Day 59 - 28th Februrary 2018 - Ice, Clouds and Red Berries

Here we are saying good bye to February. It's a few days shorter but  most years seems to drag, but it flew by this time. It turned out to be a beautiful day on Tuesday, wind was a little chilly but the sun is so much stronger these days and you can feel it's warmth. I see Tulips and Daffodils springing through the ground much faster than my crocuses. Must go have a poke around today. Suppose to be warm again, although a little frost on the grass this morning, but it won't take long for it to disappear. The upstairs is done now to pick a room downstairs to tackle today. Even managed an hour of sewing yesterday. And I played in the kitchen - being home means I can experiment with some meals. Like everyone I get tired of the same old thing. I did my version of pulled pork but instead of a bun cooked cabbage leaves to put it in. A nice tangy sauce (vinegar, ketchup (no sugar added) and cinnamon) and spices while it cooked away a good portion of the day in the slow cooker. Did some turnip fries in the air fryer and veggies gave us a nice change.

 Slivers of ice on the lake.

 Clouds floated across the sky

A few red berries the birds missed.






Enjoy your day!

Day 58 - 27th February 2018 - Lighthouse, Herring Gull and Common Eider

A touch of frost this morning, but the stars are all out and it promises to be a mild day with +5 this afternoon. Not bad for the end of February. Owls are hooting down the road otherwise it's quiet. The Canada Geese have returned to the lake - there have been 8 around. The Mallards have begun to pair up as well. A pair flew over the house and landed by the deck yesterday morning. Startled me for a minute. I'm used to Chickadees doing that not ducks! Surely another sign of spring. Stuck to it and got the spring cleaning done in 3 rooms upstairs on Monday, today will do the spare bedroom and the hallway and I can put that behind me. Nothing new at the feeders - just the regulars - Goldfinches, Chickadees, Nuthatches, White Throated Sparrows, Woodpeckers, Blue Jays and Mourning Doves. It's not been exciting in the yard, maybe because it's been such an open winter the birds are finding food in the woods. 

Lighthouse at the Cape, sheep are grazing below.

 A couple of Herring Gulls

Common Eider takes a rest.






Enjoy your day!

Day 57 - 26th February 2018 - Red Breasted Merganser, Canvasback Duck and Brant Geese

Monday morning, the work week has begun for most once again. I'm going to dive into the spring cleaning and tackle the upstairs. If spring is coming early I want all that inside stuff done so I can work outdoors. I did some cooking in the morning while Larry worked breakfast at the hall on Sunday. When he got home just before noon we jumped in the car and headed for CSI. Saturday morning a Canvasback Duck had been spotted at the causeway with a flock of Scaups.  The last time one was spotted in NS was in 2014 so they are a rarity to have in this area. It's been a while since we've been able to go chase birds once the call went out. We did find him, but he wasn't close so I got a distance shot that's cropped but still  wonderful to see. A new lifer for me!  We took a quick trip around the Island and found some Brant Geese, a Guillemot, Red Necked Grebes, Common Eiders and lots of Mallards. I've really missed getting out birding, hopefully we'll get to do lots year.

 Red Breasted Merganser at the Guzzle.

 Canvasback Duck - (red head with white/light body  2nd from foreground)

There were 10 Brant Geese feeding at Daniel's Head.



Enjoy your day!

Day 56 - 25th February 2018 - Canada Goose, Wharf and Cedar Waxwings

It's chilly this morning, but the stars are hanging out in the sky. An Owl across the lake and one up the road are hooting, ducks are squawking in the lake. Love the sounds of the early morning. We are now the proud owners of a big woodsplitter - rah! Well it's paid for and will get picked up on Monday.  Had a good trip to Yarmouth, after our shopping (bought mostly groceries) we took a drive out to Pembroke since neither of us had been there before - lovely area - mostly farm land (or at least at one time) that borders the sea. Then of course it was Aggravation last evening - Alice and I beat Larry and Margie twice -wohoo!!  Larry's off to work the breakfast at our fire hall this morning and I'll do the lunchbox prep while he's gone. Hopefully the weather will hold and we can take a run out to Barrington in search of the Canvasback Duck that appeared yesterday when he gets done.

