Rain, snow, sleet and graupel

 We had freezing rain warnings for Tuesday. Wednesday wasn't much better. Joe hustled in to get groceries. It's not the rain, it's the ice rain we worry about.

 

Tariff Tuesday began... We're trying to look after ourselves. The stress for so many is palpable. They are threatening cutting Social Security, which employees pay into over their work lives. Then, Medicare and Medicaid. I just don't get the deal. There is no art to these deals. They are crippling Americans as much as Canadians!

This was a symbolic image. Sadly the goose seems to have Avian Flu, and while it won the battle, the war isn't over. They do call Canada Geese 'Cobra Chickens!'

Photographer Mervyn Sequeira
CBC Article

This is fabulous!

What about retail therapy? Buy Canadian, buy from Scotland! I ordered a new purse from Maritime Tartan Company. They are based out east, with all products made in Canada or Scotland. It's a Harris Tweed Tote! All we can do is support Canadian workers. 

I packed up my new purse and set out in a storm. I had a haircut booked in Carleton Place, a 45-minute drive away. At home: snow; on the way: rain, near Franktown (aka: the Hostage Exchange from Gramma Camp) there was snow. Heavy snow. A transport was breathing down my neck on a slippery road. I slid around into the lane for the spa. By the time my hair was done, rain. Home through rain, not so bad. At home rain turned to ice pellets, then snow, back to... you get the idea. 

Our message to the GOP on behalf of Canada, Mexico, Greenland, Ukraine, and woke American Citizens.

Arriving home at our driveway, I stopped and thought about checking for mail. I decided it wasn't a good idea to fetch it right after a haircut! All tidied up. Of course it doesn't look like I had a haircut, but that's the idea. I am looking for easy, safe and predictable. 

Saturday's Critters

I wonder how many critters I miss. Some are so fast. All I have is the skunk's tail! 

I am having trouble with new Vimeo settings. Bear with me!

We've had 3 Monarchs eclose (at least the ones I have seen!) and I imagine that is the last of them.

 

An eagle soars, it is tricky following it, but it keeps me sharp!

It's tricky mowing the lawn! I have to watch for frogs and snakes. The frogs always move in the direction I'm going. 

Porcupine in the dark:

 And a sign of fall! This was Sunday, when the Hydro crew began their work.Saturday's Critters # 562

Monday was a glorious day!

 It's been a time, after Ice Storm '23!  The tree crew is going to have to come back and clean up the huge pines. It'll cost double that over last time, since they'll have to do more climbing. We lost the tops of a couple of the great White Pines, and there are several hangers up in the trees, which is unsafe. As I told my first accountant husband, "It's only money."

The garage I swept out for the umpteenth time since the fall. The oak and some maple leaves hang on, then fall in Spring. [♪♫♩Isn't it ironic?!] The storm and winds are sending them flying. 

🐣 I've checked nesting boxes, and the one we moved to the back 40 has had a visitor. The other two by the frog pond – not yet. I did startle ducks there one day, so they are back! 

The frog pond is virtually clear. 

 

Now that the snow melted, I found a wee antler that was buried under the snow. Our snow is pretty much gone. I guess I fooled you with my week-old videos. Sorry, YAM! 

I think our weather has turned. The back deck was 19˚ C. at noon; up to 21˚ by 3:30!

Some of the trees have recovered, others just dropped their branches.

before and after from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I'd meant to ask the kids to help put the snowblower into the shed. Usually I run it around the to the far right of the yard, avoiding down and uphill. My route is clogged by branches. You saw from the previous video↑. 

Then, 💡brilliant idea, I just plugged in the electric starter and motored it on over to the shed. It was tricky getting past the debris, but I did it! 

Down at the pond, the wood duck nest boxes await a guest.

I noticed the mosquito larvae are twitching in the water. 

Up at the house, the first crocus!

I saw an eagle doing loops up above the house. They are majestic.

I heard spring peepers last night, and coming back from a hospice volunteer gig I heard chorus frogs! I'd forgotten about them. I guess there isn't a survey this year. 

Saturday's Critters

Thanks to Eileen for hosting this fine Saturday tradition for lo these 454 times! 

