Crumbly Acres

I got my butt in gear. I've changed out some decor for Fall.

The fishies are doing well, although I think the bullfrogs are still eating the little froggies. 

I rather think this leopard frog ate a smaller frog. Look at that belly! 

I've had success slowly filling the aquarium. We're still in a drought situation. I'm being prudent. The pump is working, and this morning it was 7 ℃, although the days warm up. I have to be strategic. Normally, I have to drain the pond some to get the stubborn fish in. I look for a rain storm to refill it after I drain it. That hasn't been happening.  

People drive by fairly quickly on the highway. Still, I put my old sewing machine out there. Nothing happened for a couple of days. I was out removing red ribbons and putting up the orange for fall when a young man stopped, and looked at it. He didn't see me until he was about to leave, without the sewing machine. He explained that he didn't have $30 on him. I told him to just take it. He seemed quite happy and toodled off with one more thing off of my mind!

I had a quick chat with Jordan, having a blast at Queen's. He texted me about the date of Grampa's grad year, 1972! They have wonderful young people, who welcome the new kids. There are lots of activities. 

Kingston Market Day on Saturday.

It's been a tough summer, with kids growing up and away. I am glad I have things to keep me busy. I'm watching a new TV Series after my chores are done. Joe found me a good one, Hotel Portofino. It takes me away from the horrific news, and the scenery is lovely. It is set in 1926 Italy. Most of the photography is from Rijeka, Lovran, and Rovinj, Croatia. With some actually filmed in Portofino, Italy in 2021.

It's a variation on Downton Abbey, I read. There are lots of themes, Post-war Italy, fascism, errant husbands, and family money. 

Have a great Tuesday.

Crumbly Acres frog tales

The cottagers have fires on in these cool nights. There are so many fires across Canada, I have to stop worrying about that! 

I have a frog tale. 

🐸The frog pond is dry until we get more rain. (That usually happens in October/November.) 

Vernal frog pond in the forest:

The leopard frogs, wood frogs, and others are happy in the weeds and the grass. Until they aren't. I've been 🐸moving frogs from the goldfish pond to the frog pond after frost. I'm wondering is they all dug into the mud they'd protect one another.  They freeze and thaw in winter, which kills them. I moved 154 last year. 

I was watching the goldfish pond, planning out the goldfish transfer to the indoor tank. The frogs begin to move into the goldfish pond for hibernation. The big bull frog sits in the foliage and waits for prey. I'll have to let them be. We've no water near us.

MiniFred has been around. I worry, as this burrow, the part under the deck, floods in spring. I think it is attached to the rain downspout. 

Tall Anenome:

When we locked down for COVID, the grocery store gave me this in a wee 4" pot, and I've managed to hold on to it. Another fall chore, moving the indoor plants indoors! I keep checking the long-term forecast.

The wasps have made homes in the bird house! 

We sit on the back deck when we can. Today it should warm up. I carried this friend in on my sweatshirt! I cannot find any in my photo archives. Interesting critters.

Double-toothed prominent moth caterpillar

Here we go. A new week. The garbage is out. It is a cold morning. It was 8 ℃, I bundled up. 

🐸 Moving the Frogs

But first, let's get this out of the way. We went to bed before any results from the US election. I woke at 3:30 and listened to the radio. #47 was giving a speech. OMG

"Word of the day is ‘recrudescence’ (17th century): the return of something terrible after a time of reprieve."

I am gobsmacked. We are moving backwards.

There will be an federal election for us next year. We are worried about right-wing whackos in Canada, yet most of the damage done to our nation is done by a provincial premiers who deny climate change.  'Nuff said. 

Tuesday morning: 

JOE:  I'm going to shave!
Me:   You have fun!
JOE: That's the name of the game today!  

That was yesterday. 

We had an amazingly warm day on Tuesday. We kept busy.

🐸 Moving the Frogs

The result of all that warmth meant that the frogs kept waking up in the goldfish pond. They are now so sensitive to us, that I'll just walk by and they will hide from us. It's tricky. They think it is safe for winter, but it is too shallow.

I've found a pot with a lid, which really helps. The larger, green frogs can jump out, but the lid keeps them secure.

Down we went. Here is a frog who will have a much better winter in the frog pond. 

This is what I found for my troubles. A tick! I could feel something crawling, and picked it off with a piece of tape. 

 

 Nov. 5th We moved 10 frogs, then 7 + 3 + 10 + 3 = 33 froggies. It was good exercise on a lovely day. Joe helped and took turns taking them down to the wetland or the frog pond. 

 2024 total =  128 

I went down to the back 40, the wetland, and owl was there. This is the path I take.

I think she helped herself to the froggies. We all have to eat! I found 3 owl pellets under the owl tree. I'll let it dry, dissect the pellets, and then see what she has been eating. A beetle, for sure! 

I hope you can get out in nature. It's raining some today. We'll need a distraction. 

