From Wildfires

To Wildlife

Cherry stone laden bear scats
Thu Jul 22nd

Early last week Fred saw a mother bear and cub on the bypass going down to the ferry terminal.  They are known to be living in the area, though we have not seen them near the house.

They have been around though and on this morning's dog walk I snapped evidence of their presence two minutes from the house.  They clearly have a liking for cherries which were evident in the deposit along with other plant material.  The blackberries are coming in to season but I decided not to investigate for blackberry seeds!

Fred was out playing tennis first thing, so I spent the morning sorting out the lathe kit in the workshop.  I think I have now managed to get all the different accessories in their correct groupings even if I have not worked out what all of them do yet.  The ornamental cutter, is a hugely complicated piece of kit and I'm not sure I'm going to get much use from it.

I did manage to find instructions for two bits of the kit on-line.  Lunchtime I popped in to the local print shop to collect the hard copies they'd printed for me.  We don't have a printer!  I also had to buy a few bits and pieces to get the chisel sharpening system working.  

One small part I could not find a replacement for, but on an off-chance, popped in to a welding yard with 'No job too big or too small', on their yard sign.  Ten minutes and $10 later the nut was spot welded on to the back of the sharpener, job done.  Smaller than a 5p piece, it must be close to the smallest job he has ever done!

This afternoon, while Fred was off at another tennis match, I started some turning.  It really is good kit.  This is a lump of Magnolia which I have turned round and am starting on gouging out the bowl.

I now need to sharpen some of the chisels so the work was paused until I have finished installing the sharpening jig.

While taking in the view from our deck a Black Tailed deer and her fawn were checking out the vegetation beneath the house.  The mother just stared back and after a few minutes they ambled off.  


We are at the end of the road so no through traffic.  This fawn may be luckier than one we saw up near Powell River, that was crossing the road with its mother and was hit by a motorbike.  It looked as though it suffered a broken leg and don't know if it survived.  It was getting plenty of attention a we drove past.

My delivery from Land Rover is still with Purolator, the courier/shipping company. Yesterday they manage to put one of the two parcels on the wrong lorry, the second parcel having sat at their distribution centre since Tuesday.  After two phone calls I learn one parcel may be with me Friday the other on Monday.  "Why can't both parcels be shipped together, they are at the same distribution centre", seemed an obvious question.  "I don't know sir" was the answer.  Why am I not surprised!  The Purolator service is appalling.  "It's not a package, it's a promise".  Right.

  













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