Paint Party Friday

I miss Paint Party Friday. Some bloggers burn out, get bored or too busy, or move on, which is what one expects. I've met some lovely people (virtually) through this PPF artistic blog. Rain has been an inspiration with her Thursday's Art Date, living remotely as she does, she sketches, makes cheese, grows her own veggies (I have so failed at that recently), and teaches people what she knows.  

We took a drive last week. I spotted this little barn. 

First stab at it.

I was similarly inspired by Landscape Artist of the Year, created by BBC. We've been watching them at dinner time, as we settle into the evening. As I researched this, I found there is a Canadian version! 

Anyway, I finally managed to sit down and sketch. I am happy with myself.

 

Now, you may wonder what we retirees need to relax from... watching relaxing art shows. The news is discouraging, of course. We are feeling like hermits, but I'm happy with that. We still do not feel comfortable eating indoors in a restaurant, and will continue to mask. This thing isn't done. 

What else weighs us down? We've switched banks, and it's taken a month to get that going and convert things over. I've been banging my head on the wall trying to get this done, having dealt with CRA tax issues – I was triggered by the whole process. I was in no state of mind to do it a few months ago. I worked so hard on this online, it almost defeated me, but the CRA stuff is settled and our medical deductions were finally accepted for 2020. 

We felt that we would get better benefits from a new bank. I've made progress, having managed to switch over my CPP and OAS automatic payments to the new bank account, as the government web site won't allow this right now. 

JB went into the local federal government office to switch over his CPP and OAS to the new account. This was our last resort. A big, burly security guard (there were 2 of them, and 2 employees) asked his purpose in the foyer of the local, and he stated his goal. He sat and waited for service. All was done by a clerk who lives just down the road from us. Yea small towns!

Anyway, JB headed home after picking up some groceries, looking for the snapping turtle he'd seen at the side of the road on the way in to town. It was still there. Traffic was brisk, he was brave and he guarded it, trying to get people to avoid it, hoping for help. He cannot bend and lift with his back issues. They were heroes. Look for the helpers, said Mr. Rogers. 

Snapping turtle heroes!.mp4 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Finally, speaking of paintings: Caitlin was in Toronto for a two-day work conference. She was meant to get on the 18:10 flight back to Ottawa last night. The flight prior to theirs didn't leave until 18:45, nearly 2 hours late. The incoming plane, the one she was to get on, didn't arrive until 19:40. They cleaned it up, they boarded, and waited for take off. The thunderstorm rolled in! Another delay.

They had to wait, for safety reasons. The sky was a painting. They finally left at 21:00 hours, only three hours late. We were all watching her progress, texting back and forth. She was happy to get home, having done some great networking, and socializing with folks she either hasn't seen in years, or on on Zoom!

Have a wonderful weekend, all! 

Paint Party Friday!!!!

Even retired, the week seems to go by quickly. Here we are at Paint Party Friday
, again. This retirement ain't for chumps.
 My inspiration...  this from May, the ferns are even larger and a brighter green.


On the way back from my client's home – can you see it on the road?


I had to go past, turn around, and park. The traffic was fast, and I was careful. All were good about avoiding the poor little thing. A little snapper. All of our turtles in Ontario are, at least, species-at-risk for extirpation if not extinction. Snappers take 15 to 20 years to become mature. They are a beautiful part of our ecosystem.


It takes me back to the turtle I found canoeing in Bala, Muskoka, June 2009. This one was the size of a coffee table. I was awed.

Then there was the little snapper I named Patch. I think the raccoons got him. He only had one eye and lived in our frog pond.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... Another 🐣PHOEBE (left arrow)  is setting up shop near the 🐣ROBIN  nest (right arrow). We may have another nest to follow!!! The robin still has only 3 eggs, but this is likely a 2nd brood.

Phoebe in the shed is still feeding and they are growing flight feathers. The parents are madly flying around picking up bugs.

After breakfast, I shall go down to the pond to see if our wood ducks, the last box, have hatched. Stay tuned!