Welcome to the new week

 Daylight savings is an interesting time. If you have pets, you know they just don't get it. Cinnamon decided on Monday that it was dawn at about 6:00 a.m., and we should get things going for the day. We had a fairly quiet day Sunday. The girls toodled off home late morning. 

I made Joseph Brian a fire in the basement. He and Nutmeg watched football. Cinnamon and I watched some Christmas RomComs. I decided it was a good day to work some more on 2024 calendars. It's been fun, but it is difficult choosing photos!

I have managed to find some critters out there, mostly in the dark.

The frogs taunt me in the goldfish pond. They are on their own! I managed a grand total of 137 moved. I am done.

 

3 frogs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I caught the buck on two videocameras. In the cedar corridor and in the dark at his scrape. I didn't see any fawns this year. We'll hope for some next year.

buck at scrape from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Chad Coyote decided to baptize the buck's scrape.

Coyote 1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Finally, a bit of a surprise at the frog pond trailcam. First capture for us, although it has been seen on the nearby lake in winter. They are quite aware of avoiding humans, and elusive.

 

bobcat from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I'm off to get garbage out for the week. It is chilly, 'tis time to bundle up. Have a good one!

It was time!

What a strange heat wave! I checked the forecast and figured I'd be happier playing in the goldfish pond when it is warm. I left myself two days of nice weather, though. Sometimes the fishies can be stubborn. Friday, the weather is to turn for the worse, cold with lots of rain.

They were getting out of the sunshine in this heat.

Well, my first peek, and we have proof of life! Percy has stayed under the pond lilies. Probably safer with critters about.

Percy Goldfish and 13 frogs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

First part was to begin draining the pond. That involves an old hose, and syphoning out the water until I can find Percy. It takes a couple of hours. That and spitting out pond muck. It is good to have projects.

Next, clean the pond pump. I set it out in the sun to dry out some. I took a break. 

Two days in a row, Nutmeg waited inside the door as I was coming in, and bolted out. She nailed a chipmunk. See her licking her lips.

Around back, a big blue bug. I had to look it up. Meloe is the genus, Short-Winged Blister Beetle (Meloe angusticollis) commonly referred to as oil beetles. I am glad I didn't pick it up. The oil is poisonous!

iPhone photos!

Inside, Cinnamon was helping himself to a toy. Good lad.

Lunch done, I headed back out. By now, the water level was low enough that Percy was in a shallow part. I nabbed him (first try) in the butterfly net. YIPPEE! 

He wasn't too happy, swimming in circles first in the bucket, and then around the hexagonal tank. Eventually he settled down. The smallest fish was nestled in safety until it figured out how hungry Percy was. This morning, he looks good, and was wagging his tail at me, hoping for food.

That was an adventure. I'll have to wait for the rain to refill the pond. With 13 frogs here, I have to think about catching them and taking them down to the wetland. We shall see.

I did more yard work, then came indoors and put the air conditioner on! A shower helped. 

🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥 🎥

We relaxed after dinner by watching Astrid. It is really interesting, a murder mystery, featuring a character who is on the autism spectrum. I taught several kids with autism. It is excellent seeing them woven into scripts that educate citizens.

I just wish that the whackadoodles, protesting against gender diversity would go home and talk to trans and gender dysphoric kids about their lived experiences. There were two tasering incidents by Ottawa police. Ottawans are cheering that three were arrested for violating laws. 

It was time. The police posted this last night:

While it is the duty of police to support legal demonstrations, we will not tolerate behaviours that endanger public safety or violations of the Criminal Code, By-laws or Liquor Licence and Control Act.

10:10 PM · Oct 4, 2023

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Lilies, more lilies, and frogs

You'll forgive me for more images of the Asiatic Lilies. It is a miracle. The season is so short, and fall is coming. The fence is working well. I am playing around with both my camera and the cell phone camera. 

July 23rd, I divided a hosta that was getting too much sun. It lasted until Aug. 14th! 

Everything is growing well. We've a fair amount of rain this month, and it is only half done! The nights have cooled off, and there is another storm on the way.

 

Out west, British Columbia is having a heat wave. Out east, they've too much rain for the crops. The wildfires continue across Canada. We aren't complaining about the rain here in Ontario. We've fires in the north, as well. We teachers spent so many years teaching students about Climate Change, reducing dependence upon fossil fuels, and all the Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. It is defeating.

Enough whining. The froggies have taken over the goldfish pond. I haven't seen Percy goldfish in a couple of days. I'm sure he is in there, happily eating bugs and growing larger. Otherwise, he'd float belly up. I still have to find a home for the little one he tried to eat. 

We've two green frogs, and one large leopard frog who have taken up residence. 

My ankle is better, I hung out laundry.

Putting together a couple of levels of the water fountain, I got the new pump running, and eliminated some mosquito larvae. The kids are coming Friday for a sleepover, and to celebrate Caitlin's birthday, which is on the 16th. The girls go off to summer camp next week.