It's courtship season!

April 5th

We still have snow. We began the day, yesterday, in the cold. There was a bit of rain overnight (0.76mm).

It doesn't feel like spring.

However, the osprey is back. This is a good sign.

That said, the birds are getting ready for spring mating. Courtship proceeds at a sprightly pace on the part of the turkeys.

wild turkeys from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

May, 2018 Woodpecker courtship dance
Woodpecker mating from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

These were way across the Big Rideau, April 4th, but you get the picture!
Trumpeter swans from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Sugar shack horses: April 3, 2011

"What are they doing mommy?"
"They're just hugging!" (What else could Caitlin say on a family walkabout?!)

A pair of flickers

Birds mating on well

Then, there were the robins April 5th, 2019!

robins from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

First comes love...
Indeed, this is a Woodpecker nest. After gardening, I came along the driveway and could hear a ruckus. The jays were harassing momma. You can hear the babies screaming for food, all day, every day till they fledged! Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 4:59 PM.
After they fledged, the tree fell over in a storm.

Random photos

Sugar bush visit leads to foal

The blue barn is a landmark!

Here is Caitlin, with Isabelle on her back,
and Josephine, last year.

We made our pilgrimage across the road to the sugar bush. On the way we were distracted.
We stopped at the blue barn.

Josephine had a bit of a word with him!

Penny Pig was quite exhausted.
She had a litter last year.
Tressa said they had to get the piglets to her every hour, otherwise Penny could roll over them. Later, they feed longer apart.

Today there were several visitors to her sugar bush. It's hard work being Ms. Greeter beside the blue barn!

But THIS year's news:
The miniature pony had a foal! How delightful!

He was born at the end of February. Soft fuzzy, with delicate little whinny!

Twas a great visit.
Too bad the syrup season was awful this year.

It bounces around the paddock.

Momma and baby!

Have you ever??!!

What a fuzz ball of joy!

One of their machines!

Don't you love REAL syrup!

Visit other worlds!

Sugar shack!

It's that season in Ontario. The sugar has been running, and running well.

Our neighbours have 35 acres, with 2000 taps. They've had the school kids, day care centre kids, friends in, with lots of great tasting treats.

We went for a visit.

They put the spigots on the south side of the tree, as they know sap runs better there.

Tressa let Jofee pet the Easter Bunny!

The sap began to run when the daytime temperature hit 4 C., and ran through the night. Oliver Family sugar shack has a Reverse Osmosis machine, and this reduces boiling time by half. They have a pump to reduce gathering time, with pipe 40' up in the air, over 360' with nine points of tensions. They have cold storage, a vacuum pump room, and keen family to keep things going while the sap runs.

A delightful place to visit.


We came home, checked out Oliver's antics here. See him just at the top of the gully.
Josephine parked the wagon for us!