FAR: WE DON'T NEED TO GO!

Nowhere in our fair land will we fail to see wildlife

We'll[ view flocks of birds on-wing...
We'll scent wild orange lilies and goldenrod
bordermg our country roads.

We'll see deer, so graceful, seeking woodlands.
That We Should Be So Favoured!

What we cannot see, we shall hear:
The fish, jumping, splashing in wavy waters.
The frogs croaking in the still of night.
The birds flying home to roost,
While offspring await their lullabies.

When morning came, at 5 A.M. a chirping bird wakened me
In response was a mate in a far-away tree..
Soon, dozens more flew onto the hydro wires
Relaying plans for their daily day.
That Was What Seemed So Favoured!

Dwelling here in Southern Ontario,
We needn't go far to Mother Nature see;
To our avian friends, we offer birdhouses; also seeds and suet.
Photographers snap pics around the RBG ~

And with cameras, also 'round our numerous trees.

For the birdies, we offer feeding stations
And, in return, we welome Robins, Blue Jays,
Sparrows...and occasionally a Starling or two.
And to many, Humans they do Trust and Favour!

So trusting, birds can be of humans:

For 2 seasons in succession, a pair of Mourning Doves

chose my 3^rd floor balcony to nest and raise their young!

Together, both male and female built their flat nest of soft grasses, twigs and straw,

 prior to laying of 3 eggs .Taking turns (by day and by night),they incubated the eggs.

So pleased was I to document their experience...so close was I ~

that one time, sitting next to her, she allowed me to touch her silky wing feathers.
Yes, it was a Sunday, when the first egg hatched .'Dad' hurried off to locate and bring home to her some food to eat. Within 2 days, all 3 eggs had hatched. Do not be surprised when I cite
 “Dad” did his share in feedings and 24-hour care in raising their hatchlings.

When, in about 14 to 16 days, the fledglings were taught to fly..
first to the chair arm...then to the balcony ledge.
 And when 'flight day arrived” “Dad” waited on the ground
 while Mom 'kicked them out of the nest'  forcing them
 to fly to the ground below... .and with a bit of 'bird-talk,''
when all disappeared into the trees.

The foregoing written by Merle Baird-Kerr...January 9, 2020

Comments most welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Winter Advice for Pedestrians and Drivers

AThe days get shorter and the snows have begun to fall.
Reducing our ability, Ontario sees a spike in collisions.

The CAA recommends this advice:
Always be aware of your surroundings:

Avoid distractions and be alert while crossing the street.
Follow signals and cross at designated locations or crosswalks.
Before you step off the curb, make sure all traffic has come to a complete stop.
Make eye-contact with drivers, ensuring you are seen.
Avoid jay walking!
Wear reflective clothing or accesssories to make yourself more visible.

Available 'free' at CAA stores, clip a CAA reflector tag
onto your jacket or bag to to make yourself more visible.

If You're Behind the Wheel:Drivers should take extra care
and always look for pedestrians crossing the road
at intersections.

Slow down in school zones...

check 'blind spots' when turning...

and avoid distractions.
Communication between all road users...

such as making 'eye contact' and 'indicating turns'...
is important to keep everyone safe.

Precautionary AdviceCheck the weather forecast before you head out, anytime.
Check road conditions for potential closings or delays.
If weather reports call for snow, be prepared for a longer trip time.

.Pack an emergency kit:
Include a first aid kit...warm blankets...a few non-perishable food items...a flashlight...shovel and sand or a bag of cat litter for traction. Clean snow and frost off the car before hitting the road...including the car roof, the hood, all windows, mirrors and lights.

Never overtake a moving snow-plough!

Composed by Merle Baird-Kerr...January 19, 2020
Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Mother Nature's Communication with Planet Earth

She sought updates from philosophers, scientists and animal control officers about her favourite planet ~ Earth. Addressing her humans on Earth, said, A picture is worth a thousand words ~

and I am in receipt of roaming bears...cuddly looking pandas...and colourful birds.

