Checking in!

 We've warmed up! It's -8 ℃. and I survived putting out the garbage at 6:30. It's Family Day here in Ontario. Provincial stores are closed, or have limited hours. Amazingly, we were at 5 ℃. on Valentine's Day. The sun feels warmer. 

Jordan is home from Uni, and they cooked for themselves while the parental unit went out on date night.

On Sunday they made taffy on the snow! 

Aster made herself a guitar from a kit! She's quite the skilled young person.

   

 Out west, atop a mountain, Cluny had a race. This was Jan. 25th. Hollyburn Cross Country Ski Club

 

A new week begins, we approach spring. The worst is nearly over. I content myself with feeding the birds.

Deer, Good Bunny Labbit, coyote

That was a night! I woke at 1:30, you know how that is. Sort of got back to sleep. By 4 a.m. the chirping of the smoke detector telling me its battery was low made me rise again! I couldn't a leg up on the chair.  Fetching the step stool I had success. Oh my. Joe supervised.

It was a lovely day on Saturday. The sun was out, and on the front deck it felt like 4 ℃, which is amazing! I tried to walk down to the frog pond trailcam, but the soft snow and I had a meeting. Back to the house for snowshoes!

I did this while Joe Brian was navigating the Olympics for our viewing pleasure. We get it on Rogers/Shaw cable: 144 Ottawa CBC; SNE 301 – 304; TSN 311; TSN 314. We check the Olympics website to see who is competing from Canada, or our favourite sports, and when. It is a marathon!

Yesterday there were 14 deer, and 3 turkeys hoping for breakfast. Their wishes came true.

There were several deer beyond the shed, 2 just down the hill.

More snow, just a skiff.

Happy dance when the sun came out.

Good Bunny Labbit visited again. Great that we have messy birds! I did toss a handful of deer food under the bears and the bench. I hoped she could eat in safety. 

Out walking I could see that our big coyote availed himself of the driveway. I grabbed the trailcam cards and ran indoors to upload videos and see if I could spot him. 

Can you see the snow bank? This is from our young man who plowed for us. Remember that hill! The coyote had to jump it. 

I feel like I achieved something. I caught him on 4 cameras. Eight seconds in you can see him jump up on said hill, don't blink. Then he appeared on the other cameras. 

 

Saturday's Critters

Happy Valentine's Day! We always had fun in school. Valentine's Day puns, games, puzzles, etc.

The deer still gather. Friday morning there were 15.

They are quite wicked with one another. They just figure out who is top dog deer and just glare when the hierarchy is fixed.  

 I haven't seen Good Bunny Labbit for a few days. It's been cold. She was eating deer food from under the feeder, as well as the bird feeder.

 

 

 I made my way to the trailcam in the forest. I was rewarded by this video. The turkeys murping or chattering. I've not had this on video before.

 

Saturday's Critters # 635 <= for more critters visit Eileen's blog.

Driveway clear out!

 Well, we had to buy a new printer/scanner. We use it a lot, considering we are retired! We scan a number of thing. It refills with ink bottles. We'll see how this goes. I did a print of an article I wrote on animal tracks, and the photos came out really well. 

We had the snowblower taken away, and it should be repaired next week. A part is on order. A new machine is about $3500! It's a great workhorse. 

Feb. 16, 2025!

Things can be quiet indoors. Not in the morning, as they roar around chasing one another. Nutmeg likes to sit on the railing, then jump down loudly on all four paws.

By night time, we hope we've worn them out.

The young man who did our driveway was terrific. In the dark, 8 pm! Very conscientious.

I wandered down the day before. There was a lot of snow from the snowplows. I couldn't even attempt it. 

We are free!

I did the steps twice Tuesday, once on Wednesday! Spring is coming! 

JL took Aster to the ski hill this week. She goes snowboarding while Papa skis. This is almost like being there, without the pulled muscles. 😏

We're having fun watching the Olympics. Again, with all the horrid news out there...  We wondered how they cleaned the half pipe. This way:

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.