Day 159 - 7th June 2013 - Birds and the Harbour

It's Friday once again, but not a good looking day in the weather department like we've enjoyed this week.  Had my first cup of coffee on the deck - Larry and Lexi joined me this morning, so it wasn't quite as peaceful as most mornings. But it's good to have a chat with the hubby before we move into our work day. The birds seem to like to sing more on a sunnier morning, but there were still a few around - Mourning Doves (not my favs), a Woodpecker at a tree and a Grackle or two. The Starlings are nesting once again in the telephone pole - I hear the racket and see them darting in and out of the hole the Woodpecker made last year. Hope the rain holds off until after I get to work, would like to try for a few more birds this morning on my walk.
Another beautiful day, warmer than Wednesday with less breeze. Love sitting on the deck early in the morning and listening to the birds with my coffee. It's a great way to start the day. Since it was so nice I left to meet Nancy about 40 minutes early, lovely on the lake, chased a few birds and finally found one who was high in a tree, a Red Eyed Vireo and new to my list. I've gotten 48 photos of different species  so far since the first of the New Year. I have several lists on the go - one for the feeders, one of photos and one for other places. It's fun to keep track. Exercise class last night, we've got a new sound system which Cindy needs to tweek a bit, but it can belt out the tunes!

 A lone Mallard on the lake this morning.

 The Red-Eyed Vireo.

 He was not very co-operative.

 Shag in the Harbour.

 Looking out the Harbour at the Lighthouse at lunch time.

You can always find at least one pigeon around town.













Enjoy your day!

Day 158 - 6th June 2013 - Potatoes, Ducks, Geese and Wisteria

Another nice looking day, sun is coming up, temperature is +7.6. Back to work, fingers crossed that it's a  good day there and I can get some more things crossed off the never ending list. It may not be that bad, but have some items that need to be done for deadlines.
Wednesday was close to a perfect day - beautiful sunshine, nice breeze and no flies. Doesn't take much to please me. It was a lovely peaceful day too, all I heard were a few birds chirping around the yard. They are a lot less these days since they are nesting and raising their broods but there are still some faithful - BlueJays, Grackles, Mourning Doves, Chickadees, Nuthatches and Song Sparrows.   I got all those household chores done first thing in the morning - laundry, floors, etc. Whipped up a pasta salad and potato salad to go with lobster for supper and even a batch of chocolate chip, oatmeal peanut butter cookies. Lexi and I roamed the hood, visited with the geese on the lake and a few ducks, I did a little weeding in the flower beds, then I goofed off on the deck with my book for a while - soaking in all that was wonderful. You can't get much better than breakfast, lunch and supper on the deck. Larry went to the garden after supper for a while, planted a few more rows of veggies. The only thing that disturbed me was the deer have been eating my hostas - first time they have ever bothered them so I'm sure they must be new to the neighbourhood and don't know the rules. Also answers the question to why Lexi barks so much during the night!

 We'll soon be eating potatoes, they are coming along great.

 Mama  Mallard and her babies.

 Lexi stopped to cool off in the lake and get a drink.

 About a month old, they are doing great and growing like weeds.

A few weeks ago this tree was covered in apple blossoms, it's now loaded with Wisteria blooms.

Something I've planted but can't remember what.












Enjoy your day!

Day 157 - 5th June 2013 - Flowers, the Royal babies and Grandmother's Journal

Wednesday, day off and it's looking like a good one. Sun is breaking through the trees, purple streaks across the sky. Lexi and I will be out and around the hood today! It will be a day of very little inside work.
The rain stopped and the sky cleared yesterday just before I headed out to work. Beautiful day with a gentle breeze. Had a good day at work and a walk after supper around the hood. The Royal babies are growing fast. Made a quick visit out to the bestie's - she needed a cheer up. Must be soon time for us to do a road trip!

Grandmother's Journal:

4 June 1974 - Good night sleep. Overcast early but turned out beautiful. Wind still a bit cool. Bob at trees. Planted grape vines supper time. Beautiful evening. Miss getting out, decided to stay in and use hot water bottle to get my back better. Birds are singing now. Swallows building. Saw Robin eggs. Also 2 small Juncoes in one of the apple holes. 

5 June 1974 - To town early. Lovely day. Wind rather cool. Nothing different from each day.

6 June 1974 - Overcast looked like rain, came out fine and beautiful. Not too hot a nice cool breeze. Mother and I to Ivys. Home 15 past 5 o'clock. Bob got tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower plants today. Terrible small and look awful. Bob working out in garden.

 Flowers are blooming in the gardens around town.

 Lupins are looking great along our road.

 From Lois' yard. She always has nice gardens.

 I couldn't resist some time with the babies after supper.

 A pair of Mallards flew in but didn't stay long.

Enjoy your day!

Day 156 - 4th June 2013 - Wildflowers, Lily Pads and an old log

Tuesday and hard rain this morning. Not hearing a lot of birds but it suppose to end this morning sometime - think how the garden and weeds will grow. My day starts off much nicer when I can sit on the deck with my coffee in the morning. Glad Larry got the grass mowed the other night. Off to another day of work, then I'm home on Wednesday (sun will shine). Larry's fire practice tonight so it will be another rushed evening of home, then supper and his turn to dash off. The rest of the week looks like quieter evenings for us.
Monday was uneventful - accomplished a fair amount of work at the office, felt good. Everyone in town must have a Lilac Bush in their yard, when you walk down the streets you can't miss the fragrant smell.  Mad dash home, supper and then off to exercise class.   It started raining on the way home at supper time, suppose to be quite a bit overnight. Not an evening to sit out on the deck and enjoy the birds for a while.

