The female decides whether to abandon her eggs, not the government

The male and female cardinals consult each other, 

and it is the female that decides whether to abandon her eggs.

The cardinals have their reasons!

GOD knows.

The government doesn't decide

Mother nature has her ways!

Quite a story, the history of Indian Yellow

Just picked up some canvas and paints.

I've never used Indian Yellow before.

They say the origin of Indian Yellow was considered a mystery till 1883.

Quite a story, the history of Indian Yellow

Now to do some paintings in my favourite size!

☺

14"x 18"

Sparrow feeding it's young one

Morning meeting

Feeding a young sparrow

Why Social Media networks may not be for you

For those like my mother who have no idea what ‘social media’ is, be grateful and consider yourselves blessed that you don’t know what it is. Because you have a better, socially interactive and productive network of friends and strangers, doing good for this world, quietly, than many of us do.

And for those who are privileged to read this article, because you have been given another day in your life, and a gadget called a mobile phone or a computer to spend hours on away from real human interaction, hope this enables you to be a better citizen of the world. Because if it doesn’t, social media networks may not be for you.

Consider the answers to these questions.

     1) Why am I using social media?

     2) Why do I network?

Everyone has different answers to these questions, but one thing is true for everybody.

If you take the ‘social’ out of your network or media, you’ll be left with …

Here’s how to be more social.

If you are a photographer connect and interact with photographers.

If you are a mother, connect and interact with others like you.

If you are a business owner or company, connect and interact with your customers.

If you are pastor, connect and interact with everyone.

If you are recruiter, connect and interact with your connections.

If you are a sales leader, connect and interact with your team.

The key point I’m trying to make is, social is all about interaction.

Nobody is interested in your title, your accomplishments, or the number of connections or followers you have. If one of your connections asks you a question, please answer it, or disconnect. 
Ignoring is apathy. And apathy has been socially viewed as far worse than hate.

I have a very small network of friends globally, across cultures and languages, who I interact with mainly face-to-face, by phone call and email. I find that those interactions and relationships are more meaningful to each other than those in my social networks using social media. I am open to connecting with anybody, anywhere for the sole purpose of interacting and learning anything new. In my social networks, I value interactions and relationships much more than the number of connections, so I have enabled messaging to anyone. Even if we don’t follow each other, you can message me!

Btw, if you are a public service organization or law enforcement agency, you should enable the ability for the public to contact you, without having them to connect with you.

If you cannot interact with your own connections and followers, then why are you connected to them in the first place? 

Add the social element back to your network of friends, family & strangers, and be happy!

Because life is too short, and nothing is more important to us as humanity, than to love, and be loved.

Replaced the throttle body and pedal position sensor in the Audi A3

EPC light came on at 144,828 kilometres.

EPC is Electronic Power Control and when this light comes on, it means there is a problem with the cars throttle system.

With the EPC light on, when you put your foot down on the pedal to accelerate while doing 80+ kph on the highway, the rpm goes up but the car doesn't respond.

Did a scan which revealed a faulty throttle body, and a faulty pedal position sensor.

Interestingly the throttle body was clean, really clean. 

The problem with the throttle body was in the electronics within this black portion (below).

The pedal position sensor is one piece molded into the accelerator pedal, 

so had to replace the entire pedal.

Hopefully with this replacement we are good for another 150,000 kilometres. GOD only knows!

I've always wondered if I must go back to old fashioned, simpler cars instead of dealing with these complicated drive-by-wire technologies in cars today, 

but then I realize, this is not my car!

It is HIS car. 

HE gave it to me to use temporarily, and my duty is to enjoy it, and look after it well, 

with the resources HE provides!!

☺

Breaking good news from an undisclosed location!

A mourning dove and it's little chick have been spotted enjoying the afternoon sun.

In previous years these doves have built very fragile nests and their eggs either fall through or the squirrels disturb them.

It's a joy seeing this little dove!

**Latest updates below!!**

**Just discovered now, that there are two young ones** - updated 23rd May

**Updated 24th May**

Drawing a reflective Loon car sticker

I've been making reflective car & motorcycle stickers for as long as I can remember.

This is the latest one, of a Loon in flight

In the dark, the white portions are visible when light strikes it. 

It is all-weatherproof

Love these musicians playing for change from around the world

Surely music is a great way to unite people!

More great music from the official website of Playing for Change

Listening to Gordon Lightfoot and painting Icefields Parkway

There's a place out on the highway, where I go to spend my time

Get "Restless" by Gordon Lightfoot from iTunes

Somewhere between Jasper and Canmore

In the wild and beautiful Canadian Rockies

Icefields Parkway

24"x 36" oil painting on canvas

Morning walk by Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario has risen a lot lately, 

but the strong winds and high waves will not stop the killdeer from feeding it's young chicks!

A frenzy of cormorants

On a peaceful day, people sit on the rocks at the edge of the water. 

Today the water is raging!

Cormorants flying at sea level (or should I say lake level)

This gull has caught something ... not sure if it is a young bird in it's beak! 

Last year on this day, 

I saw a long-tailed duck sitting just beyond that rock ahead, at water level.

Here's a picture of the long-tailed duck

Today the water level is probably four or five feet higher. 

Love these waves crashing onto the rocks!

And just as we were getting ready to leave, 

Saw this killdeer peacefully playing around with it's chicks in the shade!

Curious Goldfinch

What's inside the bird feeder?

The goldfinch loves the sunflower seeds so much, it wants to get into the bird feeder!

And then the female arrived, and I lost my focus 

☺

Blue Jay on the Fence

I sometimes place peanuts in the bird feeder

A Blue Jay promptly arrived and sat on the fence near the lilac tree

 a strong breeze blew, raising it's lavender-blue crest

The Blue Jay was focused on the peanuts in the feeder, 

And we, on the fragrance of the lilac!

Every day is a new day with new visitors!

So well camouflaged 

☺

Go ahead and eat the Tulip leaves, they are all yours,

And there's more on the other side!

You were here before me, this is your world!

I'm just passing through,

I'm the visitor

Have a blessed Sunday!

☺