uh,,,what day is it?

 I don't have a catchy little story to go along with that title.  Sometimes I like to head my post with the day and that is what came to my head when I thought, "what day is it?"

Our Governor, Janet Mills, finally has told businesses they are responsible to make sure that everyone inside is wearing a face covering.  Yay.  I had yet to make a trip out and see everyone in my local grocery with a mask.  There were always one or two holdouts and they were always too close for my comfort.

 

I have been feeding a couple of huge flocks of birds.  The blue jay flock is up to 11.  Many chickadees, tufted timouses (mice?) red breasted nuthatch-the only low member is the white breasted, which is odd becaseu the last few years the reds were down and the whites were up.

 

I have had a lot of cavitated wood come down.  Perhaps it was the colony of whites that suffered a loss of shelter.

 

I have a red bellied woodpecker coming to the corn platform feeder.  He rules over the jays.  I haven't got an accurate count of eastern gray squirrels but they are doing well.  The reds don't come to the feeder, they are still feasting on eastern white pine cones.I also have a male cardinal.  When he is out there withthe flock of jays it is a lovely bright spark of color among the greys and browns and whtie.

 

Yes white, that's one thing about Maine, you get two three inches of wet slushy snow, then the temps hover around freezing for a week and you still can't chisel off the ice sfrom between the roofrack without cracking your sunroof.

Some asteroid material has made it back to Earth after a Japanese expedition to ..collect material from the asteroid.  When they opened it they had some small and also pebble material.

 

But, you know, did they eagerly open it up in that remote part of Australia where the capsule landed, or did they take it back to a secure lab with super isolation measures? Remeber, the COVID vaccine has to be transported at super freezing temperatures-and that asteroid has been in the deep freeze a long time.  typically the heat from an object entering our atmosphere would sterilize most anything on the exterior, but let's go scoop some up and bring it back protected from that sterilization process.  

 

I wonder if the sample was stored at super freezing temperatures after it was collected to maintain the integrity of the sample?

 

I just have to ask myself sometimes if these people ever watch movies or read books?

 

 

 

:

The Other Night

The ground is starting to freeze up.  Lots of activity at the black oil feeders.  I put a platform feeder out on the lawn witih a mix of cracked corn and black oil that the blue jays flocked to all afternoon.  

I had to chuckle later when I saw the gander, Pluto, helping himself stretched on his ti toes.

At some point I acknowledge thehunger of the grey squirrel population and start putting out corn to take some pressure off the feeders and give the birds a chance.  The blue jays and morning doves like the corn, too.  

I saw several wild turkeys just in the treeline at dusk as I was locking up the chickens.  They were most likely heading to roost in the tall hemlocks out of sight to the right in the above photo.  But, with all the mayhem in the front yard with bird activity, I won't be too suprised to see turkey at the platform in a few days.

Kind of wondering if my deer visitor will knock it over in the night, but since the house was surrounded from all angles by gunshots opening day, I am assuming all the neighbors "got their deer"-and considering the increased doe permits for this WMD-I am wondering if my visitor avoided slaughter.  

There are still a few more days of hunting season- as I said, hopefully adjacent landowners have got their quotas and any deer remaining in the area can start to relax.
 

Indian Summer

 

This is Obi. He is about 12 years old.

We have been having a stretch of Indian summer, although the local weathermen are astounded that we could have temps like these in November, September  was unseasonably cold and we deserved a break.

We had a saturating fog yesterday morning, but as it burned off the air was full of the smell of freshly fallen leaves and other smells of the woods-Pleasant ones.  Yup, we deserved some some pleasures after the chaos and commotion of 2020.

 

A lifting

The Bangor Daily News announced Biden's win late Friday, much to the chagrin of many of its right wing commenters.

By dawn yesterday my black cloud had started to dissipate-I spent the day, a glorious Indian Summer, warm, sunny day, on the roof with a bucket of black goop tediously trying to locate the multitude of cracks in the roof surface.

I found myself wishing I had a hose and nozzle like the Maine DOT when they seal road cracks- it would have been much faster and neater.

Instead it was a one inch putty knife, and if you can imagine trying to paint a room with a one inch brush you might see what I was experiencing.  Except change the paint to black goop.

Just like painting, I am a mess at roof sealing.  No matter how careful I am, I will touch it, step in it, kneel in it, and sit in it.  If I wear gloves the fingers end up getting stuck together.

I mitigate the clean up by pre treating my hands with a good-for- anything salve that I made of of beeswax and olive oil.  Then I use a rag and leftover fry grease to remove it from my hands.  I used to use olive oil for the latter, but then I realized it was a good use for oil that was going to be tossed-(or put into an oil lamp I have always wanted to try, which is why used oil is hanging around in the first place)

I think it was a good analogy for the day.  Start at the top, apply tar, and remove the residue.

 

Count Every Vote

 

This was nightfall the day after the election.

 

Since late Tuesday I have been channeling anger, irritation, and frustration.  I took a huge nap today-a day that turned out to be unseasonably warm and finally sunny, and I slept through most of it.

 

I find that happens certain times of year, and often it coincides with solar activity.  We were due to get brushed by a CME but I don't believe it was today.

 

Sunrise yesterday, the dawn after the election, was blood red. I can recall the old adage, "red sky at night, sailor's delight, red sky in the morning, sailors take warning."

 

Yes, it's been rough sailing here in the US for the last 48 hours, his highness just spoke of idiotical nonsense -we ARE in the middle of a pandemic, you HAVE warned all your devout followers of the pitfall of mail in ballots and set the stage for questioning the integrity of same, then cry and moan about why , when mail in ballots are finally begun to be counted, the tide turns.

 

The US vs THEM mentality.  *shudders* then dear old Biden comes on pledging to serve ALL Americans-whether they voted for him or not.  Even a devout Liberal is tempted to cry, "no it's US vs THEM remember!!??" 

 

Look at the pic-black and white, good vs Evil.  That this country can be so violently divided almost perfecly 50-50 is staggering,  It feels truly like the end of times when good will face Evil.

 

Climate change is upon us.  Even with the pandemic lockdown the CO2 has risen 2 ppm over this time last year.  It is unsustainable.  On one hand you have those that don't believe Climate Change is real.  On the other hand, there are those who believe it is real but want to dicker with the deniers and meet them 90% of the way.  Not going to work folks. 

Are you for saving the planet, as many species, as many humans, as you can?  Just like Noah on the ark(if you believe in the tale)-every thing is precious.

 

Wouldn't it be interesting if wealth was based on how many cubic inches of biodiversity you could sustain? Or how many cubic inches of CO2 sequestering you possessed?

 

 

 

 

The Empath

Isolation is tough on an Empath, or sensitive.  Consistent exposure to crowded situations and social interactions help dull the senses which are picking up on non verbal clues.

 

I had the news on today, with the gibber gabber in the background, and thought about human speech in comparison to animals.  Animals communicate primarily by non -verbal cues  And isolation has caused me to be extremely sensitive to non verbal cues.

 

I literally had a chicadee go out of it's way to get my attention, and after making sure that it had my attention, went very deliberately to the empty feeder and picked rapidly as if to say-"look no food here!"

 

The stressful buildup to the election has had me stetched thin.  It's in the non verbal cues, the prevalence of Trump signs and flags, the sight of unmasked magas, out of state license plates from hotspots, jet afterburners headed for Bangor hitting it right over the house-(gotta love those rallies)

 

But finally today I had a sudden lifting of spirit.  was this voter relief, personal relief, a positive sign?

 

I don't know, but I had a one in five lifetime moments this afternoon of uncontrolled laughter listening to the local news describing the arsonist the state police are on the lookout for-he was caught on video surveillence wearing a hoody and carrying a gas can.  But they didn't say how the victim-a porta potty-made out.

