THE DAILY QUEST

June Patel borrowed a pair of binoculars from her brother last Wednesday with the intention of learning something about birds.

A week later, she admits she hasn't learned much about birds in general. She has, however, become thoroughly invested in the activities of one particular crow.

"He's got a little white feather on his wing. I call him Stanley."

Stanley visits June's backyard most mornings, usually accompanied by another crow she has named Patricia.

On Friday, the two appeared to have an argument over a peanut.

"Patricia took it, and Stanley just stood there," June explained. "Then she flew off."

June watched the entire incident from her kitchen window.

She is reluctant to speculate about the nature of their relationship but believes Stanley could benefit from being a little more assertive.

Her brother has since asked for his binoculars back.

June has offered to buy them.

"Things are a bit complicated with Stanley at the moment."

Margaret Doyle, 68, arrived at Saturday's Fall Harvest Pie Competition with a homemade apple pie, a handwritten recipe and forty years of baking experience.

She left with a ribbon for Best Plate.

"I didn't even know that was a category," Margaret said.

Neither, apparently, did the judges.

Her pie received favourable comments, particularly for its golden crust, but failed to place in any of the competition's three baking categories.

The plate, however, attracted considerable attention.

"It's got little blue flowers around the edge," Margaret explained. "I bought it at a garage sale for fifty cents."

Competition organizer Denise Harper admitted that Best Plate was not an official award.

"We had an extra ribbon," she said.

Margaret has already started thinking about next year's competition.

She's keeping the plate.

The pie was eaten on Sunday and received considerably better reviews.