Friday, August 29, 2014

Where Many Paths and Errands Meet

Long time no post. Shall I catch you up?

There has been feline chaos in our house. My Skittles and Zephyr are not getting used to my son's cat, Hunter (who is visiting while my son is on course until November).

They show their displeasure frequently.

With their bladders.

Hunter is a very sweet and loving cat with the human population. But with the other kitties in this house, he most definitely lives up to his name. He sees a moving cat as a challenge and will often ambush them on their way to or from the litter boxes. For this reason (and because cats are vindictive creatures by nature), they are frequently finding other areas to pee. I know it's a sign of their distress. They have never had a problem with inappropriate peeing before. My cats are old (fifteen) and they can not hold their own with this large, strong, young (three) male. When Hunter attacks, he really hurts my guys. He'll jump them, bite the back of the neck and kick hard with his hind claws. There is a lot of screaming (from the victim and from me!) during these sessions - which happen at least once every couple of days. A spray bottle helps break it up but there's not always one at hand. If we're lucky, it can be averted altogether if we happen to notice Hunter's tail just before an attack. It gets all bushy. Hunter is an otherwise sweet cat, and he seems genuinely perplexed when he is removed from the situation for a time out in the laundry room. He is always isolated at night which bothers me more than him. But my guys need some peace. Come morning, he's full of purrs, piss and vinegar.

We've gone to considerable expense trying to eliminate the problem and the odour. We've invested in this (far too expensive for the area we need to cover) and this which was 100% useless at $125 for the diffuser and spray. Next up we're going to try this much less expensive solution. From what I'm reading, it sounds promising.

Despite the unpleasant atmosphere, we've still had a few guests come to visit. My cousin Marcy, Frank's friend Peter and my son, Jeffrey have all spent some time here over the last few weeks. We're hoping to have more company through the months of September and October. And less cat pee.

Our family is mourning the loss of our dear Auntie Gertie, earlier this month. She was my late Dad's youngest sister, and the last one standing from his generation. She was a wonderful lady with a quick sense of humour and I will miss her dearly. Some of you might remember my post when Frank and Jeffrey demolished her sofa. And some of you might also be familiar with my cousin Phyllis who blogged over at Prompt Prose and eFoodAlert. My aunt was mom to her and her sister, Barbra. Phyllis' blogging is on hold while she is writing a book and moving house.

Our renovations are still incomplete and untouched for several weeks at a time. Someone is supposed to be coming out again next week. We'll see.

I finally bought myself a television - one that doesn't have any sports on it whatsoever! Along with it, I purchased a Roku and am now enjoying Netflix. Unfortunately, the Canadian version doesn't offer nearly as much as the U.S. network but there are still a few things of interest, and I'm already hooked on Orange is the New Black. But does it ever cut into blogging time...

And with that update, I'll move right along with a few photos.


country road
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
~ J.R.R. Tolkien
This is the view from one of the many side roads which surround our place. The numerous hills and valleys are less fun in the winter but every bit as beautiful.





rickity
I was so naive as a kid I used to sneak behind the barn and do nothing.
~ Johnny Carson
One of the many rickety barns which charmingly dot the countryside.





hay you 2
There is no reason to fear the wind if your stack of hay is well tied.
~ Irish Saying
Of course, if there are country roads and barns, there's going to be hay. This truck was spotted rounding a corner and the photo was snapped from my seat inside a Bancroft, Ontario restaurant.





station street bancroft
The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you're doing, someone else does.
~ Immanuel Kant
If you're at all curious about Bancroft, here's a small look at one of its side streets. It could just as easily be Mayberry, with that bench outside of Floyd's Tony's Barber Shop.





memorial
Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.
~ Emily Dickinson
This sad memorial stands by the highway a few kilometres from our house. I tried Googling the name, location, dates.. etc but came up empty. He died heartbreakingly young at 19.






a fishing spot
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
~ Henry David Thoreau
As the quote indicates, we were out fishing not too far from this pretty little point. We didn't catch anything that day but...





lobster
If you work on a lobster boat, sneaking up behind someone and pinching him is probably a joke that gets old real fast.
~ Jack Handey
... we were able to catch some lobster at the local grocery store. Dipped in garlic butter... yum!





