Marvellous.

Today’s sunrise was marvellous. I’m very blessed to be able to witness such beauty.

Let me know.

This Red-winged Blackbird did not hesitate to let me know I was too close to the nest it was guarding.

How it is.

July 2022. The haskap has grown considerably and shares space with asparagus, strawberries, and sunflowers. Partly or completely obscured by the haskap and asparagus are Chocolate Cherry tomatoes, garlic, beans, tomatillos, broccoli, Chicago figs in pots.

Up against the foundation are ferns, more sunflowers, columbines, Purple Coneflowers, and more stuff I do not remember right now.

Some might call this untidy. Weedy. Even messy.

I say, less lawn to mow. More diverse. More welcoming to birds as well as pollinators and insects.

How it was.

May 2014. Pretty bare, lots of grass to mow. A little bitty haskap bush next to the stump of a Norway Maple we had removed.

Too close.

This Red-winged Blackbird made it clear that I was too close to the nest.

Play ball!

I took in a baseball game last weekend; the Toronto Blue Jays hosted the New York Yankees. It was the first game I have seen since 2019. I had a decent seat. Note to self, if attending an afternoon game at the Skydome avoid the first base side. Very sunny!

Yankees won 4-0. Things unfortunately went off the rails for the Jays’ starting pitcher Alek Manoah in the 6th. It did not help that he was boned on several ball/strike calls through his 5.1 innings pitched.

Here is the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (DH’ing that day) waiting on a pitch. He was an unusual 0-5 on the day.

Took the train there and back, as did several other Jays fans. Although it was not cheap, and yes less convenient than driving, I avoided driving three plus hours there and three plus back home. On the approach to Toronto’s Union Station I could not help being amused that cars on the Gardiner was moving far more slowly than we were. I arrived fresh and un-stressed.

Along came a spider.

This spider was pointed out to me. I *think* the whitish thing is an egg sac or case, but I am unsure. It was kind of cool to see.

Protecting.

I climbed 58 steps to the top of an outdoor platform for exercise, and to take a look around this very flat part of the world. After a moment or two this Merlin began diving on me, likely protecting a nearby nest. A moment of searching did not turn it up, and since my presence was an unnecessary (and obviously unwelcome) distraction, I decided to stop looking and take my leave.

It was interesting to learn, among other things, that they take over other birds’ nests.