Television towers are not what they once were

 

When I was a boy there were tall television broadcasting towers all over the province. Every TV had a pair of rabbit ears sitting on top to pick the television signal out of the air. It was not uncommon to jump up, go to the television and turn the rabbit ears to improve the reception, lessen the "snow." Often it was not possible to get completely rid of the snow, especially if the channel was a distant one.

I've noticed these towers are disappearing. One of the towers in town, there were two, had its top chopped and its height reduced. The other tower is still standing on the edge of town but its presence is under pressure.

When I started thinking about this, I googled the topic and discovered a piece posing the question: Will Television Disappear in the Years to Come? According to the linked article many rural Americans have seen most or all their over-the-air stations disappear." 

Television, paid for by advertising, pulled for free from the air has been minimalized by the advent of cable. I can see the day the towers, left with no use, will be removed. The sight of these towers will be relegated to memory along with other sights once so common. Need an example? Think of the smoke on the horizon left by a passing coal burning steam engine.

Sumac spectacular in fall

 

Many species of sumac boast striking red-leaf displays in the fall but some sumac turn bright yellow and others a deep but rich orange. Every fall, I watch for the moment the sumac changes. I find the brilliantly coloured stands breath taking.

The Forest City

There are those who argue that London is no longer the Forest City. From where I sit on Lookout  Court in southwest London, in the former Byron community, The Forest City seems a perfect moniker for our town.

According to the London St. Thomas Association of Realtors, 

London received its nickname of The Forest City from the British Government to poke fun at Governor Simcoe, as he envisioned a prominent, prosperous city at The Forks of the Thames, when it was only a time village carved out of the centre of a forest. Since then, London has prospered and continues to live up to the name "The Forest City" by caring for, continually planting and respecting the history of its trees.

Vine covered barrier lush and colourful

 

The new cars sit in the corner of the new car lot in front of a high wall of lush, colourful foliage. The red leaves are sumac and the nearby green and yellow leaves tumbling downward waterfall-like are a vine the I don't recognize. The thick foliage not only looks beautiful but it also muffles the loud rumble of the Canadian National Railway freight trains that pass regularly through the city.

Is this native or invasive?

 

I thought the tall grass was an invasive grass that has been spotted flourishing not only across the province but throughout North America. I may be wrong. This may actually be a stand of native phragmites. Both plants grow in the wet soil at the bottom of the ditches found beside provincial roadways.

The best ending to a day at school

 

An amazing number of children take a bright yellow bus to school in the morning and to return home in the afternoon. When I was a boy, I never saw a school bus in the city. Still, there are children who are walked to and from school each day. Maybe mom doesn't work. Maybe with COVID-19 mom is working from home and can take a break to walk over to the neighbourhood school. Whatever the reason, I'm sure the best ending to a school day is walking hand-in-hand home from school with mom.

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.