awakening ferns
What a joy it is to feel the soft, springy earth under my feet once more, to follow grassy roads that lead to ferny brooks.
~ Helen Keller
Also yummy with garlic and butter are fiddleheads. I don't think these are the right ferns for fiddleheads, and if they are, they've already passed the stage at which they're prime for picking, but if you ever get the chance to eat some, don't pass it up. They're delicious.





pink and iris2
It is at the edge of a petal that love waits.
~ William Carlos Williams
Growing amid the ferns are the fruits of the previous owner's labours. She planted lovely flower gardens in both the front and the back, and we're enjoying it all immensely. Thanks, Josie.



chickie
We learned to be patient observers like the owl. We learned cleverness from the crow, and courage from the jay, who will attack an owl ten times its size to drive it off its territory. But above all of them ranked the chickadee because of its indomitable spirit.
~ Tom Brown, Jr.
The chickadees are also enjoying our space, along with the seeds and occasional fruit left out for their dining pleasure. Don't you just love their ever-watchful little black button eyes?

That's it for this post. More photos coming up next time.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Peterborough

At the very start of summer, I spent a couple of days visiting my dear friend Carol Anne and her significant other, Michael at his place in Peterborough, Ontario. It was less than a two hour drive but I was welcomed to stay for a couple of nights and so I did.

Part of the reason for the trip was to look for some furniture. Pickings are slim up in our neck of the woods and if I was going to be able to find a desk that I liked, among other things, I was going to have to look at more extensive offerings. Peterborough is a good place for that. I was able to find a desk and a file cabinet in one place, and a headboard and a nice cabinet for a television elsewhere. I'm still awaiting delivery for the last two pieces but I'm typing from my new desk which my son, Jeffrey so helpfully set up for me.

The other part of my reason was of course to spend some time with Carol Anne. She and I used to get together at least twice a month when we were both city dwellers but geographical distance and various commitments have made that a lot more difficult. Rumour has it that she will eventually be moving to Peterborough which is an hour closer than her current home, so that might improve our visit ratio once again.

So back to my weekend in that wonderful city. My camera came along, of course and below are just a few of the images I snapped while wandering around with good friends.

porch kitty
We walked a lot. This cutie caught my eye on one of those walks. She posed nicely for me.





boarding in peterborough2
The day was sunny and warm - just perfect for these paddle boarders to enjoy an outing on the water.





peterborough marina
Here's a glimpse of the marina at dusk.



 

late day sun on little lake
The houses on the opposite shore of Little Lake were basking in the setting sun.





having fun
There was some music happening in the park. Unfortunately the event was poorly attended - at least when we stopped by late in the day. The group was pretty decent but the most entertaining part was watching these two special needs gentlemen joyfully grooving to the tunes. The man in the green cap danced all over the park, and engaged several onlookers in conversation. His happy spirit was rather contagious.





selfie
This cute couple was sitting a short distance away from us. I can't say that I've ever photographed a selfie-in-the-making before. Now I have.





marina6
Heading back after the show, we passed that same spot at the marina - all lit up for nightfall.





marina
Same place - different view.





marina7
The river boat would make a fun party spot, don't you think?




Michael and Carol Ann bridge
Heading back across the bridge - the same one from which we saw those paddle boarders in the water below.

Time to wrap this up. Thank you for the lovely visit, Carol Anne and Michael. You two are great hosts!

More photos coming up before too much longer.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Like A Million Suns

misty morn9
It is hard to be angry when one has seen the sun rise because it makes one feel so small and insignificant. It has been rising forever and will rise forever no matter what we do or do not do. All our problems are as nothing to the sun.
~ David Gemmell
One of the best regular occurrences here at the lake are the beautiful sunrises. Some days it's subtle. Sometimes the rain obliterates the sunrise. Other times the dawn is brilliant. This was one of the beauties





misty morn11
The Sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it's here is up to us. Journey wisely.
~ Alexandra Elle
Here's a bit of a closer look at the misty hills across the bay.





the rising sun3
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns it calls me on and on across the universe.
~ John Lennon
Another lovely sunrise as seen through the screened in porch outside my bedroom.