Depressed

 Isolation and age are taking their toll.  The cold and damp has been rampant, criticial house repairs go neglected due to scarcity of funds-any trip in the aging vehicle is precluded by a prayer to make it out and back safely, the long dark months loom in the knowledge most days will be a celecbration if it doesn't snow and the house is above 50F.

Aquaintances are just as likely to be seen in the local obituaries as run into accidentally on the rare outing.

The governement has finally showed its priorities-enriching the select few and subjecting the poor and disenfranchized to struggle on a daily basis.

No one appears to be concerned with the well being of others-a pervasive greed and narcissism runs like wildfire across the world.

The leaders are all CYA'in it-true leaders are impossible to find.  Either they are rich looking out for their own interest, or they are wanna be rich and taking their cues from the obscenely wealthy.

Any voice of reason is ignored

There was a moment in the last debate where Biden said something along the lines of "you all in your living rooms" and Trump scoffed and said that was just political talk-in other words, Biden doesn't care anymore about you in your living rooms than I do.

For what it is worth I have already voted, the sole reason to cancel out one vote for the narcissist currently in power.

I wish Bernie had run on a different ticket.  I am not thrilled about the Biden Harris ticket in the least. 

My town was under Republican leadership for several years-huge bonds for infrastructure raised our taxes, contracts gone out to people who padded the bills and did half assed work.  Dems came in power and excused the poor work and showered town employees with raises, ergonomic chairs, and reduced hours.

I put a little sign in my kitchen a few weeks ago:  "Focus on Good".  It is a lot harder than it sounds.  Most days the good is that it could be worse.  

And considering that my mother often said "it's going to get worse before it gets better" just rubs salt in the wounds. 

Third week of October

 

Early Autumn 2020

There we gathered in the patch of sun.  The woman, the ancient dog, the stray Tom, the obnoxious gander.  The trees were alive with the raucous calling of jays, squabbling of red and grey squirrels and chipmunks, flocks of tiny migratory songbirds.  We sat and drank in the warmth of the autumn sun.

 

The next day, it was the woman, the Tom, and the fearless woodcock.

The latter had arrived several days prior, hanging withing mere feet of the house, well camoflauged in the piles of old leaves where it was poking for worms.  Now it sat on the fringe, preening, ruffling feathers, seeking companionship and safety in the lushness it had found amongst the drought. 

The maples and sumac are turning red and blaze orange, the sasparilla bright yellow.  Oaks are still green and everything is covered in grit from the road dust.  We need rain.

Saturday-The Ass end of August

The raven died.  The good folks at avianhaven.org did their best.  The remaining ravens have been rather morose:  I left a few balls of "goose bread" on the rock when I locked Pluto up for the night-it was gone this morning.  One was out back calling when I tried to communicate I was leaving an offerring-or was it a local feral feline that consumed the bread during the last 24 hours?

The fish kill is the hands of MDEP.  DEP seemed certain that concrete leachate was the suspect.  However, a water test spiked high for copper, so DEP said the container was wrong and the sample wasn't properly prepped, and went back 5 days after the incident and took two more samples which came back normal for parameters.

I caught a FYEO draft report which revealed the copper discrepancy, and after doing some digging found a plausible expalnation for the spike in copper-which catfish are particularly susceptible to-and sent the info along to the orignal leaker of the draft report, who bounced it back to dEPwho got their panties in a wad.

I finally threw my virutal hands up in disgust and said as long as there is NOT a repeat fish kill and someone is held accountible, fine.

Ancient guy who walks everyday got MY panties in a wad when he left a paper with an FYI article op ed justifying POTUS's sending the troops into Portland Oregon.

I want to reply that I would like to know how many Americans have protestred since the current prez was elected, point out that he incites division and villifies fellow Amercians, and that I do not support fascism.  But how do you do that to a 90 somthing Korean war veteran whose wife of 60 something years is in a nursing home and they , when he can visit, have to socially distance outside and both wear masks>

Me, the reclusive life is starting to lose it's appeal along with the length of sunlight.  I am going back back back to what used to inspire me, what my passions were, where do I find happiness in this turmoil?

Rave(n)ing

A week gone another day gone.  This morning I found an incapacitated raven out back.  It couldn't fly, but wasn't trailing a wing.  It was weight bearing on both feet and could hop and flap quite a distance before flopping over. 

I spent some minutes trying to get it with my t shirt.  I gave up and went back for a towel and cat carrier and leather gloves because that beak looked sharp.  The compassionate route was no good, I could not convince that bird I meant no harm and was trying to help.  The bird was grounded and what little life remained depended on avoiding capture by anything, and ravens are smart birds.

It ducked when I tossed the towel.

Lucky for me I have plenty of rooster chasing history (tip, don't try that at home).and goose herding experience.  Back and forth in the clearing we went-if it made it to the undergrowth things would be much more difficult. 

FInally the compassionate route officially failed, and I decided to give chase until I caught it, which winded me but ended up with the bird in the crate and shortly on a trip to a wildlife rehab specializing in birds.

I quickly informed them of the recent fish kill-I hd been expecting further fall out and a week later here was a raven in distress in my back yard.  I informed IFW and DEP.  I just found an email in reply from DEP basically saying that ravens eat crap and it was nothing to do with the fish kill.  Turns out the fish kill was probably the result of an upstream concrete pour in an attempt to dam me out. 

Oh, you would think the DEP might take something like this quite seriously.  But the poor fellow didn't know concrete was bad, and the fish will come back (IFW) and the raven died from anything but the idiots job with the concrete.

He'llget away with it.  My only consolation is that my intervention most likely stopped a complete damming of the watercourse, and a smaller fish kill than if they had poured all the concrete they intended.  ANd when the road washes out from flooding I can say, "I told you so" everytime I drive 20 miles out of my way to get anywhere and am paying for the repair on my tax bill.

IN the meantime, I am persona non gratis with the upstream owners, how DARE I intervene in their little plot?  SLamming doors, honking horns, overloud voices-hmmm the only positive I can see is that I told you so down the road.  But they will probably pretend ignorance and blame it on climate change- even though that's a democratic hoax.

Men here's the key to longevity

Stay active...and learn to tell a joke.

Here's the key to telling a great joke-the TIMING.  Johnny Carson was really the master of that.  He could read his audience, bring them along, let them hang there until the precixe minute, and then "ham!" punchline.

I have an over 90 year old neighbor who is a good shit.  He has passion.  If there is a controversial subject he has an opinion on it (and that is any subject you can come up with ) he won't hestiate to tell you.  Once he gets you all wound up, he will leave you with a little joke and a laugh.  And I mean leave you, he walks 2 miles on the road every morning like a religion.

Sometimes he repeats the joke he told you last time-but you still laugh because you just have to, because wth he is in his 90's go him!.

After so many months in isolation, it was actually refreshing to meet with two, new-to-me persons.  Unfortuneately, one was from Maine DEP and the other from Maine DIFW, responding to my complaint of a fish kill, which is another story.

DIFW arrived first, a twenty something handome young man who I might call a hunk and my daughter might call a redneck.

We both stood twenty feet apart clutching our masks and subconsciously agreeing to comunicate in such a fshion, while wating for the arrival of DEP, which occurred in a few minutes (he had overshot it)

A silver haired gentleman got out of his truck en maske, apologizing by proclaiming that he was old, and MDIFW and I promtply secured on our masks and mutual conversation ensued with a 15 foot radius along the road.

Soon enough I "left them to it" and when they were done their investigation IFW called me and I dutifully trotted down my labeled ziploc bags of deceased bullhead cafish and invasive introduced bluegill to be returned to Pathology, since most of the ones in the stream were not-so-fresh as the ones I had in my fridge in their giant ziploc bags.

