For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Good morning everyone on this smokey Friday! That weird orange/yellow glow fills the landscape again this morning as smoke from all the fires across the region covers the sky. Some of the smaller fires have been put out now so there are presently 39 forest fires burning. The largest fires are 15,000 acres, 17,200 acres, and 38,000 acres. They are not fighting those 3 fires however since they are in remote areas that do not threaten people or property. They are concentrating efforts on fires that are closer to communities, or could possibly pose problems for communities or property.
There have been 448 wildfires to date in our province, the 10 year average is 286, so we are well above normal. But things could be much worse. Like a small town of 1,000 residents out in western Canada that was 90% destroyed by fire in one night. People barely had time to evacuate, they couldn’t even return home to pick up belongings or pets. Fires can start and move fast when it’s dry like this. The same thing could happen to our town. I pray it doesn’t.
Speaking of squirrels, I’m sure you have noticed our new series that started this morning called “squirrel quotes”. The squirrels figure they can do as good as the chipmunks. We’ll see what happens. It won’t be every day though, just now and then like the “chipmunk quotes” and “Steve’s old country sayings” (which might sound odd sometimes, but most will have a hidden message in them, some will just be…odd, for fun). Speaking of squirrels. There is a new top squirrel now. A new squirrel showed up a few days ago, I call him “Slim”, because he has the thinnest tail I have seen on a squirrel. He is just mean, totally. He reminds me of a squirrel I had 3 years ago, LB, same kind of squirrel.
Anyway, Jasmine and Slim met this morning and Slim decided he didn’t like being pushed around. Wow, what a fight between those two! Finally Jasmine took refuge inside a box where she could hold off Slim at the door. That really drove Slim crazy. But eventually Jasmine ran off. Then she came back, more fighting and she ran off again, being chased a long distance this time. But she came back, same thing happened. So she stayed away. Until just now. Another very big fight but she lost again and Slim chased her away across a street, but not our main street.
Slim finally came back. I might have to get involved and try to chase Slim myself. He really attacked Skamper this morning too. I went out to intervene in that one. No hurting my chipmunks. It has been a lively morning though. And all the squirrel chasing has given the chipmunks lots of opportunity to get peanuts, which is a good thing. All in all, it’s quite a start to the day! The sun is shining, it’s calm, the birds are singing, it’s a beautiful day. A new mystery story begins today! Have a fantastical Friday everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
Beautiful Hollyhocks
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Thanks Sheree!
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π
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I think Jasmine will show slim a thing or two yet..π€¨ππ
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She lost out 4 times this morning, but I hope she does make it. Or perhaps one of the other squirrels will get rid of Slim and then Jasmine can get her position back.π€π³
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She’s at home plotting her come-back!ππ She making calls and organizing a resistance!πππ
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It will probably take a male squirrel to get rid of Slim, then Jasmine can come and put things back in order.ππΉ
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She can handle it!!ππ
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Once Slim is gone.π
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Then you better get out there and get slim gone!πππππ
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That’s for the male squirrels to do. I’m sure they will meet him soon.ππ
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Let’s hope he scares easy!π€π€
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Freddie is bigger than Slim, size is a good persuader.ππΉ
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Good! Have a good day today?
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Aside from melting, yep, it was good. It was 92 outside today, 95 inside. Aiming for 102 tomorrow. I’ll have to find a cooler spot for my bear spray. It can explode at 95 or higher.π¬π
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Yes! You better!! π
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Busy tonight?π€
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A little. Had supper with a friend. He was alone this evening. His wife was babysitting the grand kids. I could have stayed home. I am worn out from the week but I had declined a few other times so I thought I should go this time.
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Makes sense. I wouldn’t have not done the same in my shoes wearing yours.
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It’s easy to decline, but hard on friendships when you do.ππ
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Yep, that’s true enough.π
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Good Morning!ππ
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Good afternoon! Outside enjoying the lake?π€π
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Not yet.πππ¬
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Wasting all this nice weather inside?π€
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I still have time.π
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Might start to rain.
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Don’t say that!! I need to go out and do a little yard work. Trim some weeds down and just clean a few things up.
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You mean things are growing where you live?π€―
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Weeds!!πππ
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Wow! Even the weeds are dried up around here. Now there’s a strong wind and we might get thunderstorms tomorrow morning. That means more fires.π²π²π₯π₯
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Hopefully it will rain some with the storms. Have you neen out today??
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Earlier this morning I was out. I think all this dryness is killing off the insects too. Not much out there these days.π¬πππ¦π¦ππ«
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That’s true! Now that you mention it… there hasn’t been many at all this year.
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You’re back from pulling weeds I see.
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Nope still here.πππ€π€
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Really? I answered your comment about an hour ago and your reply just showed up about 10 minutes ago.π€π³
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I have been right here the whole time. Responding as soon as your replies come through. Must be WP network again
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Yep, no doubt. Some people haven’t been seeing my posts lately, others are getting kicked off and WP says everything is fine.π
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Of course they do… if they admitted to it they wod need to show they were working on it.
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It gets a bit frustrating at times, especially since I pay for this site. Some people have come here and a page comes up saying I deleted my site!π³π³
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Really?? That’s crazy!! It sounds to me like their system gets overloaded!
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Yeah, maybe that’s it. At least it hasn’t happened, as far as I know, since I complained about it. But maybe it has and people just leave without trying to get in touch with me. Sigh.
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It’s impossible to know for sure. If you could get someone to send you a screenshot of it when it happens, then you send it to WP.
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I thought of that, except how would they send it to me? Not many people have my email.
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That would be the issue. Maybe someone who’s a regular and has the email address.. Even that would be hit and miss… that’s a tough problem.
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Yep, hard to prove it happens, when WP checks it’s working fine, naturally.ππ
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Natrabubbly bubb
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It’s 95 and windy right now, inside it’s 97 and windy.
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Then you should be outside where it’s cooler!ππ
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And leave Muffin alone in this oven??π³πΎ
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Yeah that’s true.. poor kitty πΊ Do you use a fan?
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I have 2 ceiling fans and a floor fan.
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They help move air but not much for cooling… I remember those days and nights as a kid… it was miserable!π₯΅π₯΅
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Yep, that’s all they do, move air around and dry a person out so I drink water by the gallon.π₯΅ππΉ
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That’s a good thing though.. you don’t want to shrivel up!π³π²
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You mean like all the plants outside?π€π¬
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Yes!! Exactly like them!!ππ Only you can get your own water when needed they have to wait for rain or you to give them some!ππ
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Hey, I only water the ones on my deck, the ones in the forest are on their own. And they’re withered, wilted, whipped and whomped.π€ππ³π₯πππΎ
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That’s how I’m feeling!!π³π³ Maybe I need water??
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Good drinking! I think.ππΉ
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That it is!!ππ
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Got to leave for a few minutes, back in a bit.π
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Alrighty! I might go up to the grocery also why your away. Just let me know when you’re back.
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I’m back. I think.π€ Hard to tell sometimes. But I think so anyway.π
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It seems like to me!
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Did you go to the store already?
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No I decided I didn’t really need to. I have everything I need for tomorrow already.
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Good for you! Pays to be organized like that.
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I try… doesn’t happen very often though lol πππ
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Same here with me too the same.
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You too? Wow that’s just like me to sometimes!ππ
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Wow, that makes 4 of us then!ππ³ππΉ
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Really??? I’m included too??π―π²π€―
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And with me that makes 6 now! I have to go, not feeling very well again. Good night Dusty! Back tomorrow with more amazing chattering!πππππ΄
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I’m sorry to hear you’re not well. Yep, I’ll be available all day tomorrow!ππ I hope you rest well.. π΄π΄π΄
Good Night!
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Good Job uncle Steve, you saved Skamper π yay!!!!.. What else we have for 2021? Corona, lockdown, now forest fire π let’s hope the fire doesn’t spread to your province, but be prepared… hope there will be rain to stop this natural disaster π. Stay safe, Wish you a wonderful Friday.. Stay Positive.. Hoping the fire would come under control asap…β¨π₯π€
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Streams of clouds passing by ,
Whether thunders laugh or storms cry ,
sun rays fill up the sky ,
I would always dream that I could fly ,
over the mountains nearby ,
Having pleasure looking up high ,
The night stars shine and spy,
Angels love , deeply look and watch by
Live in bliss and on God rely β¦
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Thanks for the nice Poem β€οΈπ
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πβππΏπ²πππππππ
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The fires are already in our province,π³π₯π₯ just not close by yet and hopefully they won’t get close. Yes, rain we need,ββ very soon. Thanks Simon! Have a nice weekend!ππββ
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Oh no! I thought its not that close. Hopefully the wind helps you π Stay Safe π€
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Yes, the wind helps us a lot, except it dries things out even more.π
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It supposed to be cold right π why is it sooo dryyπ€
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It’s dry because of no rain, has nothing to do with temperature, except that hot temperatures help it to dry out faster.π€π
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seems like Slim likes to cause trouble; hopefully, he finds somewhere else to hang out…
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Yes, hopefully one of the other male squirrels will chase him away, then Jasmine can set things in order again.
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maybe this will be a way for those male squirrels to impress Jasmine…
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I’m looking forward to one of them meeting up with Slim. He and Jasmine have been going at it for over 2 hours now. I thought Jasmine had won, but Slim won’t quit.
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two fighters going at it…
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Yes, not likely Jasper though, he seems to be staying out of this one.
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sounds like a wise move…
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Helps save the fur.
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π
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Another squirrel…what other male squirrel can get rid of Slim ? Great pics again ! Rest well tonight ! Glad some fires are being put out…I can smell smoke in the air…yesterday as well ! Where it is coming from I do not know…ππΊπΏπ₯π΄ππππ
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I think that Freddie, Chase or Jasper could handle Slim, especially Freddie. They will stand up more against another male than against a female. The smoke could be from some of our northern fires. A new fire started up just a short ways southwest of here today, but they have it under control now. Strong winds moving in tomorrow.π²π₯π²π¬
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