More walkies in the cold

I covered up my rose bush. We'll see if it makes a difference. 💝 Everything is snuggling in. The insect, reptiles and amphibians are hibernating under leaves, or in holes, or under the mud.

We've come to expect frost in the morning. I played around with the iPhone camera, and it took good close up photos. 

I put on JB's rain boots to skuff about in the forest. On the way down to the pond, it looks like a big pile of coyote poop. Cinnamon was keen on it.

Cinnamon then flung himself up a tree.

He is a happy cat.

Cinnamon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

He spent a good 5 minutes just sitting on the end of the dock. I kept going, though. I yell, 'walkies' and he usually roars up to me and past me. 

We went on lot #3. Lots of dead and fallen trees about, as well as bright green moss. The birds are fairly quiet. 

Just below this tree, it appears that the coyotes picked up some garbage from the highway, hoping for a meal.

An empty Mcdonald's bag, cup, and crushed chocolate milk box. Some people are pigs, chucking garbage out the vehicle window. It irks me, but this is why I go ditch diving 3 or 4 times a year. The coyotes must have brought it onto our property to eat in peace.

This is our lot #2. 

He was so happy, roaring out of the bushes to roll on the driveway back on lot #1.

 

walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Speaking of walkies, this isn't our cat, nor do they go out in the dark! That is when the predators are out and about. I've informed our local vet. It has come from a piece away. We're on 16 acres, and no nearby neighbours. 

black cat from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Lake Effect Snow

 Yes, it is the season for it. The Great Lakes are quite warm, as water has temperature inertia. The winds blow across the lakes and pick up the moisture. I learned a new term Monday. The 'fetch' is the width of the lakes, where the wind fetches up water to dump on people as it moves across the land. 

Since the winds blow right across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, the fetch area is much wider. This is why Muskoka and Central Ontario gets such snowfall.

 

All we had was graupel and dark skies.

Indoors, we've been having fun puttout out lights. Cinnamon is amused. We started small. Joseph Brian got us a little fake fire background! I brought the Charlie Brown Christmas tree up from the basement.

An accidentally artsy photo!

Somebody has been working on his train set. New batteries all around for the houses. 

This was his process. I watched carefully. It began a week ago. It required all sorts of tweaks.

Christmas Train from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

By the way, Isabelle and Papa are continuing on their archery classes at the RA. She is pretty good! Three shots quite close together. What a kid!

Using gender as a weapon

I often wonder what I would say to someone who tells me, face-to-face, that teachers are grooming kids. The vast majority of teachers don't even have time to groom themselves! Religious groups are using their values and beliefs, to harness this topic as a weapon.  Some are being accused of 'radical gender ideology.' Such nonsense. These are kids and their lives, and well-being, is at stake. 

 Teachers work hard to create classroom communities where all kids are valued.  This is an excellent video, in response to wannabe trustees who oppose this fake issue, with great comebacks: 

Moms for Liberty loses EVERY SINGLE election in five of the six states where it ran its candidates. pic.twitter.com/Zoiov2cyFF

— 𓂀 𝕋𝔼𝔸ℍ 𓂀 (@TeahCartel) November 8, 2023

There is much intolerance in the world. This storys gives me hope, though.

There was an amazing piece in the NYTimes. JB told me about it. If you do not have access to it, you can read the CBC article about the situation:

Trans kids lost roles in Texas school musical — until their parents went to bat for them 

School board nixes decision to restrict Oklahoma! casting based on gender assigned at birth

To summarize, the school board chair decided that a transgender student couldn't take a lead role in the play. The community came out and supported the kid. If you know anything about high school musicals, and acting, you know that they cast according to ability, not gender. In Shakespeare's time, men often played female roles. 

And, more from the US about the famous Macy's Parade. They always feature Broadway show performances, and I taped it to watch it. They had lots of numbers from the various shows that are currently running. But this year:

Macy’s Parade Shuns Boycott Demands From Anti-L.G.B.T.Q. Group A right-wing group that has been designated a hate group is planning to protest the Thanksgiving parade because of the inclusion of two non-binary performers.

There was a 'road rally' in B.C.,  "Stop SOGI 123" means to stop discussing Sexual Orientation and Gender Issues. 

Bill Shoker, a farmer in an expensive tractor ($200,000?), driving in the convoy, ran from the police. The tractor flipped and he was hurt (CBC). 

When Global News went to the Shokers' home, a woman who identified herself as his wife said Bill Shoker was participating in the “STOP SOGI 123” protest that was a scheduled “Road Rally” starting in Chilliwack and ending in Vancouver.

The man broke a bone in his back, and will need back surgery. Hooray for universal healthcare, as he won't have to pay for said surgery, despite being self-inflicted. 

The videos are epic.

Emboldened RWNJs attempted an anti-Sogi Convoy on the highway. They recklessly drove, flipped, and destroyed a police SUV.

Author's note: Insurance does not cover intentional reckless behavior; damage/costs easily reach upwards of six figures.#rwnj #cdnpoli #convoywatch https://t.co/EmUEzaaWbU pic.twitter.com/AyO7naCCxB

— TheMayor.TV (@tMayor_McCheese) November 26, 2023

Forest bathing with Cinnamon

 Cinnamon and I went walking last weekend. 

