Back-to-school update, yard chores

I am happy to report that our grandies in Ottawa, Jo and Aster, are doing really well back at school. You know that excitement, when you figure out where your locker will be, who are your teachers, can you find your classes?  I must admit that once I retired I had recurring teacher dreams of not being able to find my classroom, or being late. 

Aster is in early, three times a week, for band (twice) and jazz band practice. She's getting involved in other extra curriculum, as well. 

Jo is happy to go in early with her. He asked for a timetable change, and now is doing a law course instead of French Tutoring. Jo has one asynchronous online class, but he prefers to do it in the school computer lab. They have intranet servers at the school, and can save work both at home and at school to the same platform. 

Jo is co-leading the yearbook (there isn't a staff member to head it), he is doing sports photography for the yearbook (which means missing school for 'away' events), chairing the Leadership Camp (takes place in the new year),  also AV head for assemblies. 

We did a video call after school Wednesday!

They made a crock pot dinner earlier, as Aster had to go out for 5:30, and Jo had a babysitting gig. I suggested they eat together. I was happy to talk to them. Jo has an appointment for a nose ring installation! Oh, young people!!! 

💮The first bush is planted (Tuesday). The leopard frogs are in the grass, they took off to avoid me. 

 

The second one is in and watered: the pink Hibiscus. And the 3rd: Rose of Sharon. 

One more to go. I am a bit achy! It is cool and cloudy today. I'll have to get going! We'll see if they last the winter.

 

Down to visit the trailcams, the motorcycles were jarring in the meadow. 

 

 I think the first clip is the sound of a turkey. Then the Flicker on the ground appears on video. 

 

Walking out onto the back deck, a pair of deer! A lovely way to begin the day.

  

September is nearly done!

As we head into October, a peek at September rains.  

rainstorm Sept. 17 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I've been having fun with outdoor decor. Scarecrow sits atop the cat. 

Just before I placed her there, I found a dock spider attacking a caterpillar. 

dock spider from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Some birds migrate, like phoebe. I heard one a couple of days ago. 

Some of our birds do not migrate.

I have heard our hawk in the forest. It is a juvenile rough-legged hawk, and has figured out how to fly and eat prey!

The crows and blue jays are having issues. They are calling to one another. It made me think of West Side Story 1961, The Jets and the Sharks.

 

crows & blue jays from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I heard quite a few motorcycles making a lot of noise on the highway on the weekend. For someone with anxiety (triggered by noise), I got so irritated. I am glad to know what the point was. There were 400 motorcycles in Perth to honour veterans.

   

How did your Sunday go?

I managed a photo of a doe with triplets. 

We just lost another fawn on the highway. It's taken me a few days to process the whole thing. Skim if you need to.

We could hear the traffic, and it was heavy all day. They pass one another, revving engines. It is discouraging. We lost one a fawn a month ago (The circle of life). This last time it was 11:14, Sunday morning. We could hear the screech of brakes, and the sound of the hit, from inside the house. They couldn't see a large doe and twin fawns and avoid them. 

"There is more to life than increasing its speed." 

-Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948)

What is it with these people who travel well past the posted speed limit? Crikey. I went down to see if I could remove the fawn carcass, but I could not lift it. I rolled it farther down into the ditch. I was worried about my safety, as vehicles travel way too fast. It was Nov. 2020 when a Quebec driver hit a deer and rolled his car: Signage. His passengers ended up in hospital. That's when they put up signage after I'd asked for it several times, beginning in 2011: Roadkill - slow down. 

I came back to the back deck, a little upset and shell-shocked. I can still hear the whack from a small car hitting a large doe. I was in the forest in March, 2017, when I heard that incident: a buck (Cats, deer friends). His car had to be towed. This curve is where they cross the highway to habitat. Then there was the time Hooper was killed. It was 6 p.m., in the dark.  That sound haunts me still.  

OK, back to my tale. After I gave up on the new carcass, wishing the little spirit well. I went to the back deck to breathe deeply. In the backyard, there was a fawn, with the doe eating. I would assume that this is the mother doe and sibling. They know our yard is safe. Just to the left is the highway, they ambled up the hill to safety.

It lay down for a rest! They were here for about a half hour. 

Here is the momma.

fawn doe from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

JB went into town for groceries, as this point. He counted 6 carcasses of various critters (one was a raccoon kit) in 5 km. He saw a whole lot of motorcycles. They drove past here, at great speed, passing one another, mufflers cranking it up. Turns out they were on a ride to raise money for prostate cancer.  Seeing as he has prostate cancer, he thought it fitting to take photos. He asked to take photos, and they were quite pleased.

From JB's walk...

 🐻SNUGGLE Bears met a new friend.

2. Chesterville to Long Sault

After we checked out the cemetery (1), we were headed to the restaurant for lunch. (This was Monday, May 20th.)

ALong the way, we spotted this interesting scene. It must be a snowmobile, or ATV trail, or somesuch. There are bridges across the ditch. The two manikins caught my eye. JB turned around and we went back. We were in no rush.


The sun was glorious. The dandelions lovely, trees in blossom! People have been out picking up garbage from ditches to make it beautiful.


Lots of motorcycles on the weekend! Many gathered around them, discussing their features.



Check out the face on the one guy! It was meant to look like a skull.

Motorcycles and ATVs everywhere!

In Balderson, two couples (my age) were touring.

This was a great trip, a little daycation Sunday, September 20th. It was the perfect day for motorcycles, and ATVs. Although the series of photos showed some going at great speed.



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