Day 363 - 29th December 2018 - Junco, American Tree Sparrow and Blue Jay

Good Morning! It appears I've been too long between posts, which tells me I have to write every day or not at all. So that's what I have to decide in the next few days before we start another year. Does anyone really want to read my less than fascinating life. Of course there is something to be said for peace and boredom once in a while. I'm in the middle of my - don't sleep anymore mode....it sucks and I'm tired most of the time, but it will pass. Days are getting longer now so that may help - not that we notice yet. Christmas has come and gone for another year, as always a rush to get everything done. I did lots of baking to give away, made a gift or two and we enjoyed the holiday. I've got a couple of knitting projects underway and have managed to get to a couple of "knit & yarn" days at Becky's in Lockeport. Great shop for all your knitting needs. I've discovered evening knitting means no snacking - this is a good thing. Now that the holidays are done, Larry and I will get out roaming and wandering in search of birds. It's been too long and I miss it. Poor Big Bertha is not happy with me these days. And of course after the New Year it will be time to dig back into exercise class again. No, I don't make resolutions, I just make plans. The feeders were busy yesterday as the snow came down (turned to ice pellets then rain by evening and mostly gone now). Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Evening Grosbeaks, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Chickadees, a few Pine Siskins mixed with the Goldfinches, Juncos, 5-6 Song Sparrows, 2 White Throated Sparrows and an American Tree Sparrow. Oh, of course we have a resident Sharp-Shinned Hawk, but it seems that most days he goes away hungry.

Junco

 American Tree Sparrow.

Blue Jay

White Throated Sparrow








Enjoy your day!

Day 218 - 26th November 2018 -Red-Winged Blackbirds, Evening Grosbeak and Sharp-Shinned Hawk

I think it's been too long since I last posted. The weeks are flying by so quickly. So what have I been up to? It's my fall cleaning season, most of which I've almost got done. I'm certainly having a few problems with that, I clean, Larry destroys. Well not that he literally destroys rooms but he's been in a painting mood - mostly floors at the moment.  I must admit that the stairs and upstairs hallway look great with a fresh coat of paint. That was the first place he tackled and didn't make any new mess. Then he started on the library which I had just cleaned up, made all nice and cozy for me to enjoy netflix and knitting. Years ago we had done that floor with boat paint (stands up well) of course we still have some left and it was good. Long story short - he's got 1/2 of that floor repainted and I can still smell it! He's now ripped up the flooring in the upstairs bathroom to paint those floor boards. I've put my foot down and told him he can paint the kitchen floor after the holidays! So that's kind of my excitement lately. We've made a few attempts at Christmas shopping which is going very slowly. On a up note the yard has been busy with birds - lots of Juncos, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers. Have had Red-Winged Blackbirds, Evening Grosbeaks, Starlings and Grackles.  And our recent Sharp-Shinned Hawk has made an appearance or two.

 We went to the Father Christmas Festival in Mahone Bay yesterday. They have such beautiful Santas throughout the town. Had a great breakfast at the Biscuit Eater Cafe - lovely little spot.

Bufflehead Ducks

 Red-Winged Blackbird

 Evening Grosbeaks

Sharp-Shinned Hawk





Enjoy your day!

Day 202 - 10th November 2018 - Blue Jay, Evening Grosbeaks and Junco

It's a wet and wild morning out there folks. Yes another day of rain and no we shouldn't complain but.... Seems lately with the rain we get really high winds  and today is no exception.  So I guess it's going to be an inside day and I need to get some things done around here. I started the week well - got some computer work done, my clothes room cleaned out and then my good intentions when out the window and truthfully I've accomplished little to nothing the last couple of days. That's not going to get my "fall" cleaning done. Larry's home so may be I'll put him to work too, not sure how that's going to fly but will give it a shot. Weather looks good for Sunday so if we work hard today perhaps an excursion for tomorrow. The yard and feeders have been busy this week (some of my distraction), Evening Grosbeaks, Nuthatches, Song Sparrows, Chickadees, Tree Sparrow, Juncos and a couple of Purple Finches.

Blue Jay

Evening Grosbeaks

Junco






Enjoy your day!

