sparky’s shift report

With the warmer weather they are many signs of spring. Birds, geese, grass, goofy dogs, dirty dogs, water in the ditches, lighter jackets, lots of sun, no windchills, no more winter boots, no gloves, and kittens.

Yes, one of the females at the barn was looking very wide recently. She usually comes out to eat when I go to feed them, but I didn’t see her Friday. Saturday afternoon my husband went to feed the cats and heard tiny meows coming from in the barn.

He found 4 little kittens. I went to look and took a few pictures. Mom was not happy with me and jumped off her little ones and I took some shots all the while hearing a low pitched growl.

There were several cats in the barn, usually they scatter when I come, but I think they were all a little excited with these new additions.

The next day, mom and her kittens were gone. We could faintly hear some meows, but a search turned up nothing. We think she took them up into the loft in the barn. Only being 2 days old, it will be a while before they come out. But I will be waiting. I have 3 possible homes lined up.

I wasn’t going to get attached to all these cats, 16 so far plus 4 new kittens makes 20. The son of the deceased women isn’t too concerned with dealing with the cats, so they will just multiply. If I can find the kittens some homes, at least I am giving them a chance.

In early December, the elderly lady down the road passed away. Her husband died 8 years earlier. Since December, I have been feeding the barn cats. It appears the elderly lady had a love for animals and during her final days in hospital apparently would ask her son how all the animals were doing. Taking food and water to these cats on a daily basis has been interesting. The cats are feral and over the past few months have become much more tolerant of my presence in the barn. The routine is the same. Lift the wood off the door, open the barn door, march right in.

This past Wednesday before heading out to my university class, I stopped to feed the cats on my way. Sometimes I walk to the barn, sometimes I drive to the barn, sometimes I talk both dogs with me and tie them to the hydro pole while I feed them. This particular day, as I marched into the barn, my foot and a skunk’s rear end almost connected. I have never moved so fast. Luckily, it did not spray. Unfortunately, the cats did not get fed that night.

Upon my return to the barn the next day, I opened the door with caution, slowly entered and slowly looked around. As I made my way into the barn, I was on a constant lookout for the skunk. It was no where to be found and at least 8 of the cats were very happy to see me and some food. As I left, I wondered if in fact it really was a skunk I saw.

When I work 12 hour day shifts, my husband goes to feed the cats. Turns out there is a skunk, as he too met up with it 2 days ago. Thankfully it did not spray him either. It is a known fact that cats and skunks get along. But in this instance the addition of the skunk is not welcome. About 5 years back, our neighbor beside inherited a skunk problem when they moved into the home. After successfully trapping and subsequently shooting the skunks, and eliminating their home under the porch, we have been skunk free. Thankfully, they still had a trap.

So the trap sits beside the barn. It has sardines in it, hoping to lure a hungry skunk. So far, all we have caught is a cat. My husband explained to me that if the door is down, there is something in the trap. If a paw comes out, it is a cat, and just let it out. But just to be sure, shine a flashlight into the hole of the trap to check before opening the door. On my morning check, the trap was still set, but not a sardine in sight. So I re-baited the trap, and I will go to check it soon.

I have never taken a winter vacation somewhere warm. Lying on a beach somewhere drinking endless margaritas, although appealing in the short term, would have me bored by the second day.

After short deliberation, a friend and I decided to pick the spontaneous straw and do something fun. We planned a short trip to San Diego, California. Why? Not really sure why we picked San Diego, but sure glad we did. We spent 5 nights which gave us 4 full days, and half day and a travel day. We actually flew to LA, then rented a car and drove to San Diego. We had lots of plans for our short stay and San Diego didn’t disappoint. Luck seemed to be on our side at several turns we made. The weather was good when we needed it to be, the ocean was calm the day we took the nature cruise and after endless searches for a Cold Stone, we found one when we really need some ice cream.

The Wild Animal Park was great

Our Nature Cruise was fun, and we saw whales, sea lions, harbour seals, dolphins, birds, birds, and birds. It was a little rough around the islands we went to and although my nausea passed, my friend’s did not. At least we can still laugh about and both agree we would do it again.

Dead Man’s Island, one of two islands we visited were 16 miles from San Diego Harbour

The Cabrillo National Monument, not originally part of our plans turned out to be a great day. We did a hike, explored both sides of the point, put our feet in the ocean and took in the views.

The Polar Bear Plunge at the San Diego Zoo was spectacular. These two guys were so much fun to watch, in part to the cool rainy weather.

I would definately return to San Diego to go to all the places we didn’t get to and a few places we discovered while we were there.

Today’s weather forecast is -33°C with the windchill up to -46°C.

I will be spending my time indoors thank you!

