Saturday''s Critters

Things are cooling off. Frost this morning. The kids will be out for Hallowe'en. We don't get any, we are remote. There are all sorts of critters out! I drove by this house in town, and the skeleton makes noises. I had to tak a photo.

 I put up a few decorations, but I don't anticipate any big Hallowe'en things happening! Joe Brian went to the store and took a few photos!

But I do have evidence of actual critters!

Critters in pairs;

Two deer, one is in the background, left. Ghosts in the dark.

Two foxes on the driveway. I knew we had two of them!

We had a bit of a surprise on Thursday after I harvested the trailcam footage. We've two beavers. At least. Barry has a girlfriend Brenda. We'll go with that. I have no idea if they are male or female. We'll see in spring, as they give birth then.

Visit more critters: Saturday's Critters # 672 Eileen's celebration of critter life.

Forest Walkies

 We've been watching Barry Beaver's activities. He is ramping up for winter. Faithful readers will recall that Barry took a sapling that had my favourite trailcam on it, into the wetland. Thi is how long it takes.

There are lots of gnawed logs and large branches, both on land and in the wetland. 

Then I looked around. I got worried about my trailcam placement. The Oak tree could go soon. I moved them. He's working on the back of the tree.

He's moved around the back.

I had a bit of a surprise! Cinnamon and I went walkies. 

Cinnamon disappeared. I called him. Then I looked up.

TWO BEAVERS!

It only took 'Brenda' about 5 minutes to half chew the birch tree. Good thing we have 16 acres!

Two foxes, and Barry Beaver

I'm still having editing issues. Bear with me.  Lots of action on trailcams.

I have to highlight A/C's comment in a previous post! He is a hoot.

To whom leaves are given
Mulch will be required

Red foxes have been visiting the feeders. No name tags, so there might be more. 

I have proof: TWO red foxes!

Barry has been busy.

A flying squirrel visited. He is working on an Oak tree with lots of acorns up there. Sigh. 

The Barred Owl visited the squirrel!

Crumbly Acres

They are cold mornings! 

A real frost!

I'm having trouble with upgrades to my video host Vimeo. Bear with me!

I enjoy mulching leaves.

doe

Mice friends – watch for their eyes!

Leaves, Sunrise, Barry

Soooooo many leaves! No sooner do I mulch with the lawn tractor, then more fall. 

 

These cup lichen plants are on top of a bed of moss. 

These are getting bigger. Aster says the one looks like a 4-leaf clover, and it'll make me lucky! 

Non-mental note: get up on the wood shed roof and clear off the leaves!

I noticed Barry working on this tree. It hung on for a few days. It is a small Aspen. 

Can you see it leaning? It is parallel to the red line. 

 

I looked out a few days after that, and it was on the ground, along with some birch trees. A walkabout was called for.

Evening's entertainment includes watching Nutmeg. Nutmeg sleeps like a turtle!

When chores are done, I've put my feet up and watched Ride or Die. It's a nice escape from reality. 

At bedtime, I have devoured Hollow Bones, which is a tale that incorporates COVID, disasters, and an amazing story. Picoult writes spellbinders. 

Climbing, embroidery, baking

I've been enjoying the placement of the trailcam here in Barry Beaver's yard. Between him and the wind lots of trees are down.  

I love this pattern with the light. When I researched trailcam placement, you are supposed  to have them face south. This is facing southeast! Sometimes it's fun to be creative.

 Of course Cinnamon enjoys tree climbing. Cats like to be up high. 

I moved a camera to focus on Barry's latest work, the oak tree. They aren't known for going after oaks, so I don't know what is up with that. I have to be careful with the trailcam placement. When that tree comes down... I hope I put it to the side.

I read. A lot. I try to use the library. Thing is, there is a mad editor. She reads a lot of the mysteries that I do. This is what it looks like. She's often wrong, or thinks this is how an author should write dialogue. I read in bed at night and keep an eraser beside me. I vent with the librarians. Such a pain. They thanked me for erasing it! 

Cold mornings, but Sunday was a warm day!

 

I was sitting outside, working on a Christmas present.

Busy working people are encouraged to batch cook on Sundays, in preparation for the work week. Joe brought home some 'fish' AKA chicken, pork chops and broccoli. I'd bought the squash from the farm down the road. No decisions about dinners for a few days.

Mushroom murder!

 Fun story: this is a group of wee, grey toadstools. A nice little line. They like the PH levels under the pine tree. Every single mushroom is knocked over. It's happened before. I called it Mushroom Murder! 

I know who I blame! They left another deposit on the deck! 

Here is proof!

This was 2012. Aster inspecting the fungus on the dead roots. Aster is in gr. 11 and taller than me!

Here is a gnarly tree I found on my forest walk. 

Funny what AI 'hears!' We asked the TV thing to find us a TV show:  "Border Interceptors," a reality show from Ireland, like Border Security. Instead, it brought up an ad for 'bed bug interceptors.' One really has to enunciate!

 

The driveway in all its glory...

Autumn chores, I sprayed painted the purple pencil! It looks so much better. Also, I scraped and repainted my bell.

Last two roses for this year... the frost is on the glass outside. Farewell summer, sleep well gardens. See you on the other side!