No Kings around here!

 It was with great interest that I watched the #NoKings gatherings. The signage was quite something. 

#NoKings 

There were protests in Toronto (100s with Elbows Up posters), Vancouver, Dublin, South Korea, London, as well as in the US. 

You wonder why we care? Canadian snowbirds, off to live in the US for the winter, are being photographed, and fingerprinted. Their RVs searched, after they are registered and charged $30 USD ($42 CAD) apiece for the honour. 

In January, the Canadian government said an estimated 3,600 citizens have listed "X" as their gender on their passports — an option that has been available to Canadians since 2019.

I was watching Flight Radar on No Kings day. I used the filter. These are only government planes, drones and helicopters. 

They were serious! 

Closer to home

Things are ramping up here. Just when I think it's quiet, there is something...  The Blue Jays have been interesting. I think they are looking for the feeders! The chickadees have done the same thing: looking in the window.

I'm not quite ready to put feeders out. There is lots of food. Nature Canada says there was a banded Blue Jay bird who lived 26 years! 

We haven't done 🧸Snuggle Bears in ages! It was a thing. The young grandies inspired Grampa.

The bears had pizza for dinner. I sent the photo to our Vancouver grandies!

Nutmeg thought it was a fun party! 

Our driveway! It is always nice coming home, but this is nature at its best.

Jean had questions about the raccoon release: 

Do they have tags, And do the wildlife people come to check up every so often?

They don't have tags. Sadly, they are often road kill or preyed on by coyotes, owls, foxes. Their lifespan in the wild is only a few years. They are especially vulnerable when they are small.

There isn't any follow-up by RVWS, since they disperse into the forest around us. We may never see them again. Although, how would we know?! We have one raccoon with a bad leg 📹, who travels with another. And a single. Their numbers seem down to me, this year. 

This is the raccoon I spotted on the driveway on the trailcam.

Critter release

We support Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (RVWS). This is where our Squirrel came from, still named #75. We drove to RVWS in May, took the box, with #75 inside, and put it on the tree. [Crumbly Acres Rehab: #75] I've spotted him from time-to-time. He's been closer to his box as the cold moved in.

We've release some over the years, all rehabilitated after getting hurt or abandoned:

• Sept., 2016, there was a 4-raccoon release . 
• Sept. 21, 2017, we released 8 raccoons and 3 skunks!  
• In October, 2019, we released 4 raccoons, Mary Kate & Ashley, as well as Taco & Burrito. 

I learned a lot from their video! Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

They arrived:

Three of them came up to the house, after they'd led two back down, 3 came back up! 

We haven't seen them since! Dispersed to the forest to find grub, berries, and sanctuary from ice, rain, wind, and snow. 

I've three more: Video #2, and Video #3 (one had a short tail) and Video #4, videos from them exploring the forest.

Saturday's Critters # 618 < = visit more critters at Eileen's blog.

🍁 Water fountain clean up

Next 🍁Fall Chore is the shutting down of the water fountain. The cold weather is arriving. The water will freeze and crack the bowls if not properly cleaned and drained. It's good having chores. It wears me out, though, as I keep forgetting tools. You know how it is. I grab the drill, then back for another tool, it's so silly! This is my non-mental note about this process! 

It takes a careful weather watch, the temperatures should be warmish, with no rain. I don't need to work in the cold. With freezing temperatures on the way, it was time.

I figured out the drill bit a couple years ago. It's not as effective as I might have thought. I have been using one of my dad's old wire brushes. One wire brush was falling apart. Dad died in 2007, so that's how old they are! 

I was scraping off the algae, and it went everywhere! In my hair, face, pants! It was glorious! I like going in for my shower, dirty, having accomplished something. 

With the topper and top section cleaned up, the pump is the issue, as it clogs with hard water mineral deposits.

I got this section off, hauled out the pump. I cannot lift it. I can shift it, and tip it on its side. Yuck! 

I figured out a better tool to use: the carpet knife!  I tested it, it got out of control at the end of the video, but I did it. It worked so well. Like getting all the cake batter off the bottom of the bowl!

My next job is to let it dry, then cover it. Some people suggest blotting it with towels! The freeze and thaw from ice build up can crack it. I've a plastic sheet and tarp ready to go after it dries. I noticed the little mourning dove trying to get water. We're still in a Level 3 drought. It wisely went to the front yard and the bird bath.

In the meantime, rain is on the way, coming from the north west. 

Thanksgiving Dinner part 3

I was so grateful that the kids all came on Saturday. OK, most of them. My youngest and I don't speak, so it was the best we could do. (I know some of you are in the same situation.) I cannot tell you how monumental this is for me. We've no other family nearby. Travel is out of the question right now.

The kids arrived from Vancouver Thursday (1), but Friday (2) we played! By Saturday morning, Jesse and I got down to business. Jess dried the unwrapped turkey, and put salt and pepper on the turkey, inside and out.  I write this down, as I don't usually do the turkey. Jean-Luc my SIL is usually our cook! 

Cluny and Stacie began a dragon puzzle.

Showers were had, and Jesse and Stacie moved the puzzle from the dining room to the living room.

Cluny helped me set the table.

We used to have name tags when extended family would visit. I thought about that, and Stacie suggested it to Cluny! I showed her my name drawing I'd bought many years ago:

It was inspiration. This is just two of the 10 she did for us. 

Jesse went for a run. He did 10 km. Grampa loaned him a vest. Our road is notorious for crazy drivers, we sent him along a side road. 

Our Ottawa kids arrived in good time.

Jordan came home from Queen's University Friday. He's on a Reading Week next week. He and Caitlin worked on some physics assignment until late Friday. Oh, the challenges of higher academia! 

It's a difficult puzzle so the moms helped work on it!

Jesse basted the turkey all day. J-L did his thing carving.

Aster worked on the cranberry sauce, while her Papa made gravy. Also, roast potatoes, and carrots.

Aster made a pumpkin pie from scratch, even cooking the pumpkins. Caitlin made an apple pie!

I set up the tripod with my camera and practiced. It took me 10 minutes to figure out the timer. 

Stacie was in charge of it, what pressure?! She pushed the button, and ran back to her chair. Not so bad!

Jordan offered to exchange trailcam memory cards. That was his job when they stayed with us every other week during COVID lockdowns. He led the crew! 

Ta da! The puzzle is done...

Saturday afternoon, they all went back to Caitlin's house. They had ham, and all of them, including my youngest, went to the soccer game. 

Loading up for the trip to the Ottawa airport.

"I hope you can return home with your cups full, your hearts singing, and your spirits soaring."

– National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, TV special.