The collection the day before was another adventure, bushwhacking through waist-high marsh grass interspersed with poison ivy, stinging nettle in bloom; flushing a duck and another good sized brown bird whcih called all afternoon after I retreated,;clutching water bottle, ziploc bags, a two foot pair of tongs, while wearing sneakers no socks and jean shorts.  The icing on the cake was trying to juggle the cell phone and having call backs from MDIFW repeatedly drop while I am gesturing at the heavens shouting, "can you hear me now?"

So, the fellas went upstream and downstream and I reatreated to the "lawn".  At one point I heard "bullhead" which is apparently the officail MDIFW name for what local call "hornpout" and me southern girl calls "catfish".

Bullhead belly up comprised the majority of the fish kill, and MDIFW and I had shared comment about that- each having our own stories of how bullhead are very tenacious to living.

So, we are gathered afterwards on the road, en maske, and once again DIFW and I are discussing the quantity of bullhead.  "Old man" from DEP interjects, "there weren't any bullhead, what are you talking about?"

MDIFW and I exchange completely shocked and puzzled looks over our face coverings.  We are clearly wondering WTH is the matter with DEP guy?

At exactly the right moment he says, "all I saw were "hornpout"

MDIFW and I busted a gut.  DEP was clearly on a roll.

He continued,

"You know, Fisheries has their own booklet for fish identification, but we are going to start another of our own...'

and rattles off a few native names for various species which continues to get laugh after laugh.

Then he says, " and then there is *in thick Maine dialect*...'the Brown Nosed trout."

Post Climax

Maybe it begins with the aftermath of the Full Moon in Aquarius-which fell in the beginning of the week. Endings and Beginnings, Beginnings and Endings.

The height of summer here in central midcoast Maine was swept clean by a sideswipe of the Hurricane- Tropical Storm- Tropical Depression- whose only amusing attriubute was listening to a never ending parade of anchors and weather persons attempting to pronounce the unpronouncible.

I struggled myself, even though as far back as when it was threatening Florida I repeated the name three times in a row correctly, coached by the WIlow on the other couch.

SHe, being a true millenial, was stout in the defense and with cultural pride in the fact that a hurricane finally had a name with some culture-and anyone's inability to pronounce same would surely be an indication of some sort of cultural ignorance and possibly even be a determination of potential racism. *shudders*

I think a lot of us stumbled on the fact that an "I" suddenly becomes an "E"-"Eeh-sah-Eee-saas. It just goes against the grain-it's like that gut reaction when someone spells "candy", "candi". 

Technically, if that rule held true, then the recently passed weather event could have been spelled,""Ysaysas"

That actually makes even more senses than the logical spelling ; "Esa-esas".

****

We did lose power late the evening it struck.  We had minimal rain and some gusty winds.  I suppose the winds were even more impressive due to the fully leafed nature of the tall trees (the leaves the caterpillars have left) and the windows being wide open due to the ambient temperatures.

The cat in the Eastern bedroom window got a bit damp.

The same instant that I shut the light in the bathroom, pitch black descended.  Usually there is quite a bit of light reduction when the bathroom light is closed, but this was utter.
"Did we just lose power?"

"Yup"

***

I dutifully called the CMP outage reporting line, a number long ago memorized by heart from repeated calling over the years.

"Due to the heavy wet snow, we are experiencing numberous outages>"

Ok, it's 70 out and the first week of August.  Way to go CMP.

I called the next morning to see if there was an update-years ago they used to give a list of towns affected-and the auto asked me, "is your power out right now?"  Ummm, yeah, I reported it last night ( I thought to myself as I dutifully pushed "1")

We did get it back late afternoon the following day.  (A note to urbanites who think 45 minutes is a long time to be down-here we regularly go for days and less than 24 hours is somewhat of a surprise)

I think the biggest inconvenience for myself was the inability to watch the morning news and see how everyone else made out.  We got off very lightly and were extremely lucky the track veered well to our west.

***

Today the air feels like late August-to anyone who grew up in a warmer climate, August in Maine  traditionally feeels cold and damp. The wind is coming out of the Northeast, and with the several mile long pond and Canada to my northeast, the air iis full of Arctic air moisture.

The hummingbirds have proliferated.  I have counted as many as six at the feeder, and they make repeated visitis to the geraniums which line the steps on the front deck.  I am sitting hthere as I type this, and just made a slew of typos (more than usual) BECASE ONE WAS ABOUT TWO FEET AWAY SLIGHTLY BELOW EYE LEVEL.  tHEY SOUND LIKE A LARGE BUMBLE BEE AS THEIR WINGS WHIR.  oops cap lock and too lazy to retype it. :P

I really should close and mix fresh hummingbird food.  I think they are starting to harass me and the feeder looks empty. I just counted six hummingbirds in the perennial border and under the fir by the feeder.

***

Gut wrenching Empathy going out to those who are suffering in the Beirut disaster

Summer Sounds

The constant pitter patter of caterpillar poop falling from the trees.

Loons calling on the pond.

Cicadas whining in the trees.

Crickets singing in the cool of the morning.

The dog panting in tribute to the dog days.

The crunch of gravel from passing pickups.

The slam of car doors by pond visitors.

The shrieking of children who see a water snake on the shore.

The incessanct hum of the ancient refridgerator trying to keep up.

Saturday in Late July

I have some really good pictures I want to share.  Easier said than done.  Currently with this device I have had to email a photo from my pohone, then open it on this and download and upload to blogger, which I thought to rather tedious.

I wanted to hook my phone up, whcih I have done on previous devices.  However, this simplified device has ONE USB port, whcih is currently in use by the wireless mouse since the touchpad crapped.

So my daughter kindly ordered me a micro to micro (the size that plugs into your typical samsung phone).

Then I spent about an hour wondering why I didn't get an icon to open, and had to try and tell it to add device, and then find it and not be able to open it, until "Eukea!" at last, ok I have over 1400 photos on my phone and it is going to download every thumbnail starting with the beginning of time and of course I want the last shot.

1400 and something half hour later I click on the thumnail I want, get every option but "save as", and then the phone fell off the bench disconnecting itself from the device and ok no photos today. 

And you thought that what I had to go through with email sounded complicated.

Beached Beaked Whales

With their dolphin-like noses, beaked whales are among the ocean’s most mysterious whale species, and they aren’t usually found near Maine. Only four beaked whale sightings have been documented in coastal waters in the past 20 years.
But to the surprise — and alarm — of ocean biologists, two have washed up on Maine shores — one last month in York, a dead 14-foot, 2,200-pound Blainville’s beaked whale, and the other in Phippsburg, where a 1,700-pound female Sowerby’s beaked whale died after being saved from a mudflat in Atkins Bay on Saturday, the Times Record reported.

see more:

 https://bangordailynews.com/2020/07/16/news/york/rare-beaked-whales-have-mysteriously-washed-ashore-in-york-and-phippsburg/

Disgruntled

I am in a pissy mood this morning.  I had a long phone conversation with the chair of the town's planning board last night.  I had received notification of a hearing on a proposed subdivision on my road, and wanted to know the details.

A half mile stretch of my road had been owned by a lovely man from away.  There was an old house and well over a hundred acres on both sides of the road.  He died about a year and a half ago, and I knew that was that.

The house was sold with 9 acres.  The other side of the road, 1700 feet of frontage, is going to be divided into 5 lots.  What happens to the remaining 100 acres on the house/pond side of the road is yet to be seen, but it is on the market and has a lot of activity.

Frankly I am not too perturbed about the five lots.  That section was basically clear cut ten years ago and is freqently used by coyote hunters as a place to park and shoot things from the road, which is allowed because there are no homes and it is a dirt road.

I am hoping to gain some nice neighbors-people who appreciate wildlife.  There ae some deed restrictions associated with the subdivision that will apparently favor people who are richer rather than poorer, which may not be a good thing .

