"The weather outside was frightful..."

So it snowed, and it snowed and then it snowed some more beginning late Thursday afternoon. My brain froze. I could get out to take photographs, but write? Not on your life

Trudging around in the pasture with sleet, snow, high winds and up to six inches of snow for the last walk on Thursday night was hard. Friday was ...well it was. I'm glad I am one of the lucky ones and so are my four-legged furry friends. We had a fire, shelter and enough to eat.

Worry about those that don't? You betcha. Extra food out for the little birds who fought hard to find a place to eat out of the wind, stomping down the snow, to make a sort of shelter and pouring seed onto the flattened ground was satisfying. Checking that there is a spot out of the wind in the drive shed and food out for any stray cat that might need it - also satisfying. More walking satisfying in another way - I could actually get around in it. But it grew deeper and it got tougher as it became heavy. I'm not 20 any more, even though I feel that way a lot of the time.

Friday morning.

The sun came out - the dogs deepened the trail out to the arch and into the pasture. Many of the evergreens' lower boughs were caught in the heavy snow. And was it heavy. It was fun traipsing around with the dogs yesterday. But with snow over my knees in many spots, it was also hard work. By the end of the day, with the two of them breaking trails through it - particularly Bliss - they no longer wanted to head out for a last walk and were happy just to find a bush or bit of grass sticking up. After that they just stood in the path not moving. Okay I said sounding resigned but actually feeling like they did. They turned and bolted for the front door. Bed sounded good to all of us I think.

Looks pretty in the sun doesn't it? A true cold snowy Canadian winter day!

Bliss hunts for mice and moles. Spirit watches. We head out around the pasture, the air is warmish and the sun heats my face. What a glorious day!

Just a few of the pathways made by the dogs, mostly Bliss wandering around looking, stopping to listen and sniff the snow and the air, cocking his head to one side, then having his brother join him as he plunges into a special spot. I did a lot of laughing during this particular walk.

It's clouding over now, and we are supposed to receive another dump - but not of snow. Like previous weeks, we are about to enjoy (and I use the term very loosely) light rain, then heavy rain and temps above 0C. Do I need to rant about climate change? You've heard it all from me before and from others as well, but finally it's making it onto weather reports and network discussions.

There's no point talking to the converted - you already don't run your tap while brushing your teeth and turn out lights in rooms where no one is sitting, turn off the tv when no one is watching. You think about these tiny things, about walking if it's only a block or two to the store, take the bus if you can instead of the car or car pool. There are so many little things we can do that just become a way of life. But so many people don't give a sweet **** well insert your own word there...

So instead I'll say happy new moon to each of you, may you have a productive and happy day in whatever way you choose to spend it - and let's hope that one more person we talk to, gets it and gives a darn. We can't give up. For me the above and below photos show you partly why I want old fashioned winter not huge death dealing blizzards and hiccupping weather year round devastating crops, and helping people go hungry or without shelter. I won't give up. But I will share photos and silly stories when I can. Oh and happy Valentine's Day - it's coming soon!

 "What's out there?" they ask. They love snow, and know nothing about climate change - but rain is not a favourite in winter, for them or me - happy week ahead!

Spring Thaw

So last week for about 48 hours, we had a very warm spell, breaking all kinds of temperature records. The dogs and I went out into a field to get a change of scenery. And because I didn't need my snow shoes or skiis, but rubber boots instead it seemed like a fun thing to do - go exploring.

Bliss hunts in the tree-lined windbreak for what? bunnies, mice, just good smells?

Spirit follows the trail of some creature - likely a squirrel, a bit behind us in the same field -separating rock and tree-line. But it's mushy snow, that by evening was very scarce with the temperatures in the low teens - something like 55-60 F. That night it poured rain. No snow anywhere the next day and so I jumped in the car to make a trip that I hate making on snowy roads. We went to Collingwood, the town east of us.
We drove out to the tip of the harbour, now a park formerly part of Canada Steamship Lines huge construction plant for the "lakers" - those enormously long boats that can span two of the huge waves that occur on the Great Lakes. The grain terminal is behind us. Across the harbour and the inlet you can see the ski hills of Blue Mountains, Craigleith and Alpine ski clubs - very little snow along the edge of the inlet, or anywhere else - only on the ski hills.

