Day 334 - 30th November 2015 - Sunset, Cape Light and Waves

A dusting of snow on the ground this morning, stars and moon are bright in the sky and a chill in the air. Last day of November and the Lobster Season opens in our area. May it be a safe and successful one. For over 200 years fishing has been a main industry along our coast - a dangerous one, but men and women continue to go to sea. For some it's in their blood. One of my grandfathers made his lively hood from fishing as did his father and numerous uncles. Not an easy life back then and I can remember growing up on tales of fishing from a dory, coming home with a "broker" - no fish = no money and war time with foreign ships in the water.  Later years Grammy convinced him to work on land, it was easier but never what he was happy doing.
By the time we got home from working the breakfast, both of us were pretty tired. Built a fire in the furnace and headed to town for groceries. A stop at Cathy & Harold's provided a couple of hours of fun and laughter as the girls were making wreaths. Sometimes I envy those who have sisters. 

The sun was setting from the mall parking lot.

A gull in flight from another day.

The light at the Cape.

A few shot of a rocky shoreline - Baccaro.

Enjoy your day!

Day 333 - 29th November 2015 - Fungus, Yellow-Rumped Warbler and Hairy Woodpecker

Our turn to work breakfast at the Fire Hall this morning - an early start to the day and probably a busy one. It's pretty quiet out there, not a sound, a star or a breath of wind. I guess will run to town after, pick up some groceries and maybe we can add an hour or so to birding. Although at that time of day I don't expect much but who knows.
 I made some headway Saturday. It was rainy all day so a good time to get a start on the baking. Shortbread cookies and Peanut Butter Balls done and in the freezer to be decorated and dipped at a later date. Also made pizza for supper, was good to have something with substance after the last few days of "soft" food. Larry arrived home from his excursion - Lexi was happy to see him. She never settles well without everyone in the house at night.

 Tree fungus

 A little stream

Yellow - Rumped Warbler.

 The elusive Golden-Crowned Kinglet.

 There always seems to be a Hairy Woodpecker around these days.








Enjoy your day!

Day 332 - 28th November 2015 - Goldfinch, Mourning Doves and Grandmother's Journal

Up too early again - just when I thought the sleeping was getting under control - Ugh. I need to get some things done today, might be time to start the Christmas baking since we are moving into the end of November. And there are a whole lot of other things that I need to start/do/finish. Looks like a little rain for today, but it's mild out there this morning. 
Friday was a beautiful day - mild and warm. Even saw moths flying around the street light last evening. So Lexi and I had a mostly lazy day. Didn't feel like doing a whole lot but perked up after supper.
Grandmother's Journal:
27 Nov 1976: Overcast. Showers all day. Kim came up and had lunch with me. Bob and Tom to MC, back early because of rain. I baked Bread, Squares, Cake, Ham and Potatoes. Did usual Saturday chores. Bob & I up for a visit with Dick Bower, Chil and Julia. Had a nice visit. Chester came up to play cards with Chil. Things are sure different up there. Roads muddy. 
28 Nov 1976:  Beautiful day. Bob, Tom and I to MC. Took a light lunch. Bob did some clearing ground. Had a good day. Very mild. Stopped to see Barb on way home.

Goldfinch sitting among the weeds.
















A few ducks in one of the coves.

 Mourning Doves - you can usually find a few on the lines if they aren't in the feeders.

Perfect reflections on the lake.









Enjoy your day!

Day 331 - 27th November 2015 - Frost, Ice and Reflections

So after going to "lay down" at 7pm last evening and falling to sleep I was up too early this morning, but feeling rested none the less. Stars are all out, really mild and I can hear an Owl way down the road. Larry's going into camp tonight, so I've got to finish getting his things ready - rolls and cookies are in the freezer from last week. Other than that I don't anticipate anything exciting happening. 
Thursday went a little wonky for me. I decided that the not so dull tooth ache should be seen to or at least get an appointment in the near future. I have a fear of it abscessing on the weekend - been there done that and it's not nice. If memory serves me correct I looked like Chippy Chipmunk. Luck was with me and I got into Barrington Dental Centre with a 4:20 pm assessment appointment. Shortly after 5 pm I was leaving having two very nasty teeth removed. They are a great bunch of professional young women.

