Fred, wrens, cats!

 Fredlet has been around. 

My old camcorder has some issues. I've ordered a new one. 

 

It was funny to see her on the driveway. I've turned the camera to see if I can see where she is running to! (Stay tuned!) 

 

More excitement, the House Wrens are back. They came in late June and filled the Blue Bird nest box in preparation for nesting... and left. I think they found a better location. I noticed their songs, knew they'd come back, and saw them filling up the green and red nest boxes with debris. This prevent other birds from nesting there.

I realized that the kitchen window has been the victim of some enthusiastic dish washing! I fixed that.

That is better! Now I need to scrub the bird poop off, but don't want to disturb them!

It is delightful seeing them at the boxes. 

Can you see the stick sticking out?!

Here he sits on the corner of the eaves, singing his little lungs out. They have powerful songs.

Sitting on the back deck, May 20, 2019. Looking for love!

Things are peaceful indoors. The deerflies are horrid, and this keep them close.

Cats, snow, and rabbits

😼Two cats are ready for bed! They had a busy day. There are some issues going on here. Usually Nutmeg goes to bed after dinner. I go to bed to read and Cinnamon comes to bed. He often stays all night. Nutmeg will sleep here until Joe comes to bed. Then, she'll vacate. Lately, he's been coming to bed early. They do have personalities.

Now, I took my time doing the back deck. I waited until Tuesday. It looks so pretty. I did it in three sessions. Taking my time. 

🐇I mentioned Cinnamon sitting in the bathroom window watching something. This was Feb. 3rd. There is a good reason for that: Labbit. The bush on the right is a lilac. It has tender new shoots. 

I've spotted Labbit tracks beyond the septic bed. Not to bore you, but I wanted to figure it out, and show Joe and family where they are. This is the Muskoka Room, and I could see tracks in the snow. You can't see them through the screen, I marked them in red! The tracks lead to Fred groundhog's burrow where Labbit seems to be hiding out.

From the lilac bush, the tracks led to the back door where the bird feeder lies. Again, this is through the screen, I provide markers! 

Sure enough!

She's been sitting here during the day, munching on lilac saplings and buds for three days!

 

 On alternate days, I've found Labbit tracks from the two burrows. No tracks connecting them. I concluded that we have two in two separate Fred Groundhog burrows! We'll see if we get little Labbits in spring.

Here is Labbit under the deck, under the bird feeder.

 

Saturday's Critters on Crumbly Acres

Strange weather!

Jan. 2nd

We interrupt regular programming, as I bring to you the Hairy Frog Fish! 

There is little as exciting as this around here. We do enjoy our regulars. The gray squirrel launches itself from the bird bath cover. 

You can see the tracks in the slushy snow.

Female cardinal

This is very unusual, a starling, having a bath. Few of the birds are bathing at this time of year. The starling, being bug eaters, should have left. All I had handy was my zoom lens on the tripod. The action was funny.

Deer friends

   

 I missed last week's Saturday's Critters, here's my coyote howling! It is very loud, right near the camera!

 

Butch woke up during our melt. It was -7 C Friday. I'll bet they've konked out again.

   

 The cats run around the house. They aren't keen on the snow. It reminds me of sending students out for recess on a really cold day. The sheer exercise of getting dressed, going out for 10 minutes, and removing snowsuits, hats, mitts, boots, gloves was a good one.

   

 The deer are on the move. You can see where I shoveled the slush and stopped. 

 

Visit more critters at Eileen's blog: Saturday's Critters # 577!

Forest bathing

Thanks for reading yesterday's rant. When an issue hits close to home, it personalizes it for us. 

I will go back to my photos...

Finally Joe got his birthday meatloaf. Half is in the freezer, too.

I found two more deer scrapes. Seriously! 

Standing in the forest, looking into the still green wetland is so peaceful.

If you look closely, you can see the wood shed. 

This is the house up the hill.

I looked down at my feet! One does have to watch their step. It looks like legs bones from the deer up by the house. Still, I haven't seen a coyote in the day time for a long time. 

I know they are out there in the night. Lots of our wild animals know this. I can tell by out trailcams!

I spent Wednesday morning, while Joe was shopping, to put up lights. It's so dark so early. It made me happy.

We are rewatching Season 1 of Sherwood in preparation for Season 2! You know how that goes. They release a new season and it would help to have the continuity of the previous season.

The cats were thrilled with our latest TV adventure. 

I leave you with Joe's work of art! I posted it on our family photostream. Our SIL, JL, offered a mere $1,000,00099! 

Crumbly Acres

😷Crumbly COVID update: JB spent Sunday morning resting in bed after breakfast. He has a hand towel in which to sneeze. The headache improved. I checked on him every once-in-a-while. I went out back to read in the fresh air. 

I did manage some sleep overnight Saturday, and when I woke I didn't need the puffer. This is good. But that changed. 

😅Laugh, we must. At lunch I tried to find the can opener in order to open this can.  It's a pull tab. We are not running on all cylinders.

I was peckish, and could taste the Paxlovid. I took a bite of cracker and choked 10 minutes on a crumb. Jeez!  It so hurts to cough. 

😴 Poor JB must have had 3 or 4 long naps. I lost count. If you are tired, you sleep! I think we are on the upturn, but we shall see.

🐦 Now, what you've all been here for, critters!

 The water fountain isn't working properly. I've had to unplug it. I cannot fix it anytime soon, since I have to lift off the heavy pieces. There is mosquito larvae in it, as a result, but I can't fix it. We live in a wetland, and there is standing water there. 

I think this is an Eastern Kingbird.

bird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Cinnamon watched as I inspected the fountain. Nutmeg (AKA killer) was a bit grumpy. 

One of the plants in my planter died. It just rotted. There is one sprig left. There are viruses everywhere!!! Thankfully, there are back ups, petunias and potato ivy. I think that is a built-in redundancy? I like petunias! 

We had a touch of rain overnight, not enough to do any good. I ought to water my pumpkins, I'll see how I feel. They have taken over the front garden.  Isn't that a hoot? The critters eat my pumpkins, otherwise. This might be the new location for veggies. 

I'd taken these photos day before, but went to look at the pumpkins again. Look at them! The leaves are enormous. I'm pretty sure these are pumpkins. Yes, I'm that kind of gardener. I love the blossoms. So do the deer! I'll bet Fred would love them. 

My cherry tomatoes are wonderful.

The Tiger Lilies, and the Helianthus divaricatus (woodland sunflower) are doing well.

Honestly, Nutmeg!

Our phoebes fledged. Sadly, one flew into the garage, and the parent followed it. That was fun. They flew out eventually. The parent was so concerned. I tried to catch them with the butterfly net on the end of a long bamboo stake. I wore out the fledgling, captured it and tossed it up into the pine tree. The other parent met it, greatly concerned. We closed the garage door, and opened the side door. The door closing scared the other adult, and off it went. Whew.

phoebe fledged from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Thank you, again, for all your well wishes. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Joe Brian is still fighting this virus. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'll leave you with a photo from Lindell Beach, B.C. My three children are all together having an amazing visit. Caitlin has been kind enough to take photos for me.