Houston, we have a problem

Saturday morning, I was about to sit down in my comfy chair and do my blogging. Something was hanging down from the soffit. It was a board from the roof. There were three more on the ground. 

 Twas a bit of a mess. I cannot imagine that Butch could do this, but I guess they could. It's my own fault for leaving the feeder up. It was the small bird feeder, the globe feeder, the blue jays are too big for it. The handle was bent. 

It must have been a sight as the poor thing fell to the ground. The boards just pulled out of the roof as the nails were pulled. Lovely holes into the attic. The sun was in my eyes, and the camera lens. It looks pretty artsy!

The boards are nailed into the beams, fitting into one another in a tongue and groove manner. I can't tell you how anxious it made me. I was trying to figure out what to do. Just panic. I know there are many serious things going on in the world. It's amazing how such a small thing made me so upset. I apologize to JB. He's been so good to me. I couldn't see properly to do this. 

We phoned a handyman, advertised in our paper, who couldn't come until the next day. I didn't think it could last overnight. Everyone would be seeking shelter!

Posting this on Facebook, I had a hero. I fetched the ladder, the drill, several screws. Scott Dobson and his buddy came and reattached the boards. What a relief. I could imagine all sorts of critters getting in there and into the attic. I gave them both all the cash we had. All Scotty wanted was gas money, but that ain't cutting it for people who rescued us on a Saturday morning! I insisted.

It took me hours to unwind. Poor JB! 

It was quite a day, with a thunderstorm in the afternoon. It didn't look like much on the radar, but there were thunderboomers! 

During the storm, I went onto the deck to move the Muskoka chair under the eaves. I found a friend. I yelled at JB, who brought me the bug catcher. A HUGE dock spider. The bug catcher is 8 cm (3") wide.

In the meantime, another mystery. I suspect it's a small coyote. The tail looks a bit small. Maybe it got wet in the rains! I combined the two trailcam videos to track it.

If you recall, the wood ducks have fledged. There were two eggs unhatched. I put them down in front of the trailcam, far from the nesting box. Butch picked them up and moved them. I assume they ate them at some point.

We have Junior Bear #2 in the forest.  The first photo is Bear #1, the second bear #2. I haven't seen Booboo bear since May 22. 

We had a momma go through in November, with triplets. These could be them, looking for food or territory.

Here he is in all his glory!

Junior Bear from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Saturday critters

The critters are out.

The tree frog, in a tree. This is actually from the aquarium. I have to set the aquarium up again and put it back in.

This character keeps appearing on my trailcam.

It's been quite a time. The wood ducks have fledged, all but two eggs. WHEW!

The phoebe babies hatched June 5th! This is an archive photo from 2013. I don't want to disturb them anymore than I have to. 

The robins have given up the nest beside the phoebe, and begun in the shed. They are a bit sloppy!

I nearly ran over a baby rabbit cutting the lawn weeds in the meadow. It was about half this size, but I recalled an archive photo from a previous encounter!

wild turkeys ambled through  <= video

porcupine was back

Porcupine 1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

And, the best for last, Junior Bear. He's been nowhere near the house. Thankfully. 

Junior bear from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Saturday's Critters #338

Paint Party Friday!

Thanks to all the folks who sketch, draw or paint. It is a lovely hobby for me, and they are inspiring.

The wetland, phoebe, et al

Thankfully, I did the lawn prior to our welcome rains.

The phoebes are still on their nest. Five little eggs, due to hatch any day now!

The wetland

I went back to get a better photo of the lady slipper.

Aspen

If you recall that serendipitous walk back to the back 40, I went back to snag another photo of the saplings. I checked my Peterson Tree Field Guide. All this time I thought they were poplars. I find out that they are Bigtooth Aspen! They shake in the wind like Quaking Aspen. 

These are the little Aspen saplings that the grouse like. Our own little Aspen grove! The previous owners gave the back 40 a close shave. I've let the aspen grow.

