You Otter Know

Co-sleeping was not in the plan.  But it is what it is, and, le sigh, the past week was this: 

She's not so small anymore.  Her head knocks against mine and I wake up.  I don't sleep so well and my neck and shoulders hurt.  But, I guess she's having some sort of tough time, so she needs me... and I know I should cherish it, since it will all change... and then I might miss it.  

Original photo: North American Otter from Nature Canada. 

Welcome Babies!

James's neighbourhood debut was a hit!



All the kids were so cute!  Aside from James and Eli (the babies), we also met Claude's new little black chihuahua dog (rat :P), Bella.

The sun was shining and there was so much smiling and energy.  I only wish I wasn't so allergic (to pollen) and tired to enjoy it.  Good thing there were very few expectations.  James happily sat, either in my or Jackie's lap, while others came to us.  



















Tim finds out what the plant is growing in his garden, Lily of the Valley, and smells it for the first time

There was a case of Mistaken identity: Daddy Sukh mistakes "Thing 1" with "Thing 2" because they switched their shirts! 

Who says you can't have cake in pie plate?  Well, my questionable baking was at at least made appetizing with pretty patterned icing (thanks, Jackie!). 

Eli's bonnet was is a family heirloom. 

We weren't quite sure if the Trump t-shirt was for real or not...

James and the Squirrel

"Hello, Mr. Squirrel!  What are you doing?"

"Nothing!  Uh, oh, hi kid.  You know, just hanging around..."

"Uh, I'm just gonna... uh... " 

"... move this pine cone here so it doesn't get lost."   

"And um... it looks like... "

 "... I got some peanut butter on my hands."

"Go away, kid."

 

"Oh, OK.  Bye, bye."

Scritch Scratch

Paul stands and points at the living room ceiling.  We are silent.  Then I hear it: There's something skittering in the attic.


Can you tell its size?  How many there are? 


Paul doesn't know, but he's heard the sound more than a few times.  Maybe a mouse? 

Ugh.  We decide not to confront it just yet.  There are no gaps in the attic access door, but it's in our bedroom, so we tape it up just in case.

The Good Life

The weather was beautiful this weekend.  Perfect for being outside... and maybe getting some yard work done.  OK, I was kind of dreading it, but Paul was determined this year to do something about all the leaves.  All those lovely trees we have (the blessing/curse of a corner lot), shed every autumn.  Oh, and everyone else around us has already cleaned up their yards...

Anyway, it was beautiful, and colourful.  And even even though it as work, it was nice*.  And, Paul looked like he belonged in a magazine. 

This was his response:

* I got to listen to Wiretap :) 


 

There were so many lady bugs in the leaves!  Why won't they stay out of the bags?  (I fished them out, and they actually flew back in!)

Paul: I named that one.
Lana: Really, that one. 
Paul: Yep, Ladybird.

The job was mostly done when we called it a day.  And then I was free to do some gardening :) 

See!  My fava (broad) beans are still growing.  Oh, and there's Pinky the cat. 

Pattern Recognition

I am invisible! That's my latest conclusion after two in-service and fairly empty buses passed me at the bus stop. 

I decided to walk to the LRT station to put some much needed steps on Fitty when I managed an exciting sighting.  Well, first a hearing.  A very loud, urgent two-toned squawk (dee-dum... a seventh?) had me scanning the area until I spotted a beaked head poking out of a telephone (electrical?) pole. 

It continued to shriek; I took photos. 

From the black band around its neck and its head shape I guessed it likely a baby northern flicker.  (Assuming their young had similar markings and were just smaller in size.) 

It continued to shriek.

Did it think I was a threat?  (Um... if you weren't so loud I wouldn't have even noticed you.) Or was it just hungry? 

I decided to move on -- there's nothing I could really do and maybe its parents would make an appearance once I was gone. 

How different this baby was from the robins I saw earlier in the morning. 





Granted, they were likely further in their development since they were out of the nest and half-rolling-half-flying-all-flapping in our backyard.  But they seemed to know the importance of being silent.

If I'm quiet maybe no one will notice.  If I don't make a peep and don't move, maybe that strange lady in the window won't see me and go away -- after all, we're speckled and can blend in. 

So, was I blending in too well at the bus stop?  Black and pink floral top, black and white polka dot skirt, (mismatched) black and white stripped socks*, floral sun hat...

Nope.  They probably saw me quite clearly for what I was -- a strange bird. 

(Left: Peekaboo... / Below: The coach.)