Owl-some Owls

Owls have always fascinated me. Owls are nocturnal by nature, so we usually hear them instead of see them. I think this is what makes an owl sighting so special. You don’t see a lot of owls in the city. I was probably nine or ten when I saw my first owl in the wild. I was on a hike with my Dad. Several years ago I saw a snowy owl sitting on a road sign on Christmas Day. It made a special day even more special. This little beauty is an Eastern Screech Owl that was photographed by a friend during a nature hike at one of our local city parks.

My interest in owls made me a huge fan of Farley Mowat’s Owls in the Family...a great read at any age. Then, of course, there is Owl in Winnie the Pooh, Hedwig in Harry Potter and Athene/Minerva’s owl in Greek and Roman mythology. Owls are a very popular topic in literature. References to owls appear in many cultures and represent many different beliefs.

There are about two hundred different types of owls and they are found all around the world. The great grey owl is the biggest in terms of length. The smallest owl is the elf owl.

In western cultures, owls are associated with wisdom. So what is it that makes an owl so wise? Apparently, they aren’t any smarter than most other birds. They are, however, incredible creatures with some really amazing adaptations. Maybe we think they are smart because they are like us in some ways and also because they can do some really cool things that we can’t.

Imagine being able to swivel your head 270º. Talk about eyes in the back of your head. What parent wouldn’t appreciate that? Owls have binocular vision, just like humans. Although they are farsighted, owls have great night vision. Just think about never bumping into anything when you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Owls have really large eyes and that, quite frankly, just makes them look smart.

Owls have incredible hearing. Many species of owls have different sized ears placed at different heights on their heads. This allows them to hear from different angles. Additionally, the flattened facial disk of the owl funnels sound directly to the ears, magnifying the sound up to ten times. Owls can hear things that they can’t actually see. Even with your Spock ears on, you can’t hear that well. In truth, it might be distracting to have such good hearing. Although, as we age, owl ears might be advantageous.

Owls are skilled in flight. They are strong and silent as they fly slowly and with purpose. From Icarus to the Wright Brothers, people have looked at birds and wanted to fly. Just imagine being able to soar above the earth and look down with a perspective so different from standing on terra firma. The closest experience I can imagine would be hang gliding or parasailing. No wonder these sports are so popular!

Owls are generally solitary, but when they are in groups, the group is called a parliament. In human terms, we cannot always assume that our governing bodies have the wisdom of owls, which you will recall aren’t really any smarter than most other birds...

Owls really are amazing...owl-some, one might say. If you are lucky enough to be able to see the occasional owl, count yourself fortunate. I am looking forward to my next sighting. In the meantime, I will continue knitting my owl hats. Perhaps I will even consider hang gliding or parasailing. Maybe not. Well, maybe.


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Let’s Go Fly a Kite

Have you ever flown a kite? I have lots of good memories of making and flying kites in my younger years. My Dad was somewhat of a kite connoisseur and taught us the basics of construction and flight. I mostly remember keep it light, make it strong, use a bridle and a tail. From newspaper kites to ones made with plastic garbage bags, we got a lot of strange looking things to fly. It was lots of fun.

Kites were invented in China in the 5th century B.C. They were used for a variety of recreational, scientific and military purposes. Some of these early kites could lift men off the ground and some made music as they flew. From China, kite making made its way east through Asia. Although stories of kites made their way to Europe through Marco Polo in the 13th century, it wasn’t until the 16th and 17th centuries that kites appeared in Europe.

Kite flying and kite festivals are very popular throughout Asia and parts of Europe and South America. Some of these festivals take the form of kite fighting, others are contests and many are a form of celebration. In Bermuda, kites are flown on Good Friday to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

For many years my sister’s family had a kite tradition where they took a small compact kite with them whenever they travelled. They would fly the same kite in the different locations that they visited.

I still love to fly kites. Kite flying can be a fun activity for all ages. Once you get your kite in the air, it can be a very relaxing, enjoyable experience. If you think that you’d like to give kite flying a try, you can buy a kite at a hobby or toy store, or you could order one online. If you’re up to the challenge, you could even try making your own kite.

There are safety considerations when flying a kite. A large open area with no above ground electrical power lines is essential. Your kite could become a dangerous electrical conductor. A space without a lot of trees will ensure that your kite is not “eaten” by a tree, a fate that Charlie Brown often experienced. If you think that you’d like to fly a really big kite, be aware that large kites often lift people off the ground or drag them along, causing injuries. If you live in an urban area, there may be kite flying height restrictions to ensure the safety of low flying aircraft.

Even if you aren’t up to actually flying a kite, just watching a kite in flight can also be an enjoyable experience. Although kite festivals are not so popular in North America, there are still lots of kite enthusiasts around. Keep an eye on the local media for planned events. You might even get lucky and just happen upon a kite in flight on a spring excursion.

The next time that someone tells you to “go fly a kite”, take them up on the suggestion. In fact, why not invite them to join you. A second person is always helpful when getting a kite airborne. You’ll both enjoy the experience.

“Let’s go fly a kite, Up to the highest height!” (from the movie, Mary Poppins)


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The Wearing o' The Aran

It’s that time o' year when we celebrate the wearing o' the green, whether we have Irish ancestry or not. In honour o' my “Year o' Aran” knitting theme, I present my latest Aran project, an infinity scarf, designed by me! In the lore o' Aran knitting, the blackberry or trinity stitch pattern represents the thickets o' blackberries that grow on the Aran Islands. The three part stitch also represents the holy trinity. The cable stitch represents the fisherman’s ropes. I’ve learned a lot about Aran knitting this winter and it’s been lots o' fun. I’m actually considering making myself an Aran sweater...next winter. (Insert fingers crossed!) Top o' the morning to you!

