Signs of Spring

When the robins come back to ....

March 20th was officially the first day of spring (the vernal equinox) and there were signs in Ontario that spring had arrived. The sun was shining and two male robins were visiting in our backyard ... the first we had seen this year. Well, not quite!

During our March 5 to 15 trip to North Carolina, robins were strutting their stuff, singing their best songs, and flitting competitively about in the garden at the Javidi residence.

Christine, Farhad and Arya were in Florida where Farhad was speaking at a conference. Nanny and Grampa were staying with Hannah, who couldn't miss her school band's competition at a site outside Charlotte. This involved some early mornings when Hannah had to be at school at 7 a.m., either for band practice or for Math tutorials.

Oh, you thought I had forgotten about the robins! No, no, not at all!

Before departing for Florida, Christine prepared a list of things that she wanted us to do for her. One task was to return a metal "plaque" bearing a colorful picture of a male robin to TJ Maxx. We were going to kill two birds with one stone one day. That is, after dropping Hannah off at school, we were going to return the plaque to the store.

That morning at 7:15, as we were about to depart for Hannah's school, I was in the driver's seat and Hannah was in a middle seat of the van with the plaque on the seat beside her. As Anne was about to enter the front passenger seat the fluttering of a bird's wings caught her attention and she swatted at the creature. I only got a sideward glance at the encounter.

Now Anne has always been afraid of birds. That is, when they are close to her in a confined space, she becomes very upset. However, this time she was sure that she had knocked the bird away from the car. A quick examination of the interior of the vehicle produced no evidence of the presence of a bird and so we started the drive to Hannah's school.

On the way, Anne did notice a few fluffy feathers on her window.

As we neared the school, Anne decided that she should apply some lipstick. As she opened her purse, which was on the floor of the car, she was shocked to see a dead robin lying there in her purse. We stopped at the front door of the school and Anne decided that she would try to find someone to remove the dead robin from her purse.

She and Hannah headed for the front door of the school as I drove ahead and parked the van in a temporary parking spot on the school grounds. I carried her purse out of the car and used a J-cloth to remove the bird from the purse. I placed the deceased on the school's lawn and returned the purse to the car. Just as I did so, Anne came along with a parent she had enlisted to "move the body". Somewhat embarrassed, we thanked the man and sent him on his way.

Now, the story should end there, but it doesn't.

Anne and I drove off the school grounds and travelled about twenty feet when suddenly another male robin suddenly appeared from over my shoulder and was fluttering frantically at my window in an attempt to escape from "the muder room". I lowered the window and he was gone in an instant.

Now the question is:
1) Did the bird on the plaque entice the two robins into our car? OR
2) Do American robins attempt to hitch a ride to Canada in Canadians' vehicles? OR
3) Do robins know that Anne is afraid of birds and take joy in scaring her?

I guess I'll never know the answers to these questions.

Spring Cleaning

"Spring cleaning doesn't have to cost you money," according to the March 7 edition of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. "Spring cleaning can be a must, but it doesn't need to bust your budget." The paper suggests that you clean with supplies you have.

If life gives you lemons ... make lemonade ... or use the lemon as a cleaner.

Pour lemon juice onto countertop stains and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with baking soda and watch the stains disappear. Lemon rinds can be ground into the garbage disposal to freshen the drain; hot water with a little lemon poured down the drain will do the same. Lemon juice also acts as a natural bleaching agent; blot lemon juice onto white linens and clothing and allow them to dry in the sun.

Mix equal parts olive oil and lemon juice for a natural furniture polish. Just apply with a soft cloth and buff to a shine. You can also use this on wood panelling.

Vinegar

Mix water and vinegar to remove dirt and soap scum from the bathroom. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle as a natural fabric softener; it can break down typical store-bought detergent, removing soapy or dull residue.

Carefully combine vinegar with baking soda to make a great foaming toilet cleaner. Add boiling water to clean out a clogged drain.

To clean windows and mirrors, mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray on windows and wipe off with crumpled newspapers.

If you try any of the above and it doesn't work, or it causes damage, blame the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, and not me!

WEDDING

Congratulations and best wishes to Mark Bucek and Mandy Heinbuck, who were married in St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Gadshill, Ontario, on February 7, 2010. Welcome to the Sargeant and Bucek families, Mandy and Hannah!