Day 60 - 29th February 2012 - Leap Year and Side Streets

A cold morning, temperature is -5.5. Am off to town for the day, it's wednesday and my volunteer day [although most days seemed to be filled up with volunteer work for someone]. Just checked the weather forecast and looks like snow most days. Today is the last day of the month - leap year at that. I'm sitting here wondering about this leap year business, so hit google to find out and this is what I discovered: http://www.timeanddate.com/date/leapyear.html -

Leap Years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the sun. It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days – or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds (a tropical year) – to circle once around the Sun.

However, the Gregorian calendar has only 365 days in a year, so if we didn't add a day on February 29 nearly every 4 years, we would lose almost six hours off our calendar every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days!

In the Gregorian calendar 3 criteria must be met to be a leap year:

• The year is evenly divisible by 4;
• If the year can be evenly divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless;
• The year is also evenly divisible by 400. Then it is a leap year.

So that's the scoop on leap year. I must be on a real roll this year, our income tax is all done and e-filed - waiting for the money! Not that I have any wild plans for it, but it will go towards next winter's wood which should come in March - in other words "up in smoke"!

I took a walk down the water street this morning stopping and looking down some side streets. This is Charlotte Lane - lovely and colorful with older homes.

Looking down the end of Maiden lane, the Shelburne Co Museum on the right and the Cox Warehouse on the left.

The steeple on the top of the Cox's Warehouse.

For whatever reason I like this, it's hard to tell the sky from the water, up from down. It's not a particular great photo pretty neat just the same.

Buoys in the harbour, and I didn't realize I had caught a couple of Mergansers in the background.

And just a little reminder that winter hasn't totally left us yet.

So all in all not a bad day, got my bacon scallop wrap at the Bean Dock lunch time, managed to accomplish a fair amount of work, although lots I didn't get done........always there for another day!

Enjoy your evening!

Day 59 - 28th February 2012 - Lexi, Lamby and Cupboards

Milder this morning, temperature is 0.5. Since it's still dark, not sure what the weather is doing - rain or snow? Larry will probably continue painting this morning, I'm happy with the cupboard color and am anxious to see more of it. I on the other hand have to spend some time do book keeping for the Fire Department, tomorrow is month end and year end. The leap year gives us an extra day to...........work or get things done up. I also have some scanning that needs to be done, notes to type up and send to Karen for Water St. I don't see much room in the day to work on my report.

Well there was snow on the ground when daylight came, not a lot but just enough to cover things. It's cold, grey, dismal and miserable looking out now. I've kept myself inside today. Nose to the grindstone, so to speak. Bookkeeping and some scanning this morning, finished a report for someone this afternoon, now I have to type notes up for Karen. Of course it's mid afternoon, so the day is almost shot anyway. Larry has been between painting and a jigsaw puzzle [as he tells me the paint has to dry!] oh well, don't want to strain the poor fellow.

Thought I'd check and see what had happened in Canada in years gone by on the 28th February -
Ottawa Ontario - Pierre Elliott Trudeau - goes for a walk in an Ottawa blizzard and decides to resign; announces decision the following day; Canada's 15th Prime Minister.
Very close to home:

February 28, 1788 - American Revolutionary War - Nova Scotia Governor John Parr approves a land grant for 184 Black Loyalist supporters of the British Crown at Birchtown, Shelburne County; over 3,000 black Loyalists had been evacuated from the rebellious colonies to the south. Halifax, Nova Scotia

February 28, 1987 - Music - Hank Snow, Wilf Carter and Tommy Hunter the First artists inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame; posthumous artists also inducted are Joe Brown (leader of the Family Brown), Don Messer, Orval Prophet and music publisher William Harold Moon. Edmonton, Alberta

[Hank Snow of course was from nearby Queen's County, Nova Scotia and spent time in his early years in Shelburne]

Nothing terribly exciting to report, so I'll post a few photos and move on with my day, hope some of you are having a more interesting day than I am!

Lexi was laying back taking it easy today.

This side has 2 coats of paint - all done! I got Larry to build a little shelf for ends and odds on this end.

Waiting for the door on the far right to dry then he can put that back on.

Lexi was quite put out because I was taking pictures and she wasn't in all of them. She likes to pose so I told her and Lamby to get up on the window sill.

