Reflections from Crumbly Acres: white pine branches

We must look ahead. The fact that we made it to 2023 is achievement enough. The news is horrid, as ever. Ukraine weighs heavily on my mind. I feel we must witness it, and acknowledge it. There is little one can do. Climate Change. The economy. Food Bank usage is up.

I look forward to spring. It's been quite a melt. Phil commented about our lack of snow, and thought the UK news exaggerated it. My friends in Muskoka would beg to differ. Several feet in a couple of days. We had a good foot of snow cover a couple of weeks ago. Ironically, we were in Ice Storm '98 25 years ago today. It was awful. Ten days without power.

Candytuft

The candytuft is bright green, ready for spring. I hate to break it to the wee plants, we are a bit of a ways away. This is a winter favourite for the deer. It is often green under the snow cover, they dig away at it to expose it. They nibble at it uncovering it from the snow.

This is what it will look like in spring!

Vegetation Management Crew

I've still tree branches to tidy in the wet meadow. Jan. 1st there is more snow down in the meadow than up top.

I have been doing a little each day. Our tree man isn't available.

Jan. 2nd – who knew what lay beneath the branches...?!

Snow, apparently.

There has to be a strategy of some sort. I haven't figured it out yet. My reciprocal saw lasts nearly an hour, between the two batteries. I have separated the piles, there are big branches I cannot cut. I could use the kindling, but it is a tiresome task and I have a short attention span!

Mind you, the smell of that sap is amazing! I wore gloves the next day. The dirt on the branches stuck to my hand.

Jan. 3 – I took another crack at it. I have a strategy, now. I think I will leave the top branches and let the needles fall off here.

While I was working, I could hear a gun firing coming from the direction of the gun range. I am not amused.

gunfire Jan 3, 2023 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Bunny Labbit

In the backyard, I still see evidence of bunny rabbit! I was worried about it. It was muddy the day before. By now the water has drained some, pawprints have been created.

On the trailcam: proof. I accidentally switched the camera to photos. A video would have been better. By the way, the pumpkins are nearly gone!

I checked the spycam, and there it was! Run, labbit, run! (I forget which girl called them 'labbits!') There are predators about! There was a brief video showing a coyote. They are frequent flyers.