Deer, Fred, and Cinnamon

 Living in the middle of an ecosystem, habitat for many critters, I enjoy watching them. My parents were role models for retirement. They volunteered in a whole bunch of things. I cannot do that kind work any more. I volunteer one-on-one.  And my critters.

This is where Barry Beaver is doing his work. Ignore the time/date stamp. These were this week!

I do appreciate those not living in a wetland who enjoy my critters. It gives me joy. I looked out back, and spotted two deer. Don't zoom in. I was using the zoom, without my reading glasses, or the tripod! 😆

We tried watching tennis, but our Canadian players keep getting injured. I have theories about this: pushing too hard; going for speed, not finesse; too many tournaments. One family earned their trip to the Toronto women's tennis.

The flowers have been wonderful. The golden yellow is pretty, smooth oxeye I think.

I had two water lilies in bloom, this water lily is done, but another is on its way.

I love cloud watching. August has been dry in the past, but not this year! Saturday morning, the cats were roaring around at 5:30. I figured I might as well get up. 

I threw some cabbage out, knowing we wouldn't eat it. Fred devoured it.

   

 Fred has been busy. He's digging up sand from underneath the garden.

   

 Do you know how much cats like sand?!

 

Flowers, gardens, deer and Fred

This is such a wonderful time of year. Everything is growing, if not in bloom.

The Catalpa tree is in bloom. 

Sweet William and Day Lilies

Wandering out to the front yard, I wanted a photo of the milkweed plants! The field is full of them. Bring on the Monarch butterflies!

Just after I clicked the photo, a deer poked its head up, and took off. Can you see its rear end?! 

This is why they are called White Tail Deer!

Then I looked down, here was Nutmeg looking for mice. She couldn't have been more than a couple metres from the deer. I have her on a trailcam carrying her prey up to the house. 

This is Cinnamon showing off. 

Fred has been shifting the tarp that will go over the wood pile in winter. It's been doggy digging, and shuffling rocks with its nose. 

Now, they used the tarp to cover up their hole. I knew Momma Fred had done this in the wood shed, but now I have proof.

3 Freds were gallivanting on last year's wood. I think they spend much time on top of the wood pile as under the ground. 

Birds and deer

 I am ready! The hummingbird feeders are up.

#75 is cleaning up under the feeder. As I wrote yesterday, I will put away the sunflower seed feeder once I see the grosbeaks have returned! 

Evening grosbeak:

As a bonus, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak!

Maybe a little bit more time. I await the bears...

We haven't seen deer in weeks! A trio turned up Sunday morning. Can you see the Evening Grosbeak in the upper right corner on the feeder stand?!

She seems to have a round belly!

One was out in the backyard:

We had an adventure into Ottawa for Caitlin's concert. We had so much fun. More to come!

Deer family and fundraisers

 I keep saying it, but soon it'll be the last of the deer. They disperse in summer. 

They lay down, eyes and ears peeled for predators while chewing their cud.

The cats and I need morning entertainment. Normally they fight outside the door. I try to let one of them inside the bathroom while I do my ablutions. It occurred to me to put the ribbon under the door. This was Cinnamon's turn. Nutmeg was outside the door.

We've had a pair of crows. I peeked out the window, and they flew off. 

Next, along comes a single turkey tom. The fawn found the creature interesting.

 

In news, the 🇨🇦 Canadian flight attendant who was ejected from the Jazz plane in that horrific incident at 🇺🇸 LaGuardia is facing a long journey back to health. According to her fundraiser, she flew 100m in the air. There are lots of surgeries, and she is still in a New York hospital. It is going to cost a fortune to get her all the surgeries and rehab she will need. It's beyond me why someone else isn't paying for this. It would be covered with universal healthcare in Canada. 

AV Brief

While I am at it. Our blog friend, Scary Mary, has bad news about her daughter and her health issues. A family friend is doing a fundraiser: GoFundMe Link. Not only that, but Mary herself had a health  episode: Apartment Life #413. I feel so badly for all those going though trauma.