POWERLESS

Aside from the weather, most things are pretty normal around here.  The area finally got some much-needed rain but the chill and fog put a gauzy blanket on the view. So chilly a salamander was snuggling into the pond filter. So chilly that the asparagus is coming up slowly --- better late than never??  On the other hand some plants thrive in the chill, like this Japanese Barberry in full blossom.

But this post is hours late today because our area had a pre-announced power outage this morning, from 6 to 11 am on a Sunday. (I guess many people wouldn’t notice because they don’t get out of bed ‘til noon??) Boiling water on a hiking burner --- no biggie. But then an internet disruption occurred due to storms and the power outage! So “Powerless to do anything about it” was a good theme for the week. In Toronto, the iconic restaurant ship “Captain John” was towed out powerless by tugs after 40 years in the harbour. Drivers were powerless to get around the road repairs by our house. The Dodge Dakota lost power because of engine overheating. And in Owen Sound, this unlucky house got overpowered by a landslide. Care to make an offer on a fixer-upper?

Hey --- the fridge just came back on! We’re as happy as a little frog in a big pond. But maybe we should consider solar??

FIRE AND ICE

Monday was the first fireworks of the city season with thousands on the beach on a balmy evening. Is this a primitive fascination with fire from our caveman days?? That's a "Yes!" for me. This baby robin just wanted to crawl back into its cave --- where's mom?

At Kemble the Rio5 got undercoated for summer instead of for winter. Cars can rust just as fast in summer humidity as in winter salt. And we got a faster/cheaper internet service for the house. Can you tell this blog came to you in a hurry today??

At the feeders, the male hummingbird (note the red throat) was all blurred wings while the female (white throat) took her time on the perch. The creatures are all ravenous these days --- this ground squirrel jumped about 7 feet to get to the prize.

Late bloomers in the garden include the bleeding heart, a beauty that's been here for years. But new this season is the purply/velvety tulip called "Queen of the Night". Who gets to make up these names??

It's planting time and Pat gets most of her starter veggies from the local farmers' market. Remember that the pond froze completely this winter and almost everything died? In a show of stubborn optimism, fish and floating oxygenators have been restocked. But hmmmmm... is that ice again?!

PANAMANIA

It's a holiday weekend in Canada, bringing changes and beginnings. At Kemble, the gallery of vivid birds grows larger, with many of them actually seeming to pose for the camera?! The frenzy at the feeder is so chaotic that we have many bird strikes on the window. Fortunately most of them are just dazed and fly off recovered after a bit of time in a towel. In the veggie patch the soil keeps getting better and better with last year's leaves being tilled in. Asparagus now, lettuce later!

A never-before event---- we sold two of our vehicles in a 3-day span. The trusty van went fast because it was so clean and quiet; I think we'll miss the cargo space and comfort. The gorgeous Mustang went in one day and for way more than I paid a year ago. It sparkled on the Florida trip but ultimately we didn't want to put the first scratch on it! (There's still the Dakota convertible pickup.) Both of them went to worthy new owners.

Back in the Toronto neighbourhood the Beach is packed with strollers (2-legged and/or 4-wheeled), volleyball, and picnics on this long weekend. The photo shoots have resumed but the blossoms get more looks than the models.

This week's big news? Months ago we were recruited as volunteers for the 2015 PanAm Games in Toronto. 41 countries, 10,000 athletes, art and cultural festivals. There has been training, work schedules, and all the rituals we know from our time at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. But we finally got our uniforms and swag this week. Pretty cool colours, good quality gear, and the perks include tickets for the dress rehearsal of the Opening Ceremonies produced by Cirque du Soleil. We really enjoy any multi-cultural multi-lingual place or time and this should be awesome. Welcome/Bienvenue/Bienvenidos!!

IS THAT A CAMERA IN YOUR POCKET OR ARE YOU JUST HAPPY TO SEE THOSE BIRDS??

(It's Mother's Day today and if you're alive you had one. I hope you are as grateful and as awed as I am of the woman who gave you life...)

The Nikon Coolpix camera was deteriorating into photos that were out-of-focus or otherwise poor. I go over the same argument every time I need a new camera. The best pictures come from larger camera bodies with interchangeable lenses and accessories. But I have always traveled ultralight and my last big film camera was in the '90's ---- too bulky and too vulnerable on the road. So for the 5th time, I had to go with a pocket-sized point-and-shoot (a Panasonic Lumix) online. The impressive thing was that the FedEx lady walked up our very steep hill to deliver, something the UPS guys never did!

This week had the usual number of unusual things going on. Thick fog and  bright hot sun for example --- on the same day! But also painting the van hood, spotting the first asparagus shoots, wowing at the biggest salamander in the pond, and marveling at the annual colour show from the bulbs. Pat planted more raspberries, more for the birds than on our cereal!

Two crappy items, one of them literal! The classic Dakota convertible had to be towed indignantly to the shop: oil drip on the manifold causing smoke under the hood. Easy fix, new valve cover gaskets and ready to cruise. The other though was a pile of ?? near our yard work. Not a raccoon or dog, so bear? coyote? skunk? Anybody out there an expert on scat?

Almost like a tribute to my nature-loving mom, flowers and blossoms are at their best for the next while. From pin cherries to Bishop's Mitre, can you I.D. these?

But the REALLLLY big event this week is Peak Beak! All the rare/endangered/exotic birds are passing through on their migration, such as glossy emerald hummingbirds from Costa Rica to northern Ontario. Incredible journeys. Also too fast to snap were gaudy orange Orioles and regal red Cardinals. The rarest that actually held still were the indigo bunting, red-bellied woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, purple finch, and flickers. Fifty blue jays at a time gobbling the sunflower seeds. Goldfinches, grosbeaks, etc., etc. All outside the window, what a blast of colour!