So why am I disgruntled?  When I bought here this was a quiet little town, lots of older forest, people minding their own.  Back in 2012 a couple moved here from away and basically took over the town.  The woman bullied the former officals who didn't go along with her (an elected clerk quit because this woman criticized her work attire as "jeans were NOT appropriate") Then right after she made sure that the town voted on appointing rather than electing almost every position in town, giving her complete control over town officials

The town didn't have a subdivision ordinance, because it wasn't permitted,  You had to have 300 feet of road frontage, 4 acres, and build within 1500 feet of a town maintained road.  The subdivision ordinance changed all that.  Now a person or company could build a road into the woods and cut up lots.,

I have argued twice with the person I spoke with on the phone about this, he insists it was voted and passed at a regular town meeting and told me last night to "look it up".  Which I did, and it was passed at a "special town meeting" by 20 something residents in the middle of winter.

That is even below the amount of signatures you need to get on the ballot, but it completely changed the face of the town.

We also got into an argument about our Shoreland Ordinance, which was replaced about the same time. our new one is basically the state minimum guidelines.  Our former one was a lot more restrictive.  Yet this person who is on at least 5 town committees tried to tell me that the State was very restrictive so our newer ordinance was more restrictive than the former one.  The State is the MINIMUM and any ordinance which diverges from the State would by it's very nature HAVE to be MORE restrictive.  I have both ordinances and can prove this as fact, but what is the point, to make the guy admit he is wrong?

But that is how they sold changing the ordinance, by claiming the State was the best and better than the one we were using.  Like having a subdivision ordinance-we didn't have one (gasp!) and needed one.  However our former land use ordinance did not permit cutting up woodland with roads and lots. 

The guy admitted on the phone last night they did it so people could sell off lots to make money.  (So the rich people who own lots of land that was landlocked could now slice and dice to their hearts content, while those of use who live in the town because of its rural nature can just suck it up.)

He went on another tangent about how "accumulation of junk" is not permitted on one of the new ordinances.  There was a piece on another road that had quite a collection and high weeds.  It had been like that for as long as I can remember.  But someone who was a friend of these persons taking over the town-another someone from away- bought a piece behind and put all kinds of money (hundred of thousands of dollars) into upgrading the property.  Now she didn't like having to drive by the junky place everyday.

I told the guy-"It was like that when SHE bought her piece"

But that is basically what has happened to this little town.  People moved in, bought cheap (for a reason) put money in, enacted ordinances intheir favor, cashed out, got the hell out of dodge, and left us torn and bleeding with our taxes doubled.

It's like living in a third world country and having the mining op come in promising how great your life is going to be, making millions of dollars and then leaving your with an open pit mine and pollution.

Yes, very disgruntled this morning.

Bear Feeding Petition

Wildlife Advocate  John Glowa works tirelessly on behalf of all Maine Wildlife.  He recently spent hours preparing a petition regarding bear feeding stations.

Here's his op ed :  https://www.pressherald.com/2020/05/19/commentary-lets-shut-down-maine-bear-feeding-program/

Commentary: Let’s work toward shutting down Maine’s bear feeding program

Until June 5, public comment is being taken on a proposal that would require a permit to feed bears and finally eliminate permits.

BY JOHN M. GLOWA SR.SPECIAL TO THE PRESS HERALD

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12 COMMENTS

SOUTH CHINA — The recent sighting of a bear in Gorham should serve as a wake-up call to southern Maine residents about Maine’s bear feeding program. In 2004 and again in 2014, Mainers went to the polls to vote on ending the feeding of bears for the purpose of hunting them, as well as ending bear trapping and hounding. Both citizen-initiated referendums were narrowly defeated, in part because of aggressive anti-referendum campaigns by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Mainers today have another opportunity to try to shut down Maine’s bear feeding program. I recently submitted a petition signed by more than 150 registered voters. The petition is to change Maine’s bear hunting rule by requiring a permit to feed bears and then by decreasing and finally eliminating bear feeding permits over a 10-year period. Because Maine law permits so-called bear “baiting,” the use of food and other materials for scent and sight baits would be allowed to continue. The major difference is that this food would not be available for the bears to eat. The public comment period for this proposal ends June 5. Please email becky.orff@maine.gov to request a copy of the proposed rule change and/or to comment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John M. Glowa Sr. of South China is a wildlife advocate and author on Facebook of John Glowa’s Maine Fish & Wildlife News.

Maine’s bear management system is a disaster. It has grown, not controlled Maine’s bear population. The committee that developed the most recent management plan was comprised almost entirely of bear hunting advocates. The key elements of the plan are to increase bear feeding and bear hunting. Of course, this would benefit both the bear hunting industry and IFW.

Maine’s bear population is exploding, and its range is expanding. Practically the entire state is now occupied by bears. In 2004, IFW warned us that unless bear feeding-baiting was continued, the bear population would explode. Maine’s bear feeding program was continued and the bear population has since nearly doubled from 23,000 to approximately 45,000 bears. It is now some 10,000 bears over the natural carrying capacity.

IFW’s faulty logic is that bears need to be fed in order to kill them in sufficient numbers to control the population. In fact, Maine’s bear feeding program is intended to grow the population – to produce more and bigger bears for the hunting industry and for IFW’s coffers.

Science tells us that feeding bears produces more bears. Without evidence, IFW tells us in the most recent management plan that this is a “myth.” Science tells us that female bears that go into hibernation at a lighter weight produce fewer or no cubs that winter. In Maine, bear cub production used to be higher every other year, depending on the abundance of mast crops, primarily beechnut. Cub production is now relatively stable each year and at a higher rate of production. The most significant change in the Maine woods and the only logical explanation is the widespread dumping of food at thousands of feeding sites. One has to wonder why IFW recently withdrew a plan to assess the impact of feeding on Maine’s bear population.

Feeding bears not only produces more bears but also causes changes in bear behavior and teaches them to rely on human foods. It can also promote and spread diseases among bears and other wildlife that congregate at feeding sites.

Bears are visiting backyards, and the only thing IFW has to do is offer advice to take down your bird feeder. They are silent on the issue of this state-endorsed feeding program and its effect on the growth of the bear population and the expansion of bear range. Why should the people of Maine have to put up with this gross mismanagement of Maine’s bears for the economic benefit of Maine’s bear hunting industry and IFW? We shouldn’t

Here is PPH's Deidre Fleming-who can always be counted on to take the side of SAM-article on same

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/07/08/bear-hunting-petition-reignites-20-year-old-debate-over-baiting/

"...In the hour-long hearing Wednesday held by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 13 people testified against the petition and four supported it, including John Glowa of China, who submitted the petition. IFW has received over 200 comments on the proposal since the petition was submitted.

• Hunters would have to obtain permits for bear-baiting sites and provide GPS coordinates for the sites on the permit.Specifically, the petition asks IFW to make the following changes to rules governing bear hunting in Maine.

• The use of food that is toxic or harmful to bears would be banned – the petition lists chocolate and refined sugar as examples.

• Starting in 2021, the number of bear feeding permits issued would be reduced by 10 percent each year until 2029.

• After 2029, hunters could still “bait” bears using scent baits and physical attractants, e.g shiny objects, but not with food. Use of scents and objects would not require a permit.

Proponents said changing bear-baiting laws would help decrease the bear population, an IFW goal in its Big Game Management Plan released in 2018. According to the plan, Maine’s bear population was between 21,000 and 23,000 in 2000, but since 2005 has increased to more than 35,000...."

Fox trapping Fail

Bath Maine had been the location of several rabid fox attacks.  The City Council decided to pay over $26,000 to USDA "Animal Services" (best known for putting exploding coyote bait traps out west) and Maine DIFW on a live trapping program.

Many residents and wildlife advocates expressed outrage at the plan, offered legitimate alternatives (vaccinated bait), provided studies that showed it is nearly impossible to live trap fox, and were treated like idiots by Maine DIFW. Then we had to wait months for results-I guess it took that long to try and make an excuse for this epic failure.

Who's the idiot now?

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/07/02/report-no-animals-trapped-in-bath-anti-rabies-program-had-rabies/

Here's the Facebook Page of "Save the Fox" and what wildlife advocates had to say about it-since PPH did not allow comments on this article

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1357355094468095/

May You Have Fair WInds and Following Seas

George Roy Hutchings Jr.May 22, 1960 - July 3, 2020

July 7, 2020 at 1:52 pm

George Roy Hutchings Jr., 60, of Kodiak, Alaska and Damariscotta, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 3, 2020 at his home here in Maine with family at his side. George was born in Augusta on May 22, 1960, and grew up in Alna and Nobleboro.

He attended Nobleboro Central School and Christian Academy during his grammar school days. He attended Lincoln Academy, while working in South Bristol clamming, and later earned his GED. He left Maine in his teenage years to start his adventures in fishing in Point Pleasant, N.J., then on to more adventures scallop dragging in New Bedford, Mass. At the age of 20, George headed for an even greater and larger adventure in Homer, Alaska, where, after some tough times, he became a king crab and scalloping fisherman for many years. He was also instrumental in helping in the cleanup of the Valdez oil spill. He was also proud of his three children’s coloring books he had published with illustrations done by his good friend, Glenn Chadbourne.

He was a devoted officer in the Salvation Army in Kodiak, and a member of the Sons of the American Legion in Kodiak. George was an avid collector and rider of several Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which he rode all over Alaska and anywhere else he could. Everyone who knew George knew he had a kind heart and deep faith, which made his passion in life to give to others, whatever the need (especially children). Without being asked, if he saw a problem he could help with, he was there to do it.

George met his bride and true love, Sheila, in Alaska in 2011. They were married in the Valley of Fire in Las Vegas, Nev. on Nov. 18, 2013. They made their home in Kodiak, where George was captain on the fishing vessel Elizabeth F, and a partner in his boat Alitak. George lived in Alaska fishing for the past 40 years, spending more time on the sea than land, doing what he loved.

He was predeceased by his sister, Lena Eagan; nephew, Christopher Quintal; parents, George and Frances Hutchings; nephew, Roy A. Benner Jr.; and great-niece, Dyra Hope.

He is survived by his wife, Filma “Sheila” Hutchings; son, Vhan Ra Del Son Rafael and his wife Nicole Pacanas Rafael; and grandson, George Red Rafael. He is also survived by a brother, Fred Hutchings; two sisters, Lee Anna Libby and her husband Willis, and Laura Benner and her husband Roy Sr.; nieces and nephews, Amanda Rattleff, Gabrielle Hutchings, Ben Hutchings, Jason Batchelder and his fiance Holly, Rachel Collamore and her partner Aaron Child, Naomi Jewett-Johnson and her significant other Gregory Jeffrey, and Shalom Milani and her fiance Rogeaio Lima; and great-nieces and nephews, Jeremiah, Parker, Fletcher, Bella, Cecilia, Brandon, Kylee, Hannah, James, Ava, and Logan.

A celebration of George’s life will be held at a later date in the next couple of months.

And the Gods Smiled Upon Me

I had to "run the gauntlet" today.  I was due for a stock up on things best acquired in the city.  I put it off last week.  I put it off Monday and Tuesday. 

Yesterday I was glad I delayed-one of those rare days with  a Southern breeze to keep the mosquitoes at bay, intermittent sun-we are thankful for a handful of days like those a year.

Then the Willow pointed out yesterday was a no shopping protest in support of BLM, so we both agreed it was a good day to stay home on all accounts.

But I was feeling pressed to get the run done this week, with an upcoming mask defiant gathering scheduled for the state border this weekend, I had no intention of exposing myself to the returning infectees-I mean, attendees.

We were forecast for a line of thunderstorms-it looked like it would hit us late afternoon so I figured a morning dash was in order.  There was a heavy police presence in the Capital city-not sure what was going on, except I did see one hippy pulled over and a pickup with flags a flapping on the other side of town-an American on one side of the cab, and a Trump 2020 on the other.  They weren't pulled over, although I would think you would need a parade permit to attach things of that sort to a vehicle and not be able to just drive around with same.

Most southern and coastal counties have been under mandatory mask wearing while shopping orders.  For some reason the county the capitol lies in was not included, although the cities north and south of Bangor and Lew-Aub respectively, were.

The door counters and cart cleaning was no where to be seen at any of the three major retailers I stopped at, and one smaller shop had a sign merely asking customers "to not come in if you are sick."

WOW ok.

But all is not lost-I spied a car with New York plates in one busy parking lot, and had to chuckle to note empty parking spots on either side of it even though it was in a prime location.  Social distancing parking lot style No one was going to park next to that out of stater!

The thunder started grumbling in the distance a few hours after I returned home.  I was trying to catch up online and set the notebook aside to take care of "night chores"= the goats, goose, hen and rooster all needed night food and water and tucking in for the night.

I heard a doe huffing repeatedly down in the marsh-was that fly blown rib cage lying in the road that of her missing fawn? The thunder grew persistent along with her calls.  I tried to keep loose as I wrapped it up, well aware that I am under tall trees most of which bear lightning scars, that I have to come into contact with metal fences that are definitely grounded in the damp earth, that I seem to attract lightning like that ribcage was attracting flies, but I was going to have faith, face death, so let it come, I was not going to panic, my heart was not going to race, my butt cheeks were not going to climb into my lower lumbar.

A few spatters of rain hit as I closed the last door and gate-too late to grab the few laundry items on the line, they would get a freshwater rain rinse.

I calmly walked in and shut the back door and the heavens opened up.  Thunder has been roaring overhead as I type this, the air full of the smell of ozone.  My foot on the slate is tingling.  The sky is even making noises like a gigantic door creaking on its hinges.

The Gods smiled upon me and I thank them.

First Week of Joly

Our extremely dry June ended with a big recovery for rainfall totals.  We have had rain, drizzle and fog off and on for over a week.

Snow in May, drought and 90's in June, and July looks like it will be moldy and a slugfest.

I actually lit a small fire in the wood stove last night to drive the chill out of my feet.

The June blooms faded quickly in the dry heat, the sweet briar climbing the electric pole in the garden started to put on its best show ever, but the delicate blossoms succumbed quickly to the rain.

I was sitting outside reading a couple of days ago during a spot of sunshine, and stopped to let my senses drink in my surroundings.

The vireos and warbler families were flitting through the under story that flanks the lawn; other birds were filling the air with song.

The lacy white blossoms of the yarrow patches were hitting their stride.  Other flowers in season: the pale pink 5 petaled wild roses in the blackberry hedge, the black (or brown) eyed Susans, Asian bellflowers, foxglove, butter and eggs, and every variety of clover including the white sweet clover throughout the lawn.

I love having clover in the lawn and walking barefoot-as long as I watch out for the honey bees-because when I reach my destination I will look down and find clover blossoms stuck between my toes.

The two zucchini plants are coming on strong, the small day old fruits making a welcome addition to stir fries and the huge orange blossoms complementing the yellow in the rudebeckia behind it.

The broccoli goes in the stir fries as well, it's been bolting in the heat and every day yields another handful of tiny blossomed out broccoli heads for the fry pan.

The wild or Indian strawberries that have been battling for domination against the moneywort(whose yellow star shaped blossoms which give it its name are also coming on) in the lower garden actually fruited this year.  I had two pickings of about a cup each time.  Since each berry  is smaller than the size of your pinky nail or a pencil eraser, it takes many berries to make a cup!

