Hoar frost!

 We've a pair of robins still banging about. I would have thought they knew it was going to be a mild winter if they stayed. Maybe not! 

I'm having trouble focusing on the right thing at the right time! There are barriers to photography birding: good eye sight, quick reflexes, a tripod, zoom lens. I'm missing some of these qualities... That said, there is lots of action.

They've been hanging about. 

Wednesday and Thursday mornings, there was hoar frost. It snowed, as well.  The dew lands on the cold branches. It's pretty!

I've begun my winter decor. Poor Momma Bear was covered in Hoar Frost. It was a cold adventure, I tell you. More on that later.

In the meantime, Labbit decided to sit with only her cottontail showing!

   

 There is a mystery, down at the trailcam. 

I think the red fox, but who knows?!

   

 It's still mating season! He's leaving his scent. 

 

Cinnamon Walkies

 As the temperatures fall, I've been feeling like a couch potato. Finally some sunshine, and so I dressed for the temperature. Tuesday it was 4 ℃, actually above zero and SUNNY! 

I called yelled for Cinnamon: CINNAMON, WALKIES!!!! He roared around from the backyard to greet me. He was game. 

First we checked out the deer scrapes. Both sites had been rescraped after the snow. It's kinda cool to see, although maybe not for my dear readers! Most of the time I'm looking for signs of critters, as they avoid the house for the most part.

Here is a sign of the pileated woodpecker! They've been hammering away on the tree root. What could go wrong?! I didn't see the bird, of course, as we bumbled through the forest me an' Cinnamon. (Archive photo!)

 

If you click on this and enlarge them, you can see Cinnamon on the ground, coming towards me in the distance near the middle. 

This is one of my favourite parts of the forest, the cedar corridor.

The wetland freezes overnight and thaws in the daytime.

Cinnamon decided we would explore our lot #3. (That's where he led me.)

A teeny pine tree starting to establish its roots amongst the rocks.

The moss looks a brilliant green:

Cinnamon found another great spot. He likes to run along the horizontal fallen logs. 

This tree needed to be climbed! An important skill in the wild.

I found this in the forest. Some metal thingie. 

The frog pond is a bit chilly. And quiet! 

He was proud of himself. A great run, and we both needed a rest after that.

Nutmeg didn't go walkies, she doesn't like to. She spent time after breakfast doing 'turtle' on the floor.

Frigid temps on Crumbly Acres

There's been much excitement lately. Joseph Brian's birthday the 15th, our 8-hour power outage the 16th, the birthday party during said time. Monday the 17th, the vote in parliament to accept the Liberal budget. No December election! WHEW! 

⏼⏻After a few comments about our long power outage, I have to explain that they are upgrading and replacing the poles in the area. Wooden poles don't last forever. They've been doing a few in a row over the past few years. 

On the day in question there were power outages from freezing rain, it was freezing cold, and snowy. We want them to work safely out there. Joe's father died doing this work in Ottawa and lost his life working too quickly for Ottawa Hydro. We want them to be safe. The time didn't matter to us. It was a grand adventure. I hope my tone reflected that!

It was a lovely morning Tuesday, with three deer in the back yard. 

I'd fully charged all our devices and finally made it outside to collect the memory cards. It's been cold, though. Our critters are settling in, getting acclimatized to winter temperatures, albeit early for November!

The coyotes love this spot. I had a few clips of them. They sure mark territory! Last clip, the coyote with the sore leg.

   

 I featured this buck last week. It was marking the deer scrape. I caught it, again, on this trailcam.

 

Another time, it roared along the path. Maybe being chased, I don't know. You can see how fast this big buck can run!

   

 It is striking to compare the size of the young buck, who ambled up the driveway.

 

Federal budget passes & Ukraine

Monday, November 17th, the vote in parliament to accept the Liberal budget. No December election! WHEW!

 There was drama, though! Really shameful. No one needs this nonsense. Most of us trust having an internationally known economist at the help. He seems to be a patient, calm human, which we all need at the helm. 

People were watching behind the scenes...

@officialmarina2 #primeministercarney #magaplaybook #pierrepoilievre #budget2025 #pierrepoilievreislyingtoyou ♬ original sound - Officially Marina

Our MP, Scott Reid, 'arrived just in time. '

Rosie Barton re:house leader vote virtually. 'but that is part of the strategy they can use and fairly smart, actually. Tactical. Doesn't damage Poilievre in any way. Stood up to the PM. Libs can't gloat. Not that big a win. Clearly wouldn't let the gov't fall. 

