Making Coffee

Prior to COVID-19, I never had a coffee maker but visiting cafés is on hold for now.  I love this one because it is so easy to use.  

Here are the simple steps: 

1) fill the tall steel mug with water;

2) pour that water into the coffee maker's tank;

3) place the plastic cup and filter into the coffee maker;

4) add the ground coffee;

5) plug in, switch on, wait.

Ok, very simple right?  

Well, here are the various scenarios that have happened (with some disastrous results):

1) I've forgotten to add the water;

2) I've added the water to the mug but forgotten to pour it into the tank;

3) I've added the water to the tank but forgotten to add the coffee;

4) I've added the coffee but before putting in the plastic cup and filter;

5) I've added the coffee and water but forgotten to plug it in;

6)  I've plugged it in but forgotten to switch it on.

Now, with my coffee I have a toasted bagel with peanut butter.  

Here is my latest scenario regarding the toaster (which luckily has no separate pieces):

1)  I've forgotten to plug in the toaster;

2)  I've spread the peanut butter on the bagel prior to toasting.

The problem is:  I need a cup of coffee in order to be alert enough to make a cup of coffee!! 

Childhood photos

Today, at 71 years old, I have been given photographs of me (and my siblings) that I have never seen before! It has been wonderful to see these glimpses of the past.  

I thought I would share some of these "new" photos here along with others that I have.  (Captions are beneath each picture.)

My sister Diane at left, my brother Nelson in the middle, and me (Doris).  I am not sure of our ages.  This is my all time favourite photograph of the three of us!

This one is dated 1952.  I am two years old. This is my second favourite group photo.

Again, this one is not dated but I just love our expressions and Nelson looks like a real little scamp!

Nelson, Mum (Mabel), Diane and Doris - 1954

Dad (Ronald), Nelson, Diane and Doris - 1954 (on my 4th birthday)

A rare colour photograph of the three of us!

Nelson and Doris with Santa!

Front row:  Mum (Mabel), Grandpa (Thomas - Mum's father), Dad (Ronald)

Back row:  Nelson and Doris

Update on the Cooper's hawks and the trees

If you recall, the administration of the cemetery where the hawks were nesting had marked two trees flanking the "nest tree" for felling but actions were taken to allow the hawks to fledge safely and take to the skies.  See earlier post here 

Below is a photo of one of the young hawks that was taken in late October.  I haven't seen the parents or the other four juveniles but that is not a cause for alarm since this seems to be their pattern.  Actually I hope this guy has decided to migrate as the weather is quite cold now.

Some interesting activities have happened regarding the trees.  For one thing, red tapes have been taken off some trees and put on others.  It seems willy-nilly to  me and I can see no reason for the change of targets (in terms of the condition or location of the trees).

As for the two trees mentioned earlier, they have not been felled but did remain marked (red tape on trunks) until a film crew arrived on November 6th to film a scene involving a burial.  This in itself was interesting and I tried to discover what the TV show or movie was, but I could not find anything to indicate that.  However I read on the Internet that the show "Transplant" is currently filming in Montreal.  In any event, I noticed that the red tapes were removed!  I figured it may have been just for aesthetic reasons and that they might re-appear after the actors and crew, etc. had left.  But they have not been put back and suddenly red tape has appeared elsewhere on the grounds (see photos).

This is a pole.  It hold up wires and a light.  It does not normally get "felled".

This is a metal pole.  It holds up a light.  

Again, not something that is normally cut down.

I would like to think that someone is making a statement about the killing of so many trees that has occurred within the cemetery and on the surrounding grounds.  I hope the cemetery authorities get the message!

Living With Misophonia

 

I have lived for most of my life with a condition that I had no idea existed or had a name until ten years ago.  That name is misophonia. The word literally means “hatred of sound” and it is now becoming a subject of scientific research, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44084-8. 

It may sound bizarre to those without the condition but perhaps this example can illustrate it:  imagine being locked in a room where someone continually scrapes their fingernails down a blackboard.

My misophonia is a major influence on where I live, where I go, and who I can be around. 

In the workplace (I am now retired) I was subjected to “sound triggers” like gum chewing, sniffing, humming, and whistling.  With misophonia there are also visual triggers.  Just the sight of a person’s jaw moving, or their foot rotating or twiddling of thumbs evokes feelings of rage and anxiety that make me want to bolt from the room.

Office layouts would change over time as dictated by the latest trends.  Separate offices were the norm until the open concept was adopted, then later on, cubicles became the “in” thing.  The open concept was always the worst for me as I could hear and see people all around me.  Each layout or personnel change brought with it the fear of new triggering situations. 

Then there are the social get-togethers.  Consider that you are at a family event when suddenly you become aware of a close family member (whom you love) rotating their foot as they sit on the couch.  You are in such discomfort that you look for any way to escape or avoid the sight.  You try to find a way to block it from your view (I have awkwardly propped cushions on my lap to do that) or you go and sit at a far table instead of the couch but the hostess calls you back and kindly says “sit here, be comfortable”.  But you can not be comfortable.  You are writhing inside.

I have, after considerable anguish, decided to tell people what is bothering me and often they have been considerate and kind.  One friend told me “Tell me whatever bothers you and I won’t do it” which was wonderful, and a family member said “Just signal to me when I am doing it” but these things are done unconsciously and it is very hard to keep interrupting someone’s conversation to ask them to stop rotating their foot, or sniffing, etcetera.

When discussing with one friend about her gum chewing, she told me that she needed to do it for her dry mouth, and then when she did stop, she would tell me how much she missed it.  On two later occasions, she chewed gum while one other person was present, thinking, I guess, that I would be inhibited from mentioning it in front of them.  These passive-aggressive actions seriously damaged our friendship.

I am now 71, and like many aging people, I live with the knowledge that at some point I can lose my autonomy and be forced to live in a setting that is not of my choosing.  A person with misophonia faces even greater anxiety on this score.  Will I be able to have noise-cancelling headphones and white noise machines at all times?  Will I be able to avoid the triggering sounds and visual cues that put me into a state of torment and anxiety?

I hope that with greater awareness, people will come to understand the serious nature of this condition and how some thoughtful accommodations can help to ease the misery of it.

I'm Seeing Red - Literally and Figuratively

 

I'm sorry to say that this is an angry and sad posting.

Everywhere I look these days, I am seeing red.  Tree trunks are sprayed with red paint or encircled by red tape and it is distressing.  It seems as though there has been all this pent up frustration during the pandemic that is now being unleashed and trees are falling at an alarming rate.  And the vast majority are not dead or diseased trees. 

The photo above shows three felled Eastern Cottonwood trees (many decades old) at the edge of a dirt road behind CEGEP Saint-Laurent (Saint-Laurent College).  I was shocked to see them marked for cutting and tried to reach out to the college before they all came down but to no avail.  No one would reply to me. This is a college which boasts of a spiritual connection with the Environment and has achieved the "Excellence level" of the province's "CEGEP Vert" certification. 

And this was just the beginning.  Chainsaws have been roaring on the campus for close to two months now.  Young, healthy Maple trees are being cut down, bushes are being ripped out, and vines are being torn down.  Nesting birds are given no consideration and many mammals (voles, rabbits, groundhogs and squirrels) have lost vital cover to protect them from predators.

I was not the only person disturbed by all this destruction and in my many walks in the area, I met others who lamented the killing.  Someone wrote the trees' ages on their stumps.  

I was inspired to write as well.  The first one says " Why? Pourquoi?", and the second one says " Why did you kill me?"

Below is another view of the three slain Cottonwoods.

And then there was a healthy Maple tree in which I had photographed Warblers, Cardinals and Eastern Phoebes among its branches this spring.  It also gave shelter to an Eastern Cottontail under its low slung branches.  Below are before and after shots.

I contacted the mayor of Saint-Laurent on this issue to find out what was happening and he told me that the college had applied for permits to cut down 16 trees.  He said the applicant is supposed to declare them to be dead, diseased or posing a safety threat.  I don't see that here!

These killings, combined with at least 7 trees slated for cutting in the Saint-Laurent Cemetery, plus 2 more on private land nearby and 5 more in city green spaces, have made this a very sad summer.

The only positive note was the protection of the hawks (see previous post) but that, too, involves the killing of trees – it is just a delayed execution.

Here is a poem I wrote a few years ago:

The Cutting

Chainsaws roar and spit.

Helpless – trees submit

to the death machines.

No one intervenes.

Standing in silence.

Facing the violence.

Without a choice.

Without a voice.

Left where they lie

to slowly die.

Stumps jut through 

leafy branches ...

Instant tombstones – 

with rings as

poignant epitaphs.

(from the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

The Hawks Are Safe And Flying!

One of the parents enjoying a puddle bath

As you may recall, in April I reported that the Cooper’s Hawks were nesting again this year in the Saint-Laurent Cemetery. See post here.

Since then, however, a number of things happened that caused me to fear for the safety of the baby hawks.  In early June I noticed red ribbons on each of two trees flanking the “hawk tree”.  This meant that those trees were slated for felling. This became an urgent issue because the trees could be cut down at any time and there were nestlings at this point.  These adjacent trees were so close that their branches over-lapped with those of the hawk’s tree, and therefore the felling of them (with the big trucks, commotion and loud noises) could make the parents abandon the nest. 

