Lessons Learned

This Fall my dear little 2008 Olympus camera gave up the ghost. I was much too cavalier with handling and dust had gotten into it's fixed lens. Lesson learned! It's replacement was a different brand. Although the newer camera has a better zoom distance, it is cumbersome and not nearly as reliable as my Olympus was. So I decided to buy a PEN E-LP9 from the Olympus website. Within a few days of ordering, it was here. I loved it's sporty look and convenient size. But surprise! -- no lens in the box. I re-read the online add which said 'brown body'. I took this to mean the body was brown. It really meant 'Brown. Body only.' Another lesson learned. So I ordered the lens which would have been included if I'd purchased the 'kit'.

My stylish new Olympus PEN E-PL9

 

Here are a few pictures I snapped on a walk to our bush lot. Considering the day was overcast and spitting rain, the little camera worked nicely. And yes, it is December but there is no snow on the ground here at the moment.

Still some patches of green in the bush.

Mother Nature has thoughtfully provided convenient park benches.

Nice to see a few leaves still fluttering above ground.

A larder or shelter for furry little woodland folk?

An ice covered drainage ditch beside our woodlot.

Looking towards home from the far reaches of my bluebird trail.

My neighbour's cows at an overcast half mile away.

 

On this rainy day, I'm so glad I followed Jocelyn's (Canadian Needle Nana) recommendations for Netflix viewing. I absolutely loved The Queen's Gambit. It's one of those rare movies that leaves one feeling uplifted and happy with humanity. And now I'm binge watching The Crown. I have to laugh at the parental guidance at the start of each episode. "SEX, NUDITY, LANGUAGE, SMOKING". I do admit that scenes of cigarette smoking makes me wince and gag. But what I definitely have to avert my eyes for is the use of hypodermic needles!!! Heebie-jeebies!!! We all have our own cringe factors. I'm loving the acting, settings, costumes, jewellery and the reminders of royal history. Incredible what a hold the church had in deciding personal matters. 

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Ellie Mae has a new gentleman caller. At least I expect the gray tabby is a guy or she would certainly run it off. Instead she likes to spend her evenings outside if the visitor is around.

Looks well fed, doesn't he?

Ellie Mae, keeping her thoughts to herself.

Balmy Days

We have been enjoying much higher temperatures than normally seen at this time of year. Lounging on the deck in short sleeves while sipping a summer drink at this time of year has been a special luxury. And to ice the cake -- NO MOSQUITOS!!! Yesterday was so warm and sunny that I hung my laundry on the backyard clothesline. Turned out the sun was too low on the horizon and the air too moist to have a good drying effect. Still it was a cheery sight.

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Eastern Ontario is currently experiencing an unusual invasion. Boxelder bugs. They are only 12.5 mm long and quite harmless apart from the annoyance factor. Because of the very dry summer we had, these bugs enjoyed a baby boom. They lay their eggs and feed on Manitoba Maples (a.k.a. Box Elders) of which I have aplenty. Like tiny cats, they love to bask in sunlight. Indoors, they settle for the glare of televisions, house lights and computer screens. Other years at this time, I would be giving the 'bums rush' to Asian Ladybugs that enter this old farm house. This year, not so much. 

 

A Boxelder Bug peers up from my kitchen sink.

 

I quite enjoyed listening to an audio book I downloaded from our library. It's titled 'Lady In Waiting: My Extraordinary Life In The Shadow Of The Crown'. The audio book is narrated by the author, Anne Glenconner. Her aristocratic life is one of privilege but not immune from drama and tragedy. I highly recommend this read or listen.

 

Balmy weather called for walkabouts with the trusty old camera.

Our weeping willows are always the last to drop their leaves.

Southward bound Canadians.

Ripe and edible Nanny berries. They taste much like prunes.

A secret nest no secret anymore.

Two friends relaxing in a sunny patch.

A couple of patrons on my new feeder.

My screech owl buddy catching some rays.

No, he's not commenting. Just horking up a pellet.

Reddy and I pause to exchange our hellos.

Ellie Mae listening for tiny rustlings in the grass.

