Wednesday 2 March 2022

Those mourning doves!

First, family news. Sadly, my children's stepmother passed away last weekend. It's a tough one.  Ironically enough, her son has been Josephine's music teacher in high school. They are a musical family. She was the kids' Sunday school teacher, and a choir director at the church we attended. 

We used to be friends. Every month or so, Sharon, another teacher, myself and our husbands used to have games nights back before the divorce in the early 90s. I saw them chatting one day at one of these nights, and I thought they would make a good couple. They ended up married. How strange is that?! 

The good news is that I can see our son, Jesse, as he is coming here from Vancouver for the Ottawa funeral. It's a whirlwind visit, but it'll be good to see him in person.

 🐻SNUGGLE Bears

This is so good. "Cards on a snowy day!" I'm not sure they can lift those heavy toonies, bit where there is a will...

The front yard

This arrangement has been great for the bird bath. The shallow, heated bowl is much easier to dump, and refresh the water. It only holds a couple of litres, whereas the cement birdbath holds about 6 gallons. I usually syphon off the dirty water, and add fresh, to keep it clean. The birds tend to poop in it. This is much easier, when playing with water isn't so much fun. Thank you, again, John. 

The mourning doves think it's a great spot. They tend to go arse over tea kettle on the big birdbath! 


The trailcam managed to capture the action one day! mourning dove 


The bark butter is a favourite for the nuthatches, woodpeckers and all. Fat Head is an eager host, even if he doesn't look like it!

The turkeys have begun to visit. We haven't seen them in months. There are 4 of them, and they have left tracks everywhere as they travel through the deep snow.



They really are magnificent critters. This is from October, 2017. 

😼Oregano cat

Wild oregano has been visiting, now that we are deeper into the cold and snow.  Feb. 27, 3 a.m.  oregano cat from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.



10 comments:

Tom said...

...that turkey is fabulous!

Olga said...

I love to hear the mourning doves calling in the morning. Here, I can listen to the birds through an open window as I have my coffee and it makes me happy.

Sorry for your family loss.

Anvilcloud said...

It’s a bit small for big doves, eh? 🤓
Glad it. Is helping out though.

William Kendall said...

The mourning doves are welcome company.

Barbara Rogers said...

So glad you've got the smaller heated pool for the doves. And card game is hillarious! Sorry to hear of the loss of your ex's wife...sad times still abound.

DrumMajor said...

Sorry about the loss of the family member. That's interesting how she taught others.
Maybe the doves think the water is their winter hot tub! Clean and hydrated is good for everyone.
Bears playing cards is really cute.
Stay warm somehow! Linda in Kansas

Nancy J said...

Sadness, but a family visit is wonderful.Oregano, looks like you have a really thick winter coat as you visit. The little bowl on top is a brilliant idea.The doves so enjoy a drink, as I am guessing most of the natural water places for them would still be frozen.

RedPat said...

Mourning Doves seem like such peaceful creatures.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Ooh Jenn, that looks so very cold! I like your trail cam and all the other yard visitors also! Mourning doves are quite interesting -- they seem to do very well in every possible type of climate -- they wake us up here in subtropical SW Florida (I like that kind of alarm), they are prolific in rainy cooler Oregon, and there you have them doing fine in the super cold snowy part of the world where you live. They are certainly adaptable. ....

Kay said...

THAT is a well fed turkey!