Ukraine

Of course, we put this in perspective. Look at the murder of civilians in Ukraine.

 Government planes monitor the Black Sea:

Power outage and surprise party!

We'd had a quiet dinner on Saturday, with a candle in the banana bread. Happy birthday Joe! The actual day of his birth. We had a Facetime with Aster, JL, and Caitlin. Later on, we had a Facetime with Jordan, from his dorm room at Queens! He had two midterms on Thursday. Crazy busy!

 

That was a fun day Sunday! Someone got up at 5:30 a.m., since we expected the power outage from 6 - 10. Joe wanted coffee, as I did. The lights woke me, so I figured I'd get up. By 6:15 the power went off. We had our 2nd coffee in the dark. 

I made another mistake. I neglected to have breakfast. I was hungry by 10:00. It was cold, but I thought they'd be accurate, since they usually are at HydroOne, figuring I'd have a not breakfast then. Nope!

 

I followed the power outages online as 6 a.m. approached. There was ice rain, and winds, across the province. We were worried. It got worse, too. 

⏻ Our power outage was planned, we had email and phone messages to this effect. In hindsight (20/20), I should have done what I usually do, fill up the watering cans and put them in the bath tub. This is just prudent, and since we lose our well water pump, it means we can flush. I thought that since this was planned, they would be one and done in the 2 hours it normally takes. HAH!

🔥I didn't make a fire in the basement, as I thought we'd be good. I didn't make one until noon, when I realized it was getting cold, and we weren't going back on line until later. It was getting cold in the house.

🎉 🥳 We were sitting there in the amazing quiet just reading. I knew the three of them were coming. 

Fortunately, Caitlin and I had planned shrimp tacos for lunch. I heard them arrive. Well, they have an EV, I heard the car doors slam. I waited as I saw Aster go by the window. Grampa saw her. I think Aster is the only red-head who visits us! 

Aster brought her guitar and played for us. She has a playing exam on Tuesday, and she has written a song, as well. She played those. She has a lovely voice. She thinks she is going to take Physics in university. We had some great chats as we waited for the power to return.

Jean-Luc cooked the shrimp on the BBQ. He loves to cook. Fortunately. Also BBQ!

Caitlin made a 'crazy cake' (AKA Cockeyed Cake, Whacky Cake, etc.).' Joe can have these, as there is no dairy, yeast, or egg in it! (His food intolerances.) They think it came from the 1940s (<= read more here), when used during cooking demonstrations. I've had this book since the 80s, I think.

Peg Bracken died in 2007. She had a wicked sense of self-deprecating humour. Here is a piece she wrote in the Saturday Evening Post in 1958. 

This is from the 1960, I Hate to Cook Book!
I found some research on Peg Bracken↑ !

Aster had iced the cake, she lit the candles, as well. Not 76 of them, but we got the gist.

The kids gave him a gift card, and read him a poem they had collaborated on! It was really touching. Grampa's gone by Brian. His mom did as the priest told her, and named him Joseph for a saint, but his second name is Brian. She always called him Brian. When we moved here, he went back to being called Joe.

Grandpa Joe’s Birthday Poem

There once was a Grampa named Brian

Who had lots of funny hats to try on.

He’d charm the cashiers

And bring them to tears.

In the aisles they’d be laughin’ and cryin’!

We know this particularly fine gent

With a penchant for puns - heaven sent!

His ‘stache white as snow,

Sometimes he’s called Joe,

We feel all his love at every event.

Dr. What as he is known by some

Brings us chuckles and laughs and fun

He’d wear a fun costume

Make us all join the tune

When the Ballad of Tom Dooley is sung

He takes a walk every day,

So sprightly and quick,

With a laugh just so warm,

Always a joke in the mix,

He’s got stories galore,

And told a third time to be sure,

A guy full of so many tricks,

We’ve loved you for so many years,

Congratulations on the big seventy-six!

We had some lovely conversations. I had a text at 10:30, saying power would be up at 11:00. Then, another text, up by 12. Another: 1:00 p.m. Finally, they texted saying it'd be up by 2 p.m. That was a long haul. It came up after 2:00, and we were relieved.  

The furnace came on, and we were able to flush. Life was good.