It is a snowy day

 It's been cold. I know you know. We're in Canada, and it is winter! I knew what I'd be up to on Wednesday! About 7 cm snow fell. If it is going to cold, it might as well be pristine white. For now. 

You can see the Labbit tracks on the sidewalk! She is very speedy and tends to slip by the trailcam.

I ventured out and spotted deermouse tracks. (I think!) The snow was falling at bedtime. 

I've spent more time watching critters from the front window.  There are two black ones. They seem to have signed a peace treaty. 

I've noticed that the mourning doves aren't bothered by the blue jays. The blue jays have such a rep for being bullies. 

This is who I've been watching as well! She bears watching. 

I settled down to listen to something, I forget what, and took out my sketching tools. It's been a minute since I did so. 

Joseph Brian was settled in to watch Olympic curling on Gem. It froze. Too many watchers, I believe. There were complaints online. He gave up. It was fun while it lasted! 

They have a keen nose for food!

 

 In the meantime, I spotted the turkey trio. It's early for mating season. I was fascinated! They are all males, you can tell by their 'beards' and they were getting into it.

 

Deer and turkeys

 We usually have visitors under the bird feeder in the morning. 

Yes, these lights are still up. We've had such dreary, cloudy days, it makes me feel happy at night.

After the single doe, a trio. It looks like Momma and twins. 

I love how they end up looking in the same direction at the same time.

I was quite amazed with this action shot! They move so fast.

The two black squirrels are sharing. For now.

Clean up on Aisle 1!

We've had a trio of turkeys appear. And disappear. Happily they are wary. Some in the city get bold.

Moon over Crumbly Acres

 Monday morning garbage day: 

I fed the deer.

The moon was lovely. It was way too cold to fetch the tripod and do it properly. The iPhone did fine.

Robot at the olympics

Are you a fan of the Olympics? We have a Canadian sports journalist there who posts on Bluesky. 

Robots are roaming around the Main Media Centre here in Milan. Organizers continue to finish construction — and program the robots — ahead of the throng of media expected throughout the Olympics.

[image or embed]

— Devin Heroux (@devinheroux.bsky.social) February 1, 2026 at 6:46 AM

February Frolics: Groundhog Day

🐀 Fred Groundhog

I'm sure most of you know the this silly tradition of Ground Hog Day in North America. There is a list of Groundhog Day Forecaster! Here is another site:    GROUNDHOG-DAY.com . Theory goes, if they see their shadow, they get scared and hunker back into their burrow. Then, 6 more weeks until spring. Some Groundhog forecasters are not even groundhogs! 

It wasn't until we met our dear Fred Groundhog that I realized that they aren't even awake here on Feb. 2nd! Fred, AKA Whistle Pig (her whistles are epic), sleeps from September until March-ish. They are true hibernators. I found this uncredited image on Bluesky. It wasn't their image, after a search.

Fred The First seems to winter under the highway. Her offspring, Fred 2, hunkered down under the shed Sept. 12th and is buried under the snow in the burrow. 

Here were the 4 kits. The coyotes nailed 3 of them. She whistled for about 6 hours when they were being hounded by Coyote. It was like herding cats, though.

In April she was slim. 

It's hot work! 

 I think this was a yawn you can see those lovely teeth. 

May, 2025

I love their furry coats. They eat all Spring and Summer to bulk up for their hibernation. 

It's been an early winter. January had 93 cm snow. I don't think it is ending anytime soon. Last February we had a ton of snow, 71 cm. We shall see.  

Deer beds!

I went to the forest, wearing my snowshoes, \ to fetch the memory cards. I found deer beds. 

They wander over the frozen wetland, looking for weeds and saplings to fill their bellies.

Another bed, tucked in beside the tree.

The hole in the tree intrigued me. Nothing was in there.

I peeked out back, and spotted two deer in deer beds under the white pine tree. By the time I grabbed my camera, Momma was headed for the deer feeders. The fawn just sat and waited. 

And waited,

And still waited.

The adults were anxious. They need more fuel than the little one.

Dawn had come, the fawn roared over.

After breakfast they wander back into the forest. I enjoy seeing them in winter. The scatter in the forest is spring and summer.