Silly Mourning Doves

I saw them out the back door window, and at first they were just cuddling together. Then, they began to do this:

No, they aren’t sick or injured; just enjoying lying about in the sun.

Weekend at the cottage

Another wintery weekend, with family. Six of us staying there meant one couple sleeping on the floor (we MUST get a fold-out couch), but it was fun and cozy.

Mom always thinks a deer should come down to the lake, and this time two did (one pictured). They crossed to the island and then left again shortly.

Quite a snow-squall on Friday, just when some were skiing. Looks beautiful, though.

Iain made a paella, using monkfish instead of lobster to avoid me having an allergic reaction.  With chicken and scallops and mussels, it was amazing!

Living on the cheap

This paystub is from 1981! I found it with some other stuff I should have thrown out years ago.
I’m not sure what my job title was at that time. Possibly I was in the materials testing lab (which seems to me, in retrospect, to be one of the dumbest things they could have paid me to do; we were making JEANS for heaven’s sake, not airplane parts!).  I spent my days ripping fabric and splitting zippers, all in the name of high quality Wrangler jeans.



Since I worked a 40 hour week, my hourly pay would have been  $6.50. Things were cheaper then, though: my first apartment rented for $200 per month, and I furnished it with my parents’ stuff that they were willing to let me have, like my own bed and an ancient black and white television.  One of the first purchases I made was a colour tv, and a sweet stereo: both Electrohome, both from Cuff’s in Renfrew.

Birdfeeder action

The addition of a niger feeder has made our backyard more attractive to the birds, almost overnight.  For some reason they weren't interested in the mixed seed we had in the two main feeders, and we thought it was just our backyard they didn't like, but once we added the niger feeder, in they fluttered.

Since Iain isn't working right now, he's got a bit more time to check out what's happening in the yard during the day.  When he saw the reaction the new feeder was getting, he emptied the other feeders and we got black sunflower seed for them.  Now, all of the feeders seem to be popular.

The Goldfinches and Redpolls are our main customers.

We don't have huge flocks - usually not more than 10-15 Redpolls, and fewer Goldfinches.

This feeder was a gift at Christmas time from Craig and Karen.

There are usually a few Juncos around as well, but they feed on the ground.  We're happy to see the birds, and will continue to feed them until the spring, at least.

Cottage in Winter

Staying at our cottage in winter is a lot easier than it used to be. Years ago, we stayed at the little cottage that my grandfather built and my dad renovated. Despite the oil stove and wood range, it was a chilly place: after three days, the first foot of air above the floor would finally begin to warm up. We had a lot of good times there anyway, but it was much nicer, when I arrived with Dodie and Myles on Friday late-afternoon, to come into a cozy place!  The tile is bone-chilling cold, however, and I somewhat regret not putting in the heated pad when we were building, when I step onto it in sock feet.

We DO have water indoors, however!  Not to all of the taps, of course: that will have to wait for spring; but pails are easily filled from the well, right in the utility room. The water was mud-brown when Iain first ran it, but cleared up after a few hours: typical for a well left alone for several months, especially one so new.

While he was waiting for us to arrive, Iain puttered about the place and at one point needed a tool, which led him to search in the shed.  He didn't find the allan key he wanted, but he did find where the squirrel had stored his winter supply of acorns.

It was a fruitful year for the oak trees, and the squirrels took full advantage of it.

We had a chance to visit our friend Judy, who is blessed to be able to live in her cabin all year round.  She treats a herd of deer (her babies) with alfalfa, and we dropped in to visit with her and see them come for a snack.

These two are fairly tame.  One had a broken leg earlier this year, but has healed and can use it now.

Judy has a variety of wildlife around.  While we were waiting for more deer to arrive, Dodie spotted an ermine outside. I was lucky enough to get a shot of it grabbing a mouse from under the snow and carrying it back to its nest.

These guys are fast!

More deer came in. She often has about 19.

She also has regular visits from a Gray Jay. I think this is the first time I have ever seen one; certainly the first time for one at such close range!

He doesn't look very big in this picture, but Gray Jays are as large as a Blue Jay, or perhaps a bit bigger.