Monday, 12 January 2026

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. 

Sunday, 11 January 2026

Snowy Crumbly Acres

It's been a mess out there. Rain, snow, sleet, graupel, etc. More snow last night, about 3 cm. After our melt, the driveway was good, almost. Just give me winter, and let it rest there. 



Joe carefully avoided the camera whilst sweeping. This was before the fall he had Thursday on the one little bit of ice I missed.
He hurt his hip and scraped his hand. He'll live. Nurse Jilks bandaged it. 

I have avoided the frog pond trailcam. Then, when I visit it, and bring back the SD Card, I realize it had gone to a default setting. Photos, not videos. I keep forgetting! People who camera trap can empathize. It can be cold and miserable, and one declines to reset the time or date.

I put the three photos into a video.

 

 As long as we are giggling, I don't know what I was thinking, but I turned it the wrong way, instead of having it face the sidewalk... 


   

 

This is what I was trying to capture: Labbit!

   

 The deer in snow.
   

 The fisher went on by, as well.

   

Chad Coyote is a handsome one! He is a frequent visitor. 



 

Saturday, 10 January 2026

Crumbly Acres Saturday's Critters

 We spotted a familiar bright orb in the sky. It's been appearing infrequently. Thursday was quiet, and I suggested a drive to Narrows Locks. Sadly, the sun disappeared.

Ducks and swans!

This is an archive photo, but I spotted a female merganser.
July, 2009

Mallard, March, 2009

March 30, 2009






Jan., 2022


Nov., 2012

 
I heard an expert talking about what these birds eat. He said algae on the underwater rocks. Who knew?!

 

I was impressed with his equipment! 


I was mystified with this cage on the guard house.



It was cool, dark, and Mr. Sun disappeared.

They have bubblers that keep the water open around the docks.




For more Canadian critters...


Friday, 9 January 2026

Crumbly Acres Melt

Our morning visitors.


You can see my reflection. I've put out my Valentine's Day wreath. I am looking forward.




Can you see the three, under the tree?

January, 2024
January 2024

The sweet female cardinal!


Knowing a melt was on the way, perhaps rain, I switched out the feeders. It's important to wash them regularly. I've one in the bathtub, ready for cleaning. 
It's been a food fest at the feeders. I counted 23 mourning doves!

The Gray Squirrel appeared! We've had 3 black morphs, but this one seemed a bully. 

In the past, it just seems to be a master leaper!


We've a major melt on the way. It makes such a mess! Next, it'll freeze and make walking treacherous. It's no good for any living creatures. 

These are the local snow machine trails. It is an extensive system. We drove past them on our way home from the dentist. It's been an early season. Looks like we're getting rain, too.

This was the last ice rain storm we had. It's a peculiar sound, tapping ice on branches.