Is this Siberian elm tree really okay?

Back in July, a City of Ottawa Forestry inspector came at my request and checked out the Siberian elms next to our house. I was particularly concerned about this one because it had a big brown streak on the trunk and the leaves did not seem to be doing well. 

The inspector assured me that both elms looked great to him and were doing fine.

But yesterday, we got an indication that this Siberian elm is not happy. It is definitely more threatening if you ask me.

Snow creatures appear

On Wednesday, it was a bit too cold.

But yesterday, it had warmed up enough to make very good packy-snow. 

And these two creatures appeared. One had trouble keeping his head.

We are curious to see how the squirrels might respond. Particularly to the noses.

Home repair with squid tentacle

Many years ago, way back when I was a solo act, I found it necessary to cut a hole in the wall in the bedroom/office area to access some coaxial cable. I cut a rectangle out of the drywall, accessed the cable and then put the rectangle of drywall back in place with green masking tape.

This wasn't particularly obvious to the other resident who came to live here because I had a dresser, a bunch of empty boxes, a clothes tree, and a sort of nightstand thing in front of this wall. But I've been downsizing a bit and moving things into my new studio space and the taped rectangle became entirely obvious.

It was gently suggested that I replace the taped-up rectangle with an access panel. I had to agree that this was a very good idea, so I got an access panel, removed the taped-up rectangle, and enlarged the hole so the access panel would properly fit.

Alas, in doing so, removal of the tape that had been on the wall for at least 20 years caused a section of paint to also come off, and I put a longer mark on the wall than I had needed.

Some people would probably have addressed these unsightly blemishes with some sort of paint solution. But I do not know much about house paint and am not good at using it.

However, I can draw a squid tentacle with a Rotring Tikky Graphic C.7 and a set of coloured pencils on a piece of fine tooth surface sketch paper and then use an exacto knife to cut out that tentacle so it perfectly covers unsightly blemishes on a wall.

And that is what I did.

If the other resident of your home has an affection for cephalopods, this is a home repair solution that I can recommend.

 

Halloween is over

It's November 2, but before I can make my devilled eggs, the monsters had to come down.

I set the time lapse to go a little faster, so this one will only take you 12 seconds to watch.

Time lapsing the monster mounting

It's late October, so time to put the monsters up on the windows.

To encourage myself, I used my new lifehack of setting up the time lapse camera.

Here I go. You might notice that after I put up a set in a narrow window, I took the monsters down and put them in the other window. This is because I used a picture taken from outside as my reference and got my left and right mixed up. This won't happen again because I've given myself a graphic guide for next year.

And here's the well-drawn, professional reminder I've attached so that in future years I'll know which monsters go on which side of the big window.

 

Fallen squirrel nest?

Look what landed on the sidewalk next to the Stick Library. I'm pretty sure it's a squirrel nest.

And I'm no animal scientist or forensic specialist, but I think that's a dried-out squirrel skull there. Making me suspect that the nest fell when its inhabitant was no longer able to maintain it after succumbing to natural causes.

However, I should add that while the Stick Librarian acknowledges that my theory could reflect reality, her wider experience and exposure to the world of crime leads her to suspect that other squirrels took action against the inhabitant of this nest causing their demise and the destruction of their home.

I should note that while I did not do a comprehensive study, I did turn over the detritus a bit with my snow shovel and found no other bones, but did find some furry fluff in with the leaves and twigs.

It was only a few years ago that I got curious about the clumps of leaves and twigs we'd see up in the trees. That's when I learned they were probably squirrel nests, and I was surprised to also learn that the nests usually only house one squirrel except when it's a mother and her babies. It seems that squirrels aren't really that companionable and when you see them interacting with each other, they're not playing, they're fighting.

The Stick Library goes Bilingual - la brancheothèque devient bilingue

In the better-late-than-never news category, I am happy to report that the Stick Library now has signage in French. [Dans la catégorie des nouvelles, il vaut mieux tard que jamais, je suis heureux d'annoncer que la brancheothèque a désormais une signalétique en français.]

The Stick Librarian wishes to thank our friend Aline for the French name and she apologizes to her translator friend Patricia-Anne for taking so long. But the Librarian's assistant bears some of the responsibility for it taking so long. [La branchothécaire souhaite remercier notre amie Aline pour le nom français et elle s'excuse auprès de son amie traductrice Patricia-Anne d'avoir mis autant de temps. Mais l'assistant du brancheothécaire porte une part de responsabilité dans cette lenteur.]

 Previously in Stick Library news:

• Manon's Stick Library
• Preparing for Stick Library season
• The Stick Library Reopens
  

The Stick Library Reopens

 I am happy to announce that yesterday, the Stick Librarian reopened the Stick Library here at the corner of Lebreton and Louisa.

The library assistant has been instructed to not add any sticks from the inactive stacks to the lending portion of the library without informing the librarian because she will be carefully tracking the annual statistics this year.

Previously in Stick Library news:

• Manon's Stick Library
• Preparing for Stick Library season
  

Preparing for Stick Library season

With the upcoming reopening of the Lebreton-Louisa Stick Library, the Stick Librarian was concerned that the branch's stacks were getting low.

Unfortunately for some neighbours, but fortunately for the library patrons, a recent windstorm brought down an old tree and the librarian was able to source replacements that just needed a little work this morning with a pair of loppers and an electric saw.

The library assistant/retired urban lumberjack lopping a branch

Sawing a branch

The Stick Librarian is happy the stacks are ready for a new borrowing season

  

Our Hallowe'en

We have no jack-o-lantern this year, but the sea monsters are back on the window, so we may get a few trick-or-treaters tonight. If there are any leftover mini-chocolate bars, I will just have to buckle down and deal with them.

Valentine Dinosaurs

 We had another cold spell and went with a Valentine's Day theme for the dinosaurs. The red in the hearts came from a red-coloured herbal tea. 

Ice dinosaurs

 

Manon and I are experimenting with an artform that is new to us.

Apparently many people make hanging ice ornaments with heart or circle shaped cake pans. 

Oddly, the easiest cake pans for us to find were of a brontosaurus and t-rex.

If we get a sunny day this week, they will probably look really neat.

Is it nesting time for squirrels?

I heard a rustling noise outside my window this morning.

 

Magi update

A while ago, Magi was not doing well. Or she was doing some serious method acting for her video career. But on her new regime, she is perky. More interested in looking around than in sprawling on the floor. She seems to like the view of the outside from the Ocean Table.

The Cow not Purchased

I love buying fun things at Value Village.

But if I bought everything I wanted to at Value Village, the house would become crowded and at least one person who lives here would become less happy.

Meanwhile, digital photos don't take up any room and I can still feel like I brought the treasure home.

Is Magi Dead? Episode 7

This episode is dedicated to Manon who cannot be here to watch Magi today.

and now, the rest of the story...

Is Magi Dead? Episode 6

Magi doesn't hang out on the floor so much any more. Maybe it's the thyroid drugs she's on. Maybe it's the loaded hamper in the bedroom.

I found a dinosaur

Ducks under water

If you're wondering why I put these ducks in the water globe with the Christmas cactus cutting...

It is because I could not find the dinosaurs.