Fred, AKA Trouble!

But first, some funnies.

🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀

 I am pleased that people are wanting more of Fred Groundhog! I hope not to bore you. They are truly taking up my leisure hours, as well as my work efforts in the garden. I find it immensely entertaining. So far! The summer is young, though. 

Big Auntie Fred and #75 squirrel. You can see a kit in the background.

Fred makes its bed. Leaves in the mouth, a big sign. They've been working under the deck, under the wood pile (burrow #8). The people that built the house put lots of large gravel loads around the house for drainage. Fred pokes a piece of gravel with its nose. 

   

 I find it funny trying to keep track of them. I remember taking my three kids shopping. Madly counting: 1 – 2 – 3, all is good, all 3 accounted for. We've 4 kits, plus Auntie Fred, last year's kit. The coyotes grabbed a couple of them last year. All they need is 'one and a spare!' We've still 4. 

   

 I spotted a Fred on the driveway. I wonder where they go. There isn't a lot of land where they can dig burrows. The shallow soil doesn't lend itself to deep groundhog burrows.

   

 The sidewalk trailcam captured one in the act. FREEDOM!!!

 

Caitlin's Trip overseas

 Switzerland (SRH) 

In Switzerland, she went into the FIFA Museum. There was a shoe from a game in New Zealand. Barbra Banda's boot used to score the 1000th goal. Zambia's first appearance at FIFA. It was a game they attended when they were there a few years ago.

to Helsinki (HEL), Finland. Close to landing! 

sauna in the harbour

Suomenlinna Island by Ferry

The weather is good. In the 20s, not like Europe which has a heat wave. 

"The barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a species

 of goose that belongs to the genus Branta of black geese..."

A new burrow!

 Tuesday was our big trip into Ottawa to visit with Joe Brian's urologist. More on that later. 

The miniFreds have opened up a new burrow. Truthfully, Momma Fred (RIP) began it and I filled it in a couple of years ago. They are on burrow #8, right under the wood pile. I've closed up #3, 7 and 6. 

Can you see it?! 

It looks like Big Fred, last year's remaining kit, has retaken the shed burrow (#2). Squirrel #75 seems to visit.

This is the flag garden, nestled in behind the lilac. It was an attempt to video miniFred, who was climbing the skinny elm tree to the right of the flag pole. 

This is the very best spot for munching on milkweed plants! I'll only need a few blossoms to have seeds for next year, I write hopefully!  They seem to be their favourite food.

There seems to be two that always stay together. At least there is often a pair of the 4 kits. They are voracious. Watch as this one climbs the stairs and has full access to the garden. My dippy little fence is useless. 

 

 We've critters on the move in the night. I haven't seen any coyotes in the day time, but they are sniffing around!

 

Look who is back!

Normally the kits would run up to Momma Fred and they'd nuzzle noses. Not this time. It can't be momma Fred. 

 

 Last year's kit came back. The one who spent winter under the shed. At least I think it is her. I was watching from the deck. One miniFred ran out to see her, and got close, then ran away. 

I figure I'll call her 'big Fred' since she isn't a kit anymore, and is in her second year. 

The miniFreds are quite affectionate, and bonded. 

 I need to stain the middle deck to preserve it. I am going to have trouble with this! 

 

Everyone uses the stairs!

 

We had a massive storm go through. I've some images of some very wet groundhogs, who then look like muskrats. We had 21mm rain (nearly an inch) and things are soaked. 

Big Fred looks healthy, if damp.