Day 269 - 25th September 2013 - The Lake, Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush and Chickadee

Wednesday and my day off has arrived, how sweet to see you. So I really have to buckle down and do some housework today instead of chasing birds all around the hood (will still do that but not for as long). Have company coming on the weekend and since it's only a few weeks away from my annual fall cleaning the house is beginning to look like a shambles. I've spent too much time outdoors and running the roads on adventures. I don't regret it one bit, time spent with my hubby, lots of new and old places visited and birds and other things found. Life is short, live each day to it's fullest. I also need to get out there a little earlier and catch some of those beautiful sunrises over the lake. Might even manage a few sunrises now that it sets a bit earlier too.
It was a  draining Tuesday afternoon, even though we saw people that we haven't seen for a while. Truthfully I would rather not have seen them under those circumstances. At some point we'll come to some kind of peace with what happen, but I believe it will take time. Rained off and on, hard at times in the afternoon. Funny but you knew all day it was coming, sky was overcast, air was damp and cold.  I sat out on the kitchen window seat after supper looking at the yard and the chickadees were buzzing around enjoying the suet. Such happy little guys, they can't help but put a smile on your face and help ease the sadness.

 More clouds over the lake.

 Reflections were nice.

 Depending on what cove or where you are, the lake looks different.

 And a punch of color.

 Might be a juvenile or female Hairy Woodpecker.

The Hermit Thrush is always a faithful visitor in the morning.

Not a great photo but glad to see the Chickadees back.



















Enjoy your day!

Day 268 - 24th September 2013 - Morning on the Lake, Raindrops and Birds

So I'm up way too early this morning - 4am my eyes popped open and didn't want to close again. Will be a long day and not one I'm looking forward to. We have a funeral to attend this afternoon, saying goodbye to another wonderful woman - mother, wife, grandmother who has been taken way too early. My heart aches for her husband and daughters knowing that today and the weeks to come without her will be so difficult and filled with sadness. Her daughters are wonderful strong women who will help their dad and one another, I see some of her in each of them and she was always so proud of them.
Got through another Monday unscathed so to speak, the day went well, can't complain. A researcher to help, some paperwork to finish up and a telemarketer hopefully deterred from calling again. So I was happy with the day, leg didn't feel too bad but every once in awhile when I moved the wrong way I could feel some pulling so thought I should skip exercise class last night.  Don't tell but I missed it.

 Hard to believe this is actually morning and not evening.

 You can see the sky is breaking.

 Rain droplets everywhere.

One of my favourite warblers - Common Yellowthroat.

The rain on the old man's beard reminds me of bling.

And some on the grasses.













Enjoy your day!

Day 267 - 23rd September 2013 - Fudge, Frog, Birds and Leaves

Monday has rolled it's ugly head around again. I shouldn't say that, perhaps it won't be so bad, but no one likes the first day back after the weekend. The work week begins once again. We are also moving in to the end of another month. September is almost gone. Things are sort of in perspective again so I'm working on a fairly good day. Leg is feeling pretty good this morning so am hoping to get to exercise class tonight, depends on how it is at supper time.
A little something different from me. I promised someone I would share a fudge recipe with them so thought I might as well share with everyone - my Mother in Law gave it to me a number of years ago. I was never a great fudge maker but this was easy and it's a two layer fudge.  I've always just called it
Jean's Fudge
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
6 oz chocolate chips
7 oz jar Kraft Fluff
tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter

take 1 1/2 cups sugar + 6 tbls margarine + 1/3 cup evaporated milk - bring to a full boil, stir constantly  for 4 mins on med heat.
Remove from stove, stir in Chocolate chips till melted add 1/2 cup fluff + 1/2 tsp vanilla.
Pour into greased 8x8 pan.
Repeat with rest of ingredients and pour over chocolate layer in pan.
Blew a gale most of the day on Sunday but the rain held off until early evening. Larry worked in the woodpile - well he spent time putting it in the basement. I got some housework done, and roamed the hood - couldn't roam far or through rough terrain though. Leg still a little sensitive.  Took a drive to Upper Clyde late in the afternoon, the leaves are really turning there - love the colors. Had a great visit with friends, came home and Larry cooked clams and fries - oh they were so good.

 He let me get a picture before he disappeared.

 This little Song Sparrow was hiding in the grasses eating maple seeds.

 Seed pods are empty.

 Dragonfly.

 They may be noisy and greedy at the feeders but they are pretty.

 Irene's flowers.

And some of Barb's.

I couldn't believe how much more the leaves have turned in Upper Clyde.

Beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange.












Enjoy your day!

Day 266 - 22nd September 2013 - Beach, birds and Rosehips

Well feeling much better this morning after 8 1/2 hours of sleep, guess I made up for the night before. I think Larry's arthritis tylenol may have helped with that and my pulled muscle issue. This morning I feel like I can roam the hood again, just have to be a tad bit careful which way I move my leg. Hopefully the weather will hold a bit this morning for me. Then I've got some housework to tackle, company coming at the end of the week.
I spent most of Saturday between the sofa with a hot water bottle and in the hot bath. Seems to have made a big difference as by last evening I could actually walk with very little pain. I did go into town late in the date for groceries, a necessary evil, but other than that I didn't move far. It was a beautiful day on the weather front and would have been great for picture taking. Since I didn't get out yesterday I went back looking through last weekend and our beach adventures.

