Wetland walkies

 Rolling Thunder descending on Ottawa April 29/30th

Well, a new day dawns. Ottawa anticipates this Rolling Thunder rally downtown. It is a rally meant to imitate the annual Washington one. It is stirring people up, and the wackadoodles are coming out of the wood work. They've arrested a couple of people, whose bail conditions forbid them from being in downtown Ottawa from the last time they invaded the downtown core. We shall see what unfolds over the weekend. It is Isabelle's birthday party, and one of the outer ring routes recommended by the instigators runs through Bells Corners. They have designated residential locations to park. 

The exclusion zone is in effect now, with ticketing and towing of parked vehicles beginning this morning. People who work there have to show police why they are there, so says our local CBC radio host. I hope nothing happens this time. Such a waste of gas, noise and air pollution.

Wetland Walkies

Cinnamon and I went walkies around the forest. I find the wetland so beautiful, especially over the seasons. Cinnamon ran down another day, hoping to visit the island. I had to explain that we've lost our ice bridge and it is pretty wet. He reluctantly came along and we followed the shoreline.

This is a view across the middle of the wetland, all the brown is where the green bulrushes come up, and then the forest on the other side. The mosses on the dead trees is so green. 

The mosses thrive in this weather. The greens are heart warming! 

The edge of the wetland gives a good view of the forest beyond. Soon it'll all be grown, and the forest invisible.

Cinnamon had his regular visit to this tree. I'm thinking he thinks he's part doggie, except for when he roars up a tree! 

Cinnamon in the wetland 

Cinnamon in the wetland from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

When we approached the frog pond, there were two pair of mallards on it, as well as 4 - 6 other ducks who flew off in disgust. The trailcam shows a male wood duck as he walks from the wetland (left) to the frog pond. 

wood duck walking from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

This is where the ducks like to be, when they aren't on the frog pond.

I loved the pattern of these roots and mossy branches. 

Back at the house, the Lenten Lily is blooming! I'm sure Anvilcloud could tell me how to get on my belly and snag a better photo, but that isn't going to happen! I do have an archived photo of it from 2017!

I just noticed that the little clump of crocus (above photo, middle right, behind the lily) is down to only one flower. Ah well. I have photos of them from 2018!

The bird bath is leaking. I noticed, when I looked out at the mourning doves. I still have some cement dust and I'll empty it. Repairs will have to wait until this cold spell stops. It's not bad in the day, but overnight we are dipping below zero. Good to have projects.

@Red asked why there aren't any riparian plants around the frog pond. It is a vernal pond, and often dries up in summer. I have left it natural, and this is the way it's been for a kazillion years.

P.S. JB's PSA test was the same as last time. We are good for another 3 months. He'll have his regular cancer treatment (Lupron) next week.

NDP Rally with John Fenik in Perth

That was so much fun! We've been to a couple of rallies. My favourite was meeting Elizabeth May's train in Parry Sound in 2008, when we lived in Muskoka. Her train was 3 hours late. This rally was pretty much on time. The rally in Peterborough was finished at 2:40, and they hopped on the bus (a two-hour, 20 minute drive sans traffic!) and drove here. The Perth rally was scheduled for 5:00 to 6:00, Mr. Mulcair arrived about 5:45!

When Mr. Fenik and Lake 88 tweeted out his rally, I knew I had to be there. We had trouble parking, people were streaming across the Crystal Palace parking lot, into the building.

The Global cameraman winked at me, after I took his photo! (I like taking photos of the backstory!) It was a beautiful setting for the rally, in the Crystal Palace. People just kept arriving and packing the joint!



Men and women in black. Cool shades. Hubby was at a different door. He saw they were seriously packing!


Supporters just kept arriving! I saw Paul Dewar arrive, in a brightly coloured plaid shirt. There was no photo for me, he was engulfed in the crowd. I used to sit on the OCETF executive with him. I remember my colleague, one of the hard-working supporters, grabbing his mop of dark hair and telling him to get a haircut!


Once Mr. Fenik arrived, the crowd began to get excited! Hubby snapped a photo for me! Mr. Fenik told us the bus was 15 minutes away.


Once Mr. Mulcair's bus arrived (5:46), the clapping began! Of course, he couldn't just hop off the bus. CTV was on the bus with him, and they had to set up their camera. Then, I realized, I wouldn't be able to see anything!

Security took different roles. They blocked the parking lot. One dude helped a man back up his car and trailer, he mistakenly tried to go through the parking lot with his canoe in tow. He had to back up and go back onto Gore Street!


The man, himself! Leader of the NDP. This was with my zoom. CTV videocamera on the left, Global TV on the right. Too bad for us chumps who'd been standing there for nearly an hour!


Town was very busy, it being a Friday, with tourists coming to town. There was a car crash just outside of the bank parking lot! Excitement for all! Citiots, methinks. You have to drive more slowly in cottage country...