Lamby was a Christmas gift from her Aunt Lois, and she loves it. Although I think it's time for lamby to get in the washing machine!













Well that's it for today, back to work I go.
Enjoy the afternoon and evening!

Day 58 - 27th February 2012- Spending Time with Mourning Doves

In keeping with our chanagable weather, this morning's temperature is -6.2. Not sure what is happening today, other than I know I have a lot of things that need to be done/cleaned up/finished. I should go to Liverpool and do some research, especially since today looks like it will be decent weather wise, but I'm going to put it off for a bit more. I feel like an at home work day today.

I struggled through some more of my report all morning. Have found some loose ends that need to be tidied up - in the early 1900's a number of men in the family who went to Massachusettes, mainly the Boston and Gloucester areas fishing, some never returned to Shelburne, what happen to them? Did they get married? Have families? or were they lost at sea? So I continue to search.

Decided to go out for a walk after lunch and clear the cobwebs, Larry was busy painting, again. I think there is more water than ice in the lake now. Hurrah! Stop to see Lois for a few minutes. The sun is warm but......really it's rather cold.

This pair of  Mourning Doves were resting in a tree.








Danny started up the wood chipper and they left, guess they decided the noise was too much. But when I walked back home again, there they were......

out on the road. Not sure what there is to eat on pavement but they were pecking away.















Almost to the yellow line. I was able to get closer as they gradually made their way to the other side.

And they made it. Their coloring blends into the background and ground cover.


















So it was nice to spend a few minutes in the lives of a pair of Mourning Doves this afternoon, even though by the time I got in the house my hands felt like they had frost bite.








Have warmed up with a cup of tea, while finishing this off, must get back at those census records and ship manifest to see where those elusive relatives have gone.
Enjoy your day!

Day 57 - 26th February 2012 - From Ocean to River

Not quite as mild as yesterday, the temperature hovers above zero +0.2. Road could be slippery early this morning, it was wet snow last night when I went to bed and of course it's too dark out yet to see what today looks like. I think the wind has died out some, checked the weather for the week all I see mostly is flurries/snow - yuk! Neighbourhood girls you might get out cross country sking again yet!

Today is a special day, it's my Mom's birthday. No good to tell you how old she is since no one will believe me anyway. I am sooo fortunate to have a young, wonderful, caring Mom. Happy Birthday!

We went to to breakfast this morning at the Hall, and boy were they busy - Great Job you guys! Karl was waiting on tables and moving cars, where else can you get that done but in the country. Then we went to town to visit with Mom and take her a birthday gift. As always I took my camera, just in case and took  a drive over to Islands Park. This is a great place, lots of people using it for walking in the off season, and you can see Dock St. and part of the town across the Harbour. It's a provincial park - camping hookups and picnic areas, well kept and appears to be quite busy in the summer.

The view near the lodge where we parked the truck to walk. The gates are up this time of the year, but there is amble parking, and you can walk around.

And a little wildlife hiding in some bushes.

Looking to the right from the causeway.

From the left side of the causeway you can look and see the visitors centre on Dock St.

Looking again down the right side of the island. It was really windy!

These are so grey, I should have taken them in black and white instead of color!

I like the little tree growing out of the rock and the big sista tree beside it. You can see just a bit of the town in the background.

A little weed and foam floating along the shore line in the dark murky water.

Looking back up toward the lodge from the causeway. Larry forgot his camera and decided it was too cold to brave the wind, so he's sitting in the truck.

I like interesting things - fungi, etc. on the sides of trees!

So I got to the truck and decided I need to take a few more ..... from behind the lodge you can see back over to Falls Lane - the vehicle bridge -[in green]which is still in use (one lane only) and the old railway bridge (no longer in use in front.










Back in the truck we decided to drive up the welshtown road and go the crossroad to Ohio. I didn't take any photos until we got to the bridge on the crossroads, which by the way is another one lane bridge.

This tree had uprooted on the bank of the river.

Looking down the Roseway River.

The wind died out some but not altogether and it's still cold today. Now it's time to head home and get some work done.

Enjoy your day everyone!