I immediately wrote a letter to the cemetery administration explaining the location of the nest and my concerns.  I received no reply for several days so I sent a follow up letter with photos of the occupied nest and asked a good friend, Georges Dupras, to write as well.  Georges went one step further and copied the mayor of Saint-Laurent, Alan DeSousa.  With neither my letters nor Georges’ getting a reply from the cemetery, the mayor assigned the issue to a city planning advisor, Jacinthe Daprato, for action.

In the meantime, I discovered that there were five nestlings!  This information and more details were passed on to Ms Daprato and I was very pleased to learn on July 5th that the cemetery had been instructed by the city to leave all trees standing until mid-August in order to protect these birds.

Her reply to me (translated from the French) stated in part: “After discussions with the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, and under the law on the conservation and development of wildlife, the nest must be protected until the young are able to fly and leave the nest.”

I am happy to report that all five young hawks are now adult size and flying well.  They still rely on their parents for food however, and come back to the nest for feeding.

I hope you will enjoy these photos (click to enlarge) and will be as pleased as I am for the happy ending to this saga thanks to all those involved.

A nestling on June 19th

A parent and young hawk on June 24th

One of the young hawks on June 27th

The youngsters are now "branching" 

(going onto branches and exercising their wings)

July 3rd

Three of the fledglings on July 14th

A portrait of a young hawk

July 14th

More stretching of wings!

July 14th

Sitting majestically!

July 16th

 

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Well, we had a good five years ... but as with many relationships, the good times come to an end.  I have to say though that the break-up note blindsided me!

I didn't know that I had done anything wrong.  There was no indication of trouble at all ... but I guess it had been building up and then – bam! – no warning, and all communication was over.

Why was I being blocked this way?  A terse email was a pretty demeaning way to tell me it was over (and after two whole weeks of wondering what was going on).

Here is what I found in my in-box yesterday.  (I've added a "translation" in red).

Hello,

We're writing to let you know that your account has been suspended due to multiple or repeat violations of our rules.  You know what you did!

Please do not reply to this email, or send us new appeals for this account as we won't monitor them.  I will NOT return your calls and never want to speak to you again!

Thanks,  (sarcasm)

Twitter

So, my tweeting days are over.  I wonder if Donald Trump has any advice ...

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet

 

This tiny bird was a great delight for me this spring.  I saw them everyday for at least three weeks and although they are very fast and flighty, I was able to capture them better than any other time in the past.

Here is some information from Cornell University: 

"A tiny bird seemingly overflowing with energy, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet forages almost frantically through lower branches of shrubs and trees. Its habit of constantly flicking its wings is a key identification clue. Smaller than a warbler or chickadee, this plain green-gray bird has a white eye-ring and a white bar on the wing. Alas, the male’s brilliant ruby crown patch usually stays hidden—your best chance to see it is to find an excited male singing in spring or summer."

Here are some of the photos I managed to get between the end of April and the end of May:

More Interesting And Funny Sights

Last October I posted a few photos of funny sights around the neighbourhood and, if you like, you can see it again here.  

In the months following that post, I have found a few more things to show you. :-)

After a surprise snowfall following warm, beautiful weather, someone decided to write "love" and not a more likely four-letter word!

I often see these fellows in their windows (that is one house) but I much prefer to see them out enjoying a walk.

I passed by a construction site one day and a large metal container had this design on the side.  I found it compelling for some reason.

This wall mural appeared one day and although I can't condone graffiti, I thought it was beautiful (not sure about those fangs though) and it reminded me of primitive canyon wall art that I've seen in the American South-West.

This appeared on top of a large boulder just next to a playground behind a day-care center.  I believe it is meant to be a dragon due to the pointed foil spines (triangles) on the head.

This is a friend of the dragon and sits beside him.  I love his expression.

What a perfect use for the field posts on an unused football field!  Social distancing creativity at its best!

On the subject of hammocks, this seems ideal for a bird tired out after all that migrating!

Important note:  regarding the photo above, all masks should have their ear loops removed (two quick tugs work fine) and then all parts should be placed in a closed garbage bin. (The ear loops have been known to entangle wildlife.)

Various Birds In The Area

Aside from the Cardinal and the Warblers (see previous posts), various other birds have graced the area where I bird-watch.  Here are many that I was happy to see during these last two months.

Chipping Sparrow, spizella passerina

Hermit Thrush, catharus guttatus

Brown Creeper, certhia americana

Eastern Phoebe, sayornis phoebe 

Brown Thrasher, toxostoma rufum 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, sphyrapicus varius

White-throated Sparrow, zonotrichia albicollis

White-crowned Sparrow, zonotrichia leucophrys

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis

Downy Woodpecker, dryobates pubescens

Least Flycatcher, empidonax minimus

Blue-headed Vireo, vireo solitarius

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, pheucticus ludovicianus

Red-eyed Vireo, vireo olivaceus

Baltimore Oriole, icterus galbula