Mocking Birds 1--- Henry 0

We have two pair of Mocking Birds in on our property. These beautiful, noisy birds are very territorial and fight every time a bird crosses that imaginary line which marks their property line.Yesterday I decided to look in the nest from which I heard peeping.

I carefully looked around to make sure the owners of the nest were busy somewhere else before approaching for a look. I reached up to grasp the branch holding the nest when I felt a sharp crack to my head. The angry owners were not pleased with my curiosity and attacked me with force.

I did see that four little birds were sleeping  before the attack but must have awakened by the turmoil created with the attack. I covered my eyes to avoid injury and backed away. The birds were still on the attack until I reached the safety of the garage. They proceeded to stand guard for some time all the while giving everyone in the neighborhood the word that they put the run on Henry and a warning to any other force who wished to get the same treatment if they invaded their space. Birds 1---Henry 0.

Soaring Eagles

The last few weeks we have been interested in the progress of our family of Eagles. Today we were driving around in our neighborhood and there was the family enjoying high flight. Mom and pop were smooth and professional as they had twenty years of experience and there was junior.

Black in color and looking tattered and rumpled from near misses on his landings but brave and proud just to be an eagle. The inexperience showed when the gusts of wind gave him a problem but he managed. As we watched we saw the family regroup and all in a beautiful ascending motion quickly left our view. We could hardly see them as several thousand feet in the blue sky they performed their marvelous dance in the thermos.

The wood storks, buzzards and hawks seem to fill the sky these days and it is a real treat to see the natural beauty of the soaring birds.While I was golfing this morning I was treated to a flock egrets and ibis having their turn to entertain the golfers who for the most part completely oblivious to nature and its wonders.

I get in some trouble  pointing out the various birds and animals which abound on our course. We even have a panther which crosses the eighth hole on a regular basis. Perhaps the time I share with nature is the reason my handicap is higher than it should be. It feel it is a small price to pay to be one with the great force of nature.

Thinking About Ontario

When April comes along I begin to think about Ontario and my trees and gardens. I was talking to my friend Doug the other day and he said he was getting his spray for his trees ready and I realized it was time for me as well. Being late three weeks can be really bad as this spray will kill the crawling bugs who want to get up the flowering trees and have a feast.

Actually this spray will protect your trees from insects which will embed themselves in the fruit at an early stage of development. Looking after trees is a specialty that one has to learn about to be successful. I relied on two of my friends over the years, John and Doug. I cannot say with any authority that are specialists but compared to me they are OK.

At this time of the year the flowers which were planted  or were yearly begin to sprout and new life unfolds. The last few years I was late arriving home so I missed the mystery of life after winter. My tulips and daffodils  were over their best when I get home in May.

The garlic which I planted at Xmas will be a foot high and the strawberries will stand tall and begin to flower. I miss this early part of spring as I see the magic of nature. I try to make up for this and devote my time to make any of my short falls seem unimportant.

In any case I miss Ontario in the spring as it is the most dramatic agricultural area in North America.

Neighbours Come Calling

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Our neighbours and we share corner lots  and over the years we planted greenery to offer some privacy from the road and each other. Little did we realize that the plants we chose would offer both of us a most private homestead. We hear each other performing the daily tasks of maintaining our lawns, pools and other routine matters but rarely see each other.

Last evening all that changed as we shared the whole evening with dinner, drinks and stories. Our neighbors are a most interesting couple , coming from Cuba the hard way and settling in Florida to make a new and free life for themselves and their son.

After a nice supper and dessert we settled down for many hours of conversation. The topics always come to politics and Cuba. Theresa and I have been treated to a history of the country and became more knowledgeable  of the complex problems facing the people who live there under a dictatorship  Our conversation turned to raising children and religion and late into the evening we solved all the problems of the world.

It is so rewarding to meet people who have a rich understanding of what it is like to seek freedom from a dictatorship  and how they value the simple things that come with the free life here in the USA Friends for eight years here and plans for a Canadian visit in the future guarantees a close bond for years to come. The other side of the coin is that when Cuba is once again free Theresa and I will travel around their Island homeland with Gus and Yvette.Something to look forward to.

