10th
July
2020
How boring is my life? Well, I just checked the release date forecasts for iOS14. Anyone arriving here from a search engine, take note. I DO NOT know. I have no relevant information. It’s just that (in numerical sequence), that should be the next major update for the iPad and iPhone. It might even arrive before I cancel my phone contract.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment, technology |
18th
June
2020
Open the door, focus, get my fill of evening hare. It wasn’t at all perturbed by my efforts.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment, health |
16th
June
2020
As I watch through the living room window, she who normally watches the birds is busy; trying to feed a chipmunk from a small handful of almonds. It’s not going well. I guess the striped marauder has no experience with almonds, so why try something new. In a sense, I’m glad, because the price of roasted almonds far exceeds the fun of watching a rodent stuff the cheeks and scurry off to wherever nuts and seeds are stored.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment, food |
13th
June
2020
Note to self: the next time we decide to surround the house with sugar-water dispensers (the hummingbirds get first dibs on sweets, here), try to find a feeder that is easy to fill. Right now, we have four disparate models. I’d like to move to one, multiplied by our largesse to the hover community. Seems like a plan, to me. Something tells me that teacups would do the job; no need for pretend flowers.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment, politics |
4th
June
2020
For the record, our home is turning into a syrup dispensary. Hummingbirds… I won’t take the blame, nor claim the fame. At last count there were three feeders already in place, with a fourth one in reserve. The intensity of the aerial battles is increasing; the tiny flying siphons are territorial. Oh, and a trapeze, suspended from one of my antennas; the birds haven’t discovered it, yet.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment |
3rd
June
2020
As an educator, you learn that “I have no idea” is acceptable only when coupled with “but I’ll find out”. This afternoon, as a result of a photo forwarded to a family member, I had to learn about the why behind our regional fields of tulips. It has nothing to do with the colourful display, nor do we grow the flowers for food. Rather, I’ve learned, the local farms harvest the bulbs, for sale to gardeners here and there (yes, here; my front yard serves as an example). I learned, and I passed the information along to my correspondent, in full magisterial form. It’s what teachers do.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment, politics, technology |
24th
May
2020
Some years ago, on an impulse, we purchased a GPS that came with lots of features. Too many to master, actually. And, on occasion, I let the unit serve as a logger while we visited various parts of the continent.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment, technology, travel |
22nd
May
2020
Finally, the sugar buzzards are here! We are so excited that we now have two separate feeding stations, because otherwise the number of natural locations (think, flowers) might prove insufficient. At least we’ve got the recipe mastered: some sugar, some water, a steady hand when pouring into the plastic contraptions.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment |
18th
May
2020
It used to be simple. You did the checklist: schools closed, stores closed. Easy to tell anyone who asked that, yes, this was a holiday. Now, not so clear. Actually, this is a long weekend, but it could be any day of any week, during the last few months.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment, travel |
15th
May
2020
Today, locally, an act of faith took place. Against the odds, this is “setting day”. Has nothing to do with a comfortable couch, or hens. Rather, hundreds of rational people go out in boats about the size of a city bus (more valuable, to boot). Multiple boats, with two or three people in each one. You do your own math. And from the relative comfort of the deck, they throw hundreds of carefully fashioned traps overboard.
Read the rest of this entry »
posted in environment, food |
