It was an astonishing day!

. Firstly, I was waiting for my coffee to brew. Cinnamon and I were on the back deck. We heard TWO barred owls calling to one another. Back and forth, deep in the forest, down the hill. Now, I could have gotten dressed, it was a cold 10 ℃, but I thought I'd just leave them alone. I have photos!

June, 2014

 

Friday I'd found owl mute, and searched around. I found an owl pellet. I brought it up to the house to dissect it. Too bad the grandies aren't around to see it! 

Barred owl hoots twice, robin harasses her! June, 2016:

Standing on the back deck, still waiting for coffee, Cinnamon had his head poked out between the glass. A hawk of some sort swooped by, right under our noses. You should have seen Cinn's eyes! Big and wide, and greatly concerned. He's been watching the phoebes coming and going. As well as Fred.

It was silent, and glided on by. Grabbing my camera, still in housecoat and jammies, I threw on my clogs and ran around the house. All I found was a red squirrel, sitting twitching its tail. Very concerned. That'd be breakfast for a hawk.

I am thinking it was the broad-shouldered hawk. There aren't many photos of hawks from above them, on a fly by, but I distinctly recall the black and white stripes. 

Also Friday, there was a pair of Brown Thrashers in the lilac tree. Horrid photo with my iPhone, but proof of life! You can sort of see them. Happily they were calling, which helped me spot them.

The bird bath has a new pump. It took me 10 minutes to find the pump. It was still in its box. Ah, old age!

The fountain is working in the goldfish pond. This keeps the mosquitoes out of it, as they don't like moving water.

I have my tractor back! All cleaned up, mouse nest removed, new oil, so I toodled around the back. 

Today I'll plant a few things that are hardy. It's been chilly. Caitlin and Aster planted Saturday. Jordan came back to town Saturday for a trivia tournament. 

Jordan posted his first year report: GPA 3.9! Darn good! We're so proud.

Why do governments do a census?

My youngest kid works for StatCan.

There are some ignorant people who don't know why we do a census. 

This is the perfect summary:

This isn’t the self-own you think it is.

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— Mark Gerretsen (@markgerretsen.bsky.social) May 10, 2026 at 3:51 PM

Saturday's Critters

 I enjoy critters both large and small. OK, maybe not the bugs, but we have to take the good with the bad. 

 

 

The big moths are now out and about.

   

 The snakes are coming out in the daytime and the sunshine. Otherwise, they are now where to be seen! They run in fear. 

   

 There are small achievements that keep me happy. I managed to capture the quick red fox on three cameras. It begins in the back, on my Wifi camera. Then it runs so quickly by the Crumbly Acres camera that I had to slow the clip down. Finally, my Gardepro catches it on the driveway. Can you believe how fast they are?

   

 The Osprey are back and sitting on nests. They eat fish and snakes, and such. The wetland water doesn't have any fish. I am fascinated.

They continue to visit the wetland. Sound up, if you are curious!

   

 I was having a hard time keeping up with the nuthatch in its nest, climbing up the tree! "A day late and a dollar short!"

   

 Out back, under the great pine tree, a pair of Brown Creepers. Sound up, again. They were happy to entertain me while shopping for snacks. (The birds, not me!)

 

Saturday's Critters # 648 visit more critters at Eileen's blog!

Gardening season approaches!

Caitlin gifted me with a hanging planter for Mother's Day. It's been chilly, so I bring it in at night. 

 Our May long weekend is traditionally the weekend we in southern Ontario plant. Joe and I decided to get started, to beat the rush, and went off to the nursery.

It was lovely and moist inside, a cool 10 ℃ outside. I wore my lovely second hand, thrifted coat. I had compliments at the nursery! Isn't that fun?!

A joy to behold!

All these hobby farms, people are planting. 

I tucked it in the garage until we warm up a bit. Basil, marigold, petunias, some veggies the critters will eat!  A hanging basket of cherry tomatoes, as that's about the only safe thing I can grow. Those critters love the bounty!

This is a Hollyhock. I am hoping Fred won't get this one. She piled dirt up on my last one and it didn't recover. The fuscia the hummingbirds like. 

Crumbly Acres

 We had a major rain storm go by. We survive with indoor play. You may laugh, nay, you should laugh. It really is funny. Nutmeg, our wee female, is so aggressive. Cinnamon prefers to watch and think about it.

It poured Wednesday. Our TV satellite reception was out.

We don't let Nutmeg out in the afternoons, unless it is raining! Cinnamon is a different story.

I was on the front deck reading, birds were at the feeder. The Towhee came back, Cinn ignored it. He is more interested in mice friends.

Fred has been out front, exploring my garden.

 

Both Freds were out Wed., May 13th. MiniFred took off down the hill beyond the garage. I just don't know what's happening.

These are her kits May 17th, 2025. A year ago. 

Pooter, lady slippers, & pulpits

 I had to get my pooter out of the cupboard. I only need it when the red lily bugs come out. Okay, not true, I use it in the fall when lady beetles try to come in the house! 

pooter  Wiki

One sucks on the short end, which had a trap (gauze) on the other end. The long tube you set by the bug and by sucking on it, the bug ends up in the jar. 

Everything is greening up!

Primula veris, the cowslip, common cowslip, or cowslip primrose

Trillium are scattered throughout the forest:

We have ladyslippers in our wetland. They are beyond the frog pond, on our furthest lot. Sometimes I forget to go find them! I found only two plants, We'll see. 

Here is one from May, 2020. The problem with May is the bugs come out. I think we already have blackflies. That's why I forget to go find if they are blooming!

Fred is being very careful, wary. She lost 3/4 kits to coyotes last year.

This was a big surprise. I was down in the forest, doing a walkabout. This is a jack-in-the-pulpit. I wonder if a bird took a seed down. 

I have them in my garden behind the house.