Snowy critters

When I get up in the morning, it is usually dark. (I took the photo later!) There is a definite accumulation of snow on the window sill. This tells me we had a fair bit of snow. I brush my teeth, and get ready for the day.

Here we go again!

 We throw #75 (our released, rehabbed squirrel) peanuts, usually under the bird feeder. We feel responsible for him. Never mind that we have at least 3 black ones! He buried one in the garden in the snow. They'd rather hide them away than risk someone else getting them.   

The wind was blowing the snow over the roof. A little overhang.

I counted 27 Mourning Doves Monday morning. 

I think a hawk came by, as 27 mourning doves, plus chickadees, blue jays and all, scattered. It's not unusual. This is from Jan. 2, 2021.

We had 16 deer hoping for breakfast. I am relieved that all we had was snow. Further south, many in the US got freezing rain and ice rain. Snow I can deal with.

It was a heckuva storm. Toronto City Centre had 56 cm, which is a lot for a city property. We had 18 cm on the back deck, 16 on the driveway. 

We're snowed in again!

It has been amazingly cold. I've brought in a couple of my trailcams as they don't work at certain temperatures. Also, moisture gets in. I'll thaw them, and put them out in a few days. 

I made Joe Brian and the cats a fire. They watched curling and football in the basement!

I went to the front door, flicked on the spotlight. I scared Labbit. I felt badly. There isn't much under the bird feeders. She sure can run!

There were 16  deer Sunday morning. They wander at all hours.

I'm keeping the feeders full. 

There are some birds who don't like the bigger green feeder. I like it since I can fill it up and leave it for a few days. The rain or snow doesn't get in. Some of the birds don't like it. Fair enough. We aim to please!

I switched out the bird feeders, knowing we are desperately cold. I put out the big feeder, which I'd cleaned. The woodpeckers prefer the bigger 'tube' feeder.

Frog pond:

It is cold, but the snow protects the land.

#75 gets the odd peanut to enjoy. 

We had a fair amount of snow last night, and it is still snowing today, Monday. The back deck is laden with snow.

I went out into the garage and peeked out there (lower right). You can see deer tracks in the far ground, and Labbit tracks in the fore ground.  The garbage isn't going out!

Deer in snow...

Alright, coffee, breakfast, and I've a driveway and sidewalk to clear! 

Storm warnings...

🥶 There were storm warnings... but it was the cold that preceded it! Saturday, -29 ℃, I kept a fire going to supplement our propane.  This morning, a balmy -23℃. It is a huge storm, with lightning. It should roll in this afternoon. We are ready.

We always say, on days like this, 'It's a good day to be retired!' Joe Brian spent years dealing with issues like this. Something like 1400 flights cancelled. 

Jordan was in Ottawa for the weekend, attending the Canadian Space Conference for the weekend. He took the Flix bus. I can't believe he is 18! 

Even more amazing, Aster being up early, during this exam period, on a Saturday morning. The family had breakfast together, although they won't see much of him! The schedule is packed.

"The Canadian Space Conference is the flagship conference of SEDS-ÉEDS Canada, a national space industry non-profit that serves students and early-career space professionals."

Just when I get it all cleaned up...  

It is a time for throwing veggies and chicken in a hot oven! I cubed sweet potatoes, added broccoli, and what I thought was canned pineapple. (It was crushed, oh well!) The chicken was wrapped in bacon. I threw it together, threw it in the oven, and put my feet up watching a new show: Newton's Law. A fun mystery, lawyer legal series from Australia. 

I found weasel tracks beside the frog pond. This is what I think. I can't find my laminated chart! 

Maybe 6" stride.

Sept. 20, 2022

A cat got it, I think. Sept. 22, 2022:

It took the cardinal eggs one year, 2020.  Also, the wood duck eggs in 2020. Circle of life...

I peered out the kitchen window. The deer had a hat! The red squirrel (DRS) has figured out the cat door nearby. It's been cleaning up spilled deer and bird seed in the garage. It is helpful, truly. 😁

This is the right idea, two cats sharing a bed. Wrapped in sunshine, in a warm bed, in a warm house.

Saturday's Critters

Yes, a polar vortex. Again. It's -29 ℃ and it is bitterly cold. 

I celebrate the ubiquitous chickadee.

   

 And the deer in a snowstorm.

 

Coyote in a snowstorm!

 

We had 16 deer Jan. 23rd. 

Cinnamon chooses from the toy basket. Hooray for indoor play! 

 

Greenland has a sense of humour!

 

We're losing ours. We responded to 9/11, as the US called for Article 5 and other countries helped all around the world. We sent 40,000 troops to Afghanistan. We lost 158 souls, including 3 solders shot by US troops in a friendly fire incident. 

 

Saturday's Critters # 632