Happy Sweet 16!

 I cannot believe where the time goes! However, Josephine is 15 years old today. I texted Caitlin and told her to expect a delivery for Jos' 16th, but she patiently explained she is only 15. This is going to be the funniest thing I've done all year! 😉 Don't tell the kids! 

In my defense, I think, as her birthday approached I flipped her age to 15. Then just flipped it, again!

This is a screen capture of what I chose to send. We'll see if it matches what she gets. We'll do her birthday later. 

We have sniffles going about, so we won't see them this weekend. We really got to know our Ottawa grandies during the pandemic. They spent 35 weeks with us, on and off. It was such a blessing. Jess and his Vancouver family visited in July, and that was terrific.

In December 2007, I recall Caitlin phoning saying she was going into labour. We packed up, and began the drive from Muskoka to Ottawa. It is about a 4 1/2 hour drive. By the time we arrived, the trio were home from the hospital, and all was well. She was and is a wonderful mother. I am so happy she had midwives for the delivery. (Isabelle was born at home!) 

In 2009, we visited and I was proud of Josee baby, and my other new baby, the book I wrote about caring for my ailing parents.

This is one of my favourite videos! "What does your belly button say?"  "BEEP!"

   

 This is more timely, we visited at Christmas, but were living in Muskoka at the time.

 

She has grown into a smart, lovely young lady. Her Gr. 10 report card was great. We are so proud of them all, our 4 granddaughters! 

We ease into winter...

This is our set up, so far! We've been having fun decorating. JB is obsessed with his train set, and I quite like it. So do the cats! It is almost balanced, and the cardboard is unbent. It stood up in the basement and had a nice bend. 

First job was batteries. The taller houses have 3 AA's in them.  These little houses, below, each have three wee disk batteries. Of course we didn't have any extras. JB went off to look for them and changed our minds. Each one is $7. That's more than he paid for the wee houses! 

The bears have a sign.

The cats sit on clown pants, still. I don't know why she likes to sit on top of Clown Pants. He likes to sit in the head in, butt out. She is a control freak. 

I didn't venture out of the house yesterday. It rained all day, off and on. JB went off on his own to his Bone Mineral Density Scan #7, we hunkered down back inside. 

I did wander down to the trailcams a couple of days ago. You can see where the raccoons dig for grubs.

 

raccoon evidence from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Funnily enough, Butch was on the trailcam hunting for said grubs! They stomp on the ground to disturb them, and dig them up!

 

deer in the dark from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It's been a great spot for the trailcam, a path between the forest and meadow, with the deer scrape. Even the doe pauses for an itch.

 

itchy doe from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

In the meantime, out front, count the eyeballs!

 

deer in the dark from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Monday was a busy day!

The cats aren't thrilled with the change in weather. Their toy, 'Clown Pants,' was sitting on the floor. We've had Clown Pants since 2012. Cinnamon likes to sit in them, with his behind hanging out.

 Nutmeg has been sitting on top of it. Last night, Cinnamon, ever the gentle boy, went over and sat beside her. She is bossy. She'll nudge him away from the food bowl. He wanted her off his Clown Pants. We fed her a treat and she moved off! 

 Monday morning began bright and early. First job, putting out garbage. I like the new camera. 

 

 Fetched the trailcam memory card. Cinnamon went out for about 10 minutes. 

 

Just when I thought it would be a quiet day... I did an online grocery order Sunday. Tootling into town Monday, I picked up our groceries, got 4 bags of kitty litter, and got chores done. 

We are protesting a gun range

I checked out the signage the group put out. These are from the dashcam.

Having made a crock pot of chili, we hunkered down, smells wafting about the house. Just as I thought things were calm, an email went out. There was a sighting of someone removing the signs, the perp was in a recognizable truck, logo on the side. They went out and determined that 8 signs were gone, 2 were damaged. So much for peaceful protest! 

It has been reported, and people are not amused. 

CLown pants and the girls

This truly is a cat toy that somebody in my house bought. Buster and Felix didn't play with it much. The girls seem to love them! They sort of rattle, with crinkly sounds.

Everyone loves clown pants!

Dorah was cozy in the clown pants

fun toy for all!

Daisy is tired 

Quite the pair!

Sisters snuggle! Dorah rests her head on Daisy's bum.

Big wash-up for Dorah