“Loving wildlife,” she responded,
“will make you rich beyond measure.”

To Mother Nature, Steve answered,“If we can teach people here about wildlife, they will be touched,”

Several updates, she received with facts about food and habitat.

Hugh Macmillan voiced his grief:

Nature looks dead in winter because her life is gathered in her heart.

You, Mother Nature, wither the plant down to the root,
that she may grow up again ~ forever and stronger.
You call her family together within your innermost home

to prepare her for being scattered abroad the face of our Planet Earth

Zukav's OpinionThe Winter Solstice has always been special to me, beyond imagination.
It's a time of pain and withdrawal
that produces something joyfully inconceivable ~

like the Monarch Butterfly, masterfully extracting itself

from the content of its cocoon!

Then bursting into unexpected glory.

Patiently, Mother Nature listened ~ then philosophically advised:

Wherever there are wild animals in the world,

there is always an opportunity for Caring, Compassion and Kindness.

Alexander von Humboldt then declared,The most dangerous world view is the world view
who have not viewed the world.

Kindly note, Mother Nature,
that despite the growing number of threatened species,

there is also a growing list of species that we are saving from distinction:
the Giant Panda...the Mountain Gorilla, both who were 'down-listed'
on the International Union for Conservation of Nature ~ and
who were on the Red List of Threatened Species' in the past decade.

With Mother Nature's attention, Alexander continued:

In Canada, the peregrine falcons ~~ the hooded granadier (a marine fish) ~

have all been assessed as 'not in risk in Canada,' ~ thanks to Conservation efforts!

In addition, Mother Nature, botanical-wise, inputted:

the small white Lady's Slipper...wood bison... and Rocky Mountain-toad frog

have been 'down-listed.

Ye, on Earth never noticed the 'beauty of nature'

because ye were too busy trying to create it!

EARTH is YOUR HOME!

Thomas Pine acknowledged, “My country is the world.

Other contributing factors are our Forests...Progress on Climate Change...
and Better information re our Species and Protective Areas.
These shine light on places in Canada and around the world.

Listening to the foregoing conversations,
Mahatma Gandhi agreed in believing,EARTH provides enough to SATISFY every man's NEEDS ~

but not every man's GREED!

Mother Nature conceded with C.S. Lewis who concluded,You are mever too old to set a new goal
or to dream a new dream.

To Mankind, Mother Nature proclaimed:The ecological system which God created on Earth

is so unique that 'yours' is the only habitable planet in the space system.

Mother Nature's Counsel to Mankind is Something to ThinkAbout:Earth is 4.6 Billion years old.

Let's scale that down to 46 years:
We've been here for 4 hours.

The Industrial Revolution began one minute ago:

In that time, we've destroyed more than 50%
of the World's Rain Forest!

THIS ISN'T SUSTAINING!

* * * * * * *

As writer of the foregoing, I relate to Mother Nature a personal experience:

So trusting are some birds to humans, that for 2 succeeding summers

a pair of Mourning Doves frequented my 3rd floor balcony

to build a nest upon a black-wrought-chair...lay eggs...hatch them...
and raise their babes...feed them...raise them until learning to fly.

At the time, I daily recorded their activities and published them on my website.

Surprisingly, one morning, I noticed a gathering of grasses, weeds, leaves flatly assembled on the far chair. Soon I discovered frequent visits of a pair of Mourning Doves (attained from an in-depth and colourfiul Bird Book). For hours, I observed at a distance, their comings and goings... He or she arrived on hydro wires to message changes of hours 'incubating' the nest eggs. One day, sitting near her, she allowed me to gently touch her silky-black wing feathers. I certainly had an in-depth study of this pair of birds...she had the 'night shift' and he the day time shift..each.bringing back food for the sitting spouse.  When the eggs hatched, I felt like Granny Dove.!

Merle Baird-Kerr...written January 11, 2020

To comment: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Winter's Sojourn

I LoveWinter ~

Recalling the days when my father
created a pond in a nearby field

upon which my sister and I could skate!

