Saturday, 30 August 2025

Saturday's Critters

 We have critters on the move! During the drought, things were pretty quiet out there. I am happy to report lots of them are on the trailcam. Some both come and go, maybe a day or two apart, others rush by headed for somewhere!



Cinnamon and I went down to fetch the memory cards. Just for fun, I videotaped Cinnamon as I asked him about going 'walkies!' He also knows the word, 'dinner!'

   


 I found our porcupine. 

   


 We haven't seen the fawn since I spotted it on the Crumbly Acres camera, just after it was born out front.  Here they are in the forest at the frog pond trailcam.

 

Fisher Otter Aug. 16  I think Jim is right! 

   

 3 turkeys

 

Then there is the skunk!I love that bushy tail.

 

Saturday's Critters # 611 <= for more critters, visit Eileen. 

Friday, 29 August 2025

Last view of critters & RAIN!

 We were quite happy to have rain on Thursday. I did a quick outdoor job, removed the out-of-hand burdock, then rested on the back deck. All morning, no rain, despite the forecast. This is a non-mental note to not let it get so big. I waited until the blooms were done, for the insects.

August, 2024 – shoulda removed it then.

I watched the clouds, then, finally, the rain began.




As always, I have to check the eaves for leaves. Yup, overflowing. Non-mental note for the To Do List. The goldfish pond was overflowing.



 

 🚲 Our friend Rick, cycling for 1500 miles, rested in Ottawa on Wednesday, did bike repairs on Thursday. I emailed to see where he was, then checked his Facebook page:
"Tomorrow I will be camping on the St. Lawrence River after a big ride of 115 miles. The rain is stopping and the wind will be at my back. No problem. September is coming and the days are getting both shorter and cooler."

🐸 The goldfish pond is hosting a green frog, now, in addition to the two bullfrogs.





We'll say farewell to the insects, bees and wasps, who will sleep for the winter. Others migrate.




The goldenrod is busy with bugs! 


How much rain did we get? A LOT! Two dumps, about 43 mm (~1.7") for the day. We were so relieved. 


Thursday, 28 August 2025

The tail end of summer!

 Well, back to 'normal' for us. I have been so busy, highly unusual! I am happy to have a quiet day. My arms are sore, now, with all the staining. Repetitive strain stain injury, since the paint roller on the heavy extension arm gave me some aches. Not until the day after, though!

Nature really slow down in September. The grass is dry and not growing. The plants are done. I leave the plants to fall over, as I know the critters use it as winter habitat and protection. 

I meant to show my new swimsuit! A two-piece, but I have enjoyed a couple of swims after all this heat in the beginning of the month. I'll have to wash it and put it away for winter. 


I thought this a sort of artsy photo of Aster fetching something from their  EV Leaf last week. 


I was quite happy to see three raccoons, as I figure a couple are grown kits. I hadn't seen any this year. 

Soon we'll see the last of the tree frogs! Can you see it?


The phlox is doing really well. In past years I think it needed water, sitting under the smaller catalpa tree. I did water it prior to the drought. It smells so pretty! Soon the moths and other insects will go to bed, in the meantime they are enjoying the flowers.




And I always like to get an image of the last hummingbirds. This may well be it! The flowers have lost their petals, and are settling in for fall and winter.

Last view: hummingbird Aug. 24


 


 The hibiscus is the last to flower. 


 

Another last photo: of Rick. I was at a meeting the morning he left. Joe escorted him down the driveway to the highway.


We wished him well on his journey.

   

  Here is his adventure with us in Lanark County! 


We anticipate heavy rain storms for a few days. He wrote that he was taking a rest day. Good idea!



Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Deck work, Part 2

 I worked on restaining the upper deck, next job was the lower deck. My window of opportunity was closing. We needed no rain, and temperatures above 10 ℃, and our September overnight temperatures are getting lower.

I didn't need to sand it, just use the power washer on a few boards where they get moisture from the foliage on dewy nights. I know I should have done this last year, but I wasn't in a good mental space for that. And I missed the window. Why stain decks when you cannot sit on them in our short season called summer?! 


I worked as fast as I could, trying to be frugal with the water. 


I waited for the deck to dry, and began with the drip line under the railings. Dew drips onto the deck and I wanted to do a good job there.


I used the little roller under the railing:

There we go. That looks much better. 


Of course, we had a pop-up rain storm! It didn't last long, and didn't dump much rain (5 mm/ 0.02") so I hope for the best.


