New Camera!

I have been hauling my new camera with me since I got it last week, and taking hundreds of images, including an eagle at the beach, Hannah's birthday celebration, the sky, flowers, the kids... It's a hot, happy time in my neck of the woods.

P.S. Thanks to Silverstar, who presented me my first blogging award, at right...

This winter is not for the birds...

... nor for the rabbits, or even raccoons.

The rabbits have been in an enclosure on the lawn for the past few months. I had thought they would be okay outside during our usually moderate winter. I changed my mind, and they're now in our "Harry Potter room".

The raccoons have been giving us a hard time when we venture outside; perhaps because their access point beneath the deck is snowed over?

Remember this? This was last February. We were all enjoying some time on the lawn.

That same spot now looks SO forlorn, or perhaps magical, if you enjoy that kind of thing.

And then there are the hummingbirds. I'm not sure whether it was this one, or the one she insisted on chasing off, who succumbed to exposure. I've got a work light out there now, to help keep the area a little less frigid, and we had another hummer at the feeder today.

I'd like a return to more seasonal weather, soon, thanks.

Autumn

It’s clearly Fall up here on Triangle Mountain. We have leaves, rain, apples, deer, rabbits, raccoons, another birthday. This is our first Autumn here, and I like it. Although we have been here almost a year and sometimes it seems like we are old-timers in the neighbourhood, my backyard visitors remind me that we are new, and perhaps interlopers where they have been for generations. I’m glad they let me stay.

Colourized rain drops on the sun roof

A pile of wet glistening leaves

Birthday cake

Someone's been nibbling our apples and pears awaiting processing

Who, me? Couldn't be.

I bet it was her.

Or maybe him.

Couldn't have been me...

Maybe it was them- they're all thieves

On a completely different note, I have some other stories to tell, some of which have been bubbling out of me this weekend. Fiction stories. Erotica, in fact. In the interests of not terrorizing my gentle readers here, nor wanting to attract unwanted attention to my personal journey on this blog, I have started another blog under an alias. Be forewarned that the stories and language over there are very graphic and racy, but if you like that kind of thing- enjoy! 

(I hope to have a chapter up there later tonight...)

Kids 'n' Critters, from home and away

• It's gooood to be home. 
  
• Rob and I have seen a counsellor to help us normalize life in a blended family.
  
• Even work is okay.
  
• I haven't actually talked to my mother since being home.
  
• The kids are getting along beautifully these days.
  
• We are over-run with eight-legged brethren.
  
• Back to school is good; morning "rush" hour, not so much.
  
• Life is good.
  

Rob and Oliver on the shore of Lake Ontario

Linus and a good-looking sandwich in Ottawa

Oliver and Sam at the War Museum in Hamilton

Sam and his cousin applying mud "masques" at the cottage

Sydney, thrilled beyond words with a pony ride at the "Ex"

It rained so much in the month before our arrival 

that my swimming hole was a rushing torrent

Loving her first roller coaster at the CNE

Egyptian artefact at the ROM

Pentax chillin' to tunes at home

Date night at the Lagoon- heron and geese

Not sure I love ALL creatures- 

this one is now safely outside instead of in the kids' bathroom sink

(several of his cousins have been rehomed, too)

Big Cat Rescue in Florida

What else do you think a bunch of cat vet types would see in Florida? We were enthralled; bet you will be, too.

Big Cat Rescue



There were cows on the other side of the sanctuary fence...









Cougars may be my favourite animal ever.








All white tigers are inbred- this one has a cleft palate, but she's beautiful anyway.








This very handsome fellow spoke to me. We were able to have a feline non-verbal conversation; apparently my verbal feline is a different dialect, but the eye kisses and soft voice are the same across species lines.










Mrowr.










I so don't "get" the hunting thing- how could anyone stand to see such a beast stretched out like this, but bloodied and dead?











Yeah, sleeping is much preferable to dead.










Apparently, sleeping on your back, just begging for a belly rub, isn't just for domestic cats...









He was thirsty at just the right time- the water dish is sooo close to the barrier- we were within splashing range...









Tiger Conversation: This retired circus guy loves the tour groups- we had to leave him so he could rest, because as long as we were at his cage, he wanted to be social. The keepers at the sanctuary were so careful to ensure the well-being of these cats by monitoring their response to tour groups- it was great to see truly compassionate care for these big guys.



As a clinic, we decided to sponsor an ocelot from the sanctuary; like I said, we were enthralled. I hope to get a link up later, but here she is: Amazing Grace.

Fort Rodd Hill and Beacon Hill Park Petting Zoo

These are from March 8th and 9th:

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse...




Beacon Hill Park Petting Zoo...




The goat "stampede" at the end of the day...





Peacocks and ducks...











My online friends brag about their Shetland Sheep...



Three of our kids...