Intruder alert

I'm going to have to rethink the bird table. It is attracting
unwelcome guests. Brother Rat has been spotted, late at night, having
a good old feed, and giving our house guest a scare as she returned
from an evening out. Rat droppings are there for all to see. I need to
get a feeder that won't allow the birds to spill the seeds on the
ground. Now the hanging suet feeder seems to work quite well. I think
I will stick with that until I work out a better rodent proof
solution.

Puffball identified

I found the name of the minute grey puffball of a bird that I was
referring to yesterday. It is the bushtit - they often cover the suet
feeder in numbers of nine or more.
More info about this bird is in this link about common garden birds in
this region
http://www.jbwalker.com/WalkerFownes/Hiking/Local/Yard%20birds.shtml

Rice attraction

There was some rather ancient cooked rice in the rice cooker, so I put it out there. A little white mountain on the bird table. When I say bird table, its actually a big honking garden table covered by a green tarpaulin, so it is a large expanse for the feathered creatures to come in to feed and drink and generally make quite a mess. There is now an ongoing drama on this table outside our kitchen window.

Clubfoot crow and his mate Billy barged on to the feeder today. Clubfoot has a lame left foot. He can out his weight down on his foot but the claws just hang there, lifeless and are no use to him. I wonder how that accident happened - a car maybe? I imagine a crow hobblig along is very vunerable. Anyway he gets through and is able to perch and fly with little problem. The crows are very smart, though show little finesse, just ambling straight to the prize - the rice - and take their fill - and then they are off, probably to the next bird table. Makes me wonder what it is like looking down above all the houses from a bird's eye view. Until recently, I never put out any bird seed, now I guess our house is on the list of venures to check out for free food.

The usual routine is happening. Pushy sparrow has scooted the reticent juncos away and is bobbing up and down, eating the seed. A black capped chickadee comes and goes, seemingly unsure as to whether it is safe to eat here or not. I think how lucky I am to experience a slice of their lives - I am enjoying this moment.

Circle of Life

I've been feeding the birds in our back garden. Winter time is particularly tough for those winged creatures. After some research, the winner of the prize for most common visitor to the bird table is: (drum roll, please) - the Oregon junco - a dark hooded bird with white breast, brown wings and a distinctive white flash of colour in the tail that you see when it flies away. The junco comes each day, sometimes just appears just after I open the curtains in the morning. Of course, who the heck knows, it could have been chomping down on the seed from the feeder for hours. A more aggressive visitor is a streaked sparrow - I think it is a Vesper sparrow. It is slightly bigger than the junco with a brown and white streaked breast, quite a handsome bird. There is always enough food on the bird table, but this puppy always shoos away the junco and chases them from their perch in the nearby Japanese maple.

There are also some very small birds I have identified yet - the size of wrens but much longer tails, and they come to the garden in packs of a dozen at least, sometimes twenty or thirty, descending and picking up grubs or hanging on the suet feeder. Equally as suddenly they all take off, as if spooked by something. Strange thing is that they are tame as all get out, as I was walking past them yesterday and must have been two feet away. There they were perching on the clothes line chattering to me.

Yesterday there was a major scare for them, as I caught sight of a hawk in the garden, trying to catch one of them. That is an unusual sight, at least in the back garden. So I am putting out feed, attracting the birds and no doubt rodents, and that in turn is drawing their predators. Life is harsh, but it is vibrant. I love seeing their lively and engaging activity up close.

On the litter route today, I found one brown glove and one green glove, one yellow condom and one pink one. A multi-coloured plethora of goods discarded by humanity. Oh and there were 25 beer bottle caps in the alley. We had a big East Indian wedding in the neighbourhood this week - and there was quite the gathering. The music was really loud, and it went on till all hours, but we really enjoyed the spectacle, with people coming from in from far and wide, dressed in wonderfully outfits to take part in proceedings.

Maybe I shouldn't need a transit ticket at all?