Then, when a teacher, my winter weekends
were schussing down ski slopes
with 'lifts' to the top of hills or mountain tops.
How refreshing and thrilling!

The following musings by the literary, clarify the true essence of Season Winter.

William Blake's advice: In seed time ~ learn.
In harvest ~ teach and in winter ~ enjoy.

“If we had no winter,,

the spring would not be so pleasant ~

if we, sometimes, did not taste of adversity ~

prosperity would not be so pleasant.

(Anne Broadstreet's popular opinion)

Lewis Carol, in one of his novels stated,I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields...that it kisses them so gently? And then, covers them up so snug with a white quilt... then says, “Go to sleep, Darlings till summer comes again.”

When Winter Comes

When the snow is deep and drifted

And the air is full of sleet,

I wonder how the chickadees

Find food that they can eat.

I like to spread some crumbs outdoors

To feed the hungry throng,

And at a time while they can show their thanks,

By bursting into song.

If everyone would spread some crumbs
Upon the pure white snow,

The birds would not be hungry

When the cold winds do blow.

When all the snowbirds go south,

These fellows stay behind

To brighten up the coldest day

By singing! They're so kind.

(Composed and written by Regina Sauro)

Albert Camus commented,
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned

that within me, there lay an invincible summer.”

Percy Bysshe Shelley ponders:If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

Winter is not a season ~ it's a Celebration,

viewed Animika Mishra.

It is the life of the crystal,

the architect of the flake,

the fire of the frost,

the soul of the sunbeam.

The crisp winter is full of it.

(John Burroughs)

Adapted by Merle Baird-Kerr...January 7, 2020

Comments Welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Trivia and Inconsequentials

On my desk is much information sent to me...
and which I've collected...yet I do not wish to discard!

So, bear with me (and perhaps you will enjoy)
the following writings to have some significance.

Agreeing with Alexandria Petri, she states: As facts, we tend to see all facts as meaningless trivia, no one more vital than any other. Yet, this disregard for facts (qua facts) is intellectually appealing.

Facts are the raw material of thought and amid tjhe knowledge of significant facts ~
makes sophistocated thought possible!

Birthday Card Request for Senior Widower Drew Responses from Around the World!

A Nova Scotia widower who received thousands of birthday cards last year after his daughter asked

to mail him their best wishes for his 92^nd birthday, has died, his daughter said on Tuesday.

He died Monday evening in Sydney with his family by his side. His daughter, Miriam further said,

He decided he would peacefully move on...and see Mom.

“Maybe it's true that life begins at 50, but everything else
starts to wear out...fall out...or spread out. (Phyllis Diller)

By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step,
he's too old to go anywhere. (Billy Crystal)

Inuit Man Turns Cultural Values into Board Game: Thomassie Managiok loves his land and the culture it created so much, he wants to share it with everybody. Since he can't bring the world to his tiny Arctic hamlet on Quebec's northernmost tip, he invented a way to bring Inuit life in Ivujivik to the world. When I was out on the land, I want to share what I love. Out on the snowmobile one day, I thought, OK, I have to make a game out of this. I'll make a game that promotes balance...living healthily with nature...and give people a sense of exploration as they play.

The result is a board game called 'Nunami.'

The object is not to control territory or dominate your opponent, but to achieve a productive coexistence. (It came from my love of things out of my culture) said Mangiok, a school administrator.

“I wanted to encourage people to live in balance with others:

people...animals...plants...whatever!”

Two to four players take roles as either 'human' or ' nature.' The players put pieces within

hexagons on the game board ~ and try to collect points by filling the hexagons.

He has almost 400 people lined up to purchase his game.

Colours of the Rainbow: Red, Orange,Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet. And a memory-jogger to recall its colours is:Richard Of York...Gave Battle In Vain

Did You Know? Highs and Lows:

Both the highest and the lowest points in the Southern Hemisphere are in Argentina. The highest is Mont Aconcagua, a mountain in Mendoza Province, while the lowest is Laguna del Carbon, a lake in Santa Cruz Province.

