Spring cleanup

No wonder I love these birds.

They are friendly and trusting

and keep me company while I clean up the property.

I've been raking near our house.

But these leaves will stay in the woodlot

and be a soft carpet all summer.

We have a few feeders to renovate.

And this chippy lives under our old pump that at one time was the only source

of water for my grandmother when she lived here.

This must be top real-estate for these critters because this is where Simon lived for four years.

Some of you might remember him.

I loved that little guy. I kept him fed and protected him

from hawks when I could.

He went into his den one cold winter day to hibernate

and we never saw him again. Perhaps he passed away in his sleep.

That's what I'm going to believe. 

Perhaps this little one is an off-spring because Simon was quite the ladies man.

:-)

It will be awhile before we start to plant here but the veggie garden will be prepared next week.

We are adding two more rows.

It will be bigger and hopefully better than last year.

The planting starts late May.

Look at this face.

They love the loft.

Bird-watching from the windows and snooping on the neighbours.

Starlings are building nests just outside the window.

There is no having to look for these two anymore.

I always know...

Well, the sun is still out and I should make use of it.

I hope you are all keeping well and staying healthy.

be kind,

Deb

Happy Easter

I just wanted to pop in to wish everyone a Happy Easter.
I know...it's one we won't soon forget.
We will miss our family and there will be no Easter egg hunt in the woodlot (even though the day will be perfect for it weather-wise) but it is important to stay home and stop the spread of this virus.

Sending love to everyone and please stay healthy.

Cozy Wilson by the fire.

I tried to create an Easter tree. Yep...what was I thinking.

It lasted one hour.

And we are back to bare branches again. ;-) Maybe when she's a little older. 

hugs, Deb

Poppin' in to say "hi"

"Hello" from our home to yours.
I know you're there. lol

We have been keeping busy, the retired-guy in the garage cleaning up and I'm just keeping the home-fires burning and spending as much time outside as I can. Cleaning up the wood-lot has been a good therapy for the soul. I could spend another day just picking up sticks and branches that fell over the long winter.
And I am checking all the bird houses to be sure they are ready and safe for our spring birds arriving. I have hung a cage of cat hair from my cats grooming sessions. Their hair is free of all products including flea treatment and they are indoor cats.

We have had red-winged blackbirds here for a quick lunch and also the white-winged blackbird popped by one day. Many robins are staying and looking for worms on the brown grass that now peeks through the snow. Yes, we still have snow. Today the sun will get rid of much of it. Chippies are out and about.

House wren nest found in the woodlot.
There is a carpet of moss covering many stones along the old stone wall. 
It's beautiful and a comfort to see such vibrant green.

We have not seen our fox for days now. She has either moved on or is only coming out of her den at night. It's hard to know.
The snow is almost gone so tracks are not visible anymore.
I place food not far from the den in case she is with her kits. It is eaten every night but that could be raccoons, too.
Time to put a camera out.

Here is my home-made bird suet for Cheryl...

1 cup organic peanut butter
1 cup lard
2 cups corn meal
1/4 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
Enough seed mix to make thick
Pieces of apple or cranberries.

Melt lard and add peanut butter.
Cool
Add rest of ingredients
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper
Pop in freezer
Break off pieces for your suet cage.

I hope everyone is keeping busy in their homes. I'll bet their is a lot of baking going on. :-) I've had to stop for awhile or I'll be the size of a bus soon. 

I have books galore to keep me occupied and four cats to pamper.

Take care everyone. I'll be by for a visit. xo

Staying safe and waiting on spring.

We are in trying times, aren't we.
I hope everyone is well and taking all precautions to stay that way.

We are home a lot these days and thanks to this momma-to-be fox I have some unexpected  entertainment.

She has made a den just outside my kitchen window under my neighbour's shed.

This is the second spring this has happened and she could be the same fox that raised four cubs here last year.

off to the woods for lunch.

And another visitor this morning...

sorry for the quality but she was a distance away.

I did go out and stood under the tree which was enough to

send her on her way.

I can't bear to watch her take one of our little birds that we feed daily.

A beautiful sharp-shinned hawk.

Cora was spayed recently and she is now back to her regular silly self.

She hated her collar so much so we tried a onesie on her.
As you can see she loved it. :-)

Wilson thinks she's lost her marbles.