We found ourselves two owl pellets. Owls cannot digest bones and fur and regurgitate them out in a tidy pellet. I put them in an empty cat food can to dry out. Then, I got ready to take them apart to see what I could find! Grampa put out a note of warning:

"Don't steal Gramma Jenn's chocolates!"

I can't believe how much fur there is in two pellets! Really well compacted in side the skulls.

This is our walk. He had a blast.

cinnamon 1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It is pretty on the edge of the wetland.

cinnamon 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I love his poofy tail, as he roars around with me.

 

cinnamon 3 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Back indoors, it seems that people are enjoying the fine weather. Loop de loops in their flying machine.

Trip to Smiths Falls

 This was a laugh. I suggested we look for boots, then actually EAT IN A RESTAURANT! Off we went.

TA DA!

I had suggested The Vault. We repositioned the car, and went in. They couldn't seat us for another half hour. It was full. Not what we were looking for. Excellent, fresh, creative food, but too crowded. On a Tuesday, it is a good sign they are doing well. There are a lot of eateries in Smith Falls. We ambled down to a pub which overlooks the falls. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Back to square one. We noticed a restaurant in the Hotel Rideau, which we'd not noticed before. It was more of a cafe, which took up the first floor.

Smiths Falls Library 1908

Fresh food, wonderful service, and I had eggs benedict. 

The street and parking have been revamped in Smiths Falls. Including terrific bike lanes, but you do have to watch when you park and get out of your car. 

The book store, Arlie's Books, has a marvellous display. 

PART CX: Treating prostate cancer

 Miracle of miracles. Thanks to COVID, having an appointment with our Ottawa urologist is much easier these days. COVID seemed to make a difference to these issues. This, from Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP):

Effective December 1, 2022, the Schedule of Benefits (the Schedule) has been amended to reflect the new virtual care funding framework, as set out in the PSA and communicated in INFOBulletin 221002.

At the beginning, our Ottawa urologist switched over to treatments (the Lupron injection) three times a year in Perth, and once a year in Ottawa. Then, things changed. No more phone consults as OHIP's remuneration went from $37 to ↓$15 payments per phone 'visit'). Something changed again. 

 There is a new schedule of fees: Virtual Care 1: Comprehensive and Limited Virtual Care Services. 

They offered us the annual check in on Zoom. What's not to love? Our Perth GP has been great having their office monitor the PSA, and the upcoming bone density scan. He is the quarterback.

Virtual Visit

The trick is that they ask you to sign in 30 minutes prior to the meeting. On we went at 3:15.  Joseph Brian had to use my computer, as we had issues with his iPad. He played cards while I watched a TV Christmas movie!

This is so much simpler, rather than a 90-minute drive into Ottawa, not to mention having to work in meals. Dr. C. connected by 4:13, which isn't too bad! Then we found we were muted, and the camera was off. Familiar tale! All fixed, there he was!

During the Zoom call, he asked about JB's symptoms, but there are no changes in symptoms, which is good.  

Last year's bone density test (Dec. 2022) shows low bone mass fracture risk is low, though. Dr. C asked if he is still taking calcium and Vit. D supplements, as well as Alendronate once a week. It won't improve his bone density, but it does slow the deterioration. It is a drug meant for osteoporosis.

Will have a follow-up, another Zoom in 6 months. 

The cancer is well-controlled, at this point. Has to see Dr. C once every two years, according to OHIP rules.

Joseph Brian walks daily for about an hour, most days. It is an excellent workout.

walking from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Saturday's Critters

 We've settled into the beginnings of winter. 🍁Fall chores 2023 are done! Nov. 21st I had to shovel snow. The next things I have to think about, is where to set the trailcam that sits on a tripod. Once the ground freezes, there is no moving it. 

It is fun seeing tracks in the snow and on the frozen ground. 

I may have been wrong about Pickles. I have seen a doe around him, who is likely his mother. That makes me happy. He was happy I split the pumpkins for him.

The cardinal is still fighting that strange one he sees in the window.

 

cardinal from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

A/C, ever on the watch, wrote about having bird baths out, and the birds are susceptible to the cold when wet. I must say that I don't see them bathing in winter. They don't have the problems with dust and mites. They sure love to have a drink, though.

 

cardinal 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The fisher was happy to take one of the three apples JB threw out.

 

fisher 1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I've moved the trailcam away from the neglected deer scrape, but the turkeys ambled to and fro.

 

Turkeys in the forest from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The beauty of having two cameras along a trail. I caught him twice. He wasn't interested in the pumpkin.

Bear Nov. 17 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The doe was more interested in the camera than the deer scrape. This is why I moved the camera.

deer scrape from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I harvested the pumpkin seeds, then took the pumpkin shell down to the trailcam. It was interesting that few of the critters liked it. The bear just waltzed past a sniff. It'll be another story when the snow falls!

While the bear eschewed the pumpkin, Butch did, but the deer like it. Coyote decided to pee near it.

 

pumpkin time from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We are saying farewell to the ducks, geese, and feathered friends, as they gather in flocks to fly south.

geese ducks Rideau Ferry from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Thanks to Eileen who hosts: Saturday Critters # 519 !