I blame it on climate change. Each of us will, I hope, do our part to reduce carbon emissions and make sensible steps towards encouraging governments to switch to green energies, green manufacturing and green lifestyles instead of supporting big oil, big pharma and all the other monied interests that have a stranglehold on governments around the world. It's not only here in North America - it's everywhere. The human species - our grandchildren or our children's grandchildren won't survive or won't have much of a world to live in, if we don't.

And the day after the rains? We had a flash freeze and the temperatures dropped well below freezing. Winter again. But that's normal. Hope you get to enjoy the winter outdoors or the summer if you're in a southern hemisphere country - and aren't plagued by strange weather patterns, horrendous fires or tornadoes, deluges and other things I've learned that Mother Nature is throwing our way. This planet can be SO beautiful!

January thaw

The fish that would normally be in semi-hibernation are swimming around in the pond. The two feet of snowdrifts that covered the pond, the garden and much of the pasture and surrounding fields four days ago, is running into the Beaver River.

Walking the dogs this morning after the rain I saw a snail on the pathway. Thinking that it was an empty shell with the molusc inside eaten by moles, I turned it over. I was completely surprised to see it quickly pull its "foot" back into the shell. On our return back to the house, I saw it had travelled about five or six inches along the pathway. Goodness, not only alive but out getting breakfast - a spring undertaking surely.

The grass is almost flourescent green. The lilac buds are fat and similarly green.

Four days is all it took to melt all away with temperatures well above zero Celsius - reaching as high as 12 yesterday.

Not healthy I'm thinking.

Partly induced by climate change - all this untimely weather - it makes me worry about what's next. We certainly lost our apple crop because of unseasonable frost after an early spring last year. What will this year bring? Do others wonder too? Do they care?

I love winter, snow, cold and all the wonderful things to do outdoors. The dogs love it. The cats not so much. But a winter with snowy mornings, frosty windows, warm chuckling fires in the wood stove -all to be enjoyed.

This wet fake spring, brief though it will be, is not good. I want to rant about climate change. About how humans don't pay attention. That we're a dreadful species, uncaring as a whole, though there are individuals and small groups that are more attentive to what's happening with our climate. But today I won't rant more than this. I'll show you the photos instead of what I see when I stand on my deck and look at the landscape. You may want to share them to remind others about what we're doing to this planet. It's peculiar.

Yes the drops of rain are strung like glistening beads along tiny tree branches. Beautiful. The mists that hide the other side of the valley are beautiful as well. But this belongs to spring with returning birds, buds waxing on the tiny branches, sprouting plants and grasses. Not mid-January. For today that's my rant.

Whatever the weather, wherever you are - may you enjoy it as I did finding that tiny snail. There is beauty everywhere if we pay attention. We are blessed even in our destructiveness.

Bringing in the harvest, or not?

Travelling along one of the back roads on my return from Owen Sound, a nearby city, I was met by several huge machines. I had to pull way off the narrow road so that these harvesters could get past. A bit further along the road I saw where they'd been coming from. The wheat had been taken off this field and the straw was already bound and ready to be shipped.

A close-up of another field shows the beautiful feathery heads of wheat stalks. But will the harvest yield enough this year?

Already hay in Ontario is at a premium and in some places animal farmers have had to begin feeding their fall hay. Many we hear, have begun reducing herds since they won't be able to maintain them over the winter.

I read earlier that Manitoba farmers living near the Assiniboine River where it was diverted during the winter to prevent serious flooding of the city of Winnipeg, are having trouble feeding their cattle. Fences are down, pasturing is poor and cattle are being shipped away to other places for pasture. There is great worry about the future of the herds.

What a strange year this has been in so many places around the world. Snow in Europe in the winter and early spring. Drought in the US midwest, more serious than the "dirty 30s" and crop yields precarious everywhere. Who can look at this and say it is an anomaly? Don't the combined reports from around the world indicate that there truly is a big climate change?

If it's true that there are always fluctuations, never have they been so enormous that the whole world has been affected. Time to wake up people! We have to adapt or else. We need to cut our greenhouse gas emissions, examine how we use fuels and that includes electricity that is driven by gas and/or oil.

And it's true, that every little bit that each person does, makes a difference. One less shopping trip in the car, one degree lower in heat or higher in air conditioning if you have it...there are lots of ways we can connect and make a difference... and it's never too late to start. Hope you'll join in working for environmental sustainability... in some way. This planet is too beautiful not to give it a try, don't you think?