Here we are on our our 2nd walkies. Since then, he'll join JB on his walks most days. It's warmed up, too.

Cinman from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Loch Arkaig osprey cam

In a time of COVID, we fly to Scotland for a webcam of an osprey nest! Did you know about it, Yam? 

 

Racism in Canada: White Privilege

It is horrific. I cannot ignore this. We cannot ignore this. I heard someone's comment, "White people have to do something about racism." Whites are either allies or racists. Tolerating racism is racism.

 I grew up in downtown Toronto, with many diverse friends. My white world, with two working parents, was pretty good. I was raised to treat others as I would like to be treated. The kids at school were from various socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic groups, and religions. This isn't true for all. People in Canada are getting a knee on their neck frequently, The National reports.

Rural people are different, if this is all they know and have no experience with other cultures, values or traditions. It is important to understand White Privilege. We have no idea what racism is about. With all that is going on, we cannot close our eyes. Said one protestor:

"We have to change the way we think, and how we feel about one another."

Our Minister Hussen, MP and lawyer, spoke on camera about the racism he faces. We have many diverse MPs and MPPs. Not all are equal, however.

Many people of colour make complaints about unnecessary, uncalled for traffic stops, for example. Racial profiling. Black men driving their own Mercedes, in their own neighbourhoods, stopped by cops. This is my MPP, who posted this racist comment, since deleted. This is white privilege. Hillier who earns his living (6 digits) on our tax dollars. I cannot close my eyes.

A Twitter buddy reminded me of Hillier's reputation, this from 2009:

"Then there was the Dombrowsky email. As President of the Lanark Landowner's Association (LLA), Hillier emailed a photo of a dead deer with a group of hunters. Under the photo the caption read – Leona. He sent the email to MPP Leona Dombrowsky.  Dombrowsky sat on the email, then released it months later on the eve of an LLA protest in Toronto. Hillier never apologised for sending the email. He only said that it appeared Ms. Dombrowsky did not share his sense of humour."

Some of our Canadian politicians are speaking out. Our PM said this:

"Anti-Black racism exists in Canada and we must do all that we can to end it for good. So as leaders and as allies, we must listen to, learn from, and work with every person who marches and posts and expects more than the status quo."

Jagmeet Singh (leader of the Canadian NDP) said, "When you see someone that looks like you being killed like that it makes you feel like you have no worth and no value. It makes you angry."

RACISM. It exists in Canada. We must hear and bear witness to their stories.

If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem. We need to look for the allies. Many are marching and protesting peacefully. Vancouver, Ottawa, Kingston, Moncton, Halifax, and other Canadian cities. 

Ahmed Ali

@MrAhmednurAli

·

9h

It's a privilege to learn about racism instead of experiencing it your whole life.

I found this online. 

Consider the following graphic, developed by Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (2005) and adapted by Ellen Tuzzolo (2016):

Book Review: One Tuesday Morning

I knew nothing about the author, but since our libraries are closed, I thought I'd try it. I wasn't sure at first. The author is quite known for religious writing, which I didn't know at the time. The back cover calls her "America's favorite inspirational novelist". It should read "Christian novelist."  The beginning of it is pretty biblical in tone. I was discouraged and nearly put it down. The faith of the characters is intrinsic to the plot, and the character development, though. Eventually, the plot began to hint at the tragedy of the twin towers, there was a bit more action and a mystery. It was worth it. 

 I picked this up in our local little library.  It was at our local municipal office. I was there to pick up garbage bags for Earth Day. I snagged the book there!

This book was a two-in-one. The two books are 600 pages. With my cataracts, my eyes get uncomfortable, and I had to put it down frequently. The first book, One Tuesday Morning (2003), leads up to and looks at the impact of 9/11 in New York. The second book, Beyond Tuesday Morning (2004), takes place primarily in New York's 9/11 Tribute Museum, in St. Patrick's Cathedral.  I hadn't known about this church. Kingsbury did her homework. 

