STRANGE NEW WORLDS

In this century and the last, astronomers have been announcing more and more precise discoveries in space — more than the increasing size and complexity of telescopes can account for! How can they present their findings with such confidence? Newly discovered planets! Not just the fact of a planet's existence but estimates on its size and density — how do they know? Even the Hubble telescope is limited to small pictures of stars (see photo). Planets can't be viewed directly.

Strange New Worlds: The Search for Alien Planets by Ray Jayawardhana (University of Toronto professor) answers these questions and explains how amateurs and professionals team together to make discoveries even in this time of space-based telescopes.

Photo: Close Up of Ancient, White Dwarf Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy

See also:
Jayawardhana on TVO
NASA: Microlensing

MAY PLANTING

During my shopping trips at the beginning of this long weekend, I noticed lots of people at the "garden centres" provided at various large stores. No doubt, this weekend's sun and heat would be welcome to new vegetable and flowering plants. No gardening for us yet — Terri and I took it easy until today's start at the weekly grass mowing. The sun has dried the laundry quickly so I feel that I've completed a little something.

The unmowed yard looks messy. Dandelions have managed to poke their ugly white wispy heads above the grass, the grass cuttings have dried in rows here and there, a general untidy-ness prevails. I need to harness Terri's energy to accomplish some yard work! I've been in a slump lately, not wanting to do anything except sit back and read or watch TV. Having a herding dog reminds me every day that I could and should be getting something done, even if it's only one household chore at a time.

The May planting will likely end up being June planting for me. Meanwhile, I'll be mowing and trimming outdoors plus doing some editing at the laptop.

COLD WATER

Like my friend Laura, I took a walk around my property with my camera. I don't have the pretty blossoms that she has but took a pic of maple leaves that looks like her photo. Although I was late doing laundry, I still had plenty of time for clothes to dry on the line. Now (around 7 PM) it's clouding over and we might get rain.

The local library's Mega Book Sale is on. I dropped by for a half hour of browsing and found an illustrated volume about Ottawa. I may return to pick up some paperbacks — sold by weight — for reading on a cold winter's night.

Last night I discovered that I wasn't getting any hot water in the kitchen. I boiled some to add to the cold water in the dishpan; no problem. Today there is still no hot water. I tried to get some in all the water taps including the washer — nothing but cold. I'll wait until Monday to call for water tank help.

I had to wash with boiled water added to cold in the bathroom sink. I hate not being able to take a warm shower — I feel as though I'm living in a third world country. Life in real third world poverty is much, much worse than a temporary lack of hot water, of course. I've just finished reading a very disturbing book about life in India. The White Tiger by Ravind Adiga follows the fictional story of one young man who tries to escape the poverty of the "dark" interior region. The lack of everything we take for granted in Canada — electricity, education, opportunities for upward mobility — plus overwhelming corruption and the burden of the caste system, makes it almost impossible for him to achieve a better life.

Curiouser and curiouser! The hot water tank started working again Sunday evening.

MAY FROLICS

I can't believe I haven't posted since the April snowfall! Since then I've had to mow the grass two times; otherwise, it would have been too high to mow easily.

We've had some enjoyable summer-y days in May playing our usual games of fetch and catch. I'm hoping to attend a nosework seminar with Terri in June. I've already started playing nose games with her using almond flavoring (my fav!). She found it in 1/2 places outdoors. Not a bad start. For the first hidden scent, she ran straight for it! Good girl! I wonder if she was standing up and watching where I hid it through the window in the front door? If so, all the more clever, though not a good sign for her scenting ability.

The dandelions have taken over the whole property :-( Before and after pics of the yards (pre and post mowing) would look like yellow yard/green yard. They are thicker than ever before. Perhaps in a couple of years my yards will be all dandelions with little grass.

Saturday to Thursday = 3 days sunshine, 3 days rain: I'm trying to kill the annoying weeds in the gravel driveway. I sprayed/sprinkled vinegar on the leaves the 2nd sunny day but it doesn't seem to have done much. Once the 3 days of rain end, I'm going to sprinkle road salt on them.