On the ground, in the air

 We had our septic tank fixed on Tuesday. The dude said we (I) should cut the grass and weeds over the septic bed. It is easier than paying for a new septic system ($25,000)! The roots could damage the septic bed. The bed is larger than I thought. I was so sad! There aren't enough wild flowers to my mind. 

This is the before!

The bees and monarchs love the Viper's Bugloss.... goodbye!

I wasn't happy. I don't think I chewed up any frogs. Last time it was a milk snake... 😢 next, I have to take down that sapling in the other side of the ditch. I've not got a plan for that, yet.

I spotted a Gray Tree Frog on the table out front.

People were wondering what this flight was all about! It even made the CBC news. In this climate, you never know what the US Administration is up to. A former NORAD officer believes it is a training flight. No one would talk about it from the government. It is really noisy, apparently. It came from Bangor, Maine. The USAF has a YouTube video which show the outside and inside up close.

Wikipedia

Also up in the air this Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk flying at 53,000' over the Black Sea. They are amazing machines.

🥇 It's terrific having uplifting news!  🥇  Hardworking young people!

The shoulder season!

Here, June and September are called the 'shoulder season' since it's likely there are warm temperatures in the day, cool ones at night. Tourists, for the most part, and seasonal residents have gone home. Kids are back in school.

My afternoon read on the back deck are getting short! So are outdoor patios! Too many hungry wasps...

📕📘📚The Woman in Suite 11 

I've read both of these. It is her first sequel pairing. I really enjoyed them. 

You can read more here, here's the publisher's summary: 

Her tenth novel, published in 2025, marked both her tenth New York Times bestseller, and her first sequel. The Woman in Suite 11, a follow-up to her 2016 mega-hit The Woman in Cabin 10, saw the return of travel journalist Lo Blacklock, who is lured to a luxury hotel opening in the Swiss Alps, but finds more than she bargained for awaiting her in the eponymous Suite 11. An Associated Press review said of the book, “Ware throws the thriller switch and readers are taken on a ride across the European continent . . . practically forcing you to turn the page and learn how it all happened.”

I've went to Miller's Bay and snapped up some pie pumpkins. 

The really large ones aren't ready yet.

We're getting there... I just have to figure out how to catch the fishies! 

I look forward to the season change. Next it'll be mulching leaves! 

Crumbly Acres

I got my butt in gear. I've changed out some decor for Fall.

The fishies are doing well, although I think the bullfrogs are still eating the little froggies. 

I rather think this leopard frog ate a smaller frog. Look at that belly! 

I've had success slowly filling the aquarium. We're still in a drought situation. I'm being prudent. The pump is working, and this morning it was 7 ℃, although the days warm up. I have to be strategic. Normally, I have to drain the pond some to get the stubborn fish in. I look for a rain storm to refill it after I drain it. That hasn't been happening.  

People drive by fairly quickly on the highway. Still, I put my old sewing machine out there. Nothing happened for a couple of days. I was out removing red ribbons and putting up the orange for fall when a young man stopped, and looked at it. He didn't see me until he was about to leave, without the sewing machine. He explained that he didn't have $30 on him. I told him to just take it. He seemed quite happy and toodled off with one more thing off of my mind!

I had a quick chat with Jordan, having a blast at Queen's. He texted me about the date of Grampa's grad year, 1972! They have wonderful young people, who welcome the new kids. There are lots of activities. 

Kingston Market Day on Saturday.

It's been a tough summer, with kids growing up and away. I am glad I have things to keep me busy. I'm watching a new TV Series after my chores are done. Joe found me a good one, Hotel Portofino. It takes me away from the horrific news, and the scenery is lovely. It is set in 1926 Italy. Most of the photography is from Rijeka, Lovran, and Rovinj, Croatia. With some actually filmed in Portofino, Italy in 2021.

It's a variation on Downton Abbey, I read. There are lots of themes, Post-war Italy, fascism, errant husbands, and family money. 

Have a great Tuesday.

Crumbly Acres & miniFred

The big news. Our new friend, Rick, made it home to Lansing, Michigan. His cycling trip was about 1500 mi. long. The last part was on a train! Jeannie wrote about his homecoming!

New news, this is the last time we saw miniFred, Friday, Sept. 12th. (I think Momma Fred is sleeping in her winter home. That's been her pattern for three years!)

MiniFred's doing weird stuff with the tarp. Momma Fred dragged it into the hole I covered up in the summer. That's where the coyotes get in. MiniFred moved it... 

The youngster was dashing in the wood shed, grabbing leaves, and taking them into the burrow for a fine winter nap. They are true hibernators and once they are down, they are down until spring.

Joe sat and watched for miniFred on Saturday, no sign of her! He had a lovely sit, though. I put the garbage out at 6:00 a.m. and it was 8 ℃, no wonder she's sleeping. 

#75 has been out and about. He's a released Gray Squirrel (Black Morph).

 I found one on the trailcam way down in the forest.

I've a story about watering my hanging planters. The water was coming out really slowly. I unscrewed the pouring spout, and found a Gray Tree frog hiding in the water bucket. 

Joe went to Smiths Falls, and on the way home he brought some strawberries for us. They have a special type of strawberries that are ready in summer, not spring. Yummy! 

It is wonderful getting food from down the road. Today I'm going to get some pumpkins, as we've family coming!

I've a plan to bring in the fishies. The well water takes a long time to warm to room temperature. I filled it 1/4 on Sat., Sept. 13, adding another 1/4 on Sunday.  

Town is a bit of a mess, with roads being rebuilt. 

The trees are beginning to turn in Perth.