Sadie and I went for our usual walk last night, just after sunset. It was dark, but we could still see things farily easily.
No fewer than seven flocks of Canada Geese flew over us, all heading for the sand bar on the river, just below our house.
When we walked this morning, the sandbar was covered with geese, and a large number had been resting along the shoreline (which they quickly left as Sadie and I approached).
This of course, got me thinking. Are there more Canadians in Canada than Canada Geese, or are there more geese than people? If anyone has any ideas, I'd be interested in knowing. If this fall has been any indication, I would think more geese than people. But I'm only a Bear -- what do I know?
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
PHRIDAY PHOTOS
GUESS WHO GOT A HAIR CUT?
Actually more than one hair got cut. She was getting kinda woolly, like a little lamb.
I didn't want Crystal Jigsaw mistaking my puppy for one of her lambs.
Now, this is better.
She actually looks like a poodle -- but she' still only five months. And NO, she won't be getting anything fancier than this for a hair cut for the future. She looks just fine the way she is!
Actually more than one hair got cut. She was getting kinda woolly, like a little lamb.
I didn't want Crystal Jigsaw mistaking my puppy for one of her lambs.
Now, this is better.
She actually looks like a poodle -- but she' still only five months. And NO, she won't be getting anything fancier than this for a hair cut for the future. She looks just fine the way she is!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
WHAT SADIE LIKES
It wasn't so long ago that Nuala and Sadie came to live with us.
Well, the puppies have grown up. Instead of just sleeping in the back porch, Sadie uses it as a guard tower.
Sadie is (usually) a good dog; she has a lot of things she likes.
1. Going for walks.
2. Dog biscuits.
3. Sleeping -- floors, furniture, beds -- wherever.
4. Watching the world.
5. "Playing" with her sister, Nuala (though they play pretty rough).
6. Walkies.
7. Watching the geese on the river.
8. Dog food.
9. Fresh water.
10. Watching other dogs, and trying to play with them if they get close enough.
11. Trying to play with people, if they get close enough.
12. Playing "fetch" with one of her toys.
13. Playing with her toys, and chewing on bones and chew sticks (especially if someone else holds the end of the chew stick).
14. Watching workers in the community.
15. Chewing on spruce cones. (There are lots of spruce tress in our area, which grow seed cones. And seed cones fall to the ground. Sadie loves to pick them up, carry them around, chew them a bit, then drop them. And pick up the next cone she sees.)
16. Did I mention going for walks -- morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
And one other thing.
17. Chewing on things she shouldn't be chewing -- like window sills that are close to the floor. (But she only does that when bored, meaning I've left her too long).
NO! She is not for sale.
(Nuala at two months; 10 pounds)
Well, the puppies have grown up. Instead of just sleeping in the back porch, Sadie uses it as a guard tower.
(Sadie at five months; almost 45 pounds)
Sadie is (usually) a good dog; she has a lot of things she likes.
1. Going for walks.
2. Dog biscuits.
3. Sleeping -- floors, furniture, beds -- wherever.
4. Watching the world.
5. "Playing" with her sister, Nuala (though they play pretty rough).
6. Walkies.
7. Watching the geese on the river.
8. Dog food.
9. Fresh water.
10. Watching other dogs, and trying to play with them if they get close enough.
11. Trying to play with people, if they get close enough.
12. Playing "fetch" with one of her toys.
13. Playing with her toys, and chewing on bones and chew sticks (especially if someone else holds the end of the chew stick).
14. Watching workers in the community.
15. Chewing on spruce cones. (There are lots of spruce tress in our area, which grow seed cones. And seed cones fall to the ground. Sadie loves to pick them up, carry them around, chew them a bit, then drop them. And pick up the next cone she sees.)
16. Did I mention going for walks -- morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
And one other thing.
17. Chewing on things she shouldn't be chewing -- like window sills that are close to the floor. (But she only does that when bored, meaning I've left her too long).
NO! She is not for sale.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
"LET'S GO FOR A WALK"
Those are magical words in Sadie's ears.
For those of you not familiar with her story, Sadie came to our home to walk me.
