On the ground, in the air

 We had our septic tank fixed on Tuesday. The dude said we (I) should cut the grass and weeds over the septic bed. It is easier than paying for a new septic system ($25,000)! The roots could damage the septic bed. The bed is larger than I thought. I was so sad! There aren't enough wild flowers to my mind. 

This is the before!

The bees and monarchs love the Viper's Bugloss.... goodbye!

I wasn't happy. I don't think I chewed up any frogs. Last time it was a milk snake... 😢 next, I have to take down that sapling in the other side of the ditch. I've not got a plan for that, yet.

I spotted a Gray Tree Frog on the table out front.

People were wondering what this flight was all about! It even made the CBC news. In this climate, you never know what the US Administration is up to. A former NORAD officer believes it is a training flight. No one would talk about it from the government. It is really noisy, apparently. It came from Bangor, Maine. The USAF has a YouTube video which show the outside and inside up close.

Wikipedia

Also up in the air this Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk flying at 53,000' over the Black Sea. They are amazing machines.

🥇 It's terrific having uplifting news!  🥇  Hardworking young people!

Circle of influence on Crumbly Acres

 Our circle of influence is small here. We are retired, don't socialize much, but we watch and discuss the horrific news. 

With the heat wave, going out is quite something. This isn't normal for June for us.

I sent Joe out for an early morning walk. It's good to keep moving. MiniFred kept an eye out!

The deerflies are out in full force. Cinnamon is not happy. He hunkers down in the garden.

Poor Cinnamon had a deerfly bite, I believe. I parked him on the table to have a look at eye level. He was fine the next day! 

Then, there are the poor deer! They really suffer.

 

I finally snagged a half-decent photo of the Scarlet Tanager! It took perseverance. He kept bathing in the water fountain, but the moment I stood up, off he flew!

We had a goodly dump of rain. It filled the goldfish pond. The fishies were happy. The water is collected in the water barrel, and drains into the pond. When we have rain!

Froggy seems happy.

Others didn't quite make it through the storm unscathed.Despite evacuations from campsites, there were three incidents I heard of where campers had trees blown on tents or trailers. Thank goodness for emergency responders. There was one death, another where a camper van was struck by trees and the man had his leg broken:

• Storm downs trees, knocks out power in Mattawa, Ont., area

a third remote rescue where

• Rescuers saw, paddle their way to badly hurt boy in Algonquin Park.

I do like this hanging basket. 

You may think me silly, but I left the Bugloss to bloom on the lawn. The Monarchs, when they fly south, like it. 

Look at the milkweed! The purple petunias are doing well, and smell wonderful.

Still no House Wren eggs yet. 

Cinnamon walkies, birds, flowers

Cinnamon and the House Wrens have an understanding. They yell at him from the tree, or the lilac bush, or the hops vine, and they follow him to where he sits in the shade. He just ignores them. I know when he is out and about, and I tucked him back into the house. He knows he hasn't a hope of catching them.

Cinnamon walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

House wrens and Cinn:

house wrens from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Last week, Cinnamon and I went walkies in the back 40, prior to the rain. The ground was so cracked and dry. 

House wren chicks beg for food. I cannot see them. It is a joy to hear them.

house wrens from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

In they come, chicks yell, out they come to forage for some more moths. 

house wren feeding babies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I took the opportunity to photograph some birds. I could see the Baltimore Oriole Scarlet Tanager from the deck. I don't know why I always mix that up. He wasn't too cooperative! I'm too slow. I even wore my reading glasses. 

The cedar waxwings were too flighty for me!

The ubiquitous robins! They've had a busy year. Lots of bugs, and lots of babies.

The goldfinches like the Viper's Bugloss seeds.

goldfinch on bugloss from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Out front the hummingbirds are happy with both the fuschia and the petunias out front. You'll have to trust me with the petunias. This is right out the front window and you cannot move or they fly off. 

Also out front, I decided to get into the goldfish pond to fetch the pond pump cage top. Removing my sundress, I just popped on a long top so I wouldn't get my clothes wet. Climbing right in, barefoot, I had to feel around, hoping the two parcels we were expecting wouldn't arrive at that moment. Success! 

Sunday was a really hot one, after a cool night. Perfect summertime day. Having done the lawn, worked on a garden, I read in the pool for an hour.

I shall leave you with my miraculous Asiatic Lilies. The miracle is that they weren't chomped up by the deer. Hooray for chicken wire. 

Caterpillars and butterflies

This is the season. I love them. They are everywhere. Down on the septic bed, the blueweed, viper's bugloss, is merrily growing. Each plant has a half dozen bees, as well as butterflies. It's Gramma Camp week, so I must research this little one later!

UPDATE: I've been told this is a Salt Marsh or Acrea Moth. I even have a photo of a what I think is an adult.

On the hops vine... gray trees frogs, as well as caterpillars.


There was a frog right near this little guy. I think this is an instar. It was gone in the morning.


Caterpillar from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo. I love this vine. The eastern comma and question mark butterflies use it as a host.
 
Flutterby from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.