In town and out

 Our grandies are coming today. We'll have some indoor play. We are ready. The house is fairly clean, but I won't worry, kids are coming! We've a new guest room mattress, sheets and new pillows. Sadly it appears that Omicron, Ba.5, is on the rise. We are being careful. 

Our local ER is still closed. We aren't testing properly. These are the high-risk cases where they qualify for PCR tests.

All we have are the rapid tests, less effective but if it is positive you know you've got it.

I was in town, and spotted this. I have not seen one in my 65 years! 

What I did see was the cedar waxwings chirping away in the bushes – eating the new berries. I think the one in the second photo hit the window. It doesn't happen often. It was fine.

I didn't have the zoom lens that afternoon. They like the sumacs, although those are dying out. Can you see it? 

The yucca plant is in bloom. It doesn't happen every year. This is a new plant. 

Perth put in these terrific strobing crossing lights that make everyone safe. Not that people actually take time to push the buttons! This person was a hoot. The truck didn't bother stopping. She gave it the finger. He was midway to crossing. Oh, people!

I went into town for a relaxing massage. A bit of rain. The drive was typical of summers in cottage country. I don't know why people cross in the middle of the street. They are on vacay, it's a Wednesday afternoon. We need drivers to be predictable, not suddenly brake in the middle of the road.  

driving from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It's raining today. I am glad. I was going to water if it didn't. 

Summer Solstice!

It's exciting. The news is full of Summer Solstice events. It is National Indigenous People's Day in Canada. There are pow wows on, and ceremonies in Ottawa, but we expect rain here. I don't think we're up to a drive to Ottawa, either. 

We've been playing Wordle, my daughter and grandies. Sometimes I get stuck and throw it out to JB! We've a family Messages link and post our results, cheering one another on. We do Canuckle, as well, but it ends on Canada Day. All of us love Math, and we've added Nerdle to the mix. 

Monday morning, garbage out at 6. Cinnamon and I did Walkies after that. It was cold, 10 C., and still there were bugs – but not many. Of course, the hermit thrush I spotted was happy with the bug situation. Again, archive photo from another Cat Walkies. I realized I hadn't reinserted the SD Card back into the camera! I kicked myself and then laughed.

They seem to be in abundance, the bugs, I wonder why. The trees are producing a lot of pollen, after the stress of the Spongy Moth infestation last year, but I've not idea why the bugs are bad. It's late for blackflies, but I'm still getting some awful bites. They are teeny, and you don't feel them land. I smucked one on my arm with great glee as I refilled the water fountain. They are teeny little bugs with a merciless bite that hives up on me later and is terribly itchy. 

Poor JB walked into the room and stated, "Houston, we have a problem!" Uh oh, one thinks. Now what? He thought there was cat poop in the office. It was just throw up, and the lower half of a deermouse. Whew! He's reading his book on cat behaviour, called Purr, and it has been interesting. 

The Yucca plant is throwing up a stalk. It is getting tall. The other stalk on another plant had its top lopped off with the eavestrough installation. Some blooms were saved. 

The orchid cactus likes the front porch. It gets afternoon sunshine.

My planter at the side of the house. Out front, white petunia. I don't know why I bought white. I like the purples! There is a Sweet Potato vine in the middle, plus the highlight, the pink plant. I cannot remember what it is! Peeking out from the far side is the Lantana.

Now, if I were as skilled as AC, I'd be able to use Photoshop to merge these two photos of my Lantana in the planter. In the first photo the fight side is in focus, the second has the left in focus. Still, eye candy!

Out back, our lone doe wandered by again. I was sitting reading, and I noticed her from the back deck.

doe daytime June 14 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Things are poppying!

The season carries on. The horse chestnut blooms have given way to baby horse chestnuts!

Monday morning the two bags of garbage had been attacked in the garage! This has happened before, you'd think we'd learn! Butch raccoon is a frequent visitor, and we'd not closed the door at dusk. Blonde Butch always visits around 4 p.m.

We had a parcel delivery. The young man commented on how nice the garden smells, and how great it looks. He said, "Take from a guy who visits a couple hundred houses!" Isn't that sweet? 

We don't entertain, nor do we know many people in the community. This is nice feedback. Enjoy them while you can!

So far so good – my fence is working. I may be able to see my Asiatic Lilies bloom this year.

I've two Yucca plants throwing up a stalk. I'm looking forward to those blooms.

My last photo of the phoebe family. I noticed one in the yard later.

Silly me. We laughed and laughed. I thought last Sunday was Father's Day. The cats bought Joseph Brian a book about cats. Snuggle Bears presented it.

I've noticed the hummingbird landing on the guy wire. I wondered what a video would look like. I had my chance!  ♪♫♩ Bird on a wire!

hummingbird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I repainted my scultpure. I use rust spray paint. After that I moved it, having to take the flowers off, in order to have it face the deck. We're spending a lot of time up on the deck. Fewer bugs.

When I removed the bricks keeping it stable I found a few ants! I was thinking of someone's comment years ago. How typical of me to have some lovely 'AW' photos, and then yucky ones!

ants from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Gramma Camp – Week 32.5

We all slept in Friday morning. Finally, all were breakfasted in their own time, in their own way!

 I went out to inspect the garden. The yucca is in full bloom! 

The Asiatic lily has finally bloomed. The flag fence did its work. Why didn't I think of that before??!! 

Grampa and the girls went back to Stewart Park. Picnic Cafe is there by the stone bridge for a few weeks. They picked up chicken satay for three, and Isabelle chose the deconstructed sushi rolls and I found her some chopsticks. Sadly they didn't meet her pallet, so she and Grampa traded lunches. 

In reverse order of events, here they are at the park. Photos courtesy Josephine!

At the bridge, they spotted a rat snake. Jos, especially, likes snakes.

Grampa took the girls for the Hostage Exchange, while I began doing the sheets. Jos had stripped her bed, I stripped Isabelle's bed. I vacuumed upstairs, and did the downstairs on Saturday.  I cleaned under the dining room table, although it's nothing like when they were littles! 

Saturday I made new food for the hummingbirds, washed the kitchen table and place mats, did my laundry, and made Izzy's bed. Whew! I'm so glad to be healthy again. 

⛈July 🌩 A strange weather pattern. Normally, the clouds move in from the east.

 And, finally, our doe does another smelfie, and the fawn bounces around! new fawn