Quick, pull over, huge penguin

Skywatch Friday


You may have missed my 'huge penguin' story.

Basically, it is our family joke/cue to pick up the camera as there is a photo-op. Here is a summary... I was driving the car, JB's back was bothering him.

I yelled at him, "Quick! Take a picture!" at one point. He simply sat there. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. He sat in contemplation.
As is his way, he was trying to process what he had heard.
He thought he heard me say, "Look. A huge penguin!"
From then on, all I had to say was, 'penguin' and he'd lift the camera. It was a great cue and I laughed so hard I was crying.

When we pull out of our driveway, we have ten seconds to gut up to speed before someone plows into our rear end. I took a drive south to pop into the store the other day, hoping to avoid problems. Along the way I had to stop for a photo.

Driving alone, I pulled over. The cars truly speed on the highway, screaming around me.

Very important people needing to get to very important places!
Not a bad shot! I had eyed it on my way south and grabbed it on my way back north.
Just to make you laugh, I forgot the 3rd thing I was to pick up (milk), but remembered wine and football-watching snack for hubby.

As I arrived home, I had a welcoming crew. They didn't bat an eyelash.

None of them had done anything about the remaining snow on the driveway. JB having done dishes, shovelled the first 6" of snow...he earned his R & R time.

Of course, it is the wolf who uses it the most. I spot its tracks, too.

Good old Oliver was very happy in the in box. We have three (4?) cat beds, including one in his bedroom.

Why he was in the in box? I suppose because the sun was shining in the front door.

A lovely day.

First day of Dignity House Day Hospice

First we plan

Day one of Lanark County's Dignity House Day Hospice

One of the coldest days of the season. It was -30C. as I shovelled the sidewalk at the kiss and drop!

Our ultimate goal is a full time hospice. For now, every Monday Dignity House runs from 10 until 3:00 p.m., with four volunteers, as well as Alanna Scanlon, our Nurse Coordinator.

Donated tea cups. One for each of us.

Complimentary therapy - Beth Fequet

Victoria's Quilts Canada
donated quilts for our day hospice

McMartin house is our location

Today's agenda
Perth's Rotary Club donated

Trude, Dorothy (our back-up nurse), and Carolyn get the lunch room ready.

Lunch donated by Carolina Suites

purse donated for the silent auction
at the February Dinner Dance

never boring in cottage country

Deer in the frontyard.

Deer in the backyard.

We never saw a one in September when we moved into our 'new' (1986) house!
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Deer in the snow

Twas a mystery. Why did the deer have snow all over their faces in our yard? It hadn't been snowing, although a lovely snowfall meant the exercising of muscles on our long driveway. I think we had about 20 cm (8") or so, on the weekend. The deer do smack downs, smashing their hooves across the frozen lawn to expose the green grass. The turkeys were doing the same thing, scratching away.
There were food fights all over the lawn, as deer kept their pecking order. Their smack-downs are wicked. I'm glad I'm not on the bottom end of the hooves.

Volunteers make the world go around

'It's the year of the volunteer but recruiting is tough'

By Craig Skinner (2001)

OTTAWA — The Canadian government is trying to encourage people to get involved in their communities, but the call is often falling on deaf ears.

I was quite shocked to hear a Carleton University leader complaining on the radio this morning that older Canadians aren't volunteering. This is why they have had to produce a conference to teach young people how to volunteer. In fact, it's the young people, the Me generation, who do not volunteer.

My goodness. I have volunteered in a number of fields. I ended up volunteering as a Victim Services Volunteer. Sitting on the Board of Directors of Muskoka's Children's Aid Society. Many of the volunteers are retired teachers, principals, or people working in a field of social justice. 

Nan, sandwiched by Howard (L) and Frank (R)
Habitat for Humanity volunteer Site Supervisors

In my work with Hospice in both Muskoka and Lanark County, I have found many retired nurses who pick up the slack in services. There simply are not enough Personal Suppor Workers (PSWs) or nurses in the field of senior services. Ads abound in local rural newspapers for both to fill vacant positions in Transfer Payment Agencies, like Red Cross, or non-profits, as well as institutional long-term care (LTC) homes. I volunteered as  Family Council chair in my Dad's LTC home, and in an Expressive Arts Therapy Group for children. My husband volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels. We both volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity Build in Bala, Ontario. Many of the volunteers were retirees. Some were in their 70s, like Nan, who was there EVERY DAY OF THE BUILD. 

