We left Bridgeport Marina about 8am
Arrived at Bay Port around 4pm
Enroute
The Deal is Done!
At about 10am yesterday, we headed over to Birch Point marina from the lock at Bobcaygeon. There, the boat would be taken out by a hydraulic trailer to allow for the inspection of hull, shafts, and propeller.
We parked the boat there and marina staff took over. They got the boat on the trailer and began pulling it out.
They inched it up the ramp slowly when all of a sudden, there was a big bang
and one of the staff was gesturing on the other side of the boat. The trailer had gone off the ramp!
The marina staff were scrambling to try to get it back on. Soon, a huge tractor was brought out. As time went on, I became more and more anxious. Despite assurances from the marina owner that nothing would happen to the boat, I made the decision not to continue with hauling the boat out. I consulted with surveyor first, who said, from what he had already seen, he was certain the hull and shafts would be good. Everyone, including the current owner, agreed with me. The boat was put back in the water and I filled it with gas and finalized the deal. The boat is ours.
Shortly after, we headed out, planning to make the Rosedale Lock. Ted had me take the wheel from this point to get a feel for it. It was great having my friend Harry and Ted’s friend Brian along to grab lines at the locks.
We did better than Rosedale and made it to the Kirkfield lift lock where we stayed for the night. This lock works like two giant bathtubs – one going up and the other down with boats in each.
It is a very peaceful setting here.
Today we head for Atherly where we will stay the night. Ted and Brian will leave and Chis will join Harry and me for the final leg to Georgian Bay on Saturday.
At Bobcaygeon Lock
Last night MY Jane drove me down to Bobcaygeon accompanied by our good friends, Harry and Rena. We met up at the Bobcaygeon lock where the current owner of the boat, Ted, and his friend Brian, had tied up above the lock.
We got our stuff loaded on the boat and then Jane and Rena explored the boat together. We all chatted a bit and then the ladies left to return home.
Ted and Brian challenged Harry and me to a game of euchre and promptly beat us in three straight games. Throughout the game I learned more about the boat as we talked. Actually, I was more interested in talking about the boat than playing cards. But it was fun anyway.
So now I have spent my first night aboard our boat sleeping in the aft stateroom and it was a very comfortable sleep indeed. From time to time there was an almost imperceptible rocking motion and the stillness and quiet was so nice.
This morning we head to Birch Point for the in land survey Snd then begin our trek to Georgian Bay. Here’s a shot at the lock this morning.
We Shall Sea
This afternoon MY Jane will be driving me to Bobcaygeon to meet up with the current owner of the Four C’s, Ted and his friend Brian. Our friends, Harry and Rina, will be accompanying us and then Harry and I will stay on the boat.
Tomorrow, Thursday, the boat will be taken to Birch Point Marina where it will be taken out of the water and the hull checked as well as the shafts and propellers. I am optimistic that everything will be fine. After the survey, Harry, Ted, Brian and I will head up the Trent Severn Waterway, the final destination being Bay Port Yachting Centre in Midland.
The purple line on the map shows the route we will be taking. I am hoping to get to Orillia by Friday where Ted and Brian will leave us. Chris will join Harry and me and on Saturday we should be able to complete that leg of the trip. The one uncertainty is how long it will take to get through locks because Parks Canada has cut staff and now one team of lock staff is responsible for clusters of locks which will probably slow things down.
We shall see.
Dockside Survey
The dockside survey yesterday went very well. The surveyor, Mr. David Wells, from the area, proved to be very thorough and knowledgeable. His ongoing feedback to me throughout his inspection will be extremely useful to keep the boat in tip top shape. His main concern after his inspection was that the large batteries for the bow thruster were not secure and in rough seas might slide forward and break one of the sea cocks. If that happened the boat would start taking on water. Ted, the current owner, showed up and when told of this said he would get it done right away.
The only other thing was regarding original inline water hoses and fuel lines which he said would be a good idea to replace. This is something that I can do myself.
I was very pleased with this part of the survey. Thursday, the boat will be taken out of the water and the hull inspection and shafts and propellers checked. It will then be ours.
The surveyor also told me that re-naming the boat should be done according to King Neptunes rules and virgins are involved. I am unfamiliar with that rule.
A Plan for the Garden
Yesterday morning was a beautiful day and began with breakfast of bacon and eggs which we ate on the patio. This was the first time this year. The weather finally was warm enough to do that.