(Now, mind you, that's not the whole story, but it's a good beginning.)
So, three times a day, we go for a walk (unless I'm in a lot of pain).
"But where do you go?" you might ask.
Well, I'm glad you asked, because I'm going to show you.
We're one house from the end of the block (where there is a "T" intersection). So we go to the end of the block and turn right (head west).
At the end of this block there is a park, which I've mentioned before. (We'll turn left and head south.)
(Holiday Park)
Across from Abbeyfield, the Park continues. (You've seen the reverse angle of this picture.)
At the end of the block, we get to the Bowerman House.
This was the "hunting lodge" of Allan Bowerman, head of one of our city's early prominent families. It was quite a bit outside the city when it was built (in 1907), at the edge of a ravine, not far from the river.
Then, things changed.
It's 1925, and a Tuberculosis Sanatorium is built next to the Bowerman property. It was far enough out of the city to be "safe" but close enough to be easily serviceable from the city. Bowerman, a land developer, had sold the "lodge" a few years earlier, when the city went from boom to bust. The home became the residence of the Sanitorium Director. (That land from the Bowerman house, up to and including Abbeyfield House, held residences for other doctors at "The San." )
(Site of the former main buildings at "The San.")
When the buildings were demolished in the mid 1980s, the arrangement at the time is that this would stay a park, and no new buildings would go up, except where that had already been buildings. One building has now been put in place.
This is on the west side of the property, where the Nurses' Residence was located. (In one of the congregations I served in the city, there was a woman who had been a nurse at The San during WW2.) This building has some of the outline features of the old residence. (The architect must have done his/her homework.)
This is a low-rent public housing project. Very nicely done. Not at all your typical "Council flats."
We turn our backs on the housing, and walk the trail to the south-east, until we come to the river.
There are still a few geese who have not left, yet. In fact, there will be geese on the river all winter. A mile (more or less) upstream from here there is an electricity generating plant, named in honour of HRM Elizabeth II. The "Queen E Power Plant" (as it is known locally) used coal to generate power through turbines. Those were converted more recently to natural gas. But the plant still needs water (primarily for cooling, I understand). So cold water is taken out of the river, and it is replaced by warm water. No pollution, I'm told; just water exchange. Hence, the geese have a relatively nice place.
You'll also notice ice pans beginning to form on the river. That starts at about -10°C. If we get warm weather, those little thin sheets disappear. But in the cold of winter, the river will freeze right over, except for openings where the current is strongest.
From here, we turn left, and head north for about half a kilometre.
The "Turret house" is interesting. It was built as a modified A-frame house. The original owner, so the story goes, had a piano, which was to move to the upper floor. But the stairs were not big enough. Hence the turret was added on, so the piano could be hauled upstairs.
To this point, we've travelled about a kilometre. If I want to cut the walk short, particularly if I'm having trouble walking, we can turn left here. Our property is located across the back lane from the Turret House, so we're within 100 yards of home at this point.
(To be continued.)
For those of you not familiar with her story, Sadie came to our home to walk me.
(Now, mind you, that's not the whole story, but it's a good beginning.)
So, three times a day, we go for a walk (unless I'm in a lot of pain).
"But where do you go?" you might ask.
Well, I'm glad you asked, because I'm going to show you.
We're one house from the end of the block (where there is a "T" intersection). So we go to the end of the block and turn right (head west).
At the end of this block there is a park, which I've mentioned before. (We'll turn left and head south.)
(Holiday Park)On the east side of the road is Abbeyfield House, a home for seniors. I have known the manager for a number of years; one of the staff I have known (through Scouting) since our earliest years in Saskatoon.
Across from Abbeyfield, the Park continues. (You've seen the reverse angle of this picture.)
At the end of the block, we get to the Bowerman House.
This was the "hunting lodge" of Allan Bowerman, head of one of our city's early prominent families. It was quite a bit outside the city when it was built (in 1907), at the edge of a ravine, not far from the river.
Then, things changed.
