Ice and small Bergs

Went off looking for the part for the washing machine yesterday. Luckily we found a place that still sells parts as they apparently stopped making these machines 30 or 40 years ago. First thing we did on getting up this morning was to put the piece on and now she's humming beautifully. I was given some money for my birthday so bought a fountain. It's a lions head, the water pours out of it's mouth down into a bowl below his face. The water pump came with it with a few other pieces. Took it out of the box first thing fully intending to put it together. Ha, ha, ha. The instructions were like those manuals that most people can't figure out. I couldn't either. Disgusted, I shoved it all back in the box for another time. I bought two Emerald Cedars as well. Haven't a clue where I'm going to put them but the price was so good I couldn't resist.

Cold, overcast and damp here today. For all of you who are enjoying balmy weather, here are some pictures of small icebergs down off the beach. I nearly froze my hands off taking the pictures this morning.



Some of the ice that's come in.

Rainy days and Mondays

I decided on the weekend that I would start spring cleaning today as the weather is suppose to be overcast, cool and rainy most of the week. Not much point in being in the garden. I figured that I would haul the washing machine out first thing and get the clothes done and out of the way. Got half way through all the washing when a small belt snapped inside the machine and it was done for. After bailing out all the water we proceeded to take the back part off and have a look. Found the broken belt under the machine but couldn't figure where it came off. Decided to lay the machine down on the floor and I think we have it figured out. Only problem....the washer is very old and they don't make them anymore so the people at the hardware store told us where to check in Gander to see if we could find the piece we need. Off to Gander tomorrow. That was the end of the thoughts of spring cleaning. Couldn't be bother after this incident.

There were reports of two Polar Bears not that far from where we live. Roger has been going on about his morning walks and how can he do this when he might be attacked. After all, he says, they are meat eaters. I can't convince him as to how crazy he sounds. Apparently they managed to move one of them. It weighs about 600 lbs. A big creature, no doubt.

This is just about the time of year when the chance of seeing a black bear in the garden is quite possible. I have to keep a sharp eye out now a days when outside. Not that I think I'm going to be harmed but if either me or a bear is startled for some reason I guess anything is possible. So, two nights ago, I had a dream that I was being attacked by one of these creatures. I was yelling out to Roger, "Get the camera, get the camera". I mean...really...there's no hope for me, lol.

Looked outside a few minutes ago and saw three Finches on a feeder. They are so pretty.



And, at the end of the yard on top of a telephone pole...Mr. Gull.

Frost on the ground this morning when I got up. Sunny but quite chilly at the moment. Yesterday I banged together another raised bed. I figured the one I made a few days ago wouldn't be quite big enough and put this one in a different part of the garden. Spent the morning filling the wheelbarrow from the compost heap and wheeling it down to the raised bed. The chickens were at my heels all the way. I don't expect there's a worm left. I only have it half filled as by now my back was starting to ache so figured I'd better give it up for a while. Roger came back from his walk with a beautiful piece of driftwood. He figures it would be best if he stained and varnished it but I like it in it's natural state.

I placed some of the garden ornaments around where I thought they would look best, then thought I'd do a bit of raking up before lunch. I heard a squirrel chatter quite near me. I've been hearing them in the woods around but haven't seen any at the feeders which is strange as they have always come to get food. Anyway, I followed the sound with my eyes and there he was. High up in a tree, kicking up the biggest racket.

Then while getting lunch I saw that the Finch was back.



So, now it's time for a rest before I get at it again.

Now it starts!

Up bright and early, got housework done, then out in the garden. I hauled all the pots and garden statues out of the larger greenhouse and added manure and new soil to the existing soil. Then put a raised bed in the front where there's lots of sun, filled that with soil for spinach, lettuce, chard, etc. I think I'm going to have to add an extension as it doesn't look like it will be big enough. So, then I put up some trellis's on the side of the house and dug up a climbing plant from another part of the garden, put that beneath the trellis's and tied on the branches. Cut back some of the plants in other beds and raked up a wheelbarrow full of bits and pieces. Came in and got lunch so I'm taking a bit of a break at the moment.

