Monday, October 31, 2016

Day 305 - 31st October 2016 - Grackles and Blue Jays

Happy Halloween and say good bye to October, another month has passed by. Well off to work this morning, a rainy dark day in the making. No amount of rain - just a few showers or drizzle. Had a good Sunday, got muffins, lunch box prep, laundry and some housework done up before Larry came home from camp around lunch time. Then we made a quick trip to town to do a few errands. Turkey in the oven for supper sure smelled good. I roamed the hood - very quiet these days, many of the trees are bare, the ground littered with leaves. But nature's litter is perfectly fine. Swamps have a little water in them now, but the cranberry ditch is still dry - no winter yet.

 A spooky day
The Trick or Treaters have arrived!













Didn't take long for the Grackles to find my new feeder.
















And the Blue Jays discovered it as well. I was hoping the smaller birds would make use of it.




Enjoy your day!















Sunday, October 30, 2016

Day 304 - 30th October 2016 - Northern Cardinal, Purple Finch and Mourning Dove

The female Northern Cardinal hung around all day on Saturday.  I had a girls day outing - a couple of us had a fun time in Liverpool - doing some Frenchys shopping, having lunch out a nice relaxing day with no time pressure and lots of laughs. We'll have to do it again next year girls when the guys go in the woods! Came home to the "herd" of Mourning Doves and Grackles in the yard, a few Song Sparrows, Juncos, Blue Jays and Chickadees. The yard is becoming lively again with the feeder birds. Keeping my eyes open for something different. I suspect the Cardinal won't be around much longer. Lexi and I had a lazy evening as Larry had gone in the woods for the night, did some laundry and a few things but other than that an early night.
 She's certainly a pretty bird.
















Wish they were here more regularly -  they are more of a "town" bird.
 First Purple Finch I've seen this season.
One of the many Mourning Doves.







Enjoy your day!

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Day 303 - 29th October 2016 - Lake, Reflections and Leaves

Here is October edging away, just another couple days left of this month. It was a wild and windy Friday - rained hard all day so not much else to do but stay inside. I said  was going to do housework ...and I did a little but there was a female Cardinal in the yard so I wasted most of the day with my face glued to the kitchen window. She came to the feeder a number of times but there was so much rain I couldn't get a photo of her through the window. Then she would go hide back in the apple tree which is covered with Wisteria branches. Making it a perfect place to hide from me! I did get the Halloween decorations (cobwebs) cleared out of the kitchen, brown bread rolls made and a few other things. Lots of Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Song Sparrows, Juncos, a few Grackles in the feeder and of course a fat squirrel or two.
 The dock is covered in leaves
 Grasses and bushes along the lake are mostly yellow
But sometimes there is a pop of red.




Enjoy your day

Friday, October 28, 2016

Day 302 - 28th October 2016 - Fungi, the Lake and Mallards

A dark sky and starless morning. A chill in the air but lots of rain  on it's way for today. I'm off so it will be a good day for inside work. Well maybe a walk in the hood if I can beat the start of the rain first. And if I can buzz around and get lots done, perhaps a few hours curled up with a good mystery and a cup of tea. Rainy days are made for those kind of things and sometimes you just need to chill for a bit. Deer Hunting season starts, most of the men are off to camps or sitting in trees, watching for that big Buck. Had a good day at work, Thursday. We are making headway - the time seems to fly by on this project but there is still a lot more work to get done. Finished the day off with exercise class - for some odd reason I'm already hurting in a few muscles.
 Fungi, fallen leaves and pine spills make up the forest's floor these days.
 Popping up everywhere and then tumbling over.
 Quiet on the lake
The Mallards in silhouette near the shoreline.





Enjoy your day!

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Day 301 - 27th October 2016 - Reflections, Sunrise and Grasses

A dark but milder morning, back to work today. Lots to get done - looking forward to seeing what other treasures we uncover.  More rain on the way for Friday, still needed - I see a little in the swamps but no where near what the norm is for this time of year. No winter yet!
The sun coming up over the lake called me out yesterday morning. I had every intention of getting some baking and laundry underway before heading out but...... It was a lovely quiet time with hardly a ripple on the lake. Although the wind did pick up later and we had a few rain showers throughout the day. I busied myself baking and then figuring out where it was going. All things baked must leave the house since Larry no longer eats sweets and I can't resist cooking. A bit of housework, a few phone calls to return and meals for the next couple of days rounded out my time.


Beautiful hues of pinks and purples reflect in the lake.












And then the sun pops out changing everything to gold.












A few grasses remain - turned brown by autumn against a background of leaves.









Enjoy your day!

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Day 300 - 26th October 2016 - Bird Bath, Phlox and Fungi

Brr... the air turned colder on Tuesday, the wind goes right through a body. I guess we always feel the same way every year - memories are short from season to season. Good day at work - as usual. All I see when we come home at suppertime is Grackles, Mourning Doves and Blue Jays. Did up a few things around the house last evening - load of laundry, etc. Nothing really interesting and headed to bed early. Larry checked the well and it's come up a little more. More rain coming on Friday so that should make a difference, perhaps it will soon get up to a normal level. Off today, will finally get to roam the hood - been a while since I've had a chance. Some cooking and cleaning on the list of fun things to do!

Time to take in the birdbath.













A single bloom remains on my phlox hedge.
I leave it for the birds - lots of seeds and a good hiding spot.












The sun was setting over Beaver Farm Lake.
Fungi grows on the wood pile.






Enjoy your day!

Day 299 - 25th October 2016 - Leaves and Fields

A little rain is coming down this morning, maybe that's why my internet is not so great. So our photos are few. Dark clouds in the sky, the moon just passes in and out. Monday was a nice day to kick off the week, albeit a little cooler than we are used to, but the it's becoming that season again. We made good progress in our textile room, oohing and ahing and some of the beautiful old garments we came across. As lovely as they are I don't think I'd want to wear most of them on a permanent basis. Although maybe one could get used to wearing long flowing dresses every day if they could just sit around and visit or take tea. But I'm sure that was not the case for many. Anyway it's very interesting and lots of fun.

Still a few bright leaves around
Blueberry fields on the back road have turned a brilliant red.






Enjoy your day!





























Monday, October 24, 2016

Day 298 - 24th October 2016 - Rainbows, Berries and Waves

Weather was miserable - cold, windy and rainy most of Sunday. The rain part was quite alright since we probably still need some of it. But there were rainbows everywhere. A double one in the back country on the way to Yarmouth. It was fading quickly so didn't get both. Anoher on the way down toward Cape Forchu. So that was pretty cool. It was one of our weird weather days in Nova Scotia. Sadly no birds around. Got some shopping done including the basics picked up at the Bulk Barn for my Christmas Baking. And dare I say - a few Christmas gifts purchased. On the way out to Dayton an Eagle was flying along the shore line - hunting or fishing I assume. Monday has arrived and it's back to the work week, although a short one this time. 

Rainbow



















Still lots of red berries around.














You can just barely see this one.
The sea was rough, lots of people were watching the waves.






Enjoy your day!

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Day 297 - 23rd October 2016 - Sunrise, Fog and Brown Creeper

Dark clouds run across the sky hiding the moon and stars. The wind is blowing hard but the temperature is still mild.  The days will turn cooler this week. Up way too early this morning - will be a long day. Think we'll head off to Yarmouth for some shopping and maybe a look around for a few birds. Time to start picking up some supplies for the Christmas baking and a few other necessities.
Well the rain certainly came down on Saturday - still needed for our area. Hoping that this does the trick for wells. If the swamps fill up then winter will soon be on it's way, but hopefully not too soon. Cracked on and got some housework and cooking done in the morning. A trip to town after lunch for a few groceries. Since it was still raining and I felt lazy I curled up with a cup of tea and read. Felt a little guilty once it cleared off after supper but not guilty enough to do anything productive.
 A foggy morning as the sun comes up over the lake.


















One of my favourites - Brown Creeper - they blend into the tree bark and you have to look closely to find them.
A pair of Mallards in the morning fog.







Enjoy your day

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Day 296 - 22nd October 2016 - Yellow Rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroat and Cedar Waxwing

October is quickly flying by. Warm, windy and wet morning. The internet comes and goes  with the weather. Soon time to leave my book and tackle some housework and cooking. Although the rain on the roof makes you want to curl back up with a cup of tea and read the day away. Too much to do - need to start tackling the fall cleaning, tomorrow if it clears will be a day to go chase some birds - hopefully. Maybe the wind will send us something interesting. So many things I need to get done in the next couple of months.  Maybe we'll venture to town later to do some grocery shopping.

 There are still a few Yellow-Rumped Warblers around.
 Often you can find one or two even in the winter along the coastal areas.
 Common Yellowthroat Warbler.
Silhouette of a Cedar Waxwing - you can see the yellow tips on his tail.








Enjoy your day!

Friday, October 21, 2016

Day 295 - 21st October 2016 - Great Blue Heron, Cormorant and Sheep

Som Dark clouds streak across the sky this morning - only a few stars are peeking out here and there. So quiet, not a sound from the  Owls or Ducks. It's Friday - been a busy work week and will be glad for the weekend to appear. Maybe I'll get a little birding in on Sunday. Thinking it's time to start that "Fall" cleaning on Saturday.
More lovely fall weather on Thursday. What's not to like about that and we are suppose to get some rain. In fact the big red "weather alert" bar is on the weather sites. Ironically our end of the province still needs rain but the other end has had plenty. Maybe this latest system will put us back where we should be for this time of year and we can resume a normal lifestyle.

Great Blue Heron - I have a soft spot for the Herons and Cranes - awkward and majestic all in one.
Sometimes I miss the days when my parents had sheep - this one is from Cape Sable Island.














A Cormorant surveying the area.
Sanderling - I think. The peeps I tend to get mixed up.







Enjoy your day!

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Day 294 - 20th October 2016 - Sunrise, Sparrow and Grasses

A little cooler this morning, stars are in the sky but should turn out to be another mild day.  Yesterday morning the temperature read +17 when we were on our way to town.  Pretty good for this time of year.  More warm weather, a very brief shower of rain around lunchtime but looks like more to come on Friday. I'm missing my morning walks around the hood, but doesn't look like I'll get there until the weekend.  To be truthful, poor Big B. has been home all week. Just haven't had time to take out since I'm doing different work hours these days. Oh well, a vacation is good for her too. Still a few brilliantly coloured trees around but many of them are starting to look bare. Paths and country roads are littered in pine spills and leaves.
The sun was shining brightly over the trees












Sparrow resting in the branches.

Morning cobwebs and grasses sway in the breeze.
Done for another season.








Enjoy your day!

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Day 293 - 19th October 2016 - Deer, Kelp and Yellow Legs

Mild again this morning, stars are out. Chance of showers later today but looks more promising at the end of the week for rain. Tuesday was another lovely fall day. Seems that the temperatures are remaining warm, saves a little on the wood pile. The harbour was perfectly still, beautiful reflections from the Park side with the leaves. Probably just as well there was no wind as at high tide around 10:30-11am the water was gently sliding up over the seawall in places on the waterfront. Rarely do you see that unless it's a  storm surge.  Greta and I are making good progress on our Textile project. Of course a few laughs as we work makes for a happy workplace. There are certainly some very interesting items.
These days there are deer everywhere















A few more shorebirds from the weekend. Yellowlegs
They mostly ignored us and went about feeding.












Can't go to the seashore without a pic of the kelp






Enjoy your day!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Day 292 - 18th October 2016 - Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee and Great Blue Heron

What a lovely warm day Monday turned out to be. You would have thought it was August and not mid October. A chance of showers later today - once again that would be welcome. The well has come back some, but not enough to waste any. So we are still a bit careful with our usage. We started our new project working in the Textile Room - going to be an interesting couple of weeks. Returned to exercise class last night - it was good to get back to my love/hate relationship with that and of course see everyone again. Guess I'll take a stroll along Dock Street this morning, need to  stretch out my limbs after class last night.

Red Breasted Nuthatch - must be something interesting on that branch.













Chickadee

Nice pop of color in Irene's yard.

Great Blue Heron, I wasn't quite quick enough for a great shot. They have such a wide wing span!





Enjoy your day!