Indoor play

My friends in Muskoka have had two feet of snow overnight this week. It is quite something. Lake effect snow! The winds pick up moisture from Georgian Bay, and dump it. My Muskoka friend is having cancer treatments and has to drive an hour to get there. Sadly, that (as well as school busses) were cancelled. You forget how people coping with unusual situations have to cope in situations like this. It's an hour to such hospitals in decent weather.

One year I made snow king and snow queen. 

This was Port Carling in 2009 or so! This is what a couple of feet of snow looks like.

Indoor Play

We have had some cold temperatures. I keep telling the goldfish how lucky they are that I brought them indoors for winter! The goldfish pond is frozen. 

They are difficult to photograph. They won't say cheese!

This is what the goldfish pond looks like: frozen solid.

Cinnamon has the right idea. He is helping the paperwhites grow. Cell phone photos, but fun.

Jan. 10th!

Jan. 14th!

I must say, most Canadians are rallying in favour of Canada. All except Alberta's right-wing premier. Not a surprise. We lesser mortals aren't getting the attention, however. The rest of us are saying No Way. 

I ordered us hats! There are a lot of us who have been united by this tariff threat. 

 

We don't allow convicted felons into Canada! I wonder how many countries have similar laws.  

😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏

Anyway, we made it to Friday, again. I had a lovely visit with my client yesterday. My week is done. 

I drove home through a lovely sunset.

Who can you trust?

I've been setting limits on my privacy on Facebook, especially during our work against the gun range in our backyard. It's the place where I can keep up with family and far-away friends. Trolls are not welcome. 

Whether you are on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or WhatsApp, Meta announced a loosening in standards and fact checking. 

This includes the ability of people to use rainbow themes. Heaven forbid we show our Pride, or show that we are allies to friends and family. 

The billionaires are sucking up to the far right bigots, misogynists, and disrespecting people they consider different. They are out of their minds. Profits over principles. 

Look at what they did on Facebook to someone:

There are huge conspiracy theories around, but we know who are doing the most harm to our children. It's not the LGBTQ community.

You really have to check your sources. 

Here are the antiheroes

The new convoy people are planning to head into cities on Jan. 25th. 

Convoy Watch

Look for the heroes!

In the meantime, there are a lot of people working really hard to look after one another.

 Firefighters, what a plane! This was from CBC.

Our plane, hired by California, collided with a drone flying illegally. It's been under repair for a week. What a criminal action. The fines, in the US, are $75,000 for the incursion in the area of the fire. 

Witnesses can report their concerns to Transport Canada through its drone incident reporting portal. Other aviation incidents may be reported at Incident reporting: Report an aviation incident.

Wed., Jan. 15, at 16:51 hours, Quebec sent another water bomber to California. 

I found out it was diverted in Columbus, rather than heading to St. Louis. I hope they don't have a problem. 

The depths of winter

There is much unrest in the world. Disasters, Climate Change, leading to fear and anger. Canadians are pretty much upset. It doesn't have to be this way. Much "vexatious drivel" someone said. Our premiers are singing their own songs, not in harmony with all of Canada. People are forgetting basic manners. 

I took some time, while working out, watching the Hegseth hearings and it is discouraging. Putting a front line soldier who bankrupted a non-profit agency in charge of a huge budget ($900 billion) surely cannot work. He's covered in white nationalist tattoos, too. 

    "Did you sexually assault a woman?"

    Pete Hegseth: "I'm not a perfect person"

🔥🚒 It seems that there are many against diversity. Thankfully, some people are speaking up and out. They attacked the fire chief in LA. Jessica stands up for her. (I don't know who she is, but good on her!) 

Look at the action on and around the fires. Jan. 10, 2025. People looking after people. Canada is sending two more water bombers. 

Then, Jan 11, 8 a.m.

When you think of the logistics, the human effort, skills, and expertise...

🧯 What is comforting is seeing both Canadian and Mexican firefighters showing up in California to help out with the fires. 

🐾Cinnamon went out with me to get the trailcam cards. He refused to go to the forest. The snow is cold on little cat toe pads.

I'm having fun with trailcams. OK, not exactly 'fun,' as I am having trouble getting the proper settings for one camera. It seems trigger happy. I did a screen capture to show you. Each folder had 999 images, I think triggered by weeds blowing in the breeze! The red squirrel appeared in about a dozen images! It happened again. 

 

We'll see what fun I can find today! Hope you find some fun, too.

More snow!

The moon was lovely Jan. 12th at 6:30 p.m.! 

 

Jan. 13th 

What a day! It started off with putting out garbage at 6:45. The driving was awful, despite the snowplows going up and down. 

I did the sidewalk twice, as well as the deck. By the afternoon I decided I ought to do the driveway.

A fox turned up on one of 3 cameras. The time stamp was wrong. They are supposed to have a wee battery that keeps time when you change out batteries. It seldom works. I spent a goodly amount of time trying to see if it appeared on the Crumbly Acres camera. I could tell from tracks that it came right up the driveway. I couldn't find it. 

fox 

 

 From Sunday to Monday! 2 deer

 

I bought a painting to brighten things up. Alison Sawatzky, my friend and neighbour, delivered it to me. 

Happy Monday!

🏫 First up, big news from Ottawa. Jo has gotten early acceptance into Carleton University to study astrophysics in September! I looked it up. NASA says, astrophysics looks to answer questions like these:

We are incredibly proud of Jordan! He is well-rounded, smart, and a leader. He can sew, sketch, take excellent photos, sing, act, has done cross-country running, works on the yearbook. We are so proud of him. It's even better when you are a grandparent. None of the work and all the glory! 

Jo came out as trans last year. He's finding his way in a crazy world. Thankfully, there are many who have paved the way for allyship and understanding. We are as supportive as we can be. We love our grandies!

Here is Jo, surprised at his birthday present! 
A telescope for his 17th birthday in December.

The kids went for a walk in Ottawa. Caitlin sent me a photo of Hog's Back Park! It is a great spot to visit. When I took my advanced qualifications (1980: Sp.Ed.) at Ottawa University, it was two nights a week in winter. I used to skate on the canal after classes, in the dark. Skates shushing on the canal. It was so peaceful. 

 

I went to visit a nearby friend. On the way, I spotted a pond that was shovelled and a couple of people were skating! That is so Canadian!

Shadow shots!  

The garbage is out, coffee is on, the day begins.

All up in the air

 Be careful out there, people. There are outbreaks in congregate settings. 

This was funny! 

The birds have been fun to watch.

I was out walking down to the trailcam, and one turkey, perched on a dead tree in the wetland, flew up and away. I was startled. 

We had a fisher come by the house. It came up from the forest, beyond the turkey↑, up that hill, and around the house, down into the gully, and back up, off into the forest.

More 4-legged friends.

When I arose Saturday morning, our pair were sleeping under the tree in safety. We don't often get predators around the house. They know human homes can be trouble. The one on the right stood up just as I opened the door for the photo.

Down in the water. This kid was rescued by police and brought to safety. The ice is so thin in spots. The parent gave Smiths Falls Police permission to post this as a public service.