Crumbly Acres Maintenance

 There are things to do for spring!

The snow has really melted. The winds have picked up. An oak leaf was crab-crawling down the driveway. It looked animated! 

I was rinsing out cat litter buckets for reuse. The spigot is cracked. Why didn't I bring it in? I cannot reach the indoor shutoff valve. Sad thing. 

I may have jinxed it, but the snowblower is in the shed, away for the season. 

I don't know why, but we brought this back from Bala. It belonged to my parents. It has had its day. We'll have to take it apart and find space for the pots and stuff in the garage.

Indoors, the orchid is happy.

I have had a disaster with my fish tank. It is leaking in the one side's corner. The light stopped working in February:  Percy's new aquarium light! It was a floor model and on sale, and it has served me well. All the lovely green I had (fake plants) have had the biscuit. Just fell apart. I've gone through 3 tank pumps.

I put on Gorilla Tape, I thought it was Flex Tape, but I was wrong. It kept leaking. We bought this one since it fit so nicely into the corner!

Percy and his pals have been popped into the goldfish pond outside. The tank was drained, with JB's help.

Can you see the skiff of ice on the goldfish pond?!

The next morning I checked on him and he looked quiet. I gave him some food, and left. When I came back the food was gone. Good sign!

I have time to do some research and figure out what to do. They don't make this shape any more. Most of them are a rectangle.

I had this tank in Bala, Muskoka, in 2007.

It fit so nicely into the corner. I found an interesting one, 150 lbs., thick walls (1/2"), and requires 'freight shipping' whatever that is (big $$$?). I shall pass on this one! 

The curtain was soaked where the tank leaked on it. I spread it out over the railing to dry. 

From British Columbia, here is Bernie, Jesse's Vancouver cat in his outdoor front porch cattery at their cottage.  They call him Bernie Houdini! 

Saturday's Critters

 I've been having a fun time keeping track of the skunk, cottontails and other critters. I found a baby once. So wee!

This is what I'm seeing on my sidewalk:

The moon has been fabulous. Even as I am critter watching.

Labbit moon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Rainy Labbit from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Skunk (I shall have to think of a name!)

Skunk March 27 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Down in the forest, a ruffed grouse appeared. I seldom see them.

 

Grouse Mar 24 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The deer fence will go up once the greens begin to grow!

 

deer in the garden from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I've had a disaster in the house. In September, 2012, we bought a 60-gallon fish tank. I've thought about when it might fall apart. It has sprung a leak. Having taped it with Flex Tape, it was still leaking.

I'd bought the tank when we had five goldfish and they needed a larger tank.

 

I had no choice but to put the fish in the outdoor goldfish pond. JB helped me drain the indoor tank. They don't make this style anymore. I cannot replace it. It is difficult to say if anyone repairs them. We'll ask around. 

It's a bit chilly outside (-1℃), but I expect the fishies will be OK. Percy is pretty solid. One of the other three is showing signs of age. 

Trip to Merrickville Part 1

 We had a mission. Joseph Brian had lunch out with his friend in town. The salad dressing was magnificent. He asked where they got it and the answer was in Merrickville. We phoned our favourite restaurant in Merrickville and they were open for lunch. Off we went. 

🏠New Apartment Build

First, an update on the new apartments in Perth. Insulation! This is progress.

I had a library book to drop off and two to pick up. I liked this vanity plate!

There are only three seasons in Ontario: bugs, snow, and construction! They were replacing the posts. I was glad to see the flaggers. People are driving too fast.

We arrived and parked. The store fronts are looking like spring. Fake flowers, which is prudent in the weather. We headed to the Baldachin Inn and sat at the corner window.

I had a great view of the street corner. It is a busy place! 

It is an amazing old building. It was two room, and the took down the wall between.

This part of the restaurant used to be a bank. There is a bullet hole in one window frame! It has heritage status.

Here is the store where we were headed. The whole purpose of the trip was to buy some salad dressing here. Does it look closed? It was! We ended up shopping.

It sounds like spring!

 Our skunk and Labbit have been busy. I was piffling around with the Crumbly Acres camera footage and found that both Skunk and Labbit were in the front yard. The images are not great, in the dark and black and white, but you get the idea. 

In June, 2023, she was lactating. This is a screen capture from 2023: lactating skunk. 

I have not seen her out in the day time, she's not sprayed at all. She is very wary of humans, I'll bet. I ought to put a trailcam over her burrow like last year! I tossed some dried grasses to see if it is moved today.

Here she is!

skunk Mar 25 front yard from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

OK. It is spring. The spring peepers and wood frogs are in full mating mode. Sound up! March 17, 2024, and a lovely sunset.

spring peepers & wood frogs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Apparently we're going to be having little Labbits! I went out back to check things out while my morning coffee perked. TWO cottontails!!!

2 Labbits from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Wednesday we took a drive to Merrickville. More on that later! As always ,I took too many photos. 

Fox, Labbit, skunk, Butch

Fox

Nutmeg was on the back deck with a pouffy tail. I looked out and a fox was in the yard! Nutmeg was watching keenly. I couldn't coax her in the house. It disappeared down into the gully and she headed to the lower deck, to follow it. I sent JB (headed for his physio appointment) to go around in front of her and head her off. He clapped and fake chased her and she headed up to the house and in the open door. 

This is an archival photo from Bala, Ontario (2009?)! 

In the meantime, our cottontail has been very busy.

 

Labbit Mar 25 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Skunk continues to hang around. I've not seen her during the daytime. They tend to run if humans are about.

skunk Mar 25 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

And good old Butch is awake. Soon there will be kits following her!

Butch Mar 20 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Joseph Brian has been busy!

Indoors, Cinnamon likes watching our murder mysteries. We are watching Maria Wren with subtitles. He heard a doorbell ring, the same sound as our old doorbell fooled him! 

Spring unfolds as it should. It's a bit early, we shall see what summer brings.