 Lots of surf.

 A Cormorant hangs out.

 More of them, they are like gulls - everywhere.

Above: A natural setting - gulls & a fishplant.



Shore birds in flight.

Rosehips for those that make jelly.













Enjoy your day!

Day 265 - 21st September 2013 - Mist, Moon and Chickadees

So I was up at 3am, had to get Larry to help get me out of bed and downstairs. The day is not starting much better than it ended last evening. He filled up the hot water bottle, made me a coffee and I sent him back to bed. Guessing it's not going to be a day of roaming the hood or much of anything. Maybe a nap later on the sofa will be in order. Fingers crossed that this starts to improve, I don't do being laid up well, especially when there isn't too much time left to catch warblers and the like before they migrate.
I thought Friday would be a good day and life in general would clear up. By last evening I would really have liked to jump out of a window! I know that just sounds sucky and I shouldn't feel sorry for myself but I really needed a few moments of ...blah! So I think I pulled a groin or leg muscle, it got progressively worse as the day went on, and I can't bear weight. Larry had another horrible day, he came home to no power, had to call NS Power, they were here when we got home. Dead squirrel on the lawn - it had tripped the breaker on the pole. Got all that sorted, Larry went back up the road, I go to turn on the tap - no water, started to the basement to check the pump - it's running! Called Lois to send Danny over to turn off pump - yes I should know how, but my mind was blank, my leg hurt and I wasn't thinking. Maybe it all sounds like silly petty stuff but yesterday it all became too much. Larry did get the water  back when he came home. Last night all the friggin' positivity in the world was not correcting my life, maybe today will be better.

 Another misty morning both on the road and the lake.

 You could still see the moon in the sky at 7:30am.

 Kind of a morning of silhouettes too. I'm hoping this isn't something I don't have, I'm not sure what he is.

 As the moon sets in the West the sun is appearing in the east.

 The Chickadees are such acrobats.

I thought he might be a Common Yellow Warbler but I'm not sure.












Enjoy your day!

Day 264 - 20th September 2013 - Mist, Hermit Thrush, Webs and Flowers

Here we are Friday, once again. Temperature is +7.2, might not have had a frost. The moon was so full last night, if I had of had a little more energy I would have gone out and caught it. Although my favourite setting is over the lake as it's rising. If I can get a few more things done today I'll end the week happy.
Well yesterday ended so much better than it began. Hopefully today will go smoothly as well. Sometimes life hands you lemons and I guess you have to make lemonade. Onward and upward as they say. I had a decent day at work, exercise class last night - steps - I just really dislike those!
Grandmother's Journal:
20th September 1974 - Picked onions, tomatoes, cukes, squash and green peppers still ok. On back road saw does - 3. 
21st. September 1974 - Overcast fog all day. Reg, Bob used tractor and got Reg's wood. Today tractor worked fine. Gertrude over for a game. Bob & I to Fran's for supper home fairly early. 10 O'clock. Nice evening. 
22nd September 1974 - Terrible storm in night. Very heavy rain. One big clap thunder from 4 until 7 or after. Looks fine in morning. Fran and I went to Sandy Pt. Aunt Lizzie and Uncle John's 50th wedding anniversary at Helen's. Lovely party. Came out beautiful day, colder. 

 A pretty misty morning on the lake, could hardly see a thing.

 The Hermit Thrush popped out to see me.

More mist.

 Morning web!

From Lois' flower pots. Love those vibrant colors.










Enjoy your day!

Day 263 - 19th September 2013 - Webs, Mist, Birds and Dragonflies

Not quite so cold this morning, temperature is +7.2. Didn't sleep right great but did get enough to function. Another fine day on the horizon, hoping it will be a good day all around. Perhaps I'll get a few more things crossed off that list that never seems to end. Exercise class tonight, can't believe how quickly the week flies by. Harvest moon tonight, it's been pretty full the last few nights and I can see it shining between the tall pines, it lights up the yard.
Another beautiful fall day, seemed warmer Wednesday than the last few days. Once that sun came out, it was really nice. I did get some things done around the house - laundry, ran the broom around some floors, cleaned up the kitchen, etc. I can do things really fast if I want to go outside and play. It's getting harder to convince those birds to come down for photos, saw some in the morning around 9am but they weren't interested in photos except for a few Song Sparrows and a new one for me - Ruby Crowned Kinglet. Lots of Chickadees around again and I'm seeing more Nuthatches. Did up pork chops with homegrown veggies for supper and threw together a casserole for the next few nights. Casseroles are like comfort food - pasta,ground moose meat and  homemade tomato sauce with some herbs and spices. Simple but good. Even made some pesto, since I seem to have an abundance of Basil.

 You know I can't resist those webs, this one is certainly loose and lacy.

 The Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

 The Red-eyed Vireo wouldn't come down.

 Lots of mist on the lake - love the way the trees looking like they are suspended in air.

 Some of the ducks flying off, there were a lot around yesterday morning.

 From Lois' flower pot.

Just thought it was cool.

Might not have been many birds around but there were lots of Dragonflies.










Enjoy your day!