Cottage life

August flies by. Our kids are canoe camping in Algonquin Park. They took Aster and one of their friends. Jordan breezed into town to attend a pool party, then bussed back to Kingston. He had work on Monday and couldn't go. We all miss our cottage, but there are other adventures to be had.

Time for a bit of nostalgia. Mom and dad bought the land in 1960 for $1000. The cottage was built in 1962. Mom and Dad built an extension, and retired there in 1991. I spent every summer here, not many friends around, and I became a loner.

1962

Joe and I moved here in 2006. Mom had died and dad was in long-term care. He passed in 2007. 

Mom wanted a fish pond. They hired someone to build it. I was able to maintain it for the 4 years we owned the house, but then the motor leaked oil into the pond and I could not clean it. It isn't the type of pump the contractor should have used. I had to fill it in. Sadly. We lived there from 2006 to 2010., then moved here to Lanark County. 

I miss the big skies and the sunsets.

Back to the present, and Crumbly Acres. We are still in cottage country. Instead of a lake, a wetland, and far more critters.

We've had lots of videos of Fred. Butch is a visitor, as well. 

I decided to tip the camera up, back to where it has been. 

I managed to capture us rehanging the squirrel nest box! It was on the tree that fell in the big July 1st storm. I figured I'd just rehang it. It was empty, and might host somebody.

Sadly, it is only the beginning of August, but my cherry tomato plants and my zucchini have just about given their all. 

We had big storms go by last night. I did some iPhone videos. It was really interesting, except for the mosquitoes. More to come!
 

Garden tales

 Things have cooled off some. Outside chores aren't as onerous. A bit of rain fell this morning. The garbage was put out at 6:15, it was a lovely morning. Not as many bugs. You could smell the petrichor. (I learned that word from Gaelyn Geogypsy!)  

Petrichor is the earthy scent often associated with rain falling on dry soil or rock. The term was introduced by Australian researchers Isabel Joy Bear and Richard Grenfell Thomas in a 1964 paper in Nature.  Wikipedia

I saw something move. A large toad! I haven't seen one in a long time. The 2 x 4 is there to stop The Freds from going inside the drain pipe. The toad could get out, I suppose, but I have covered it up. 

We had a chat, but it was somewhat disgruntled. I set it free to eat those bugs. 

Daffodil garden repair

Of course, the daffodils are done, but there are other flowers here. I've written about our massive July 1st and 2nd storms. The bushes on the right were half flattened. They are tall, wild, woodland sunflowers, I think!

I straightened it and tied it once, but the thing fell over again. 

This time I used a strap from a no longer functioning trailcam.

 

The fox likes to circle this garden. I figured out she is hunting for leopard frogs in the grass. I often have to avoid them when I mow the lawn. 

 

The lilac hydrangea is doing well beside the sunflowers. 

Another natural plant, Burdock. 

Sadly, it is only the beginning of August, but my cherry tomato plants and my zucchini have just about given their all. 

Deer, Fred, and Cinnamon

 Living in the middle of an ecosystem, habitat for many critters, I enjoy watching them. My parents were role models for retirement. They volunteered in a whole bunch of things. I cannot do that kind work any more. I volunteer one-on-one.  And my critters.

This is where Barry Beaver is doing his work. Ignore the time/date stamp. These were this week!

I do appreciate those not living in a wetland who enjoy my critters. It gives me joy. I looked out back, and spotted two deer. Don't zoom in. I was using the zoom, without my reading glasses, or the tripod! 😆

We tried watching tennis, but our Canadian players keep getting injured. I have theories about this: pushing too hard; going for speed, not finesse; too many tournaments. One family earned their trip to the Toronto women's tennis.

The flowers have been wonderful. The golden yellow is pretty, smooth oxeye I think.

I had two water lilies in bloom, this water lily is done, but another is on its way.

I love cloud watching. August has been dry in the past, but not this year! Saturday morning, the cats were roaring around at 5:30. I figured I might as well get up. 

I threw some cabbage out, knowing we wouldn't eat it. Fred devoured it.

   

 Fred has been busy. He's digging up sand from underneath the garden.

   

 Do you know how much cats like sand?!

 

Saturday's Critters

 August rushes by us. I am usually happy when August is finis. The garden and forest are spots that require taming. We miss the critters, of course. 

Fred has been creating a new burrow. I've spotted him on the deck, too.

 Auntie Fred has taken ownership of the shed burrow. The burrow under the lower deck floods in spring. Not a good choice! Soon The Freds will be hibernating. In the meantime, digging is the call to action. He does doggy digging, shoves the sand with his snout, and the sand flies!

   

 I think MiniFred is a male. You can giggle as he stops to groom, and rolls over. I think he likes self-deprecating humour! 

   

 In the backyard, Momma Butch has 3 kits! If you like the moths dancing in the light in the night, keep watching! We still have fireflies in the yard. Front and back. 

   

 Yesterday, I posted a video of the fox going after leopard frogs in the garden. Apparently, that is what the skunk is after, as well as Butch. In this video, Butch accidentally trotted towards skunk. It thought better of it! You can see the motion sensor lights by the garage reflecting on the white pine trees.

Finally, we celebrate twin fawns frolicking in the forest!

 

Saturday's Critters # 660 Visit more at Eileen's blog.

Rain and the fox

Monday was a wet one.  I had garbage to put out for 7 a.m., but it was pretty.

The goldfish pond is over flowing, with 7 (?) happy goldfish. There is one large green frog, too.

A bit of a messy lawn from the heavy equipment during our tree clean up, but it is shallow soil, and it was a fine place to store the vehicles. 

I finally did the lawn on a sunny afternoon. Bouncing over the divots in the grass, I was glad to have on my sports bra!

I love this morning sun reflection.

The fox is a frequent visitor. She's headed back to the highway and parts unknown...

I finally figured out what the fox was doing in the night in the backyard. She was going after little leopard frogs! The humidity clouds the lens, but you get the idea. Watch for the giant leap!

 

After all that rain! 

Monarch caterpillars: