Sunday, 15 November 2026

Crumbly Acres

Happy Birthday to Joe Brian!

UPDATE:  My patient wasn't any worse Saturday morning. Bonus. At least his eyes are as dark as they will get. I remember seeing my dad after his brain tumour surgery, and the bruising around his eyes was awful. Nobody tells you these things.

We are getting into a new routine, with me helping Joe getting dressed, and undressed at night. We are being kind to ourselves. Frozen dinners, no pressure. Vitamins and V-8 juice! 

The broken wrist is coming along. He is doing exercises with his fingers, as prescribed by Sean, who wrapped the wrist, well, his arm. 

He is learning to ask for help. And had been told not to supervise my chores that used to be his. 😛 I've been making coffee. It was a secret recipe I've not been privy to. Apparently the machine needs 5 scoops of coffee. Joe's never counted. I wrote that in sharpie on the top of the machine. 

There are some challenges. His left hand has a scrape, and a bruise. If you look at him, you'll notice he needs to shave his head every three days or so. He's opted for electric razors, after a bit of a cut above his ear.

It's all complicated by the bruising on his hand.


He has a skull razor, which is much better if you've a sore hand. 

📰 The news has been interesting and a distraction. The FAA shutdown has impacted many people on both sides of the border. It is a ripple effect. Ironically, Joe worked 30 days straight during 9/11 to get Canadians home. This current crisis would have been his job, had he not retired. The theory is that the US did a software upgrade, and the system didn't work. 

🛬  Canadians are still saying it is either wrong or dangerous to travel there. 🇺🇸ICE Detentions continue, and 150 Canadians have been arrested and/or locked up.

 Flight Radar has a great article showing what happened as air space closed. 

At least the weather isn't a factor! Can you see the Lake Effect Snow coming south from Lake Huron? Winter is coming.

As I said, I was shopping Friday. Usually I try to make these displays myself, but that ain't gonna happen this year! I bought it. I'm worth it!

Saturday, 14 November 2026

Saturday's Critters

 This is a present for someone. I'm getting there. It's supposed to be relaxing, but I keep poking my finger! 

UPDATE: I took Joe Brian to the orthopaedic surgeon Friday morning. Six weeks in a cast. The orthopaedic surgeon doesn't think surgery is necessary. We will re-evaluate and see her again in a week. 

He doesn't have a concussion, but did smash his forehead. The bruising is quite something. Sure could have been worse!

 Barry and Brenda continued their work until they didn't. This tree is hanging on, while the area draws visitors.


Barry and Brenda continued their work until they didn't. This tree is hanging on, while the area draws visitors.
#75 was visiting the site.
I caught both the coyote and the doe visiting.
Cinnamon visited with me. He was reluctant to leave!
I kept yelling for him.

Friday, 13 November 2026

Crumbly Acres

The patient is learning what he can or cannot do. He cannot go downstairs, since the railing is on the side of his broken wrist.  Joe's been walking around the house to help keep up some activity. I help him put on and take off his clothes. He cannot cut his bread in the mornings. We shall get though this!

Both eyes are black, from hitting his forehead. Poor man. We see the orthopaedic surgeon today. We'll see what happens.

Back to our regularly scheduled critters. Barred Owl continues to hang around. She's after mice friends. They are everywhere. 
The camera at the point hasn't captured the river otter again. The best I could do was capture a deer.
The two foxes continue to visit, coming right up and along the sidewalk. Again, mice friend hunters!

Thursday, 12 November 2026

Lots of critters!

 Thank you for your kind wishes regarding Joe's accident. He is resting up.We both had naps yesterday. He has two black eye today. It's not pretty. I help him get dressed and undressed. It is a process.

I do enjoy my walkies. Sometimes I get caught on trailcams.


I was watching Cinnamon who was 30' up a tree. I could hear him but I couldn't see him. What a face! 

Our three black squirrels, released in the last year, have dispersed in a way. This #75 is hanging around.


I spotted the squirrel near the nest box. 

He was sitting on the branch where the hawk was sitting in 2025. 

Here he is on the fallen log.

The scary critters come out in the dark!  Coyote, red fox, another coyote, and a young buck. The driveway is a busy spot.






The fox has realized that mice friends like the bird feeder.

Wednesday, 11 November 2026

Remembrance Day

 With all the trauma, chaos and troubles in the world. We remember and we are grateful for those who fought and continue to serve. 


The Canadian Virtual War Museum features those who have served and lost their lives. It is an interesting site.

🚑 Ironically, Joe spent about 7 hours in the Perth Hospital ER yesterday. He broke his wrist on a misstep off the sidewalk in town. We got to bed at midnight. We shall see how it all goes. 


Tuesday, 10 November 2026

Books and bunnies


 I've been scouring the library for Canadian mystery books written by women. Until I run out of those, I tend to avoid male writers due to the violence. This is just my experience. I found Barbara Fradkin, and her books: Inspector Green Mysteries. They are set in Ottawa, familiar streets as I lived there 25 years. I read the latest two in the library, and decided to go back to book #1 in 2000. 

It's a good read. I can escape into another world and throw my cares away. 

The bunny was in front of the camera, right along the path red fox and coyote use!
Then there is Busy Barry.

Monday, 9 November 2026

November – we are prepared

We've had some balmy weather. 

I found myself a tick! I stuck it in rubbing alcohol. 





I am ready for winter! Bring it on... Snowblower is in the garage. 

No snow yet, but we shall see what November brings! 

Barry and Brenda are still at it. 



They've cleaned up the birch tree branches in the background.

In 1999, the house hippo first made its appearance in a commercial to warn children to not to believe everything they saw on television. Look who is here!

 

Sunday, 8 November 2026

It is truly Autumn

We've had predictions of a milder season. That seems to be the case for now. We've rain after a dry October.  The goldfish pond has 3 frogs. I hope they hibernate soon. It's been too mild to empty the water barrel, which fills the pond. It's on my To Do list.

Joe Brian is watching football and curling in the basement. I made them a fire. It just warms the house a tad.


📕 Book Reviews
I took myself off to the library. I'm working my way through female, Canadian mystery authors. This is my non-mental note to check out these authors.


I've been doing some embroidery. That is, until Cinnamon decided he wants a snuggle.


 

I was watching a new show for me: Saving Lives at Sea (UK) Britain's Royal National Lifeboat Institution  volunteers(RNLI). The UK has a fabulous system, with a combination of volunteers and full-time staff. Much like our rural firefighter tradition here in Ontario.

It was funny to see this boat 'Jennifer Anne' rescue a family whose boat flipped. Those are my names, only I'm Anne with a 'e'! He'd bought a boat, but no life jackets for his family.

Butch has been a frequent visitor.
Red Fox
This is the place we call The Point, where the land juts out into the wetland.

Saturday, 7 November 2026

Saturday's Critters

I'm still having trouble with embedding video. Sorry. 

The birds have been amazing. A lot of them have flown south. I went into the wetland, I was surrounded by twitters. There must be a couple dozen robins hanging about. 


The finch, blue jays, cardinals, have been lovely to see. I think this is a red or purple finch.

A Cedar Waxwing, it's kind of a jiggly video, but listen for the bird song! 

This is the cedar corridor. They say to put trailcams on transportation routes. We have a couple of bucks wandering. Rutting season has begun.
Saturday's Critters # 673 visit Eileen's critter page!