Life sure evolves

Still fighting this gastro issue, I'm on the mend. Canadians have learned to live, work, play and thrive in a climate that has distinct seasons. Then the seasons blur, there is such an impact on us.

What I enjoy reading about are the many Canadians who embrace the seasons. Our kids ski in winter, bike, hike, and swim in summer.  It is quite something how our lives (in retirement) still revolve around the weather. Several faithful readers point out that they haven't been able to snowshoe for a few years with our milder winters. We are living longer, and people in my generation are learning to embrace life as it changes, finding hobbies and volunteer work to keep them focused. 

The temperatures are up and down here this week. I enjoy physical activities – when I am healthy. While I used to jog, bike, play softball, volleyball, etc., I find it difficult aging gracefully, when they tell us to keep  active, when it results in tendonitis, shin splints and physiotherapy! We sold our bikes. 

I don't mind shoveling snow. Joseph Brian used to, when he was able. It is so difficult giving up activities one used to love. 

snow blower from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Look at the melting snow! We had this last week, and this week we are above freezing, then, on the weekend, going down to double-digit below zero numbers. This is a normal Spring sight, not January!

 

it is melting! from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The storm landed a lot of snow and rain on the trees. It is ridiculous for January. Happily they bounced back this time!

 

frozen trees from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The birds don't normally bath in winter, but it has been so mild. You can notice the female cardinal behind the mourning doves!

 

bath time from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I guess I'm back to birding and watching deer out the window this week. It is the small pleasures we find. JB had about 20 deer outside this morning. They are ready for spring. King Frederick still thinks he is boss, despite not antlers. It's a pecking order that works in nature. Ears back, he chases others away.

Our lame deer, who we think might be one of the Princes, we will call Duke. He turns up in the afternoon, when the other deer are not around. JB goes out and gives him extra rations. It's tough being in a pack when you cannot defend yourself.

We'll see what February brings! Take care, be careful out there. 

Does and bucks

Sunday there were more bucks with lost antlers! This is Prince William. He's probably lost this antler in the past 24 hours, and we won't be able to identify him. 

Joseph Brian was out feeding them. You can see them waiting and watching from down the hill. They each get a mouthful, not much in the grand scheme of things, but since we feed the birds...

Hurry up, man! 

This must be the last of the trailcam videos of bucks with antlers. 

buck cedar corridor 1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Sadly we've a buck with a dislocated ankle. We'll see how he does. At first I thought it was a doe, but Joseph Brian spotted antler buds. He could run, which is a good sign. We shall watch for him. 

doe dislocated ankle from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Maggie last about 9 years  (2011 - 2020) with a similar injury. We made sure she got her fair share of rations:

Maggie in 2020 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Not a good Monday. I was feeling dizzy and nauseous, visited the loo frequently, and had chills. I cancelled my Tuesday afternoon client, JB cancelled his physio appointment. I went to bed and had a nap. JB has a persistent cough. What a pair! This morning I am better, but I'll take it easy. 

Snowshoeing time

I decided to go walkies on Saturday. Snowshoes are required, although with the 5 cm of ice on top of knee-deep snow, it is hard slogging. The wetland is wet on the edges. I did cross it, as it is hard in the middle.

All I did was go to the back 40, at first. I had to come back to the house for water, but I didn't want to take off my snowshoes, as it is tricky bending over and all. I unzipped my boots! Using the railing, I managed to get up the steps without getting a soaker.

Filling up my water bottle I attached it to my fanny pack, and grabbed my phone. I popped on a pair of shoes to make it down the steps. Eureka! 

It is tough walking for all of us, including the coyote in the second half of this video.

walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Indoors, Cinnamon snuggled on JB's blanket. 

Nutmeg was busy sniffing the antler!

Out on the front, the sparrows feed.

 

tree sparrows from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I must get dressed and take out the garbage. Then morning coffee! Have a good one...

Antler shed season!

I wrote Saturday about King Frederick's deer shed adventure. I try to write about my adventures sequentially, but the deer shed was epic. I can't wait to go show my two clients! 

