Snomageddon Jan. 15

 What a January! Then the snow began Wednesday night. It snowed all day. We did the driveway twice, the sidewalk three times.

There was 11 cm on the driveway by 11:00 a.m. We ended up with 24.5 cm.

By the time I went back up the driveway and down again, this is what it looked like. I went out and did it again. You couldn't see the road.

Compare that to Monday morning, when I put garbage out.

We spent Thursday digging out. 

Friday morning:

It really is pretty. We don't have the problems many have in the city: where to put the durn stuff. We watched the weather, and prepared. I made a big casserole, while has lasted 3 days.

We cleaned the bird feeders several times!

The back deck! 

Happily the sun rose. 

The deer waited for someone else to rise!

If we have to we can get out!

It's so much nicer with the sun out!

Doe a deer

 Jan. 14th, she thought I might pop some feed into that trough! We feed them once a day in the morning. 

I went to check on Barry Beaver in the melt. He's frozen under the ice. We had a bit of a melt.

Squirrel tracks 

Coyote:

We cleaned up Jan. 12th, and everything looked great.

I had to phone Hydro. Our metre didn't seem to be working. It was a really cold day, but when I went to read the metre the next month, same issue. It'll take 10 working days for them to replace it, a 5 minute job. 

It is supposed to upload to the satellite, but no one thought about those of us in the country. There are too many trees. I read it once a month and upload the numbers online. Yay, technology!

A big snowfall all day yesterday. More on that later. We are headed into a deep freeze.

Jebbs Creek Rehab

I began this post in April 16th, 2025. It has sat in my files until a rainy day. Correction, until I ran out of actual critter photos on a snowy day. I've been struggling with meds and sleep, as many of you do. I finally had a sleep until 7:30, having wakened at 4 a.m. This is progress.  That said, we are in the middle of a massive snowstorm. Bus cancellations for schools, the wind is blowing snow everywhere. 

There aren't many critters out. Just the deer and birds madly scrambling at feeders. This post is a nice memory of summers when I was able to canoodle!

Jebbs Creek Wetland Embayment Project 

We live near this creek. Back when I was able to canoe along the creek, I found such joy on this water: A canoe ride marathon: 9 km! 

The project was a collaborative effort, with key partners including the Friends of the Tay River (FOTR), the Otty Lake Association (OLA), and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

A multi-year project, Rideau Vally Conservation Association (RVCA) staff have published a report (PDF). They are happy to say the have increased biodiversity, and report a successful pike population over the six years they've been working on this. 

Jebbs Creek runs into the Tay River

How wonderful that there are people to support nature, and all the flora and fauna that depend upon it for food, habitat, and safety. 

How to Change Minds and Find Common Ground

I was awake at 4:45, as we are wont to do, and heard the tail end of a CBC Ideas podcast on pluralism. It was interesting to me, enough so that I couldn't fall asleep to it! 

Global Centre for Pluralism

I had a discussion with a stranger about kids and the LGBTQ community. I heard that old trope, "I have nothing against them, but why do they need a Pride Parade? I want a parade for me."

I pointed out that gay and trans people are much more likely to commit suicide. They face way more stress in the world, in all parts of the world, as well as bullying and abuse. There are countries that have laws that prohibit gender choice and put people in jail for simply living their lives. 

How to Change Minds and Find Common Ground - an issue some families have during family dinners, with politics and viewpoints.

Dec. 17, 2025 In 2024, 'polarization' was Merriam-Webster's word of the year. That division still grows, making it increasingly difficult to connect to one another. But there are people having important conversations and they have advice for us all. From fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in Colombia, championing human rights in Southern Africa and working for a two-state solution post Oct. 7, the winners of the The Global Centre for Pluralism awards tell host Nahlah Ayed about how minds can and do change, and why we need to not only talk, but listen.

The final credits featured music by Kizito Mihigo (1981 - 2020), and his bio on Wiki is an interesting read about those fighting for right. He died in prison at age 38.

1,771,905 views 24 Jul 2021

"Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear."

Critter action

Here we go, Tuesday. It's not bad outside. Now. There might be another storm coming in today. Where was this precipitation when we needed it in August?! Thursday they predict we'll go down to -13℃. At least we've snow cover to protect flora and fauna. We had some snow last night. Perhaps you'll notice I put up my Valentine's Day wreath (far right). We need some colour.

It was a lovely fall. Despite the drought. I forgot to publish this at the time. Doing a panoramic photo for my header I caught myself on the dashcam! I miss the colours.

 

 Jan. 6th, I noticed the coyotes following my snow shoe path.

   

 This is the present.

   

 It is tricky walking. I do love watching them.

 

In the morning, Joe goes out to feed deer. They hear the garage door and come running.

 

Finally, at 5 a.m. the fisher came for a visit. The feeders attract rodents in the night. You can't choose your visitors! I never see it in the day.

 

Crumbly Acres walk

 The driveway snowcover melted, I went out. It's cracking where the ground has absorbed water, expanded, and frozen. It is discouraging. We had it totally redone in July, 2021.

I think the woodpecker has been at this tree. Each chip, whittled off the tree, has an insect hole. I think the tree is an elm that is dead or dying. Sigh. We'll have to get people in to take it down and split the wood.

  

I am so happy to virtually visit people like tzgarden who remind me of the promise of summer! We all need some hope.

I had to do the driveway again on Sunday.  It was the 4 cm of snow. With the ice that formed on top. 

It just slid out of the auger feed! 

The bane of our rural existence, the mounds the snowplows leave! I think I got it this time.

I usually wave to the snow plow drivers, despite this. I barely caught a photo of the bright red truck. It looked more like snow removal. That's a problem for towns and cities. 

In the way back to the house, the deer were ignoring me and the loud snowblower! I kept away, not getting too close. Until I did! There is some ice under it. It's not great for walking. We shall see what this week brings. More snow today, methinks.