Crumbly Acres

Cinnamon is keeping track of his Freds. I watched him on the deck railing. He's a good uncle, as uncles tend to be.

For some reason, they are running up and down the driveway. Cinnamon likes to watch them, like tennis, back and forth. In this heat, that is probably the best move. 

Nutmeg got into the act! She peeked into one of the burrow exits. Fred was at another opening. 

Walkies demands a deerfly sticky. They are merciless. They tend to land on the back of your head, finding a place to land and take a chunk out of you. This stuff really works.

🐍This is really fun. I noticed a shed snake skin in the front garden. I could not tell what kind it is, but it is 105cm long. 

Later I noticed Cinnamon watching something in the garden. It was a beautiful Garter Snake. Our cat, Dorah, used to bring them up on the back deck. Cinn is a little gentler and just sat down beside the snake. I encouraged Cinn to come with me.

 

I have a lovely hollyhock, new to the garden this year. They aren't as yummy as the hostas, apparently!

 The Freds, especially as teenagers, are amazing climbers. Don't know why the are 'groundhogs,' when they spend much time on the fence, on top of wood piles, generally climbing.  

 

 He seems to like the fence by the deck. More milkweed trimming! 

 

Lots of Hydro workers spent Canada Day fixing up the lines. 

Just for fun, another storm through on Canada Day. We're going to need to find a roofer to replace shingles.

Busy work!

 I found two ribbon snakes moving along the grass by the driveway. Only one permitted me a photograph! They were both about 20+cm.  Also, a youngish watersnake that was run over. We have a bazillion crickets, yum yum for the snakes, who will soon hibernate.

Cinnamon and I went 'walkies.'  Can you see him on the end of the dock? He chose to wait and watch there, disinclined to visit the trailcam with me. There is no water in the frogpond! Still, he surveys his pond.

These hornets continue to buzz around infrequently. Bonking their faces into the back deck glass. 

I found an abandoned hornet's nest up in the tree! We had some another year, but they had black and white abdomens. iPhoto says they are vespa crabro.  Either way, they be done shortly. The queen hides underground over winter and raises new workers for next year.

I do love the colours of the trees. These were taken through the bathroom window. The light is reflected into the room, for now. 

Soon it will look like this!

 

I touched up my chair. It was Australian Timber Oil. (Non-mental note!)

Joe fetched me some more white spray paint. I touched up the sleeping cat and goose.

I didn't plant a petunia here on the ground. Yet, here is is!

We had some more strawberries from Miller's Bay. 

Saturday's Critters

I wonder how many critters I miss. Some are so fast. All I have is the skunk's tail! 

I am having trouble with new Vimeo settings. Bear with me!

We've had 3 Monarchs eclose (at least the ones I have seen!) and I imagine that is the last of them.

 

An eagle soars, it is tricky following it, but it keeps me sharp!

It's tricky mowing the lawn! I have to watch for frogs and snakes. The frogs always move in the direction I'm going. 

Porcupine in the dark:

 And a sign of fall! This was Sunday, when the Hydro crew began their work.Saturday's Critters # 562

Corn snake & other stuff!

Things have been getting chilly. That is -5 C.! 

Wednesday we had some graupel. It's like baby hail! 

The cats preferred sitting in the sun. The clouds came and went.

I took JB walkies on my trip to the wetland. I found some lovely fungi!

Joseph Brian went walkies yesterday morning in town. It was so cold, but glorious he tells me! 

He spotted a crocodile.

I like watching skating. It is usually accompanied by some great music. This was so much fun, they masked up after their performance, which involved birds. 

Having had a few wind gusts, it took out my scarecrow! I brought her indoors. This is the before and after! Total face plant, the poor girl. I had to tape up the straw she sits on. 

More November clouds.

coyote

wild turkeys 

Cinnamon and I went walkies. He found Dratted Red Squirrel. This seems to be its favourite spot to sit. I've videotaped it here before.  

Cinnamon likes the catalpa tree.

Well, finally, I managed a sketch. It's been awhile since I've done one. Writers Artist's block?! Anyway, things are settling back down. 

Josephine is thinking about getting a snake! I drew a picture of a corn snake in a vivarium! They are good choices for newbies, apparently. 

Corn Snake Care Sheet <=

Country of Origin: America

Potential Adult Size: 120-180cm (48-72 inches)

Average Life Span: 20+ years

Gramma Camp – Week 33.5

 Thursday we eased into the day. Josephine finished a book, and began another!

Grampa suggested we go into town to their regular parking spot. The park was really busy, on this 33 C. day, and we wondered how we would do. We went to the regular parking spot, and this group of 4 were waltzing along the middle of the road! We found a parking spot.

I halted the procession and suggested we do a reverse of the regular trip and Josee was horrified! There is an order to everything and to everything an order.

The garden is lovely. 

I spotted someone taking a photo of the girls from the other shoreline. Of course I took a photo of him! 

Looking down in the water, I yelled to Josephine that I spotted a water snake! She was so excited and they hustled over!

water snake 

It's a pretty river.

Off to their other favourite spot.

Grampa parked himself on his regular bench. Someone donated a bench: "A place for Greg to rest, 2019!"

These fun ladies in pink (below) were stopped in front of the Stewart Park signage, and were talking to a cell phone. "Google, take a selfie in 3 seconds!" I giggled as I walked by. One of them explained that they just figured out they could do this! They had matching outfits, and were a lot of fun.

Off we went for ice cream. I noticed this smart garden!

You'll notice the car on the right, it was running, with the air conditioner on. SIGH. Climate Change?

The band was rehearsing, but JB's friend wasn't there.

We met another gramma who was there with her granddaughter. They decided to take a break from the lake and her husband took her 9-year-old grandson golfing, while grandma and granddaughter went to the park. 

Off to the stone bridge. There were lots of kids swimming!

When we arrived home, I spotted a newly created chrysalis on the front deck, under the overhang, a new monarch!

I've not had many critters on the trailcams, time to move one or two. I did capture Isabelle! IMG_0002  

 

Regular bedtime, both girls read until I yelled "Teeth and jammies!" Isabelle was already in her jammies. I tucked her in at 9, and toddled on downstairs to tuck Josephine in at 9:20. I was yawning, and about to fall into bed myself. She had a buddy.

 Back upstairs to bed, and I was reading, trying to finish the last few chapters of my library book. I heard a noise, but kept reading. It was Cinnamon, demanding that Isabelle let him into his bedroom. Isabelle popped up, and opened her door, "Cinnamon, what are you doing?" Silly cat. 

Friday was uneventful. Grampa took Jos for a walk at Last Duel Park. Izzy and I chilled. Josephine took over Grampa's wee camera.