The Tundra Swans Are Back?

Every year we try to get down to Aylmer to view the return of the Tundra Swans. My 'artsy' pic for today is composed from a picture I took last year, just as COVID-19 was getting started.

I called the Swan Hotline and found that the swans are back in the area again this year, but none at the viewing center yet.  We plan a visit this week some nice day if the Hotline says they are there.

For Swan information, please call (519) SSE-SWAN or (519) 773-7926. The phone line is active the last week of February to the end of March or when the swans are gone.

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Box Day (Not Boxing Day)

 Amazon, Walmart, Well, you name it. Seems like they are arriving here every day.

Garage Overflow: Every couple weeks is "Box Day" when, with my trusty ball of plastic twine, (that I got on Amazon) I head outside to reduce the collection of cardboard boxes so the recycler will take them away.

Good 'til next box day. They just keep coming and coming!

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Backyard Visitor

 A Sharp Shinned Hawk visits occasionally in the winter.

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Port Stanley Fishing Tugs 1906

 My "artsy" pic for today:

This is my 'artsy' interpretation of a century old post card depicting the fishing fleet at the harbour at Kettle creek in Port Stanley Ontario.

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"Reverse, reverse, reverse!" Sea Pig Summer c1976

 "Reverse, reverse, reverse!" I frantically yelled into the Neller-Phone as the Sea Pig's pontoon slowly started lifting dock planks with one of  her welded steel nose cones.

Neller-Phone intercom system from the helm to the engine room aboard the "Sea Pig".

Wendy and I were alone on the Sea Pig as we approached the dock at Picnic Island at Honey Harbour. The idea was to head straight in towards the end of the dock and come along side to tie, but as a side-wind from the southwest veered the Pig, the port side pontoon hit the dock straight on. Wendy was back in the "engine room" since we had no direct controls other than an old battery powered telephone we called Neller-Phones (after an old Bell Canada commercial that satirized "the other phone company"). The Pig required a minimum of two people to operate. We approached dead slow but as mentioned, the pointed nose cone went in under the dock. Small waves caused it to move up and down as the motors slowly advanced the boat, lifting the planks as it went. I figure we lifted about 4 to 6 feet of thick, commercial planks before Wendy responded with "reverse".

Now we were stuck with the nose of the pontoon wedged into the dock. The engines, idling in reverse were not moving the boat backwards. I went to the front deck and jumped on to the dock to push. Just then the wake of a passing boat rocked the Sea Pig enough to allow the mighty ship to dislodge and begin moving back. Caught off guard I fell into the water and the dauntless Sea Pig continued moving in reverse away from me. I swam and made it aboard but jumped back in to get my sandal that fell off. This time I couldn't get back on. As the big houseboat backed, the wind caused it to arc around to the right and Wendy eventually spotted me in the water. She stopped the engines and I finally swam to re-board.

I don't recall seeing any personnel or attendants around to witness this event so we decided we didn't really need anything at Picnic Island Store. That may well have been the last time the Sea Pig ever stopped at that port!

Oh what memories! Hope you enjoyed the flashback. CLICK HERE for more Sea Pig pics.

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MAGA Continues

 

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Longer Days

 The sun is still high in the sky and its 5:40 pm. The days are getting longer, Spring is around the corner.

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Benzy - Hunting On Line

Benzy's daily ritual, like most of us, involves spending some time on the computer. Every day it's like a new challenge.  Being an 'indoor cat' this is the only way he gets to exercise his feline instincts and attempt to catch the little critters on the screen.

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Thinking Of Ron

 Our dear friend Ron passed away on February 17, 2010. We miss you old friend... Cheers!

Eleven years ago I posted a tribute page. It's still there. You can see it if you CLICK HERE.

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A Little Bit Of Winter

Well we ended up with some snow, but on the low end of the forecast 15 to 25 cm (6 -10 inches).

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Happy Valentine's Day.

 

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Soon! ???

 

Here's a note I sent to my friends David and Barrie whos families have both received the vaccine while outside of Canada on vacation:

Hi David,

We'll need a manufacturer of our own for future pandemics and yearly boosters if that's required. As we learned from this and the 3M mask fiasco, Canada can't rely on its neighbours. Its a pity in our country that invented insulin and other pharmaceuticals of the last century, great companies like Connaught Laboratories, that made rabies vaccine for years at U of T have all disappeared or moved to China and India.

Our benevolent dictator, El Presidente "Pretty Boy" Trudeau has let his stupid liberal supporters and the rest of Canada down. With all the vacant manufacturing plants in Canada, I don't know why we have to wait while they build a brand new plant to make this stuff. I guess the only glimmer of light is we'll now get to stand back and see if this quickly conceived panacea has any side-affects on the rest of the world. I don't hold much hope in our bungling Federal gov. to deliver any time soon.

Oh well, another 90 days and we can re-open the pool. Gonna be a long summer I think.

Cheers

Tim

CLICK HERE to read about our stalled rollout in Canada.

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The Blue Water Bridge At Night

Ice flows float by under the Blue Water International Bridge viewed at night from the Port Huron side.

My interpretation is from images taken by a web cam at the Port Huron Convention Center. To view the live pictures on YouTube, CLICK HERE.

A little further south near the mouth of the Black River there is another camera by the Boat Nerds. To see this view CLICK HERE.

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A Winter Wonder

 Wendy headed out on to the golf course this morning and I followed along snapping pictures.

Frozen frost crystals covered every tree. It was a magnificent sight.

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Just For Fun Stuff

 

"Where Did He Come From?" Woodland Cemetery, I think. Ha ha!

Due to COVID-19, the city is leaving the Christmas lights on until the end of February.

"Ice Fishing Behind Our House"