I took these pictures of a bird this morning. I think it's a male Purple Finch. So pretty.



The stream if free of ice and snow and running again, although there is still snow in the woods. I was so lovely standing besides it and listening to the water running.

Remembering Boo

It's been a year since the untimely passing of a lovely lady. I think of her so often, that's the kind of impression she made on me. She always kept us laughing. Somehow I see her on the wings of an Eagle flying high in the sky with a big grin on her face. She'll aways be in my heart and mind.

Thursday...sunny and warm, almost like a summer day. Snow is going fast and lots of ground showing up. Decided to replace the screen in the screen door before putting it on for the season. Himself was going for his daily walk so I figured it would be a good time to do it without interruption. Unfortunately I hauled the door out of the shed before he had left, argh! This is an old fashioned screen door that my father had made for me years ago and as the screen goes down the whole length of the door I had to take a lot of the wood off that holds the screen. Door is laying on deck, I'm taking wood off, when he decides to sit down and give me advice on how to do it. This from someone who has trouble driving a nail straight, lol. I've done this many times before and because I lived alone for a good many years, I've always done these things myself. I tell him to go on his walk and leave me to it. He goes in the house and comes out with a crow bar. Here he says, try this. Here I am getting the wood off with no problem and he brings me a crow bar! I mean, really! I tell him to get the heck out of here and away from me before a racket starts, lol. He leaves and I finish the job.

Friday...another glorious day. Decided to paint the wooden deck table and the shelf under the kitchen window where I put plants. Got that finished when a neighbour stopped by for a chat. I have to paint the deck railings and stain the floor of deck but as the forecast called for rain over night decided to wait for another day. The front of the property is just about clear of snow so raked leaves up in spots and generally cleared up what I could.

Saturday...Had plans to get the pots and garden ornaments out of the green house this morning. It's SNOWING!!!

On Thursday, the grouse came strolling across the snow towards the house.

Mostly Ducks

While in the city we went to the park. My daughter brought a bucket of seed so ducks and pigeons were coming from all directions. Too bad the sun wasn't shinning, we had to put up with a bit of rain. I don't know much about ducks so don't know what kind they are. Here's some pictures for anyone interested.

Butterflies

After spending four days in the city, I was happy to get home again. Had a good time though while there. Spent too much money as per usual. I got a couple of treats for myself...two blackberry bushes and an Asparagus Plumosa house plant. While still in the city, on Saturday, himself phones to tell me the computer won't work and a plant was knocked over. What plant I ask. Well he says it's a little plant coming up in a pot. Nooooo, not one of the buckthorns!!! He says he put it back in the pot as best he could. Well, on arriving home, it seemed to be okay, then counted how many I had now...drum roll...26. Had someone come and fix the computer last night. Thankfully I hadn't gotten to the point where I was having withdrawal pains, lol.

Sunday, daughter and I went to the park and visited the Butterfly house. Didn't even know it was there. Took some pictures of the ducks as well, but they will have to wait for another day.

Another sign of Spring

The other thing I look for when waiting for spring to show its face is the Fox Sparrow. When this bird appears I always feel that winter is over. One showed up three days ago and has been at the feeders each day since. I love the way they scrape through the leaves on the ground in the fall looking for bugs. In fact, one fall there was such a racket coming from the woods that I thought there must be a large animal there. I quietly walked over to check it out and there was a Fox Sparrow shuffling back and forth through the dried leaves.



Another sign of spring....while sitting here doing blog, I felt something run across the top of my head, then it fell down in front of my face. A SPIDER! I don't mind them at all except when they are on me. No, no, no, I don't like that! I jumped up and did the funny little dance, lol. I probably startled him more that he startled me. I'm going to the city tomorrow for a few days, back on Monday.

Can it be Spring!

On my way to the feeders early this morning something caught my eye. No, I said, it can't be, can it! Although there is still at least two feet of snow on the ground, the willow tree had little furry buds peeking through. A sure sign of spring, things are starting to come back to life.


