We're going on a bear hunt....

We're going to catch a big one. We're Not scared!  My nephew, Daniel, simply loves this book.  I wonder what he would make of this!  

After a relaxing morning making Strawberry Jam we decided to take some garden rubbish and the debris from Lovely Man's excavations in the basement to the landfill.  Just as we emptied the last bucket of rubble and turned to get in the car we realised we had company!  I'm not sure whether bears can climb 5ft high chain fencing but I know they climb trees.  Anyhow he looked somewhat disappointed when he saw we only had old grass cuttings and lumps of cement.  He gave us a rather disdainful look and plonked himself down for a rest.  Thinking we'd got off quite lightly for having the nerve to turn up at the picnic site with such unappetizing contributions we thought it best to get in the car!

Another new visitor

Well what a productive day!  It started early, for a change, with my clattering around in the kitchen at 7 a.m. trying to get a batch of jam made before it got too hot.  I bought several pints of raspberries and strawberries locally at a good price and decided to try my hand a making cooked Jam.  However, it has been SO hot (30 degrees in the shade) I have been unable to face slaving over a hot pan but I was concerned that my lovely berries would go moldy before too long.  And so that in mind I trundled off to bed by about 10 p.m. and set the alarm for 7!  It all started off quite well except I was just one cup of raspberries short.  So as the doors of the local supermarket opened I was in like a shot.  Eventually by about eleven I was very hot and slightly concerned that a section of my non stick pan seemed to be minus it's non stick coating!  But I did have five large jars of jam and so that made it all worthwhile, hopefully any grey bits in it can be passed off as pips!

Feeling very contented with the morning's work I made a cup of my favorite Tim Horton's French Vanilla Coffee, grabbed a couple of chocolate chips cookies, my journal and camera and headed for the garden.  Immediately one of the chipmunks from next door was at my feet.  After feeding him I settled to write my journal.  This didn't suit him at all and he proceeded to sit on my lap, get on the table, sit on my journal - anything to get my attention!  So journal abandoned I set the camera up on top of an empty ice cream tub which serves as a monopod (my tripod being still somewhere mid Atlantic), and waited.  Sure enough a loud humming noise and there she was.  At least I think this is the female as, although she has a red chest it's not as bright as it should be.  Either that or this is a very subtle male!  I think I made need to brush up on my bird knowledge!