Winter to summer in three weeks!

As the sun began to set and we started out for our late afternoon walk, I looked up at the snow-covered hills across the valley. Everything was blanketed - there were two plus feet to wade through in the pasture at the beginning of March. I hauled out my cross-country skiis, and my snowshoes and had a great time with the dogs who love to bury their heads deep into fluffy white drifts, snuffling out moles and mice scurrying through their little tunnels.

Then the weather grew suddenly mild. March break! Would the kids holidaying from school have enough snow to enjoy?

Sunrise on an early March morning - a beautiful glorious morning. But I was outside in my slippers and dressing gown to take the photo, and not one bit chilly. Oh oh.









I turned around and looked at the garden a few feet from the edge of the road... bits of snow, but more bare spots

And there, poking their noses through winters remains - tiny patches of white crystals - were daffodils. No mistaking those yellow tipped noses.

And this morning, amidst the remains of autumn leaves I'd used to cover this flower bed in front from winter's freeze-up: three crocuses bloom, a mini and two original size as daffodil blossoms swell on long stocked necks. The temperature at 1:30 in the afternoon is a hot 87.8 or 31 C in my driveway that's baking in the sun.

This is not normal. Others though say they remember back in the '70s when we had a winter like this... Summer in the middle of March in central Ontario? Goodness.

So while I'm enjoying the warm weather and the chance to get into my garden, I wonder what the rest of what used to be spring will be like. Temperatures are forecast to be summer-like for the next two weeks. What will happen to local apple farmers if blossoms and bees aren't on the same timetable because of the heat? My two largest silver maple trees are in flower - not unusual for late April early May - but to me it seems at least a month or more early. Is this the result of climate change or just an anomaly?

Nothing I can do I know. Except enjoy it for what it is and make the most of these lovely days. And hope...

A sure sign of spring - or maybe not

My last post of a few days ago came before the huge storms that swept across North America. Tornadoes in the Central U.S. (for which I send out heartfelt prayers for the welfare of all who were affected,) and in my neck of the woods, sleet, snow, rain, high winds that doubled trees over. And me too - I felt almost blown asunder by many blasts on my few short walks with the dogs.

They were disappointed I'm sure when we returned the house after a brief expedition outside. They were covered on one side with a coating of icy snow crystals and glad of a towelling off.

So when my friend who lives near Hastings, a tiny community in central Ontario, sent me this photograph of a robin, I remembered that my brother in Toronto had spoken of robins that his son's dogs had spotted in the ravines. Spring we all said enthusiastically! Then.

And as I look outside today at the beautiful white blanket that has been refreshed again during the night, immaculate in many places still (not for long after the birds and dogs have been about) I wonder.

Again I think of climate change. Is that the reason for this untoward severity in what has been till now a mild and grey winter? No say the weather specialists - it's common to have storms in March. But the well below freezing temperatures, frosty breath of dogs, cats and me when outside say, oh please, let's have spring sooner rather than later.

It's been an unusual season - this not quite winter. And while I don't mind, actually I quite enjoy getting out the snowshoes and the skiis and moving about the property like that for a change (much easier than walking believe me) - I am now longing for planting season, to get my pond re-dug, re-lined and my fish back into it. To see the flower and leaf buds that keep swelling, open, not drop off the trees because it's been too cold and they have to start again. That would be so sweet.

But we get what we get. So today I'm going to put my skiis on again and enjoy what sun there is. And hope Mr. (or Ms.) Robin was safe during the winds and will be able to find something to eat (sumach, berries, something) for the next week or so...and then maybe? Possibly? Spring?

What do you think?

Weather report

Walking with the dogs in one of their favourite fields, I notice that the moss is blooming. It's growing - as we are told it will - on the north side of the rocks, old split rails and the older beech tree. It's brilliant colour indicates new growth. In February!

Goodness.

This area has in the past 10 years I've lived here, been under three or four feet of snow.

Everywhere around the world we are experiencing different weather patterns. Cold where it should be warm, warm where it should be cold. Drier where drought is threatening life itself, and deluges, floods and disasters in other places where life is being swept away: human, animal and vegitative life.

As I look at the moss, I think how beautiful. The rocks piled by some early pioneer in this area to clear a field, tree by tree, stone by stone, old fencing remains, scattered now and forgotten. Probably this pile was made and this fence built in the very early 1800s. There are similar signs of man's attempts to control and cultivate land for everything from growing food and to building cities everywhere in the world.

