It's cold on Crumbly Acres!

 It was a day on Crumbly Acres! Our silly Shaw satellite TV isn't working in the workout room in the basement. It took me a half hour on the phone with the technician, unplugging, replugging, moving the box, until he determined that there is something wrong with the cable. They are sending someone today between 8 and noon. Good thing we are retired. 

I noticed a face in the trimmed pine tree out front. It made me laugh even as I cry at the storm damage. The poor tree is the one that lost a ton of branches in ice rain, heavy snow, and messy weather.

Good news. Joseph Brian had another good PSA test. I've been doing a graph! We are holding the metastasized cancer at bay. Plus, they only jabbed him once. He'll have his Lupron injection next week. 

The day began with 11mm (1/2") rain and evolved into graupel and snow. Eventually it cleared up and it melted. 

We took off to Carleton Place. I had a haircut, and JB dropped me off to go shopping. It is a relaxing spot, except for the dude sitting there playing loud YouTube videos. This is my before.

This is the after. Not radically different! In the days when I went out to work 5 days a week, I was better at doing makeup. I wore my brand new dress. Too cold without leggings!

It is a pretty spot.

From there we went to Smiths Falls for dinner. 

I have leftovers!

At home we were happy to see Fred Groundhog out and about. His burrow under the deck must have dried out. I think it has been too cold for him. He was standing up looking for trouble, his little paws hugged to his torso.

Another sunny but cold day! 

Spring is peeling open

Yes, spring is revealing layer after layer, slowly. It hasn't suddenly descended. A cold front is slowly leaving us, as many of you know.

windy afternoon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Bryony, bless her little heart, was 6 yesterday. Our Vancouver grandies were in a Panto last winter. They were in a photo shoot for advertising for this year. Such fun!

 

Sunrise on Tuesday!

Song of the white-throated sparrow, "old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody!"

No sign of phoebe eggs yet! They've been really active here. This is last year's nest.

The poor rhododendron folds its leaves in the cold, then opens them when it warms up. 

Tuesday afternoon it was a balmy 16 ℃ then the clouds rolled in. It is still raining today. I am never going to get that water fountain cleaned up! I had a client yesterday, and it's been too cold up until then.

And still the Northern Flickers are hanging about this dead elm tree. I think they will nest here. 

They are the most beautiful birds. One flew into the window one day in 2012. I took the opportunity to take some photos. 

 The goldfinch is eating lilac seeds. It looked so proud of itself! 

It is pouring rain, and the daffodils are in bloom.  Fred popped out from under the shed Tuesday afternoon when it warmed up. He prefers fair weather!

Monday began with frost

 That was a shock: frost. The poor daffodils! When I put garbage out at 7:30, they were droopy!

I went back out for a walk after things warmed up. Look at them holding up their little heads!

They are so droopy! Poor little tulips.

The peony were falling over! Later in the day they perked up. Whew! 

Grecian Windflower

The Lenten Rose is tricky to photograph. I used the iPhone. If you could picture me bending over, trying to get them in focus! You can see my blue sleeve in the top left corner of the first photo below.

I tried again on Monday... We've rain on the way, I was happy to see the sun.

Grape hyacinth

We had deer visit. They are happy grazing.

There was a trio of bucks. 

We'll see what today brings!