After breakfast we did some gardening. Because I know one end of a shovel from the other, MY Jane decided to let me do the important stuff. So I got to dig wherever she pointed. I never knew that digging was considered important until she told me. She’s so smart!
We had a lot of plants to re-locate and, because the tulips are beginning to die off, Jane wanted to have some colour to replace them. She has begun to focus on planting perennials because we won’t be around much in the summer. Also, both of us have agreed that we would like some trees, bushes, and ornamental grasses along the fence, the idea being to try to hide it as much as possible.
Eventually the flower bed pictured above will be removed and there will be trees against the fence with a sculpted kind of layout for flowers in front of the trees. Right now this flower bed is sort of a holding pen for plants that will be placed in other locations. We started yesterday with a couple of yews, one if which is that little tree to the right. The plan is to put three cedars along there as well.
The waterfall corner, as we call it, will have some tall ornamental grass behind it just about where Minnie’s steps are to conceal the fence there too.
The flower pots have been placed each in front of a tree and different flowers put in each. Unfortunately, when I moved the blue one, it cracked on its own ( not really—- I just plunked it on the ground a bit hard-don’t tell Jane!) so it has to be replaced.
In the front of the house, the same approach has been taken to fill in bare spots which will appear when the tulips die off. We bought two cedars to put on either side of the garage door to soften it up a bit.
Today I am meeting with the marine surveyor at the boat which is a bout a two hour drive from here.
Now We Wait for Survey
Yesterday MY Jane and I picked Jane’s Mom, Ted, up and we headed out so they could have a look at the boat we are in the process of buying. The current owners, Ted and Karen, were gracious in letting us spend some time aboard before finalizing the deal i.e. once the marine survey is done and everything is satisfactory. That should be happening in e next few days.
When we arrived and pointed out the boat to Ted, she was amazed. She could not believe it. As soon as we got on board, she immediately gravitated to one of the two wicker rockers on the aft deck.
Soon after our arrival, the current owners showed up and spent some time showing us around and pointing out features of the boat. They then invited us to stay after they left and even suggested that we might want to stay the night. We couldn’t do that, of course, because we weren’t prepared. Nice gesture, nonetheless.
After a time, we went to a nearby restaurant and had lunch then returned to the boat to do some more exploring and enjoy the comfort of the aft deck which, by the way, has a wine cooler and bar fridge.
I discovered more features that I was not aware of like trim tab indicators and indirect cabin lighting as well as accent lighting on all the stairways. The anchor rode is all chain although the owner did not know what length hit was. Something I will have to know later on.
The ability to hook up to dockside town water supply is a bonus especially when tied up in port. It was a great day for all of us.
For my Facebook friends I have posted a link to a video I took there yesterday.
Friends & Happiness
MY Jane and I have a lot of special people in our lives. We are fortunate that our friends are supportive of us and have been riding this roller coaster along with us as we seek out our dream boat. They understand our passion for boating and Georgian Bay. When the deal for the Black Pearl fell through, our friends rallied around and felt the same disappointment that we did. At the same time, they gave us a lot of positive encouragement. We are grateful to have friends like that including those on Facebook whose positive comments are so helpful. That encouragement and support has brought us to the cusp of actually fulfilling that dream.
When I mentioned in my blog that I needed to find someone to help me take the boat to Georgian Bay, it wasn’t long before one of my friends volunteered. Another volunteered to drive me there – a six hour return trip. Do you know how good that makes me feel?
I read a quote the other day that I believe applies to Jane and me which read,”You are not a product of your circumstances, you are a product of your decisions”. That mantra, which Jane and I have been following of late, has resulted in both of us being as happy as we are.
Check out this link to brighten your day.
Why a 36 Carver?
Yesterday, MY Jane and I met up with our friends Larry & Marge who were on their way up to their boat in Midland. Larry brought me navigational charts for the Trent Severn waterway in anticipation that I will be making that trip with the new boat.
On the way back home, we stopped at Walmart to have a look in their Garden Centre. We ended up buying several plants and had a look at their prices in general. We will be going back for sure. Why? Well, bags of garden topsoil are $1 at Walmart and $3.49 at Zehrs for one reason. The garden is really coming along nicely. Jane is leaning toward more perennial plants because we probably will not be around the house much this summer to tend to flowers.
The boat deal for this 36 Carver is coming together nicely. A survey is being done in the next few days as she sits at the dock in Lakefield. Then she will be taken to Birch Point and out of the water so the shafts, propellers and hull can be examined. I do not anticipate any glitches in this deal, so I am looking at having it up in Bay Port late next week.
Have a look at the pictures below and you’ll understand why We love this boat.
Kerfuffle in the Morning
Sometimes a whole bunch of things happen at once. Yesterday, while I was on the phone finalizing the deal for this new boat, some animal fell into our Family Room through the window well in the back yard. We leave this window open so Minnie the Queen can come and go as she pleases.
Minnie happened to be in the Family Room at the time and the chase was on. She chased this thing all over but luckily, it eluded her and ended up hiding under the buffet. MY Jane was on the phone at the time working and I was on my phone trying to talk about this boat deal. Just then, the repairman showed up at the front door to fix the garage door because the torsion Spring had broken. This is what we call a KERFUFFLE!
As soon as we were off the phones, Jane told me there was a mouse under the buffet and that Minnie had chased it there. In fact Minnie was standing guard at the buffet. She had tried in vain to crawl under but was too fat and almost got stuck.
I retrieved my spot light and had a look under the buffet with Minnie helping.
After looking closely at the object under the buffet, I concluded that it was a baby rabbit. In the meantime, the garage repairman was finished and looking for payment, so I did that. Then I had a brilliant idea. I would place a large clear glass vase on its side at the end of the buffet and have Jane standing by with a cover. I would then gently prod the bunny towards the vase and it would run in there and Jane would cover it up and we would take it outside and let it go. Brilliant!
So we got all set up and I gently prodded the bunny with a pole and it promptly ran the other way. Oh, by the way, we had locked Minnie in the Laundry Room during this time and she was not a happy camper.
Jane spotted the bunny hiding behind our Kareoke machine. It was singing, “Hear comes Peter Cottontail hopping downing the Bunny Trail.” Just kidding. LOL. She retrieved her garden gloves and picked the little thing up to take outside.
After getting it outside, she set it down on the back lawn where it stayed still for a few minutes and finally hopped away into the neighbour’s yard.
More on the boat tomorrow.
One Door Closed-Another Opened
Well, as posted a couple of days ago, the deal for the Black Pearl fell through because of serious motor issues. However, when one door closes, another opens. So we are looking at putting an offer in on a much better boat. It’s a 36 Carver aft cabin and it’s in immaculate condition.
I travelled down to see the boat yesterday without MY Jane because she had to work.
It took some time because the sales broker directed me to a marina that the boat USED to be at, but was moved. Eventually I found it tied up at a dock and got on board. I checked out the decks and bridge and instrument panel and everything looked in fantastic shape.
The main things Jane and I were insisting on were that it have an on board generator, an aft cabin with island bed, and a reliable windlass. This boat has all that and more. It also has a bow thruster and auto pilot.
I managed to contact the owner who lived nearby and he agreed to come over and unlock the main cabin. The inside was stunning. Very very clean throughout. Even the engine compartment was gleaming as were the engines.
If our offer gets accepted and the survey and sea trial are satisfactory, I’ll need to find someone to help me take it through the locks to Georgian Bay.
My Philosophy on Being Mushy
So I’m mushy. I like being mushy. I save my mushiness for MY Jane. She seems to like it, so I keep doing it. I want her to know every minute of the day how much she is loved. I don’t mind that everyone knows I’m mushy. Or how much I love Jane. Truth be known, it makes me feel good. I would would much rather be known as a mushy man instead of a bitter unhappy person.
I know that my mood can affect people around me so I always try to project an upbeat demeanour. I know this, because the moods of people around me have an impact on me. Of course, when you’re happy from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep and the whole day in between, it’s easier. And depending on what I dream, I am sometimes even happy when I’m asleep. So, for me it’s very easy.
A few years ago, I was talking with one of my good friends and during the conversation I said, “I sometimes worry about what my friends and family think about what I am doing.” His response during that difficult time was, “To hell with them (I’m paraphrasing here because there might be youngsters reading…lol). It’s your life, not theirs.”
I am thankful that I followed that advice and continue to follow it every day. It’s one of many reasons I am where I am and why I’m with Jane. That’s why you may see or hear of me doing something silly like sliding down a kids slide, like playing street hockey with kids 50 years my junior, like allowing Steven and Chris to take me tubing on Georgian Bay, like talking to Minnie like she’s a baby and understands or asking Jane to tell me a story. Stuff like that.
