January fun!

When I was a teenager, our family would go to Bondi Village Resort for the last weekend in January. We'd go skiing and have a grand time. It was so much fun. A great memory. I haven't been downhill skiing since teaching and going on school field trips. I did Cross Country skiing after I was married. I haven't gone in year.

Our grandies are all busy. In Ottawa, Josephine is taking Driver's Ed. Two weekends in a row, 5 hours in class for 4 days, plus homework. Then, weekly driving lessons with a  pro. Great fun! Next week she has exams. Only two to write, Math and French. She's never written one, as OCDSB doesn't have grade 9 and 10 exams. 

Isabelle is going to do Aikido lessons. She wanted a sport where she could throw people around! She learned archery last year. 

After that, both girls are flying to Florida to visit with their paternal grandfather and step-grandmother. Great fun! 

This was May, 2013! They have grown so much. Both are taller than I am now.

Our Vancouver family is out and about, as well, on the mountain. Cluny and Bryony are out skiing with their dad, my middle kid Jesse! 

What is Gramma up to in Lanark County? Falling down in the snow! I went for a snowshoe to fetch trailcam SD cards. The problem is the top crusty layer caught the tip of the snowshoe, and I went down. Getting up was tricky. I could have taken my snowshoes off, but they are awkward to get on in knee-deep snow. 

I think these are fox tracks!

It is a tad chilly out there. I am happy to see the sunshine! I had to use the blower on the driveway, again. 

In January, 2016, Papa threw some hot water around!

Hot water & steam from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Cold weather, Birds and COVID shopping

 How cold is it? It was -24 C. on Tuesday morning. By Wednesday it warmed up to -8 C. and that was a relief. The cats kept trying each door, hoping that outside would be warmer. They'd sniff the air, and back up or run out, depending upon their frustration levels. 

Six years ago, this is what my SIL, JL, did for the girls! It was a hoot. Hot water & steam from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The skies have been fairly quiet. This one I heard Jan. 8th, around 4 p.m.

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I've been keeping the bird feeders full. They get really busy in the cold. I've been trying to photograph the cardinals, but they are pretty flighty. I suppose I should put the camera on a tripod, but the moment is so short. I'd have to be prepared. Plus we need some sunshine. Wednesday it was snowing again and today, a little more snow. I snagged a photo of the pair in the horse chestnut tree.  

The buds on the chestnut tree are ready to go. They are a favourite of the deer!

I've put out a tray feeder. The goldfinches and the cardinals seem to like it. I had 4 goldfinches at one point. 

I could set up the camera. If I had the technology, it'd be great to set up the zoom, and set it off with a phone app. I know AC does this. I could sit outside on the bench, well-wrapped, and with the camera on the tripod. Or not!

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In the meantime, we're having fun with trying to find things we need online. This is Big Al's filter floss, which is required in my goldfish filter system. I accidentally (long story!) bought 3 packages of it several years ago. It was a good thing, as the store in the west end of Ottawa folded due to mismanagement, they told me. This was prior to COVID, too!

Knowing the product was tricky, I only use a piece 15 cm x 30 cm (~6" x 12" ). The 60 gallon tank requires a heavy duty filter. Percy goldfish is a big pooper, and I've had to go from cleaning the tank every 4 weeks to every 3 weeks. 

This bag of floss will last me 2 - 3 years, I think. I put the fish out in the goldfish pond in summer. It was about $24, shipping is $9, and I decided it was worth it. I ordered it Jan. 11th, we'll see how long it takes, but I've 3 more pieces to go, which is 9 weeks worth. We could drive an hour and a half into east Ottawa to pick one up, but I'd really rather not. Big Al's is a long way away (~100 km), and I'd rather not go into a store. 

I've enjoyed this fishtank. I have to get up on a chair to clean the sides, but it is good work. The pump stores under the tank, and the hoses come up the back. It is the perfect fit for this corner. They don't make them anymore, and this one was on sale and a floor model.