Checking in!

 We've warmed up! It's -8 ℃. and I survived putting out the garbage at 6:30. It's Family Day here in Ontario. Provincial stores are closed, or have limited hours. Amazingly, we were at 5 ℃. on Valentine's Day. The sun feels warmer. 

Jordan is home from Uni, and they cooked for themselves while the parental unit went out on date night.

On Sunday they made taffy on the snow! 

Aster made herself a guitar from a kit! She's quite the skilled young person.

   

 Out west, atop a mountain, Cluny had a race. This was Jan. 25th. Hollyburn Cross Country Ski Club

 

A new week begins, we approach spring. The worst is nearly over. I content myself with feeding the birds.

Bird feeders

 I have been enjoying the birdies. This was Sunday. A downy woodpecker.

The Dratted Red Squirrel (a fave of the cats) has been chomping down.

The morning dove likes the arrangement.

The tripod really helps. The afternoon sun makes photos tricky. Not to mention the wind blowing the wind sock. (It does seem to help prevent bird strikes.) 

Much better shots with the camera on a tripod.

The squirrel managed to get up there. I think it flings itself from the tree, or from the bird bath. 

I put out the Wingscape camera. The trick is you have to preset the focus on it. I set it for 4'. 

I reset the camera, and managed some close shots.

 

Mourning dove

 

After our walk, Cinnamon helped himself to a drink. I realized the winter bird bath needed cleaning. 

 

Bird watching

 I guess seeing red squirrel is just a bonus! These are from the front window. With the recent cold snap, it is just lovely watching from inside. Of course, we were nowhere near as cold as the prairies. Right, Red?! You were at - 30 C., while we were only -10 c.!

American tree sparrow:

White breasted nuthatch:

Tappy cardinal:

Junco:

Mourning doves:

Downy woodpecker:

They sure like the bird bath, although they aren't bathing in -10 C. temperatures!

I moved the Wingscapes camera, you can see the lights on it.

It captures cats, as well as birds. 

It is tricky, as you have to set the focus prior to setting it out. It's hit and miss the critters.

 

cinnamon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

cardinal from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

This cardinal is a nut! Can you see him in the tree outside the window?

He was tapping on the bathroom window, seeing his reflection and an enemy. My blue heron statues watches, but so do the cats. 

Still snowy and frozen!

We haven't seen King Charles in a few days. This is the last image I had. He's not been near the house! He devoured the last pie pumpkin beside the frogpond. This was prior to the ice storm. 

King Charles IV from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I figured out that likely the security camera card is frozen. Rebooting it only established that it didn't see the memory card. I only managed these videos because the app was open, and it saved directly to my laptop. We expect 5 mm rain on the weekend. Oh, yikes.

deer feeder from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I'll climb the ladder, and try remove and reinsert the card. Or maybe I'll wait until we thaw this weekend.

I've my camera on the tripod in the living room window. I don't know if it is a reception room or a snug. We've been enjoying Escape to the Country UK. It is so interesting. We'd never heard of barn conversions before, where the barn has those amazing huge beams. 

The 'bird bath' has been popular. It is so much easier to clean this one in winter. They are thirsty birds!

They are pretty, mourning doves.

Goldfinches are cute, as well.

 A junco:

The elusive female cardinal appeared. The next photo shows them in parallel play eating!

The TV takes time to thaw in the day. Some channels work, others do not. I could get out the ladder and roof rake but with the thaw coming... 

We went into town for our COVID shots. The trees are all bent, with the weight of snowflakes and ice.

 After we had our vaccinations, we had our lunch, then watched the women's soccer game we had taped. They gave away the result, but it didn't matter. The tribute for Christine 'Sinc' Sinclair was amazing. A lovely woman, with a great spirit. 

We'll see what today brings. A slow thaw is what I hope for.