In The Workshop: Stained and painted wren houses - all done

On Thursday I started assembling wren houses and today I finished.

They came together pretty quickly.


["I saw the above photo in a well-used book"]

Small, simple, sturdy, colourful - based on a design from a book I picked up at the Village of Values. (Yes, I rescue books as well as lumber).


["Hopefully, wrens will like yellow and blue houses": photos GAH]

I think the yellow and blue paint works well together and the linseed oil - with a bit of maple stain included - looks AOK.


Though I have one already attached to the apricot tree in the front yard and hiding a scar from last year’s ice storm, I think I’ll remove it this afternoon.


It needs to be placed upon a higher branch, in my opinion.

On Monday, I’ll see if I can sell a couple to a local shop.

***

Now the hard part.

What are birdhouses, from rescued lumber, worth?

(I have a price in mind. Tell me what you think - see if you’re close.)

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Anna and Ella: I miss them already

The twins have only been gone for a day after their week long visit.


I’m sleeping better but there isn’t as much energy in the house, or good cheer, with them gone.


["Energy is over-rated after lunch": photos GAH]

Girls, give me another day to regain my strength, then come on back.

It’s not just me. Nanna misses you too.

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Live Small: Pt 2 The Money is Still Out There

In Pt 1 The Money is Still Out There I said the following:

“In summary, the money seems to be out there to pay down debt, but I think the majority of Canadians would say ‘no’ to attacking it head on.”

We will satisfy our appetites and stomach in hundreds of excessive ways but, for some reason, cannot find the stomach to tackle debt.

I’ve suggested an increase in corporate and personal taxes to the tune of 1/4 of one per cent to create a small revenue stream to fight our debt but I’m 100 per cent sure 85 per cent of Canadians and political parties would oppose the idea.

Why?


["I'd like to see airports less busy"]

Even though individuals and families and our various levels of governments are deeper in debt than ever in the past, many, if not most, Canadians are dramatically adverse to even the slightest of tax increases and governments can barely breathe the word without experiencing a drop in the polls.

Many of us are big and pouty and spoiled and when things don’t go our way, as they have economically and financially in the last 30 - 40 years, we push back.

It’s now in our blood and many of us are always ready to shove - hard.

Case in point:

Monday thru Friday, the federal Conservative government, knee deep in debt, is obviously looking at ways to create revenue streams.

In order to appease corporate moguls and the over-burdened and tax weary citizenry - as we’ve been known to call ourselves - not one word is being said, even in hushed tones (which would be akin to shoving a sharp stick into ear of an already disgruntled pig), about raising taxes.

(As far as I know, only the federal Liberals have mouthed the word ‘tax’ recently, as in ‘if in power, we would delay the next, proposed corporate tax reduction’).


["Governments will try not to sink"]

Instead of creating a revenue stream, however, our government found a clever way to simply reduce one of its costs.

I.e., it will soon stop paying airport policing costs. Costs will be shifted or transferred to airports.

Today, airports began to push back.

"The government should pay for safety, not us," said one airport official.

(Get used to the term ‘push back.’ I’m going to use it every chance I get from Monday to Friday).

One day soon, airport safety will be added to the ticket price to Hawaii and subtracted as a line in a government ledger.

In other words, the traveller will pay for their safe flight, and not the general taxpaying public.

(Be prepared for the push back from air travellers in about 3 minutes).

If it all sounds like a shell game to you, you might be right. But for certain, it’s an old game.

Federal Liberals downloaded many traditional costs to the provinces in the 1990s, the only time in the last 50 - 60 years that federal debt actually decreased.

Maybe the Conservatives are now playing from the Liberal handbook?

***

If governments cannot increase revenue streams then look forward to a decrease in services to which many have grown accustomed.

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Tax Cuts: Like giving money to a two year old

Recently I entered the tax cut debate.

“Are they the best way to stimulate the depressed economy? Is there a better option?”

I came out against tax cuts for a few reasons.


["Tax cuts and chili - lots in common"]

E.g., “As far as tax cuts are concerned, you can’t force consumers to spend this extra money in their pockets,” say the Conference Board of Canada.

