Walkies in the forest

This is unusual for January, melted snow on the shoreline of the wetland. I dare not go snowshoeing in there. It's so sad.



Looking closer at the puddles, I realized it was filled with springtails, AKA snow fleas.

I spotted the pileated woodpecker. It was a horrid day for photos, but this is where he was! The good photo is from my archive.

pileated woodpecker from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The wetland is so different in winter.



We've lost trees in our winds. It blew their tops right off!


Two drops of blood on the snow. It'll soon be antler time. They shed them at this time of year. The clues for those inclined to collect them are these drops of blood. I shall have to go for a walk prior to our forecast ice storm.



Great excitement, I thought. I realized it might just be orange-ish urine! It is shedding time, though.



Deer beds in the snow, right on the edge of the wetland.



The oak leaves hang on until mid-winter. Recent winds blew them off. Soon it will be spring!



The oak tree beside the driveway.


In the backyard, you can see the wandering tracks of the deer. And, yes, I still need to clean my sensor.



Visit more critters: Saturday's Critters #319!

With kitties goes kitty litter

I'm not always ready to try something new. We are trying a different type of litter. This is what we've been using: scoopable litter. You need three litter boxes for three cats. I scoop out the stuff, and put it into the empty container with the yellow lid. One bucket holds the scooper, a metal, slotted tool.

 Kitty litter is heavy. I throw it into the forest, but city folk have to throw it into the garbage. It's made of absorbent clay. The boxes are heavy. You can buy bigger, less expensive boxes, but I cannot lift them.

The plastic containers we usually recycle for other purposes. The blue one, above, holds the tools. The large container, with the yellow lid, I've re-used for the scooped stuff.

I've tried different kinds. This box was only half-full. I didn't buy that again.



The plastic bags are difficult for me to carry, as well. The boxes have been easier.

It's $15.99

There are many who are using wood pellets instead of kitty litter. I noticed my son using it in their Vancouver bathroom for their cat. Also, they use it at our cat hotel.

I began by introducing the wood pellets to Nutmeg in her spare room. We're keeping her isolated here. Annabelle is out in the night. Then, when she sits and sleeps, we put her into our bedroom and let Nutmeg out to play. We are vigilant, and it is wearying.

The cost is quite interesting.

Compare that to kitty litter... $15.99.

The pellets absorb the urine, falling apart, and you just take out the poopies. You can see how the pellets just break up. I wondered how they would react to it, but I know they go outside, and using leaves, debris and aren't so picky. When I've gone on forest walkies with cats, it's the first thing they do!

Cat tales: 

Kitty Hormones... |   Hormones, cats – part II | hormones Part the third

PART III: Plan D
We're keeping Nutmeg isolated from Annie. Annabelle is out in the night. Then, when she sits and sleeps, we put her into our bedroom and let Nutmeg out to play. We made a mistake and while I was on a 2-hour conference call for ODPRN, we forgot about Annie in the bedroom.

We have plan D. We will try Feliway on Annabelle's collar. We can't put it in all the rooms of the house, but this could work. It could take 7 days to work, if it is going to work.

Once Nutmeg gets her stitches out on Friday, she is less fragile. Hopefully, the hormones in both kittens will work their way out of their systems, too. Annie hunts Nutmeg down, and just goes for her. Nutmeg is cautious. They are fine early in the morning, when they are hungry, then things go awry.

If this doesn't work, the vet has said they will take Annie back. She was rescued by one of their former employees, and that is where we adopted her from.

How to make a cat collar

Annabelle and her bird collar

P.S. Cinnamon is quite intense. A fly woke up and came in the house with the warm temperatures. He's having a great time watching it on the ceiling!

odds and ends

Out the front window

We have a snow base of about 22 cm. My poor yard stick fell over, as the snow is quite powdery. 

Inside the front window
My tulips and paperwhites are growing nicely. I must look for some fertilizer.