The number of volunteers in these places would astound you. You see, I burned out caregiving for my parents while teaching, and retired at age 50. I realized, having done so much caregiving for my parents that there was a huge niche that needed filling. Since the healthcare professionals are not there to support caregivers, the volunteers are stepping in. I lost a great deal giving up a career caregiving, and needed to feel as if what I did made a difference. 

There are a great number of seniors living longer, better lives. This great myth of the burdens that seniors will place on health care is appalling. Seniors are living long, better lives. Many serve in a number of different organizations. Canadians aged 55+ are most generous with volunteer hours: A study revealed Canadians over 55 are the most generous with volunteer hours- Macleans.ca 

Firefighter volunteer

In fact...we are out there in droves, far above any other age group. I met people 50+, whose careers/jobs/work (photographer, crafters, artists, etc.) meant that they could carve out some time to volunteer. We have the education, the time and the inclination. We've learned, through our jobs, to be sensitive, we have life skills and experiences. Our generation has learned to be politically correct, we understand cultural differences, ethnic and religious morays. We have worked with  old style leaders and bosses; we know how to handle difficult clients!

The Characteristics of Boomer Volunteers
   • Clear leaders -- in terms of average hours of volunteering compared to other groups
   • Impressive overall participation rates – consistently among the highest
   • Meaningful engagement – boomers look for purpose in their volunteer activities

Myself and Mary - Hospice Muskoka volunteers

   • Available time and flexibility – boomers have more time and relatively flexible schedules compared to other groups
   • Expectation of organization – boomers want organizations to be efficient and effective in their management of volunteers and staff
   • Loyalty – Boomers indicated they are willing to stay at an organization for many years as long as they are treated well

New research shares practical information for use by volunteer organizations to attract and retain skilled, dedicated volunteers among four specific demographic groups: youth, families, boomers and employer-supported volunteers. (Volunteer Canada Survey)

Coaches volunteer

• Download the Fact Sheet »
• Download the Research Summary Report »
• Download the Full Report »

Respondents in the survey indicated that the optimal formula to engage volunteers strikes a balance between:

• Designing specific, set roles and being open to volunteers determining the scope of what they can offer;
• Being well organized but not too bureaucratic; and
• Matching skills to the needs of the organization but not assuming that everyone wants to use the skills related to their profession, trade, or education

Organizations reported five common characteristics of their volunteer programs:

Jack and Linda Hutton (Bala) receive awards
from (then mayor) Susan Pryke

    1. Their volunteer base tends to be younger;

    2. Many of their leadership volunteers are older;

   3. More new Canadians are seeking volunteer opportunities;

   4. Most do not have the tools, training, and strategies in place to engage youth, families, baby boomers, 

   and employer-supported volunteers, particularly using a skills-based approach; and

   5. Many do not have the capacity to involve groups

Many cities offer incredibly well-run websites for those looking to volunteer: Volunteer Ottawa.

Volunteer Canada: find an organization near you.

Volunteers make the world go around 

• which offer opportunities to give back to one's community

• the local church ladies, 
• the S.T.O.P. folks on the snowmobile trails
• Volunteers who garden,  
• Meals on Wheels,
• Victim Services,  
• Dignity House Day Hospice (Perth)
• Cranberry Festival
• Hospice home visitors.

Cats in winter - not happy catters

Camera Critters
I loe those memes!


Gotta love those cats, our deer and neighbour's ponies, too! The wild turkeys are a bit, colourful? A face only a mother could love.
And, yes, I have it on good authority that the turkeys are authentic eastern wild turkey stock.

Conquering fear - floods, earthquakes,

Rabbi Harold Kushner has been written10 books so far! He has comforting words, as only a well-loved spiritual guide can write.