Another surprise! I know nothing about my camera to be honest. I always keep it on Auto unless I'm taking a macro shot. I did figure out how to take a macro shot, lol. I didn't realize it, but I had the camera on a different setting and started taking pictures of a couple of birds and ended up with these pictures. Now...they are not the greatest pictures but it's how the feathers showed up that I find fascinating. You'll have to click on the images to enlarge them.

Another Short Video

This is a Male Downey Woodpecker. We also have the Hairy Woodpecker which is somewhat larger than this one. Both are constantly at the feeders.

The Weekend

Early Friday morning we set off for the hours drive to the big stores. Stocked up on bird seed and groceries. I bought a sunflower seed feeder, just what I need, another feeder, lol. I saw it was on sale so I couldn't very well let that go now could I. We decided then to go to the Dollar Store. This is a great store where every thing is a dollar and I like to pick up napkins and the odd bits and pieces. Roger spent time going through the cds and ended up buying one with Russian Tenor Zurab Sothilava singing Georgian and famous Russian Folk Songs. I've never particularly liked Russian Tenors but on hearing this guy, wow! His voice is enough to make you weep. Beautiful!

Saturday morning, although I kept saying I wasn't going to go, we headed off for the flea market. We got there about fifteen minutes before it was to open and there was a line up. Although it was snowing, nobody seemed bothered by it and were happy enough to stand outside and wait. Once the doors opened and we got inside it was packed with people. Could hardly get down the aisles. I got myself a great shoulder bag for one dollar, a coffee press..again one dollar and the cutest blue cooking pot for, I think, 25 cents. Not a bad morning at all.

Looking outside after supper last night I saw just the tail of a bird on the sunflower feeder. From the angle I saw it I thought it might be the first sparrow of the season. Went out and took a picture and it was this little cutie.

Testing

I'm testing to see if I can get a video on here. Very short and you can see the Boreal chickadee. The one with the brown cap.

Yep, Still Snowing

I must be coming across as the worse whiner ever but I'm not, truly, I'm not. Very little gets me down, it's just that we are a few days from April and THIS has to go before I get out at the garden.

Consequently, these days, I feel as though I'm waiting for something to happen. Spring I guess. I can't seem to get into anything and keep looking out the windows hoping that all of a sudden I'll see green grass.

It's hard to believe that it will be the weekend again tomorrow. The weeks seem to be flying by. We will make our monthly trek to the big stores in the morning to stock up on food. I'm just about out of bird seed again. Saturday morning there's a large flea market in one of the small communities nearby. I expect there will be quite a crowd as it's the first one of the year, indoors of course. No doubt we will go. It can be a lot of fun and we usually come home with something we don't really need.

A friend came by last night and brought me two small Grapefruit plants he had started from seed. As I was putting them on a table by the window, he says "What's that growing there?" I said "Huh"?? Here's the story. I got some buckthorn seeds from a lovely person and immediately put four in a small pot before I found out that I should soak them for 24 hours. They had been in the pot for so long that I figured that there was no hope for them so had the pot shoved to one side behind a couple of other plants. Well, much to my surprise and delight one had come up. Oh joy, oh joy. I can't say how excited I was. Now of course I'm treating it like a baby, lol. I did soak the rest and have them planted in a tray on the windowsill so hopefully they will come as well.

A couple of pictures taken this morning.



Two Juncos taking cover in the vines.

Haven't been doing much. I managed to eat a one pound solid chocolate bunny on the weekend, tut, tut! Still cold here and lots of snow still about. The bay is packed with ice as far as the eye can see, consequently the wind blowing off it is making the temperatures cold. Hopefully I'll get into the city to see parents and daughter in April. Have to see a few good days in a row before I attempt it. I've hauled my box of seeds out three times lately, going through them and putting the box away again with a sigh. Oh well, soon I hope.

I haven't seen the Robin for a while. I put out a bag of chopped apple, banana, etc. in case he came back. The Redpolls are still coming but not as many. The Blue Jays, which I hadn't seen for some time are now here every day. I do believe there were two Woodpeckers doing the mating thing as one was chasing the other up a tree trunk. And I've heard tapping in the woods, they apparently tap on trees during mating season.

Black Capped Chickadee




Dark Eyed Junco