Day 56 - 25th February 2012 - Wind, Hail and Bulbs Sprouting

It sounds like a wild morning - the wind is blowing hard and I can hear rain on the window, but the temperature is an unbelievable +7.6. We won't have to worry about building a fire in the furnace early today. Looks like it will be a good day to tackle the kitchen ceiling [or for Larry to!]. Once that gets done we can actually start to put things back where they belong, that in itself will be a very good thing, although it means I have no excuse to not get more than light house cleaning done. I am more excited about getting the cupboards painted and the tile on the new counter, hopefully in the next week we will get to that point. Something to be said for bad weather! Now that daylight has arrived, doesn't seem to be raining but the wind is blowing really hard, trees are bending back and forth.

Probably not all that smart to stand under a lot of tall trees in the middle of a wind storm. Lving life on the edge more or less.

Still blowing hard this afternoon, a bit of snow and hail thrown in for good measure, but there was someof blue sky showing so thought I would roam around a bit.

The ice is leaving the lake more and more, from the inside and the outside.

Then I got hit with hail!

A snow/hail squall coming across the lake, you can hardly see the other side.

I'm tired of wind, hail and snow, went back to the yard to see what was sprouting from the ground, some encouragement for spring. My tulips which were coming up in early January, but must have hauled in their horns since I didn't see them anymore, are once again appearing!

The daffodils are coming up, they'll be ready for easter.

And Larry's garlic is making it's debut. So there is life out there in this wild wild day!

And I was right this morning, it was a good day for Larry to do the ceiling, which he has finished. I'm getting some of the kitchen put back to normal now. Soon we can start the cupboards.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Day 55 - 24th February 2012 - Catching the Sunrise!

The mornings remain mild with a temperature of +1.1. I noticed yesterday when I was out for  my walk that the lake is low for this time of year. Last year we were lucky and forest fires were pretty minimal, this year maybe a different story. So do be careful if you get the urge to burn grass, brush whaterver is leftover from winter. For those of us living in the country/woods, it doesn't take much some times for a fire to get out of control pretty quickly.

Waiting for the kettle to boil for another cup of coffee and looking out the kitchen window, I realized again why I love mornings. Forgot the coffee, grab my camera and jacket and in pj's I ran out the door. Off I go through the woods, hoping the night creatures have returned where they belong to a neighbours backyard close to the lake.

Just out of the door, looking down the road. It's a little dark, but you can see the pink coming up over the tree line in the sky.

Through the path you can see the bright color of the sky behind the shadow of the trees.

I'm almost through the path in the woods.

And I've made it to the edge of the lake, crawled over some rocks to get a good vantage point, almost fell in, but hey made it!

A few fluffy clouds appear in the sky!

One last shot, as the sun starts to come up behind the trees. Have to head back home, breakfast and get ready to go to town. Off to do some research at the Deeds office, a much needed haircut, and the dreaded grocery shopping.

Hope you all have a great day! It's Friday, the weekend is just a few hours away!

Day 54 - 23 February 2012 - "Rainy Days & Mondays"

Mild and foggy, the temperature is +2.5. I enjoy watching daylight come earlier these days. Mornings are always my favourite time of the day. Looking out the window, I realize that Spring is a wonderful season, bringing with it, new growth, greenness and color. Currently though it's mostly shades of brown and beige. Fall in my mind is the best season - things are still in color and growing, nights are cooler and days still warm, everything is clean and crisp.

This was the sun at 11am when I went out for my walk.

The reason the sun will not be shining today - dark rain clouds hovering overhead indicates I don't have a lot of time to take photos today.

More ice is breaking up along the shoreline and rain water lays on the ice. Thank goodness for pine, fir and spruce trees, without those we wouldn't have much in the way of color.

Some of the tall pines, shed needles into the shorter trees of the forest where they dangle down like ornaments.

I didn't get much time before the storm clouds took over and it began to rain. Water puddles on the lake.

And my favourite color - red, nice on this dark grey day. My amaryllis has all four blooms opened up now.










Larry spent some time working in the yard this morning while the weather held, he's now painting the trim in the kitchen. I've been working on research which I don't have time to do and will now move on to those things I should be doing. Why do I have the 1970's tune by the Carpenters Rainy Days and Mondays wandering through my mind?
Enjoy the afternoon.