A reader, Lost Motorcyclist, said the following (in part):

“I agree with you. Stimulus money tends to be spent on things we need such as jobs, road repair, schools, other infrastructure. Tax cuts are spent on junk and toys mostly, like flashy SUV's, monster homes... Sadly, people are not very wise with their spending these days. Putting more money in their (our) pockets is like giving money to a 2 year old...”

I responded with this reply:

“I feel tax cuts are over-rated in a country in which debt is growing nationally, provincially and individually. "Like giving money to a 2 year old" is right!”


With national, provincial and individual debt at the highest levels ever, with many people and governments dramatically against raising taxes of any kind, I’d say we’re in a giant pickle jar of our own making.

Hey! Our debts might respond positively to guaranteed revenue streams.

I say, dial up personal and corporate taxes by 1/4 of a per cent for 10 years and direct revenues toward the federal debt.

Even small progress against massive and growing debt might encourage the entire country.

***

I know I’d be happier and that’s important, right?

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Climate Change Concerns: Will fresh apricot jam go the way of the dodo?

Really, a few days ago weather was warm, my apricot tree started to blossom, bees buzzed around the flowers doing what bees do best and I began to dream about fresh apricot jam in July or August.

Now winter has returned - maybe.


Temps are lower, blossoms are in full swing but bees are nowhere to be found.

Environment Canada has already told us that London recorded the first March in history without snow (the average is usually about ten snow days in March per year).


[Apricot blossoms, as of 30 minutes ago": photos GAH]

Is this what we can expect in the future?

Temperatures and months out of whack? And fruit trees out of synch?

No fresh jam on my toast?

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In The Workshop: Nine wren houses are underway

My first stab at wren houses has not gone awry.

I’m going to paint four and stain five.


Yellow paint on the faces and sides, and blue roofs and trim, will hopefully go together well.

(I.e., one coat of each colour, then scuffed on the sander to make the paint look more than a week old).


Tinted linseed oil will turn the light cedar birdhouse into a rich, warm home that no early wren will be able to resist.


["Rescued lumber stacks up nicely in my book!": photos by GAH]

Winter has returned to Deforest City but I’ll get back to the workshop once it’s warmed up in there.

***



No kidding. It was snowing here when I went to The Red Roaster for coffee this morning.

Is it snowing in your corner of the universe?

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Newspaper Clippings: Are tax cuts best for the struggling economy?

I say ‘struggling’ because everyone and their brother is saying we’ll not see normal growth for a long time, and by ‘normal’ I mean 3% growth, a number Canadians got used to during the good years. And by ‘good’ I mean the years the like of which we may never see again.


Now, to answer the question: Yes and no. Depends on who you listen to.

According to ‘Tax cut benefits debated by groups’ (Apr. 1, London Free Press), the answer is ‘yes’ if you believe the Fraser Institute when it says “the federal government’s $62-billion stimulus plan did little to spur growth and permanent tax reductions would have been more effective.”

But the answer is ‘no’ if you believe the Conference Board of Canada when t says “tax cuts can be given out quickly but the impact on the economy tends to be short-lived and muted, whereas infrastructure spending takes longer to get underway but provides bigger bang for the buck.”


["Tax cuts? Not enough benefit!"]

In my humble opinion, the conference board wins the argument (i.e., tax cuts are not the way to go) because they substantiate their claim by saying that “for every dollar spent on cutting taxes, real GDP is expected to increase by 30 cents (for corporate tax cuts) and 40 cents (for personal tax cuts) and those benefits pale in comparison to the $1.20 gain for every dollar spent on building roads, bridges, facilities and the like.”

Plus - and this is a big plus, in my opinion - “as far as tax cuts are concerned, you can’t force consumers to spend this extra money in their pockets,” say the Conference Board.

So, if I was King for a Day, I’d say, “Forget the tax cuts, people. We have to face reality and get more people back to work. You want more money in your pocket, here’s what you do. Reduce spending.”


["Don't sink the pig. Save money"]

Then I’d add, “And for crying out loud, pay down your debt and start saving money for the tough times ahead.”

And because our national debt is rising faster than almost ever before, and we are very unlikely ever to pay any of it down, there will be tough times ahead.