I am off this week, using up vacation time and not going anywhere. I have chosen to use my time wisely (something I rarely do) and reveiw my Stats notes and practice questions. I have one final class, Statistics 1000 to complete before receiving my BN. I hear from others how hard the class is, how some people had to take it more than once and so on. The ongoing problem with this class at the University of Manitoba is that for as long as I can remember, people have said how the professors don’t know how to teach this class.

Well, I can certainly agree with that. Really the course itself so far has not been difficult, that is once you get it. And I get it, at least so far.

So heres hoping it goes well. The Midterm in March 1 and this is the first time EVER I have seriously reviewed material this far in advance. I cannot and will not repeat this course.

By the way, big party planned after completing this course and subsequently my degree.

We have several chances during our winter months to see beautiful displays of hoar frost. Such was the sight after coming home after a 12 hour night shift. As inviting as a nice warm bed was, I couldn’t help but dress warm and explore the fantastics photo opportunities around the yard.

Why is it that everything goes up in price except bananas? We still pay the about the same price per pound for bananas that we did 25 years ago. Has anyone thought of using bananas for fuel to run our cars?

I thought perhaps I would just display some helpful hints on how to clean off a ham bone. I baked this huge whole leg of ham for Christmas dinner. I love ham, one of my favorites, but it has to be the real stuff, the kind that comes with the bone. So the next day, I cut the leftover ham off the bone and then freeze it for leftovers. Of course when you get near the bone, it gets a little difficult to cut it off. My solution? Give it to the dogs.

Lady got a little greedy, but suprisingly didn’t growl or snap at Bear.

It really was quite the scene, both dogs trying to get at any remaining meat. Luckily, I kept all my fingers!

We have 2 dogs and 1 cat. And that means hair. I do my best to keep the house clean. When I cook or bake, especially for others, I have a strict rule about a clean kitchen. I was finishing up baking some cookies the other day, when I heard some heavy breathing. Thinking Bear was in the hallway, I was shocked to find him here.

I honestly had no idea he was sleeping under the table, don’t even know when he went under there.

Eventually the cookies were iced and dipped in coconut, his hair should blend right in!

What a goof he is!

I love the outdoors and with the exception of snakes, just about everything living thing that comes with it. I enjoy nature and usually spot something that makes me smile daily.

When we built our house 15 years ago, the land was just a field. Sure there were trees and bush around, but non on this little 5 acre plot of land. The spring we starting building was the spring we plants hundreds of trees. Now 15 years later, those trees have really grown and have provided shelter to more birds each year.

This may make me sound old, but I love watching birds. I have visions of bird feeders outside the common room of the personal care home when I say this. My dad has always been successful in attracting all kinds of birds in the town where they live. In addition to the usual sparrows, crows, and magpies, I regularly see blue jays, juncos, finches, hummingbirds and more. Of course the activity increases in the spring to fall seasons. So you can imagine by delight when I saw this big guy.

I am used to seeing smaller woodpeckers, flickers and sapsuckers, but not an pileated woodpecker. Only once before have I see this bird on our yard. I had to hurry to take the picture and it was taken through the window. I don’t know where this guy lives, but hopefully I will see him again.

We live a short 20 minute drive from Bird’s Hill Provincial Park. In the 15 years I have lived where I live, this is the first year I have used the park. It all started with inline skates this past spring and summer. This new activity was lots of fun, and the park had the perfect area to skate. A friend from work joined me and we had good times.

As the weather cooled, and the leaves fell, the road was less than perfect for skating. So I turned to walking. One of the courses I am currently taking involves an assignment in the process of changing a health behaviour. I choose exercise, more specifically walking on a regular basis. So this friend of mine from work, upon hearing of my new exercise plan, indicated she too would like to do something on a regular basis as well. We decided to meet up at the park and just go for a walk. There is a wonderful paved path that winds around the beach and lake and through the forest, past deer, and turkeys, birds and squirrels.

We set out enthusiastically to walk down the path. Not knowing the length of it, we walk, and walk and walk. “I think we are almost done” came out of my mouth more than once. Well, 1 hour and 4 miles later and we were done!

Each time after this we both brought along our dogs, my Bear, her Lucy. What a great time each of these walks has been.

Last week, as I was driving to the park (just me and Bear), a local talk show was revisiting the pollution problems in Beijing and the upcoming Olympic games. I was shocked to hear that due to that pollution some countries will be housing their atheletes in alternate locations (countries) and then flying them in the day before they compete. A runner also explained how sick he got after jogging in local race. The show went on to indicate that despite an attempt to cut down on pollution (ie cars with license plates starting with a particular letter could only drive on certain days), the residents were not complying.

When I got to the park I was the only one parked in the lot by the trail. As we walked along the trail, we saw some deer, lots of birds and squirrels. The air was clean and crisp, the day perfect. The beach was deserted for another year. What a gem this little park has come to be to me. My only disappointment was I hadn’t used it sooner. I am looking forward to testing out the cross country ski trails this winter. And Bear, well he goes nuts each time we go too. At least he won’t let me forget it is there.