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Cell phones are handy things – sometimes mine actually works at the trailer park.  Just got off the phone with my girlfriend, C., who thought I should know that the weather channel is declaring tornado warnings for the general area just north of where I am. One of the towns they mentioned is only about 15 minutes away by car.

It’s been an odd day, weather wise with threatening looking clouds, then some sunshine, then clouds again.  About an hour ago, there was some blue sky peeking through, but now the clouds are all back. Hopefully, the warnings will not amount to anything. It’s tough when you don’t have a vehicle! But my son is here with me, so we’ll be on the lookout and will find better shelter if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Right now, we’re enjoying the campfire and about to eat dinner. I’m as hungry as a horse!!

July 26, 2010

C. and I went for a drive to Luther Marsh today. I haven’t been there often – but it was one of my favorite places to drive to years ago, when I felt like some solitude. I’ve also taken my three older boys there for hikes and walks, but that was years ago. It’s kind out in the middle of no where, and the times I’ve visited, it has not been uncommon to see deer on the road, fireflies at night, and all kinds of different types of birds.  Some years ago, when I visited in the autumn, I came across an interesting sight: Some Ontario MNR guys were trying to capture young trumpeter swans (the mother of these birds was quite angry) in order to have them transported to a location in Northern Canada with the hope of helping to increase the northern populations of trumpeter swans.

This afternoon, as we were heading toward the entrance of Luther Marsh, we saw the birds in the above photograph near the road in a field. We stopped to take pictures. When we got back to the trailer, I hoped I could identify them. In the National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, the ones in my photo have exactly the same profile as the Sandhill Crane. But the colours are not the same.

In the Field Guide, adult sandhill cranes are supposed to be grey, with a a red head. Young sandhills are brown but have no red on their head. If you look closely at the photo above, you will see that two of these brown coloured birds do have red on their heads.  So I’m not sure if they are just young sandhills that have developed the red and haven’t turned grey yet, or something else entirely.

Hopefully a crane expert will find this post and be able to advise. Regardless of what they are, it was really nice to see them.

I haven’t been able to get back to the trailer due to appointments and the fact I have no wheels – but last night on June 26th, C. and I headed to Hamilton, ON to take in some great music at “The Absinthe.” There is a great local band in Hamilton called “Live How You Live.” “Great” is an understatement! These guys are terrific and very entertaining. Their music is classic rock – I really enjoy the lead singer but all of the members of the band are amazing musicians. Their drummer is like a human machine.

Prior to “Live How You Live,” there was a young but awesome band from the Ottawa area playing called “Wise, Young & King.” Edgy, amazing talent, hard rockin’ and original. They played a 45 minute set, and had some songs that have really grown on me. The “Black Rider” is a great song – based on the true story of some Dutch guy named Hans Gruyter.  The song “Federales” is close to my heart as well from my own political libertarian leanings.

If you are interested, visit their website here or listen to a few tunes at their myspace page.

I wrote previously that I wanted to get a couple of flags – a Red Hand of Ulster (Northern Ireland) for me, and the flag of Nova Scotia for my girlfriend so we could fly them at the trailer. There are plenty of Newfoundland flags flying there throughout the park, and we think we need to have some good representation for the good lands of Ulster and Nova Scotia.

If you’re looking for a flag, may I suggest The Flag Shop.  I couldn’t believe how fast they were at getting the two flags I ordered out to me.  Two days after I ordered online, the flags were in my mailbox! I wasn’t even sure if they would have a Red Hand Of Ulster flag in stock, but they did which is terrific. We couldn’t have the Nova Scotia flag flying before my Red Hand!

Speaking of flying, I still don’t yet have a flagpole. However, one of my neighbors advised that he could likely get one for me.  When I get that pole, and I raise the Northern Ireland flag, I shall play the unofficial anthem, “Oh Danny Boy.” And those present will have a glass of Bushmills Blackbush to toast the flag.  For those that don’t know, Blackbush is a fine Irish Whiskey that is superior to any of that muddy tasting Scotch that costs three times as much. Bushmills also happens to be the oldest licensed distillery in the world. As they say, God invented whiskey to keep the Irish from ruling the world!

Blackbush is also a fine liquid to have a wee sip of on those chilly nights around the campfire.

I’m off to the trailer this evening and I can’t wait!