My parents unexpectedly meet Danny

My second and third scarves made from Bernat Solo Plum and Adriafil Guys colour 34


Yesterday djjo and I went to Waterloo County Knitters' Fair, largest of its kind in Canada. I bought yarn for another scarf and won a book, Two Sweaters for my Father, by Perri Klass. Danny is notoriously good luck that way, cuddly like a rabbit's paw but less gruesome. We visited themacbear and gr8grizz and saw The Brothers Grimm.

Mom phoned to ask whether she and Dad could drop by today en route to the cottage to see my Maritimes photos. They have met previous boyfriends, but I haven't told them about Danny. I replied, "I have company, but that's okay." I think she understood more than I said and started to back out, but I insisted.

It went well. Emma was boisterous (Danny is uneasy around dogs) but Potvin sat sedately in his cage. Dad, in his peculiar way, called Danny Dan, which I corrected. Mom asked whether Danny was the one who had given Brenna all the beads; many have passed from Bill, I was relieved when Danny took credit.

After they left he helped me finish the purple scarf I started last spring, then begin the new one. I'm envying susandennis and trying to invite cool weather.

240 bird species

Upon returning from the trip out East I commented that one of the highlights for me was adding four bird species to my life list: black guillemot, common eider, willet and greater shearwater. writer00 asked what was my total, but as I hadn't added any species or updated my records recently, I didn't know. So I took a wild guess and said about 240. Reviewing my records this evening, I find the old total was 236, so my guess was exactly right (and I hadn't seen any new species since 1999). That isn't very high; I haven't travelled enough, but it's still fun to count. More than 800 bird species visit or breed in North America, at least 459 in Ontario.