peachy sunrise7
Universe is the Sun watching its own self.
~ Dejan Stojanovic
And again, the wonder of the dawn as seen from my bedroom.





peachy sunrise3
If there is nothing new under the sun, at least the sun itself is always new, always re-creating itself out of its own inexhaustible fire.
~ Michael Sims
I never seem to tire of the view. It changes every morning.





sunflower
Never look directly at the sun. Instead, look at the sunflower.
~ Vera Nazarian
The lovely flower that gets its name from the sun.





sunflower2
I need sunflowers! I walk many miles, trying to find some. If they're fresh, I kiss their honey faces. If they're dried, I put them on my windowsill, where they continue glowing.
~ Klaus Kinski
Despite how it may appear, we don't have many sunflowers growing on the property. These kind of just happened as a result of feeding the birds.





ring around the sun2
Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo.
~ H. G. Wells
One July day, I looked up to discover this lovely sun halo. My camera cooperated by allowing me to photograph pretty much what my eye saw.





the rising sun 5
I want my words to illuminate like the sun, as I give my daily lecture on photosynthesis to my houseplants.
~ Jarod Kintz
Sigh!





tequila
I wanted to do my part to help preserve that golden age of travel... I step aboard The Patron Tequila Express rail car, and I go back in time to the days when a long journey was something fun and very special. 
~John Paul DeJoria
Okay, so this last one isn't really sun-related. Unless, of course, you've ever had a Tequila Sunrise...


More coming up.. at some point.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Back to the Fuchsia and Posts of the Week

Oops... time has slipped away, once again. We've had visitors over the course of the past week or so. That's my excuse for my most recent blogging lapse and I'm sticking to it!

My last post illustrated some of the rainy weather we'd been experiencing. It's been lovely and sunny since, though it's raining lightly as I type.

The photos below were taken shortly after bringing home a hanging basket of fuchsia. It rained (and hailed) that very day but when the raindrops ended and the sun came out, my camera was drawn to the droplet-laden blossoms. There's also a short video which I had meant to include with the previous post but forgot about. It shows some of the precipitation which greeted our brand new fuchsia. It wouldn't surprise me at all if next year, that basket yields sunflowers and peanut plants. The squirrels enjoy burying our offerings in it.

I hope you enjoy the blossoms.



fucshia after rain
Raindrops are my only reminder that clouds have a heartbeat. That I have one, too.
~ Tahereh Mafi






fuschia bud
For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow







fuschia plant
Remember when we made love in the rain? You asked me to bring protection, and I brought a windshield wiper.
~ Jarod Kintz







fuschia
I want your sun to reach my raindrops, so your heat can raise my soul upward like a cloud.
~ Rumi






fuschia bud2
The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.
~ Dr. Seuss







soft fuscia droplets
Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.
~ Roger Miller







fucshia
The Sun after the rain is much beautiful than the Sun before the rain!
~ Mehmet Murat ildan







Watch for the chair tipping over on the dock. I was looking right at it through the viewfinder and still missed it.

       



And now, without further delay, here are the Posts of the Week. The icon below is yours for the taking if your blog post is named as a POTW.










***

STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART

So, About That Stroke...
by Carmi
at Written Inc.


***


A GOOD READ



Fury in Motion
by Eddie
at Clouds and Silvery Linings

Long
by Slamdunk
at Slam Dunks


You're One Person Away From A Break
by Michael
at Michael Manning.tv


***

PHINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Faces of India 171
by Indrani
at i Share

***

JUST PLAIN ALL AROUND GOOD

Around West Dorset by Electric Bike
by Maddie
at The World From My Window

The Princess and the Toad
by Tabor
at Room Without Walls

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
by Betty
at Cut and Dry


***

YOU'LL LAUGH

Sock Kitten Cam
by Sharon
at Sharon's Paws Create

Me Too
by Daryl
at Out and About in New York City


***

Please drop by their blogs for a visit and leave a kind comment if you have the time. Also, please feel free to add your own choices (for any blog except this one) for a specific blog post in the comments section below, where others can see them.
 

Thank you