Canada Goose

 Old wharf at Chegoggin.

Cedar Waxwings in Yarmouth.




Enjoy your day!

Day 55 - 24th February 2018 - Fungi, Ice and Downy Woodpecker

A few ice pellets after we got home last night and now some rain. Suppose to stop and clear off. We are heading off to Yarmouth this morning. The woodsplitter that Larry has been pining over for months is finally on sale and he has enough money stashed to buy it. A trip out of town periodically is always good since I have a bit of a list of things I need. Maybe if it clears I'll get a little birding in along the way too. Had a good day out Friday, overslept this morning but Larry and Margie beat Alice and I at Aggravation last night! Oh well we might get him back tonight. Heard the Canada Geese yesterday afternoon and the Mallards were in the cranberry ditch this morning. Maybe spring is just around the corner.

 Fungi

 Looking through the ice at the cranberry ditch

Downy Woodpecker




Enjoy  your day!

Day 54 - 23rd February 2018 - Red Winged Blackbirds, Ducks and Chickadee

Late this morning, we've had one of those "planned power outages". Can't think that Friday morning between 5:30 and 6:30am is the best time for one, seems to me a Saturday or Sunday morning would be better. A little cooler today but the stars were all out and daylight was pretty coming through the trees along the edge of the lake. Shoulders are a little sore this morning - must have been the weights at exercise class last night. It's Thelma & Louise day - off to town later for lunch and a few errands. No Chase the Ace tickets to get this week as the Ace was picked last Saturday. A few things to do around the house, will probably build a fire in the furance in a bit to take the chill off.

 Red Winged Blackbirds

 Not a great shot but I think the little duck in the center sleeping is probably the Green Wing Teal

Chickadee






Enjoy your day!

Day 53 - 22nd February 2018 - Red Winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, Grandmother's Journal

Another nice day in the making, stars are all out and it's quite mild again. This week has sure been easy on the wood pile.  Not sure what's on the agenda for today, should get some more things done around here or at least a couple of hours of hard work. Good day in town on Wednesday, got a chance to catch up with a few people I haven't seen in a while.
Grandmother's Journal:
22 February 1977 - Beautiful this morning, cold and windy overnight. Sunny all afternoon. Bob & Tom to MC. Split wood, was home 2:30 afternoon. Kim got supper for she and her grandfather. I went to Pancake Supper at Church of England - too much sweet for me. Kim gone to play Badminton in Barrington. Beginning to get nasty when I came in at 6:30 from supper.
23 February 1977 - Beautiful morning. I walked to work, not cold. Later there was quite a cold wind. Bob and Tom off to MC before daylight. On a track up Briar Hill Road. River too dangerous so they came home before noon.  Bob had a hard walk. Jack Lore called today. Staying with Jackson at the camp, wants to go hunting. Doesn't look like a chance. Kim got supper, I played bridge. Barb came and spent the night.

 Red Winged Blackbird

 Mourning Dove

Female Mallard





Enjoy  your day!

Day 52 - 21st February 2018 - Loon, Eiders and Lighthouse

Mild and foggy this morning. I'm thinking spring is on the way...or I'd like to believe it. The weather sites are giving colder for tomorrow night so I guess that blows that idea! I'm off to town this morning - a little volunteer work I promised to do so want to get that out of the way. I accomplished everything on my list yesterday - soup and biscuits, finished cleaning out my sewing/photo room (even did a little sewing), started painting Whirligigs, a little housework and got out for a walk. Yes I've buckled down and got things done. Hopefully Thursday I can tackle some more. Trivia last night - we didn't win but still did well, as always lots of laughs.

Loon

 A couple of Male Eiders were resting among the Gulls.

Sandy Point Lighthouse.






Enjoy your day!

Day 51 - 20th February 2018 - Red-Winged Blackbirds, Gulls and Common Eider

Raining this morning which means it's mild and should be most of the week. The snow is just about gone from the yard. Well the long weekend is over and I need to get some things done around here.  Think I'll make a pot of soup with biscuits for supper the next couple of nights.  I'll set up the Whirligigs and start painting those. And I'd like to get the sewing room finished off. That should fill my day! Trivia tonight - always a good laugh. We went for a drive yesterday, mostly along the shore down the Sandy Point road and to Locke's Island -  a few wharves in search of ducks, loons etc. Red-Breasted Mergansers, Loons, Eiders, Black Ducks, Gulls, Red Neck Grebe and  Guillemot. Mostly not a lot of shots as there is no such thing as getting closer to them when they are in the water, but I did get a few photos that weren't bad. Back home in the early afternoon, then off to exercise class last night.

