How much fun is this?

What fun it is, blogging! I've done 3,462 posts, had lots of fun meeting new people around the world!

I've been doing webwork for years!

Something about sharing
Christmas with kids!

I've enjoyed figuring out how to create certain images, playing around with my computer.

More family fun. Josie, now reaching a certain age (7), needs to give permission to plaster photos all over the Internet. Here is a fun twist. I used my handy dandy ToonCamera on hubby's iPad.

You'll note my new, spiffy warm socks. They were a gift!

I wore them outside, in my pajamas, and hubby's insulated rain boots, chopping down the tree branches on the path. Life is good when you have privacy!

 

Breaking the ice could save a life!

We've lost all of our snow. The goldfish pond is strange looking for December! Here is was a couple of days ago.
Fred, Mr. Amphibian expert, wrote:

Fred Schueler‎Ontario Reptile & Amphibian Atlas

11 hrs · Ottawa · 

temperatures in Warm Mudpuddle, Ontario, have been above freezing all day, +9C when I did the streets at 21h00 - 3 live frogs (Green, Bull, & Leopard) seen in the ditch in 20cm of water.

 

The frog pond, down beside the meadow, was quite watery on top. There is still a lot of ice underneath the water.

I saw a froggie yesterday in the goldfish pond. It was quite a mystery. They are supposed to be sleeping! Their metabolism lowers, they need less oxygen, and can absorb it from the water through their skin.
I chopped a hole in the ice with my hatchet. I could see Geraldine's arm today.


Hubby sort of laughed when he saw me doing this, but it was instinct. The green frog seemed to have issues.
North American frogs blood contains a natural anti-freeze and they can partly freeze and still re-animate themselves in spring.
Then Crafty Poet posted an article. "Breaking the ice could save a life. " UK frogs are different than ours, who must suffer regular -20 C. winter temperatures in Canada!
Today, it is getting colder again, with normal sub-zero temperatures soon. This is unusual, and must set off all sorts of flora and fauna! We're used to very cold weather, not this.

BBC - Earth - How ping pong balls can help frogs in winter

If you see a frog swimming under the ice of your garden pond this winter, it may need your help. 

BBC.COM

Grampa & Isabelle

Grampa & Isabelle from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Grampa & Isabelle went out to feed critters. Isabelle checked out the goldfish pond (still frozen) and rang the bell!

What a fun couple of days!

Happy girls!

My creche

Lots of fun watching people open presents!

Joyful!

Most of them came over in their jammies!

Someone left us a present
on the front porch

Goldfish pond is thawing out

After a delightful time opening presents, Isabelle and I went down to check out the frog pond.The meadow was a puddle in the middle. It looks like spring. It feels like spring. The cats have spring fever!

Somebody has been visiting!

Huge wind gusts brought down a tree.
I cleaned it up. Isabelle went back to the house.
She doesn't like the loud power tools!

Back in the house, Josephine had been working on a Quidditch game pitch. (She just finished reading Harry Potter.) I printed off the Harry Potter activities we did in 2001, when my student teacher did a unit on Harry Potter! Everyone helped some. I love the brooms!

 

What is the best gift you've ever been given?

Today is my birthday. The best gift is having the kids here. Hubby brought me coffee. My daughter made be breakfast! An English Girl  suggested the topic. I loved it!

I had Bun Bun, a rabbit, missing an ear, stuffed with straw! Yes, that is how old I am!
I cremated my dad with his straw animal. A bear, I think. I can't remember.

But my favourite gift was a wonderful doll my Nanny gave me. She was an amazing woman, a real Christian, ahead of her time. She'd wrap presents so that there was nary an edge untaped. It made unwrapping presents tricky!

Poor Canada Goose - with a broken wing

S/he obviously has a broken wing.

Broken-winged goose from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
On the Tay River in Perth. This goose has a broken wing. I took it some food today.

 I finally managed to phone the local  Wild Bird Care Centre. I remember when we visited it for a tour before they moved to their Moodie Dr. They were located in Nepean in the basement of Kathy's house!
I've watched Canada Geese when we lived on the lake. These are Muskoka Geese! Yes, they are giant poopers, but once they move north to raise a brood, they are out of the university campuses and all!

"The late Kathy Nihei founded The Wild Bird Care Centre in 1981"

The Tay is pretty in winter - this was last year

This is what they said:

• They don't pick up or rescue birds, as they are a small non-profit.
• To catch it, use a blanket or towel.
• If we can catch it, take it there. They have crates outdoors and they can be left there.
• Birds migrate for food. This one has lucked out as it cannot fly.
• They will happily survive on cracked corn. I took her some yesterday. The other animals prefer high-fat foods now.

I made a donation, in memory of my late parents who adored animals!

Eventually, the Tay River will mostly freeze over. Right now its running and she's slipping into the river for safety. She will get weak, when things freeze over, and may be easier to catch.

Tay River in Perth in summer

What was cool is she had a male mallard for a companion the previous day.

She'll be susceptible to predators, if we have any in town.
Even domestic dogs.
She has a buddy, but the mallard wasn't there when I visited yesterday.
I feel so badly and hope s/he isn't in pain.

Lots of dog walkers in the park