Stay Clear: Staying out of the path of a colony of driver ants is a good idea. These aggressive insects,

found in central and east Africa, attack snakes, birds, small mammals, and even humans, in huge groups of up to 22 million ants.

Panama: Home to about 4 million people, Panama is only 74,340 square kilometres. Panama City, capital of the isthmus nation, is located on the Pacific Ocean end of the Panama Canal.

Full of Fronds: The town of Pierson, Florida (US) proclaims itself as the Fern Capital of the World.

In Pierson, generations of farmers have grown ferns, which are exported around the world.

Round Castle: Castles in England seem to go together but one stands out as unusual. Restormel Castle in Cornwll, is completely round. Its ruins which date to the 11th century, show that the kitchen's, great hall and guest rooms were designed to abut the circular outer walls. Once, a luxurious residence for the Earl of Cornwall, the castle may have been the first one built by the Norman conquerors.

Long Career: ( A hairstylist in Memphis, Tennessee) Finally retired last fall at age 100, Cathy Terrell got her beautician's licence in 1945 and opened her own shop in the late 1950's'. When it burned down in 1983, she began to rent space at another beauty shop. In all, she has been cutting and styling hair for 73 years. Terrell still drives and is very active.. She has no intention of slowing down!

I Have Noticed

Everything is farther away than it used to be!

It is even twice as far to the corner ~ and they have added a hill.
I have given up running for the bus ~ it leaves earlier than it used to.

It seems to me they are making the stairs steeper than in the old days..
And, have you noticed the smaller print they use in the newspaper?

There is no sense in asking anyone to read aloud anymore,
because everyone speaks in such a low voice, I can hardly hear them!

The material in dresses is so skimpy now, especially around the hips and waist
that it is almost impossible to reach one's shoe-laces.
And the sizes don't run the way they used to ~

the sizes 12's and 14's are so much smaller.

Even people are changing:

they are so much younger than they used to be,

when I was their age.

On the other hand, people my own age, are so much older than I am.
I ran into an old classmate the other day,

and she has aged so much that she didn't recognize me.

I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing my hair this morning

and in so doing ~ I glanced at my own reflection.
Really Now !!!

They don't even make good mirrors like they used to!

Author: Merle Baird-Kerr...written December 30, 2019

Comments most welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

.

2020's MAP of LIFE

In a message to me from one of my readers,

Mike, from Stoney Creek summons us:

Entering the 21^st century, may we have a new mindset
more positive than the previous one.
May we all, all of us, be more tolerant

of those different from us.

May we show more compassion
to our fellow human beings.

May all of us be less angry and smile more
in our day-to-day routines.

Finally, may all of us be proud
to be living in this great nation
and be proud Canadians!

Happy New Year to Everyone!

(Thank You, Mike for your message)

For a long time, I've been carrying around the following

which I appropriately share with you:

A to Zen in Life

May it bring you peace and inspiration!

Avoid negative sources, people places and habits.

Believe in yourself.

Consider things from every angle

.Don't 'give up' and 'don't give in.'Everything you're looking for lies behind
the mask you're wearing.

Family and Friends are hidden treasures.Give more than you planned to.

Seek them and enjoy their riches more than you planned to.Hang on to your dreams.If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.Judge your success by what you have to

give up in order to get it.

Keep trying, no matter how hard it seems.

Love yourself.Make it happen.Never lie, steal or cheat..Open your arms to change, but do not let go
of your values.

Practice makes perfect.Quality, not quantity in anything you do.Remember that 'silence' is sometimes the best answer.Stop procrastinating!Take control of your own destiny.

Understand yourself in order to better understand others.Visualize it.When you lose, don't lose the lesson.Xcellence in all your efforts.You are unique ~ nothing can replace you.Zero in on your target ~ and go for it!

FOLLOW THIS ALPHABET of WISDOM
 to a better, more satisfying life!

A truly happy person is one
who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

by Merle Baird-Kerr...written December 2, 2020

Comments appreciated: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca