Cat TV, snowy days

 Cinnamon was sitting at the window, as he is wont to do. There are birds, squirrels, deer, who visit his yard. You'll have to look carefully, but #75 (gray squirrel, black morph), stands out in the white snow. Can you see him? Just to the right of the snowy bird bath and baby bear.

I tried to photograph him, but he is so quick. 

Then the real excitement, as he scurried across the front deck. 

Off he went, but Cinnamon was vigilant!

It is calm and peaceful during the storm.

 

Another session on the driveway. There was 20 cm at the end of the drive from blowing snow. It was slushy where it took some work. It clogs up the auger and requires some effort. BUT I did it!

What a great machine. 

I transplanted these two small evergreens years ago. They are doing well.

Legally one is required to shovel off one's vehicle. I've seen some funny memes around that. There are fines for carrying an 'unsafe load,' which includes snow on your car. This is a funny memory from Parry Sound in 2009. 

The Ontario Highway Traffic Act fines: 

• No clear view to front or sides — $110 each (ice or snow-covered windows). 
• Insecure load — $160 (snow or ice flying off). 
• Deposit ice or snow on roadway — $110 (from your vehicle or other property). 
• Careless driving — $490 (knowingly operating a vehicle without being able to see or having the snow cause a collision directly or indirectly). 

After my work was done, I had a shower and made us each a mug of tea. I was cold, and settled in under my warmest blanket (it was a gift!), and read my novel. I'm reading them all in order. The mug was a lovely birthday gift.

I like to find a series, go back to the beginning and read them in order. This set is the prequel to the Prime Suspect books. 

Walkies and sunset

Joe came back from his morning walk, "Down the trail to the back 40 there is an interesting poop. I think you might want to look at that!"

This is country life! It was raccoon poop right beside the trail.

Down in the meadow, I found more bones under the leaves, which had blown away. That deer carcass fed a few coyotes.

By the afternoon, the fire was on and the trio were watching football.

🌧 ☔ We've rain this morning. I am happy with that because they threatened it would be ice rain. That is dangerous. Rain rain is just fine!

I had some fun with the setting sun. I'm still working on the panoramic feature! This first one was a bit of a failure. 

I think I prefer the second one, with the trees darkened.

The sun just peeks between the trees.

This is getting better. 

Out back the tops of the trees were shining in a golden glow.

Fall clean up

🍁Fall Chores

 Somebody, with his bad back, is finding indoor work. Spring Fall cleaning the bathroom cupboard. He took expired drugs to the pharmacy. Old age is complicated, and between backs, knees, arthritis, and eye issues, we are holding our own! 

I have a lot of eaves to clean out. I took a shot at the house, the maple in front just fills the eaves over the garage. It went well. I took my time, dressed for it, as it was chilly. The Catalpa tree has just about lost leaves. I climbed up the ladder. 

The Catalpa tree leaves are huge, and just plaster the ground.

 

This is a view we only see in the cold season. It is out the bathroom window. We are having more branches taken down on Monday. The highway is beyond the trees and the traffic noise is not a baffled by the leaves.

Next job will be the shed. This was a frosty morning. That's two mild frosts!

The skies are wonderful in the fall!

This is the lowest roof we have. It's easy to get up there. I just have to wait for the maple to leave its burden

The maple tree is done, the catalpa trees still holds its leaves. I did all these eaves yesterday in the sun. 

I took some quick photos during the day. The horse chestnut leaves kept dropping. I'm not sure if the video demonstrates this! 

I've done the driveway several times. They blow all the way along the 100m. 

I had a new respite client on Thursday. It was a lovely visit. It is wonderful being useful, and getting out of the house. As I arrived home, there were two deer munching on the grass. They hung around until after dinner. 

Fall is in the air

 We had manager Jamie in from Aussie Tree Care for a quote on taking down our dead elms in the upper meadow (Dutch Elm disease 😑). They are still seeding themselves, but not surviving too long. In the meantime, I worked on trimming this Maple (on the right) on the driveway. The propane delivery people back up the driveway, and I want to make it easier to see. 

I'm not sure one can see a difference! Maybe that is a good thing. I used the reciprocating saw on the branches. It takes ages, since it doesn't hold a charge too long, even with my spare battery. OK, I must be honest, I don't last too long either, with saw dust blowing in my eyes, and holding the heavy tool. 

I threw the branches onto the vacant lot. I am hoping to encourage the sumacs to come back. They are suffering from various periods of drought, on shallow soil. Let's see if this helps. 

Jeremiah seems to be keeping the smaller leopard and green frogs away. Happy dance. I will have to figure out when to move him to the frog pond for winter. 

He is an asset. He'll need time to bury himself in the mud for winter.

It is time for Autumn decor, as many are doing inside and outside their homes. I like the changes in seasons, and changing things up. Maybe it is just that after doing bulletin boards and display cases in school for 25 years, it's in my blood! 

I'm at the point where I forget where I've put things, and find them in a different season. I may run with that some time, just to keep everyone on their toes! 😆 

I took out the Fall flag, and found life imitating art. 

🕷Can you see it?! 

The horse chestnut tree is providing much food for the Dratted Red Squirrel (DRS). They have a little collection under the tree. I've never seen both the black squirrel and red squirrel eating them like they have been this year. 

I've moved Peter to the deck. Last year I put pine cones in his wheelbarrow. 

I thought he could carry the chestnuts in his wheelbarrow until winter, when the critters are desperate. Apparently, they are desperate now! 

All that was left in the wheelbarrow was one chestnut, and a cluster of rose hips. Apparently, they were good eating! Ain't nature grand?!