That’s why I’m mushy! It’s fun and I like it! To hell with it! It’s me and I’m staying this way! On with mushiness!
This Boat Deal is Dead
Well, the deal for this boat is off the table. Yesterday, I went to Port Severn while MY Jane stayed back and worked on window cleaning.
A mechanic I knew had agreed to check out the cracked manifold situation. We both arrived at about 10 am. The Black Pearl was floating majestically at the dock. As soon as we got there, he got to work and within an hour and a half gave me the news. The intake manifold was NOT cracked. It was worse. The engine block itself was cracked in three places one of which is pictured below.
Needless to say, I was very disappointed.
The mechanic explained that he had seen this many times in the past where boaters who winterize their boats themselves think that if they run the engine so that it sucks up anti freeze and they see anti freeze come out the exhaust, that the engine is good for the winter.
Not so, he explained. If the engine does not get hot enough, then the thermostat won’t open to allow the antifreeze into ALL areas of the motor. And this is what you get.
My thought was, even if there was a new motor put in, what about the other one?. It might look OK on the outside and even run OK for awhile, but the risk of a hairline crack letting go at some point was possible. After all, maybe the thermostat didn’t open on that one too when he winterized the boat.
The owner tried to convince me to stay with deal. He would get another motor and all would be good. He is in a tough spot because he is having to pay $400 a week to keep it at the marina as he is there as a transient boater. I feel sorry for the guy because he was trying very hard to get everything in order before he turned the boat over to us.
But we have decided that it’s not a good idea to continue with this deal. There are other boats out there. We just have to keep looking.
The good news is that the windows at home look fantastic. Well done, MY Jane.
Progress on the Boat
Yesterday, MY Jane and I went to Port Severn where the boat is presently docked to meet up with Bill and Tracy, the current owners. It’s tied up in Driftwood Cove Marina, just around the corner from the Port Severn lock which connects to Georgian Bay.
Bill and Tracy have been working to get all their personal stuff off and to fix the outstanding mechanical issues. Bill had good news when we got there. The generator is working now. He had forgotten to connect one battery cable. He got it running and I was pleasantly surprised to hear how quiet it is. Mind you, there was no load on it at the time so it, no doubt, will be louder, but it was like a quiet purring.
Today, a mechanic that I know will be installing a new intake manifold and we will then run the engine and check the look of the oil. Bill put a new oil filter on and changed the oil yesterday. If it doesn’t look milky, the problem is solved.
There is still the windlass issue which is very important to us because we intend to be anchoring most of the time. But we’re getting there.
The boat needs a thorough cleanup which is to be expected and Jane has been figuring out how to organize the galley and storage issues as thoroughly as she did on our last boat.
As for me, I have a lot to learn beginning with all the electrical and power systems. Just a look at the main panel is somewhat daunting for me.
Boat Saga Continues
Last night we had Jane’s Mom, Ted, over for dinner and a visit. I decided to do Pork Back Ribs and found a great recipe on the net. First you make a seasoning rub consisting of various spices and bake them in the oven for two hours. Then they go on the BBQ for another 15 minutes or so. They are tasty McGasty. Here’s a link to the recipe.
This morning, we are headed to Port Severn to meet up with Bill and Tracy, owners of the boat we intend to buy. It has already been launched and this afternoon the manifold is going to be replaced. Hopefully that will resolve that issue and Bill sounded optimistic that the other issue with the generator and windlass are easy fixes.
I remain optimistic about this deal but also adamant that it must be fully operational before MY Jane and I will finalize the deal. Tomorrow’s blog will be more revealing. Stay tuned.
Dinghy on my Mind
Today, I am going to try to head up to Midland again and on the way pick up the dinghy cushions that were made at Superior Textiles on Hwy 93. Steve Tremble always does a great job whether it is a boat top or upholstery. Pretty soon I’ll be getting Bayport to put the dinghy in the water.
When I think of the dinghy in the water, I can’t help but recall the fun times MY Jane and I have had.
Here’s a shot taken last year in Little Dog Channel. We were on our way to a beach to have a breakfast picnic.
I’m looking pretty tanned there, eh?
Of course, no one gets more enjoyment out of operating the dinghy than Jane except maybe Steven and Chris.
Our old boat has now been taken by the new owner to Owen Sound. Apparently he sailed out of Bayport sometime last week. He was pretty excited.
