Crumbly Acres Fred and family

 Things have been 🐞 buzzing and 🐸 hopping. 

When I was out on the back deck, I spotted the hawk a couple of times, a few days apart. Sunday, flying from one tree, a perfect photo-op if only the camera was on hand. Tuesday, a blue jay chased it out of the forest! Here's an archive photo.

I know my blog readers are creative. You'll have to imagine the beautiful smell of the milkweed, as well as the hummingbird I enjoy watching visit them!  I must have a couple dozen in the front garden.

I've reburied Freds hole at burrow #6. When I have to do this work, it requires the bug hat, bug spray, and courage. 

Oh, Fred! I was sitting out back, reading. Then Fred caught my attention. She eyed me carefully. I kept an eye on her because something was up. She ran past my half-eaten hostas 👀😏, then onto the driveway. I didn't have time to don bug gear, as I watched her run up the driveway, then towards the arbour. GONE!

Deerflies abound.  Sure, I thought, might as well get out of this funk and go looking for her. (I'd been awake since 3:30, for no apparent reason.) The deerflies will lessen in the month after mating season. Bug spray, long pants, off I went. 

No sign of Fred or a burrow. I am sure one if not both kits are there. I think. She was back 20 minutes later. I could not find a sign of another burrow. Well done!

I picked myself up another tick. You can compare the nymphs to the adult I found last week. I should have put my clothes out in the sun after I came home. Rookie mistake. I felt the pain and itching right away, plucked it out with tweezers, and popped it in the jar. I applied polysporin and a bandaid, and hoped for the best. I think it was only attached 5 minutes before I felt it.

The red-eyed vireo are coming along. I try not to disturb them. They are above the path from the garage to the shed and I have to avoid it so as not to flush her.  

🇨🇦 I had a lovely Canada Day phone call from Jesse and his family in B.C. They are at the cottage for three weeks. Jesse just passed another exam to add letters to him name! We're so proud. Jess took Cluny to Cultus Lake, where they did paddle boarding. Bryony and mom went to the pool. Happy kids, happy parents! 

Bernie, their cat, has has some expensive healthcare, something about a UTI. He is a pistol! Think Bernie Saunders!

Our Ottawa grandies: Jordan went to his prom. They had so much fun, a group going as buddies. Jordan is busy choosing a residence at Queen's for astrophysics. This was taken before they left. I photoshopped out his friend as I don't have permission to post her photo.

 

Aster wrote me a lovely letter and included some flowers she dried. She goes out for walks and collects flowers. Aster is taking an online summer course to get that off her plate for gr. 10 next year. She graduated from Pathfinders, with some awards. 

It was a great Canada Day across the country. We've taken our flag back from the convoy lunatics. We are in good hands with PM Carney, a clever, experienced leader and economist.