Deer Zola

 I'm usually a day ahead, at least, for posts. Not today! Yesterday was fairly busy. More on that later. To start, we had an uptake in COVID from Lanark East – specifically Pakenham, Almonte and Carleton Place. They are shutting down for two weeks. Thanks to COVID-19 tracking, they've traced it to a 'social gathering; and then some of these people went to a pub, and from there it has spread to municipal offices, sports teams, etc. We are in Lanark West.

We had 21 deer yesterday. Poor JB's arm is still sore, so I went out to feed them. The trailcam caught the rising sun. Deer Mar 4

The only way we can tell them apart is by habits or behaviour. Zola's broken leg draws our attention.

 Also, one doe has a single yearling. They hang around most of the day. JB calls them 'You Two' since he goes outside, he talks to them, "Hi, you two!" The yearling is fuzzy. Although, soon they won't be yearlings, and the males will split off to be with the other males. The does give birth in the spring, having been pregnant all winter.

There is another doe we can ID, and she has twins. You can watch for them. The twins like to play, as twins do. Otherwise, it's a dog-eat-dog world. When a pair of deer share a feeding spot, you know they are related. Zola continues to dominate a feeder. I think she is a survivor. She fended off several deer this a.m. deer Mar 4 1 

In the evening, before I locked up, I noticed tracks in the snow. That could be Oregano, the wild cat. Although, when cats walk, they put their back paws into the spot where their front paws touched down. There is a name for that, but it escapes me.

Welcome March

Snow cover has gone from 43 cm Feb. 25, to 35 cm. I showed you Frosty. He needs a paint job, but it's too cold to paint in these temperatures. It was -9 this morning.

I've had various successes with Frosty. It hasn't gone well since his tree stump required his removal. It was easy on the ground, but atop the stump, which is wobbly, I cannot reach easily.

It occurred to me, I wasn't sure where my big March flag was. Ah, I found it next day. The old flag pole bit the dust. The tree stump is falling apart, as well. After Plan A and B failed, I figured out Plan C to hang it.

There were 18 deer Wednesday morning. The numbers keep building as they try to keep something in their bellies. We don't give them more than a mouthful each, twice a day. It's good exercise. Poor JB hurt his arm shoveling. He still has a stiff neck, with pain. He has been scolded and then used his Dr. Ho, and heating pads.

Zola 3  is holding her own in the crowd. I think she'll be a survivor.

I spotted Oregano, the feral/wild cat, but he chose not to be videoed. That was an adventure tracking him yesterday. [Zola, Oregano]

 Look who I spotted, though! I am truly surprised it picked up the mouse. deermouse in the headlights

 

 

Zola, Oregano,

I had an adventure. Oregano cat came back to visit. I knew that if I wanted to track it, I'd have to go right after a snowfall. Tuesday was the day. This is how the day began. It was -18 C. (F. and C. converge at -20)

The traffic is fierce. Some kind people pulled out, like this contractor. Some just barrel on past. The propane trucks seem to be fierce.

I found the tracks.

He went up onto the snowbank, here.

The silly thing avoided the driveway, and trotted up the hill to the highway.

Here is the falling apart veggie garden, with the tracks running beyond it. (I did this trek backwards. Who knew?

This is the trip he takes. I'm so proud of myself for figuring it out! I'll bet he lives in someone's shed.

The water fountain is waiting to be turned on. 

During Gramma Camp nearly a year ago (April), Isabelle was keen to set it up. 

In August, Josephine helped me clean it! 

Meantime, there is a fine puddling of ice around the bottom. I still have the lights on a timer. We need a bit of colour in the darkness.

Zelda has become Zola ! She is hanging in. She may do OK.

She might overcome this, like Maggie deer did for a long time (2011). Otto and Stan turkeys have been regular visitors, too. Zola 2  

March sure marched in!

Sunday, Feb. 28th, was a lovely day in the afternoon. I was out chipping at the ice at the end of the driveway. Like the sidewalk, you can chip out a little river and it'll drain rather than freezing up in the cold.

I went down to clear off the driveway. 

There is this myth about the peace and quiet in the country!

 

I left this trailcam video for a few days. This is from Feb. 22. The walking has been horrid in the deep snow. Coyote Feb 22

  

 Here is Nutmeg enjoying the sunshine.

Well, there we go. 😼Oregano  was back Feb 28 10:30 p.m. He sprayed on his way in and on his way out. Great. I've been spraying down the cat house, to remove the odour.  If you watch the video to the end, you can see Nutmeg and I come outdoors in the morning. I cried out when I saw poor Isabelle's Elf head having fallen off.

  

By late morning, it was down to 2 C.

By 11:00 a.m., poor Elf lost her head. 

MARCH!!!!

I thought I'd do some March decor.

I finished up, just as the grapple began to fall. It was cold and windy. At least the ice melted off of the driveway.

 

The snow was knee-deep around Frosty. I was happy for a hot shower. My lovely cotton work pants were soaked. Of course I stepped on a wet spot in the foyer. My socks were soaked, too!

And the snow fell, again.

Isabelle's Elf

 It all began with this little elf cedar plant in December. I was supposed to water it until freeze-up, which I did. It turned brown, so I brought it indoors and took off its hat.

The girls were here, and Isabelle made a snowman snowperson. I added the hat and mitts from the elf. Isabelle added cedar cone buttons.

I added the wine bottle, Jos the bucket, Feb. 25.

Feb. 27 – We are having ice pellets, no, light snow, no, heavy snow at 10:30 a.m. It was -5 this am., by 10:00 p.m. it was -1 C.

Feb. 28th we had rain in the afternoon. It's wasn't so bad, though, as we sat on the front deck in the sunshine. It was 10 C. by the time the rain began. 

Mar. 1 – poor elf. She's lost her head.

March 1st she lost one arm.

In the morning there was ice on the sidewalk. It melted during the day. No video, but I'm sure you can imagine the cats as they got their paws wet, and shook them off from the water.

February Weather ❄ ⛄

 That was a swing in temperatures. By the afternoon, we were up to 5 C., after the sun came out and before sunset the back thermometer read 10 C. Today, we've a snow squall watch! 

What a change in temperatures.