I had an immediate first thought, but I won't bring it out just yet. I'm guessing that slugs, deer, and birds are not hints.

We took Annie the dog to the vet yesterday for her annual heartworm test, meds, and a couple of vaccinations. Other than being amped up to the nth degree, she pulled through the ordeal in good shape, which is more than we can say for our checking account.

As always, will be awaiting any hints that may show up.

TM

Oh, I feel your pain TM. Took both of ours for the same thing. Ugh. Plus, the vet said since Annabelle is now 7, they need to do the "Senior Dog" work up for a baseline and to check for diabetes, kidney function, etc. Dam. Ouch. However, I am trying to look at it through the lens of wanting them to live forever, so maybe it is worth it. Still not happy and definitely broke now. :(

No, not slugs, deer, or birds. Wish we could find a lucrative use for slugs. Certainly can't make them into coats or hats. Oh well.

Cynthia

Hmmm...well, that is an interesting question. As to our national anthem, 'The Maple Leaf Forever' was a strong contender, especially during the 1st WW. Also, Royalists wanted to stick with 'God Save the Queen'. I'm glad we went with O, Canada - it sounds very elegant. Interesting note to the hairy-chest thumping anglophones(that would be English-born, English-speaking Canadians)who complain about the dual English/French version, or the French translation - it was actually written first in French!!
As to the animal, I may throw my 2 cents worth in later - no, wait - our lastest budget got rid of the penny. Now what will I throw in??!!!

btw, Cyn - was that jet crash near you? I haven't looked at a map yet, just saw the burned out fuselage on the 11 pm news last night.

Nancy - who is cursed to work, but has a job interview on Monday!!!

The one that immediately comes to mind has (at times) set up it's living quarters across the road from us. Now if some of you remember what's across the road from us....

Annette

I had been thinking about dogs, but a new animal just popped into my mind, spurred on by what I'm pretty sure was a hint from Cynthia. I was camping once at Gargantua Bay in Lake Superior Provincial Park and this animal made us detour to get to where we wanted to pitch our tent. There was no bodily threat, just a convenience thing.

TM

No, Nancy, the crash was at Virginia Beach which (trivia for you) is the largest city in Virginia. Our neighbors are there this weekend for the holidays with both sets of grandparents. They don't live near the crash site though. We are about four hours from there, I think. I've only been once and can't remember how long it took me.

So, don't need clues, huh? One I can give you is that I try very hard not to make typos. ;)

Cynthia

I thought it was a purposeful typo to avoid censuring. With my Ipad 2 typos are easy and all too frequent for me.

It is cool with a light rain today, not heavy enough to flatten the blooming tulips. Glad for the rain as it has been a dry spring.

Yikes - I have re-read the above 4 times trying to find a typo. lol. I still don't see it!! I did throw a hint in, though it maybe too vague for those who spend American money.....escargot, that's what the slugs might be good for, maybe in castor oil, instead of butter!! Or cat toys!!

I always think of Virginia as being a not too large state, hence my concern about the crash.

Nancy.

Oh yuck, Nancy. Now, garlic butter, maybe. Ha. I actually love escargot-you could get me to eat pretty much anything if there is garlic butter on it!

You are right, VA isn't that big, but we are way at the northern end and Virginia Beach is way to the south. Thanks for the concern, though. An accident like that is pretty disconcerting.

Can't seem to spot your hint, but I am eager to find it, so I will go back and re-read again and again until I find it! ;)

Nancy's clue is quite amusing! At first reading I wondered about that description.

Happy Sunday, happy Easter, happy Passover...happy Spring.

Here are my clues in isolation: dam, hats, coats, eager.

Still not sure of Nancy's...hairy chest thumping maybe?

I think Annette may have it. Last chance all...

Cynthia

Nope, my clues were 2 cents worth, and castor oil....

Nancy.

My guess was, and is, the beaver.

TM

The Beaver is my answer too, haven't had them for a couple of years but they do at times take up residence across the road from us.

Annette

Nancy, I need you to explain. I am hopelessly obtuse, I guess.

Will wait to award stars to you until after your explanation. I even looked up the Canadian penny coin in case I was forgetting something, but couldn't see a connection. Sorry!

SO, at this point, **** for Annette, Bobbie (who picked up on my 'dam' clue), and TM (yes, I did think you had it and could imagine you trudging around a pond looking for a dry spot to set up camp!).

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, Without beavers' dams, much of the water in the numerous small streams throughout Canada would flow unchecked through the landscape. By impounding water and felling trees, beavers not only provide themselves with wood for their lodges and twigs for their food, but they also open up dense woods, creating opportunities for a variety of plants and animals. Because of this, they have been called a keystone species in temperate and BOREAL FOREST aquatic ECOSYSTEMS.

Grasses, SEDGES and wildflowers spring up along pond margins. Aquatic and land insects thrive and provide food for song birds such as song SPARROWS, tree SWALLOWS and cedar WAXWINGS. Mergansers and other species of DUCKS, as well as KINGFISHERS, feed in the shallow waters. Beaver-killed trees provide nesting sites for cavity-nesting birds. Toads, FROGS and newts breed and thrive in the ponds, providing food for HERONS and RACCOONS.

The water and its surroundings attract MINK, MOOSE, MUSKRAT and OTTERS. Abandoned beaver ponds silt in and become grass meadows for DEER, VOLES and other herbivores. Thus, the activities of the beaver serve to increase the BIODIVERSITY of the forested regions of Canada.

Beaver was once considered the most valuable fur, particularly when felt hats made from the underfur were symbols of prestige. The pursuit of BEAVER PELTS from the Maritimes to the Mackenzie Valley led to the exploration of vast regions of what became Canada. When the FUR TRADE first started, it is estimated that there were 10 million beavers living in what is now Canada. By the time the fashion had changed in the mid-1800s, the beaver was almost extinct.

Today thriving populations of beaver occur once again across Canada. Because of the beaver's impact on the development and history of Canada, it is rightly one of Canada's national EMBLEMS, is on the coat of arms for the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan (see EMBLEMS, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL) and has been immortalized in 1000 PLACE NAMES across Canada.

We saw a beaver once here as we were walking along the C&O Canal. That was many years ago and I still look for one whenever we hike the area.

Will check back to see if more stars are needed. Thanks for playing.

Cynthia

{{gwi:600758}}

They really are getting rid of our pennies, they say - so instead of putting my 2 cents worth in, I would have to round up to a nickel. lol. My clues are very obtuse, as suspected. And the Latin name for the beaver is castor canadensis!! So there you go. You know, the stovepipe hat favoured by Lincoln would have been made of either beaver or silk. And if I ever win the lottery, I`d buy a sheared beaver coat in a heart beat. PETA be dammed!! lol. Thanks for the fun!! btw, what was the typo??

Nancy.

**** for you, too, Nancy! Great clues. and had I been smarter, I would have understood them! My grandfather had a top hat that may have been beaver as well. Don't know what happened to it. I think one of the muffs I have from way way back (at least 1920s and maybe older) is beaver. Very soft and definitely not mink. Now that you mention it, I do recall the Latin name for a beaver. That was just dumb of me!

The not-really-a-typo was leaving the n off of dam as a clue.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone. Alas, back to school for me tomorrow. :(

Cynthia

Thanks yet again, Cynthia, for the fun and the education. Good question and answer!

TM