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For more photos check out the Etsy listing for this scarf here: Fisherman's Knit Aran Scarf (Trinity/Blackberry Stitch & Cables)

One is the Loneliest Number

This past winter, the prime minister of the U.K., Theresa May, appointed a Minister for Loneliness. It was a bold step to address an issue that is having an impact not only on individuals and society, but also on the health care system. The appointment made an impact across the globe by drawing awareness to an issue that is key to the mental health of young and old alike.

Loneliness is defined in the dictionary as the unhappiness that is felt by someone because they do not have any friends or do not have anyone to talk to (Collins Dictionary). The entry goes on to provide synonyms for loneliness that perhaps provide a better understanding of the term...isolation, desolation, seclusion.  

Loneliness is more than just feeling sad. It is a deep and intense experience that impacts mental and physical health. It influences how an individual perceives and engages with the world, and has a profound effect on how he/she exists on a day to day basis. 

Loneliness does not discriminate. It can affect anyone of virtually any age or walk in life. Children experiencing separation anxiety can feel lonely, as can a teen who feels socially isolated. New mothers, those who suffer a loss, veterans, university students, the elderly, the person who works in the office across the hall, the person who lives next door, the person who lives with you...loneliness can affect anyone. 

Loneliness and social isolation are not the same thing. One can be socially isolated and not feel lonely. We sometimes wish to “get away from it all” and experience the calm of solitude. Loneliness, though, can exist in or out of a state of social isolation. Recent research has indicated that both loneliness and prolonged social isolation contribute to a number of physical health problems and have a significant impact on longevity.

People who experience loneliness will often also deal with anxiety and depression. The relationship is somewhat of a vicious circle. Loneliness can cause anxiety or depression. Anxiety and depression can also lead to feelings of loneliness. 

If you are experiencing loneliness it can be difficult to reach out and seek help. There are many options available from traditional therapies to social programs to exercise programs or pet therapy. Connecting to resources is important and if you can’t take the first step on your own, talk to a health care provider for assistance. 

If loneliness is not an issue in your own life, count yourself fortunate, but also understand that more than likely someone whom you know struggles with loneliness. We can all make a difference just by reaching out in small ways. Wave at a neighbour, greet the bus driver, have lunch with a friend, call an aunt who lives on her own. The little things count in big ways. 

As governments struggle to find ways to deal with the “loneliness epidemic” (Red Cross), we can each take things down to the micro level by just being good people who do good things. It sounds simplistic, and really it is. Some things really are that simple.


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Maple Magic

The sweet, smooth taste of this golden ambrosia, otherwise known as maple syrup, could truly have been the food of gods if sugar maples grew in Greece. Sad for them. Lucky for me.

Sugar maple trees grow in the hardwood forests of the central area of eastern North America. If you live in this area, you have probably made a trip to a sugar bush at some point in your life. You may even have a sugar maple or two growing right in your neighborhood.

Maple syrup is made from the sap of the sugar maple tree. It is collected in the spring, boiled down, packaged and then enjoyed by millions of people around the world. 

Maple sap can only be collected in the spring. Indigenous people called this time the maple moon. The cold nights and warming days cause the sap to move up and down the trunk. This movement is what makes it possible to collect the sap. The freezing and thawing of the sap builds up pressure forcing it to flow out through the tap holes.

Maple sap was first collected by indigenous people using hand carved spouts which were inserted into a cut through the outer layers of bark. The sap was collected in bowls made from birch bark. Later, spiles, or metal spouts were used. As the sap dripped from the tree, it was collected in wooden or metal pails. Today, commercial locations use a system of hoses that run from tree to tree and the sap is moved using a vacuum pump to a central location.

Once the sap has been collected, it is boiled until it becomes thick. The ratio of sap to syrup is 40:1. Forty litres of sap must be boiled down to make one litre of syrup. Indigenous people put the sap into a hollowed out log and then put hot rocks into the sap to boil off the water. Later, people filled large vats or kettles with sap and placed it over a hot wood fire. This method is still used today, but commercial operations use large tanks in a sugarhouse and the heat source is often oil, instead of wood.

Commercially produced maple syrup is then graded for color and taste before it is packaged. The darker the syrup, the stronger the flavor. Maple syrup is usually packaged in glass bottles. Sometimes it is sold in metal cans or plastic bottles.

My husband's father had a sugar bush on his farm in the Muskokas. One year he bought some maple sap collecting supplies at a yard sale and decided that he would make maple syrup. He collected the buckets of sap by hand and boiled the sap in a large kettle over a roaring fire. He underestimated how long it would take to boil down the sap and ended up having to sleep overnight in the bush in order to keep an eye on the syrup and the fire. He ended up with several gallons of delicious syrup, but that was the one and only time that he made maple syrup.

Maple syrup is delicious on pancakes, waffles, hot cereal or ice cream. It is used as a sweetener in a wide range of beverages and foods. Try some instead of sugar the next time that you make applesauce...yum!

Buzz Feed has a list of recipe ideas for using maple syrup that they've collected. You can find their list here: "57 Magical Ways to Use Maple Syrup" You can also scroll through the Food Network's maple syrup recipes here: "50 Sweet and Savoury Maple Syrup Recipes"

Here are links to some of my favourite maple flavored recipes:

• Maple Hot Chocolate
• Maple Baked Beans
• Maple Muffins 
• Maple Salad Dressing 

If you live in an area where maple syrup is made, there are lots of opportunities this time of year to attend a Maple Syrup Festival. It's a great opportunity to see the sugar bush and learn about the process of making maple syrup. You may also get the chance to try some samples! Some festivals also serve up stacks of pancakes. It's a great day trip with friends or family. Check your local media for Maple Syrup Festivals in your area.

The food of gods? You just never know.


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