Day 198 - 6th November 2018- American Tree Sparrow, Berries and Oak Leaves

We are back in our rainy season again. Looks like every other day this week is rain, too bad it would spread it's self out a bit in the summer. Guess we better not complain - the well is full now and I'm sure this rainfall will top up the swamps. The lake is back up to normal. Mother Nature looks after her own. I started the "fall' cleaning yesterday. Was in a purging mood, so a couple of garbage bags of clothes are going to the roadside this morning. The yard is busy with birds these days, would be even busier if I remembered to buy some sunflower seeds and fill the feeders. The last few days have brought about 15 Juncos, Chickadees, Brown Creeper, Goldfinches, Nuthatches, a few Robins, Blue Jays too many Mourning Doves and an American Tree Sparrow. Most of them seem to be happy picking through the grass or in the apple trees. Going to continue with the cleaning today, do some computer work and maybe make a chili. Rainy days seem to be the right time for one pot cooking that simmers on the back of the stove. Trivia tonight.

 American Tree Sparrow

 The last of the berries

Oak leaves still hang on





Enjoy your day!

Day 196 - 4th November 2018- Hornet's Nest, Spruce Grouse and River Banks

The wind has been howling all night, still seems to be blowing hard this morning. Whistling through the tree branches, I almost thought a bird was singing.  Hopefully it dies out later. The rain stopped last evening - as much as we needed it all summer, it feels tiresome now.  So for the last few days I felt the jet lag more than I did when I actually got home, but this morning I was up at 4:30 (new time 3:30 am) so I must be back to normal. Guess I should have set my clock back before I went to bed. I truly dislike this time change, the long dark mornings and early dark evenings. Larry went into camp with Kenny yesterday and stayed the night. I took the opportunity to go the Chase the Ace in Jordan with the girls (no wins) then the dinner theatre at the Lions Hall last night. It was fun and an entertaining evening out. Think maybe we'll head to Barrington to do some grocery shopping later today and  check out CSI to see if there are any birds around. Maybe something new will have blown in. This morning I've got the finish up some computer work, tomorrow I should start the "fall" cleaning. By the look of this house it was needed 2 months ago.

 Hornet's Nest

Spruce Grouse

Banks along the Athabasca River







Enjoy your day!

Day 193 - 1st November 2018 - Water, Ice and Mountains

Wow here it is November already, this year will soon be over. Time if flying by. Well we had a fabulous vacation - some of the bucket list crossed off, great company and family time spent together. The trip coming home wasn't all that great as we started Tuesday morning off sitting in the airport then the plane waiting for fog to lift. That put all our connections off, but I must credit Air Canada with having us on new connections with boarding passes when we got to Calgary. By the time we got in the house Wednesday morning it was 3:30am. For me that's the time to get up not go to bed. Well I crawled in about 7am and got up again at 9am. It was enough to get me going. Started catching up on some laundry and a few things around the house but did't work too hard. My back and knees were aching - probably from sitting so much on planes but seem a bit better this morning. It was good to get out for a roam in the hood - it's great to go away but as they say "there's no place like home". A lot of the leaves have gone now, swamps are filling (not quite full) and there was a peacefulness in the air. Stopped for a tea and a catch up with Lois. Halloween last evening - 4 kids here. Not many anymore. So today I have to start getting into the swing of things - more laundry, go through pictures and get my cameras unpacked and put back together.

 A few more trip pics!

Enjoy your days!

Day 191 - 29th October 2018 - Cattails, Gregoire Lake and Church Windows

Here we are on the last day of our holidays. The time has flown by, seems almost like we just got here. It's been loads of fun and a great adventure. The kids have been wonderful hosts and tour guides, we've seen loads of things and been treated royally. Tomorrow morning we'll head off to the airport early to make the trek home, first stop Calgary, then Toronto and then Halifax hopefully somewhere around 10:30/11:00pm tomorrow night. Going to be a long day but my mind will twirl through all the great adventures we've had on our trip. Sunday after lunch we headed out to Janvier which is one of the reservations. Probably one of the poorer ones, as is evident by the homes. They do however have horses that seem to roam wherever and an airstrip (looks more like a big field, probably suitable for small planes and helicopters). We stopped at Gregoire Lake Provincial Park and a couple of other lakes - beautiful spots.

Cattails in the early morning light.

Gregoire Lake

Scaups or Ring necked Ducks, I think

 No matter where you go around Fort Mac, reminders of the fire are there.

The Church windows at Janvier were stunning.