But they are worth crawling around on hands and knees brushing aside the large leaves, searching for a glint of red, occasionally brushing against the lemon balm-or Sweet Melissa- that has gone feral in the lower garden as well. Hoping not to come across one of the garter snakes that like to hunt for frogs in the undergrowth or accidentally crush a slimy slug under foot or knee.

 The tiny berries have a much more intense flavor than commercial berries.  Mixed with a little sugar to draw out the juice, then served over ladyfingers and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it's summer heaven on Earth.

I usually make plain scones and whip heavy cream to make strawberry shortcake, but the delicate texture of ladyfingers seemed more appropriate for the tiny delights.

IF only I could stick a large thumbtack in time to hold it here I would be permanently in paradise.

I would find it easy to ignore the state of the union as well as the world, safe in my cocoon of beauty.

Monuments

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Our esteemed leader announced that there will be fines and jail time for anyone defacing or destroying monuments, in the wake of protesters toppling monuments with racial connotations.

Yet within the last month, the President has dismantled an enormous marine monument.  During his administration many National monuments have been reduced in size, or lost protections. (Bear's Ears being a good example)

Those National monuments were set aside for all people, to protect sensitive environment, habitat, endangered species, and archaeological as well as spiritual sites.

It is unclear why hundreds desiring the removal of statues of persons who promoted slavery are deserving of punishment, but  one person can single -handedly  undo protected spaces for the benefit of CEO's of large corporations.

Where's the justice?

Astrology

I enjoy reading this website every week:

https://www.hareinthemoonastrology.co.uk/weekly-forecasts

Some weeks she takes a holiday

If you would like to know how your personal chart fits with any specifics she mentions, here is a link to a free astrological chart that plots the positions of the planets at the time of your birth:

https://alabe.com/freechart/

Namaste!

Summer Solstice

The Solstice is almost upon us.  While my calendar shows it as "the first day of Summer", it is also known as "Midsummer night's Eve".

We may experience our hottest day of the year today, forecast for the 90's.  After freezing for six months, you won't hear any complaints from this southern girl, although the air is already thick and sticky at 8 am as I type this.

I have been waiting for the fireflies.  Last night I stepped out into the gloaming and was rewarded with the light show that is the mating call of the local fireflies.  They are abundant here, and a walk barefoot down the drive in shorts and a tank top at 9 pm, surrounded by the drifting lights of fireflies, I surely felt like I was living in fairyland.

Perversely, the news I get over the air and internet is an ugly contrast.  Immigrants being referred to as 'not human, but animals", our elections being sold out to China to secure the vote of the farm belt, open denial of a global pandemic-everyday brings another jaw dropping moment.

The behavior of our supposed leader has a trickle down effect that expands like a terminal cancer. 

We ventured out on a stock up run yesterday, and despite the governor's mandate that masks be worn, the corporate grocery chain Hannaford has chosen not to follow it. 

While the local Walmart has clearly posted signs saying masks need to be worn unless you have a medical condition-an easy out for the deniers since no proof of same condition is required, Hannaford corp doesn't care.

They have taken measures to make sure you have to go down every aisle, by putting directional arrows on the aisle floors.  I find that if I follow the arrows I spend twice as much time in the store, making the store more crowded and creating a longer time frame for possible exposure and giving those not wearing masks more opportunity to spew virus over the store.

To add insult to injury, a large sign directs the customer to carts which are proclaimed to be "all sanitized", yet I watched an employee retrieve carts from the corral and stick them straight into the cart queue. Since the carts are gathered handles in and returned handles out, the next cart to be taken will be the most recent cart left in the corral, which is especially bad, as any contamination will be fresh.  Exposure to UV and drying air will be minimal

At another Hannaford (it's a long story about why I had to stop at two). they were sanitizing the carts, but the employee at the front of the store (supposedly counting patrons to limit density) offered me a cart.  She was not wearing a mask or gloves-just a faceshield.  She was wearing shorts.  On the way back out I saw her hand on her leg.

If she was asymptomatic positive, she was potentially contaminating the cart handles for everyone entering the store, after we are assured the carts are "sanitized".

I wonder if Hannaford can spell social accountability?

Wildlife observations

We finally had a little bit of rain after a dry stretch of several weeks.

On my morning stroll down the drive, I was surprised to see two large groups of Tiger swallowtails drinking moisture out of the dirt.  I counted at least 25 in the two groups.  Then I turned onto the road and saw three more groups of at least another 25 along the road.

This is an annual event;typically they are on the other side of the road in much smaller numbers.  So I am glad to report the Tiger swallowtail population is thriving despite our being flanked by neighbors on both sides who use pesticide.

The hot pink "Dame's Rocket" has lived up to its name and spread like a rocket (over the last twenty years} in the lower garden by the chicken coop.  The patch is probably about ten by twenty feet and was loaded with Tiger Swallowtail today, perhaps as many as twenty.  There was a group of three that were following each other around through the yard.


I have seen a large amount of another caterpillar that looks quite similar to "tent caterpillars" or gypsy moths.  I do my best to destroy any tent caterpillar nests along the road that I find-they are an invasive species and can devastate fruit trees overnight.

I wasn't sure what this other caterpillar was, so I looked it up.  Imagine my horror when I realized it was the dreaded browntailed moth, another invasive species, this one with toxic hairs that can persist in leaves and vegetation, causing a hive like reaction when they come into contact with skin, as well as respiratory distress if inhaled.  Sort of like an invisible travelling poison ivy.

The moisture also kicked to life the blood sucking insects-mosquitoes and black flies.

I would prefer to live outdoors this time of year-just drinking in the blossoms of the flowers that have taken years to naturalize, but all of a sudden I have developed sensitivity to something.  I have several bite marks on my face and neck that swelled up like little balloons-itchy  irritating balloons.

Today I raked out the goose pen.  We are down to one gander, Pluto.  He turned into a total ass this spring during breeding season, and started going after me.  If he latched on, he would beat the crap out of my shins with his wings.  I put up with that far too long-I hated to lock him up when his puddle was full of fresh spring water and the tender green shoots were there for grazing.

But then when he started using my quasi hugel beds for an afternoon snooze and tromping through the growing bearded iris, that was the last straw.  He has been on lockdown (he has a rather nice pen next to the goats, so don't think me too cruel) for at least a month, and most of that time even feeding or watering him was a challenge. 

I guess by now any little goslings would be going out on their own, because he has finally become less of a terrifying ogre and I was able to get in his pen and rake up the leaves which he loves to fill his bathtub with-in about an hour-

We have pondered why he fouls his bathtub-if its like a kid with rubber duckies or just out of boredom?  While he has been getting a bucket of fresh water everyday with his daily ration, his tub has been more of a challenge.

I figured if I could clean up some of his "toys" his water would stay clean longer. Think of kids in a wading pool after you mow the grass...

So dodging the biting insects, which really get enraged when you start raking leaves that have been soaking in a goose tub, I dragged several large buckets down to the potato bed and the Willow helped lug the water buckets to give him a clean tub.

The hummingbirds have been hitting the feeder hard.  We have only one species here:  Ruby throated hummingbirds.  I saw three females bickering before each finding a place at the feeder, and so far have seen just one male.  We have a lot of flowers they would like-occasionally I see them on the geranium or petunias, but for now sugar water is the main attraction.   Later in the season the jewelweed- which has taken over one side of the long drive and along with the moneywort would like to take over the world- becomes a favorite for both the hummers and the several species of bumblebees that call our garden home.

we were thrilled to see a porcupine climbing the big elm over the hill a few evenings ago.  I wondered if it was the now grown baby who followed his Momma back and forth last summer.  She got hit and was left in the middle of the road last summer-I took a shovel and broom and moved her off to the side.

A few days later I was walking further up the road and saw the baby hiding in a small rock pile along the road. (sad face)  I really like porcupines and had a chance to observe one grazing at less than ten feet two summers ago.  It would hold the weed very carefully with its long claws and nibble the leaves off the stem.

