Day 144 - 24th May 2013 - From the Yard

Here we are again back to Friday, last day of the work week. Seems like I posted that yesterday, but it has been a week ago. Up a little earlier than normal this morning.  Lots to do today - hoping to end the day with a couple of things wrapped up. Any time you can finish something off it's a good feeling! My lunch out day too so that means my favourite Bacon & Scallop Wrap.
So it was raining yesterday just foggy and dismal, but enough about the bad weather. Negativity breeds negativity they say so perhaps if we move on to positive thoughts the rain will leave us. I'll try that approach for a few days and see what happens. A decent day at the office - long since I was there at 7:30am but the early morning before the building opens means peace and quiet and I can whip through a few things, then off to the Beandock for my tea and a quick chat with Monique. Exercise class last night, Cindy worked us hard as she was mad at the stereo which refused to play right. I think it might be dying of old age. Hard to get photos these days, the feeder was quiet when I got home, can only assume that the squirrel cleaned things out during the day. The birds will soon be really upset with me.

 This Purple Finch wasn't looking too happy the other day, guess even they are tired of wet weather.

 I'm really enjoying the Northern Parula.

 He's such a pretty fellow.

 Nice to see the busy little Hummingbirds back again.

 From my garden.

This is a pretty cool looking hole.













Enjoy your day!

Day 143 - 23rd May 2013 - Chippy and Birds - Another Rainy Day

Today and tomorrow I'm catching a ride to work with Larry which means I'm in almost an hour earlier than normal. Makes for a long day but gives me a bit of quiet time to get things together. Clocks were flashing when we got up so I'm assuming the power was out at some point. Lexi appears a bit hyper so it may have been thunder and lightning as well.
Not sure how many more of these very dreary wet days I can take. Yesterday, I did take some time to catch up with a friend on the phone, it was good to talk to her, been a month or more since we've touched base and caught up. Chatting with her is always a good thing. I had a big paragraph - more of a rant about the weather but even I couldn't stand it so thought I would spare you all. Lexi and I did get out a couple of times - she wasn't thrilled anymore than I but we went. Tossed together a casserole for supper tonight and tomorrow night, did some laundry and other mundane things. Did smoked fish with egg sauce, mashed potatoes and peas. Whenever I make egg sauce it brings back memories of going to Cape Island with Edwin and Karen after church many years ago to her parents for Sunday dinner. Often we would have fish with egg sauce. I don't ever remember Mom making it to put on baked fish so it might have been something more familiar in that part of the county.

 The return of Chippy - well I like to think so. Unfortunately poor little Chippy fell in a bucket of water a few days ago and drowned. I was delighted to see him back today.

 The female Purple Finches didn't look too happy today - something about the rain has a bad effect on  their hairdos.

Harriett and Co. aren't too pleased about the weather either.

 The Flicker was picking buttercups for his lady.

 Nice to see Goldfinches back again.

 The female Purple Finch was shaking the rain off.

Little Nuthatch doesn't look like he's having a great day either.











Time for coffee. Enjoy  your day!

Day 142 - 22nd May 2013 - Blossoms and Birds

Wednesday and I'm off with a day of rotten weather I'm sure! Looks wet and miserable til Sunday/Monday. I could become mold by then!! Today is also thunder and lightning so that means I'll have Lexi crawling the walls - it all just sucks. It's going to be another day of inside, well I'm sure I can rattle around and find some stuff to do, what I really want is some outside time. I know I'll get it walking Lexi but won't be quite as good in a rain storm. My little rant for the morning, oh well guess I'll find something that should be done - there's always the should do and want to do - looks like today will be a should do.
So I kept telling myself yesterday that it was Tuesday, but it really felt like a Monday so I referred to it as Tuesday with Monday overtones! Interviews went well, student hired. Tough job, students were all good and it's hard to turn anyone down but we can only afford one for the summer. Anyway she starts in June, the other hang up is our funding is only for 10 weeks - wish the days of 16 weeks of summer funding were still around but they are long gone. The weather is looking really blah all week, the best I could do last night after supper was a quick run (in rain drops) and some blossoms. The rest have come from finer days.

 Since we only have them for a short time each year might as well take advantage of the apple blossoms.

 Something on the wild side.

More apples.















A dismal looking lake view.

 The Northern Parula...

 Hopefully I'll see him again soon.

Can't forget the little ones, Larry saw them yesterday morning and we still have 4.












Enjoy your day!

Day 141 - 21st May 2013 - Birds and WIldflowers

Back to work this morning, looks like a chance of rain today. I'm a little annoyed - weather was giving a few fine days now it's all rain  - ugh! Lots to do, student interviews this morning, then will have to catch up on work, etc this afternoon. At least it feels nice and mild, temperature is +8.5 being better than the last few mornings.
Monday was a wet, cold miserable day for the end of the long weekend. I know it gave me a chance to do inside stuff but I would really have preferred to be outside under the apple trees spying on birds. We did get a little break after lunch and Lexi and I made a dash around the hood with the camera - Painted Trillium are now in bloom, it amazes me how quick everything pops open! Exercise class last night - another evening of pain and sweat.