The Two Michaels
Canada is still fighting with China over the incarceration of our two Michaels. It's a long story, but when the US demanded we hold Meng Wanzhou for extradition in Vancouver, and we set up a court hearing for this, and said we had to follow the rule of law, China threw two Canadian men in jail in China. The two men are both named Michael, and protestors have been trying to secure their release. They are in awful conditions. This woman, Weng, is living in a Vancouver mansion, with an ankle bracelet, which she show off to the press. The two michaels are being denied their human rights, living in inhuman conditions.

There was a court hearing about this extradition this week, we have a treaty with the US, of course, and there were people with red signs there as the hearings began.

The strange tale of the paid protesters supporting Meng Wanzhou at her extradition hearing

It turns out that a casting agent put out a call for actors, to pay them $150 for a film shoot. They lied. They hired them to protest. The actors had no idea what it was all about until reporters began interviewing them. Then they realized their mistake. They were not up-to-date on the issues. Sadly. 

“After two or three questions, I obviously noticed that she was a professional journalist with professional equipment, asking real questions. That’s when I totally freaked out.”

Pro-Meng protester says she was duped:https://t.co/t2ixleXpJu

— Andrea Woo | 鄔瑞楓 (@AndreaWoo) January 22, 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan's arrival could mean 'new grounds' for Canada's privacy laws

Then, there are the poor Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They have landed in Victoria, B.C. The paparazzi have followed them to Canada. They hope that privacy laws will protect them. Many, on Facebook, have been vitriolic about Canada paying for security. They are still sorting out details. In the meantime, their neighbours realize that this will have an impact on their lives, but they are standing up for the couple. 

They are on Vancouver island, in an $11 million mansion, and paparazzi have tried to pay boat owners to take them for shoreline photographs. The Media interviewed one boatman who refused to do so. In the age of drones, I hope they can get rid of the paparazzi. There are professional photographers trying to earn a living off the backs of this couple
I saw a confrontation on the news. I hope Victoria residents continue to stick together, as they did in the clip. Canadians are nice people, for the most part.

privacy laws

There's also what's known as "intrusion upon seclusion" in which the defendant's conduct must be intentional or reckless and have invaded the plaintiff's private affairs "without lawful reason." Also, a "reasonable person would regard the invasion as highly offensive causing distress, humiliation or anguish," MacKinnon said.

Meanwhile, my foot is healing nicely, where the log fell on it.  JB is still coughing. That's been since Nov. 15th. IT comes and goes. I wish it would go. He's so frustrated. JB's worked hard on getting fit after his cancer surgery and during his treatments.

Finally, a WHO decision on nCoV emergency delayed as the cases spike: This is where you can see a map of nCoV cases thus far.

Deer, coyotes

We've been in a deep freeze. Common for January. I don't mind it. I think it is better than freeze/thaw. The snow protects flora and fauna. That said, it's warming up for the next week, with temperatures hovering around the freezing point.

I'm always amazed with the way the critters manage in the cold and the snow.

This is the old trailcam. I love the shadows in the back. The buck appeared briefly, as well. Then, a doe wanted to do a selfie! I love the whiskers and ears.

deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The coyote appears, still worried about the light. This is good, as they aren't comfortable with human things.

coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I think I am getting the hang of the new trailcam. These aren't bad. Deer and coyote...

 
new trailcam from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The snow tells its tails

Bob V has disappeared under the snowfall. Here is a summer photo for comparison!

Little mice friends have been nibbling on the pumpkins!



The ice crystals on the bird bath were beautiful. I used the videocamera to take photos.



The dock is disappearing.



I was out using the snowblower. JB took a photo of the blessed event. It's a beautiful day for snowshoeing, but I'm too tired!



First the sidewalk...



I'm not happy with my new trailcam yet. This is a screen grab of a video without anything in it. I had just walked down the hill to the right.



There is brightness indoor. And the hopes of spring to come.

Anytime now, the deer will be losing their antlers. I have my fingers crossed, as this guy keeps hanging around.

2015: five years ago!

We have come to the conclusion that we must rehome 8-year-old Annabelle. If anyone is looking for a loving, beautiful cat. It breaks our heart, but she is chasing Nutmeg. We've been alternating locking them up in the spare room.