Winter settles in...

I used the blower on the driveway on Sunday, in the late afternoon. I knew it was still snowing, but it'd soon be dark. Monday is garbage day. When I was finished, it didn't look as if I'd done it! Pppfffftttt! 

The oak tree still has dead leaves!

You'd think, being retired, there is no pressure. I woke up knowing I had to put garbage out. PRESSURE! Checking the temperature, it was -17 ℃.  (This morning it is -19℃!)  I never sleep well, knowing I have a deadline! 😆 

It was bitterly cold. Taking off my gloves for a photo, my fingers froze! 

There were coyote tracks all across the driveway. This shows the coyote tracks checking out the path the voles took across the driveway! This is what coyotes eat, for the most part. 

We haven't seen deer much. The snowfall brought them out. I noticed one our the front window.

The 5 deer checked the deer feeders. Nada! I sent JB into town to get some deer feed. We don't feed them much, but they get a mouthful. It means we can see them, which warms the cockles 💖. 

I built these troughs in April, 2015 (to replace ones the previous home owner built), but they are wearing out. Maybe that is a spring project! 

They emerged slowly from the forest.

It wasn't very deep snow. I was done in no time. 

🎁 It's my birthday this month. We bought me two new trailcams. They are inexpensive these days. Most of them seem to be cellular, meaning you have to buy a monthly plan where the camera will upload your images directly. 
I find going out to the forest means I am getting fresh air and walking. Plus, why should I pay them for this? I need more SD Cards, though. I keep dropping them, or they wear out, or I put them in pockets and can't find them. Sigh. Ain't old age fun?! 

I am really excited! 

This new trailcam has sensors on either side (see arrows), which helps trigger the camera and capture the critters better! That is the theory...

 

Still cleaning out snow!

Tuesday – the sun shone!

It was beautiful! I plowed out a path to the feeders for JB.

JB noticed that the water fountain was snow covered, and very pretty in the dusk and dark. I played with the settings. (Automatic and sports – that's about my forte!)

Tuesday night, another snowstorm. Not nearly as much (4.5 cm). Thing was we expected above zero temperatures, and maybe rain or ice rain. 

Wednesday

Nutmeg watched the squirrel on the front porch. 

The red squirrel has dug itself a wee tunnel from the base of the chestnut tree to under the feeder. Nothing goes to waste!  

It is quite pretty!

The mailbox was plowed in – from Tuesday. I had to go back up to the house to grab a shovel. I guess it is better than me having to replace the mailbox again (Jan. 14, 2021: Maintenance during a lockdown).  My mail carrier cannot deliver with it like this. The guy who owns the vacant land, the property across the street, turned up with a tractor, plowing out his driveway. I was wondering how he'd get the back hoe out!

It was tricky! The traffic was busy after a snow day or two. Everyone roaring by at great speed. I had to put the blower on high speed to get across before I was smucked. I still get heebee jeebies when the big tankers and trucks go by, but it has to be done. The noise is a trigger for me.

It's been above zero most of the day. It's all melting. That's why I worked so hard at it. Today, Thursday, it's all frozen. We had a deep freeze overnight after this. Crazy weather.

The back deck! (Before and after my work!) I took my time. 

back deck  

Ta da! I just took my time, JB brought me water. 

After a shower, I felt a bit better. 

snowblower 

I've put out a trailcam on the driveway, the critters often use it as a transportation route. The only critter was me!

 

  ❄ JANUARY 2022 ⛄

My data over the years...

My best friend worked very hard!

 Another storm – just glad it wasn't Monday morning, garbage day. 

After I shoveled, I had a shower. It felt so good. My booster arm is better, I can now put on my bra without too much pain. (TMI?!) It is pretty, the snow. The sun shone and brightened it all up.

The before and after. The sidewalk and driveway were a bit wet under the snow, as temperatures plunged overnight after a warmer day. (-11 C.)

This is a marvellous invention, my best friend on Sunday morning. 

I was a bad mum. I forgot I let Nutmeg into the Muskoka Room. She was out a couple of hours. Whoopsie. Cinnamon is happy to stay in and sleep.

The bird count went well Saturday. I was wondering if the day after we'd get some lovely birds! All I saw was a goldfinch in its muted winter colours. None on count day!

A happy man managed to get his finicky train going. We've not wanted to draw attention to it, due to the cats. They haven't shown any interest, which is a good thing! It is on a piece of cardboard, with a layer of used styrofoam, on a card table.