Days are busy and fun.

Here we are the 14th of December. How on earth is time going so fast.
The weather had calmed down and most of our snow was gone, then two days of non-stop snow-fall and now rain.
I'm grateful that I can still get back to the woodlot to feed the critters and check on things. I love to identify the tracks you find there daily. There is a little critter using the insulated box I set up in the old OH.  I think it's a squirrel and hope it is cozy and warm.
Soon the woodlot gang will have to join the birds and critters at the front if they want to be fed as the snow will be too high to walk there.
It happens every year.

Days are busy with Christmas preparations and shopping. I've made time to see all the grands and do some shopping and lunch with the older ones. We even took the grand-dog for an outing.

                                                Forrest
                                Lab/Bernese Mountain Dog

Christmas cards are done, parcels mailed (although with our recent postal strike we are told not to expect any miracles); what?...no miracles? Isn't this Christmas? The gifts are wrapped. Now I just want to relax for a bit, drink hot chocolate and watch good movies. :-)
And I want to see some good friends.

Wilson

Construction update...You've heard the saying "slow as molasses..."


As you enter from the breeze-way...

looking from the loft down to the open-concept area.

walk-in closet

in main bedroom that leads to a cheater bath.

Isn't scaffolding beautiful.  blah!:-b

looking up to the office

The area not dry-walled will be covered in pine board.

We have found a supplier finally.

I will show you the front rooms and loft next time.

Here is a typical weekend at Fox Grove.

You would think we are quite the entertainers

when really it is just the workers

doing their magic.

There is lots left to do as we only have help on the weekends
but that's ok because the retired-guy works on it through the week and every week we see things moving forward. Now that the dry-wall is on colours of paint dance around in my head.  

All work will come to a halt soon as Christmas festivities begin but the new year is not far off and I'll keep my mind on that. 

I hope everyone is enjoying the count-down to Christmas.  Annie and Wilson say "Howdy"

They are like a jigsaw puzzle.

The nights are cold, and if you can, please feed the birds in your area. Without our help how do they survive? I have read that many don't. Here is a very good way to get seed to them if you do not have a feeder. ;-)
All you need is a stale bagel, organic peanut butter, birdseed and a piece of rope. Just replace the pb and seeds as needed.
Also a heated birdbath is a great help for birds over the winter months. 

Have a peaceful evening everyone. I'll be back with more Christmas/house photos.

be kind,
 Deb

Only 27 days to go.

We are in a Winter Wonderland here in Ontario. The snow on our fifty maple trees looks like a postcard today. And you can see how our birds are out and about and happy to see the 'crazy bird lady' walking about. Did I mention I love chickadees. haha!

Here's how it looks this morning very early. That's the retired guy out filling feeders for me and leaving cat food for his beloved three crows.

Wilson and Annie know how to spend these snowy cold days.
This guy has no shame...NONE.

This pic is to prove that they do wake up once in awhile to see if there is anyone in the kitchen where their stinky goodness is kept.

I have put up a wee fake tree for now in the mouse house to see if the cats will ignore it.
So far so good but a real tree will come with interesting smells so I'm probably wasting my time.
But I do love having my woodland critters on it and here is one of my favorite.
Have you ever wanted to throw on some pearls and grab a glass of bubbly? Of course you have. ;-)

My little house collection is growing. I adore them and found a little white house to add to the Cluttered Country Cottage Christmas China Cupboard.

I'll show you next time.

I've been told that if anything stands still long enough at Fox Grove it just might end up decorated for Christmas.

And that goes for the old OH at the front of our woodlot.

This OH has been moved three times and scrubbed from top to bottom so why not?

And inside I have put an insulated box with a cozy blanket for any little critter that comes

along on those frigid days ahead in Ontario.

So far the food has been eaten everyday inside the door so I know something is very interested in this real estate. :-)

I hope everyone is enjoying the lead up to Christmas.
Today I'll be working on the twelve stockings I hang every year for the family and our two spoiled cats. A good plan for a snowy day.

be kind, Deb

It's cold here in Ontario.

If we are having fall weather right now I would hate to think of what our winter has in store for us.

Grandittle choosing a mug for a treat of hot chocolate.

"Hmmmm...which one?"

Why, it's so cold today that the squirrels are looking for a way to get inside the mouse house.

And Mr. Wilson would be very happy to have that happen as he has dreams of dinner 

being

'squirrel on a sesame seed bun'

"Yes, I do."

Or perhaps he would like a turkey sandwich.

14 in total dropped by to dine on what was left at the front feeders.

Our clean-up crew.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Well, inside the cupboard for now.

Will I be able to have a Christmas tree this year?

