Porcupine, Oregano, Coyotes

Here we are settling into Autumn. I'm making progress on 🍂Fall Chores. I am getting old and forgetful, so a list was crucial! I am comforted by all those with similar issues with insomnia. We are not unique, and being retired we have realized that it's not so bad as we can sleep in. No alarm clock to worry about, or having to be nearly human for a work day.

Well, we had snow in Ontario on Monday! We only had rain. I am glad I mulched the leaves the day before. The water fountain is cleaned and once it dries out I will cover it. 

We've had frost. Once it warmed up I did some garden work. Bye bye flowers!

I gazed out back, and spotted a critter on a rock. It turned out to be Cinnamon. He was looking for mice friends. He came in shortly after.

It was necessary to take leaves out of the rain gauge, in preparation for the incoming precipitation. We had a total of 21 mm (0.83"). It was a long, rainy day. 

I've taken the top off of the swing bench. Yesterday, I covered the bench and furniture with a tarp and put away the table and chairs. During COVID you know store shelves had issues. JB had brought me a 6 x 8 m white one (20 x 28'). I was so tired after wrestling with I had to go indoors and rest! 

The leaves are quickly falling. Enjoy them while you can!

There was graupel in south eastern Ontario. Actual snow up in northern Ontario. Us, just rain. 

Just before the rain, a young porcupine!

porcupine from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

In the night, strange cat 😼Oregano popped by the trailcam. I thought he might be feral, but I really don't know. There is lots to eat here: shrews, field mice, forest mice, voles, moles.  Our cats were safely tucked in bed. We don't know where he is from, but he is an intact male who likes to visit. I called him Oregano, since we have twins Nutmeg and Cinnamon, also tabby cats. I found the name following Janis Irwin, a very cool Edmonton MLA with a cat named Oregano. 

 

Oregano from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Not to be outdone, Coyotes appeared!

coyotes from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

There were two coyotes for sure, but I think another was trailing after them. What do you think? They are healthy pups. We never see them in the day, thankfully! They know lots of humans around here have guns, with lots of farms and farm animals who need protection. 

It's a lovely mixed community, with landowners (some with 600 acre 150-year-old farms) who have cows, sheep, chickens, goats, and two horse farms, including Ian Millar's. The nearby lake has cottages, a mixture of seasonal and full time residences, as well as AirBnBs and rentals. Some people commute into Ottawa to work. I've found a couple of people who have moved here for the peace and quiet, like us.