel gives EVERYONE a hard time. It thinks that the bird feeder has been created just for its benefit. Every other creature is a chump!

Muskoka Nature Awakes

It is wonderful seeing the breakup of the lake.The shore is appearing as the run off meltwater dissolves the ice.

The birds are active. The raccoons awoke last week. I had to replace the large stone on top of the metal garbage can that has housed our bird seed all winter. In the evening I heard a clank as the 'coon ripped the lid off and it hit the ground. The cats were quite excited.

This morning I saw one cat sitting on the deck looking down. The other was perched strangely on a rock. As I watched, the coon that was pigging out on bird seed, took off into the forest and up a tree. The cats seemed quite proud as the coon treed itself. Twice their size, they were ready to sit at the bottom of the tree.

Our younger cat is quite excited with the breath of fresh air. He keeps flinging himself up the tree!

Spring approacheth

We are continuing our afternoon walks. Everything is melting. The big fissures in the ice do not deter the tourists! I would not let MY kids out on the lake!

Lots of folks (3?) have their bubblers going. It seems like a colossal waste of electricity. The ice is thick and heaving and people don't like losing their docks.

There must be 8 mourning doves hanging around. They sound and look beautiful. There are great big icicles dripping off of the rocks. Giant stalactites. It took me 3 years to get good photos of them. I keep driving by thinking I should have put the camera in the front seat. Then I'm always on my way somewhere and don't have time to stop.