On the ground, in the air

 We had our septic tank fixed on Tuesday. The dude said we (I) should cut the grass and weeds over the septic bed. It is easier than paying for a new septic system ($25,000)! The roots could damage the septic bed. The bed is larger than I thought. I was so sad! There aren't enough wild flowers to my mind. 

This is the before!

The bees and monarchs love the Viper's Bugloss.... goodbye!

I wasn't happy. I don't think I chewed up any frogs. Last time it was a milk snake... 😢 next, I have to take down that sapling in the other side of the ditch. I've not got a plan for that, yet.

I spotted a Gray Tree Frog on the table out front.

People were wondering what this flight was all about! It even made the CBC news. In this climate, you never know what the US Administration is up to. A former NORAD officer believes it is a training flight. No one would talk about it from the government. It is really noisy, apparently. It came from Bangor, Maine. The USAF has a YouTube video which show the outside and inside up close.

Wikipedia

Also up in the air this Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk flying at 53,000' over the Black Sea. They are amazing machines.

🥇 It's terrific having uplifting news!  🥇  Hardworking young people!

Backyard, ivy, wood pewee

Day by day, we are recovering. Thankfully. I seem to be coughing about 4 hours into sleep. I use the puffer and get another 4 hours. 

The lawn was getting rather frowsy. I did the back yard with the lawn tractor. We were expecting Tropical Storm Betty, and I thought I'd give it a go. There isn't any effort involved, so my lungs didn't suffer greatly. It was pretty shaggy. 

August is an interesting season. The vine is making its way up the house. Oct. 20, 2021, vs. August, 2024. I think it is a Hydrangea Vine. Vines are not good for bricks and mortar. (It gets into the mortar and erodes it.) Cedar planks? Dunno.

I don't feed the hummingbirds now, since there are lots of flowers in bloom, including wildflowers. Bugloss, brown-eyed Susans, woodland sunflower. I was looking out front at the hanging basket and spotted a doe.

I've been looking in my files, trying to see if I actually had a photo of a Wood Pewee, since Merlin told me we had one. They've nested and babies have fledge. No more lovely songs. This popped up in a sparrow search! (AI, indeed!) May 24, 2019, at 8 a.m.

🔥🚒Out west, people will find out they can get back into their homes in Jasper. About 5000 were evacuated.

🌧 We had rain (61mm/2.5"), but living in a wetland, it drains away from the house. The cities did not fare as well. There was a big effect from the remnants of Hurricane Debby in Ottawa. Montreal, in spots, had over 200mm (7.9"). How can that much rain travel so far?! How can the clouds carry it all? 

Our Volunteer Firefighters from District 6 have been working diligently to help residents with the flooding in Dunrobin, Carp & West Carleton.

They responded to 20+ calls for flooded basements with extra pumps on board our trucks, culverts cleaned out & electrical safety checks… pic.twitter.com/VlUf07j1MZ

— Ottawa Fire Services (@OttFire) August 10, 2024

STORM UPDATE | Heavy rain in Gatineau Park

⚠ For safety reasons, please note the following:
🚌 Shuttle service is cancelled this weekend
❌ The parkway network is closed to all visitors until further notice
🅿 Parking lot closures in effect: P10, Dunlop, P11, P12, P13#ottnews pic.twitter.com/7ZsfHTcHXn

— Gatineau Park (@NCC_GatPark) August 10, 2024

Life unfolds as it should

I woke at 3 on Tuesday and didn't get back to sleep until 5. When I awoke at 7 a.m., it was from a nightmare where I couldn't insert my card into the bank machine to get my money out. So silly. Coffee helped. We had an appointment at the bank! Our brains work in mysterious ways.

We had a good day. We opened up our new savings account, went to the government office to change my CPP to my new account, fueled up the car, and headed to the Cafe to scavenge salads and a piece of quiche for dinner. Joe is getting his energy back and he went in to fetch the food. He continues to take his 100mg Doxycycline twice a day. Fever and chills are gone. We are pleased with his progress. He is still tired and I am keeping a close eye on him!

Lunch over, I did the lawns. I leave the plants growing in spots for the frogs and snakes and critters. The hummingbirds like the Bugloss. 

With the storm on the way, it was good timing to do it beforehand. We've expect 30 - 50 mm rain. An inch to two inches. We shall see. I may have to do indoor play. Floors need doing. We're on the edges of the 60 - 80 mm point, it seems to follow highway #7. 

There was a pop-up storm Tuesday afternoon, it didn't last long. My work was done on the tractor. It was so hot.  

 

🐟Aquarium Repairs <= the saga!

July 7th

After filling it, I noticed the same side leaking as before on July 3rd. I redid that corner. It's not a tidy job, but the fish won't complain. The goldfish pond freezes solid in winter. 

July 8th 

I refilled it. Checking it every hour, it seems to be holding. It is a miracle! 

 

I emptied the aquarium, and tipped it over, anticipating the storm. The kids are coming over on the weekend. They will help me lift it back indoors and onto the stand. 

I am happily cooking with and eating up my cherry tomatoes. Oh, yay fresh produce. It is wonderful hustling out the front door and grabbing handful of them. 

 

The bullfrog in the goldfish pond is doing well. He doesn't seem to mind the heat. I warned him about today's rain. He looked glum. 

A lovely spider web. They are difficult to photograph! The light has to be just right. You'll have to biggify it! 

I like seeing livecams! Here is one that shows them fixing the Blakeney Bridge! You can see the water flowing under the bridge at times. 

It's Canada Day!

We spent Canada Day with this girls one year. That was my favourite. Canada is 155 years young. There are many Indigenous People who aren't celebrating. The government did such harm. I hope reconciliation continues. Out of respect for Indigenous People and the Sixties Scoop, many of us reflect on the past, the present, and the future. 

This is my favourite flag. This beautiful flag was designed by the late Curtis Wilson, who lived in Campbell River, B.C. He died of a heart attack. Curtis "Mulidzas" Wilson (1980-2019) 

I don't like fireworks, and maybe tonight's rain will dissuade them. We've some US cottagers and they tend to extend the celebrations. 

In the meantime, I shall enjoy the garden. The season is so short!

The Bugloss is visited often by the hummingbird. I haven't, as yet, managed a photo!

The clematis is lovely! I held the camera above my head for this.

The back deck has been safe and fun. The bugs have lessened, and I've enjoyed reading back there. We seem to have two little frogs on a consistent basis. She spent all day there.

Life imitates art! This one hopped off and climbed on the swing bench as I worked.

The potato beetles have been at the Angel's Trumpet, Brugmansia.

Happy Canada Day to one and all. We've been cleaning and tidying. Jesse and family leave Vancouver today to visit in Ottawa. We anticipate their visiting us on Monday. I've beds to make, tidying to do, and I'm looking forward to welcoming them!