 More Twin Flowers.

 Lily pads are appearing on the lake.

 Um... place for critters or birds to hide?

 Pretty close to white, just a hint of color on these - Lady Slippers.

 There are lots in the woods now, but please don't pick them.

 Couldn't resist another pic of the Swallowtail Butterfly.

The Honeysuckle Bush is in flower.












Enjoy your day!

Day 155 - 3rd June 2013 - Birds, Blooms, Butterfly and Water

Monday has arrived again! Where does the weekend go - definitely not long enough. Kind of overcast looking this morning, temperature is +16.7 and feels humid. Suppose to be some rain today, not a lot.  Have lots to do at work, still have a few more things to catch up on, will be glad to see them finished.
Sunday was a beautiful day, not crazy hot like Saturday but warm, with a breeze. We worked at home in the morning, Larry planting some more of the garden, me around the house - cooked a roast for supper, laundry, etc. I went for a walk - good exercise and a bit of quiet time with nature. Later in the afternoon we went off for a Sunday drive - out to Clyde River and up the back Clyde road to Middle Clyde, Upper Clyde a visit with friends and then home again. Late supper - we talked too long - but life can be too short so enjoy friends and family while you can.  I cleaned up the kitchen after supper and Larry mowed the lawn. A rather uneventful day but lovely.

The Song Sparrow has been interested in the suet the last few days.

 A new arrival - Pine Siskin.

 The Lupins are opening.

 Maple seeds hanging over the lake.

 The Wisteria is beginning to bloom - it's awesome when all in flower.

 Swallowtail Butterfly.

A little fast water on the Clyde.












Enjoy your day!

Day 154 - 2nd June 2013 - Geese, Canoes and a Cedar Waxwing

Kind of overcast this morning, but they are giving clearing for later and sun. Temperature is +15. Took my coffee out to the deck but not a bird singing this morning, just total quiet. Will try to get a few things done around here before it warms up more. It was not a good night for sleeping so I'm dragging myself this morning. Maybe we'll get out for a drive later and find some birds. Larry I'm sure will head up to the garden to do some more planting. Rain and back to work tomorrow so take advantage of today.
I can't believe I'm going to say this...but it might have been too hot yesterday, when we came home from town in the afternoon it was +37.2. Being Maritimers we don't move as fast as the rest of the world, so maybe we just need to take our weather in small doses and roll into the heat gently not smack dab into it! All is good, summer is now upon us - not official for a few more weeks but we should be ok to finish planting gardens etc. Yardsale went well, but I don't think we made as much as last year. Evening was rather laid back, nothing exciting at the end of a busy day. There are a bunch of people who worked together and go on canoeing every year, the last few years they have put in here and I was lucky enough to catch them again this year. It was fun to watch them set off and head down the lake yesterday morning.

 They are looking like they'd like to have a little independence!

 Mom's still the boss.

If you look really close you'll see the male hummingbird enjoying the nectar from the solomon seal.

 It was a great day to be on the lake - canoeing or kayaking.

Cedar Waxwing hit the kitchen window. Even though my fear of birds is subsiding, I'm not ready to pick them up, Larry acted as doctor.










Enjoy your day!

Day 153 - 1st June 2013 - Sunrise, Royal Babies and Twin Flowers

Sun is coming up, I crawled out of bed at our normal week time hour (5:30 am) and have left the rest asleep. My favourite time of the day. Coffee on the deck listening to the birds and watching the pink streaks of the sun through the sky. Busy day - Larry's off to help a friend change patio doors this morning then I'm in town to work my shift at the Yard Sale for the centre. Hoping we have a great fundraiser. I don't need to be there til around noon and by the looks of things better do a few things around here, if the outside doesn't call to loud. Better get some groceries too since the fridge is looking mighty sparse.
Wow what beautiful weather we had on Friday - hot, hot, hot, summer has arrived! Hauled myself down t to lake in the morning to enjoy the sunrise and Royal family. It's been a week or so since I've posted any update on them. They are doing fine and growing like like weeds - around 3 weeks old now. Since it was such a nice morning I left  about 45 mins early  to catch my ride and took a few pics along the way. A good walk the day after exercise really helps to keep the aches and pains away.Heard some birds but all I saw was a song sparrow other than the ducks who are always hanging around. Work went well, the last day for my Community College student - she's done a bang up job so hope she finds some employment in the near future. When we got home last evening, I grabbed something cold from the fridge and spent some time on the deck basking in all that wonderful nature around me - a good way to start or finish the day. Off for another walk after supper and a visit with the Royals as they had moved location. One thing about them they share themselves all around the hood. Never staying in one place for more than a few days. Everyone gets to see those babies.

 The sun was rising over the misty lake.

 The Royal Babies, growing fast.

 I'm partial to the golden hues.

 Kate, William and the goslings.

 Lovely family.

 They are around 3 weeks old now.

 Startled these guys.

 After supper they had moved on, found a nice rock to take a break.

Probably the smallest and my favourite of the wild flowers - Twin Flowers.



















Enjoy your day!