Crumbly Acres Chores

What a spring it has been. Apparently, allergens abound. I heard an expert explaining that some early trees were delayed with the cool weather. They now are in bloom, and the other trees are blossoming at the same time. It doesn't help allergy sufferers, but it does explain the severity.

Maggie Magnolia is in full bloom. She is so pretty. I tried a drive by shooting from my lawn tractor, and it didn't go well in the close-up! Ah well, a record of the tree.

Cinnamon was supervising his goldfish.

More rain! The problem is the little pieces of the tree blossoms. 

We've had winds, and the dead leaves and blossoms are blocking the gutter. At 6 a.m. (after putting garbage out!) I was up the ladder, inserting my old hose to syphon it out. 

After the syphoning, I realized I had to climb up and clean it. There wasn't a lot of debris, just enough to blog the drain spout.

It was mucky, smelly stuff! Splatted on my face. 😒

It didn't take long. I took a panoramic from the roof. This is the back.

Here is the front yard! We don't have to hire someone this time!

Joe Brian fetched the makings for meatloaf. I thought it'd be nice to heat the house baking. It turned out to be a 24 ℃ day. It was a good idea at the time!

The clouds moved away, the sun came out, and I worked on a couple of other things. I went down well.

Spring means rain!

First, to answer Barb's question: " Will they nest in a tree, or do they need a box?"

They do nest in trees, but I have two nest boxes on the property. People on the lake have installed nest boxes, and taken some of my customers! That's okay, I've lots of photos and we want them to survive.

 Friday was an amazing day. I got so much done outside after days of cool, cold, and intermittent or heavy rains!

#75 was soaked!

The coyotes took down a fawn. The crows are gathering its fur from time-to-time. They don't like me watching them. Clever birds.

I'm keeping an eye on Barry Beaver's work. The water is high, which bodes well for his lodges and wetland protection.

Our heavy rains means Barry Beaver has a safe place to hide, in the wetland.

Aren't they precious?!

I managed to get the water fountain going. It's a miracle. It may be too early, with an overnight low of -4 ℃, but if it keep moving that'll keep it going. When I unwrapped it, it was full of snow water. I shall have to remember to cover it a little better next winter. (Non-mental note!)

I was ready for a shower and jammies after!

🍁 Water fountain clean up

Next 🍁Fall Chore is the shutting down of the water fountain. The cold weather is arriving. The water will freeze and crack the bowls if not properly cleaned and drained. It's good having chores. It wears me out, though, as I keep forgetting tools. You know how it is. I grab the drill, then back for another tool, it's so silly! This is my non-mental note about this process! 

It takes a careful weather watch, the temperatures should be warmish, with no rain. I don't need to work in the cold. With freezing temperatures on the way, it was time.

I figured out the drill bit a couple years ago. It's not as effective as I might have thought. I have been using one of my dad's old wire brushes. One wire brush was falling apart. Dad died in 2007, so that's how old they are! 

I was scraping off the algae, and it went everywhere! In my hair, face, pants! It was glorious! I like going in for my shower, dirty, having accomplished something. 

With the topper and top section cleaned up, the pump is the issue, as it clogs with hard water mineral deposits.

I got this section off, hauled out the pump. I cannot lift it. I can shift it, and tip it on its side. Yuck! 

I figured out a better tool to use: the carpet knife!  I tested it, it got out of control at the end of the video, but I did it. It worked so well. Like getting all the cake batter off the bottom of the bowl!

My next job is to let it dry, then cover it. Some people suggest blotting it with towels! The freeze and thaw from ice build up can crack it. I've a plastic sheet and tarp ready to go after it dries. I noticed the little mourning dove trying to get water. We're still in a Level 3 drought. It wisely went to the front yard and the bird bath.

In the meantime, rain is on the way, coming from the north west. 

Fall Chores

I'll get back to our fabulous family visit shortly. (I have to savour it!) Meantime, I've been busy. Joe was out doing errands. At least, I would have getting to indoor chores, if two white women didn't come to my door to interrupt me. My dear friend used to tell the Jehovah's Witnesses 'Hari Krishna.'  Later, I thought, after the taller woman introduced herself and her sister, I should have asked her for her home address so I could go bother her in the middle of Thanksgiving prep. 

They try suck you in to their religion on your door step, assuming we are godless infidels. How arrogant to think they can drive the 100 m up our driveway and waltz up the sidewalk to interrupt me. I'd just done a workout, I was sweaty and not fit for company. It's so hard to get rid of them, as well. More harm has been done in the name of religion. Just look at Gaza, where the peace deal is showing cracks. Everyone needs to live in peace.

🍁Fall Chores – I've lots still to do. 

We had some rain, 28 mm (1"). It was Monday, and I knew rain was on the way, but I had to get the garbage out. I hustled, but not fast enough. I fetched a piece of plastic from the ditch. Suddenly, the heavens opened. I was soaked! I laughed so hard...

 

Finally, rain. I took a video to remind me to fix it, as well as which eaves troughs need help. 

 

Up the ladder to clean it out. It's not much, but enough to block it. 

It was quite pretty, with the trees and leaves.

Today our local animal rehab peeps are going to release some raccoons in our forest. More on that after the fact! It's a bit of excitement in our day.

It's a tropical heat wave!

Only we're not in the tropics.  Might I rant about the drought?! So far we are coping, and judiciously watering. I know it isn't as bad as some years in late August. It's not normal to go into August with the lawn so dry, though. 

July 2018

Aug. 28, 2021

Meantime, the garden is coming along. The goldfish pond hosts the fishies and one bullfrog.

The aphids are busy!

My lilies are wonderful.

🔥We've another state rep complaining about the smoke from Canadian fires, but if you look at this map, there is no way to prevent fires and smoke from crossing the political border. 

"Canada's boreal forest (270 million hectares) stores carbon, purifies the air and water, and regulates the climate."

Canada's boreal forest 

We've million acres of forest that is at risk, not to mention the lives that are affect, human and animal.  

So far, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota have complained: filing a formal complaint against Canada to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Joint Commission. The Michigan Rep wrote a letter to our PM demanding he control the fires. We've thousands of people being evacuated, and they are writing letters!🚒 The MNR has an Instagram account. It shows various means of fire control. The big issue is civilians flying drones where firefighters are trying to do their work. They ground the crews in those cases, defeating the purpose of firefighting. 

Ontario Forest Fire Map

People from the cities don't quite get it. 

Our township has finally moved from a partial to a total fire ban. It's a good thing after 🧨 fireworks set fire to the shoreline nearby, Aug. 2025. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have done the same, NS closing federal parks with a $28,000 fine if you violate the closure. I heard that 7 provinces have fire bans. 

 I recognize how bad it is if the trees begin to lose their leaves, or the great white pines droop. We aren't there yet. Trees are starting to lose their leaves, which happens in a drought. Our birds are loving the bird bath.

I've been enjoying the birds at the fountain. They are grateful for the water. Too many critters suffer, losing habitat, water sources, including humans. 

robin and ... ?

wood thrush↑

cedar waxwings↑

splashing goldfinch↑

There might be rain on the way. I hope so.