While I wait for my hummingbird nectar to cool (boiling water, not good for birds), I find myself wondering. Is that visitor at the window aware that the feeder is in the kitchen? Am I under surveillance by something with a brain no larger than a chickpea? Scary.
posted in economy, environment | Comments Off on Under surveillance | 262 words
“But, above all, take care of yourself.” Like a creature? No, like a bank.
Today, I learned a little more about self-preservation, in the financial sense. Several days ago, I deposited a sum of money, electronically, to my bank. With the goal of “making a payment” to that same bank. No plan to save, or spend with abandon. And, to be fair, the bank had advertised that I could deposit funds, all by myself. You can guess the outcome; the funds were “frozen”.
posted in economy, technology | Comments Off on Above all else, protect yourself | 270 words
Looking out my window, through the trusty ‘scope, I realize that all of those white flashes on the water surface are something living. Birds, diving after fish (I can’t tell you who or what; they’re too far away). Still, I’m glad that the ocean remains an abundant larder. We hear about “the factory ships” which do come into the area, cleaning the depths. I’d hate to look out over a desert.
posted in environment, music | Comments Off on Fortunate to live near nature | 252 words
Right outside my dining room window, I have a syrup dispenser. To be fair, the contents are just lightly sugared tap water, but to those that frequent the fountain, this is the easiest flower around to get a good shot of nectar. I’m referring to our local hummingbirds, of course.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Tiny buzz-bombers | 257 words
I moved to a different new channel, at suppertime. The things you learn! Hat’s off to the City of St. John’s, which is moving to “automated garbage collection”, soon. For the rest of us, this refers to trucks with a hydraulic arm to dump your bin into the back. As I see it, welcome to the 20th century!
posted in politics | Comments Off on Counting in action | 256 words
Watched a movie that caught me off guard, due to the humour. Called Mindhorn and has a number of cast members that are familiar faces. Also a chance to look around the Isle of Man. Altogether a good way to spend a rainy evening. No Oscar contention here, but sometimes you just need a simple distraction. Thank you, Netflix.
posted in media, politics | Comments Off on Not on my list | 253 words
When a simple statement by someone else breaks down a genealogical “brick wall”, a bell should ring. Loudly. At a recent meeting, while chatting about an ancestor, one of the local resource people said that the person was a Glendalale Settler. And there it was. Documented. In that book that had come home back at the end of last summer to rest by the bedside.
posted in environment, genealogy | Comments Off on Adding rings to the tree | 258 words
Slap my fingers time. I have managed to “lock” this site, but have little/no idea how long the restriction will be in place. I’ll write, and then see what happens in a few hours. In a worst-case scenario, I uninstall and reinstall some software.
posted in education | Comments Off on No free RV for you, or me | 251 words
After receiving a suggestion about an effective nut remover (keep the jokes, please), I Googled the brand name, so as to avoid appearing like the total newbie that I am. For those who want to buy in, without doing their own testing, the product is known as “PB B’laster Penetrant”. I can’t tell you if it works well, but I now own a small aerosol container. Details to follow.
posted in technology | Comments Off on A first visit to the parts store | 273 words
I didn’t recognize the truck. Or the driver, actually. Not unusual; we haven’t had that many visitors since our arrival. With the dog on pause, I went out to meet and greet.
posted in environment | Comments Off on When special means special | 255 words
