Daffodils are in the ground!

 It is 3 C. this morning. A bit of a shock. Maybe rain or snow tonight. It will switch over as the warm front moves in. Yes. We will stick with that thought!

Friday vs. Sunday morn!

Friday was a lovely day, after a morning of rain. I managed to plant about half the 100 bulbs. As I dug, I realized the 'soil' is sandy, crappy stuff. It is just awful. When they built the house, they seem to have simply plowed it flat. When I planted the bulbs, I should have amended the soil.

Saturday afternoon, another double-digit day, I finished the job. For the second 50, I put some top soil in with them. Good thing. 

🐸 Moving the froggies

After I was done that, I went back to frogging. I couldn't believe it! 

Oct. 27    moved   19 + 7      =  124 

I think, with the warmer temperatures, they've been congregating where they smell water. I am encouraging them to go to a more reliable winter habitat. 

Someone asked if I think they are coming back, but I do not think so. The new ones aren't as spooked by me, and come up for air after about 30 seconds. That is when I nab them! 

 

releasing frogs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

After a break, I collected another    +13 =     137!

Can you spot the one leopard frog?! They like the wet grass all summer. I was gleeful when I caught it. It was sitting on a rock on the edge of the pond, and as soon as I opened the front door to come outside, it jumped. It's been there a few days eluding me.

The wetland is wet. You can see the invasive frogbit growing, while all the leaves are done.

Cinnamon still isn't doing walkies with me. I promised I'd protect him from the fisher (on the trailcam on yesterday's post), but Cinn sat on the lower deck waiting for me as I walked to the back 40. Moral support. Smart kitty.

Indoors, Joseph Brian has been cleaning out his office. Do you know how many pens, markers, highlighters and pencils we have? I haven't told him about the drawer in my office in the basement! 

 

Walkies, flowers, owl pellets

 I took Cinnamon walkies. He found a spot where something had eaten a bird. He was quite keen on inspecting it. The mosquitoes are really bad, hovering about a foot off of the ground all throughout the forest.

The wetland is greening up. 

You can see where the ice storm forced the trees and bushes to fall over.

This fungus is growing on some downed birch trees.

cinnamon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

 I'd heard the barred owls, and we found TWO owl pellets. This is the result of the owls regurgitating the fur and bones they are unable to digest. Of course I took them apart to see what they'd been eating. I took a photo of the spot, just in case they are regular visitors here. When we had a pair nesting in the backyard, the male had a favourite tree. I took a photo trying to remember where to look again! 

Two vole skulls!

We went to the Smiths Falls market and bought some plants for summer. I planted JB's cherry tomato hanging basket.

The water is slowly going down to normal levels. We sat here waiting for the light to change on the Rideau Ferry Bridge! They are working on it until July, and there are traffic lights for a single lane.

Fred groundhog appeared. I took this through the screen, just in case he ran away when I opened the door. A cute little photo, I've yet to get a good one of him.

He went back to feeding on the grass.

Then he heard me, and fled the scene. Back under the lower deck to safety.

Here we go. Another sunny day. I've wood to stack, but I think I will wait until the birds hatch. The House Wrens are back, as well as the phoebe and robin's nests under the deck. The back deck is not too buggy, what with all our flying friends.

Ms Fixit & coyote

A large storm is on its way. I have to remember to go get snowblower gas. They suggest we'll get 15 cm. 

 The mourning dove took advantage of the snow, landing on the feeder cover. The squirrel is happy for the scattered seeds.

By the time I finished the driveway Monday, the sun came out briefly, only to cloud over again.

What is the weight of a snowflake? A lot of them broke the tray feeder cover. I had to fix the cover, held in place by two hooks that screw together. The plastic sleeve that holds the piece inside cracked. I came up with a solution. Screwing a hole in the tin lid, it holds it back in place. The mourning doves loves this tray feeder.

It was lovely seeing the blue sky and the sun. It was wet when the snow fell, and it sticks to everything.

Since JB's sore arm precludes using the snowblower, he picks up the slack indoors. Can you see him, doing dishes?! We are a good team.

While I put the garbage out, I noticed tracks on the driveway. It was a coyote. Their tracks are 8 cm. These are good, healthy coyotes. They avoid people in the daytime.

At the trailcam, I found out the direction from whence the coyotes had came. Lots of coyotes skirt around the camera trap. 

First they come across the wetland towards the frogpond. A very clear track.

Then, just below the camera... 

The deer cross the pond. I think it is pretty solid, except there was slush on top. Our temperatures have been iffy. Coyote circled across and around towards the highway. 

I love how he posed at the end!

coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

They are fascinating creatures in the wild. This was Jan. 13th, before the snow. Watch as they roar towards the camera! It was way too cold to reset the time after changing batteries.

coyotes from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

BTW Richard Deer lost his antlers. I went out snowshoeing for 90 minutes Tuesday to search for them. That is a story for another day.