Busy as bees

The flowers are doing their best to shine in the last warm days. The first is my planter. The next is the last of the hibiscus for the year. I think.

I spotted a hummingbird feeding on the rose, but I was too slow lazy to get up and try for a photo! 

🐸  Moving the froggies: Nov. 19th, 2023 a.m.    –   moved  3        = 144

Every year the green frogs and leopard frogs move into the goldfish pond when temperatures cool down. They are caught and transferred into the frog pond, which is deeper and a more stable winter home. I missed about 7 last year, and they rose to the surface of the pond (dead) in spring. 😢

Jeremiah Bullfrog seems to be keeping them at bay this year. That is a relief. He has grown. He's in for a shock when I have to drain it to find the goldfish!

The insects are flying around like mad. The wasps are busy trying to have last feeds. It makes sitting on patios somewhat treacherous. 

We had a massive rain. The bees under the sidewalk were locked out! I felt badly for them.

The bees under the sidewalk are busy as... bees!

This was fun to photograph. I headed off to the shed to do a lawn tractor run, and found it on the ground. If course I had to show Joe and take a photo. They have poisonous pokey bits, and one must be careful.

This is what they look like stretched out. I found a pair one year. 

This is what the adults look like:

Female Io - Automeris io moths,

Off I went to have a hair cut and chose to drive along highway #7. That might have been a mistake. There have been 3 fatal incidents along here recently. Over the years, people treat this as a 400-series highway, and often do 100+ km/hr. 

It was rush hour, or the hour when contractors rush back to base (3 p.m.). Two vehicles tried to pass me from a left turn lane. What's with this? This guy tailed me from a long distance, and finally did it through an intersection. I was doing 92 in an 80 km zone. (14:39 hours)

This pair, in the Optima truck, tried to pass twice in such a lane. Finally, he made it in a more suitable location. They tailed me several times, trying to peer into my back seat. I have complained to the company. I ought to get a rear view dashcam. (It was 14:43 hours.)

Slow down, peeps!

What a mess out there. Are people driving faster, and not giving a damn? There is so much passing, and dangerous driving. 

I'm thinking about the wonderful First Responders who take care of victims. There was a terrible incident.

#OttawaOPP, @OttFire, @OttawaPolice & @OttawaParamedic are on scene of a serious collision #Hwy416 S near Roger Stevens. The Highway is shut down North at Roger Stevens and South and Bankfield. Expect delays. One person taken by air ambulance with life threatening injuries. ^mf pic.twitter.com/AZd5ep5mhx

— OPP East Region (@OPP_ER) June 5, 2024

 

Grocery Shopping in December

 It's an awful time of year for driving. 🎁  People are in a rush. They are stressed, and not thinking clearly. 

 Poor Joseph Brian went in for groceries, prior to our Thursday storm, on Wednesday. JB had his hands full practicing defensive driving. You really have to watch around you.

parking lot from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

She had trouble choosing which way to go. You truly have to be predictable as both a pedestrian and a driver. And check your blind spot.

wilson st 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

He thought he was safely on his way home. Grampa dropped the F Bomb, sound off!

 

wilson st from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

 

In town and out

 Our grandies are coming today. We'll have some indoor play. We are ready. The house is fairly clean, but I won't worry, kids are coming! We've a new guest room mattress, sheets and new pillows. Sadly it appears that Omicron, Ba.5, is on the rise. We are being careful. 

Our local ER is still closed. We aren't testing properly. These are the high-risk cases where they qualify for PCR tests.

All we have are the rapid tests, less effective but if it is positive you know you've got it.

I was in town, and spotted this. I have not seen one in my 65 years! 

What I did see was the cedar waxwings chirping away in the bushes – eating the new berries. I think the one in the second photo hit the window. It doesn't happen often. It was fine.

I didn't have the zoom lens that afternoon. They like the sumacs, although those are dying out. Can you see it? 

The yucca plant is in bloom. It doesn't happen every year. This is a new plant. 

Perth put in these terrific strobing crossing lights that make everyone safe. Not that people actually take time to push the buttons! This person was a hoot. The truck didn't bother stopping. She gave it the finger. He was midway to crossing. Oh, people!

I went into town for a relaxing massage. A bit of rain. The drive was typical of summers in cottage country. I don't know why people cross in the middle of the street. They are on vacay, it's a Wednesday afternoon. We need drivers to be predictable, not suddenly brake in the middle of the road.  

driving from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It's raining today. I am glad. I was going to water if it didn't. 

I had a trip into town!

 I decided, with the troops arriving Monday, I should have a relaxing pedicure. Off I went. It didn't begin well.

Firstly, I was tailed by a Bell van the whole way into town. Then three emergency firefighter vehicles went by. I duly pulled over, which is the law. The Bell truck tried to pass me, since he didn't hear the sirens or see the flashing lights. 

Firefighters from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The town was crawling with people and vehicles. Into the hotel I went. The parking was atrocious, I snagged the 2nd last spot. I found the last viable spot, methinks. Some people aren't very good at parking between the lines!