Things are Looking Up
Yesterday’s visit to Midland was worthwhile. I spoke with Scott Cain, General Manager of Bay Port Yachting Centre and he brought Chris, one of their top mechanics, into the conversation about the issues with the boat we’re after. The main issue was the cracked intake manifold and the consensus was that it should be replaced, not welded.
Bill, the current owner, has agreed to do this. In fact, he is agreeable to getting everything that needs repair, done. It may extend our possession date, but both MY Jane and I are quite happy to do that so we have a reliable trouble free season. Well – as trouble free as we can make it, anyway.
In addition, I stopped in at Superior Textiles and had coffee with Steve Tremble, the owner. Steve is making new cushions for our dinghy – cushions which were swept off the dinghy in a storm last year.
In fact, Steve will be doing them today. Then he’ll have to put fasteners on the underside so we dint lose them again. I have had boat tops done by Steve before and his work has always been top notch.
Things are looking up!
The Boat Saga (continued)
Well, I found out yesterday that the boat we made the offer on has some serious mechanical issues, one of which is a cracked intake manifold. The sellers says he can get it welded but I am not sure how reliable that might be. Also, he couldn’t get the generator started……he says he thinks it’s just the battery. I am having some doubts about this deal now so I am headed to Midland to talk to people who have marine experience to get some advice.
Fortunately for us, our offer was conditional on satisfactory mechanical survey, so we can cancel the deal if this is the case, and get our deposit back. We still intend to go to Port Severn on Saturday although the official sea trial is now postponed.
Needless to say, this is disappointing news for MY Jane and I, but one way or another we will get a boat for the summer.
Woo Hoo and Yippee
Dull and overcast here in Barrie today, but the future is bright! Another step has been completed in our dream.
MY Jane notified her boss yesterday that she would be retiring at the end of June. Needless to say, he was very supportive of her decision and even indicated that he would like to stay in touch afterwards. He told her that if she ever wanted a job and a position was open, don’t hesitate. Not surprising, because he relied a lot on Jane, not only for the job she did, but also for the valuable feedback she gave him on his own management style.
Tomorrow, the current owner of Georgian Spirit will be doing a final cleaning and repairing the anchor windlass in preparation for the sea trial on this coming Saturday.
If all goes well – and I expect it will – the following weekend we will officially take possession and move it to Bay Port Yachting Centre in Midland.
Wine Tasting and Dinner
My Jane came home last night after a busy Mothers Day weekend in Toronto. It began Saturday afternoon when Chris and Tonya took Jane and Linda, Tonya’s Mom, to Holland Marsh Winery near Newmarket Ontario.
Then to Chris and Tonya’s for a BBQ dinner and more hanging out.
On Sunday, Jane and Tonya worked in the garden and later, Jane went to Stevens where he and Klae took Jane to a nice dinner.
Tulips in the Garden
Yesterday, while MY Jane was in Toronto, I spent some time in the front and back yards pulling out dandelions. There weren’t that many but if they go to seed, they can become overwhelming. A few of our new cedar shrubs and the evergreen tree were in bad shape so I applied some special slow release fertilizer to them. Hopefully that will improve their appearance.
The flower beds are beginning to come to life with tulips showing a bit of colour at the blooms. The photos below were taken one day apart and you can see in the right hand picture that one of the tulips has actually blossomed since yesterday.
Today Jane spends some time helping Tonya in her garden and then goes to dinner with Steven before returning home tonight.
Mothers Day Weekend
Today MY Jane will be leaving for Toronto for a Mothers Day weekend at Chris and Tonya’s. They will be joined by Tonya’s Mom and sister at Newmarket this morning where they will have a tour of a winery and do some wine tasting. Then it’s off to Toronto.
Chris and Tonya will be preparing and serving dinner tonight. Steven would have been there but he is a groomsman in one of his best friends wedding. Then tomorrow, Jane and Tonya are going to spend time in their garden with Jane sharing her gardening expertise. Later in the day, Jane will head over to Steven’s and they will be going out to dinner at a local Beach Restaurant.
As for me, I will be puttering around the house. There is always something to do. Jane will be home Sunday evening.
The Name
I cannot believe how quickly time goes by. It’s funny because I remember when I was a kid how slow time used to pass. Especially when near the end of the school year. Those last few days before the summer break seemed so very long.
This past week just flew and it won’t be long before MY Jane and I finally have possession of Georgian Spirit. In case you can’t remember what she looks like, here’s a photo.
As I have mentioned in previous postings, the current name of the vessel is Black Pearl, but we are changing that to Georgian Spirit.