Even during some rainy days the chickadees are faithful for a photoshoot.

 I did spy the Myrtle Warbler in the Apple Trees, could hear some others but too rainy to go out and see. Had to shoot from the kitchen window.

 The Painted Trillium has bloomed, one of my favourite wild flowers.

 Strangling the apple blossoms is my Wisteria  which will soon be in bloom too by the looks this. The flowers are breathtaking - like big bunches of purple grapes hanging down.

 Lilacs are almost open. Mr & Mrs Evening Grosbeak are hanging out here too.

I think it's a female Hairy Woodpecker.

 By tomorrow the Clintonia (also called Bluebeard Lily) should be in full bloom.

The hummingbirds have settled in or at least the males have - defending their territory!

Day 140 - 20th May 2013 - Gone to the Birds!

Guess I've slept in this morning as well. All that fresh air yesterday I thought I'd have slept like a log but was restless during the night, tossing and turning. I'm off but since they are giving rain starting this morning will be mostly an inside day. Will do some baking this morning, have a roast out to cook later for supper. Other than that not sure what kind of trouble Lexi and I will get into.
Another nice day on Sunday, warmer than Saturday and not quite as windy. The wind helps to deter the flies which make me happy when I'm out roaming around looking for birds. Larry and Lexi noticed that the Royal Couple had arrived back home in the morning, unfortunately it appears we have one less baby - the cruel side of nature. Larry spent until early afternoon in the wood pile - cutting, splitting and putting away in the woodshed for next winter. I got a few chores done around the house and went in search of birds, found a Yellow Warbler and a Northern Parula (warbler as well) over near the lake. Later in the afternoon I had them both in our yard...do you think I'm the pied piper of the bird world? No comments on that - and girlfriend you know who you are! Actually I think I'm beginning to get over some of my long time fear of birds or at least I can handle one on one. A drive to Upper Clyde after supper - Larry and Lexi visited with friends and I got to roam on my own. Saw a few birds. When I got home I saw more in the apple trees. It's been a big weekend for my list - had to update it last night.

On their rock, babies are just near the other side of mom out of sight and  dad is in protective mode.

 Northern Parula.

 They were naughty babies, jumped of the rock and had to be scolded, unfortunately we only have four now.

 The Northern Parula arrived in our apple trees later in the day.

 Both a Northern Parula and a Yellow Warbler.

 Yellow Warbler - those apple trees are sure popular.

 A Hawk in Upper Clyde - someone has suggested Broadwing.

 Tree Swallow on the left and Barn Swallow on the right.

 Porcupine - glad Lexi didn't follow me. Although she's almost 5 years old and has steered clear of those she's met.

American Redstart in another of our apple trees.












Coffee time. Enjoy your day!

Day 139 - 19th May 2013 - Tulips, Shags, Ocean scenes and a Myrtle

Another morning of sleeping in ,wow - two morning is a row but in all fairness I did go to bed later both night. Looks like a pretty good morning, no frost that I can see, temperature is +3.1. So some more garden work or wood cutting for Larry I'll putter around out in the yard, late this afternoon we'll maybe take Lexi and go for a drive to Upper Clyde. Hopefully I'll have a little more luck today. The Royal family appear to have moved up the road to another lake, must keep my eye open for them. They might just be showing the kids the neighbourhood or looking for new digs! I hope they paddle back down this way.
We worked hard at home yesterday morning - Larry in the garden, me in the house, although I did take time out for a walk. After lunch we headed to town to do groceries, etc then off for date afternoon. Headed in the Lockeport area looking for birds but not a very successful day, didn't find anything new but we drove a few roads we hadn't been down before and walked some areas new to us. Spent a few minutes walking down the Jordan Trail - nice spot, when you get to the bridge you can look up and down the Jordan River. Stopped to visit my bestie and her husband on the way home and were treated to chicken wings - a little on the hot side but very good.

 Larry saw a BlueJay drinking from the butterfly bath yesterday morning.

 Ladyslipper leaves are up!

 Mallards flying off - they don't do much else.

 Cormorant or Shag as we call them locally in the lake - normally seen around salt water.

 This was looking from the railroad bridge on the Jordan Trail.

 My only wildlife on the trail - a dragonfly.

 From West Head where we crawled through barb wire and got soggy feet from the ground beneath.

 Found these too but I'm not sure what they are - something native to seaside, I would guess.

 Another view from West Head.

A Myrtle Warbler I found on the Lake John Road.




















Enjoy your day!