What a few days journey!

UPDATE: After a terrible incident, there have been many donations for this family. The father is in school retraining to be a PSW. They have had the funeral, the kids are safely back in school. I think they will do well, according to what I have heard in the community. They have money to get them up and going for now, and they are surrounded by a loving family and wider community. Kids are resilient. Hopefully their teachers will pull them through. I've often been an anchor in this situation. There is much information on helping children through grief, mourning and bereavement.
Children and bereavement

The donations have increased

We drove by the site of this incident, where a truck went through a stoplight and struck Ms. Harris' car. Drivers have to go up the hill, theoretically at 60 km per hour, and stop at a red light. You come down the hill, and there is an intersection. This is where the incident took place. There is a memorial at the site.

UPDATE: We have a new bird bath, and a new heater. I checked it every half hour, until a shim of ice formed, then realized I had taken the plug out of the wall!    [The bird bath saga]

First, a drive to Kemptville to Hansen's place. This was on Wednesday. Then, Thursday, after testing the heater, we drove to Almonte to pick up the last one in stock!


Arriving at Hansen's Garden Ornaments we found the pieces look lovely in the snow!

We passed an interesting place with seasonal decor still up! Santa is fishing...

Sadly, in Almonte, Moose McGuire's restaurant has burned to the ground. They are in the process of clean-up. Mill St. has photos of the firefighters working hard.



Lots of turkeys about! We had to slow down as they were on the side of the road.



Heater purchased, off we went to lunch in Smiths Falls. No, I shouldn't have had onion rings, but I did! The frosty falls looks beautiful.


It was fun to see a pair of eagles high in the trees, off in the bush. Poor hubby dropped me off, drove up to the next road and turned around to pick me up!

How cold is it?

It's a new day! ( It's -15 F.!)

It's so cold...

• the deer are wandering like cold, mournful ghosts, slowing moving across the frozen snow.
• birds are frantic at the feeder.
• walks require face and hand coverings.

Yet, the shallow wetland isn't frozen, and we've had snow machine operators hit objects, or go through the ice on lakes, which isn't deep enough to support them and their machines. Grooming means covering rocks and layering snow over obstacles, as well as cleaning away trees on the trail.

Donations have been amazing

Despite this cold, there are people with warm hearts. The family, whose young mother was killed in a car incident on Dec. 31st, has had a GoFundMe that has topped all expectations. Elizabeth Harris, their single-parent mother, was a personal support worker (PSW). The father now has custody of the children.  He's been back in college for retraining, also to become a PSW. Her funeral is taking place today. The family is overwhelmed with the generosity. It warms the heart.

The frog pond is cold enough to support the deer, but not me!

Happy New Year: Daisy and I went antler hunting

Here it is, January 1st, 2016! I wish us all a wonderful year, full of joy and love.
Amid much bad news, we have to look for the helpers.

• Canada has brought in 6236 refugees, and while it is a drop in the bucket, it is something many people have done. In two weeks, we will have brought in 10,000, now that the process is in place.
• A local mother  of three, Elizabeth Harris (a PSW), lost her life in a tragic car incident on Dec. 30th. CBC covered the story. A friend set up a GoFundMe for the family. On the positive side, many have donated over the original $5000 request, the money was to help with funeral costs. Today's total is $23,465, which will provide a cushion for the now custodial father, who is in school retraining. 

All we can hope is that we give that gift of respect to one another. "Do unto others", or pay it forward, and for those who are in need, accept it as you can.  There is giving in receiving. I have been in receipt of much TLC as I have fought this horrid virus, some say it is croup. Hubby has been amazing, managing the household. I have also gained 5 kg, and will have to get back on track! He has another CT Scan this month, to check on the metastasis of his cancer. We'll see how that goes.

Our walkies

lovely walk!

It was my second extended walk since I became ill with this viral asthma. I am still using my puffer, I'm on canister #4, and quite happy to be outdoors. Sadly, I forgot to turn on the GPS until I was well onto the eastern edge of our 16 acres (lower starting point). At least I remembered to bring it with me!

Basically, I was following the deer tracks, as well as going out to the island ( middle, right), where the blood spatters sit. They sure wander around. The one doe with twins, the 2nd twin is always the last, seems to wander left around a tree, when momma and twin go right.

my subtotals

We weren't successful, shed hunting, but that doesn't matter.
It was a lovely day, cloudy but around 0˚  C.



Daisy is like Waldo. See if you can spot her in some of the photos, white on white! Once we retraced our steps, following the deer trail, I suggested she could go back to the house, but she was determined to follow me. She hops from boot print to boot print!


There is still lots of marking of territory, using the tarsal glands in their 'heels', although, as above, there is some clear urine from those not hormonal!


Oliver's lot


See her? She trots along the path, following me up the driveway. It's a long way for her little legs.


We went back to the island, where I found the blood drops, and tried to see if the shed was there. I rather think the buck lost it off in the wetland bulrushes. We looked everywhere, Daisy and I!


Later, nearer dusk, I found that this buck still has his right  antler. Surprising, since normally they lose the second one within 24 hours.


You can see his rear, left tarsal gland, dark with hormones. I don't think it is Tigger, but I'm not sure!