Reflections from Crumbly Acres

Friday, 16 October 2026

Timber, Barry beaver!

We sure have had rain. I still have to put the water barrel away, this gets water from the eavestrough to refill the goldfish pond.

This is quite the storm. After 36mm (1.4"), more is coming. Jean-Luc and buddies are camping in northern Ontario this weekend. I hope he is warm enough. Norther Ontario and Quebec have snow.

This gutter was overflowing. Just a handful of leaves blocking it. I climbed the ladder and chucked them overboard. That was satisfying, that swirling the drain noise as the gutter drained!

Oh, Barry. I'm glad we have 16 acres... Thankfully trees are a renewable resource! This is the before:

And the after... I counted 13 saplings gone. This is all new growth. The previous owners cut the grass here. I've let it fill in. Until Barry!

You can see the trailcams.

Barry is hustling, winter approaches. His survival depends upon him being safe in his lodge, waking periodically to eat from his food cache, and konking out again.

Here is his 2026 lodge from across the wetland inlet.

Cinnamon was admiring the work.

Two days apart... this is an oak tree.

He went after a small birch tree. It is stuck on another tree. We'll see what happens. I couldn't budge it.

I noticed that trail, under the tree, and crossed my fingers until I processed the footage. He's been dragging the trees under this tree he felled in August. Or was it July?!

I had one trailcam video that had no motion, only this noise! Now I have confirmation.

This is quite the footage! I was amazed. You can hear him chewing on the tree, until it falls. Then he hauls it away.

Thursday, 15 October 2026

First frost!

The season unfolds as it should. Leaves are falling. There is a smell of Autumn in the air. I'm whittling away at chores, just like Barry Beaver.

Guinivere guards the garden. The bright red leaves are the yellow primrose. The gift that keeps on giving!

This is the dogwood beside the primrose.

First frost, just a small one in low lying areas, like the back yard! Oct. 10th

Toadstools in the front yard, along with horse chestnuts. One must trod carefully.

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

Trees and Barry

It was wonderful celebrating Thanksgiving with the kids. I am still curating a few photos. These were in the cue, before the leaves and the snow falls!

Ah, those blue skies. This looks like the last of the turkey vultures. They will migrate soon.

I had help wrapping the swing bench for winter. No, not Cinnamon, Joe Brian! I needed someone with actual hands. This was later. We were headed out.

I appreciate the light levels.

In the back 40, where Barry Beaver is working, the trees are lovely. He is working on the ASPEN saplings.

This is the aspen grove, and the saplings.

I went for a walk on the far side of the wetland. Barry has been after all kinds of trees. All summer he's gone after Aspens. He is picking on any old tree, I guess for his lodge.

Here is his lodge on the far side of the wetland, covered in fresh mud.

This was last year's lodge, it seems neglected. I had so many winter photos of critters trying to get in. Fisher, coyote, etc.

Back to the house, forest swathed in yellow.

There was a deermouse in the closet. I freed it, but Cinnamon is a deep thinker, not a fast killer, and I went to bed. It's been a busy few days over Thanksgiving. Much fun!

Back at the house, I processed the trailcam memory cards. Barry was working for hours. He was on two cameras, I wanted to show how far he lugs these trees.