This morning, I woke to 11 ℃, and 10 is the lowest temperature they recommend for 24 - 48 hours. I think we'll be OK, although I can still smell the stain. We'll cross our fingers. What a relief to get it done. Finally!

🚴I've updated the post on our friend, Rick, who rode from here to Ottawa on his bicycle (Google map). We helped him pick out a trail, going east through Smiths Falls, and up Prince of Wales by the river. It's the route we take for our Ottawa urologist/surgeon visits. 

It was nice of him to check in with us. He had a great ride, even though his ride here was the worst on awful trails. Whew! 

Tuesday, 26 August 2025

🚴‍♂️ Rick's 1500 mile trip

   🚴‍♂️ My American blog friend, Jeanie, has asked us to host her 'squeeze', Rick. What fun is that?! Now, I am an anxiety-ridden host. I worry about things being just right. My mother was a perfectionist, and I could never live up to her standards. I haven't done a lot of washing up, or laundry, or floors, as we are hoping for an end to the water shortage. 

 Rick is on Facebook, here he is with my blog friend, Jeanie, who asked if we could billet him. He left Lansing on Aug. 13th.

Thing is, this man has been on the bike for days, and all he needs is food, wifi, and a bed! We were excited to help him on his tour. No pressure! 

This was his planned route:

You can follow Rick's journey here on Facebook:

"So far seventy is just like sixty nine although I am probably in a bit better cycling shape. That's a good thing as I will be doing... yet another, starting August 13 by riding 1500 miles to Pittsfield, MA via Canada, the Haskell Library (straddling the Canada-US Border)... I will catch a train to Toledo and ride back to Lansing. Watch this space for updates along the way. It will be an adventure of a lifetime!"

🗺 I made a map of his progress as we waited for him to arrive! He had to avoid Algonquin Park, due to the fires they had. 

 Our house guest rode a long way, and still a long distance to go. Sunday, Aug., 24th he emailed from Tweed saying he had 120km to go to get to us! He planned on doing that today. Oh my. He left at 9 a.m., and we waited to see when he showed up!

Aster made the bed for him, for me, after their Friday night visit.


Joe went for groceries. 


He finally arrived, but told us it was the worst ride of his life. 😣 And he's covered a lot of territory on two wheels.



The first thing was to sit, and rehydrate!

He was on the Trans Canada Trail, but not meant for cyclists in some places. Municipalities take different responsibility for this trail, built on old train track routes. People use ATVs and snow machines on it. Rocks, bumps, on an old railway bed isn't great for cycling. I felt so badly. He could only go 8 or 9 miles an hour, normally he manages 20 miles an hour. 


This Trans Canada Trail sign came off in a vehicle incident on the highway. I hung on to it as it is in bad shape. This was the prefect opportunity to use it!


He sat for a bit. Then a shower, then Joe took him downstairs to do his laundry, lending him some clothes. 


The next day, Monday, I had a deck to stain, so Joe took Rick around the area. They had lunch out and a fun time telling all sorts of tales. I ended up with a stitch in my back, but a finished job. Whew.



Dinner was take out, as my muscles are giving me grief! We all had Jambalaya from Boston Pizza, a Canadian chain. 

He planned out his route from us to Ottawa!


Rick plans on stopping in at Knowlton, Que., where Louise Penny lives and works. I wish him luck. We thought we'd watch the show about Inspector Gamache. The Three Pines show.  He is a fan. 

I've an orientation session for volunteer work at 9 a.m., so we'll both take off this morning. Fare thee well, Rick! 

Another last photo: of Rick. I was at a meeting the morning he left. Joe escorted him down the driveway to the highway.


We wished him well on his journey.

   

  Here is his adventure with us in Lanark County! 

UPDATE Tuesday, Aug. 26: Rick left at 10 a.m., made it to the Ottawa boundary by 1:30. Map update: rode from here to Ottawa on his bicycle (Google map).


UPDATE Aug. 28
 Our friend Rick, cycling for kms, rested in Ottawa on Wednesday, did bike repairs on Thursday. I emailed to see where he was, and he said he'd post. 
"Tomorrow [Friday] I will be camping on the St. Lawrence River after a big ride of 115 miles. The rain is stopping and the wind will be at my back. No problem. September is coming and the days are getting both shorter and cooler."

Ottawa to Salaberry de Valleyfield to Knowlton, Que.