Ask Wilson.

He's like a toddler most days...into everything.

I am just in from feeding the Mourning Doves that show up before dark

and placing peanuts around for a late-night snack.

Suet is a plenty for the chickadees, blue-jays, wood-peckers, juncos, cardinals etc...

They need that more than anything right now.

A visitor today.

                                A male Downy Woodpecker.

Here in Ontario the wind is blowing, there is snow on the ground and the temperature is to plummet to -18C tonight.
It's a good night to curl up with a movie and maybe choose a Christmas mug for some hot chocolate, too.

Stay warm.
Deb

Touches of Christmas

It's a cold and windy day today. Yesterday the snow fell all day leaving it damp and miserable to be out-doors.

And it's dark now by 5:30pm.

Even though the calendar says different it feels like winter is here.

My mind is busy with ideas of how to keep our resident critters fed and comfortable over the cold months ahead.

Many will hibernate and some will be in cozy dens.

The birds need a lot of help, though.

Chickadees can lose 1/3 of their weight just from shivering overnight.

Many don't make it to spring. :(

But...if they are lucky enough to reside at Fox Grove, well, they will be ok.

I'll see to it.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my cluttered country cottage china cupboard.

And Wilson has been busy checking over the stockings that may need some mending 

and a bit of bling added this year.

He's particularly interested in finding one with his name on it.

He just needs to learn how to spell.

Annie has the perfect spot for bird-watching and scaring off the cheeky squirrels that climb the side of the house.

I've had lots of luck hand-feeding our chickadees but the blue-jays are much more shy.

I'll work on this years' brood that now reside here.

If I look to be rushing with Christmas it is because I get quite busy with cat-sitting closer to the big day and need to be done the decorating and shopping so I can enjoy the festivities.

I hope everyone is well and beginning to look forward to the Season of Christmas.

Sunday is Remembrance Day and we will take time to thank the veterans and shed a tear for all the fallen soldiers.
I pray for Peace in this world.
We must learn to love one another.

be kind,
Deb

First snow-fall

Winter has arrived at Fox Grove.
Well, not really but it sure looks like it.
The snow fell all night and is still falling as I post this.

This chickadee is one from this spring and she looks a bit bewildered right now.

She was soon fed and on her way but only after a fight broke out at the feeder.

They are all pretty anxious to find their food source for the cold months ahead.

They have nothing to worry about...I will keep them fed.

This might be Wilson's second fall/winter.

We really don't know how old he is...perhaps a year, year and a half.

He was found starving at a feed mill last spring.

Watching the birds in the maple.

He's showing off his long tail.

Before the snow fell I was starting to train this years'  birds to eat from my hand.

This will take some time but they will begin to trust.

It's a pretty cool feeling to have their feet on your hand.

These two :)

Annie can get pretty fed up with Wilson at times.

I think she would like to squish him completely but little does she know he actually loves any attention he can get.

He's a real love-bug.

It looks like we are at the end of beautiful Autumn.

All my mums are dying and soon there will not be a flower anywhere.

The old outhouse on our property has been here for 100 years. It has been moved three times and not used for probably 40 years now.

I keep it clean and decorated as it has become quite a conversation piece for visitors.

I have placed an insulated box inside the old outhouse for a needy critter when the cold weather arrives. We had insulation left over from the construction so it is packed in well.

Last year something went in to find warmth and pulled all the paper down to make a nest. Poor thing.

I was determined that would not happen again this year. If it comes back it will think it was at the Ritz.

A warm and cozy box will get it through the hard times.

photo taken in September

I hope everyone is enjoying the end of beautiful autumn.

Have a peaceful Sunday everyone.

be kind,

Deb

                     

Fall at Fox Grove

It sure looks like Fall here.

And no matter how many scare-crows we have

(aren't they scary. :-)

We still have lots of crows. 

We celebrated our Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend.

Any excuse for a party, the fairies think.

I baked a favorite apple cake for the dinner

and we celebrated with our family at my son and daughter-in-laws beautiful country home.

l to r...daughter Allie, son John, retired-guy, all the grandittles, son-in-law Mike, daughter Jess and the hostess with the mostest daughter-in-law Brittany.

and Nana bribed the little ones with goody bags so I could get them to sit still for the camera.

It works every-time.

lol grand-son Bradley likes to goof around.

l to r-Gwynn, Riley, Gus, Tenley and Brad.

And we can't leave Cooper out.

He is always ready to pose for the camera.

2 smug characters.

It was our 'second-helping' weekend

and today we are pretty lazy. 

I hope all my Canadian friends had a Happy Thanksgiving.

be kind, Deb