Enjoy your day

Day 190 - 28th October 2018 - Heritage Village, Foxes and a Canvasback Duck

We've had a busy couple of days playing tourist. Friday Jenny was off so took us out to the Heritage Centre and Village. Lovely gift shop - I found moccasins which have been on my to get list. The village is a combination of houses/cabins/churches/businesses etc. which have been donated and moved from other places. Each building lets you experience a piece of Fort Mac's past. There is also a Shipyard, but that closed in September.  I didn't think of Fort Mac as being in the boat building business but you learn something new every day. From there we went downtown and checked out the Dunvegan Christmas Shop - decorated trees with a different theme on every one. Then a little more shopping and off home to get the chickens in the oven for supper. We had a birthday celebration for both Jenny & Justin. Saturday we headed back out to the Buffalo look off, but no sign of them and then the trail. Even though there are signs posted about wildlife, all we saw were lots of tracks etc of Moose, Deer and others, none crossed our path.  A break  back home then out for a late lunch at Chez Max. Now this is a fabulous little restaurant  featuring Jamaican Food - it was awesome. From there we did the Fox trail. This is a cool spot, there are a number of Foxes along the trail that artists were commissioned to paint. Similar to those big lobsters done in Barrington this year. Being Sunday most of the household will have a sleep in, then I'm sure we'll have another little adventure.

Sunrise

A few of the buildings at the Heritage Village

 Some of the artistic foxes. I met the artist of this one at the Cree Chat on Wednesday.

Canvasback Duck




Enjoy your day!

Day 188 - 26th October 2018 - Magpies and House Sparrows

Falling into my old ways and up way earlier than I should be this morning. Oh well the 5am's were good while they lasted. I walked a lot yesterday, exploring and checking out the hood but apparently the fresh air didn't make me sleep better. We did a little shopping and hung out at the house. Wildlife was sparse even though I checked out a few parks and outskirts. Magpies and House Sparrows were my only finds. Even the pond was empty yesterday. The weather has been wonderful, blue skies and sun everyday. Had a latish supper out at the local Legion last evening. They have a full restaurant - don't think any of the ones home do. But no doubt the population base makes the difference.  It's a little sad when you drive or walk by areas with burned trees still standing - a reminder of the fire a few years ago and how so many have had to rebuild  their lives. Not sure what we are up to today, both Jenny & Justin are off so maybe the Heritage Centre.

Magpie - they seem to be fairly friendly and used to people.

House Sparrow -- lots of these around too.







Enjoy your day!

Day 187 - 25th October 2018 - House Sparrow, Teepee and a Sunset

The weather has been more like the first of September than the end of October. Beautiful, sunny and mild. I've lost all track of the days but I think it was Wednesday yesterday. We were home on our own, so I took the opportunity after searching E-bird to see what was out in the hood. Did the google map thing and got directions to a trail nearby but didn't quite make it there (will do that today) as I found a nice little pond with some Mergansers, also a few House Sparrows in the trees and bushes nearby. It was a nice morning walk. Mom and I checked out the little mall nearby and picked up a few groceries we had forgotten the day before. When Jenny got through work she picked us up to go out to the Metis Local for Coffee Chat with a few of the Cree Elder Ladies. It was a good time, we all chatted, learned a few Cree words, although I'm sure I can't pronounce them again. Elk is waskiso, Mountain is waciy. There is no "K" in Cree it sounds like "G". A quick stop at Walmart and then home for supper and a lazy evening. I think I'll do some more exploring today.

 Cat Tails along the pond.

Mergansers

House Sparrow

A replica wagon from the Red River days

This was where they held the coffee chat - the building was lost during the fire and rebuilt

Teepee on display

And the sun was setting





Enjoy your day

Day 186 - 24th October 2018 - Giant Machinery, Bison Monument and a Spruce Grouse

Tuesday was mostly a day of rest. After a whirlwind weekend of activities and the drive to Fort Mac everyone was pretty tired yesterday.  We lazed around in the morning then did a short afternoon trip to see the "Giants of Machinery" and the Monument to Bison. We also saw where some of the big wildfire had been a few years ago  - trees that were burned, makes you shiver to just think about that summer. I've been out on a short roam of the hood, also checked on e-bird to see if there were any birding spots within walking distance. Since the kids are both working today Big B and I might just do a couple of jaunts on foot. Remembering to take my cell phone, I don't get lost in the woods (as a rule) but subdivisions and urban settings get me all turned around. The Bison Burgers were fabulous last night - so lean and tasty, Justin did them on the barbecue and Mom did taters in the air fryer to go with them.

 Checked out a trail and found this Spruce Grouse.

 Monument to Bison - it's huge

 They don't lie when they call this equipment "Giants"

Enjoy your day!