Scrub Jays Rule The Roost

Cape Coral wished to use a small piece of land for a park extension. During the environmental impact study it was discovered that this land was the home to 6 scrub jays. These birds are of the endangered group and the city was given an option. Relocate the jays at a cost of $650,000 or forget the project.

Now if the birds had flown away during the study the financial problem would not exist. However they were home at census time and this project will go forth. The cost will be over $100,000 per bird. I have seen many scrub jays in our area but they are scarce. The cost of relocation some miles away and the acquisition of the new land is a hefty price. It seems that birds are more important than the kids who would use the park. There are state funds to help and federal grants so the impact on the taxpayers of Cape Coral will not be great.

Every time I see these situations coming before the public I wonder how it will turn out. In this case the Scrub Jays rule the roost.

Packing For Home

We are five days away from departure time but already we have been busy with all the things that have to be done when you leave one home for another. Theresa has all the paper work and there is plenty with cancelling the TV, Internet and the dozen accounts that have to be settled. I pretty well do the outside work with shutters, water, pool and trees to be put to bed. We are fortunate to have a neighbour to look after our grass cutting and pool maintenance.

We used to have a contractor do this work but they are so bad we had to make a change. Since summer makes this place seem like a greenhouse the maintenance is very important. Our trees and grass grow at an alarming rate and a missed week could be real trouble. We have these vines that grow everywhere and if not controlled they take over. Last year they covered our white bird of paradise to a height of twenty four feet. I had a big job of ridding it but this summer it will come back even stronger.

This is the time of year with one more garbage day, you have to rid yourself of all the things you collected and never used. Our garage fills up every six months. We fertilize the trees and lawn and then pay to have it cut and trimmed. There is something wrong with this picture and I intend to correct it next year. There are plants and bushes that are native to the area and need little care. People think they are not pretty or green enough so they don't catch on. With the water shortage they will become very popular in the future I am sure.

As we wind down our social life is pumped up as everyone invites you out for one more drink or dinner. I wish these engagements were spread out over the whole winter. Well I must get busy and get my work done as it is going to be around 90 this pm and I need a swim and a cold drink to pass the time away.

The Duck Is Calling

Each year around this time I receive a letter from The Duck. He has a real name but for 65 years or longer he was known simply as The Duck. Now he is long retired as we all are and he keeps our group together with phone calls, pictures and letters about the upcoming reunion. This is rather special as it is our 55th and a special program is assured.

Our particular class of Normal College has been getting together without fail for every year since our graduation. He and a faithful few work to plan an interesting program for all who attend. This year we are going to seek out entertainment in the little village of Parrsboro. A play by a noted company, dinner and several visits to local cottages will fill in the time before the real reunion in Truro, N.S.

For some of us it is the only time we see each other but for the gang who live nearby they get to see each other frequently. Our group is getting smaller as death has taken a few of our number each year. I personally feel the reason we get together is to keep up with the latest gossip and to feel that special bond we have created over the years. It is fun and Theresa and I manage to attend quite often although we are far away from the main group.

I have attended many reunions for schools and groups but I never get the feeling I enjoy with the PNC Gang. Together we experience happiness and joy from the renewal of friendship and a little sadness when one of us is missing from the festivities. There will be much communication before the event and sharing of pictures after but the important reason will be experienced through the hugs and kisses and exchange of stories on the weekend when The Duck will rule the roost in his basement in Truro.

Earth Day

Earth Day has been celebrated for about forty years and the results are significant. The fact that there is a designated day when we center our mind on planet earth has created interest in making our area a better place in which to live. Young people are impacted to most and are dedicated to making a difference.

We as youngsters celebrated Arbour Day and we planted trees and cleaned up around our school or nearby parks. In a way this was the beginning of awareness day or Earth Day. Stories depict our earth as a sick place which needs fixing. There is still time and will to make the changes necessary.

We live across from a single dad with a ten year old daughter. They relate well and are together much of the time and I hear conversations from time to time. Last week as she arrived home from school she confronted her father and asked what they were going to do for Earth Day.

He asked her what she wanted to do and she said, "something together to make the earth a better place". He seemed interested but said he was very busy and he would take care of it on the weekend. This satisfied his daughter for the time. Come Saturday morning I could hear the loud voice of the little one saying, "you promised me " and I knew he was trying to bypass the promise.

Almost to the point of being rude she pushed the point and they left to buy a tree to be planted in the backyard. Two hours later the tree was planted and the yard cleaned up. I overheard her saying to her dad, "thank you, and we will do this again next year". It was the school awareness program which made that event happen in yards all over Cape Coral.

The youth of the country will lead us through the future and make this earth more healthy for the next generation.