It's 1925, and a Tuberculosis Sanatorium is built next to the Bowerman property. It was far enough out of the city to be "safe" but close enough to be easily serviceable from the city. Bowerman, a land developer, had sold the "lodge" a few years earlier, when the city went from boom to bust. The home became the residence of the Sanitorium Director. (That land from the Bowerman house, up to and including Abbeyfield House, held residences for other doctors at "The San." )
(Site of the former main buildings at "The San.")
This is on the west side of the property, where the Nurses' Residence was located. (In one of the congregations I served in the city, there was a woman who had been a nurse at The San during WW2.) This building has some of the outline features of the old residence. (The architect must have done his/her homework.)
This is a low-rent public housing project. Very nicely done. Not at all your typical "Council flats."
We turn our backs on the housing, and walk the trail to the south-east, until we come to the river.
There are still a few geese who have not left, yet. In fact, there will be geese on the river all winter. A mile (more or less) upstream from here there is an electricity generating plant, named in honour of HRM Elizabeth II. The "Queen E Power Plant" (as it is known locally) used coal to generate power through turbines. Those were converted more recently to natural gas. But the plant still needs water (primarily for cooling, I understand). So cold water is taken out of the river, and it is replaced by warm water. No pollution, I'm told; just water exchange. Hence, the geese have a relatively nice place.
You'll also notice ice pans beginning to form on the river. That starts at about -10°C. If we get warm weather, those little thin sheets disappear. But in the cold of winter, the river will freeze right over, except for openings where the current is strongest.
From here, we turn left, and head north for about half a kilometre.
The "Turret house" is interesting. It was built as a modified A-frame house. The original owner, so the story goes, had a piano, which was to move to the upper floor. But the stairs were not big enough. Hence the turret was added on, so the piano could be hauled upstairs.
To this point, we've travelled about a kilometre. If I want to cut the walk short, particularly if I'm having trouble walking, we can turn left here. Our property is located across the back lane from the Turret House, so we're within 100 yards of home at this point.
(To be continued.)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
REMEMBRANCE DAY
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918), Canadian Army.
McCrae died of pneumonia on January 28, 1918, while still commanding No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in France. That may have been the same hospital at which my uncle died the previous spring, a victim of wounds suffered in the Canadian offensive at Vimy Ridge.
√
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918), Canadian Army.
McCrae died of pneumonia on January 28, 1918, while still commanding No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in France. That may have been the same hospital at which my uncle died the previous spring, a victim of wounds suffered in the Canadian offensive at Vimy Ridge.
√
Sunday, November 8, 2009
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
SOMETHING NEW
√
When Sadie and I were out walking yesterday morning (fairly early) we managed to flush a Roughed Grouse.
No, Sadie didn't find it, I did. And she's supposed to be the "gun dog" (category set out by various Kennel Clubs for Standard Poodles as a breed, along with other types of what most folk call "hunting dogs").
But that's OK. She's still just a puppy, so I'm still not expecting (or trying not to expect) too much of her. Besides, the only hunting I ever do is for stay sheep -- of the two-legged variety. She might be helpful when it comes to that. Who knows what life will bring?
SOMETHING OLD
√
Canada Geese, just south of our house. A massive flotilla of them today, stretched out in larger and smaller groups along a half-mile stretch of the river. (Or three-quarters of a mile.) Every so often a group would let out their "group yell (or "group honk") and lift off the water. Sometimes others joined in; sometimes not. All heading north. (I didn't say geese were the smartest birds in all creation; I think they're trying to go south by flying over the North Pole. From there, everything is south, right?) I can't explain it. I suppose they wheel around and head south once they're out of the river banks, which are a bit higher along this part of the river.
Otherwise, just commenting on a provincial pandemic plan -- and trying to keep colleagues up to speed. And learning to cook yam, in order to have some ready for tomorrow morning. I've got a recipe of a yam and banana breakfast, done in a frying pan. It says you cook the yam first. So I had some for supper and will try something new for breakfast. It isn't hunny, but I guess is it will be OK. Hey -- maybe I should put some hunny on it! (We'll see -- Bear might be out of hunny tonight.)
√
When Sadie and I were out walking yesterday morning (fairly early) we managed to flush a Roughed Grouse.
