Cat TV, snowy days

 Cinnamon was sitting at the window, as he is wont to do. There are birds, squirrels, deer, who visit his yard. You'll have to look carefully, but #75 (gray squirrel, black morph), stands out in the white snow. Can you see him? Just to the right of the snowy bird bath and baby bear.

I tried to photograph him, but he is so quick. 

Then the real excitement, as he scurried across the front deck. 

Off he went, but Cinnamon was vigilant!

It is calm and peaceful during the storm.

 

Another session on the driveway. There was 20 cm at the end of the drive from blowing snow. It was slushy where it took some work. It clogs up the auger and requires some effort. BUT I did it!

What a great machine. 

I transplanted these two small evergreens years ago. They are doing well.

Legally one is required to shovel off one's vehicle. I've seen some funny memes around that. There are fines for carrying an 'unsafe load,' which includes snow on your car. This is a funny memory from Parry Sound in 2009. 

The Ontario Highway Traffic Act fines: 

• No clear view to front or sides — $110 each (ice or snow-covered windows). 
• Insecure load — $160 (snow or ice flying off). 
• Deposit ice or snow on roadway — $110 (from your vehicle or other property). 
• Careless driving — $490 (knowingly operating a vehicle without being able to see or having the snow cause a collision directly or indirectly). 

After my work was done, I had a shower and made us each a mug of tea. I was cold, and settled in under my warmest blanket (it was a gift!), and read my novel. I'm reading them all in order. The mug was a lovely birthday gift.

I like to find a series, go back to the beginning and read them in order. This set is the prequel to the Prime Suspect books. 

Snowy Crumbly Acres

It's been a mess out there. Rain, snow, sleet, graupel, etc. More snow last night, about 3 cm. After our melt, the driveway was good, almost. Just give me winter, and let it rest there. 

Joe carefully avoided the camera whilst sweeping. This was before the fall he had Thursday on the one little bit of ice I missed.

He hurt his hip and scraped his hand. He'll live. Nurse Jilks bandaged it. 

I have avoided the frog pond trailcam. Then, when I visit it, and bring back the SD Card, I realize it had gone to a default setting. Photos, not videos. I keep forgetting! People who camera trap can empathize. It can be cold and miserable, and one declines to reset the time or date.

I put the three photos into a video.

 

 As long as we are giggling, I don't know what I was thinking, but I turned it the wrong way, instead of having it face the sidewalk... 

   

 

This is what I was trying to capture: Labbit!

   

 The deer in snow.

   

 The fisher went on by, as well.

   

Chad Coyote is a handsome one! He is a frequent visitor. 

 

More snow photos!

This is how it began! If you watch to the end, you'll see Fred Grounhog's burrow, she's sound asleep.

Nutmeg didn't last long!

 

It was a lovely snowfall. Until it warmed up! A lot of it has melted.

As it snowed, the weight of the snow sent the branches to touch the ground. I shook them off, and they rose up. It's a miracle!

Before bedtime, I went out on the back deck. I actually remembered to look for the aurora borealis.  The iPhone caught the colours. I was surprised! We don't usually see the Northern Lights. 

It all came together!

1) I had to remember it was there.

2) No clouds

3) Phone was charged. `

            = success!

Cats, snow, and rabbits

😼Two cats are ready for bed! They had a busy day. There are some issues going on here. Usually Nutmeg goes to bed after dinner. I go to bed to read and Cinnamon comes to bed. He often stays all night. Nutmeg will sleep here until Joe comes to bed. Then, she'll vacate. Lately, he's been coming to bed early. They do have personalities.

Now, I took my time doing the back deck. I waited until Tuesday. It looks so pretty. I did it in three sessions. Taking my time. 

🐇I mentioned Cinnamon sitting in the bathroom window watching something. This was Feb. 3rd. There is a good reason for that: Labbit. The bush on the right is a lilac. It has tender new shoots. 

I've spotted Labbit tracks beyond the septic bed. Not to bore you, but I wanted to figure it out, and show Joe and family where they are. This is the Muskoka Room, and I could see tracks in the snow. You can't see them through the screen, I marked them in red! The tracks lead to Fred groundhog's burrow where Labbit seems to be hiding out.

From the lilac bush, the tracks led to the back door where the bird feeder lies. Again, this is through the screen, I provide markers! 

Sure enough!

She's been sitting here during the day, munching on lilac saplings and buds for three days!

 

 On alternate days, I've found Labbit tracks from the two burrows. No tracks connecting them. I concluded that we have two in two separate Fred Groundhog burrows! We'll see if we get little Labbits in spring.

Here is Labbit under the deck, under the bird feeder.

 

Another snowy day!

 The cats were to go in for their annual exams and shots. We deferred it to a day without 7 cm snow. 

It was quite a snowy day. 

I noticed a rock I that wasn't very snow covered. Turns out it was Labbit chewing dead weeds and plants.

 

I posted photos of little Nutmeg the other day. This is her quiet spot. She didn't get the memo that I was washing sheets!

This is their daytime spot, in the sunshine. 

The cats get pretty tired squirrel and bird watching! I had 4 house finches, amongst others. 

chickadee

There are two pairs of cardinals!

The two males at the same time!

We finished off 🎥 Darby and Joan (AU) this week. The new one is a 6-show series: Protection (UK 2024 - miniseries) 6 episodes. I was quite happy to have a hot shower and put my feet up having done the driveway and refilled bird feeders.