Choices - Decisions 08/22/2009
Perhaps you have heard someone say "I am of two minds about it" when confronted with a decision to make - not knowing which way to go - which choice to make. Well, it seems it's not only humans that have this difficulty. One day I was out picking cones off the lawn that had been blown down from the fir trees in my yard. I gather them up to use as mulch on an area where I removed the grass. It was much to hot and dry in that particular spot, so I tore up the grass, put down old used carpet, some black cloth on top, and am in the process of covering it with cones from the trees. I did a section of the yard like that last year and it has worked out very well, so I extended the area this spring.  Using Cones for Mulch The section on the right is full of fir cones instead of wood shavings. Looks just as good and works well for areas that don't get much traffic - and the price is right! It just makes sense not to pay to remove them and then pay to get mulch. But to get back to being of two minds - the neighbour happened to be outside as well and called to me to point out a young squirrel slowly moving along the top of the fence between our yards. The squirrel desperately wanted to get up into the safety of my fir tree (where he/she often spends time by the look of the peanut shells beneath it!). I was between the squirrel and the tree. The squirrel would look at me and take a few steps, then stop and look some more. Obviously not certain whether I was friend or foe, it was weighing the importance of reaching that particular tree for safety against the threat that I may pose. Now, I should be honest and admit that the squirrel and I have had eye to eye contact before, so it did have a history on which to base its decision to take one last charge across the last few feet and up the tree, where it lay along a branch and watched me some more. The camera, of course, was several feet away from me on the patio table! No good at all over there! But I do have some previous pictures of a squirrel that will do. This may well be one of its offspring. Who's to know? Although I reluctantly admit I do talk to it, I haven't yet had an answer back (chuckle, chuckle).  Squirrel Deciding which way to go. But, without trying to give animals human feelings, I could see/sense what was going on in its brain, because I have had that dilemma myself. Not certain whether what I wanted to do was really worth the risk I had to take to accomplish the job. I used to sit and write a list of pros and cons and 'logic' it to death. Now I just try to listen to what my heart says, because I have found that logic may not send you in the right direction. Like the little squirrel, sometimes taking that chance is what you want to do, what you need to do, and not half the risk you expect it to be. Another Old Car Show 08/16/2009
Went to another car show in August. This one was in Keremeos, about 3/4 hour drive. It's not a big show by any means, but there are always some good looking cars come, and family usually enter cars, so it's a good time to visit. I also like taking photos of old cars because there are some interesting angles, and usually some cool chrome styling.  This is what they often start out looking like!     But with lots of work and some cash thrown in, they end up looking like these.  I think this one was my favourite this time around.   This is a farming, winery and fruit producing area with some history to it, so there were other old things there too besides the cars. Old tractors, including a steam tractor, and other pieces of equipment that have been used. Not exactly certain what the thing is on the right, but I was curious enough to take a picture of It. The fellow showing it wasn't there to ask at the time. Any guesses? I thought maybe a sluice box (because there is gold in the river), but I could be totally wrong. It could be something for juicing apples, but I couldn't see where the juice would end up. At least, nowhere that I would want to drink it from!! No idea what the right answer is, but I would love to hear your guesses. Wilderness Garden 08/11/2009
You would think from the pictures that I live in the wilderness - but I don't - I live in town. It's just that the deer do too. They don't seem to be bothered by cars, trucks, quads, snowmobiles, or people...... they just wander on to where ever they were heading. This one and (presumably) her brother seem to have adopted my yard as part of their territory. They like it here.  She just wasn't going to get up out of the cool spot unless she was forced.... and I don't blame her.  I don't know about her, but I would rather be at the lake cooling off! | Author
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