Farewell To February

The month has been cold, snowy and very icey. I certainly made good use of the ice cleats that strap on over my snow boots. Note to self: Buy a larger stock of salt/sand for next winter.

For a couple of weeks now, I have not seen my resident blue jays. As usual, they disappear from my yard at this time of year and prepare for their nesting season in a more secluded area. Consequently, my Eastern Screech Owl, who has been keeping me company this winter, is emboldened to sun bath in full view on her roost box's door rail. I presume it's a 'her' because of her size which is always larger than the male.

Through partly closed eyes she tolerates me taking yet another picture.

Screech owls have been using the boxes I made since 2004. But disappointingly, only for winter roosting, never for nesting. Lucky for owl fans, the Jollyville screech owl live camera is again keeping tabs on their stars, Olivia and Alton in Austin, Texas, USA. Last year the pair hatched five eggs. Live feed video of these owls can be seen at:

The Jollyville Screech Owl House - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConQGZUvjCTtjs9pxwLEJCQ

House mate/cat friend, Ellie Mae is an excellent reporter when something unusual appears outside. From one of her window seats, her body language says, "Hey, get off that couch and look at what's outside." At dusk a couple of weeks ago she pointed out a red fox that was running up our laneway. It's tail was bare except for a short piece of fur on the tip. Mange is a terrible thing. The poor creature ran up my drive and then away down the public road on a desperate mission of some sort.

This morning Ellie Mae pointed out a happier scene --a mother wild turkey followed by two of last year's poults. 

Mother Wild Turkey strolls about my ice laden yard.

One of her two accompanying poults follows her lead.

Sorry gang, the squirrels have already polished off the bird seed.

October Buzz

Although it's quickly melting, we had our first snowfall overnight.

I have not yet completed all of my winterizing chores but at least my honey bee hives are wrapped. Most of the drones have been given their pink slips and expelled by their worker sisters. This year I left the screened bottom boards on instead of switching to solid ones. I did insulate under the screens and closed in the front entrance with a little porch support to keep snow off the landing board. But most importantly, to improve colony chances for winter survival, I treated for varroa mites in July instead of leaving it to later. 

The hive on the right is taller than the one on the left not because it's stronger, but because I was too tardy in removing a box of extracted frames I had given them to lick clean. The bees had partially refilled them with fresh nectar so I simply let them have it.

Swaddled in bubble wrap, my hives are ready for the cold ahead.

An expelled drone honey bee looks in vain to be taken back into the hive. 

On this dreary day, the workers are all inside chatting amongst themselves.

My two resident flocks of wild turkeys have now combined. Owing to the presence of coyotes, it seems a wise move to have more pairs of eyes on the lookout.

My two flocks of wild turkey have now combined.

This American Goldfinch has partly changed into winter plumage.

Having emptied the open feeders this bluejay raids a caged station.

As daylight shortened, I became a bit obsessed with a dark corner in my living room. It begged for a lamp!  After weeks of deliberating possible choices I finally settled on a table lamp from Canadian Tire. This style is called "Vintage Industrial". I think it goes rather well in the space and casts a lovely warm glow.

Cat friend, Ellie Mae, seems indifferent to my choice of new lamp.

Is that a Nike logo on your right paw, Ellie Mae?

September Notes

The days are getting shorter. Crickets are in full chorus with their soothing but slightly melancholy songs and monarch butterflys are everywhere. Goldenrod is in full bloom, offering bees one of their last chances for this year's nectar harvest.

  A Monarch sunning on dew-drenched asparagus fronds.

A banquet of goldenrod beckons nectar loving insects.

A young (witness the fuzzy thorax) honey bee on a goldenrod spire.

I'm enjoying watching two wild turkey families here. A large flock of two adults and twelve poults hang out near the bush lot and another family of two adults and six poults hang out near the barn. Sometimes they take a stroll across the lawn. I suppose the shorter grass helps them spot insects.

My back lawn is a shady and inviting spot ...

... for all kinds of folk ...

... and their families. The smallest poult leads off behind their mum.

Our old barn invites turkeys of the vulturey kind.

"The better to see and smell you, my dear."

These very hot and humid days compel me to spend more time indoors where it's cooler. I've been playing piano, gabbing on the phone and watching 'Better Call Saul' on Netflix. Beside being cleverly written, the episodes are peppered with wonderful, energizing soundtracks by Chuy Flores. This piece is called 'Methadone' from episode 6 of series 3. (You may want to look away from the dizzying filler graphic.)





I've also been doing a little sewing. My new, darker kitchen floor left the room in need of brightening. So I covered the kitchen chairs with off-white painter's cotton drop-cloth material. It does help brighten the area.

I used painter's drop cloth material to cover my kitchen chairs.

A geometric black/white/yellow throw livens up the easy chair.

Oh, and I recently took a big step towards modernity. Following my brother's example, I've now severed ties with the Bell landline in favour of my very first cell phone service. The new plan (from Rogers) allows unlimited long distance calls within Canada for only one dollar a month more than the land line that had no free long distance calls at all. I do keep my old phone number and if problems arise, well it's only a month to month agreement. Of course I'll continue to ignore all those pesky telemarketers.