This dude didn't seem to care where he parked. Parking was difficult to find. The employees park here, as well as guests. 

I had my pedicure, and relaxed. I needed that. It's a lovely setting for a spa and hotel. 

Out the window I could see the wedding preparations as Ivy worked on my toes. Women white dresses, and men in tuxes wandering back and forth! It's a popular spot for weddings. They stay in the hotel, have their hair done, and party. 

Stewart Park is amazing! The land was donated by Mrs. Stewart in 1947. What an everlasting donation. The gift was given on the condition that no one would be charged admission to visit. That's why the free July music festival is so much fun for all. I was there when there was another wedding: A wedding in Stewart Park in Perth. The photos are so much fun.

I had my deluxe pedicure, which includes a foot and leg massage. I was so relaxed. Heading home, I was tailed by a big, black SUV who thought I should be doing far more than the speed limit. I put on my turn signal, slowed down, and spotted something in the driver's side view mirror. I couldn't believe it. A motorcycle passed the SUV and me. If I hadn't stopped he and I could have been in a terrible way. I was so upset. Why are people in such a hurry? 

motorcycle from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

🚑 The bad news is that our local Perth ER is closing for five days. They are having trouble getting staff. There are a variety of reasons, which our re-elected premier doesn't seem to have a handle on. ("Nothing to see here, folks!") Dr. Drummond says it is due to a nursing shortage exacerbated by a COVID breakout on Thursday. His nursing staff has shrunk from 15 to 5. We'll have to drive 20 km to Smiths Falls, which is easy for us, but not for the most vulnerable.

This morning, on the local news, I found out what the firefighters were headed to Saturday afternoon:

#LeedsOPP and @RideauLakesFire responded to a 30ft vessel on fire in the Rideau Ferry area today. The captain sustained minor burns and made it safely to shore before the vessel sank. The Ministry of Environment has been notified and recovery to follow. @RLTwp ^nc pic.twitter.com/6uTEt5wuMx

— OPP East Region (@OPP_ER) July 2, 2022

 Be safe out there, people. We have people who love and need us.

It's crazy times out there

Horrid news from out west in the flooding. Lots of people are coming to the aid of those trapped, homeless, without heat or water.

I keep trying to look for the positives in the disaster in British Columbia. They are sending in the military, and neighbours are helping neighbours, if possible. One dude was transporting 76 dogs and cats for adoption, and he posted on Facebook for help since he was stranded in the floods. They were headed to the lower mainland to new owners. People have stepped up and the animals have been fostered until they can get to their destination in Vancouver.

They've partially opened a few of the highways, but others will be weeks or months. 

B.C. bridge

We took a big drive to Carleton Place to fetch some more supplements for JB. OK, not such a big drive, 40 minutes. This dude I watched in the rear view mirror. He passed us on the highway into town and the truck that was tailgating me, at the same time. There was oncoming traffic approaching. Only to be stuck at the red light in front of us. I must admit I wished him some harm as he sped up and away. I just don't need the stress. 

We stopped at the library, thank goodness for murder mysteries to take my mind off things. I just finished Tumbled Graves, by Brenda Chapman. It's in a series and is A Stonechild and Rouleau mystery #3. We picked up #4.

We made it to our destination, and while Joseph Brian was picking up his stuff I spotted a huge build beside the RA centre where our naturopath works: Stoneridge Manor Long-term Care. I haven't been here in ages, often JB drives in on his own.

It must be cold up there on the roof. We were to have flurries yesterday, and a cold front has moved in. Thankfully, we didn't have to cope with that. The snow has melted, for now. JB popped into the store and bought us a lasagna and chili for our respective dinners. 

I have to switch up the bears, since I couldn't see the bird feeders for the bear's head. 

While I was arguing with CRA in my head at 4 a.m., I missed seeing the partial lunar eclipse. That could have been fun, if it wasn't so cold out. 

Let us see what today brings. I hope it will be more good news about people getting rescued, and getting water and hydro back. In the meantime, I put up our Christmas tree. I hope it gives you a giggle.

Narrows Locks: Fall Part 3

 This is, indeed, part 3 of our Monday, Sept. 28th trip to Portland, Westport and surrounding spots. I have broken it down to sections, since while JB wants to see where we have been, I know some of my readers' eyes glaze over.

You know, sometimes you can hear a giant intake of breath as we drive along.

This was the action. The driver didn't seem to realize that the white car was stopped and turning. 

driving from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Now, there is a narrow bridge at Narrows Locks. There are both locks, and a single vehicle bridge across the Rideau. 

They've spent millions of dollars on the locks. This is an old photo to give you an idea. We didn't stick around to see what the trucker was going to do. 

This dude had been out in his boat. He was loading it up at the boat launch.

I didn't have my zoom lens, I cropped this. Cottage country. Cottage will be shut down, for the most part, on Thanksgiving weekend, next week. Although, there are many more people retiring to cottage country.

They still call these 'cottages!'

Isn't it gorgeous?! 

From here, we went the backroads. I thought the motorcycle was going to hit us!

motorcycle from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.