Gay Pride, Noise & Fraud

 Gay Pride flag in Smiths Falls

We drove by May 16th, around 4 p.m. I read in the news:

Smiths Falls police arrest man for hate-motivated mischief, assault after incident at pride flag crosswalk

They arrested the man, who spit on a Smiths Falls employee repainting the flag. The press release says that the employee was approached by a male suspect who proceeded to spit on them while making homophobic comments. 

Saturday night, in the dark.

 

 Sat May 25 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We've narrowed the noise down to Otty Lake Side Rd.  Someone thinks they saw fireworks. 

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💰Friday, May 24 💳

I could scream. I was out walking in the forest. Happily I had my phone with me. The bank's credit card fraud department phoned me and asked if I'd purchased something in Vancouver, as the IP address did not match my Ontario computer address. They wouldn't allow it to go through until they checked with me. I said I was not shopping there. They cancelled my card. This happened before, and now I'll have to change all my credit card automatic payments to my charities. I'll get a new card on Wednesday, they think.

🏦  Saturday, May 25

I was sent an email telling me that we’d used up our daily withdrawal limit of the chequing account. Almost $1000 in 5 different transactions. I phoned them right away. Both my cards are now frozen. And I may or may not get my money back, after they review the file. 

 How can people do this to one another? 

The fraud department cancelled my debit card. I cannot log into my bank account online. Our banks are closed on weekends here in rural Ontario. Monday I'll get on this. 

I'm to contact: Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada. Also, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

What to do if you're a victim of fraud (Canada)

1. Collect your thoughts
2. Contact your financial institutions
3. Contact the police
4. Report the incident
5. Protect yourself from future fraud

It's going to be a long week. Direct deposits, automatic payments, closed accounts all have to be changed. 

This was the calm before the storm.

storm from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Dinner on the patio

Joseph Brian suggested dinner on the patio on Wednesday. We figured we'd do an early dinner before the storm was due to roll in around 5 p.m. This is the lightning map, and I knew we had a bit of time. 

Our favourite table, with a view of the lake and the geese and goslings.

We watched two Le Boat boats go by. You can rent them. Thing is, there has been a history of spilling diesel fuel. They solved this by painting the water tank cap and the diesel cap different colours. It could have been overfilling, as the firefighters said it looked like a sheen of diesel fuel on the water. It is a difficult thing to determine, apparently.

"Le Boat says it is not the source of contaminant in Smiths Falls Victoria Park basin"

Did you do this as a kid? Stick the maple keys on your nose? 

A nice, quiet patio!

 

We watched the geese and goslings.

 

patio goslings from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The incoming storm was lovely. I opened the sun roof for photos on the way home!

 

incoming clouds from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It was a tough week. Kinda like Fred's week!

 

Fred is tired from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Saturday's Critters

It is interesting watching the critters we haven't seen for winter, and others that just hang around. Fred and Freda have been making a nest in the burrow under the deck. The birds have been amazing. The bugs, not so much. The mosquitos and the blackflies are murder. The blackflies are the worst. I get oozing bites after they sneak in like little spy hornets and give it to me. Mostly on my ankles. I forgot bug spray one day! duH! 

We're missing some birds. The wood duck nest was raided. The House Wrens didn't show up. Usually the robins nest under the deck, but they are elsewhere. Happily the phoebe has nested and they have hatched. It's a feeding frenzy! Here she sat and watched me. 

The buck stops here, where he watched Cinnamon!

 

Cinnamon and Buck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

There was an incident and a chase ensued! Groundhogs are solitary critters, but I think he has a motive!

 

Freda & Fred from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The porcupine had a visit, as well.

 

porcupine May 19 10 pm from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The deer have disappeared for the most part! Just once in awhile they pop up.

 

buck May 17 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

May 20

 

backyard doe from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It was with great excitement that I noticed the trailcam was askew. Just slightly! We had our first bear of the season! May 20, the little twerp, as is their way, was curious about the camera.

Bear visitation from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

For more critters: Saturday's Critters # 545  ...

Backyard birding

 We have our exercise routines. Here is Joseph Brian doing his! 

Nothing better than backyard birding! I was out Tuesday at 7 a.m. and Wednesday at 5 a.m. (couldn't sleep Wednesday)! I've been using BirdNet, but I switched to Merlin. It highlights the bird singing in real time. And shows which have been heard. 

 

 

birding from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I put up the deer fence with JB's help. We seem to have just one doe hanging about for the past few days. Although, there was a buck a week ago. 

I arrived home Tuesday to the doe on Oliver's Lot.

