cardinal virtue

This is not the best photo in terms of focus and composition but I want Kim to see the cardinal who visited the bird feeder today. It is a great photo for sharing excitement over the visit from a pretty bird who gets a rare chance to snack while the squirrels are otherwise occupied. Apologies to my Dad who was a bit startled when I shrieked and ran upstairs to get the camera. I think he might have recovered now :) I gave him a chocolate cookie.

acrobat

This grey squirrel has never gone for the suet before -- until now he? she? has been a seed-only squirrel. It seems that the seed barrier is working and, necessity being the mother of invention, grey squirrel is learning to love suet. I wonder how eating while hanging upside down affects squirrel digestion. [I am pretty sure I mean affects and not effects but I am having a serious bout of grammar doubt. Kim will know. Maybe she will tell us.]

unfoiled

foiled?

I squirrel-proofed the birdfeeders with frisbees. So far it seems to be working. The squirrels are a little miffed but do not worry about them. I put out some seed on the table as a peace offering and lots of seed falls to the ground and they seem to enjoy that. Perhaps I should get them a new corn chair.

raiders

The squirrels love the new food source. This guy had his body wrapped around the seed feeder and was gorging on the BIRD food. He is a bit of a showboat. When I got the camera, he clambered up the tree to pose in front of the window.

birdfeeders

Kim bought these two birdfeeders.

changes revised

Our garden has not fared too well under the new regime. The new owner took possession 2 weeks ago and already the fence side flowers have been replaced with garlic plants, our community garden has been turned into a garbage dump - gasoline containers have been flung on top of our unharvested herbs rendering them toxic - and our tools have put out of their storage space and left to rust in the rain.

goodbye adela

Adela and I worked at the school board together. We are both literacy workers but our work together was mostly at the union: first at CUPE Local 3452 and then, after amalgamation, at CUPE Local 4400.

Adela was chief steward at 3452 when I started working at the school board. I became a steward and she was my chief. Later, when Adela was elected Vice President, I became chief steward and she was still my chief. And what a chief she was—a funny, feisty warrior who led us and mentored us through good times and hard times with grace, humour and smarts.

This picture is from the Toronto Day of Action on October 26, 1996. Adela was a marshal for the parade. I always remember how beautiful and uplifting it was to come around the corner and see her standing there in the sunshine smiling and clapping for us. It was an amazing day and Adela was an amazing woman. The whole universe will miss her but especially those of us who knew her.