Amaryllis

Each year I grew an amaryllis at Xmas time when I was in Ontario. Here in Florida where they grow outside I get two showings a year. I was on my bicycle with Theresa riding through our area after Xmas in 2004 when I saw this orphan plant thrown out with the garbage. It was a amaryllis which had flowered and thrown. Naturally I took it home and nurtured it back to life. When I went home to Ontario I buried it in my garden hoping it would live.

When I arrived back in October it not only survived but had a second bulb attached to the main one. I dug them up, cut the tops, cut many of the roots and wrapped it and placed it in the fridge for a while. It felt strong and I planted it and the baby bulb in a pot and within weeks we had a bloom with four heads and later the baby did the same.

Quickly I cut the leaves and buried the two which I separated and waited. After I came back after Xmas I planted the bulb and the baby and we had another show. Since then we have had amaryllis twice a year and we now have three good strong bulbs with all having babies. They really are beautiful and I have had them for many years but this is the first time I had the same ones for six years and counting.

Plants with beautiful flowers enhance our lives and give us a chance to recognize the wonders of nature. Theresa and I love our flowers, specially ones as beautiful as the amaryllis.

Cuban Neighbours

When we bought a home in Cape Coral there were few homes in our area. There was however one home directly behind us and living there was a family of three. A young couple with a young son made up this very happy family. As we got to know our neighbours we were amazed at their story of survival. Leaving Cuba on a rubber raft put them in harms way and they risked death rather than bring up their very young son in a country which was not free.

Shortly after leaving the shores of Cuba a storm filled the raft in water and Yvette had to hold her son above water for several days. There were three other people on the raft which was made for two people. Without power and little food they drifted in the current and finally they were picked up by the US Coast Guard. They were returned to the naval base in Cuba and after processing were permitted to come to the USA.

They took up residence in Miami with friends but preferred to live in a less crowded city so came to Cape Coral. Gus was a master electrician and quickly built a lovely home and became a valued employee for his company. All this was done for their son. Time quickly passed and they became good friends of our and we share food and laughter together. When they become serious they recite their tale of their decision to come to America.

Their son turned eighteen this year and is a scholar. He was admitted to a university on scholarship to study space science. He begins in September and when he does the family will really live its dream of a free life in the USA. We have been enriched by their friendship and they have asked me to write their story for reference in the future. I was happy to oblige and will complete the task in the fall.

They are friends and neighbours and our life is better for knowing them. Only in America.

Neighbours

From the time I left home I always tried to know my neighbours. Sometimes it was difficult but I always persisted in winning them over and becoming a true neighbour. A true neighbour is like a true friend and is always there when you are needed. I will give you a good example of a good neighbour when I was living next to a single , cranky lady who only talked to me when she was in trouble.

One night at about 3 am I received a call from madame x and she said that a skunk had fallen into her basement and was running around and she could not sleep. I realized that she had been having a few drinks and assessed the situation. I left my comfortable and friendly bed and made my way to the house next door in pyjamas bottoms and a house coat.

On meeting her at the back door I was shaken up by her concerned looks and asked again what the problem was. Now I had been known to get rid of skunks by a method I only heard about but bragged it really worked. I asked if she had a box and a flashlight and I would take care of the situation. I was told that a skunk will not spray if it is in a confined space and has no way out. With box in hand and a flashlight in the other I opened the basement door and crept down the open stairs carefully ( fearfully ).

I saw the skunk and shining the light on the bandit I scared it into a corner which had piles of boxes filled with bottles of preserves. The skunk tried to climb the mess but missed and a avalanche of bottles spewed over the earthen floor. I quickly passed the box over the skunk and actually had no fuss from the skunk. He or she was content to lie in the confines of the small box.

Now that I had it trapped I needed something to put under the box to confine the skunk to it's small prison. I asked madame x if she could help me find a small piece of plywood to slide under the box. She placed her cigarette in one hand and said she was in no condition to help. Not wishing to cause a fuss but wanting to wring her neck I spy ed a flat piece of flooring in the corner and asked her to get it for me. She said she didn't want to walk on the earth floor in bare feet. I shouted for her to help and she finally did.

I slid the flooring under the box and carefully carried the box and flooring up stairs and out the door. I released the skunk in the back yard and it raised its left leg and sprayed. The skunk walked slowly to the back fence and disappeared down to the river. It is now an hour later and I say goodnight to my neighbour and go home smelling like a skunk. Madame x thanked me with a wave of the hand and a thank you.

Returning to the friendly confines of my bed I said to Roma, I hope she appreciates what we do for being a good neighbour. That Friday madame x gave us a couple of bottles of wine and smiled at the same time. From that time on we were friends and neighbours. By the way I was called upon to remove another skunk from her basement. What are neighbours for?