This is my purple pencil. I had to cut off a section of it off the bottom, it was rotten, and reattach the bolt. One lag bolt was beyond redemption. I faked it. Then, a new paint job! 

This is a favourite spot for Phoebe to perch!

The phoebes began to hatch on Thursday, May 22. 

All hatched by the 23rd. 

phoebe babies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We rested on the lower deck and a centipede millipede ambled by! You are right, Cloudia! 

In the yard...

Look at the tulips! This is why I take photos of them. I think the rabbit did it, but who knows? The first photo I took with my iPhone last week, the second this week. Flowers nipeed and falling over.

Someone chopped off the top of a milkweed plant. I ordered seeds, but they haven't arrived. We had a late frost several years ago and it fried a lot of them. I have about a dozen plants. OK, eleven!

I set out the trailcam on the sidewalk. Look who I busted!

Fred busted from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

FRED: I took away the logs, laid down some chicken wire, and put the barriers back up. I was so tired! Take that, Fred! Thanks for all the good suggestions. I think I am winning! ✊

For posterity, I took photos of the rhododendron! May 18, 20 & 22.

I thought this through, and came up with a plan to refix this planter. This is the second time I've done this. The first year it was amazing (2018), planted and nurtured in the greenhouse until I got my hands on it. 

 The garbage bag liner has fallen apart. Then I duct taped it. Time for a new look. 

I had a piece of liner from redoing the goldfish pond. We'll see if this works out. 

There we go! The liner is very black, and gets ruined in the sun. I spray painted it.

I had a faithful helper. OK, Cinnamon's not much of a helper, more just moral support. He follows me from the back to the front garden, and back again to the back. Lying down on the job, just like Fred.

I moved the orchid cactus plant outdoors, shifting Frosty to stand beside Bear who has a new t-shirt. It's like redecorating! 

We rested from our work, sitting on the lower deck. Along came a centipede, minding its own business. I was happy to shower and rest! Wednesday was too hot to garden very much. It was 33 ℃ and that is really hot in the sun. It climbed a couple of degrees after I took this!

Long weekend incidents: slow down, people

Yes, life is short. My client passed away. We never have enough time with loved ones.

This is a glorious time of year, spring. Our long weekend was quite something, however. Our First Responders have to be prepared for anything: boats, cars, single vehicle access roads that lead to cottages. 

It has been a busy weekend on the roads in rural areas. The traffic speeding by our home is quite something. When they transfer that mindset and attitude to boating, it is easy for things to go wrong.

"It's a horrible situation. There were still people in the water when first responders arrived," OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson said in a video update on X. 

UPDATE: Oct. 30th it was announced that an arrest has been made. Matthew Splinter has been arrested for multiple charges, including death, alcohol, and bodily harm. 

What a tragic event

Reporting from South Frontenac, Ont. for Global National and Global Toronto on weekend boating collision that claimed three lives and left five in hospital. Speedboat, rear, appears to have slammed fishing boat. It happened after dark on Saturday night. ⁦@globalnewsto⁩ pic.twitter.com/pmq3XSpMSe

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) May 20, 2024

Named as Matty Splinter

A CBC interview with a witness.  

Three young people, in their early 20s. Gone.

Global News was there. 📹

• 'You couldn’t ask for a better son and a better friend'
• Her father Jim said the young people were just coming back to a friend’s cottage after watching the sunset, their boat’s lights on, through a no wake zone — where boats are required to slow down to pass through a narrow area in the bay. They had just shifted into gear when they were struck out of nowhere, he said, recounting what Côté’s partner Viau, who was with her, told them of the crash. – TorStar

Remembering Victims Of Fatal Boat Collision Near Kingston, Ont: Family ...

 MEMORIAL FUND FOR Kaila Bearman

In Algonquin Park at 1 a.m.:

They are huge animals. 

Warden Steve Fournier (Drummond/North Elmsley Reeve) has proclaimed May 19 to 25, 2024 to be Paramedic Services Week in Lanark County. 

It is so sad. It really affects everyone in the area, as well as family. It impacts First Responders, who do amazing work. 

The police have tools, fortunately. This was sweet to read! [

Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR)

]

#OttawaOPP stopped this driver on #Hwy417 after receiving a notification from the ALPR about the registered owner being a suspended driver. The G2 driver was charged with Driving While Under Suspension and received a 7-day vehicle impound. Driver is set to appear in court. ^mf pic.twitter.com/Bw3Yd0RgIs

— OPP East Region (@OPP_ER) May 19, 2024

• Two vehicle collision on Highway 7 results in heavy damages 
• Smiths Falls resident charged with impaired driving after collision