Trip to Midland with George
Today I am heading to Midland Ontario with my cousin George who lives in Barrie about a 15 minute drive from my place.
George is very active in Habitat for Humanity and will be leading at least 3 trips on “builds” this coming year. Two of the trips are to one of his favourite places, Jordan. I look forward to the pictures from there.
He is also very community minded, being an active member of the Barrie Optimist Organization as well as the Barrie Oddfellows. Last year he was Chairman of a very successful Terry Fox run and is Chairman again this year. He is a busy fellow.
Besides all the volunteering that he does, he and his wife, Jean, are having a brand new house built here in Barrie so that is keeping him even more busy.
This evening, I will be doing BBQ steak for MY Jane and if it’s warm enough, we may even eat on the patio. We’ll see.
Organizing Stuff
MY Jane began the job of sorting through all the boat stuff from our other boat. She is deciding what to keep and what to discard. As she’s doing that, she’s listing everything and arranging and labelling the bins. Just like we did when we moved from Toronto to Barrie.
It is amazing how much stuff is involved here. And what’s in the bins is not all of it. There is more bedding and other household necessities.
We will likely get a sofa bed something like the one below. Ikea has thes and I like the idea of assembling it on board piece by piece rather than trying to manhandle the thing into the the salon of the boat. The main cabin door might be a tad tight.
Garage Cleaning
Yesterday we picked up Jane’s Mom and took her shopping then to our place for dinner. I thought it would be a good idea, because Ted had not been for awhile, to order Swiss Chalet. That’s what we did and it was quite tasty. Jane made a strawberry crepe dessert and that was even tastier. She used these “ready to use” crepes. Lots of whipped cream. Very yummy!
Today I will be working in the garage cleaning it up so MY Jane can have a good look at all the bins of boat stuff we have stored there. There has to be at least a dozen. She wants to sort the stuff and label it so it will be easy to stow on the new boat.
Checking out the Boat
Today, MY Jane and I are planning to head up to Port Severn to meet up with Bill and his wife Tracy at the boat that we are buying from them. We are anxious to have a longer closer look at it without it being covered by the winter tarp as it was when we first looked at it in February.
Both of us will be picking their brains for tips and trucks they have learned over the past nine years that they have owned it. Jane will be concentrating on galley and cooking information as well as storage and refrigeration of food implications. Fortunately, two years ago, Jane did a galley retrofit on our old boat, so we are pretty well set for cookware and cutlery. She did find a very nice set of nautical type dishes at West Marine. (2 sets) They have a ring of rubber backing on each one to prevent sliding. I like them.
I will be focused on asking Bill about systems such as the freshwater arrangement including winterizing methods as well as engine basics such as changing oil filters and the like. I am hoping that the engine compartment, which is under the salon floor, will be spacious enough that I can do some of the normal maintenance myself.
I want to ask him about generator usage and stuff like what gas tank does it draw fuel from and also about the guages and knowing how to read them. I want to know how the water system works because some of it is new to me. I understand that, while at the marina, we can hook up the town water system to that of the boat.
There’s a lot for us to learn about this boat and, as MY Jane has pointed out, “There’s no sense trying to re-invent the wheel when they can tell us”.
Bill has told me that he hopes to have the boat launched in a couple of weeks at which time we can do the sea trial and make sure that everything is in working order from engine to generator to windlass to lights to stove and shower. Exciting!
Laundry Room Project Complete
Last week I began the Laundry Room project, a task that would give MY Jane more and make the room look neater. It would also address another thing that bugged me a bit i.e. the fact that the shelves in the cupboard we had there were not wide enough. When you put things like the crock pot and roasting pans on the shelves, the doors would not close properly. With these new shelves, I made them wide enough to accommodate those larger items.
Bird Feeder Marauder
I have been curious lately as to why the bird seeds in our bird feeder have been going down so quickly. I found the answer this morning.
You see that little blob of brown sitting on the bird feeder roost? That’s the answer. A cute little chipmunk who also happens to be a little seed thief. The roost on the feeder is weight sensitive so as to prevent squirrels from getting at the bird seed. But little Chippie doesn’t weigh quite enough to cause the feeder holes to get blocked.
I’m going to have to try to adjust it somehow. I much prefer to see birds there. Like yesterday, MY Jane and I were delighted to see a male cardinal, resplendent in his red plumage, at our feeder. And the other day, two gold finches were feeding.
Life Unfolding 