It sets my mind wandering about the weather changes. So often man's attempts to control and manicure in the past haven't taken into account the natural weather patterns which are now so exaggerated. The push and drive for more, for "growth," for excess, doesn't often consider the side effects of what this direction could bring.

We're told it's not climate change, that what we are experiencing is part of a natural cycle, sometimes a 10,000 year cycle, sometimes an 11 year cycle. that it was just like this 20 years ago. Numbers don't make much difference if your home is threatened and your livelihood. So it doesn't matter who is right or wrong, it just is. But can we do anything about it?

There is no question that this year is different. Perhaps it seems more monumental because we are so connected around the world. Technology allows us to see what's happening as it happens in countries half way round the world. Are we paying attention to all the effects of this I wonder? Or are we becoming accustomed and therefore immune to the disasters, the misery that happens to individuals, villages, towns and countries. Is it all like a tv show? Something that isn't real?

Or are some starting to realize that it's time we paid attention?

On the hunt

Bliss the big hunter

Bliss has been running hard and kept that keen nose of his busy in the grass and under the spruce trees which seemed to harbour traces of what? Rabbits perhaps?
Bunnies seem to be his favourite target lately, also feral cats whose prints we have seen in the snow.

But as you can see, the snow is melting this day. It has continued its seesaw effect, first rain and mild, followed by a sudden drop in temperature and snow. Then comes a deep freeze, bitter winds and roses in my cheeks as we walk around the fields. Then a sudden southerly and warm wind brings rain again and occasionally sun.

This is one of our favourite walking spots - along the edge of one field, crossing into another through a rocky pathway over an old split rail fence. Then down into a little ravine with a creek running through it. The creek has been dammed several times by beavers so there are several small ponds north of this pretty rocky spot. Fun to explore.

But this winter navigating is much simpler than in past years with three or more feet of snow. You can see the moss-blanketed rocks and detritus of last year's leaves and twigs on the mounded dirt that has collected over the last 100 or so years from the early pioneer days.

There is no snow here, nor much in the field beyond to the south.

The winter wheat field that this rocky ridge runs alongside, is more mud than snow-covered field once again this week. I wonder as I walk and look at the green grass-like sprouts in tidy rows: will the wheat and other crops dependent on a heavy snow do well this spring?

I wonder too about my gorgeous garden, so full of perennials that usually weather winter so very well. But then they are usually covered with huge drifts of snow keeping them from this freeze-thaw routine we're experiencing this winter. Will the poppies survive, the many daffodils I've planted? The iris? The bluets?

It must be hard too for the little creatures... no snowdrifts to make tunnels through. Ground covered in six or more inches of water, little holes with muddy entrances. On the plus side, they along with the deer and other creatures more often have easy access to food, but those who are also food for coyotes and wolves, and predatory birds will also be more accessible. Thought provoking.

The dogs wait while I take a picture, snow in some spots not in others in this tiny ravine. They're anxious to get back to hunting - what they like to do best, though they seldom catch anything... it's all in the chase I guess.

And so on we go for another half hour or so, the dogs exploring and me enjoying the fresh air and continuing with my puzzling over it all. Then I decide just to enjoy being outside with them, able to walk around such beautiful areas, wild and tamed both. 

But it does make me think more about climate change and where it might lead us. Do you have days where you wander and wonder?

When it snows -

On the way too and from town on the shores of Georgian Bay, I drive past this lovely barn which is part of what used to be a family farm and orchard. The old farm house is now a classy B and B and the barn used for storage I assume. The rest of the land is slowly being turned into the new style apple orchards - vines where apples are grown like grapes.

The barn stood out against the newly fallen snow which was heavy and wet, clinging to trees like early Christmas decorations and making the faded reds of the barn and silo seem like beacons.

I had to stop and take a photograph. The image seemed like a Christmas card to me.

And then I looked east through the sumach. The vine orchards with a red brick house sitting in front of a lovely snow-gilded woods stood out backed by the ski hills of Georgian Peaks with the mountain seeming to stand firm against a stormy black sky. A totally different but equally beautiful image.