Motts Mills

Saturday, April 26, we drove to pick up my prize. I won a new TV stand! I suggested we go by Motts Mills to see the dam. With all the flooding along the Flooding in Ontario and Québec, I was quite curious.

The dam was redone, we've been here before. Motts Mills Refurbished Dam, July, 2016. 

Also, May 20, 2017. 

The area hosts a lot of critters: frogs, fish, ducks, etc. Snapping turtle and rivers and dams (June, 2015) prior to the refurbishment. This snapping turtle was quite something.
 

The wetland can absorb a lot of water. It's a pretty little spot, with a bench for sitting, once the water goes down and the sun comes out.



There is something about rushing water in this setting. Soon it will slow and the dragonflies will be out.
Motts Mills from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Round Lake Dam on the Bonnechere River

Here’s some perspective on water levels around here. The dam ends 1/3 of the way across the River. The closer 2/3 is water flowing over and around. There is no elevation change between lake and river. pic.twitter.com/gn3V7sZP88

— Matt Cruchet (@Paramedic_Matt) May 2, 2019

With all the bad news we've been getting...

I decided to post a good story.

Firstly, on a tour to Clayton, after a visit to Dr. Jenn, our Naturopath (appointment #45 for healthcare!), we spotted a snapping turtle on the highway. Hubby pulled over. With his bad back, he is unable to bend, so he stayed safely in the car!

There are good people in the world.

Snapping turtle in 2014

On Wolfe Grove Rd., I was standing on this busy road, with trucks dragging boats on trailers, 4 x 4's zipping by, and around us. I tried to move the snapper with the floor mat. He wasn't biting. Well, he was, but not hanging on! He stunk badly, with moss on his shell, and had blood dripping from his mouth. He was more concerned with me, than going on his way. I was about to give up, when a man my age stopped, popped on his work gloves, grabbed the turtle and gently laid him in the direction in which I'd seen the turtle was going on the other side of the road, and off he went. (The pick-up  truck said Cavanagh Construction.)

The silly thing was going from the lake side, to the swamp side, the property owner said. She was about to come out with a shovel for me! The gentleman got the job done, however!

She further told me that she had to change her veggie and flower beds to raised platforms, as the snappers kept getting into them and tossing the veggies around. One came up the three steps on her back deck! They are often nudging them across the road.

Back to our trip...

Dr. Jenn

Hubby had some refills from his naturopath, as well as new things for some sores. We had our first consult a year ago, and she had him tested for food intolerances. This has greatly improved his well-being. We know he cannot have eggs, yeast or dairy products. His stomach issues are so much better.

She is rotating his anti-cancer, immunity boosting meds, as well. His cancer is on hold. This is good! 

Extensive report

Remember my old photo donations?

I'd forgotten one photo, which had fallen out of the envelope. After seeing Dr. Jenn, we went to the museum. Our photos are nicely mounted and I handed over the last one! I'm so glad they have a good place. They are marvellous examples of old photos for the museum. The first, a tin type, is rare of this size.

 After we came out of the museum, a Monarch butterfly followed us along the road! I took that as a sign that my mother was pleased! She adored her sister who died when mom was a baby. I didn't get a good photo, but you can see the orange of the Monarch on the shoulder on the bottom of the photo!

Then, in Appleton, you can see two neighbours agreeing to disagree!

Snapping turtle and rivers and dams

We drove home from our big day trip: TWO festivals in one day:
Tall Ships in Brockville in the a.m., lunch in Smiths Falls, and a Wellness Festival in Smiths Falls.

Snapping Turtle(Chelydra serpentina)

We paused at the dam. Everyone tells me s/he was simply sunbathing. Thing is, the walls of the dam went down sharply on either side. They stretch out, to maximize the sun. Reptiles need the warmth, as they are cold-blooded. Snapping turtle are of 'special concern' in Ontario, not endangered, but getting there. They take years before they can reproduce (females in their late teens), lay eggs on the shoulder of highways in the gravel, which often doesn't go well, and people have feared them. Raccoons, foxes, and the like, raid the nests and eat the eggs. They can live up to age 70 and look so ancient.

Some of my drive-by shootings of water. It's so good to see lots of water, now, and no snow!