I like porcupines even though I have had many dogs end up quilled, one requiring a trip to the doggie version of the ER.  Most people here hate them for that reason, and others, so it was a treat to see we have at least one in the area. 

Exceptthat one of my zuccini plants looked like it had been run over by a porcupine last night-and I only have two plants this year trying to avoid the zuccini epidemic that hits in August. 

Welcome to June in Maine.

A different Version

We are in  movie mode here, watching some new ones and revisiting old favorites.

I recently drew some sililarities to current events and The Hunger Games.

After revisiting The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy, I thought current events were like what would have happened to Middle Earth if things had gone awry for Bilbo in the very beginning.

Wormtongue=Kushner
King Theoden=Trump
Eowyn (corrupted)=Ivanka
Gandalf=Bernie
Radagast= Joe Biden
Sauraman=McConnell
Smaug=Mnuchin
Hobbits=the downtrodden little people

Ruined Shire=our wild places

The Elves would probably have left, but you could stretch and add
Galadriel=Pelosi
Elrond=Schumer

Supreme Court Justices=Eagles or Nazgul, as appropriate

Sauron= who knows, he has the one ring and is invisible

Given a little thought, substitutes for other characters might also be found, I will leave that to your imagination!

Wildlife Protections gutted

Despite a global shutdown due to the pandemic, Mauna Loa observatory recorded the highest atmospheric CO2 levels in May since record keeping began.

Once in the atmosphere, CO2 is persistent.  May is usually the highest reading of the year because plants and trees growing in the Northern Hemisphere start to absorb and store CO2.

However, with regulations being gutted in favor of economics, our forest loss by volume is steadily increasing.

Over 25,000 nesting shorebirds are losing habitat on the Atlantic coast to an infrastructure project.

The Department of the Interior in conjunction with DIFW has gutted the migratory bird act, eliminating any repercussions to industry that causes migratory bird loss-such as birds landing in open pits of chemicals.

The icing on the cake was seeing a live stream yesterday of Trump allowing commercial fishing in one of only three protected marine environments-

"Is that what you want?" he addressed a fisherman representative.

DId he ask the protesters what they want?  One wealthy white male meets with him and asks him to remove protections from an area , and it's done.

Millions of people asking for justice, and they are ignored.

He has the gall to sit in our great state and call our governor a dictator and claim "SHE doesn't know what she is doing"

Maybe it's time to look in the mirror.

People are not dispensable

Human beings are lifeforms, as much as any lifeform on this planet. while we are all horrified at the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a fundamentalist right wing conservative, we can be thankful we were not subjected to the skinning and sale of his skin for human consumption.

Because he was treated like an animal, animals such as the wildlife that is "harvested"  by persons that live on the profits of the sale of pelts for their own hobby or enjoyment, feeling like they are doing the public a "service" by eliminating and controlling a population they feel is extraneous.

I want to comment on what happened to peaceful demonstrators in Lafayette park yesterday, so a troop of whites could get a photo op with a bible against the belief of the church bishop who decried the action as against the teachings of Jesus.

Or the battering and beating of Australian journalists cowering behind a wall as the wall driving out protesters-peaceful protesters-advanced, or so I shall, retreated-while our smug commander in chief crowed like a cock.

Or to highfive my governor Janet Mills. for growing a pair and telling himself he is NOT wanted in our state, while helicopters and jets are commuting the necessary secret service and commandos into place for his visit to the county where he accrued the largest percentage of votes in the state in 2016 at 58%.

While I am glad that I live in the middle of nowhere safe from the justified protests, I find myself surrounded by redneck pickups brandishing rifles racing up and down the road in pursuit of the "evil" coyote, flanked by neighbors with Trump election signs and waving confederate flags-who in this country is really safe?

Hunger Games

If you have ever watched the Hunger Games, you may agree that the events that are unfolding are eerily similar to the armed crackdown that happens when the districts start protesting how they are governed.

One has to wonder why it was acceptable for people to carry weapons into a state capital building to protest the governor's handling of the pandemic, but violent force is used against peaceful protesters, including the press.

While some might howl about their right to bear arms, how about freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble-and the basic human right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

BY the way, the right to bear arms has already been curtailed so there is precedent to ban military style assault weapons-just look up the definition of "arms".

Yet factions prone to violence are supported and those seeking peace and justice are subjugated?

  The World is upside down.

I can't Breathe

When I saw the video the other night of a man being suffocated by a police officer kneeling on his neck, I turned to my daughter and said, "There will be riots over this."

I was living in a suburb of Washington DC when Martin Luther King Jr was murdered.  My grandmother was living in an apartment "in the district" and my mother ran police lines to bring her out as her mother's block burned.

Some of my readers are well aware that I am a wildlife advocate.  Some may even call me an activist, and I would take that as a compliment.  I have attended hearings, submitted comments on proposed legislation, and made many comments on editorials and forums and surveys regarding the treatment and hunting regulations regarding Maine's wildlife.

One of the methods trappers use to dispatch an animal caught in a leg hold trap is to first stun it with a blow to the head, and then press a foot to the throat until the animal is suffocated.  Many of us in the wildlife advocate group feel, justifiably so, that this method of killing an animal is inhumane and cruel.

Yet, right in my own living room, I see a HUMAN BEING, forcibly held to the ground and then slowly suffocated by a knee to the neck -which took at least 6 minutes and continued several minutes beyond that.

ALL if the officers involved should be charged with murder.  The responding EMTs should be called to account for reportedly merely "checking several times for a pulse".  Where was the CPR?? What was the reaction of the murderer when he realized he had just killed a human being?  Where is the video that would feebly attempt to justify such a violent response from the officers?

Why didn't the bystanders jump in?  If I had been in the vicinity of such a crime, you would have certainly heard me if not seen me attempting to stop what was happening.***

Edit:  the following is a link to the story of the 17 year old African American girl who took the video  https://www.tmz.com/2020/05/28/teen-recorded-george-floyd-video-traumatized-backlash/

Everyone owes this girl a huge thank you for her calm and action while this was happening!



I am sure many people feel the same shock and frustration.  While my daughter and I both agree burning and looting is not an agreeable response, I attempted ot explain the frustration of demonstrators and how this mob mentality can develop under certain circumstances.

If only one of the responding officers had tackled the murderer things would be so much different.  Society cannot stand for this kind of abuse and condonment of violence.  It's way past time to make sure your vote counts.

American Bullfrog

American bullfrog

This bullfrog has been a summer regular, wintering probably under the house and taking advantage of the rain barrels and old bathtub on the north side of the house.  I was going to call it "Herman" but I think it may be a female, in which case I will name it "Hermanita"

Morons

Well that seems like a harsh title.  But, I had to make a run to the local grocery store today, and didn't get there until after 12.  The parking lot was about half full and I didn't have to wait in line.

However, I was extremely aggravated to note that about half the customers were not wearing any face coverings.  One couple in the produce section was opening pre bagged cherries and putting them in a produce bag to buy a lesser amount since they were @\$2.99/lb and the bags were rather large.

However, since neither were wearing masks and the man was handling bags of cherries-there are signs thougghout the store not to touch things unnecessarily-I shot them a dirty look on the way by,  When I circled back around, the produce bag with the cherries was sitting on top of the other cherries.  Perhaps a store worker had caught them or they changed their minds_

They weren't the only ones I saw without face coverings.  The store did have boxes of ten disposable masks for $9.99/box right next to gloves, so there are choices available.


But it seems as though this has turned into a political statement led by our esteemed leader, and it's tragic. 

The TV is full of segments featuring people scoffing the recommendations, instead of focusing on people that think the rest are idiots.  The local paper has letters to the editor of people commenting on the non mask wearers and complaints of being coughed at. 