Of course the snow is mostly gone now as temperatures climb and rain buckets down instead. The ski hills and resorts may not do well this Christmas season if our strange weather continues to see-saw back and forth between cold and unseasonably warm. Today it's already nearly 12 degrees C - well over 50 degrees F. Not a record, but certainly not a white Christmas being promised. It will be tough for those depending on skiing and boarding for their livelihood.

But perhaps I'll  enlarge these photos and paste one over a window, or one of my other snow scenes from another storm...and chuckle over the vagaries of nature. Yes it's largely due to climate change that these weather upsets are happening - but no rant today. I'm optimistic that human kind is recognizing the problems - certainly this winter it's clear - and is beginning to make efforts, one at a time or in great groups, to make a difference. Hope you can join in, in some way.

Wonder where the winter is?

It was unusually warm, the sun high in the sky, but it was just a few days ago, late November. The grass should be covered with snow, or at least brown and brittle. And these geese should be floating in the middle of the river or standing on ice, not standing on mudflats basking in the sun.

The weather has been strange... but a friend told me this afternoon, that on this day in 1979 it was in the mid-60s. He said yes climate change is affecting everything, but this kind of aberrant weather isn't completely unusual.

"We had no winter that year," he commented, "but in 1978 it was a doozy!"

So I wondered what it means for this year? I've seen flocks of robins, blue jays, crows, all joining the geese and heading south.  There are tons of berries on the mountain ash, the apple trees had a heavy crop this summer and pine trees? Cones a-plenty. Lots of food around. But high up. Squirrels' nests are high in the trees.

Sometimes "old tyme almanacs" say that these kinds of things predict a mild but very snowy winter - with deep snow, making it difficult for some creatures to get food...interesting thought. Were the almanacs saying that would happen this year?

The geese eventually joined the rest of the flock and headed in a very casual manner out to the middle of the river - not worried that I might follow with my camera, but not staying close either. They are among a very large number of geese who hang around for the winter at this particular bend in the river, since it seldom freezes over completely and they can dive for food in comfort, specially if its going to be a mild winter.

They seem in no hurry to go anywhere. Close to 200 geese, maybe more, stay in this area when the wind is high and the nearby lake is too difficult to mine for minnows, snails and any other food geese eat. They also feed on green grass. There's plenty of that here for now.

Do they know something we humans don't, do you think?

Do you speculate on what kind of winter we might have in Central Ontario this year? Is it climate change or just an aberrant bit of weather? I guess we'll know in hind sight one day. But climate change continues to concern me and many others. We do need to do something globally, work together to help this old planet stabilize and recover from all the mistakes we've made as the most dominant species.

Please consider helping an organization that works for ecological sustainability this holiday season. Or help an animal rescue organization. Both are causes dear to my heart and so I feel it important to ask for help for them.

Chowing down

Even though were into June - nearly the middle, and despite what forecasters predicted, we've had only a few brief days of extraordinary heat. Enough to bring all the iris in my garden out. They are remarkable as are most flowers this year. Lush, abundant, magnificent in colour.

But because it's been cool, at least that's what I assume, the little birds are back at my feeders. This morning, the bright cadmium yellow bits of sunlight were singing and playing among the high branches and landing on all the feeders devouring seed.

They were joined by several finches, a few chickdees, though only a few and a couple of jays, a white-breasted nuthatch, several woodpeckers, both hairy and downie, red wing blackbirds, a couple of mourning doves with their soft cooing and grackles. My lone starling is nurturing her babes at the moment. She's inhabited the owl box,and I'll have a real cleaning job to do once her brood has fledged. Starlings are the messiest housekeepers, worse even than I am.

Several swallows are also sitting. Six of the boxes are full. And there are ongoing hummer wars as two ruby-throated males duke it out over what I think is only one female... maybe two. Those feeders are closely guarded and give me lots of entertainment when the battles are in full force. I've been narrowly missed by a couple of buzzing missiles while seated on the deck trying to enjoy coffee, but dodging fast flyers instead.

Ah spring!

Sad though that while the cool weather has meant I get to see more of some of my favourite birds, the farmers are concerned about crops and storms continue to plague many places around the globe...once again making me wonder what's down the road with climate change and can we do enough soon enough? I'm not as optimistic as I once was.

But for this evening, after a long day at the computer making charts and notes and agendae for meetings, I'm going to enjoy the birds's songs and their busy flight to gather a few more seeds before dark.

Have a super evening.