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. 

Wood ducks on the pond

I went down to the pond and cleared away branches from wood duck box #1. You can see the small ones near. I took them down. Peeking in the box, a duck has been in and shaped a nice hollow. We shall see.

The dead tree is getting unstable. I shall have to move it after the season is over. I hesitate to move it now. I have to find another tree facing south. The good ones have the other two boxes. What do you think?

The box needs a bit of a guard. The shaving fall out if I inspect it. I meant to fix that last year. sigh.

I wonder if these two are too close, although, one year there were 22 eggs in one box, which is more than one duck can lay. I just don't know. I'm having trouble with decisions these days.

The poor dead tree!

Six lovely eggs. Ah well. They will lay more.

The wood ducks have been busy. This is a good sign. The males still chase the other males away from their females.

trailcam may 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

In this video, you can see two coming in.

Wood ducks landing from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We had one goose, too. Spring unfolds...

Canada goose from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Canada geese

It's that time of year: the goslings are fighting for survival. The parents are vigilant. These are archival photos, from when we lived in Bala, Muskoka, on the lake. I just had a hankering to see some of them again.

Our favourites were Eddie and Eva, they were amazing parents. 

  

Citiots, Canada Day, school is out, sigh...

veggie garden fence

The highway has been busy, and the tourists are up at the cottage in droves. Traffic is relentless.
I decorate my fence, hoping people will slow down.
Not the case.
I love working outside, but the traffic noise is terrible.


 Hubby says I channel his grandmother. She was happier working in the veggie garden than cleaning house. What is his point?

He's been happily repainting the picket fence. It is complete!

My late parents loved the garden, too.
Today, I was slowed down by critters. The Monarch was dancing happily by. Couldn't snap a good shot!

Can you see Labbit flying?

It wasn't my fault, getting slowed down. Even Felix gets caught up in the chase!

New birds, new insects, and nary a clue what some of them are.
I can narrow it down, but it's hard.
I adore being retire and being able to research at will, not being assigned a 10,000 word essay.

I've been decorating for Canada Day. I've also been slowed down by tourists.
 It all began when person number umpteen proceeded to drive up our driveway, to take a picture of my chair.

Some ask permission and come by to chat, most do not. This isn't a public thruway!

First I placed a sign on my chair, $20 for a photo!
It didn't work. One person last Sunday,
two the Sunday before drive up, turn around, drive away.

I'm trying signage...

Next, a sign on the driveway

Golden goose is dressed up

Then a Mohawk flag on the back of my sign!
This is a war with Citiots!

Frosty has a hat, flag and a fancy tie!

Bear is dressed.

Our precious wild young 'uns

It is important to respect nature and do no harm. Creatures in Muskoka are not well-respected, since many have some sense of entitlement to exploiting their cottage country property.

There are those who burn leaves (this is a no-no to environmentally-friendly citizens).
There are those who interfere with the ecosystem and the biome*, and mess with the shoreline, drive too fast near shore, do not understand the do's and don'ts of country/lake life, and those who refuse to let nature take its course.

Wise Muskokans do not interfere,
with flora or fauna, including the deer.

(Can't help it. It just rhymed when I wrote it!)
At the right you can see our friend the dragonfly and the spider. I think it was a meeting...discussing bug patrol!

Unfortunately, how do you convince a domesticated animal, such as cats, that this is our family policy? The cats have developed an understanding of the raccoons.

Sady half-heartedly chases flea-infected Rocky (daughter of Butch, another the lactating momma) off the deck when she knows we are watching.
Rocky just sticks her tongue out at me. She knows who is boss. I let her have a bit of sunflower seeds, it means she stays out of my gardens, and then I bring the feeder in for the night.

One night I saw her hauling up the chain for the finch feeder, just like a fisher bringing in her nets. It needs a chain as it breaks with her weight.

Two years ago, Sady treed a fisher. That wasn't so bad, since our large and small fishers, who swim like fish, like to rip the ducklings and goslings away from maternal ducks and geese. There is plenty of food else where. We just didn't want to witness the cycle of life on our door step!

Then there is Oliver.


I have tried to convince him that we do not own the land, we only borrow it from our children, but since he is 'fixed' he seems to want to party, dude, all day long.


He ran over to join me as I took photos of our turtle (who seems better with warmer temperatures), and frogs.

Our critters give us much enjoyment, but Oliver, is on his irregular power trip, just like those who disrespect the cycle of life, he feels a sense of entitlement controlling things around him. Even though his name is not on the deed for the land, he feels the need to harass the land and sea creatures. Little twerp!
Here is his latest adventure.

Eva and her goslings conveniently crop our clover. Eva watches for predators carefully.

She took her babies over for some cracked corn, but Ollie decided to run at her - he's only 1/3 her size! And you know what they say about mamas protecting their young...

Good old Eva gave Oliver a raspberry, tongue and all. That'll show him.


Funny how the one gosling sticks near to mom.
The others sat in a wee group of three.

She rose up and flapped her wings, showing him who is boss.











Content to sit and watch, Eva watches Ollie carefully. The goslings stayed on the other side of mom. Mr. Oliver sat under the shade of the rock, out of the sun.

A truce was made and all lived happily ever after - or at least until the next day.


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*Biomes are climatically and geographically defined areas of ecologically similar climatic conditions such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms