Sunday 5 October 2014

Forest walkies in the good weather!

We went for a walk Sept. 30th. The leaves were perfect. Around the frog pond, you can see where the muskrats have eaten the pond grasses. We went deep into the forest, where the old trees have fallen over. Immense tamarack give many opportunities for the cats to climb, but it is a mixed forest, too.

The cats adore the trees still leaning, and Daisy, the smallest at 7 lbs., seems to climb the highest, being so light. Buster and Dorah, 12 lbs., tend not to climb the vertical trees!



This big, old pine gave up the ghost and went over in a storm. It had been dead for awhile.

They loved these trees, tipped over and resting on one another.

Our land is very rocky, with little crevasses here and there. It is great territory for critters, and with all our snakes, numerous spots for hibernacula (Latin, "tent for winter quarters").

This was their favourite. Dorah was the bravest, going all the way to the end of the tree! Then the others decided to explore it, too. There was a bit of a traffic jam!


This photo is for Caitlin. We walked around the frog pond the other day. This is the old highway, before they rounded the curve. This belongs to us, but where the highway used to be. You can find the old cedar fencing and the wires leaning over. Evergreens have grown in the middle, but not much else. There is a ditch along the side, which is pretty deep and wet.

Oliver's Lot has a ton of milkweed seed pods. Next year will be great for the Monarchs!

We emerge from Oliver's Lot and head across the front lawn. Home again. Thirsty work, and Daisy has a drink from her cat fountain.

9 comments:

Nancy J said...

What a big walk for the girls, and the tree, just the place to explore. Lovely when they are blown over, and make the perfect elevated walking pole, and why not a drink from there too??I had to smile at the last photo. Cheers,Jean

Red said...

Great outing for everybody. You appreciate the forest and it's natural changes.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
Fabulous feline forest friskies! YAM xx

Crafty Green Poet said...

lovely to see the cats enjoying climbing around!

Fingers crossed for next year's Monarchs...

Hilary said...

What a nice walking area. I took a walk with a friend on that same day - in the hills overlooking Bancroft. It was so warm and sunny. Summers last reprieve.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

You have such brave kitties. And fall is looking quite lovely in your woods.

Wanted to thank you again for publishing the sweet-potato salad recipe back in August. I have just added the ingredients (that I don't already have) to my week's grocery list, now that we're back in Oregon and I can actually cook.

William Kendall said...

Beautiful shots!

My parents had cats who liked to climb up the side of the walls to get up to the second floor balcony.

A Colorful World said...

What a gorgeous walk through the forest! Peaceful and lovely! Glad you have so many milkweed.

Joe Todd said...

Great walk and photos.