The most recent book he has written:

 Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World


THis is a heart-rending story.With floods in Australia, Brazil, the one-year long aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, dogs on Quebec found in a ditch with nails in their heads, a police officer run down by some with mental health issues, it is shattering to imagine people, aimals and families so affected. Add to that the horror stories of child soldiers, ongoing civil wars, I count myself fortunate. I grieve for those lost in the recent US shooting.

My fears revolve around my family. You give them roots and wings, and set them off.

You hope you have done the best you could at the time. I know we did well when I see these precious little smiling faces. Their spirits shine through. We know that we can handle anything the universe sends our way. It is all you can do.

Working with my hospice clients makes me realize how much each day counts.

After a lovely visit and lunch with the kids yesterday, we know what is truly important. It is not our things.

Not our home, car, possessions... but family. Tell someone you love them. Drive carefully. Be safe. Remember someone out there loves you!

What do you fear? 

Language - blackberries, et al

I appreciate that as society changes, our language does, too. There are words that are no longer politically correct.

Zaffirini tried unsuccessfully in 2009 to pass the so-called “respectful language” bill. In the meantime, the U.S. Congress passed, without opposition, its own respectful-language bill calledRosa’s Law, which eliminates use of the word retarded in federal statutes. President Barack Obama signed the bill last year.

Zaffirini Bill

Advocates gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday to support SB 26, filed by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, which would require past and future state laws to replace terms like “crippled” and “mentally retarded” with phrases such as “persons with disabilities” or “persons with intellectual disabilities.”

Language is more fashion than science, and matters of usage, spelling and pronunciation tend to wander around like hemlines.    -Bill Bryson, author (b. 1951)

There is another field, besides education where language has evolved greatly: technology.
This is good for a long laugh!

House, cats, deer, forest, Kingston PHOTOS

Caitlin and Josephine

Joe, Josephine, Jean-Luc, Isabelle

deer in the backyard

cats in the backyard

Tigger in front of his family!

cat, forest, tree, canoe

Jenny & Joey,
Anniversary: Aug. 22, Kingston, Ontario

Buster (black cat) watches tabby sister, Sadie

Rabbits, deer, turkeys, cats

It's true. Oliver is voracious, and likes to eat his sister's food for her.

Yesterday evening, Sady was going nuts (again) watching the little rabbit at the bird feeder at 10 p.m.
It is sooooo cold. Poor wee thing.


Rabbit at the feeder from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
We couldn't figure out why the cats were going nuts. Sitting at the front window, staring outside in the dark. They surely couldn't see the mice we know visit the feeder. Sure enough, we have a much larger rabbit who feeds there. I'd noticed the tracks and wasn't sure if they were rabbit or the ubiquitous squirrel.

I fear for my plants. Seriously. I posted previously about the deer nibbling our precious little trees. 
This (left, shown in the fall) is some sort of Horsechestnut, or Buckeye. I'll have to wait until spring to ID it. The woodpecker (below) judiciously snags the bugs, but the deer have stunted the growth of the other 4 trees of this species. I couldn't figure out why the trees had such thick trunks, and yet were so short. Now I know!

I have finally determined out how the previous homeowners protected them. Big cages that were hanging silently on the back of the shed. 


I plan to put in some more plants, and will do some research to find 'deer resistant' ones. (As if!) 


But the bells and the cages seem to help. In the meantime, I'm trying to identify my trees.


I watched the deer tiptoe around this new (scary) thing the other evening. Wish me luck! The other cages have bright red ribbons hanging off of them. They dance in the wind, the bells ring in the night and the deer are skittish this close to the house. (For now!)


Then, there is the woodpecker. I regaled my readers with stories about it when we first moved in. Enlarging a knot in the exterior wood finish on the house, I had to cover the hole with a bat box. 


In the meantime, Oliver is frustrated, watching the birds outside, and his deer and turkeys, and I have to find ways to amuse him.

JB loves buying cat toys. Pretty 


necessary on those -10 C. days. This toy we call 'snake'. 



The feathers on the end make a nice sound when we snap it. He likes to sneak up on it.