Critter visitors

We kept busy yesterday. Much stress watching things south of our border. Some Canadians are not confident and realize things are never going back to the way they were. The election was a relief, however.

Yes, we looked forward to change...

CHANGE

 I really worked hard at figuring out Barry and Brenda's work. It was a big post yesterday, but helped me to wrap my mind around what they are doing. It is a privilege to watch and record these animals who have to tolerate us in their habitat. 

We've had glorious days. I took a walk to the frog pond, no frogs. I did spot a pair of Brown Creepers on the edge of the wetland. They are the wonderful harbingers of Spring. When I spot them, I know Spring has arrived. It is sad that they leave, but I know they will return.

The other adventure was when I checked the wood duck nest box. Sure enough, two mice friends! The first one took a flying leap out of the door when I opened it. I laughed.

🦫 It's been quite the adventure. And the Beavers aren't done. It's a long, cold winter! They'll create a food cache, and wake from time to time to eat, or so I've read! 

🦌  Things are hopping here. It's hunting season, and I heard some shooting just after dawn. That can one do? Keep calm and carry on. It is rutting season, where the bucks scrape a clear spot and urinate on it to spread their scent. This could be the culprit!

 

We had our COVID and Flu boosters on Tuesday. 

 The hospital has its poppy display up for Remembrance Day's Nov. 11th ceremony. This was a drive-by shooting, but you get the idea! 

The Christmas lights came on! More shooting as desk approached. That's when the critters are active.  

We had a titch of rain during the day. It made for a lovely sunset. It dumped rain just as we returned home from the pharmacy.

Having grabbed a photo of the sunset, I peered in the window, and Nutmeg was in position on her towel. 

🚁 After the excitement of the day, we sat and watched 

Air Ambulance ER

 (2015), having finished Emergency: Air Rescue (2020) all about Scotland's amazing helicopter service. 

Joe Brian made biscuits to go with our leftover chilli. 

🦫 Barry and Brenda Beaver – workin' it

The saga continues. Barry arrived last year, Sept. 2025, I saw some signs. By November he was building a lodge, and I spotted him in the water. He's grown some since.

He's worked two years building one lodge his first year, and a second this year. Oct. 28th, 2026, I found two beavers working in the dark on video. 

This was funny! Here are the dual trailcams.

Barry was working on the far tree, moved away through the crunchy leaves. 

Brenda gives him a look, "You done already?" 

You can hear Barry as he splashes into the pond. xxx

And I found three lodges.

The blue lines show where there is deeper water, wetland canals exist. The 'V' is where they have the lodges. The encircled area has been overgrown for years. Trees, little islands, cattails, surrounded by water. It is barely navigable when it freezes over.

Lately, I've noticed more work on the wetland canals. This is important for their protection. They escape into the water to escape predators. 

On the other side of the wetland inlet, you can see how they've built up the sides of the canal. 

We've lost many trees, but we have 16 acres. This is just one wee section of the yard. 

The tree on the left is Brenda's, Barry's been working on the oak for days.

They've worked on two birch trees.

We've been concerned. Then I realized what was happening. They are creating a transportation system. It protects them, but it provides a habitat for other critters. Frogs, insects, birds, snakes, salamanders, dragonflies, turtles, deer, coyotes, squirrels, chipmunks, snowshoe rabbits, all like the wild berries, and the safety of the wetland.

River otter

What I didn't count on was finding a river critter. A river otter. They are using Barry's canals! 

More Hallowe'en!

 Some of us can't get enough of Hallowe'en. Like most of my life, these days, I live vicariously through the kids.

Jean-Luc and Aster in Ottawa. JL was a character from this movie, which I'd never seen! Ben Stiller in Dodgeball in 2004. It's pretty darn good! Aster is totally unrecognizable!

I was so excited to be involved! When we visited Jordan at Queen's he showed us the guitar he was making for his Hallowe'en costume. He was making it from scratch. He pondered how to make the guitar strings. I had an idea. We thought they should be gray. I had some string. I dunked it in a can of garage floor paint that dated to the previous owners.  It was sort of gray! 

I thought it was so clever! But the entire thing fell off the toilet paper roll, and I had to straighten it to let it dry. Then mail it. 

Dried, straightened, wrapped around a piece of cardboard, Grampa mailed it off to Kingston.

Jordan designed and cut and pasted all the pieces, I think it was that plastic stuff campaign signs are made of. He made stickers for it, pegs and keys. Just amazing.

My fun has been in the forest. I moved the frog pond trailcam, as I spotted a worn path on the point. This leads to the wetland. Here it is in the daytime. 

It is a peninsula, that extends into the wetland. It is surrounded by water on 3 'sides' and the critters trod from little out cropping to outcropping. We had two roly poly Butch racoons and a Fisher.

There were three deer. I love the eyes in the dark!

And just for fun, the Barred Owl again!

Hallowe'en, Autumn, and Christmas Crafts

Tis the season, for both Hallowe'en and Craft Shows! Also, frost!

Then there are the fall leaves!

I liked the signage on this delivery van. Too bad it is necessary, but cyclists do like to exploit the roads. It says, "Stay Safe. Stay Back. Past this point I can't see you."

Into town we went. There are Remembrance Day banners up commemorating the contributions of our military members.

The craft show was in the Crystal Palace beside the canal.

I bought some local cheese, chard and kale, and a couple of Christmas presents!

Next, a drive around town.

Finally, the kids went up on a ski lift to view the fall colours last month!