 Nice flock of about 16 Red Winged Blackbirds are around.

 Common Eider with a crab for lunch

Gulls

Day 50 - 19th February 2018 - Ice, Red Breasted Nuthatch and Canada Goose

Happy Heritage Day  (I think that's what the holiday is called)! It's a relatively new holiday for us, some provinces call it Family Day. I'm still not sure I even care about a holiday in February, would rather have one in finer weather but they've made it a statutory holiday which means everyone gets it so all is good!  Chilly out there this morning, but promises of a sunny day with temperatures going up and staying mild all week. Owls are hooting back and forth down the road but not close.Got the lunch preps done yesterday, some laundry, fun things like that around the house. Larry did a little clean out too. Snowed hard all morning, about 6 inches down, but after lunch the temperature popped up a bit and things started to melt, trees are bare again now and I see a patch of green grass under the fir trees along the property line. Maybe later this morning we'll get some birding in.

 Love the ice this time of year, sparkles and shines when the sunlight hits it.

 Spied this Canada Goose on Saturday right in town.

Red Breasted Nuthatch.




Enjoy your day!

Day 49 - 18th February 2018 - Ducks, Ice Baubles and a Downy Woodpecker.

A little dusting of snow over night, but the fine stuff is coming down again this morning. Anyone's guess how much we will get - somewhere between 5 and 15 cms or so they say. It will be a good day to do lunch box prep, catch up on the laundry etc. Larry is off tomorrow so it might be a birding day.
Saturday turned out to be a fine day and once the wind died out in the afternoon the sun warmed you up nicely. It was a busy day too.  Did the grocery shopping with a brief stop to check out Diane's ducks in town, then a long the waterfront and down to the Industrial Park. Home, lunch and then made some snacks for Larry's outing, while he put wood in the basement. I got some marvelous spring purging done when Jake and Adam stopped in. They left with a number of kitchen chairs, end table, lamp and promises to return for a table. Larry went off to the smoker and I headed down to Margie's to help her recover a computer chair before the girls arrived for Chase the Ace. I even managed to get out for a quick walk.

 Most of the ducks were napping in the morning sun.

 The ice along the lake looked like crystal baubles on a chandelier.

Female Downy Woodpecker.



Enjoy your day!

Day 48 - 17th February 2018 - Ice, Loon and Common Eiders

Brr...it's cold and windy this morning, but the sky is filled with stars. Today looks like a pretty good one except it's colder than the last few but tomorrow we have some snow on the way. Depending on what site you look at it could be 5-10cm or up to 15cm. Love that we have options, no two weather sites can agree on anything. The roads might be a bit slippery this morning if any water is left on them. Friday was a good day except a wet one so I didn't get out walking before we went to town. Lunch out and got our tickets for Chase the Ace tonight. Played Aggravation last evening and  I won - every man (or woman) for himself since there was an odd number of us. Today - it's groceries and a few errands. Not sure if we've got time for birding. Larry is off to the Smoker tonight so I'll whip up a few nibblies to send with him to Mike & Maureen's. He always goes there first and I'll go play Chase the Ace with the girls.

 Ice

 Loon

Common Eiders





Enjoy your day!

Day 47 - 16th February 2018 - Red Breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper and Ice

Rain has started falling, still mild  and no wind yet. Thursday was nice, it felt like the calendar had been fast forwarded to early April and spring was on it's way. Had a good Sorning in town and was home by early afternoon. No spring cleaning and none will get done again today.  Monday I best get to it so when spring does finally arrive I can get out and be ready for the arrival of the Warblers and other  birds migrating before it's time to return to the work season. Maybe if the weather is good on Saturday we'll get out somewhere - see a few Ducks, maybe a Snowy Owl. Now that Larry's got a good hip again, there will be lots of birding in our future once again. Once again it's Friday - Thelma and Louise day and Friday night club.

