HAPPY THANKGIVING!

 

Plans began early...

Monday

I sent links to Caitlin. The boss gave the OK. I adore turkey, but Joe does not. Caitlin always host a turkey dinner for other family members. I always feel guilty at the work! This will be a fine meal.

"Shepherd's Pie"

Wild Rice Bowl

Tuesday we confirmed plans with Jordan. We were to pick him up at the Smiths Falls train station Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. He agreed to be my sous chef on Sunday! 

Joe Brian brought me a bouquet for the table, and 'Christmas crackers!'

🍠 🥕 Next, a grocery list. I checked all the things we had, made a list of things we hadn't, and Grampa rewrote it into several lists. With our small 'bar' fridges, it is tricky. They don't store veggies well. It'll be two shopping treks.

There were things I'd run out of, and spices that were likely very old. Maple syrup was on the list, as well as paprika! The fresh veggies could wait for another shopping day. Syrup for market day.

Wednesday

It occurred to me that we could put the rice mixture in the crock put to keep it warm on Sunday! 

I cruised on down to the farm stand for pumpkins, gourds, squash, carrots, etc.!

Thursday – cleaning, and my volunteer work

Friday

Joe Brian did a final shop. I organised things. I cooked the sweet potatoes ready for the topping.

Saturday

I began setting the table. My gourds from down the road.

We had dinner. At 8:20 Jordan texted that his train was there in Kingston. I kept watching it online. 

Update online:

“We currently don't have a timeline for rail traffic to resume, although we anticipate a significant delay. Expect possible train-related delays following a report of a collision between a train and an Amazon truck on Pykeview Dr, Gananoque." 

By now it was dark, not a great place to be.

  We watched several shows about Taronga Zoo, then Gray, and Anna Pigeon. The next day, Caitlin reminded me that they had visited Taronga Zoo. I had forgotten!

By 9 p.m. "Train 59 is holding East of Kingston. We currently expect the train to be held on site until at least 22:00, although additional delay could occur before the train can resume its trip. Train 54 is holding at Kingston station, and is expected to be able to resume its journey at approximately 21:20."

At 9:18 Jordan texted and said they were on the move. Only an hour delay at this point!

We were picking him up in Smiths Falls. Planned arrival time vs. actual!

By 9:57 still held at Gananoque. Then, suddenly they were off. It was an hour from there to Smiths Falls.

We arrived at 11:00  and the parking lot was full. Getting in was tricky. It is reading week this week for Queen's students. We were worried about getting back out. 

 

At last!

All three of us went down well. The next morning, Jordan and I cooked up a storm! 

Before dinner there was a trip outside for fresh air.

Aster had made pies. 

More Barry!

Barry beaver senses the change in seasons. I thought he was off somewhere. He's gone after a small and large oak tree. 

 

The small one was tipped over but leaning on another tree. I lay it down on the ground, and it has disappeared. Somehow he escaped the trailcam coverage.

Barry's next attack was on the small Aspens in the Aspen grove. This was earlier in the year. The trees are pretty close together and could use a pruning but...

He took down 7 of them. Nearly half. I have to trust he knows what he is doing! 

He worked on, and took down a small Maple. It ended up stuck in the tree canopy, and I lay that on the ground. It disappeared.

Cinnamon and I went down to inspect it all. He ran like lightning, and roared up a tree.

 

 If you turn up the sound, I think this is Barry working. He totally avoided the camera. I was hoping the camera would dissuade him.

 

This is all Barry's work. Well, Barry and the windstorm. It uprooted the vulnerable trees.

Cinnamon was keen to climb them. If you watch to the end, you'll see him in under the uprooted roots. 

I tripped and fell in the hole. Like a turtle, upside down, I had trouble getting footing. I had to stop laughing, first, then think about rolling over as I ended up on my side.

 

 I finally got Barry on the camera. He is entertaining. 

 

Saturday's Critters

 We are preparing for Thanksgiving dinner Sunday! We've had scattered rain over a few days. The critters are getting prepared for winter. You can't really be prepared, you don't know when it will happen. There are years when snow fall has messed with my shutting down of the garden. In October, 2024, we had 2.5 cm of snow. 

I've seen evidence of Barry Beaver. Beavers are mostly nocturnal, although not always. He has avoided the cameras.

The July 1st storm knocked down his partly felled Aspens. They prefer Aspen and Willow trees, I have read. He's worked on a small and a large oak tree.

This is the large oak. I may have to wrap this one. 

The fox has slowed down, but continues to patrol. I expect that when the snow falls, she'll be a less frequent flyer! 

   

 She is out mostly after dark. 

   

 The porcupine has a den somewhere. It'll settle in, and in winter hang out closer to the den.

   

 We seem to have one doe hanging around.

   

 Butch has been cruising on by. They like grubs, and bugs, and are voracious. Like Fred, they bulk up for winter. 

   

 The lady beetles are looking for shelter for winter. 

   

 I am struggling with spiders. They like the camera lights, which draws bugs. I have to clean it, now that the tree frogs have gone to ground.

 

Saturday's Critters # 669 <= Join up, join in, or visit the other critter lovers.

Kids, pumpkins, blue skies

 I know my long-term readers ca appreciate where the years have gone. Aster (gr. 11) had a PD day last week, and went to visit Jordan at Queen's University. They had a blast. Jordan is on the Dean's list for high marks in year two of Astrophysics. He's working and playing hard. 

Jordan took Aster to classes. Aster liked the Timbits!

"The Present and Future of High-energy Neutrino Astronomy."

A healthy food bowl for dinner! Aster took the bus there and back, and had a grand time.

I visited our local farm, and bought some gourds and pumpkins. This swan gourd is quite something!

I had to go into town, and on my way home...