Just Visiting

Just Visiting
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

We are lucky enough to see a fair bit of wildlife out of our kitchen windows. These three White-tailed Deer were the event of the morning. They took our attention away from the bird feeder regulars for a few minutes. The Willow encircled pond is between 150 and 200 metres away from the house to this photo is not as sharp as I would have liked but so it goes.

Trying to add this to the "Scenic Sunday" site. We'll see if this works . . .

Snow

Attended the movie, "The King's Speech" last night and came out of the theater to falling snow. (Time on this app is still Greenwich time. Can't figure out how to change it.)

Woodpecker Calling

Heard a red-bellied woodpecker calling just as the sun came up this morning.

Stars!

Last night the stars were showing! It seems like a long time since I have seen them.

Furnace Problems - Again

We have had problems with our furnace for a couple of months. The fan is not working properly. We have had three new fan motors. Soon they will figure out that the fan is only the result and not the cause of the problem. Thanks goodness for furnace insurance. So, when I woke up at 5:00 this morning I did not hear the furnace and, yes, it stopped during the night. It is 9 degrees Celsius in the house. Glad it is not as cold as is has been outside. (- 10 with wind chill of -17)

Cold Again

One cannot expect the weather to stay the same at this time of year. Feels like - 17 this morning.

First

First
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

One of seven flower species seen today when most of the snow melted.

First Flowers

This is a cultivated witch hazel that I found in bloom today.

Sunrise

The sun is starting to come up earlier. It came up this morning 35 minutes earlier than Jan. 1st.
(Time on camera is Greenwich time. Can't seem to change it on the iPhone app.)

Warming

It's an almost pleasant - 6 (wind chill -13) this morning compared to - 19 (wind chill -26) yesterday morning. Looking forward to a 22 km run in the snow this morning. Hope I survive.

Still Cold

- 17 (wind chill -27) & coyotes howling this morning. 'nuff said.

Sent from my iPhone

Feeling Cold

Feeling Cold
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

We Have Snow

Finally Enough Snow . . .

Finally Enough Snow . . .
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

I have been waiting for there to be enough snow to make snowshoes worthwhile and useful. I could have gone out with them before but last night was the first time I felt that it would be easier walking with snowshoes than with my boots as the snow is at least knee deep in some places along our trails.

Good News

After being missing for over 10 hours the kittens appeared as mysteriously as they had disappeared. I have no idea where they were but I sure was glad to see them back in the barn in the evening!

Snow and Missing Kittens

We had a "blizzard" last night. Actually there was not as much snow as predicted but we did have howling winds. Anyway, when I went to the barn this morning to feed the animals both of our newly vaccinated, spayed, and healed kittens were missing. I had just put Fluffy back into the barn last night when I took Grebouille out for his trip to be neutered today. There was no fur, no blood, no signs of struggle, just nothing! I've no idea how they could have both just disappeared. There were no tracks around the barn and none of the other animals seemed out of sorts in any way. The only way into and out of the barn is through the donkey's stall and I cannot imagine him letting any other animal in other than possibly another cat. My only idea is that the cats may have gone outside and been captured by an owl or some other animal or that they are hiding for some reason. They have always greeted me at the door every morning so I really don't think they are hiding. I've gone out looking for them several times but always there is just a barn empty of kittens. Sigh!

I had to dig a bit to get the cars out this morning as I had to take Grebouille to the vet this morning. I left my car close to the road last night before the storm so I did not have to dig so far to get out this morning. After I got back home I dug out the driveway. It took a bit over 2 1/2 hours including time out to fix the shovel when the handle came off. I was glad that the snow was not too heavy. I decided that I did not have to go to the gym to work out today after all that shovelling.