Prior to a month ago, I've been asked for my transit ticket as proof of purchase maybe half a dozen times in five years. Over the past four weeks, I would say I have been asked for my ticket maybe ten times at least. There a blitz on fare dodging. Generally the checks occur as you are entering the transit zone, not as you are leaving. So on those occasions, you can't get onto transit unless you have a ticket, but if you are leaving the zone without a ticket, you are fine. In your dive to the exit, you can dance naked but you'd be sooner fine for public nudity than for being ticket less. I have no problems with these checks, its a minor inconvenience to retrieve the ticket and show it to the bored looking attendant. Of course as you search through your purse is certain that tired looking chad will be stuck between the Red Hot video card and the money off coupon for laxatives. But I wonder how effective these checks are. They seem like a waste of resources, given that the barn door is already wide open elsewhere in the jolly system.

I also travel on the buses. These days you can get on at the back of a lot of buses without showing your ticket. I've never been asked for proof of purchase once I've got on the bus via the back door. I wonder where is the incentive to buy a ticket? I'm thinking either make transit "free" for everyone (with corresponding increase in taxes to pay for it) or have a competent mechanism in place to enforce ticket purchase. A rider pay transit system does seem more equitable than one that is free, since on the face of it, people who never ride the blogtrain shouldn't have to pay for it. But then again couldn't you say that about a lot of public services? Some functions are for the greater good regardless of who uses them. I am in favour of paying taxes to improve health, education and transportation systems for all, not just me. I am sure economists have done the mathematics, maybe they've decided that the taxes required for a "free" transit system would be prohibitive. But maybe its time to reconsider it, divert money away from improving commuter roads, and aim to get more folks to ride public transit instead of spending more money as incentives for people to commute to work in gas guzzling vehicles. Maybe I'm out to lunch, but I am thinking that some day in the not too distant future, the household car will go the way of the dodo. Right now, our home has two, but if there were better transit options, I can see us going down to one car and then none. Yeah, I hear you screech, the proof will be in the pudding (where the hell did that phrase come from ? OK here). It will be a difficult luxury to give up, but I say bring it on.

Where have all the dollars gone? Well here's some of them.

It has been a long time since I posted here. That sounds like something you'd say in the confessional. The sun came out today, and I emerged from under the rain cloud and thought, let's get writing. The raccoons ran amok under the deck, though thank you for the suggestions on how to deal with them. They have disappeared for a while, but no doubt will come back later this year.

Something caught my eye today. It turns out that there are over 900,000 unclaimed bank accounts in Canada worth over $320 million. These accounts have had no activity for over 10 years and the originating bank has tried to find the owner, but to no avail. Being the curious sort, I thought I'd take a look at what makes up some of this massive mountain of crisp green ones. The Bank of Canada has kindly set up a website where you can search to see if there is any dough sitting out there with your name on it. Before we open our copy of Hymns of Praise to page 24 and sing rapturously to the B-of-C, it should be noted that they are actually forced by law to publish this information. So feel free to go search for missing treasure, and the best of luck. Sadly Martha's Muse has no mullah in these accounts, but that doesn't stop me mooching around to see what other people are leaving lying around.

So there's a group that went to all the effort of setting up an account for their Hot Dog Fund and raised $80 but its sitting there in an account dormant for years, darn shame if you ask me. Did they get sick of all the hot dogs and forget about the money? Did they go vegetarian? Who knows ? It makes me wonder. And blow me, if Ducks Unlimited hasn't loads of forgotten accounts worth thousands of dollars, albeit some of it had been paid out by DucksU and not claimed by others. Spend the money, save those ducks, that's what I say. And the list goes on, weddings, funerals, even something related to a birth certificate, sitting waiting to be claimed.

I'm not really into giving to political causes, but I guess it would be good if parties didn't lose track of their donations. It doesn't auger well for their management of the nation's finances when in power. The liberals and the NDP have forgotten about a few dollars, but compared to the conversatives, they're basically the embodiment of Scrooge. Maybe the conservatives just get many more donations.

Ok, we're getting carried away now. How come Fish'n Chips have all this unclaimed cash, its a national disgrace. And not just salt and pepper but vinegar too.

