Clouds everywhere!

Yes, indeed. The weather is changing. On Monday, the low light levels highlighted everything!

I love the dark clouds, looking as if it is time for snow. November clouds are different.

Tuesday was a bit chilly! 

The birds are happy with the feeders! This one a gift from son Jesse and his family a few years ago! 

On Tuesday, I could see a line of clouds. I watched them approach.

We are in for snow, at some point. The Great Lakes are quite warm, which means Lake Effect snow is more likely as cold winds pick up the moisture and brings it our way.

I'm still working on leaves around the house. The ladder is still up, as the wind is sending catalpa tree leaves into the gutter, and over the rooftop, onto the back deck.

I could hear the aquarium topper creak. I knew he was up there. 

I'm still working on a plan!

Having scolded Cinnamon off the fish tank, I looked out in the yard and thought I spotted Nutmeg. Nope! She was downstairs watching the backyard, for good reason. This was our little feral visitor (I think) that I named Oregano. He's back! He turned to look at me (Nutmeg wouldn't bother!) and rushed off  'quick and sprightly,' to quote Isabelle!

Oregano was a frequent visitor in winter. (He's an intact male – the worst kind!) I caught him on the front porch trailcams last year.

After walkies to the trailcams, I checked on the goldfish pond: two frogs and one toe biter. I caught one in October, so I figured there had to be two. [Moving the froggies] Catching it in the net, I took off to the wetland.

I moved the water beetle to the wetland. I give up on the froggies! It flew away before I made it, but hopefully in it flew in the right direction.

Monarchs

I don't know what killed them. I have to trust that Mother Nature knows what she is doing.

I found 4 monarch caterpillars, but I found three dead, the one attached to the leaf with a bug near it. 

Some of The milkweed were hit by frost, and are discoloured. 

I wonder if this beetle is to blame. The larvae looks fierce.

 

Monarch butterfly from last year. I'd forgotten I'd videotaped it. monarch hatches  Ain't old age grand?! 

Gramma Camp – Week 35.2

 Tuesday

Grampa did his morning walkies, and found a bunny.

Billie lives in a nearby community. Billie's mummy is a local artist, whom we met during an art show. JB often meets Billie and her daddy in the park, also walking in the early morning.

It was a busy day. Josephine was asked to help do Isabelle's hair that same as hers. Jos said she was too tall, and to crouch down.

Off they went with backpack, water bottles, hats and money.

I found this little red-eyed vireo nest where I trimmed trees.

I had to work on the garden, again, and prop up the yellow flowers. They have taken over as the tiger lillies finish their bloom cycle.

I think this is 

False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) 

and

Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanica) 

Cinnamon was watching, but no help at all.

Shopping at the antique store!

We needed some groceries, too. Grampa thought the flour in our panty was older than he is.

The girls are getting older. I bought the moon (see below) at another store years ago. I've repainted it. They have loved it, using their Lego with it, and making the figures go up and down the stairs. They really aren't Lego girls anymore. We'll have to pass the Lego on to someone. 

I made this barrier when Isabelle was young. We were worried at them falling down the stairs. The moon thingie was so much fun with their Lego pieces. I've taken it apart.

These chair/beds have been amazing, but we needed to find them a new home. I posted it on the Facebook For Free/Barter local page and they were claimed (virtually) within an hour. The first woman came at 4 p.m., and was going to use them for her grandies. The second woman was getting the pink one for her kid.

I knew that the second woman had arrived, as Nutmeg acted like a guard dog, and leapt up on top of the back of the couch, looking out the window, somewhat worried-appearing! She has never done that before. She may have been afraid that they were coming to do the driveway again.

After debating about dinner, we didn't do menus this week, I went from ribs to hamburgers. That, and grilled veggies. It is just too hot. We are playing it by ear this week! 

I reminded Josee to practice her French Horn! Her teacher has her working on Hark The Herald, you see.

Critter sightings...

This plant has friends. I forget the name of the plant. Soon it will bloom and I'll either remember, or be able to re-research it! (That's the way I roll in the garden!) The leafhopper/aphid (Cicadellidae) was such a lovely colour.


Everything has bugs on it! This is a little milkweed, with aphids and ants!


Forest walkies, at a brisk pace, due to the bugs. I took this to be able to remember where I placed trailcam #1! :-)


A lovely little garter snake was basking in a spot of sun.
Tent caterpillar moth, the caterpillars have mostly morphed.


The deerflies are horrid. I slather on baby oil. It keeps them off my skin, for the most part. I've harvested 33, 39, and 24 yesterday.



The goldfish are happy. I wrap the deerfly sticky on the stick and feed the deerflies to them.



I was on the back deck, reading, trying not to cough. In the forest, I could hear the jays screaming (as when there is a predator) and another bird sort of whistling.
It was a hawk of some sort. I've seen it whip out of there, pedal to the metal, and do this before. I don't think it had anything. This is the second time I've seen this! I just happened to have the zoom lens on, with auto focus.

red-tailed hawk

This is our sharp-shinned hawk.