Red Breasted Nuthatch

Very bad shot of a Brown Creeper. They are always fun to watch going up trees while the Nuthatches go down.

Ice

Enjoy your day!

Day 46 - 15th February 2018- Ice

Mild and foggy out there this morning. The weather is wacky! Although days like this make it easy on the woodpile. The dirt roads sure take a beating - thaw and freeze, soft and ruts. Not much fun on those. I continued with the spring cleaning on Wednesday, my sewing room is beginning to look better however the downstairs hallway is a disaster. Eventually they will both improve. I have to keep chanting - purge, purge, purge - but it's not working out that well. I don't consider myself a hoarder - jut have too much stuff. Took a walk with Big B in the hood, the ice in the ditches and swamps is so interesting- swirls and lines, reminds me of blown glass. Did a seafood quiche for supper - we don't call it quiche (Larry says he doesn't like quiche), I call it seafood pie (he loved it). So much for a name. I'm off to town this morning to do a few things, home early this afternoon.

Ice

Enjoy your day!

Day 45 - 14th February 2018 - Grandmother's Journal, Loon and Common Eider

Happy Valentine's Day!  A few stars in the sky, no wind, chilly and the Owls are calling up and down the road this morning. They aren't close today but I can hear them in the distance. Tuesday was a day around the house, worked on the spring cleaning - slowly, made red velvet cupcakes to give away, a roast for supper and took a quick jaunt around the hood to check out the water level. It had come up another foot from where I stuck a stick in the sand along the shore. Should start to recede today.
Grandmother's Journal:
14 February 1977:Overcast most of the day. Bob to MC before noon and back. Very icy this morning. Barb came for lunch. Up to Dentist this afternoon. Kim here for supper, off to Young Peoples and back for the night.
15 February 1977: Beautiful this morning. Bob home today. Drove his brother Lew around to take pictures for his new book. Picked me up at noon.  Mother and I got our hair done this afternoon. Real nasty by 3 o'clock, snow and rain. Mostly snow. Kim stayed home tonight to play badminton.Quiet just the two of us.
16 February 1977 - Bob took me down to Mother's early. Off to MC, he had lunch down at Campbell's hill with Jackson, Scotts and Jackson's friend. I played bridge at Maizie's this afternoon. Good game. No good for hunting, too much snow to do much around MC property.

 Low Tide

 Common Eider

Loon diving for lunch




Enjoy your day!

Day 44 - 13th February 2018 - Canada Geese, Scaups and a Common Eider

Brr...it's cold out there this morning. Maybe because it's been so mild but the temperature has dipped overnight and the wind is blowing. Stars are all shining in the sky though - so perhaps a nice day in the making.  I didn't get all the things done that I wanted to on Monday, but it's my agenda so I guess I can change it as I want. I spent most of the day doing genealogy - it's been a long time and I've got a client with some interesting lineage.  These days that's mostly what I do - those with lovely twists and turns as I enjoy playing Miss Marple. It gave my brain a good work out that's for sure and what I needed. So today I have other things to tackle - some Valentine cupcakes perhaps, back to the spring cleaning and maybe start the whirligig painting

Canada Geese grazing at low tide.

 Scaups and a single Bufflehead

Common Eider resting on the water's edge.






Enjoy your day!

Day 43 - 12th February 2018 - Loon, Common Merganser and Eiders

Still a little light rain, but it's suppose to clear later this morning. Seems that we got lots - I went out for a walk yesterday after noon (feeling a little shack wacky) and the cranberry ditches are certainly full as well as the swamps and the lake has come up quite a bit. Larry took the opportunity when there was lull in the rain to put some more wood in the basement from the shed. I did up stuffed peppers and muffins for his lunch boxes. Peppers turned out good - got some really nice big ones in Barrington on Saturday. Stuffed them with ground chicken, brown rice, homemade tomato sauce, corn and lots of spices. Irene stopped up for a visit in the afternoon, it was nice to catch up with her. Today's plans are whirligig painting, genealogy, spring cleaning and hopefully a walk this afternoon.

Loon

Common Merganser

Eiders






Enjoy your day!