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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Preparing for the cold ahead.

The garden is all cleaned up for the winter and the potted flowers are brought in to the garage.  Only a few are surviving this cold snap and I'll be composting them, too, soon. Sad to see them come to an end but hey, Christmas is coming. :)))

It's time now to concentrate on keeping the bird-feeders and our new squirrel-feeder full to help the resident birds, squirrels and chipmunks fatten up before winter. I already feel sorry for them just knowing what the weather will be like soon here in Ontario, Canada. I wish I could knit them all a blankie.
Last winter was the longest one I remember and just as I was thinking about the prospects of the coming season I heard a very uplifting comment from a local weather-adviser on the radio. Apparently, this year we are in for a shorter and milder winter with little snow. "OH PLEASE BE TRUE!"
Oh, it will be cold but just not AS cold as last winter. And, it will feel long but it won't drag on so long as last winter. Well, I'll take that. :)

Suet has been hung at the front feeders and amongst the sumac trees at the back of our property. I have a great recipe for the home-made kind, which birds prefer by the way, which my friend, Susan posted last year. She will be posting it again soon so pop over to http://readymadecosmos.blogspot.ca/ and you might want to follow along.

I have still to purchase a bird-bath heater as the birds need to have water throughout all four seasons. It is just as important for their survival as food.

Simon is eating up a storm as is Basil and Nutmeg. I hope they do well this winter. I imagine they will hibernate under the old pump. I have a plan to try to train Simon next year  to come to me when called. He's the smart one, you know. But, I'm not betting too much on that since I can't even train my three flying cats not to sour through the mouse-house scaring the life out of my unexpecting guests.


We had friends of over twenty years drop by yesterday for a visit to the mouse-house.
After a walk through the crunchy fall leaves to show them around the property, we managed to put a serious dent in a fresh pumpkin loaf with tea.  What could be better?

Audrey spent most of their visit 
under her blankie. =^..^=

I hope you are enjoying the season and all that comes with it.

Hugs, Deb






13 comments:

  1. Audrey knows the sanctity of the blanket, after all!

    The munks will soon be going to sleep for a good few months.

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  2. Thanks for the shout out Deb. Yes my bird suet recipe is all set to go up next week!!

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  3. Wonderful photos . Yup all our garden clean up is done to and all is tucked away till next spring . The weather here has been warm with rain on and off temps have hit a whopping 18C that is warm for this time of year . I hope that weather man there is right in us having a mild winter that would be lovely . Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !

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  4. Hi Deb...
    Such a nice uplifting post!
    We have had dreary weather for a few days....albeit it balmy!
    Not feeding the critters right now...we had a nasty visitor a few weeks ago...
    Needless to say...I am missing my wee Red and the Chicadees :o(
    Enjoy your evening...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  5. I've got my fingers crossed as well for a shorter winter!

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  6. What a gorgeous picture of you and your friend! love that...you just glow, Deb!
    I've thought about getting a heater for my bird bath, too....what a great idea.
    I think I was the only one on the planet that wasn't tired of winter last year! haha...I know I'm the weird one! :)

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  7. Nice to have friends drop by for a little cuppa and a treat! Don't you look sweet together with all the fallen leaves. I hope that is true about the winter being milder this year for you. We have mild winters here in WA state, but I remember those cold New England winters growing up in Massachusetts. I have started feeding the birds again, but am wary - we have bears sometimes. Your little kitty looks nice and cozy! xo Karen

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  8. A heater for the bird bath? I have never heard of such a thing but I can see why you might need one with your extreme winters.

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  9. Our winters aren't as harsh here, but it's definitely getting much colder, cute chipmunk xx

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  10. Just look at all of those fall leaves! Miss Audrey is about as social as Mae...I too hope you don't have a long cold winter...don't you wish it could just stay fall and then jump to spring? Hugs dearest Deb!

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  11. It looks like Audrey's preparing for the cold ahead, too...

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  12. I heard the same weather info for Michigan; less precip, warmer temps, but you'll forgive me if my face shows a bit of skepticism!

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  13. " knit them all a blankie" Love that thought. It gets pretty cold here in Iowa, USA, too. Thanks for reminding me to out out the birdbath heater. I have heard that a lot of Black Walnuts means a lot of snow. We have had many many more than any year in the 25 years we have lived here. Sure hope that's one old wives' tale that is wrong!

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