Saturday's Critters # 454

Coyote pees! Again! 

As ever, you need not watch the video, but I do like seeing their actions. I have selected the best thumbnail to represent the video. 

The coyote is a frequent passerby!

Coyote in the rain from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The hummingbird moths are amazing!

hummingbird moth from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

August 24th the doe and fawn visited. This is video #2 of 3. She keeps trying to nurse, but mom doesn't have the patience!

 

fawn Aug 21.2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Butch raccoon 3 kits from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

You can see the hummingbird just to the left of the temperature gauge. Chickadee chases it off. This was taken from my armchair, through the front window!

2 chickadees and a hummingbird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I could see a bird circling and thought it might be an eagle, rather than the ubiquitous vultures.

eagle from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Artwork and an eagle!

I have been sketching, finally. This one was inspired by these images. The two are from a TV movie, Hearts of Winter (2020) filmed in B.C.

I went for my massage on Thursday, and saw 7 crows. They caught my attention. They were after an eagle! I did not have my zoom lens, so this is the best I could do!

This is from April, 2015, from my backyard deck! 

Happy Spring!

Spring is officially here. Thank goodness. The sun is higher, warmer and shines longer each day. There is hope, and a promise. Yes, there are many in mourning for many reasons, but a new book, Enlightenment Now, asks...

Is the world really falling apart? Is the ideal of progress obsolete? In this elegant assessment of the human condition in the third millennium, cognitive scientist and public intellectual Steven Pinker urges us to step back from the gory headlines and prophecies of doom, which play to our psychological biases. Instead, follow the data: In seventy-five jaw-dropping graphs, Pinker shows that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness are on the rise, not just in the West, but worldwide. This progress is not the result of some cosmic force. It is a gift of the Enlightenment: the conviction that reason and science can enhance human flourishing.

Well, the sunshine was welcome yesterday. Today it's a bit brisk, but warmer than it has been. Slowly the solstice moves the sun around.

I went off to sit with my client, Tuesday. Hubby played outside with the cats. Annabelle roared up the tree. Hooper looked up and couldn't believe his eyes.


The robins seem to have left this past winter. Sometimes they stay. We had about a dozen one year, only a pair another. We've had none until this week.


The deer hang about. They sit in the sun, under the trees, chewing their cud.


The eagles are flying.


 We settled on a new TV stand for the old TV – in Smiths Falls. [Shopping for a new TV stand] The TV was on sale in March, 2010. It has held up well.
It looks like we are grown ups living in a grown up house, now! We bought the TV stand from a local Smiths Falls store, with free delivery.

They brought it in and plunked it down. My goodness, I'm glad I work out and lift weights! Out with the old, in with the new. The old one we bought with the house – it is missing a slat at the bottom.

I hooked it all up, and we are good to go. All the cords are hidden, and we have more storage space.

Then, as I previously mentioned, the great debate in Smiths Falls. It has hit the streets.
It is, as they say, a 'heated debate.'

Wow, talk about a passionate community. This is the scene in Smiths Falls where residents are protesting changing diagonal parking to parallel parking. Originally the plan was rejected, but reversed the decision earlier this year. @ctvottawa #ottnews #ottawa pic.twitter.com/cRGaoNTyxx

— Christina Succi (@CTVChristina) March 18, 2019

Day Trip March 23rd: Part 3

1. Cranworth
2. Narrows Lock Rd.: Geese and construction
3. Westport

Westport Harbour

Since Friday's day trip, we've had cloudy skies and rain. This was a lovely day!

First stop was the parking lot of the grocery store. We needed a few things for dinner. Hubby went in. I watched a woman drive in, whilst on her cell phone. As I rolled my eyes skyward, I spotted the bald eagle. The bald eagle was circling. What a sight! I couldn't quite get it in focus. I tried! You get the picture, though.

As I stood, holding my camera, the woman got out of her car to watch, too. Then, a man stood behind me. By then, hubby was back and we watched it together.

Down to the harbour, as the eagle simply disappeared. I couldn't see head nor tail!


Off home we tootled.


More deer!