 Thursday morning was great to go out and catch the heavy frost on everything.

 The Cranberry ditch at a layer of ice.

 You could see a little forming along the shoreline of the lake.

It was a perfectly calm morning - reflections were true.







Enjoy your day!

Day 330 - 26th November 2015 - Red Berries, Pigeons, The Harbour

Pretty cold out there this morning, but suppose to warm up to +8 later. The stars are out and the moon is full, everything is coated in frost and shimmering.  I'm getting the urge to start my Christmas baking, have a few things I can do and toss in the freezer. Might do some of that Friday and Saturday. Today I might just get the list underway, recipes out and check for ingredients. Have a few other things around here to do and some computer work.  Exercise class tonight.
The day in town was nice and rather uneventful. Just the way I like it. Got some things done, had lunch at the Beandock and caught up with the girls.  A Coyote strolled across the road on our way in. No chance for a photo - too bad.  House was cool when we got home, but Larry got the fire going while I got leftover meatloaf and veggies put together and warmed up for supper. Doesn't take too long to get things warmed up again.

 Frost dipped Berries.

Mist was rising off the harbour.

The mystery boat remains, guess it'll probably be there til it sinks.

Am beginning to think the Queen Anne's Lace is more interesting when it's dried.

Pigeons were sleeping on the roof of the Barrel Factory.










Enjoy your day!

Day 329 - 25th November 2015 - Juncos, Blue Jays and Goldfinches

Brrr... it's chilly  this morning. Stars are all out and the frost is twinkling on the grass. One month from today is Christmas..... lots to do before that date! I'm not going to panic- will kick into gear and get things done...soon. It's town day, rah! rah! (Not). Must be done, have errands and other things.
Snow flurries most of Tuesday and a cold wind. Although sounds like it might warm up towards the end of the week again. Can't really complain it's almost the end of November and the weather has been quite mild overall.  I still go out roaming every morning in hopes of something popping out of a bush, but overall it's very quiet. Took a swing through Lois' feeders but nothing different than at mine. Usually she has a pair of White-Throated Sparrows by now but no sign of them.

 The Juncos are settling in and coming closer to the house.

One seems to darker than the other.

 A little snow comes down as the sun shines through the trees.

 It was a nicer day for the Goldfinches.

Preening time after the Blue Jays have filled their bellies at the feeders.







Enjoy your day!

Day 328 - 24th November 2015 - Goldfinches, Bald Eagle and Tree Fungus

 Temperature is definitely colder, stars are dipping in and out behind clouds and I'm sure I saw a couple of little white flakes flying by. Wind has picked up again. I'll get out for my walk later and see just how much water is around. Another day or two it will continue to rise and then recede.
We did indeed get rain on Monday, but before supper it had cleared and the temperature dropped considerably. At times it was so heavy in the morning  you could hardly see out the windows. Got some inside stuff done up - laundry, housework, sewing (jeans shortened for me, work pants mended for Larry) and computer work. Around noon there was a lull so Lexi and I made our break and went for a run. Cranberry ditch is full, lots of water in the woods = winter on it's way. The feeders were active - Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Juncos, Chickadees, Woodpeckers and Goldfinches.

 The first day the Goldfinches decide to come to the feeders and it's a rainstorm.

 There were two last week that came and stayed in the trees/bushes, yesterday morning 4 arrived and a dozen by afternoon.

 The Ohio Bald Eagle - not a great shot - he was too far away.

A few photos from our walk on Sunday - lots of tree fungi.

and little brooks of water flowing through the woods. Today they would be flooded.

Looking at Louis Head Beach through the grasses.









Enjoy your day!

