Saturday's critters

It is an interesting time of year, with deer in mating season, other critters working hard to fatten up for winter. The bears seem to have found dens. Our birds, the ones that haven't migrated, have been enjoying the feeders. The biting insects have done their time, and now sleep under the leaves. Or so I thought!

Some critters move indoors! Thankfully, I was almost done my first coffee! The odd mosquito lasts a couple months indoors. 

"Waiter, there's a mosquito in my coffee!"

Fun fact, people on our nearby lake have reported a moose out and about, both the south and north shores. We spotted moose in Muskoka all the time, ambling through our small town of Bala. These are from our trip to Algonquin Park! 

🐸  Moving the Frogs

I had a question from Barb about our goldfish pond frogs. She asked if I was moving them this year. I think with the drought, they hibernated early and they didn't gather in the pond. This is my theory. That said, I found two leopard frogs on the pond Friday, Nov., 21st. 

Leopard frog on a log. It was on the ice and so cold. The pond had melted around the edges and it cam up. As you know reptiles can't control their body temperature. (Like the iguanas who fell off the trees in Florida in that cold snap!)

 

There was ice on the pond. I thought it was open near the dock. I had to whack it open and poke the one frog in. The other escaped under the dock. We'll hope for the best, and consider 50% of the job done. 

Our biggest bucks are still much smaller than moose, but impressive, for sure.

   

 Here he is at the other trailcam at the scrape site. He's leaving his mark!

   

 The doe just wandered through the scrape.

 

Visit more critters at Eileen's blog: Saturday's Critters # 623.

Sunrise, froggies, chores

 Such a lovely sunrise Tuesday!

I had a notice that my health card needed a new photo and renewal. I looked at it, and at my driver's licence, yes, expiring as well, on my birthday in December. My driver's licence was free to renew. The healthcard $90. Our premier is trying to buy re-election.

There was a decision to make. You know how bad such photos are? Should I bother with make up? Caitlin said I should! I'd feel better. 

Wednesday

We had a balmy day. It was weird. It got up to 23 ℃., and it felt like summer.

Joe took the car into town and had the snow tires put on. Yes, weird. There is cold weather on its way. We have another year for the summer tires until we have to replace them. 

The frogs woke up in the goldfish pond. They've been sleeping in the mud in the cold weather. The pond was down to 2℃.  I had to move them. It was good exercise.

• Oct. 30 – warm day, moved 19 (see below!) and later 6, then 7 more  = 32
• Total moved, so far this fall, = 61

I set them down, and they hopped into the pond. 

I got tired of going down to the frog pond. The third time, I went to the back 40. I was blessed with an owl sighting on the owl tree.

We've rain on the way. I've my respite client volunteer visit, so that works out. The leaves are nearly down. I still have to redo the eaves under the catalpa tree and the shed is ready, as well. 

More red maples

 This is the last of the red maple leaves.

I put the garbage out Monday morning, and I'm happy I had these photos! The tree on the right is done. In the winds yesterday, these leaves were blowin' in the wind!

Out front, the doe has been hanging around. She's cleaned up the Hostas, which is fine, because they are wilting in the cool weather. 

It's been sunny and balmy. Two more frogs have been relocated. I caught one, and left it in the bucket until I could get the other. It just hopped out and back into the goldfish pond. I caught it again, as well as this one.

Then, in the warmth and sun, another pair. I've moved 22.

There were so many planes out! I wonder how much it costs to fly these. 

More froggies...

 Things have cooled off here. It was fairly sudden. And, yes, it is football season for Joe!

🐸Moving the froggies <= up to 16 this year. (Nothing like the 144 last year.)

I am still trying to capture Jeremiah bullfrog. It is time. The kids were here last weekend and caught him. I should have let them move him. It seems too late now. I haven't seen him for several days. Me bad.

In the meantime, there are several leopard and green frogs who need to be moved. The freeze/thaw of Climate Change means the goldfish pond is too shallow for them. 

Down at the frog pond, there are some red leaves.

It is so bright and green in the frog pond. For now!

Cinnamon came 'walkies' with me. We had a mission.

He helped nudge them into the pond for me. I left and he sat here until I returned with another frog.

My pumpkins are out. Things unfold as they should.

We are being careful with respiratory issues on the rise. Hospital visits are up in our health unit. I'm sure it is a familiar story.

Stay safe, warm, dry and be careful out there!

Last days of warm weather!

 

Ours days are relatively quiet. Rainy day on Wednesday (13mm/ 0.5").  I made it into the doctor with only a mild period of anxiety. He was pretty much on time, and it was a quick visit to renew my medical cannabis.

I have photos to look back on. I think this is the last of the Dahlias.

I'm still watching Jeremiah. He now has two froggie friends. One is a medium size and I don't think he could eat it. 

🐸 Moving the Froggies

This little one has been hanging about. I caught him Wednesday, and took him down to the frog pond where he belongs. 

I have to figure out when to take Jeremiah down, as well. I have to leave it for a bit until no more froggies appear for shelter. It is so sad seeing them under the ice, trying to get a breath. The pond isn't deep enough for them to overwinter. It melts and thaws.

The doe came back to finish off the last Hosta! 

Forest Walkies, now snow

Off I went to fetch trailcam videos.

Cinnamon and I went walkies another day. I had frogs to dump in the wetland. 

🐸  Moving the froggies

Nov. 19th a.m.    –   moved  3        = 144

I remembered to drain the water barrel, again.

Sunday night, Joseph Brian and two cats watched the games. I'd made them a nice fire, while I watched Christmas movies.

Two cats snuggle in the sunshine.

In the dark, I'm working on our lights. I noticed the moon! 

From the inside, the lights warm my heart.

Tuesday morning we had storm warnings. November is always risky for freezing rain. Tuesday morning was cold, at -9 C. and a storm was on the way. The sky was pink at 6:30.

Outdoors, having refilled the bird feeders, I thought I'd harvest some pumpkin seeds prior to a possible snow storm. Do you know what pumpkins are like having been in -8 C. temperatures overnight? Rock hard! I took out my axe! That worked.

The 5 or so silly frogs are still under the ice in the goldfish pond. I cut it a hole.

We had a storm. There was about 2 cm snow on Tuesday. Joseph Brian gathered flashlights, just in case. Wednesday morning, it switched to rain. We got ready for freezing rain, but it was snow, thankfully.

Yay, winter.