These are the last photos of the bucks, a few days before when they all had antlers.

bucks Jan. 20 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Jan. 21st, On of the Princes turned up (Harry?) with a split in his ear, and no antlers.

 

buck shed from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I poked my head outdoors Saturday at 7 a.m., and heard several coyotes yipping away beyond the forest in the wetland. The doe in the yard didn't seem too worried about it.

coyotes pee from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I trudged down to the trailcams Saturday, and found some trailcam action.

 

deer run from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Sun., Jan. 28th, I noticed Prince William has lost an antler.

The weather has been awful, with rain, freezing rain, and the critters haven't been out much.

 

fisher Jan 19 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We call the Momma and twins (Fuzzy, and the other one, a male) the Trio.

deer trio from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Saturday's Critters

 As I have said, it is deer shed season. The bucks' testosterone lowers in the cold and without nourishing food. They don't need the antlers to fight much, since they have already established themselves as boss. 

I moved the trailcam out the kitchen window to see if I could capture the coyotes on the lawn. Silly me. Look what happened!

JB yelled at me from the kitchen, 'You're going to want to see this. Bring your camera!'

Here is King Frederick. He was down to one antler. He shook his head, and off it popped right before my very eyes! I wish I'd had my videocamera!

Good hubby went out to fetch it for us! At this point, the driveway was sheer ice.

I ran out to the garage to watch!

I thought this side was a 7-point, but on closer inspection, there are 8 points.

My friend, Justin Hoffman, a professional photographer and wildlife writer, has taught me a lot about finding deer sheds. He has a massive collection. He wanted a photo of my antler to show his buds, and sent me a photo of his collection! He makes epic videos, as well. He has given me much advice on setting up trailcams.

Lest you think I ignore the females, Jan. 23rd I noticed the doe out front under the feeders. She walked right by me on the sidewalk. 

 

Doe on the sidewalk! from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I even got her on the Crumbly Acres camera!

doe walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

After this I headed out to the back 40 to look for the other antler, but it was way too icy and a horrible walk. I gave up. The trees were covered in ice, branches droopy.

 Heading down the driveway to check for mail, wearing my boots with ice pics, I fell! It was funny and harmless as I fell in the snow bank.

Here they are with the last videos of them with antlers!

morning munchies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Jan. 18 deer crew from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Smashing out from the ice accretion!

The Ottawa high schools are in exam mode. All exams are cancelled Wednesday, and shifted a day forward. Josephine had an exam to write Friday, Isabelle had a PD Day, and then both girls were to take off to Florida to see their paternal grandfather. Bye-bye beach time. I am so sad for them. They have to cancel.

School busses are cancelled again today. What a shame. I know the kids wanted to their exams done! There is another 10 - 15 mm rain on the way on top of knee-deep snow. 

Yesterday the ice accretion was about a cm. The ice pellets had melted and there was a layer of ice on everything. The back deck was an ice rink at 7 a.m. I managed to scrape it off later in the day when it warmed up. By then everything was dripping and you could hear the ice falling.

My first worry was losing more branches. They were OK, except for one touching the ground.

The sun rose, as it tends to do... Squirrel was being cute.

The trees are snow and ice covered. 

The ice accretion if obvious on the bird feeder! It warmed up and everything melted off the trees and the trees relaxed. (So did I!)

After using the chipper on the sidewalk, the ice was gone. The driveway was still a mess. But I worry about slipping on the ice. 

Back to bird watching as I caught my breath. The Hairy woodpecker was being an arse. She kept on scattering seeds until she found the perfect one. You can see the seeds flying to the ground. She knocked all these down!

The sidewalk: Before and After! My arms are sore, but it was a good workout.

I was ready for a shower. Happily I did not wait. At 3:00, we lost power. It came back about about 3:45. That was a relief. It was still light out and we sat and read. There was a tree on the line...

Now I have to get caught up on reading my blog newsfeed. Who knows was today will bring! Hope you are warm and dry.