I read it to the end. It was a good read, all told. I was surprised at how soon after 9/11, 2001, she wrote the books. Kingsbury said the plot came to her the day of. She did much research into personal stories, wove them into her plot. She invented a fire house team. It was inspirational, in incorporating life lessons around those who have lost their faith. Along the lines of people who ask, "Why would God let this happen?" 

moving the message to: "choose life" rather than grief and sorrow. The book, "When bad things happen to good people" comes to mind.

In this time of COVID–19, and "I can't breath", those are important messages for all. Asking us to look forward, to let go of pain, and seek to find your purpose in life.

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@Barrie Summy

To the dump, to the dump

I read a newspaper article: Perth landfill sees triple the number of visits during quarantine period

...on a normal day, there would be between 45 and 60 visits a day to the landfill. But during this coronavirus pandemic, he is seeing about 190 visits a day.

I think we'll be in that category! I cleaned old pots out of the shed. This is my progress.

JB was going into town for the new hummingbird feeder, and saw a truck with ads on it. This man takes stuff to the dump. I've cleaned the garage, swept out the bird seed.  It took me awhile, as I needed breaks. Happily, JB swept up and collected my mess outside the garage.

The umbrella stand in the corner was busted. It's in the dump pile. I found a new one, by putting the garage garden tools in an empty garbage can. Then used this stand the previous house owner made. (He's a carpenter.) I painted it with leftover stain, and swept out the corner. The orchid cactus looks good there!

Honeysuckle are in bloom.

Later, in August, this will happen!

I like honeysuckle. We have been watching some BBC shows, Foyle's War was one. Honeysuckle Weeks, a British actor, often acts in them. She was named for the honeysuckle that was blooming when she was first born.

JB helped me put up my new flags. I've had trouble with my blister on my instep. I can't wear any of my shoes! My boots worked, though. And a thick bandage. The heart flag is made of flags from around the world, with the word PEACE in the centre.

Traffic incidents are increasing, as people begin to move about.

I wondered about this critter, then realized that it's a raccoon missing part of its tail.

Butch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Just for fun, spring nesting season is just begun and the trailcam captured robins getting frisky!

robins from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Grouse, deer, yellow lady slipper

We had an adventure. JB does morning and afternoon walks around the property. I was out puttering. JB called me to the back. A bird.   I went into the forest, to see if I could see it. It was limping in front of him, pretending to be wounded. I looked for it. (The BUGS are AWFUL!) 

We usually see grouse on the side of the road during mating season.

The video was useless. Another one for the @IneptBirder! 

Clip3 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Ruffed Grouse can digest bitter, often toxic plants that many birds can’t handle. Levels of defensive plant compounds in buds of quaking aspen, a major winter-time food source for Ruffed Grouse, reflect the cyclic rise and fall of grouse populations: they’re lowest when grouse densities are increasing, and highest when grouse densities decline.

Looking for the grouse, which flew off, I came across some yellow lady slippers. How serendipitious. Ontario Wanderer spotted a yellow lady slipper. What a coincidence.  My photos aren't great, but the bugs were!

Look closely. Behind the lilacs. JB saw her on his morning walk on the path. She came around the house, but didn't eat my hostas. Yet.

Nutmeg is incorrigible. I had to rescue another chipmunk from her. I've found two seperate burrows. Silly things.

Nutmeg from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Cinman and I went walkies again. He was sleeping on his cat tower, and petted him and asked if he wanted 'walkies'. He hopped down, came outdoors and we went down to the pond. He was chatting all the way. Look what we spotted! He wisely was scared, and turned around and retreated.

 
Porcupine May 31 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It's been really hot. We had the air conditioner on last week. She was panting.

kitten play from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The above video is from a 30 C. day, a couple of days ago. What a change in weather. It should be in the double-digits, a least. Another polar vortex.