Life with cats, and other things…
1949/22nd July 2026 It was a relief this morning to be spared Lily's 0430 wake-up call, although a loud altercation had got me out of bed at 0350. Usually, such things turn out to be a pair of raccoons fighting on the porch or patio and there is nothing to be done, but in a … Continue reading Trespassing?
Hearing Grant's distressed "Oh no!", I thought one of his sunflowers had been brought down. Sadly, it was something far worse. He'd caught sight of a young skunk rushing by, covered in blood and when he looked in the direction from which it appeared to have come, he saw another, also bloodied, clearly rabid. The … Continue reading Happenings
With a changed perspective, everything looks different. . The wild carrots made interesting outlines against an early sky. . On Thursday, the first of a series of appointments after a blessedly long period with none. A steroid injection in the hip was a very minor thing, but lying prone on a hard, flat surface is … Continue reading Unasked
1959/21st July 2026 Further south, around New York City and New Jersey, I read reports of tornadoes and storm damage, while up here all we got was dark clouds. On occasion we have had some fairly noisy and damaging storms, but as often as not, we have found ourselves just at the edge of serious … Continue reading A handsome bird
22nd July 2026 Hearing the familiar clucking of turkeys, I assumed it was the pair that has been visiting lately and at a quick glance, I believed this was the one that always cranes its neck to look in at us. . Rearranging the feathers "'Bye Willow! We're off now!" But then the companion strutted … Continue reading The downside
20th July 2026 There is a lot to be said for a simple life. With low expectations, the smallest thing can bring you joy. . A couple of days ago, it was the blooming of a first sunflower. This one had not been deliberately planted or carefully nursed. It grew in front of the porch … Continue reading Sunflowers
17th July 2026 Having breakfasted leisurely on the patio.... . ...our two turkey friends straightened up, casting us a look... . ...and sauntered off into a smoky morning. At dawn, I'd believed that at least half of the murk was mist, but with daylight it was apparent that smoke still lingered, as confirmed by my … Continue reading A revisit
0524/16th July 2026 Looking out a window at dawn, I was relieved to be able at least to see the sky, which yesterday was obscured all day by smoke. Helpfully, the temperature had also dropped significantly. Alas, the reprieve from smoke was temporary.... . Yesterday, I believe we were "yellow", which gave us that eerie … Continue reading Scapegoat
0807/15th July 2026 Wildfire smoke has turned the air brown and the Sun glares down at us angrily. Today, it's like viewing the world through a tea-coloured filter. "What's left to burn?" we ask. Unrelenting wind may be enervating, but to me, smoke is more disturbing, polluting the air and carrying a sense of deep … Continue reading Protectors
View Preview↗ 12th July, 2026 The camera often sees what we do not. When I showed Grant the photo I posted yesterday of those three skunks he saw a mom with 2 babies rather than the two adults and baby that I had thought I was photographing and looking closer, I believe he is right. … Continue reading Mini-movie