Winter is coming!

It's been a lovely few days, other than the frost on Monday morning! It was -2 at 6:30 when I got up. It was a balmy -1 by 8 a.m. Oh for joy! This morning I woke at 5 a.m., worrying about this proposed gun club,  and it was 0˚ C.! We have done some research, and are speaking to neighbours, similarly upset with this proposal, and we'll see what happens. 

I put the heater into the bird bath, later I'll switch it out. (Thanks, AC!) Both that and the water fountain had a skiff of ice on top. Whoopsie! With all our worries it crept up on me. Soon I'll drain, clean, and cover the water fountain. 

Despite wearing a mask in her high school, Josephine has COVID. She's not feeling too badly, which is a relief. Caitlin thought that last year the mask/no mask ratio was about 80/20. This year it is reversed, only about 20% of kids wearing masks. Thanksgiving (Oct. 10th) will be postponed. Ah well. We had a Merry Christmas on a weekend in late February/March in 2022! What the heck. 

Poking my head out front, I noticed the tops of these trees. It cheers me up.

I walked out front to see the colours better!

I've loved the sumac in Ontario. This frontyard stand is dying out, as is the one in the backyard. 

Well, here we are in the great outdoors. There were three bees on my chair. They are a bit dopey. The hornets are still about. It'll be interesting to see when they die of for winter.

My planters aren't exactly going strong, the coleus was hit by frost, but just in the front. We've a bit of a micro climate, in that the house retains the warmth of the sun. The lantana looks fine, as well as the trumpet flower and the petunias. The impatience was touched, though. It's just a matter of time!

Funny story – don’t tell the kids! JB brought me some flowers to cheer me up. I found the kitchen shears and chopped off the ends. Then, I used the shears to chop off some old cactus leaves. Then, I lost the the shears! I looked everywhere where I'd just used them. 

I was out fetching chestnuts, and found them under the horse chestnut tree! 👀 

This is what the tree looks like in spring. The leaves are dying, the conkers are dropping off as well.

I love the horse chestnuts. We had a tree beside us when I was a kid in Toronto. I gathered them and opened them up. 

Indoors, we are settling in for winter. The orchid is doing really well.

This works for some cats, but not ours. Try it, if you have a cat. Some cats perceive it as a box. 

My poor computer cord! Daisy used to like it. I repaired it twice since. I had a package of white, but it was stale. It's not a cheap fix: $16.50 for three little packets, but cheaper than a new computer cord. With supply chain issues, we could only find black in the store.  

The aquarium is doing well. I think goldfish day is Wednesday, maybe Thursday. After that the temperatures are just too cold. I have to drain it some the reach all the goldfish, and the rain Friday will fill up back up some.

First frost!

Oct. 23

 

Our buck appeared, again.

A nuthatch hit the window the other day. I put it up on the table to take care of it later. Butch raccoon took care of it for me, and left a thank you gift, too.

I hurried out, before breakfast, to grab shots of the frost.

The frog pond is done for the season.

It's amazing the temperature differences. The water has temperature inertia and takes longer to get cold. The puddle where we put the froggies is cold, but not frozen.

The fungus is growing.

I enjoy the changing light levels. 

They never did produce any fruit!

Look who I met on the back lawn! 

The catnip did really well.

The leaves are nearly done.

The conkers are still conking! The buds are looking good for spring.

Peter has a full basket of horse chestnuts. Autumn unfolds as it should.

I went ditch diving Sunday. I put my brace on in my boots. Some people are so lazy, chucking garbage out the window. There were several beer cans, as well. Just disgusting.

So much for cleaning up my hostas, Furry Gnome!

I was wandering down to the trailcams, and thought I saw a coyote! Silly me.

Cinnamon, deermice, horse chestnuts

There is a cat saying, 'If I fits I sits!' He doesn't fit. With the cooler weather he is back to sitting in my lap sometimes. 

We went off for walkies. Or runnies! Maybe climbies. Everyday I can, I ask him if he wants to go walkies. He knows the word. 

I love this tree system. I love the whole forest!

I think it is the raccoons. They've ripped off the baffle for the second one, as well. I won't bother repairing it until spring. At that time, I'll clear out the old shavings, and add some clean ones.

It's difficult walking on the dock! The native phragmites are dying off for winter.

I checked out wood duck nesting box #3. There was a deer mouse checking me out. They've been here before. I rather expected it this time and didn't scream like a girl. You can see the dark spot in the middle lower shavings.

Sept. 17, 2020; Mushrooms, nesting boxes, walkies. My goodness they are adorable!

We're back up to a handful of frogs in the wee goldfish pond. I hurt my foot doing it last week. My tenosynovitis kicked in. A bit of ice, and TLC, and it is better. I've ordered a new brace, since I cannot find my old one. It's worth it, as prevention. 

I shall wait a few days to move another 10 of them. I don't want them to overwinter in the shallow pond.

 I used the lawn tractor to mulch the leaves, and returned it to the shed. There was a deermouse staring at me on the shelf. We have a lot of mice friends! Can you see this one? Nope. Gone, quick as a wink.

We've not had many horse chestnuts in the past. This year there is a bounty. They really are conkers. As I was fishing last week, I could hear the odd thump on the ground. I tucked them into Peter's wagon.

They are quite large, as the tree matures. I think the tree was planted here, maybe 30 years ago. 

I went out one morning, and about a half dozen chestnuts were scattered on the deck. With little raccoon teeth marks. Apparently, they aren't too tasty. 

Our bought gladiolas are done. We bought these pretty fake leaves in Almonte the other day. A lot of our trees have shed their leaves, so this is a touch of colour indoors.

Signs of fall: there are a lot of Isabella caterpillars out there. It is so peaceful watching them, as long as they aren't on the driveway.