We heard a Barred Owl on our pre-dinner Byrne Creek walk in south #Burnaby today. It sat for several minutes before swooping off.
Thankfully I was carrying a DSLR and quickly set the ISO to 3200 and even 6400 in the poor light. My pocket cam would have really struggled with this.
Doing the horror movie head turn 🙂
Some of my friends were having a discussion on FB about how the Covid situation was impacting them, and how some were becoming afraid to go out, even with physical distancing. Here’s my contribution, slightly edited since it’s now out of the context of the thread:
Fear is good. Fear is how we’ve survived as a species for millennia. Anyone who claims they are never afraid of anything is bullshitting.
Humans are terrible at judging risk, and hopefully that’s when a bit of fear steps in to get us to do the right thing, at least in the short term.
For humans are also really bad at remembering history, learning from the past, and staying the course long term.
To some degree I think we need to embrace fear, and let it guide us, but try not to let it overwhelm us.
We’ve all been seeing our lives disintegrating to various degrees for several months. We’ve all been dealing with jobs lost, contracts dwindling, friends and families distancing, plans derailed, reservations cancelled be they for music or theatre or travel, or simply going out with friends. . .
These are tough times. And things will continue to be tough for who knows how long?
So let’s not be hard on ourselves. Let’s admit our emotions. Let’s cry a little. Let’s acknowledge we’re having trouble sleeping and are having nightmares.
And then let’s check up on each other, and help each other along this road.
Virtual hugs to everyone!
I reflexively shared a post about boycotting goods from China on FB. Not due to Covid, but a pile of other reasons such as undercutting local manufacturing, terrible environmental damage, horrid working conditions, etc.
I deleted my share, because the post was overly inflammatory.
Yet, if the average Canadian had a clue about how much of what we buy is shoddily made in China under horrid conditions. . . . Sheesh.
I had a gig stocking at a retail outlet for awhile not too long ago. I would think way over half of the knickknacks came from China. Often as not, as we opened boxes upon boxes stacked on pallets, nauseous chemical smells would waft through receiving.
Anything made from plastic stank. Even supposed wood products stank of preservatives or perhaps fungicides or pesticides.
I shudder to think of the people in the factories producing this shit.
Each shift entailed filling multiple huge garbage bags with packing materials ranging from Styrofoam to plastic to bubble wrap. . . . All to be “recycled,” eh?
No more cheap baubles. They’re like sugar that may give you a short-term lift, but long-term soulless emptiness.
Let’s make better choices. Let’s buy local. Let’s buy handcrafted. Let’s buy art not kitsch. Let’s buy quality that lasts. Let’s not throw things away.
Love how light objects floating in water create visible tension. Shots from our Byrne Creek walk in SE #Burnaby today.
Alder catkin
Cherry blossom
We took a long walk along Byrne Creek and around Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE #Burnaby today, as we do several times a week. Good to see people physically distancing, but getting some exercise and fresh air.
We love to spot birds and bees and other beasts as we ramble the trails. Today was a good day. . . 
Great Blue Heron
Thrush
Flicker
Peekaboo cat
I didn’t realize that Yumi and I are reflected in all of these bubbles in the sediment trap until I downloaded the photos!
I am by no means an expert in arachnids, but poking around online makes me think this is Goldenrod Crab Spider. It was tiny, as you can see in the next photo of where Yumi spotted it on a dandelion.
Spotted Towhee
There were lots of robins about
We had an order to pick up in north Burnaby today, so we took the opportunity to stretch our legs on trails near Eagle Creek and Squint Lake. Access to the lake was closed, but other trails were open, and there were almost no people using them.
Happy to spot a Northern Flicker grooming, a Downy Woodpecker, and assorted flora.
It’s interesting that in some parts of Burnaby salmonberry blossoms are nearly done, while in other areas they’re still strong. Different elevations and microclimates. . .
Another home project: got 60 liters of soil and a bag of seed potatoes.
We don’t have garden space to speak of aside from our townhouse balcony, but we do have a wood half-barrel that we can move to a sunny spot beside the garage.
The barrel is in pretty sad shape, with the hoops fallen like old socks, but the wood is still pretty solid so I think with some TLC I can revive it.
Haven’t grown potatoes in over 40 years, but this should be fun.
Moving the old barrel into place and fixing it up a bit
Adding soil and seed potatoes
Finished. Plenty of room to add soil as plants grow. . .
Yumi is the green thumb in our little family, but she says I’m on my own for this one 
.
Total cost was $6.50 for the soil, some of which Yumi will use for potted plants and flowers to help support our balcony mason bee box. Add a buck or two for the seed potatoes, and if my foray into farming is not very successful, it’s not like we’ll be out a big investment!
Kudos to BC Parks and its Discover Camping service. While campgrounds and parks have had to be shut down, I see I am already getting refunds for reservations made back in late February. Thanks!
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau?
Finance Minister Bill Morneau?
Members of Parliament?
Canadian corporate execs?
There used to be a tradition in Canada, and other advanced nations, that if you were in politics, and wealthy, in times of trouble like WWI or WWII, you’d quit drawing on the public purse.
Same for corporate executives.
Here’s a reference for you:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-dollar_salary
Yes, overall your salaries are a tiny slice of the national budget, but symbolically they are huge.
Apologies to women, it has been evident that nations run by women have been much faster to step up to issues like this.
Obi (kimono sash), kame (turtle), piano, light saber still life.
Noticed this beam of light zapping the piano lamp as I headed up from my basement office to get a coffee this morning.
The only adjustment I made was to move the turtle a bit. . .
