Let's Make Some Art, Dammit

July 29, 2020. I was into the dentist today to have a broken filling repaired - easily the riskiest thing I've done since mid-March - and had the chance to watch this 3D printer build a crown on site. This is quite a development. Previously we would send these out, and they would take time and cost a lot of money, but now they're printed on site in our little rural village. Afternoon was spent creating my slides for tomorrow's webinar. https://flic.kr/p/2jravqy

July 28, 2020. Got a bunch of newsletter posts done and then headed for a 65 km ride to Moose Creek and Avonmore. This was early in the ride - I actually saw that big part on the front being transported in on a trailer. It has just been attached and they were testing it out. Looks like they have a few hundred acres to do. https://flic.kr/p/2jqTrJo

July 26, 2020. Visited family today and got them up and running on Zoom. Then extended the bike ride for a total of 58K in the 35 degree C heat (but it was great because it was cloudy, so while it felt really hot, I wasn't being baked by the Sun). This smiling Sun was found on the Embrun-Russell bike trail, right where it bends at the traffic circle. https://flic.kr/p/2jq9M6m

July 25, 2020. This is a feather I found. It's quite large, maybe a foot long, though surprisingly light. Andrea suggested it might be a wild turkey feather. Spent the day at home resting and watching the baseball game. https://flic.kr/p/2jpZXSp

July 24, 2020. Did some newsletter posts, then went back and forth along back roads, ending up at Riceville. This is just outside the tiny village, looking north into the river valley. 55 km total. https://flic.kr/p/2jpZULz

July 23, 2020. I did some writing this morning and then a nice brisk 51Km ride north through LaRose Forest this afternoon. If you wonder where your telephone poles come from, you're looking at them. LaRose is a working forest, with regular harvests (and recently, some clearing due to disease), but its still a forest that can be enjoyed year round. https://flic.kr/p/2jpcs77

July 23, 2020. This was an indoor day spent mostly puttering on the computer and waiting for the rain to go away. Also went to Costco. Vacation, keeping my brain blank. This lily is in our back yard. https://flic.kr/p/2jp9zWJ

July 21, 2020. My mother and Bernie dropped by this afternoon and we chatted in a socially distant manner in our back yard for a while. It was nice to see them after all my unsuccessful attempts to visit (caused in part by a doorbell error). https://flic.kr/p/2jozQAh

July 20, 2020. Went on an 82 km bike ride today, to my childhood home of Metcalfe and back. This is the North Castor River where it crosses Pana Road. The Castor River - all four branches of it - played an important role in my childhood; I was endlessly fascinated by it. Still am. https://flic.kr/p/2joiqze

July 18, 2020. I tried to visit family again and missed them twice today. So the result was a meandering 76 km ride through Embrun, Russell, Morewood and Chrysler. 20.0 kph average, which isn't bad considering the paths through parks, tours around towns, frequent stops, and thunderstorm. https://flic.kr/p/2jnwYQ2

July 17, 2020. This is a young robin; it still has its baby feathers. We've been watching the new robin family grow and learn. Last work day before vacation. Cleaned up my articles, had a meeting, did time sheets. https://flic.kr/p/2jneCUz

July 16, 2020. This tower i going up between the 417 and the Costco. I only assume it's 5G, but it's definitely being put up by a communications company. Just an ordinary day in the office - a little paperwork and a lot of reading. https://flic.kr/p/2jnbTRD

July 15, 2020. I celebrated by decision to go on vacation starting Monday by going for a bicycle ride after work. This is Warwick Forest, about half way on the ride back from Avonmore. https://flic.kr/p/2jmH3Vk

July 14, 2020. This is a mass of very young milkweed tussock moth caterpillars, the *other* milkweed caterpillar. You can see what they do to the milkweed leaf. They will also eat each other. Work day today in my home office studying zero-Javascript user interfaces. https://flic.kr/p/2jmE4Ux

July 12, 2020. Went for a modest 60 km ride today in a cool but breezy day, not really rushing at all. Checked in on family; I say their flag flying but once again they weren't home. https://flic.kr/p/2jkEfFD

July 9, 2020. At least, that's what we think they are; they're growing by the deck in the back yard. It was something like the 8th consecutive day of more than 30C outside. So, no biking during the week. Bright side: I got a paper for a book chapter I've been working on done and sent off. https://flic.kr/p/2jkDUG5

July 7, 2020. Another very warm day today but I spent it inside my air conditioned office working on a paper. This Hydrangea is in our back yard (where pretty much all the grass is brown from the lack of rain). https://flic.kr/p/2jjams6

July 6, 2020. At least, that's what we think it is. This very large moth was on the milkweed in the back yard (still waiting for monarch butterflies, but no joy yet). Today was an indoor day catching up on email and doing more background reading. https://flic.kr/p/2jiQmdL

July 5, 2020. After a 100 km bike ride yesterday, my second in four days, I spent a restful day inside today puttering with email and music and reading. This purple vetch is in our back yard. https://flic.kr/p/2jiumSB

July 4, 2020. I was taking a photo and someone pulled over and recommended I take Concession 8 to Munro Road. It was rough gravel, and I never would have gone near it on a road bike without the suggestion. The result? This photo, and I ended up cycling 100 km for the second time in a week. #notaonehitwonder https://flic.kr/p/2ji5F2c

July 3. 2020. The blackberries are maturing in our back yard. I spent the day inside, working on some writing. That's it - pretty quiet day. https://flic.kr/p/2jhQkiM

July 2, 2020. I was up at the crack of dawn today for an international meeting on Covid and education, then spent time working on newsletter items and general puttering. These are mallow flowers in our front yard. https://flic.kr/p/2jhtBRQ

July 1, 2020. I celebrated Canada Day today with a 100 km bicycle ride to Vankleek Hill and back - these flowers were growing in the shade on the hill for which the town is named. It was very hot - 30C most of the day - and very sunny. Canadian flags were everywhere, but almost everything was closed and there weren't any festivals or social gatherings - though here in Casselman we had a mobile DJ serenade the town. https://flic.kr/p/2jhfxpU