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Golf,Banquet and Dancing.

During the past eight years I have been golfing with the same partners. We are the ones that insist on tee times which correspond to the time the sun rises.The latest we started our game was last week when there was heavy fog on the course. The fog made it impossible to see down the fairway but it did not seem to matter as we managed the first three holes with the same scores we would have had were there clear skies.

All the rest of our 75 member group begin at 11 o'clock just as we are finishing. We early birds number eight and there seems to be some advantage in playing early. Firstly the temperature is cool so we don't have to suffer the high eighties by noon. The one problem is the grass is always wet so we do not have the advantage og the long rolls of the dry fairways.

We are more than golfers as we have become quite good friends. From this association I met a fisherman who loves to deep sea fish and I have been a member of his party every time he goes out.This the golfers had their rewards night and our wives came along to the banquet and dance. It seemed strange to see the golfers all dressed up instead of in their golf clothes and leg braces and arm bandages and all sorts of equipment to aid the old fellows to keep them mobile and able to enjoy the game.

Our group comprises a banker,a manufacturing plant owner, a fireman and an educator. A varied group for sure and interesting discussions come from different perspectives. On this social night with the ladies we never talked our usual topics but just enjoyed the company and the opportunity to share an evening together. Golf can lead to dancing after all.

Violent Weather

Southern and central America is subject to violent weather during the spring and summer months. Here in Florida we were basking in 85 degree weather when a cold front moved in two days ago. The skies darkened and billowing clouds filled the air. The weather men warned of inpending danger and put all of southern Florida under a tornado watch.

The rain came in great amounts and the wind blew to strengths just below hurricane force. Our pool began to fill and ditches filled with water in a matter of a few minutes. Mother nature knew what she was doing as a 20,000 acre fire was burning out of control in the everglades.

This everglade fire situation is a necessity and every few years the burning provides nourishment for the saw grass. This fire was out of control so the rain aided the firefighters. Because the lower half of Florida was experiencing a drought  phase the water from the storm filled the lakes, rivers and canals.

The lightning and thunder shows the power of weather and for we here in Cape Coral there was a light show for over 24 hours..There is a unique connection between weather and the environment and here it is so critical to the health of the everglades. The balance of fresh water and salt water is also an issue so man tries to make sure that everything is kept in order. I believe if man did not cause the problem in the first place we would not have to allocate huge amounts of our resources to corect the problems we caused .

Nature needs a little help sometimes but if left alone to its own resources all would be fine.

Harvest Time

 Here in Florida it is time for we Snowbirds who plant gardens to clean things up. This year we had a exceptional year with three plantings of green beans and we still have some in the fridge.Our tomatoes were slow at the start but are still producing and I think I will pull out the old plants days before we come home. Carrots are our best and most prolific. This year I did not even thin them out. I just pull out a handful and there they are. It seems we eat them every day .

I prefer carrots and beans raw and I am sure that they are better for you that way. Since I planted a pot garden, not to be confused with a " POT Garden" we had really good results. That would be the way to go if you owned a condo or had limited space.

When we go home in a month I will be confused as we plan to make a change in our life. I  usually clean out the van and plant my garden. I already planted the garlic at Xmas and the rhubarb will be up and with all the fruit trees in bloom and there I will be. I will make sure that everything is just right for the new owner and hope they will have a clear understanding that gardening is a way of life that leads to joy at being one with the natural order of things.

Perhaps the closing out of our home here in Florida is a dress rehearsal for our task at home. We have already taken many trips to the Salvation Army and plan many more. We could not bear to have a yard sale and have people buying our treasures at low prices only to have them saying,would you take $.25 for that pot. I would go bananas. We decided to give everything that is worth anything away to people who need and appreciate it.

All these changes have a reward in as far as our Mother In Law who is 95 will be coming home to stay with us again. She will will add much to our quality of life and we will not have to worry if she is getting the proper and necessary care she deserves.

There seems to be a circle effect here and I seem to think this move will complete it for Theresa and Doris.