Ode to a pine tree

I took a forest walk. Another deer bed beside a small tree. Lots of tracks, including the coyote.

They are difficult to photograph, tracks in snow. This is coyote since you can draw an 'X' across the print. Cats don't have that attribute. 

This is our Bobcat!

Here's a photo of it! Here is the video if you are so inclined.

June 5th, 2025

I saw this snow on the fallen tree on lot #3. It finally gave up the ghost last summer.  

It is such a mess.

It is a tree I have enjoyed over the years we've lived here. Here is Oliver cat in the tree.

 

The flickers and pileated woodpeckers have been at it as it dies.

Snowed in!

 Thank goodness for the deer friends!  They made deer beds just under the white pine tree in the back yard. They removed the snow right down to the pine needles. 

The birch trees in winter. The wood shed is in the background. You can just see the snow on the roof.

I thought it might look better in black and white!

Nutmeg got tired bird watching. Mr. Sun lulled her to sleep.

I had some fun while watching Olympic action!

In more news. They came and took my broken snowblower.

Also, we found someone who plowed the driveway for us. What a relief!

It's a long drive...

It's been quite a season. Faced with the end of the driveway, we have to keep it clean!

Monday I drove the garbage out to the 'curb' as it was -23℃. It's only 100m to the end, but what an end. 

My snowblower won't get into gear. When it works it is a beautiful sight!

He's a fine looking coyote! It's quite the tromp through deep snow.

 

 The turkeys are hungry!

   

 Out west, our grandies are doing Cross Country ski races!

 

Crumbly Acres deer and turkeys

I love the fur coats the deer wear. It is very coarse.

I learned, from the research done by Carol: 

"I knew that deer put on winter overcoats. I didn’t know those hairs are hollow. They insulate, of course. But they also absorb solar heat and transmit it to the undercoat next to the skin."

You can see how insulated they are as the snow accumulates on their faces. 

This shows how they get snow on their face. They nibble at the pine needles. They prefer cedar, but I guess if one is hungry...

   

 We have had 3 male turkeys, toms, wandering about. Soon they'll be looking like this!

I've shown videos 1 and 2, where they are fighting. They know when to stop.

   

 Joseph Brian feeds them, spacing it all apart. They know who is boss, generally the largest doe. We haven't had any bucks about. They have their own winter yard elsewhere. The fawns are a hoot. They roar around, getting chased by the bigger deer. All is good. They know their place in the hierarchy.

   

 Good Bunny, formerly known as Labbit, does clean up on aisle 2!

   

 It was Jordan who called our cottontail Labbit back in the day. Considering he's in university (Jordan, not the bunny), we are switching to 'Good Bunny' to honour Bad Bunny who performed at the Superbowl. 

He's an interesting man, his full name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio and he's from Puerto Rico. He sings and raps on issues affecting young people who have never known prosperity after hurricanes and political unrest. The NYTimes has a great article 🎁:

"Members of his generation say that Bad Bunny, now 31, has given voice to their experiences and fears, all while opening the world’s eyes to Puerto Rico’s fraught territorial relationship with the U.S. government."

 

Crumbly Acres crumbles some more

That was a cold morning, Saturday (-21℃). I was up at 3:45 to powder my nose, and peeked outside. The wind was blowing like mad. Snow was flying. I hustled myself back under the covers and my electric blanket! 

Sunday morning was worse at -24℃! 

 

I knew when I looked out the bathroom window that we'd had snow. It accumulates on the window.  

Good Bunny (formerly known as Labbit) has captured my attention. She's still using burrow #5, under the flag pole and hydrangea. I have evidence. Red asked about her gender. You can't tell from my viewpoint. I just chose 'her!' 

Here is the hydrangea in summer! I have strong hopes that spring and summer will arrive!

Good Bunny the cottontail zips by on the camera. Feb. 7th, she went through at 4 a.m. in the snow. This was Jan. 25.

 

There are lots of deer.

   

 Down at the frogpond.

 

Good Bunny, formerly known as Labbit, visited around 4 a.m. but she didn't appear on the camera. She is way too fast. That, and the snow just blocked her out.

I could see when her tracks appeared, but not her loping along. Quick as a bunny.

🪏In more fun news, I shoveled the front walk. Got the snowblower started, the auger was working, but I couldn't get it into gear. Neither forward nor reverse. It would start. It didn't like 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. The auger was working just not the gear shift. I hope it is a simple fix. I phoned my guy, we'll see how we do. It was only about 5 cm snowfall. It is drivable if we need supplies. 

🖨 Oh yes. Our printer/scanner died after I did the prescribed firmware update. I knew I shouldn't do it. Nothing good comes of updates. Crikey! I took it into the computer store Friday. We shall see. 

Saturday's Critters

 Labbit sat out front for a couple of hours on Thursday. (Labbit, AKA Good Bunny!) Mammals are generally more scarce these days. Not so the birds!

This is part 2 of the turkey fight. Here is part 1 if you missed it. I was fascinated!

 

Then there is this big bird at the feeder!

 

Saturday's Critters # 634 <= Visit more critters here!

Labbit, AKA Good Bunny!

 What a surprise Thursday! I peeked out the font door, and spotted Labbit, AKA Good Bunny! (Bad Bunny plays at the Superbowl on Sunday!) 

Backing away from the door, I kept watching. I think she spotted me, but froze. After a moment she went back to scavenging bird seed from under the bird feeder. This was about 6:45. 

I kept checking up on her, but all was well. Joe Brian got up and opened the garage door. Good Bunny didn't move. He went out to feed his deer. 

Suddenly she started and raised her ears. I wondered what was up. 

A doe was behind her, under the tree and was anxious for breakfast. 

She sat there until 9:15. I wonder if she disappeared under the bench on which the bears stand? There is a tunnel. I covered the bench with a table cloth to protect it from the rain and snow. It's a great little tunnel for her. The snow blankets the ground and provides some safety.

 

🛒 Later Joe went into town for groceries. He was standing in line at the checkout and dropped something. This is tricky for him. He maneuvered his way to the ground, bending isn't good for his back. Standing back up, he made eye contact with the woman behind him. "The first 60 years were great. The next 20 not so much." She agreed.