A Close Encounter...

   Stepped out into the back yard at dusk a couple of days ago and came face to face with a raccoon! Usually they are heard but not seen, or leave evidence of their presence - footprints or overturned garbage pails. To actually confront one is quite unusual as they are nocturnal creatures. I don't know who was more surprised as neither of us moved for about 30 seconds, then he climbed the fence and disappeared into my neighbour's yard.

  True to his thieving nature, I had caught him in the act of stripping my raspberry bushes of ripe berries! This may have been what lured him out before dark. He wasn't very big, about the size of a large cat, so I think he may have been a youngster, not aware of the dangers humans present. Although, truthfully, there was no way I was going to go after him with a shovel. I did that once when a family of raccoons settled in my attic to breed - and did extensive and expensive damage to my roof before being unceremoniously evicted by a wildlife control officer.

   A few nights ago, as I was reading in the family room, there was an unholy crash outside. Although I went out and peered around, I couldn't identify what had made the noise. However, come morning, I discovered the bowl of my birdbath in two pieces on the ground. Now I suspect the culprit may have been my new raccoon friend looking for a drink of water.

   It got very dark a few minutes ago and now the heavens have opened and I just heard a crash of thunder. So much for tennis tonight. This was to have been a "food night"  - in between matches we are treated to pizza, wings and other goodies - but I guess I will have to fend for myself for dinner tonight.

First Round of Golf

  Today dawned cool and overcast so, after dithering around for half-an-hour, I decided to head down to Dentonia Golf Centre, an 18-hole par 3 course in the city. It was perfect weather and the course wasn't too busy, although a tad slow. I made it through the first 11 holes, then saw a gap and skipped 3 holes to finish in about 2 1/2 hours. I was pretty beat by then, mainly because I wasn't playing very well and had to play a second ball off most tees. I also lost two balls in the water but found three others! The main thing was to see if I could still hit the ball consistently, if not well, as I hadn't been on a golf course since my accident last September. So, all is well and I will be less reluctant to head out on the next suitable day.

   Since it's still quite cool I will get some garden tidy up done later.

Change in the Weather

   The heat has finally broken after a night of several thunder storms. A very pleasant 23C this morning and overcast but has since cleared with the temperature rising to 30C. Even with all the rain that came down last night, the pool is still well over 80F.

   I read in the newspaper today that it is time to dig up my garlic. Seemingly when the scapes straighten out, the bulbs are ready. I picked the scapes last week but they were already straight, so I figured it was time to get at the bulbs. Despite the rain last night this was easier said than done as they were quite deep. In fact I sliced through a couple of them in the process. They are pretty healthy looking specimens!

   I had dug up the onions last week so now all are drying in the garage - quite a good crop this year. Also got some tomatoes this week, just these yellow cherries (they are huge, much bigger than actual cherries!) and some tiny "sweet 100's". I will definitely get at least 100 from this one plant. The regular tomatoes are almost ready, so I won't be buying any more for a few weeks. They will taste so much better than those from the store.

 










The phlox is looking good this week. I have it in three spots in the garden, a beautiful pink shade but not much perfume.


 

Too Hot....!

   The house did not cool down overnight - I got up around 2:00 a.m (I'd been sleeping in the basement ) and the main floor was 27C, the upstairs 32C. Not much cooler by 7:30 a.m. but I closed all the windows and hoped for the best.  It's actually the humidity that makes it feel so uncomfortable. Judy and the kids arrived around 11:30 and went straight in the pool; they looked quite exhausted with the heat. We had lunch outside which turned out to be a very good idea as they went right back in the water as soon as they ate.

   James went to his room around 1:00 but didn't sleep - I didn't blame him as it was quite uncomfortable up there. I guess I'll be sleeping in the basement again tonight. Natalie made up a little nest down there in the afternoon and had forty winks.

   We have just got out of the pool, dried off and it is clouding over. Only two more days of this heat as it is forecast to drop down to 14C on Friday night. Can't wait!