Cooper's Hawk visits backyard

My youngest granddaughter was excited. Gug, get a camera! There's a big bird on the  fence in the backyard. Come quick, Gug!

It was a Cooper's Hawk also known as the chicken hawk of Colonial America. Small birds and little mammals are often on the menu. The large fields growing wild in today's environmentally conscious cities provide a chicken hawk with lots of opportunity to snag a meal.

This is the first chicken hawk that Isla has seen in our backyard but it won't be the last. This worried my wife but Isla set her mind at ease. I know what is worrying you, grandma, but relax. It is all part of the food chain.

Eat carefully, take your meds and keep your fingers crossed

 

My nephew is not fifty-years-old. But the other day he had a heart attack. Is he overweight? No. Does he not get enough exercise. Hell no! Then why? Genes. He has bad genes. His grandfather died from a heart attack and two of his grandfather's brothers died from heart as well: one at only 39 and the other in his early 40s.

Canadians are lucky. We have good health care with which to deal with medical emergencies. As soon as the doctors had his heart stabilized, my nephew had two stents inserted into his plugged arteries. He was then put on some drugs to fight the future build-up of plaque. 

As his uncle with the same family history, I have a good idea what his doctors are going to ask him to do. Watch the diet. Slash the amount of cholesterol consumed.

Our bodies make most of the cholesterol found in our blood. Only about 20% comes from the food we eat. For that reason statins are often prescribed to those who arteries are plugging. Statins help to block the body's production of cholesterol. 

So, why watch one's diet? Why cutback on the cholesterol we consume? Simple: with healthy folk, the 20% does not cause problems. With those with heart disease, cutting the amount of cholesterol found in the blood, even cutting this by a small amount, is important. There is even a class of drugs to help prevent the body from absorbing cholesterol from food. Ezetimibe 10mg is the cholesterol absorption inhibitor that I take. I believe there are number of choices here as well as different statins from which  to choose. 

But that does not mean I don't watch my diet. I do. 

• First rule: only eat red meat, if at all, once a month. Go for fish first, then chicken or turkey and only have these every other day. One become an every-second-day vegetarian.
• Second: eat lots of veggies every day. 
• Third: give fried foods a wide berth and when using an oil for cooking, lean towards olive oil. 
• Fourth: no eggs. Period. I aim to consume no more than 100gm of dietary cholesterol a day. Two large eggs can have five to six times my daily limit. Replace eggs in recipes with something like Egg Creations.
• Last rule: enjoy your food. If you like nuts, have some. Don't overdo but nuts can be part of a balanced, healthy diet. Be creative in the kitchen and you will enjoy dining. In fact, one's heart-healthy diet may turnout to be more delicious than your old plug-your-arteries diet.

Old Chevrolet still a daily driver

 

It looks to me like a late 1920s Chevrolet pickup. Where was it spotted? Not at an antique car show. No. It was spotted on the street being used as a daily driver. At least, it's a daily driver as long as the good weather lasts. Once it snows, it is off the road.

Rare today but when I was a boy cars like this were common. One could buy a used antique car for about $25. Less if it wasn't in drivable condition.

Sadly, the large number of old cars combined with ridiculously low prices meant these fine old vehicles got absolutely no respect. Kids bought 'em and entered them in the weekend demolition derby. A couple of dozen old cars would be driven into a large, fenced field surrounded by seating. 

As the crowd roared the cars were raced about the field frequently and purposefully slamming into each other. The last car standing, running, was declared the winner and the driver would claim something in the order of a hundred bucks.

Inspired by years spent travelling throughout Italy

 

Cynthia has spent years travelling throughout Italy and not just as a tourist but as a tour guide. Cynthia knows Italy. Her home and the grounds surrounding it reflect this interest. My nephew tells me Italy is famous for its gardens--gardens often featuring vine-covered walls. One could be forgiven for feeling one has left southwestern Ontario for Italy when visiting Cynthia.

Dining on the porch during covid-19

 

The porch is big and airy and in these times of COVID-19 it is an excellent place for hosting a lunch with a friend. Not many modern homes have porches like this but this century home does and the owner is delighted to have it today.

Link: The Science Behind the Decorative Gourde Season

 

According to the Smithsonian, "For farmers, breeding for novelty has paid off. Between 1993 and 2007, prices for decorative gourds doubled, and in 2016, the world collectively grew more pumpkins, squash and gourds than corn or mushrooms." Amazing.

Dining out during COVID-19

 

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Restaurants are open at the moment with limited seating. Outdoor patios are popular and large heaters are extending the outdoor patio season. This local restaurant has a front wall composed of sliding glass panels. When the weather is right, the entire front of the restaurant is open. A prefect design for these days of COVID-19.

Our dinners, have just arrived, my wife is still wearing her mask as she sprinkles coarsely grated Parmesan cheese on her dinner. She will soon remove her mask to dine. Our waiter will always keep his mask on and no one will sit closer than about twelve feet away from us.

Unfortunately, the number of COVID-19 cases is soaring in the province and restaurants are facing the threat of another closure. Rather sad considering how truly safe this location seems to be. I do hope it can remain open.