Christmas 2007

Happy, but chilly on Christmas Day

We were jabbing, trying to protect our faces, and laughing all at the same time...
sore muscles the next day were the result of all this fun!!!
Still not sure I have the hang of Wii.

Okay, some wives may get silk and satin for Christmas, but here in the north wives get
duck cloth snow-plowing suits! Oh, and webkinz and a stainless spoon rest for the stove.
What a HOOT!

GROSBEAKS ARE GRUMPY...BUT BEAUTIFUL TOO!

A flock of about 20 of these evening grosbeaks were fluttering around me this morning.
Got a couple of "action shots" as they fought over the seeds.

Anyone have a chainsaw?

Our 10 cords of firewood arrived yesterday,
so if anyone is interested in helping us cut it up, drop on by!

One of the ten or so jays that feast at the feeder.

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW

This poor blue jay looks like he is "turning up his collar" to the snowstorm
We are supposed to get 25cm today, and already have half of that I think.

More flyers...

These sandhill cranes landed in the field last Monday, and were quite happy feeding in the grass until I decided I should try to sneak up on them to get a picture...





Thought this chickadee looked quite acrobatic...

Nuthatch and mushrooms

We love this little guy. He's bigger than an ordinary nuthatch, but very unique looking (reminds me of Mumbles from "Happy Feet") He doesn't seem to have family, as he is the only one that comes to the feeder. The feeder by the way hangs outside the living room window, and the deck-walkway there is about 10 feet from the lawn. A bear visited the other day, and ripped the feeder down then broke it apart. We weren't home, but he left a heap of evidence on the lawn below. A clever bear to have figured out how to get to it from the front stairs. We hope he doesn't come back.

The biggest of these was only about an inch across.

Not sure what these are, but on a hike a couple weeks ago, found lots of varieties. Will have to get a guide to the world of mushrooms.

We're Cooking Now!

Really pleased with the new kitchen set up...got rid of the raised bar, so now everyone can admire the dirty dishes! The marble tiles are really pretty, just hope I don't drop anything on them.

August is a month of Cows and Hummers

These little guys and 6 cows and 1 bull ("bully" by name) are now living in one of our fields. Our friend down the road has too many horses and needed a place to keep them for the summer. Our only condition was for a few steaks in the fall! The are fenced electronically, so no worries.

Guarding his spot, the other one will be able to swoop in and land if it's lucky!

We are really enjoying the hummingbirds lately...one of them sits on the feeder and won't let the others land...if they do, they play musical feeder, flitting from hole to hole around and around the feeder.

July Treats

Bruce spotted these little guys in the loft of the barn...there were four of them peeking out of the nest, but they scattered when we got too close. Fortunately 2 of them stayed around to pose!
We were thinking they couldn't fly, but they sure did.
The pansies are up and blooming...pretty aren't they?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA.. OH, AND BOB!!!

the grand finale...

Celebrated with fireworks out at the lake on Saturday night.

The temperature was about 6 degreees celsius, so we sat quite close to the fire!

okay, okay

Pat thinks I should be updating this post more often, so here are some recent photos of local scenery...

Actually, I haven't taken any pictures lately, so these will have to suffice. It's old equipment out in the "back forty" at the yard here.

Lovely, aren't they? Better to look at a bittern or a lemon pie?

...an old paver

Great camouflage!

This guy (girl) really made me chuckle. I didn't see it at first, but when I did, I was able to take lots of pictures. It didn't move a muscle at first, but eventually it's head would shift a bit to look at me.
Great colouration eh?

A little more wildlife

Been taking hikes to the inland bay of Lake Superior that lies just south of here. The geese, cranes, herons, ducks and pelicans (yes, pelicans) are in great numbers there. Unfortunately the pelicans are very hard to reach, so haven't been able to get pictures yet. Due to the low level of the lake this spring, it's been nice to walk along the lake bed that would
normally be under 6 in of water.

This little guy was very curious as to why I was in his neighbourhood, but very happily posed for quite a few pictures before racing off.

Sunday outing

Went to explore an old townsite (Jackfish Landing) on Lake Superior today. It's about 2.5 hours east of here, past Terrace Bay. Years ago, the lakers brought in coal and I believe it was then loaded onto trains. Not much left now, but shells of houses and rock footings of a hotel.

One of the rock cuts along the train tracks was dripping impressive columns of ice. This is one of the intrepid explorers posing with them

This concrete structure, which reminded us of a greek amphitheatre, held a water tank years ago. It looks more than out of place along the shores of the lake in amongst the trees.

just a couple more pics

I think these guys will be getting sick of me, they always spot me before I spot them.

Eagle eye view

Thanks to Mavis and Brent for spotting the eagles by the creek...I spotted 5 at one time a little later. Unfortunately they aren't too happy about getting their pictures taken, but will try again tomorrow

oh Sigh!

Just when we were getting used to "raindrops on roses" (see previous blog),
we now have "snowflakes that melt on your nose and eyelashes".
Winter has returned with a vengence over the last two days...
high winds and about 20cm of snow.

yes, and only 4 days til Easter

Who needs a hood ornament...the car has sprouted a tusk!

the redpolls are very fluffy today, and the red is so bright now

A rainy day

Went for a stroll in the drizzle, and found some "raindrops on roses"...nah,
they were on pussywillows and pine needles!

Ah spring...

Deer in the yard,
Pussywillows out,
I ain't no bard
But spring is here without a doubt!

That stunk, but wanted you to see bambi...one of two that are left of the triplets from this past summer. Mom and brother were out in the field (that's Mom in the other photo)