Sep 12 - September is Happy Cat Month

 

Are you ready for this?  You thought that cats are indifferent and superior.  There are 15 signs that your cat is happy. They are things like: They purr They have a healthy appetite They like to play They're relaxed They like to rub on you They're knead-y They keep themselves (and sometimes their owners) clean Here are the signs for dogs: A high and waggy tail. This is probably the most well-known sign your dog is a happy pooch. Floppy ears. By this, we mean that their ears are relaxed, not tense or flattened against their head. Pricked upright ears are a sign of alertness – they tell you if your dog is happy or sad, just focused. Their body’s relaxed. If your dog seems relaxed in their posture and not tense or stiff, this is a good indication they are feeling good. Loose shoulders, soft eyes without a fixed gaze, and a dose of ‘wiggliness’ or pure ‘flopped-outness’ are all clues that your dog’s feeling super chill. They’re playful. A happy dog is more likely to want to play and leap around. Play “bows” are a great sign your dog is in the mood. They lean in to you. A relaxed dog who enjoys your company is more likely to also enjoy your attention. They may come to you for attention and it’s a good sign if they lean into your hand when you stroke them. Do we humans get a list of signs for happiness?  Not so easy, is it.  We get all analytical and generalize this to living a good life and being "genuinely satisfied".  But I did find one equivalent sign: So, how can you tell if someone is truly happy—or masking another emotion? While it starts with the mouth, it’s actually all about the eyes! A sign of happiness is when the sides of the lips rise symmetrically (as in the first picture on the left). In an authentic smile the eyelids drop, and the eyebrows lower accompanied by a symmetrical smile (see the picture on the right).  You can see the pictures HERE.  Another article says that it has to do with the crinkles near the eyes.   This wonderful colour combination is the Weeping Willow at Charles Daley Park reflected in the water.  It isn't about to turn yellow yet - usually it happens into November.

Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Finding Fish in Niagara

My sister took me to Charles Daley Park which is on Lake Ontario in St. Catharines.  We watched large fish swim up and down the channel that goes to the big lagoon.  She was told they have to wait in the channel until their body temperature adapts to the changes between the cold lake and the warm lagoon.  This is the migratory period for fish coming to their spawning grounds, where they will spawn in the spring.

So there's lots of fishing in Niagara, I find out.  Most of us think of going to the Georgian Bay area to fish, and not Lake Ontario.  Part of the dilemma with Lake Ontario is the pollution levels of the past reducing the number of fish and eliminating them from the table.  However, there are some interesting species listed in the Niagara area, including Steelhead, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Carp, Salmon (of various types - Lake and Chinook), Smallmouth Bass and Sturgeon.   There are fishing adventure companies in the Niagara Falls area, with lots of pictures of big fish.  And there is a Sturgeon repopulation project at the Niagara River.  

The Niagara River seems to have a large and diverse group - this information comes from the Greenbelt Website about fishing at the Queenston Docks.  The salmon and trout come in the fall to spawn in the spring.  So they would be resident in the big lagoon at Charles Daley Park over the winter.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO CATCH ON THE NIAGARA RIVER:

Migratory Species:

 Rainbow trout, brown trout, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, lake trout 

Resident Species:

 pan fish, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike, carp, muskellunge, walleye

 

Ice Fishing:

Ice Fishing is a great way to have an adventure and enjoy the out doors in the middle of winter! Look for 

yellow perch, walleye, trout, and if you're lucky - something bigger!

Here's where they are swimming to:

 Here's where they are coming from:

This is the channel:

This is the 2-3 foot fish - maybe a salmon…