Saturday's Critters

 What a week! So happy to relax and watch our critters. New shingles on the roof, and a root canal for me! The pain is lessening. We're moving into the Computer Age, and watching the news and soccer, hopefully, on the Internet. 

In the peace and quiet, after two days of banging, hammering, and chaos, the critters came back out. 

I have to repost Barry Beaver, who is cleaning up his mess. It all blew over in our big storm.

July 11th, our regular pair of kits were hanging out.

I think this is Auntie Fred, July 17th. 

In the peace and quiet, I could hear the Black-billed Cuckoo.

 

 It's not a good video, but I think it is the Fisher at the back door. July 7 Between humidity, heat and rain, condensation tends to condense on the camera lens. 

   

 Labbit came by! I haven't seen her in ages! 

   

 Butch has been active. 

   

 The coyote colours are amazing. 

 

Saturday's Critters # 657 Visit Eileen for more critters from around the world.

Swimming!

Sitting on the back deck has been lovely. I heard the black-billed cuckoo cuckooing, along with the mourning dove. 

It's been very hot, though, and I have been moaning about missing my swim buddies. I went to the website, and the beach nearby was good. Although with cutbacks, they only test the water once per week. Usually, after a rain, we get e-coli at the beaches. 

Aster was camping on the St. Lawrence with friends. Jordan is packing and restudying math for Queens University in September. We used to go to the beach often during Gramma Camp. In August, 2020, we were there three times one week. 

There were so many games. We spent hours looking for fish. 

We were last swimming together July 5th, 2023. 

Back to the present. Aug. 13, I decided to cough up the $10 and visit the beach myself. Joe cannot swim, he's got a bad shoulder. We'd just had some rain, and I knew the beach would be quiet. No teens throwing a football at one another, or screaming kids, or smokers, with smoke drifting my way. Yes, I'm an old fart. 

We'd just had a rain storm, thankfully, but I was determined to go for a swim. 

It's about 5 km down the road, and I packed simply. I put on my suit, grab a couple of towels, and Joe's camera and my wallet. My bathing suit dates back some years, but I swim so infrequently, I'm not sure it's worth it. I wore this suit when we 4 went to Dominican Republic in November, 2017, but it is older than that!

Here I am, the only car in the parking lot! It was bliss. 

The skies were lovely. Clouds bouncing on by. I tried to splice these photos, but gave up. You get the picture! 

There's a large dog print, but dogs aren't allowed at the beach. Just sayin'.

I saw a dog walk through the trees on the right, and go down to the beach on the other side of the buoys. I assumed there was a human there with it. Sure enough, I could hear her on her phone while doggie rolled in the sand. It was surreal!

Off in this bay, I spotted about a dozen geese flying in. They are noisy as they land on their feet and waterski into the bay.

This mat is a great instalment, which allows wheelchair users to go into the water. What a great idea.

There is a fire ban, and the little BBQs have been covered up. Isn't it a nice spot, though?! 

The Osprey have a nest, they were flying about. They are beautiful to watch, soaring up and around.

I made it home, and inspected the fishies. They look pretty good, considering the heat. They prefer cooler temperatures than tropical fish. The rain fills the water barrel, which flows into the pond. I counted 8 fish. A good sign.

I arrived home, and somebody in my house tried to hang up my suit on the plant hook. Unfortunately, he tried to stand on the chair. He's pretty sore, with terribly stiff muscles. Dr. Ho's has been beneficial. He's got limited mobility for now. 

Sitting and sitting down is OK. Standing up is bad, as he loses his balance with the pain. I'm going to take over dishes for now. Bending is impossible. He takes his cane into the bathroom, which saved him from a fall. He's in a lot of pain. Such is life.

I toodled into town and bought us pizzas for dinner. That'll last several meals. Meantime, I woke to a chilly 9 ℃, I'm glad I went swimming when I did. 

Fred, the cuckoo, loons

Fred and miniFred have still been around. They are incredibly wary. Recently, I haven't seen the fox in the daytime, which is good news. Can you see them behind the lilac tree?! I was afraid to move before taking a photo, but they both stuck around. 

MiniFred checks out Paul and the goose:

Cinnamon and I were reading on the back deck, Joe having his nap.

I could hear a loon, as well. There are people following the loon family on the lake. These are from days when  I was able to canoe, or wandered about. 

 Not so bad birding from the back deck! Thing is, there is the highway out this way, and no water for  perhaps 500m. 

They have marvellous songs.

 

I took a walk. The black-billed cuckoo was calling. Or so I think, as does Merlin! I cannot find it, just follow it along the edge of the wetland. Joe can't hear it, I can't spot it! The sound is really interesting.