I'm thinking what are the chances of Unknown, Lost & Found for $226 in Ontario ever being claimed? They should donate it to Ducks Unlimited, but wait they're just as profligate. Some of the more curious ones, a fundraiser for Baby Jacob worth $4600. What happened to Jacob, hopefully he got by just fine. There are thousands of unclaimed dollars by tinkers, tailors, soldiers, spies. OK you got me going now, yes there are buckets of long lost spondulies owned by doctors, lawyers, and First Nations groups.

So I am thinking about all these people forgetting about their money. It isn't such a bad thing. They're being less materialistic. They are being human. You sure can't take it with you when you leave this planet. It would be good if the unclaimed money, after a time, could be given towards something that matters. How about giving it to someone who really needs it? Who would that be? No doubt the feds will eventually swallow it up and put it towards the national debt. How about doing something absolutely frivolous with it and sending us all a tub of ice cream, or six. Double chocolate chip for me, thanks. Come to think of it what was the name of that reclusive mega wealthy great great aunt on my mother's side? Sorry, must rush off to see if her millions are still sitting in an account ready to be plundered....

Raccoons do their business - Latest

Its been a while. Rob and Roy the noisy raccoons, visit at regular intervals, and I hesitate to mention it, but I must, they have made the base of our cedar tree their latrine. "Up with this I will not put", to quote Winston Churchill, so we're trying to work out a mechanism of deterring the beasts from visiting in such a manner. Various sticks and staves have been tried to no avail. So if you know how to discourage raccoons (without shooting them), then please meander down to the comments section and leave your advice. It would be so much appreciated.

 
Two masked bandits have been seen on our deck over the past couple of months. Their names are Rob and Roy and they are noisy beasts. 

 This one's a bit spooky.  

 
So I'm wondering if we have a vertically challenged graffiti artist with a insecurity problem in our neighbourhood. 

 
So, in need of a comfy chair? A little damp I grant you but, with a bit of sunshine, it will be in great shape.... This was in a naerby alley, I'm thinking if they think someone passing by is going to pick this up and take it home, they are being a tad optimistic. 

Well I have been out and about, just not written about it. Time to change that. I've not found any dead bodies on my litter route, you'll be pleased to know, very much the usual stuff. My rage against fast food distributers and their consumers continues. There is a direct connection between "Buy Big Mac" and "Be Big LitterBug" - why is that, I wonder?

We've had strange weather in the past month or so. We spotted these icicles on a cliff by the side of the road recently.
  
  

 
I often see these painted fish around our neighbourhood, a reminder to people that what goes down the drain, goes straight into our rivers and streams.



 
This is a recent sight next to our jolly blogtrain...

  
and my first attempt at a snowman for 20 years. Clearly it needs work.

Owners - please claim lost clothing.......

Urgent! - a pair of shoes and a coat have been found. Dubious condition. Clearly someone must be looking for these items. Owner please pick up as soon as possble. (Ok, I know, the men in white coats will be round soon enough).

 
 
  

We came across this icicle hanging from a house - quite beautiful...
  

 
and our jolly bird bath got quite the white hat.... 

Traveller's Tales from the Crypt

I was on a crowded airplane recently. I'd booked my seat ahead of time and chose one of the remaining aisle seats towards the back of the aircraft. There was a woman sitting in the window seat on my row and with me in the aisle, that left one seat in the middle that was so far unoccupied. We both expressed the hope that the seat would remain that way. The woman was very large and obviously cramped in her seat, but that meant that the middle seat was going to be an extremely tight fit. There was a tiny baby in the row in front of us, and she was crying incessantly, oblivious to her mother's attempts to soothe her.

Just as the aircraft doors were being shut, a slim man with dark hair came hastily up the aisle looking for his seat. He sighed as he saw where it was, wedged between the two of us. He looked around the plane rather franticly, noting the screaming baby in the row beside us. I stood up to let him pass, but he insisted, "Oh no, I don't mind at all if you sit in the middle." I was about to laugh and looked at him to see if he was joking but he was perfectly serious. I thanked him but remained standing and he grumpily passed me and sat down to take the middle seat. I didn't feel particularly warm towards him and buried myself in a book about a Scottish GhostWriter. (Which might sound confusing but its nothing to do with apparitions, more about someone writing articles, letters and even books on behalf of someone else. I'll write a review one of these days, it's an interest subject. Ghost writing is apparently considered the second oldest profession in the world).