 

October Treats

This is the first year I've had much success with hosting Eastern Bluebirds so they are still a novelty and I'm learning their habits as I go. By now I would have thought they'd be winging their way south. Not so! They are still here and paying regular afternoon visits to their beloved, little old cement birdbath. I suppose they are staying to fatten on the abundance of wild fruits. Besides insect fare, they can gorge on Wild Grapes, Virginia Creeper berries, Thorn apples, Nannyberries and Highbush Cranberries. But yesterday the little beauties were distracted from their bath and snacks. Angry tweets from their neighbours warned them of a menace. Upsetting to them, perhaps, but a welcome sight for me. My old pal, the screech owl, was again using it's winter roost box.

Mr. Blue: What's this I hear about a sneaky villain?

It's dark in there but I think I can see the bad guy!

Take a good look, Junior, and remember this lesson!

That really gets my feathers in a ruffle!

Mr. Nuthatch: We know you're in there so don't try anything!

Reddy: Yikes! This dude totally creeps me out!

Screech Owl: Have you ever had your food scold you?

 

Since switching to a whole food - plant-based diet at the first of this year, I've discovered many treats I previously didn't know existed. I used to love wonton soup from a restaurant here in Ottawa. I rarely eat out now and not at all since the arrival of COVID-19. But I've discovered something that tastes similar but even BETTER!! Vegan Miso Soup!! I'd not heard of miso before and most grocery stores don't carry it. Luckily Ottawa has a T & T that specializes in oriental products and is well stocked with it.

A Pool Party

A family or two of Eastern Bluebirds kept me company as I brushed out our laneway yesterday. They were feasting on wild grapes as well as other types of fruit bearing vines and bushes. While foraging, they chatted among themselves with melodic little twitters. I thoroughly enjoyed their company. In the afternoon they had a refreshing dip in my old and battered birdbath. I have three newer and larger ones including one with a floating solar fountain. But my birds prefer the textured footing provided by the smaller cement and aggregate stone bath. The customer is always right! 

Earlier in the week I had a short trip. I don't mean the kind involving a suitcase and transport. I mean the kind where you find yourself suddenly sprawled out on a hard floor and wondering if you've broken any bones. The toe of a sandal balked at the small threshold of my back porch. The rest of my body continued eagerly forward. A split second later, I was down. First instinct was to check if anyone was watching. There was not. Second thought was if I'd broken anything. I had not. There was only a very light scuff on one knee. I scrambled up and carried on, with a mental note to slow down (and to retire my sandals until Spring). No soreness at all. Until the next morning. My left ankle, right hand pinky and right side of my rib cage all grumbled that they'd been mistreated. On the third day, still minor complaints from those areas. On the fourth day -- felt like it never happened. Funny thing, I did not even sustain a bruise but it appears a seventy-something year old body does not like even a minor fall. So it was a safety advisory -- Slow down and pick your feet up, old girl!

Little Boxes

For decades I've enjoyed watching Tree Swallows nesting in the bird boxes on my property. But this year I've also been lucky enough to watch two families of Eastern Bluebirds successfully raise their brood. This reward has inspired me to upscale these avian summer cottages. I'm renovating, painting and numbering them. So far, I've completed seven with about a dozen more to follow.

 

Just finished listing to an audio book from our library which I enjoyed very much and highly recommend. Published in 2019, it's called 'The Nature Of Life And Death: Everybody Leaves A Trace' by Professor Patricia Wiltshire, forensic ecologist, botanist and palynologist.

Oh, and I had a nice windfall this past week. My neighbour across the road was given two free internet services in exchange for allowing their silo to be used as a relay tower. The neighbour offered me one of their free services as a thank you for the use of my hay fields. Of course, I gratefully accepted! My new signal is much stronger and the download speed jumped from an iffy 5 Mbps to a steady 10.5 Mbps. Yay-y-y! The only inconvenience is that I now have to change my e-mail address. My old service was in use for 13 years. In that time I accumulated a lot of contacts and business accounts that need to be notified. I suppose the task could be filed under 'short term pain for long term gain'.