Springtails, docktails, cat tales, curling tales

Curling update and COVID–19

JB is quite committed to curling. It's a wonderful pastime. He has created a matric, and keeps track of the teams, wins, losses, standing. There isn't a lot of information on many news sites. Sometimes, World Curling updates stuff, but not quickly. I've found a CBC reporter, Devin Heroux, who is quite prolific on curling information.

The news unfolded over the Sunday/Monday. There were four positive cases of COVID–19 amongst curling broadcast staff commentators. There are two broadcast commentator teams, TSN and World Curling crews, with one set of camera operators for both those crews. Monday morning there were three more cases in broadcast staff.

The games on Sunday morning were cancelled, to be played later this week. The games resumed Sunday afternoon, but won't be broadcast until Tuesday, as the staff are isolated in their respective hotels. There weren't any positive cases amongst the teams, other than the original one identified in the German team. They played with 3 players.

Springtails

Yes, springtails, AKA snow fleas, making merry in the cold water of the frogpond.

There are so many, in the cold goldfish pond.  springtails  

Cat food issues

JB went into LAWS, the animal rescue/shelter nearby. You see, the cats don't like the canned vet food (Royal Canin) anymore. Now, they like Friskies, and whiskas. They don't like the Friskies shredded stuff, either. They just lick off the gravy and leave the meat. He bought some pâté, but couldn't lift it to the car. Happily, they carried it out for him.  His poor neck and arm issues.

Now, spring tales... 

From LAWS, in Smiths Falls, JB went to the health unit offices. You'll recall the needles/syringes I found on our property. The health unit suggested I call the police or the municipality, but she didn't think they'd pick them up if they were on private property. They did lend us gloves a sharpie container and picker-upper.  

JB went to the offices for me. Puncture proof gloves, tongs and a bio bin. There was some plastic under the little pile of needles, so it was in a plastic bag, which deteriorated over the winter.

I kept missing the sharpie container, thankfully I had a box. JB had to drive all the way back to Smiths Falls. The bio bin did not fit into their collection bin at the health unit! He had to hand it in.

Duck tales and Docktails!

I took the opportunity to check on the filled wood duck nesting box. I felt around and counted 15📹! I reported it to the nestwatch website.

I love how the marsh ducks simply lift off! Loons have to run across the water. ducks on pond 

  

Meantime, Cat tails, as both cats visit the dock. In this video, the ducks are yelling at Cinnamon! cats on dock  

  

Flower pot, fridges, flowers...

This is the flower pot on the dock, Jean. There is a screw in the bottom, and a hole in the pot, and the pot can come off. If fact, it did land in the water once! I fished it out. The ducks and Butch like the cracked corn.

I've brought in the bird feeder stand, and will bring the feeders in at night. 

It was a cloudy, cold morning, so I sat on my stool and cleaned our refriges, with JB's help. 

In the afternoon, the sun came out. Cinnamon was out all night for the first time ever. Bad cat wouldn't come in when JB tried at 2 a.m., whereas Nutmeg came in at 11:30 p.m.

This is my newest garden. So far, so good. 

Walkies were called for yesterday. The grass is so green.

I came across a mystery. I put it out on social media, and Laurie Weir said to email the Health Unit. I'll see what they say. I am reluctant to pick them up. 

It was a busy day for traffic. Lots of cyclists, motorcycles, cars passing at breakneck speed. I did some pruning of the bushes. 

The frogpond is busy with microscopic critters, waterfowl, muskrat, and Butch. Cinnamon is a regular visitor, as well. Butch, Cinnamon  

   

This was a great three-for, with all three critters. The muskrat seemed to wait under the dock until the crow took off. ducks muskrat crow  

  

Racism in North America

Racism explained PERFECTLY

We need more of this from white folks.

EDUCATE OUT RACISM pic.twitter.com/dRG7zxUBh4

— StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) April 24, 2021

Hooray, hooray, the month of May ☔🌷

 Saturday morning was a shock. It shouldn't have been, as I saw the snow fall on Friday. It was cold and the bird bath had ice on top of it. I put the heater back in, although we are supposed to go up to 11 C.

Snow (2 cm) and 25 mm rain. We should have double-digits for the rest of the week. I'll put the fishies out!

Lots of rain and the deer were enjoying the grass.

BEFORE

AFTER

The day dawned and it was pretty, with the hope dawn brings.

Off I went off to fetch the trailcam cards. The tulips weren't too bad. The daffodils fell over in disgust.

Lenten Rose wasn't happy, though.

My buddy, Cinnamon, waiting for me to go walkies.

The grasses are growing. The ducks stay at the far end, hiding from us.

Cinnamon was so happy, he flung himself up the tree.

That's not bad, with the sun on his face!

I love this part of the forest. It looks like a path. 

The robins are nesting, one had nesting materials in its mouth. I cropped it, but it is difficult to see. 

I'm thinking a green heron! I've never seen one on the pond. This is a screen capture from the video.

I could hear and see the Canada geese circling around the wetland honking away. I don't know if they were looking for someone to land. The crows were hanging around us, too. They are worried about Cinnamon, methinks. 

walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I'll just put this there. We're going to get through this.

                                    

After the girls left Friday, I watched a delightful movie, Chasing Waterfalls (2021), filmed in Maple Ridge, and Squamish, Pinestone Lake Lodge, B.C.  There was a lot of variety in terms of casting of BIPOC actors. It was cute. I drool over the scenery.

Saturday's Critters

I made this for Eileen!
Saturday's Critters # 385

That was a cold one last night! I took out the birdbath heater and I regret it. There is a shim of ice on it. We had 2 cm of snow, prefaced by 25 mm (1") of rain Friday. The rain is fine, but to see the snow...😒

Cinnamon brought home two ticks this week. Isabelle helped me wrangle him the second time. I put them in the jar with rubbing alcohol. We've ordered the anti-tick goop, but it hasn't come in to the vet yet.

Butch is trying to get into the wood duck nesting box. Thank goodness I knew to put up flashing. last year the weasel got another nesting box because a dead tree gave him access. Butch and the wood duck 

  

I put out cracked corn for the ducks. Someone helped himself. frogpond tails 

  

You Two deer  are still getting their summer coats in. I would love to brush them!

We haven't had a house wren nest here in two years. The chickadees used this box once (June 2012). This nest box fell apart after the wrens were done (house wren – 2019). I replaced it with a couple of new ones.

The wren was looking for a place to nest, I think.  I am hoping they nest, as they are comical, and lovely singers. This is through the front window, but if you turn the sound up you can hear him. This was three days ago, and I haven't seen him since. I shall patiently wait to see what happens.

 

The crows  are still nesting in the tree, in the pouring rain. They did a call and answer, with one in the deciduous tree, the other in the white pine tree nest building. The barred owls used to do that.   

The duck pond  had a couple of mallards, but in the first two seconds, you could hear the geese honking as they fled the pond.

I am always happy to see the wood duck  return to the nest box.