Click And Clack

Click and Clack are the nicknames of car mechanic brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi. For decades, they hosted a phone in advice show on NPR called "Car Talk". I still enjoy listening to their lighthearted re-runs on podcasts today. 

That show is where I got the names for the pair of ravens that check my laneway for treats each morning. Usually a boiled egg or a chopped up hot dog.

Since the ravens look so much alike, I can't tell which is which. Except that their behaviours are very different! If they both fly in together one stands back to let the other eat first. Often, a single raven will approach, check out the offering then fly up to a high perch and call for it's friend. The friend then arrives and gobbles down the treat or flies away with it. What's up with that??!! I can only think that one is very keen on racking up brownie points. 

Ravens Click and Clack on my driveway take-away.

 

 

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Garden hoses have been put away, winter tires are on my car and the de-icer is back in my metal bird bath. I'm ready for winter. I've even knit a pair of wrist warmers to cover the gap between my house coat's cuffs and fingers. The yarn is 45% alpaca, 25% wool and 30% polyamide. They feel so comfy! 

 

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Couldn't resist rescuing this cute little self-seeded pansy from my driveway. Can't recall seeing violas used as house plants before. It will be interesting to see how it likes being inside. 

My cactus is getting in the party mood.

 

It seems the fall colours were extra gorgeous this year. And outside my kitchen window the staghorn sumacs did not disappoint.

 

Yesterday Ellie Mae came in with a small mark on her lip. I wonder if a mouse fought back. At any rate, she seems to be hungry for treats but not for her regular canned and kibble cat food. Hunting must be good!

 

Preparing to Den Up

It's been a typical November here in Lower Slabbovia (a cold and fictional country from Al Capp's comic strip). We've been on the usual freeze/thaw rocking horse with snow cover in flux. I'm still in the process of winterizing the house but mostly looking forward to relaxation and hobbies.

One of these entertainments is reading e-books from the Ottawa Public Library. I'm partway through one that I find especially fascinating. The title is The Body: A Guide For Occupants, by British-American author Bill Bryson, first published in 2019. Did you know that each of us harbours about three pounds of microbes? (Three pounds is the weight of the average human brain.) The microbes are mostly friends and only occasionally foes.

 

At a gathering this Fall, the topic turned to air fryers. One lady heartily recommended them while another said that her's mainly sat unused and wasting counter space. Recently, I found a display of a single serving, President's Choice model. So I bought one and also picked up a bag of frozen fries. Let me tell you, my machine will NEVER waste counter space! I absolutely love it! Saves power, makes things extra crispy and is a breeze to clean up. I'll seldom use the oven in my electric stove from now on. The one I bought is only 11" tall by 7" wide and takes up very little room.

 

Beside winterizing the house, I'm also winterizing my body. Letting my hair grow out and have converted an old pair of socks into wrist warmers. They feel so cozy that I wonder why I didn't think of this long ago!

Socks in a previous life, now cut down to become wrist warmers.

Also happy with my new Crocs slippers, lined and covered with faux fur.

I've added an electric space heater to help reduce propane bills.

 

Ravens have been making their home here for quite a few years now. In the last few weeks, I've been putting out food scraps and dog kibble for them. This morning one saw me walk across the road to the mailbox. As I walked back to the house, it followed me and flew to the top of the tree overlooking the 'handout' site. I'm curious to see just how chummy we get over the winter. I love the clucks, croaks, rattles and gurgles they make as if trying to form words that I'll understand. "You're a sweet lady and I do appreciate the dog kibble but just so you know, I much prefer your roast chicken leftovers!"

My new best friend picking up his serving of dog kibble.

A  bunny sitting perfectly still for the camera.