Day 327 - 23rd November 2015 - Orange Crowned Warbler, Golden Crowned Kinglet and Surf Scoter

It's a wild and windy day out there - lots of rain coming down today. Going to be a rain slicker and rubber boots walk when Lexi and I go out. Guess I'm back to laundry,  housework and some computer work. Have to spend some time cleaning out photos, etc. and it's time for  a back up. I'm sure I can be productive today and get some things off this list today!
All in all Sunday turned out to be a good day. Cleared off, the sun even made an appearance, although a bit dim. We did our morning chores, me inside, Larry outside and then headed for a walk to the Port L'Hebert trail just beyond the County line. It takes you down to the Migratory Bird Sanctuary.  The woods were quiet - not even a squirrel but out in the water were hundreds of Canada Geese. Not close enough for a good photo. We left there and drove to Louis Head Beach - pretty dull - lots of waves and rough water. Then a stop at the Louis Head Breakwater - Song Sparrows and found a nice patch with Chickadees, Golden Crowned Kinglets, an Orange Crowned Warbler and a Yellow-Rumped Warbler. Did the loop back up through East Jordan stopping at the Breakwater there and found a few Loons and a Surf Scoter. Homeward bound we stopped at Cathy and Harold's and ended up having supper.

Orange Crowned Warbler - a lifer for me!

 Song Sparrow

 Golden-Crowned Kinglet

 Surf Scoter

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

 On the Port L'Hebert trail - the loop is 2km long. Just a nice jaunt.








Enjoy your day!

Day 326 - 22nd November 2015 - Junco, Woodpecker and White-Breasted Nuthatch

We had some thunder and lightning during the night, I know this because a 65 lb fur ball  landed on me.  It didn't last long, thank goodness. Looks like between today and tomorrow we are going to get a massive amount of rain. No doubt what that means - swamps will be full and winter will set in. Not sure what the day will bring, but probably nothing exciting. I'll get the muffins done and lunchboxes started for the week and then see what the weather and day offers up.
Saturday was dismal, drizzly but mild. No fire in the furnace required.  Did the trip to town, some shopping and groceries. Stopped at the Craft Show for a few minutes to drop some things off to my brother. Too busy for me. Glad it was but I just can't do those crowds anymore. To think I did that life for a number of years. Give me birding any day, lots of space in that activity. Larry and Lexi went to pick up some metal from a friend then pulled the tomato cages, etc. from the garden. A lazy evening at home.

Junco, there are 2-3 regular visitors now. I just wish they'd stop hiding in the Honeysuckle branches.

Woodpeckers seem to be in abundance as well.

White-Breasted Nuthatch. Such comical birds as they go up and down trees backwards.

A little foam along the shore line of the lake - rough and windy yesterday.




Enjoy your day!

Day 325 - 21st November 2015 - Blue Jays, Evening Grosbeaks and Grackles

 There are lots of activities going on in town today, it's the weekend of Celebrating Christmas - Craft shows, parade, etc. Not sure how much of it we will take in. Hoping the weather clears for the parade this evening. Looks like lots of rain on it's way for Sunday and Monday, although they are mentioning the "S" word at the tail end of it. Our snow tires get installed on Monday. I think our timing is right. Not sure what we will get up to today, maybe a couple hours of birding somewhere and the standard  Saturday stuff - groceries etc.
Had a pair of Evening Grosbeaks at the feeders today, first of the season. The Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Grackles, Chickadees and Juncos were in and out all day. I saw a few Goldfinches but they are hanging at the top of one of the apples trees and not coming in yet. A Golden Crowned Kinglet is still traveling with the Chickadees. Now this may be the reason I don't get as much done as I should, I spent half of the day watching from the kitchen window to see what may or may not show up. I did  brown bread rolls and cookies, but then Larry's buddy called and had come down with a virus so they weren't going in to the camp for the weekend. I tossed some in the freezer for their next trip and gave the rest to my cousin as she has family coming. It was a good day for kitchen work - overcast and dreary. Quiet in the hood on our walks.

The Blue Jays are bright and colorful against the bare branches.

Evening Grosbeaks - the first of the season.

 There were a dozen in the yard today.

These two Grackles are regulars, the rest of the flock come periodically.