She's still wearing it 'til Tuesday when the stitches come out.
She'll wonder where it went, I imagine.


We have many birds here at Fox Grove.
Our chickadees are still a favorite.

This week the white-winged black bird returned and we have robins hopping around looking for worms today. Spring is here even though we have a few days to wait for it on the calendar.
I think we had one of the easiest winters to get through in years. Mild and little snow.
But, we still have some.

I hope everyone can find ways to stay busy while we wait out this virus.
It's our chance to read more, finish projects, learn something new and enjoy nature.
I am keeping a journal of the wildlife here and looking forward to what spring might bring our way. I'm hoping to have blue birds arrive and nest in one of our houses. And I will welcome back the house wrens and swallows again.


Be safe, be well and remember that this too shall pass.
hugs, Deb

Snowy days

We have snow and lots of it. But the days are mild this week and sometimes you can ditch the wool scarf and grab a pretty spring one covered in birds to head out for a walk.

Last weekend, our grand-dog, Forrest, came with his overnight bag which held his bowl, food and his chewie. :-) He  spent much of his time running amuck in the wood-lot. And look at that snow. Agh!

 He loves it there and at this time of year I don't have to worry
about the critters.  And in the summer he stays on lead.
He's a bit of a goof-ball.

January was a month of very little snow but I expect February will make up for it.
We Canadians never get much of a break from winter. That's why we are a tough lot.

Wilson is a sun-worshiper and no matter where it appears in the house he will find it.

The fire is roaring and these two 

are snuggling the day away

 today.

Cora was scheduled for a spay on the 11th and just six days before she went into H.E.A.T.

This darling face kept us up for four nights while she wandered around screaming like an injured seal. Even Wilson was sleep-deprived by the end of it. The retired-guy slept with ear plugs in. I was a zombie by the end of it. But I still love her.

And now she is back to her old self and peace is restored.
Little being=big voice. It's so good to hear her mouse-like squeaks again. :-)

Hope all is well with everyone.

be kind, 
Deb

Hello February.

Well, hello February. 
You are a month I do not normally look forward to but, hey...we are that much closer to spring.
And I could use a new start to the year.

First off, Wilson and Cora want to wish their rescuer, Natalie at Bee Meadow Farm a "Happy Birthday" and may the year ahead for her be the best one yet. They send their love and purrs and thank you again for giving them that chance at a good life in a home where they are loved to the moon and back. We love you Natalie.

And they will celebrate the occasion by staying right where they are...in their bed by the fire. I will sweep later. :-b

In keeping with my need to work on my health and for the good of my soul to NOT buy supermarket eggs, I headed over to see Lucy for her farm fresh, free-range, delicious and nutritious eggs.

It was lovely to be greeted by Charlotte the donkey and a few of her cows at the fence. The chickens are inside the coop on these cold days but will be out and about come the milder weather to live as chickens should.
Just google Battery Hens and I'll bet you a doughnut you will never buy eggs from these large factory farms where the poor souls never see the light of day and live their lives in wire cages piled one on top of the other. It makes me cry...it really does.

We had a pileated woodpecker visit the other day but I didn't get a photo this time. He came right up to the deck and had a go at the suet cake outside the window. Fascinating birds. They stand about a foot and a half.
We sometimes get up to twenty mourning doves at a time at our birdbath. They seem to be the bird that needs water the most. They are so pretty.

We are having a mild winter in Ontario this year, very little snow. Last year it started snowing in October and was still snowing in April. A record-breaking snow year.  And if it's cold one day it's mild the next.
I'd say it's been a perfect winter.

I spent a day going through bins of dishes, pottery and china collected over the years to have my girls rummage through them and take what they want and send what's left to a thrift shop.
I had lots of help. You know...the best kind. :-)

It's a beautiful sunny day today so I'm heading out to enjoy it.
And I see David, the King of the Wild Frontier, has the same idea.
I'll have to warn the critters in the woodlot, give him a hug and then send him on his way.
He will be here every day come spring to help put our gardens in.

We received a beautiful card from my vet and the staff at the Carleton Place Vet Clinic in memory of our Annie.
Thoughtful words were written. And it is very much appreciated.

be kind, Deb