***

How about a 1/4 of 1 per cent tax increase (personal and corporate) dedicated to pay down national debt?

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In The Workshop: My first crack at a wren house

A fellow hockey player recently pointed to a bag of wood outside his workshop and asked me, “Could you use this?”

I imagined the 2 and 1/2 inch wide strips of cedar could be turned into small birdhouses so I placed the bag in the trunk of my car, along with several other offerings.


["99 cents for hundreds of ideas. Golden.": photos GAH]

See Wood, Will Rescue - that’s my motto.

Later, a used, 99-cent book re birdhouses provided inspiration for a sketch and mock-up model and I spent a few hours today cutting, sanding, painting and assembling my first batch of wren houses.


["Rescued lumber ready for sanding"]

I used the table- and chop-saw to cut the faces, sides and roof and band- and scroll-saw to produce the curved pieces of trim.


["The face will look better w cedar trim from scrap box"]

Even if I sell them for $10 the first sale will pay for my hydro, paint and stain. The rest will pay for a bit of gas for the motorcycle and birdhouse hunting.

And one will nicely cover the scar left on my apricot tree after an ice storm tore off a large branch.

Not a bad hobby as far as I’m concerned.

***

Do you get songbirds nesting in your yard?

Do they like houses placed in a tree?

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Zoom w a View: Apricots may come early this year

The apricot tree on our front lawn is about 20 years old now.


It is a hearty plant and has survived the loss of limbs from ice storms and forcible removal from the ground when sewer work was done in our front yard.


[Photos GAH]

This year its blossoms have opened earlier than usual - likely because March was warmer than average.

While the camera focussed I noticed that bees were present. Apricots may soon be on the way.

***

Any plants blossoming early in your yard?

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Deforest City Blues: Our diesel fumes are coming home to roost

We are in such a diesel-fumes-spewing-bus pickle, aren’t we?

Ontario’s economy isn’t what it once was, it may never be again, the Ontario government is scrapping a plan to subsidize hybrid buses as some cities replace aging diesel-burning models and London taxpayers might hit the roof if asked to support hybrids by themselves.


["Richmond St., London. We had a great trolley system a few decades ago!"]

Because environmentally-friendlier hybrid buses cost $230,000 more than a diesel burner, debates about how to spend money in tough times will surely get kicked around City Hall.

Are people fed up (“up to their eyeballs”) with paying for environmental protection as transit commissioner Gary Williams suggests? (Apr. 6 issue of the London Free Press)


["Now I recommend you buy comfortable shoes"]

Should Londoners consider paying the higher price for hybrids because the environment and communities are worth protecting as Councillor David Winninger suggests?

In this space I’d like to say the following:

First, the money is out there.

If Londoners can send millions upon millions each year upon cigarettes, sodee pop, cookies, candy, beef for the BBQ, pets, cars, cellphones, movies, walk-in closets, stretchy pants and homes bigger than needed - then hybrid buses are surely affordable.

Second, Deforest City used to be home to an electric-trolley system.

Whatever happened to it? Why?

Had it been maintained, would we be in this pickle re diesel-spewing buses?

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Birdhouse Hunting: For rent - four-storeys tall, needs flag

Immediately after filling up my motorcycle with gas on Monday I recorded the following line in an onboard journal:

camera - free ride

Not only do I like to record my miles per gallon (km/liter in Canada) but a word or two about my destination.


[“Free ride” - but I did pay for gas”]

On Monday I had my camera, a full-tank of gas and elected to follow my nose. I felt free to turn down any side road that looked interesting.

As I approached the village of Delaware I turned south onto carriage Rd. and soon came upon an old farmhouse with a few birdhouses in the yard.


[“How could I not stop?”: photos GAH]


[“This old martin house needs a new flag”]

The design of the purple martin house is stellar, in my book. Two apartments per floor is ample room for a martin family.


Several other birdhouses adorned the old property purchased two weeks ago by a young family.


Children and birds will have lots of room to roam.

Are you a birdhouse hunter?

Please click here for more Birdhouse Hunting.

***

I’m puzzled.

Why does the blue house have a second opening?

Is it a hole guard gone askew?