Anyway back to the plane. I'd decided my male companion was an obnoxious pig for suggesting I sit in the middle. My views soon changed. He started talking to the lady by the window. I hadn't noticed a large brown crucifix hanging down by her waist. It turned out that she was a Catholic sister who lived in a very remote village and was on her way to a family reunion on the other side of the country. It emerged that our friend in the middle was a refugee from Afghanistan and was taking his citizenship test the next day. So CatholicSis gave him a two hour lesson in geo-political history regaling him with what seemed like the name of every river in the country, who the founding fathers were and what colour underpants they wore (ok maybe not, she's a nun after all) and how are local government is run when its at home. She was entertaining for the other passengers, I learned quite a lot about the country that I didn't know, although to be honest, I did't know where her "off" button resided. I wondered if I shook the crucifix, would that have any effect? I half thought she'd been in a closed order and not allowed to talk, and maybe she was making up for lost time.

We also learned that supposedly obnoxious gentleman was en route from a business trip to Japan so Lord only knows how many hours he had been travelling. I forgave him for the indiscretion - if I'd been him after a 15 hour flight, I'd try to avoid another five hours sitting in cramped quarters. All the while the baby in front of us screeched like she was being attacked by three-headed green monsters, except for eerie moments of quiet when a complete stranger from the row behind us, picked up the baby and was able to soothe her for a few minutes before handing her back to the grateful mother. The baby then yelled again for all she was worth.

In between the CatholicSis regaling tales of historical minutae that I'm pretty darn certain are not on anyone's citizenship test, the Afghan trying to understand what the heck she was talking about, a man snoring rather loudly in the row behind us and the relentlessly screaming baby monopolizing attention in front of us, you'll forgive me if I lashed into a bottle of rather good French wine to anaesthetize myself from the effects of such mayhem. By the time we reached our destination, I was rather befuddled and didn't know which way was up, I just needed to get off that damn plane and get to somewhere with a bit of peace and quiet. I then had to contend with a taxi driver who, after a forty dollar cab ride, got extremely upset that I did not have cash. I did happen to have cash on me, but I was damned if I was going to give it to MrStroppyCabDriver, so I stood my ground and insisted on paying him by credit card. When we got to the hotel, I was expected to give a tip to the doorman for moving my luggage for all of ten metres. I gave him a dollar for his pains.

When I finally got to my hotel room late at night, I was exhausted, starving and in a foul mood. So in that frame of mind, I headed down to the hotel dining room in search of food and more adventures .... and that tale is to be continued on another fine day.

Critters and a bunch of cash.....

The question of the day ? Name three events that you have experienced in the past 48 hours.

First, whilst sweeping up the deck I found a dead mouse. Although we detest them with a passion when they are inside the house, I feel sad when I see a dead-un outside the house. We suspect this was the fat little critter we saw a week ago peeking into our kitchen, not seeing us until we were almost on top of him. Anyway I gave him a decent burial in the backyard, which leads me to...

Second, as I was digging a hole for said mouse, I heard a rustling sound in the bamboo. I carried on digging as it was probably a bird. But then out from the undergrowth came this large black and white creature. I jumped a mile in the air as initially I thought it was ElsieSkunk, but no it was a huge raccoon. He was grumpy about being disturbed and definitely not afraid of us. He lumbered off into the neighbour's garden.

And third, I got a call late last week. Lost Property from the BlogTrain called. Noone claimed the money I handed in several weeks ago, so now it is mine to keep. I must admit I never thought I'd see that again, so it was a bit of a pleasant surprise. I waltzed along to the office after work. After showing my id, I am now thirty dollars richer. As I was walking away, the man behind me went up to the counter and said, "My name is Jerry and I'm here to report that I've lost some cash...." and we all laughed.

A local Lantern Festival