Trees, fall leaves...

 The poor dead pine tree. 

I think this looks spooky! Pareidolia 

I thought I'd explain my pooter! It looks a bit weird, but it works. We've invasive aggressive lady beetles, unlike the native ones.

The colours continue to astound!

We're losing lots in the backyard.

The goldfish pond is so quiet! The froggies are sleeping. We're expecting rain Thursday, which will fill it up.

I saw two snakes on my walk to fetch the trailcam memory cards. The ribbon snake is so pretty. It was about 60 cm! The photo isn't great, but the second is from my archive.

We've lots of snakes preparing for winter. They will find a hibernaculum, underground, where they can stay warm, or at least not freeze during winter.

I met Clover on my walk.

 

clover in forest from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Tonight is the big meeting regarding the proposed gun club. My speech has been written and revised. Despite being somewhat agoraphobic, this has to be done. After the meeting 'staff,' AKA the Planner, will get back to all of the councillors and recommend it or not. Then there will be another public meeting. sigh. 

Bark butter, and other chores

 Are you tired of my wee goldfinches? I'm not. We're still in chaos here in Ontario. Six of our automotive plants are shut due to the occupiers. It is defeating. They have gathered at the borders, Sarnia, Windsor/Detroit, shutting down the supply chain.

Our premier, who is the one with the authority to bring in SWAT teams (the feds do not), has been silent. He is up for re-election June 2nd. No one is happy with him digging in his heels. The crazy people, who don't listen to scientists, and entertain conspiracy theories, are getting air time. They aren't even making logical sense. OK, back to nature, and my goldfinches. 

I keep watching them for signs of their spring/summer colours. Below: now and Aug., 2015.

This is a photo fail! It wouldn't look at me! American tree sparrow. I kept waiting with baited breath!

The male house finches have arrived. I thought they might be purple finches.

Things have been treacherous here indoors. I had a bit of an argument with a sardine can. Nurse JB fetched a bandage, and went to buy more finger bandages later on. It's like a thick paper cut. Yowzers. 

Sewing a hem on my pants, after months of having it on the To Do list, I was making progress. Sadly, the pins were on the arm of my chair. They began to slip, and I caught them, and caught a needle in my thumb. My nurse wasn't home, but the finger bandages came in handy.

The front walk was slippy, I chucked some sunflower seeds on it. The birds eat the seeds, leave the hulls, and a little bit of traction. The freeze and thaw is difficult on walking. We're at 2 C., this a.m., with maybe rain and/or snow ahead. 

Cinnamon had gone back to bed, and didn't even venture outdoors. Clever lad!

I learned a word, or maybe I'd forgotten it: pareidolia. Where you perceive a face in objects. What better than a pansy face? It's a bright spot of colour for us. I'm happy visiting my blogger friends with lots of greenery and many colours, far to the south. We are getting there!

I made bark butter for my Fat Head, inserting it in the holes. This is great stuff. There are lots of recipes, a small batch recipe, or another. Cornmeal, lard, flour and peanut butter. I put it up at 4:30 Wednesday afternoon. We'll see what happens today. I may have to move it away from the underhang. Those raccoons will be awake soon. It's a dreadful photo, but you get the picture. I'll do more when the sun rises.