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Birdhouse Hunting: Round ‘purple martin’ houses in Port Bruce

The woman who told me about Mr. Cahill only told me to turn onto Rush Creek Rd. in Port Bruce and watch for round birdhouses for purple martins.

I found the houses and their creator on Sunday, wandered the property for 30 minutes and learned more in that time about martins than ever before.

I learned the following, among other things:

Purple martins want to nest near people and don’t mind living in round houses. (Mr. Cahill had several pulley-operated house stands on his creek-side property).


[“These houses were made from construction helmets”: photos GAH]

Helmets and salad bowls (painted white to reflect heat and numbered so that bird-keeping records can be kept) need to be about 10 inches in diameter.


[“This set has been lowered for spring-cleaning”]

The inside of the houses are insulated with foam and ventilated with tubing and plastic caps.


[“The holes can be round or oval-shaped. If bigger than 1 and 3/16th inch they will attract starlings.”]

Mr. Cahill rescues metal bits and pieces for his stands and pulleys and does his own soldering.


[“A closeup of oval- and ‘oddly-shaped’ openings that keep out starlings but not sparrows.”]

I rode home to a houseful of company while thinking about a clever design of my own for a birdhouse and hoping that one day I may have another type of crowded house.


[“The entrance to W. Cahill’s workshop: Road sign is from Yellowknife.”]

***

I need a decal for my motorcycle - This Bike Stops for Birdhouses.

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Birdhouse Hunting: Modified gourds on Rush Creek Rd., Port Bruce

I went birdhouse hunting on Sunday and though I could have stopped a dozen times I only pulled my motorcycle over to the side of the road twice.

Once beside Catfish Creek to snap a photo of a lone birdhouse.


The second time beside Rush Creek to meet the ‘purple martin’ man and snap photos of unique contraptions, the like of which I have never before seen.

The purple martin man (Wayne Cahill, an experienced reader and observer of many types of birds) welcomed me onto his property and was happy to answer any and all questions while I snapped pix of this and that.

This: Cleverly modified gourds.


[“Gourds painted white to reflect the heat”: photos GAH]


[“Gourds have two port-holes; one for bird entry; another for viewing by Mr. Cahill”]

That: One natural gourd beside the driveway.


[“This one reminded me I have one in storage. Time to dust it off.”]

Mr. Cahill is a master of modification. Wait ‘til you see what’s next.

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Birdhouse Hunting: I could have stopped a dozen times

While no one was looking I warmed up my bike yesterday, checked the oil, then drove south-east from London toward Port Bruce.


["A rustic birdhouse - aging well, looks sturdy enough to last a few more years": photos GAH]

I thought that our guests wouldn’t miss me while they went for a walk in Old South (London) and I wanted to find the ‘purple martin’ man that another birdhouse owner and builder told me about two weeks ago.

I’d been told if I drove west along Rush Creek Rd. (starts just north of the bridge in Port Bruce) I’d see several round martin houses. Curious, no?


["South of Mapleton, I parked beside Catfish Creek. The birdhouse is on the west side of the road, on south side of creek, steps from the bridge."]

On my way to the small port on the north shore of Lake Erie I spotted several other interesting birdhouses.

I only stopped once - just south of Mapleton - because I was a man on a mission.

I could have stopped a dozen times but wanted to be home before company noticed I was gone.

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Anna and Ella: “OK, I’ll babysit while you eat”

Yes, the pace around the house is quicker than it normally is, what with the grand-daughters here and the phone ringing off the hook (“Can we come over to see them?”), but having them here is worth it.

Anna and Ella are beauties.


["Anna - catchin' some rays": photos GAH]

They smile and laugh easily.


["Ella - a story or burp is on the way"]

They are starting to tell stories.

Ahh, they fit right in around here.

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Motorcycle Miles: I snuck out of town while no one was looking

Yesterday started at a quick pace and ended much the same.

Family members arrived early to visit with my son, his wife and the twins and one of their friends arrived just as we started to think about lunch.

While I cleared up dishes my wife took the twins for a walk and those adults that remained went to the back deck.

I put the last dish away, walked out the front door and started up the bike.

I should say good-bye to people, I thought.

“Sneaking out of Dodge, eh?” someone asked.

“Yes,” I said, “but I’ll be back soon.”


["I found a golf course that lined the fairways with colourful birdhouses. Cool.": photo GAH]

And I was. The wind was strong and dark clouds in the sky revealed a storm was blowing toward our city.

The short trip was refreshing nonetheless and the last guest left just after I returned home.

Good timing, but more plans were discussed about the evening ahead.

Where can I hide next? I asked myself.

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If your tuna tastes like plastic - there’s good reason

You probably know that Health Canada recommends we limit the number of servings per week of tuna and other predatory fish because of mercury levels.

If you didn’t, now you do.

And surely you already know that tuna stocks are in rapid decline because humans have the nasty habit of catching and eating fish in unsustainable amounts, gaining more weight than the average grizzly bear before winter hibernation and buying stretchy pants rather than exercising or cutting back.

But what you might not know is that there is now a third reason to limit the amount of tuna you buy at Wal Mart next time it goes on sale.


["What's this? I'll eat it": tuna photo link]

Tuna may now contain plastic.

“New research suggests small fish that live within the Great Pacific Garbage Patch - a blob of degraded plastic estimated to be larger than the area of Saskatchewan, floating in the middle of the ocean - are actually feeding on the tiny pieces of plastic. (Plastic absorbs toxins like PCB and DDT).

“While there’s concern for the future of these little fish, the concern also extends to humans, because these tiny swimmers are being eaten by commercial fish such as tuna, which are being eaten by us.” (Apr. 1, London Free Press)

Stink. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water!

My recommendation: Reduce the amount of tuna in a meat-rich diet (and if you normally live in North America, your diet is likely rich in meat) by eating more sustainable food products that contain less plastic.

***

What would you eat instead of tuna, e.g., once or twice per week?

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Anna and Ella: Six months old and lighting up a room

My son, his wife and daughters arrived safely today from Fenelon Falls and our house now looks like it did in 1973 when my wife and I had two young children of our own.

Sorry, I lied.


["Anna bats her long eyelashes at me. I'm hooked": photos GAH]

The modern family travels with two or three times as much gear as we did in the 1970s so I should say, honestly, our house is stuffed to the limit. Hardly any room left for all the friends and family members who want to come to get their first look at the twins.


["Ella doesn't like my beard but didn't cry when she saw me this time"]

Anna and Ella seem up for anything and while they're entertaining everyone I'll just go put a revolving door at the front of the house and on the fridge.

I’d say more but the phone just rang and I bet it’s not for my wife or I.

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In the Workshop: Birds and birdhouses keep me busy

The birds disappeared from the feeder early in March, perhaps because the weather was so nice.

They returned in the last two weeks as temperatures cooled, so I’m going to leave the feeders out for another two weeks, and see what happens. With the feeders closer to the ground, will they return in the same numbers?


["Feeders are off the clothesline and onto the deck": photos GAH]

Milder temperatures made me think about building more birdhouses and I’ve drawn out the face of my next model. With a 3/4 inch opening I hope to attract songbirds, e.g., warblers, wrens, and any other bird that wants to cheer up the neighbourhood with a morning song.


["The finished house will be no bigger than my coffee mug"]

Once my company leaves for home my neighbours will hear my saws working overtime. And shortly thereafter, perhaps they’ll hear pleasant tunes from wee visitors in the trees and new houses.

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Live Small and Prosper: Pt 1 The Money is Still Out There

I wrote and wrote and wrote about Canada’s national debt recently, so much so that some people likely started to think I’m trying to become a brilliant budding economist.

(Trust me, I’m not. However, I included the series of posts, entitled ‘National debt, a silent, deadly avalanche’ and ‘Politicians are silent about debt’ and ‘Is the money out there’ in the right side margin with other ‘Series of Some Significance’ - and I thought that was a brilliant idea).

In part, I touched on the following main ideas:

Our national public debt will soon be above $620 billion

Our provincial public debt will soon be above $205 billion

Our collective private debt is higher than the above

It is uncharacteristic for the federal government of Canada to pay down debt

Since 1960, 80% of the federal budgets added to the national debt


It is uncharacteristic for the provincial government of Ontario to pay down debt

Since 1985, 69% of the provincial budgets have added to Ontario’s debt

There are several real dangers associated with growing debt, e.g., ever-higher debt charges.

