Here's a heartwarming story for you. Pretty awesome dad!
https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/alberta-dad-inked-with-tattoo-in-solidarity-with-8-year-old-son-1.5228374
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Eat your heart out Al Knapp!
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Stay well. Hope that the U.S. Electoral College does the right thing tomorrow. Pretty stupid system, prone to corruption.
Is anyone else having difficulty getting excited about Christmas?
We've got our little tree up and decorated. With the other seasonal items up and a decoration on the door - with lights even - we're ready for Christmas.
In the current environment I don't feel like shopping and, by the time I do, the stores could very well be under lockdown restrictions. As it is, you feel a bit like a criminal when you enter, are asked covid questions, must sanitize your hands, follow the arrows, and make sure you're standing on the six feet apart circles while you wait in line.
Won't see my Ottawa girls. Can't hug my kids or grandkids. Shit!
Watched some romantic Hallmark Christmas movies with my gal, but I haven't been able to get myself into the holiday mood so far.
I still have a positive attitude, and a woman who shares my love, but something doesn't feel right. How are you folks handling the "season"?
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Stay well. Stay safe.
We're going to devote today's blog to conservation issues.
My good friend Sven is in the midst of a mini crusade against the Conservative government's changes to the greenspace rules. He is particularly incensed by a warehouse development that will be built on "sensitive" wetlands. For context, every lot where each of us lives today could have been, at one time, declared "sensitive".
He may have a point in the particular case that has aroused his anger. But there are two sides to every equation. The following example demonstrates that.
The Town of Grimsby had planned to extend Livingstone Avenue (the main route through the downtown), from Casablanca where it currently ends west to Oakes Road where it would intersect with Main Street (old highway 8). This is within the Grimsby urban area.
It would cause traffic to bypass David's greenhouse, but he has enough of a reputation and following to overcome that downside, so he's in favour, for the good of the Town.
Some of the residents on Hunter Road in particular (the middle point of the extension) started posting "Save The Tree Lot" signs on their property. Tree Lot?
Here is another picture of the section under discussion, taken from Main Street across from David's property. You can see the John Deere factory, which is on the South Service Road, in the background.
However, the government of the day, sensing a vote getter opportunity from the local residents, declared this section of Grimsby as "Greenspace". The immediate effect was to thwart the Town's plans and reduce the value of the land by more than two thirds.
Self employed farmers like David do not benefit from company pension plans - unless, like David, they are fortunate to have a wife who works for a company that does. Most farmers must save for their retirement, a difficult task for sure. Alternatively, they have to hope for a beneficial sale of their property when they are ready to retire, to carry them through their leisure years.
It would be interesting to work out how many hundreds of thousands of dollars of land value disappeared with the government's decision, and how many votes that got them. I'm guessing that the farmers subsidized each vote with at least one hundred thousand dollars of lost value in their lands. Quite a tradeoff!
There is a story about a potato farmer down the road from David's property, before David bought, who asked the Niagara Escarpment Commission for permission to have a Chip Truck on his property. The answer was NO, and he eventually went into bankruptcy, had a heart attack, and died. His wife lost the farm.
I am all in favour of conserving our greenspace. But, not on the backs of individuals who unwilling pay the price. The government should compensate at current fair market value for land they want to preserve.
One model that I like is the one that the Bruce Trail Conservancy uses. When land comes up for sale that includes a part of their trail, or would improve their optimum route, they solicit donations from members and ask the government for funding help to buy the property. I don't mind having the government spend my taxes on such initiatives.
Bottom line here: if what the Conservative government has done helps Grimsby get control of its destiny again, I'm in favour. If they are just trying to help line the pockets of big contributors, I'm not.
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Every year Dofasco gives its employees and retirees a souvenir nutcracker. This year's model is particularly appropriate for our times. Well done!
Gardened for a couple of hours today. If the rain isn't too persistent tomorrow I'll hopefully make more progress on completing the latest garden.
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Stay well. Keep smiling.
Not too happy with these Mums. They only bloomed for 3 months! Of course, if I had brought them in at night and avoided the frost they would have probably still looked good at Christmas!
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This is a picture of "Toots", David's vintage 35 h.p. Massey Ferguson tractor. She's showing her age and can no longer deal with the snow drifts down the driveway (I feel her pain - I can't deal with things like I used to either). That's why the new Kubota showed up.
I wonder what my replacement will look like.
While I was at the greenhouse I managed to bring another stretch of garden under control.
Tomorrow looks like it will be a gardening day as well.
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Today was a beautiful day!
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Stay well. The vaccine is coming. Don't mess up in the meantime!
Spent a couple of fruitless hours looking for a specific Christmas gift for Mardi. I don't think they make that model any more.
Then I fixed a dining room chair for Sue.
Then I lost at cards.
Not an exciting day!
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Stay well. Don't let Trump's treasonous behaviour get you down.
You know it's a slow news day when I include items like this:
Life is full of wonderful surprises. Last night we received the following message from Matt and Maureen:
Hi Mardi and Bud;
Maureen and I were so disappointed this year that we did not win a turkey!
While commiserating over our disappointment, we came to the conclusion that we both thought that the other one had entered.
NEVER ASSUME. It makes an “ASS of U & ME”.
So in light of this we are sending you our twenty dollar ticket price.
We are also including thirty dollars for the turkey that we would have won.
This is to be donated wherever you feel does the most good.
The Optimists are lucky to have such fine members.
Hugs
M&M
Incredible luck winning that turkey! Thanks M&M!
I have delivered Matt and Maureen's $20 "ticket price" to the Optimist Club Treasurer, to be included in the proceeds of the Turkey Roll.
The Food Bank told us they can do more with cash than gift cards, so Mardi and I bought the five Fortino's gift cards and have given equivalent cash, plus M & M's $30, for a total of $180 to the Stoney Creek Food Bank. We have tax receipts which we will get to the donors in time for tax season.
Mardi also dropped off a few of the toques that she knit. Two of them were snapped up while she was there. A feel good moment!
Once again, thanks for the marvelous heart (and head) warming gifts!
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Had a short visit to the greenhouse. Happened to catch Sarah-Jean coming back from picking up the mail.
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Stay safe.