No, Sadie didn't find it, I did. And she's supposed to be the "gun dog" (category set out by various Kennel Clubs for Standard Poodles as a breed, along with other types of what most folk call "hunting dogs").
But that's OK. She's still just a puppy, so I'm still not expecting (or trying not to expect) too much of her. Besides, the only hunting I ever do is for stay sheep -- of the two-legged variety. She might be helpful when it comes to that. Who knows what life will bring?
SOMETHING OLD
√
Canada Geese, just south of our house. A massive flotilla of them today, stretched out in larger and smaller groups along a half-mile stretch of the river. (Or three-quarters of a mile.) Every so often a group would let out their "group yell (or "group honk") and lift off the water. Sometimes others joined in; sometimes not. All heading north. (I didn't say geese were the smartest birds in all creation; I think they're trying to go south by flying over the North Pole. From there, everything is south, right?) I can't explain it. I suppose they wheel around and head south once they're out of the river banks, which are a bit higher along this part of the river.
Otherwise, just commenting on a provincial pandemic plan -- and trying to keep colleagues up to speed. And learning to cook yam, in order to have some ready for tomorrow morning. I've got a recipe of a yam and banana breakfast, done in a frying pan. It says you cook the yam first. So I had some for supper and will try something new for breakfast. It isn't hunny, but I guess is it will be OK. Hey -- maybe I should put some hunny on it! (We'll see -- Bear might be out of hunny tonight.)
Friday, November 6, 2009
PHRIDAY PHOTOS
Once upon a time (the way all good stories start, right?) . . .
we invited two little puppies into our household. They were named Nuala and Sadie.
Remember when Nuala was so small and cute?
(Nuala at the window; 2 months of age; 10 pounds)
Well, the puppies have grown a bit, to about four times the size they were when they arrived.
(Sadie sleeping on the love seat; 5 months; 40 pounds)
You'll notice Sadie more than half fills the love seat. When the puppies first arrived, they were little balls of fluff that would easily fit in the corner where Sadie's rump is resting. By time the pups are fully-grown dogs, each will fill the love seat. Their bodies will get a bit bigger, and their legs will get much longer. (Our previous Standard Poodles looked like a mass of legs with a bit of a body when they were lying down.)
Yesterday, Nuala lost her first tooth. Yup, that time is coming. A whole new set of teeth by six months (more or less). Both of them. All that chewing is not in vain. (Ive only lost a couple of fingers, so far.)
Reminds me of the story of a little boy whose pup had lost a tooth. He had figured out that, when he lost a tooth, if he put it under his pillow at night, the tooth fairy would take it and leave a coin in exchange. The youngster, ever the entrepreneur, decided he would try the same thing with the puppy's tooth.
When he awoke in the morning, and checked under his pillow, an exchange had taken place. He found a dog biscuit.
we invited two little puppies into our household. They were named Nuala and Sadie.
Remember when Nuala was so small and cute?
(Nuala at the window; 2 months of age; 10 pounds)Well, the puppies have grown a bit, to about four times the size they were when they arrived.
(Sadie sleeping on the love seat; 5 months; 40 pounds)You'll notice Sadie more than half fills the love seat. When the puppies first arrived, they were little balls of fluff that would easily fit in the corner where Sadie's rump is resting. By time the pups are fully-grown dogs, each will fill the love seat. Their bodies will get a bit bigger, and their legs will get much longer. (Our previous Standard Poodles looked like a mass of legs with a bit of a body when they were lying down.)
Yesterday, Nuala lost her first tooth. Yup, that time is coming. A whole new set of teeth by six months (more or less). Both of them. All that chewing is not in vain. (Ive only lost a couple of fingers, so far.)
Reminds me of the story of a little boy whose pup had lost a tooth. He had figured out that, when he lost a tooth, if he put it under his pillow at night, the tooth fairy would take it and leave a coin in exchange. The youngster, ever the entrepreneur, decided he would try the same thing with the puppy's tooth.
When he awoke in the morning, and checked under his pillow, an exchange had taken place. He found a dog biscuit.
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