Federal debt charges now swallow all revenue gained from corporate taxes, and more

Canadians burn up billions of dollars per year on non-essentials, e.g., bottled water, cookies, candy, soda pop, cigarettes, etc.

Canadians pay billions per year on secondary and tertiary costs related to bottled water, cookies, candy, soda pop, cigarettes, etc.

I mentioned these topics and more and concluded with the following:

We may be spoiled rotten in a lot of cases and have far more goods than we actually require.

We also have more debt than we require.


["Smile. The pig ain't dead"]

What must we do to pay down national debt in this vast land of essentials and extras?

Should we consider a fairer income tax system, higher consumption taxes?

I also mentioned several of these topics and more in three weekly columns and concluded them with the following:

In summary, the money seems to be out there to pay down debt, but I think the majority of Canadians would say ‘no’ to attacking it head on.

Out of several interesting responses I’d like to share two with you.

The first, from DP, directed me to Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis and I learned that we might be worse off than we think we are.

After visiting the link I said, yipes.

The second comment came from an acquaintance, and I quote:

“If I had known I was going to live this long I would have been a little more thrifty.”

To that I said, “Unfortunately, we can’t turn back the clock.”

Though we seem to be squeezed tightly inside a pickle jar of our own making, I still think the money is out there to solve our monetary problems.

***

More to follow.

No, I haven’t invented an all-new, invisible, painless revenue stream.

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Climate Change Concerns: Will this be London’s warmest year on record?

When I broke my cousin’s 100-yard dash record in Grade 9 I was one happy kid.

At a high school reunion, however, about 40 years later (2005), he let the wind out of my sails.

We were looking at the wall plaques and race records in a high school hallway, found the one that listed our athletic achievements, and he said, “Your record time isn’t listed. Looks like I’m still ahead.”

A typo? Field day results from 1964 still on Mr. Ayres’ (PE teacher's) desk?

Who knows? But I’ll live. (My Gr. 8 record for the sack race still stands and will never be broken. Modern kids don’t do sack races. Ask them what it is and they'll say, "S'at?").

A modern day record I read about yesterday deserves a thought or two.

“For the first time since Environment Canada has been keeping records, March in London was snow-free.” (Mar. 31 issue of the Free Press)

On March 8, I wrote that it smelled like spring, and I wanted to go motorcycling, and though there was still snow on the ground I predicted it would be gone soon. It was - too soon, I guess.


["Ollie shovels the last of the snow in march": photo GAH]

Though we usually have snow fall in March (10 days is typical) I bet gardeners will be happy - until they turn the sod over.

“Without the snow there is less moisture in the ground...” said the short newspaper article.

My neighbour has garlic already coming up (planted last fall) and has already planted spring potatoes leading me to think I should get busy too.

But while I’m turning over sod I’ll be thinking, “Will this be Deforest City’s warmest year on record?”

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From the Workshop: Building boxes for childhood memories

However big I make a box for childhood memories it won’t be big enough.

For example, when I awoke at 5:45 this morning my first thoughts went to a column I am writing. That led to an ever-lasting memory of my mother bending over her typewriter, ticking and tacking another of her own stories onto a white sheet of paper as I asked her (I was about ten years old) what was for lunch.

I have hundreds of memories of my parents. No box is deep enough to hold them.

But the one I put together in my shop two days ago has enough room for three small transistor radios and will soon hang on a wall at my local coffee shop.


["Notice the leather case? Sweet. My first radio cost $44 in 1963. That's $4 million in today's dollars": photos by GAH]

So will the one after that. And the one after that.


["I'll add a shelf and include one of my harmonicas"]

Yes, I have too many radios and it’s time to downsize.

If someone buys one of my radio boxes, perhaps it will be because - like me - they seldom went anywhere as a kid without a radio and were usually the first person among their group of pals to hear the latest hit by The Beach Boys.

“Round round get around, I get around!”

Those were the days.

***

Please click here to visit the workshop again.

Did you bike around town with a radio in your pocket or bicycle carrier?

I might have one just like it somewhere.

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