Winter is coming!

It's been a lovely few days, other than the frost on Monday morning! It was -2 at 6:30 when I got up. It was a balmy -1 by 8 a.m. Oh for joy! This morning I woke at 5 a.m., worrying about this proposed gun club,  and it was 0˚ C.! We have done some research, and are speaking to neighbours, similarly upset with this proposal, and we'll see what happens. 

I put the heater into the bird bath, later I'll switch it out. (Thanks, AC!) Both that and the water fountain had a skiff of ice on top. Whoopsie! With all our worries it crept up on me. Soon I'll drain, clean, and cover the water fountain. 

Despite wearing a mask in her high school, Josephine has COVID. She's not feeling too badly, which is a relief. Caitlin thought that last year the mask/no mask ratio was about 80/20. This year it is reversed, only about 20% of kids wearing masks. Thanksgiving (Oct. 10th) will be postponed. Ah well. We had a Merry Christmas on a weekend in late February/March in 2022! What the heck. 

Poking my head out front, I noticed the tops of these trees. It cheers me up.

I walked out front to see the colours better!

I've loved the sumac in Ontario. This frontyard stand is dying out, as is the one in the backyard. 

Well, here we are in the great outdoors. There were three bees on my chair. They are a bit dopey. The hornets are still about. It'll be interesting to see when they die of for winter.

My planters aren't exactly going strong, the coleus was hit by frost, but just in the front. We've a bit of a micro climate, in that the house retains the warmth of the sun. The lantana looks fine, as well as the trumpet flower and the petunias. The impatience was touched, though. It's just a matter of time!

Funny story – don’t tell the kids! JB brought me some flowers to cheer me up. I found the kitchen shears and chopped off the ends. Then, I used the shears to chop off some old cactus leaves. Then, I lost the the shears! I looked everywhere where I'd just used them. 

I was out fetching chestnuts, and found them under the horse chestnut tree! 👀 

This is what the tree looks like in spring. The leaves are dying, the conkers are dropping off as well.

I love the horse chestnuts. We had a tree beside us when I was a kid in Toronto. I gathered them and opened them up. 

Indoors, we are settling in for winter. The orchid is doing really well.

This works for some cats, but not ours. Try it, if you have a cat. Some cats perceive it as a box. 

My poor computer cord! Daisy used to like it. I repaired it twice since. I had a package of white, but it was stale. It's not a cheap fix: $16.50 for three little packets, but cheaper than a new computer cord. With supply chain issues, we could only find black in the store.  

The aquarium is doing well. I think goldfish day is Wednesday, maybe Thursday. After that the temperatures are just too cold. I have to drain it some the reach all the goldfish, and the rain Friday will fill up back up some.

Fall sights and sounds

Here we are, deep into the school year. Poor Josephine has COVID. She'll be home from school. She's not feeling too badly, but did have a positive RAT. 

We are continuing to do research on gun clubs. The proposed gun range has me rattled. I'm trying not to let it make me sick, but it is making me anxious. 

I tootled on down to the back 40. The leaves are turning and/or falling! The aspen saplings are doing well, despite Bambi's affection for them! With the old sumacs dying off (insufficient moisture?), it add some trees to the back.

Just beside the wetland there are many little spider webs. 

Another mushroom photo! They look so cute! These are new.

This looks like butterscotch!

I'd looked for the puff balls I'd seen here, not spotted one. I was out looking for Fred's burrow under the rocks. Instead I found a hole in the side of the yard.

On the front deck we've still bumble bees bumbling about.

Next year's buds...

Out the back, the temperatures are lower, as the sun doesn't warm up the back deck during this solstice.

This is the last of our frogs, I think. The Spring Peeper.

The baby gray tree frog tried to slip away from my lens.

Maple, the gray tree frog, nestles under an ivy stem.

And, as YAM says, this is the sign of Autumn. I've filled the goldfish tank, to let it warm up in preparation for the goldfish. It was -2 C. last night. When I hustled outside to take out the garbage, I noticed the bird bath had a skiff of ice. Whoopsie. I plugged in the heater.

On the back landing, you'll see my lovely pumpkin. Butch raccoon has attacked it already!

🍁 Happy October

 🎃 The leaves are changing. As always, the maples have the bright red. It's consolation, methinks, in preparation for the winter whites we know are coming. We've a long time with no leaves. 🍂

Saturday's Critters!

Here we are, putting some of the critters to bed or bidding them farewell. I'm still pondering when to bring in the goldfish. We were down to 2 C. on Thursday morning, but no frost. The hanging planters are hanging in. The fuschia is covered in caterpillars! 'Covered' is far fetched, but there must be a half dozen! 

I've brought my house plants indoors, keeping a sunny spot for Cinnamon. He kindly rolled over on the orchid light, nearly toppling it over. I had to move the cord. 

As always, I try to select the best thumbnail from each video – if you don't have the time or patience to watch it. I love their antics, though. 

There is action on the videos. This is the fawn a week ago. She is beginning to lose her spots.

 

fawn from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

They have to be careful in the forest. There are lots of predators.

 

fawn from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Speaking of predators.

 

coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The fawn is so playful! 

 

doe and fawn from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The grouse was fun to see. I don't recall seeing one here!

grouse from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The weasel was a hoot. You could mostly see its eyes reflecting the light.

weasel from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Thanks for Eileen for hosting critters lovers: visit more here... 

Saturday's Critters # 459