 I saw headlines of a recent Harris poll that showed over 90% of people thought it was too soon to re-open.

Maine had it's lowest in several week new case report of 17 -but I only have to think of my 90 year old something neighbor who hasn't been able to visit his wife in the local nursing home since March.

Most of the outbreaks in nursing homes have been brought in by staff who have picked it up in the community, and to see selfish people waltzing around the grocery store without a face covering really fries my cookies. 

But when the news covers store security getting shot and killed for trying to enforce mask wearing, what store wants to require it and what police department wants to enforce it ?  Especially when you have DOJ and the esteemed leader threatening legal repercussions if they do.

 God save the weak and vulnerable. Set an example and cover your mouth and nose in public.  Thanks!

Eastern Black Swallowtail

Photo by CWR reprinted with permission

Today is Memorial Day 2020. The weather in Maine has been extremely dry with Temps ranging from near 90F Friday May 22 to a low of 30F the morning on the 24th.

Insects are still doing their thing-the above photo of a tentatively identified Eastern Black Swallowtail feeding on dandelion was taken yesterday.

The Willow tree along the drive, which I pollarded hard at ten feet, has sprouted a lot of new growth which has become the focus of the Blue black Willow beetle, an invasive species.  I suspect the infestation is in part what devastated the original tree, along with a soaking of herbicide by a wayward roadside maintenance man half dozen years ago.

The quasi-style Hugel beds I use for vegetables are also apparently insect friendly.  I have some medium sized black ants making a large colony in one and two separate species of bumblebees have also found them ideal for nesting.

The latter has created an inconvenience, since I had plans for that part of the bed which was not yet planted. Ditto with the Eastern Phoebes nesting under the north eaves.  I desperately need to do some serious roof work on that part of the house, and the current stretch of dry weather would have been ideal.  (If I had known it was coming, of course)

The plan is to do that work in July-  after the fledglings have left the nest and before the parents start a second brood.

The squirrels are gradually expanding their territory and return from down the ridge every late afternoon.  Hopefully when the serious hot weather hits they will find the roof too hot to their liking and move out.

Momma duck was spotted again a few days ago-with at least half dozen ducklings.  She is tentatively identified as a mallard, but I thought I caught a flash of blue which would make her a wood duck.  The wood ducks had been seen in that location for enough time for a brood to hatch, with the mallards latecomers.  I am hoping they are wood ducks since that would be a nod to my ego, as wood ducks nest in tree cavities and appropriate nesting sites can be hard to come by.

Nothing has been heard from the loons.  We have always had at least two nesting pair and I am concerned something or someone has caused them to disappear.

No sign yet of the Great Blue Heron, either, but sometimes that does not appear until later in the season.

The Willow created a Netflix by mail account, and we have watched several movies.  I think my favorite so far was the remake of Jumanji.  I laughed out loud on several occasions and one scene had me on the edge of my seat.  Very entertaining. We both send a nod to Jack Black for his performance as well as the other actors and actresses.

Stay safe~

Greening Up

The trees have sprung to life, no wonder it is called spring.  One day the beech leaf casings were fluttering down like snow then the next day the whole back yard's beech grove had greened out.

It's been a race against the black flies to get things planted.  I searched the house for hours for the yellow wax bean seeds I had saved.  Or thought I saved.  I had a bumper crop last year of beautiful long pods and had let some set.  The house ghost alone knows where I put them.

I found some crummy looking ones marked 2015 and planted them in a window box since I expect poor germination.  I think those are the ones I used last year and I had maybe 5 out of 25 or more seeds come up.  I ended up transplanting the 5 and babying them and got a ton of beans off 5 plants.  Plus all the seeds I can't find.

I am hoping I get a few to come up out of the last seeds and can repeat the process this year.

I was supposed to make a town run today, but nothing critical on the list and I think I can stretch it to next week.  It is absolutely gorgeous weather and I really don't want to waste one of the remaining days of my life in town worried about getting COVID.

The state has finally increased its testing capacity with a deal with IDEX.  We were told to expect cases to go up with better detection since they dropped the requirements to get a test.  But that's not stopping them from opening full steam ahead.  Restaurants and campgrounds have been added to the kk list, but our town office is still closed go figure.

I had a nice socially distant chat with a 90+ year old neighbor whose wife went into a nursing home right before this happened.  He hasn't been allowed to visit her in weeks.  They have been married 60 years.  It makes me so sad to see him suffering when people can get their hair done or sit in a restaurant. 

Update on my vaccine comment-I have since heard that the RNA is from part of the virus, not from people's immune response.  But then Stephen COlbert had a bit on last night that cows  being used to create vaccines. Usually his stuff is rooted in truth so now I will have to go look that up.  Stay tuned.

The Right Solution?

I have always had reservations about vaccines.  It must have started about 3rd or 4th grade when there was a public vaccination program through public schools.

We were all lined up like good little soldiers and "BAM!" hit with a multi needled gun in the left upper forearm.  Many people of my generation still bear the scar from that injection.

Now, the general premise of exposing someone to a killed version or a mild form of a virus to stimulate the bodies natural immune system if confronted with the virus in the future is a great one.  It's the other things that go along with it that worry me.

Like Thimerisol, a form of mercury that has been used as a preservative.  Or the load of contaminated vaccines that went out from some shady company a few years back. 

What is actually in that injection?

The push to create a vavvine for COVID 19 rapidly, (even given a nifty little code name), concerns me. I have read that one of the approaches is to take genetic material from people who have recovered, isolate the different immune responses, pick one which seems like the best, take a bit of the RNA and inject it to stimulate the body to replicate that particular immune response.

Immune responses are both good and bad.  The body identifies an invader and sends in the troops, overwhelming it.  But there are many health issues associated with immune responses.  For example, that is what causes allergies.  The body treats a substance as an alien invader and launches a response.  the result is sneezing and inflammation-accumulation of fluid from cells that are lysed, or literally exploded.

The greater the amounts of the invader, the larger the reaction.  So a lethal immune response can happen with larger exposure as well as a delayed response that allows the virus to replicate in massive quantities before the response kicks in.

People are individuals.  There are different blood types, as well as different medical histories which can include inherited as well as acquired traits. For example, I know someone who had an ancestor exposed to malaria and they have a blood condition which creates a negative reaction when exposed to sulfites.

Ideally a proper vaccine would be tailored to different types.  But that is not how it is addressed.  Massive broad testing is required to select the vaccine that will benefit the most people with the least negative effects and then it is put into production for everyone.

That is the road we are on.  The search for the cure, and then it will be distributed.

But is that really the best road?  What happens when the next virus comes along?  What happens when this one mutates beyond what the vaccine will target?

Don't we really need a worldwide cultural shift in behavior to stave off the current and future pandemics?

There are health reasons why we have sewage processing plants, cover our bottoms, wash our hands after using the bathroom.  But upper respiratory infections? 

We have been told during flu season "stay home if you are sick" and then don't offer sick pay for low wage earners.  We reward students for perfect attendance.

Walmart has been running an ad crowing about how they are open shorter hours to allow them to clean stores, showing them spraying carts and wiping the handles of cooler doors and registers conveyor belts.  Isn't this something they should always do?

I was happy when stores started putting out sani wipe dispensers near the carts and always wiped my cart off while having mixed feelings.  In the past, I was worried people with look at me as a germaphobe.  Yet I was also miffed that I had to clean the carts for the store.  Shouldn't the store be sanitizing the carts when they were brought in?  Turns out, yes, they should.

What about the negative association with burkas?  How some societies got on their high horses and harassed the wearers of same, even though it was a religious choice and even requirement.  Now some in  society refuse to wear face coverings, perhaps rooted in that face covering stigma.

IMO society, worldwide society, should adapt everyday healthy habits to protect public health, and not sit back on their laurels waiting on a cure. 

Hopefully a cure won't create more problems...