tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47352930520192596932024-03-05T04:31:57.827-05:00Shack in the MiddleIn pursuit of a reasonable lifeBevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.comBlogger367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-48463946367423771022013-04-25T14:52:00.002-04:002013-10-14T13:14:34.983-04:00Change of addressHey guys, I've moved! I started a new blog called <a href="http://nogoodend.wordpress.com/">Whistling Girls and Crowing Hens</a> and you're welcome to join me there. So much has changed since I started blogging here that I felt it was time for a fresh start. I even switched blogging platforms, just for fun. It's brand new, so there's not much going on yet, but I intend (yes, I am a well-intentioned blogger) to post much more regularly than I have here lately.<br />
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Goodbye Shack. It was a lot of fun.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-54038866371532975642012-08-26T21:33:00.001-04:002012-08-26T21:33:15.762-04:00Some bragging about our new tiny back forty retreat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few months ago, Luc saw the cover of a gardening magazine I'd borrowed from the library. It had a picture of a cute garden shed and a headline about backyard retreats. Of course, the article was a dud, but the seed had been planted. Luc figured we could build a little cabin back in our woods and I thought it was a great idea, so we started browsing books and the interwebs looking for inspiration, and pricing out various options.<br />
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We figured out pretty quickly that there are a lot of people who would be happy to sell you a shed. Especially if you're not all that fussy about quality, appearance or price. Luckily, we found a company (<a href="http://timelytouchups.ca/" target="_blank">Timely Touchups</a>) that sells Amish-built structures in pretty much any configuration you want, for less than the cost of materials at Home Depot. Luc built all the windows, because we wanted wood windows, and we couldn't find them to purchase anywhere. We had to order the cabin as a kit, rather than completely built, because we were placing it back in the woods where a truck couldn't go, and with the 12:12 roof pitch it would have been too high anyway. The cabin rests on skids which are sitting on patio stones that we placed and levelled in advance.<br />
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Three weeks ago, our cabin arrived - the floor and walls were assembled and the roof trusses pre-cut. We hauled everything up to our site with my dad's tractor and a utility trailer. After many trips back and forth, and two days later, we started building. The whole thing went remarkably smoothly. It took a couple of weeks, but it's finished. Yay for small buildings (8 x 12, plus the porch)!<br />
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We've spent lots of time here just sitting and enjoying the woods in a way we never did before when we were only back here while walking. Sitting quietly allows you to hear and see things that you either miss or scare off when you're walking. Sitting here quietly at night is another experience altogether. The drought has enabled us to sit on our porch until well after dark without being pestered by mosquitoes - a very unusual state of affairs in this part of the world.<br />
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The cabin is so far unfurnished except for some folding lawn chairs. We intend to put in a bed, a table, a couple of chairs and eventually, a little wood stove. It is not within range of our wireless internet signal, so it is a true distraction-free zone.<br />
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<br />Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-69110652877692729302012-06-13T17:33:00.000-04:002012-06-13T17:33:46.816-04:00Monday Forest photo: June 13, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_xgOBFEqYP0/T9j7W3OI9EI/AAAAAAAADgI/yD1tx7xuq3c/s1600/IMG_3150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_xgOBFEqYP0/T9j7W3OI9EI/AAAAAAAADgI/yD1tx7xuq3c/s640/IMG_3150.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3:00pm 18C sunny</td></tr>
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A fresh day - breezy and coolish. Just perfect for a nice long walk in the woods. Most of the new wildflowers this week are in the sunny open areas in the trails, rather than on the forest floor. It's too shady there now for flowers.<br />
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It seems pretty quiet here during the day (after the spring bird frenzy) , but at night we can hear all kinds of action through our open window. I don't even want to know what all those sounds are.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OBrbmDhMiOw/T9j7hrdBLgI/AAAAAAAADgQ/94GmumgOOKs/s1600/IMG_3156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OBrbmDhMiOw/T9j7hrdBLgI/AAAAAAAADgQ/94GmumgOOKs/s640/IMG_3156.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=416" target="_blank">Oxeye Daisy</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eyMPcZB7ww/T9j7zM05uqI/AAAAAAAADgc/hxz2UFatPkw/s1600/IMG_3162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eyMPcZB7ww/T9j7zM05uqI/AAAAAAAADgc/hxz2UFatPkw/s640/IMG_3162.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifolium_pratense" target="_blank">Red Clover</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6Qqhee9C9k/T9j76yLyKqI/AAAAAAAADgk/DhLribjTIv0/s1600/IMG_3164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6Qqhee9C9k/T9j76yLyKqI/AAAAAAAADgk/DhLribjTIv0/s640/IMG_3164.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sow Thistle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4E6sbB69a9I/T9j8GsebyMI/AAAAAAAADgs/WmPIZC1Oipk/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4E6sbB69a9I/T9j8GsebyMI/AAAAAAAADgs/WmPIZC1Oipk/s640/IMG_3166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifolium_aureum" target="_blank">Hop Clover</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-doqbxt1Gq3g/T9j8QZGbWwI/AAAAAAAADg0/rWsVNyYyoC8/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-doqbxt1Gq3g/T9j8QZGbWwI/AAAAAAAADg0/rWsVNyYyoC8/s640/IMG_3176.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicia_villosa" target="_blank">Hairy Vetch</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--tlPfZMp5Yw/T9j8Z4TKaxI/AAAAAAAADg8/qxdTlYfmkVY/s1600/IMG_3178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--tlPfZMp5Yw/T9j8Z4TKaxI/AAAAAAAADg8/qxdTlYfmkVY/s640/IMG_3178.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=222" target="_blank">Canada Anemone</a></td></tr>
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<br />Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-41904513725693194482012-06-04T20:45:00.002-04:002012-06-04T20:45:48.682-04:00Monday Forest photo: June 4, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOq-cECOqo8/T81QFmhKzmI/AAAAAAAADfg/rCcpYpA2TV0/s1600/IMG_3125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOq-cECOqo8/T81QFmhKzmI/AAAAAAAADfg/rCcpYpA2TV0/s640/IMG_3125.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3:30pm 16C overcast</td></tr>
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A brisk day today. Especially for June, but we've had lots of stinking hot weather already and a bit of relief is welcome sometimes. Last night we had a bear in our backyard, so I was particularly aware of noises in the forest as I walked today. I didn't think I'd see any new flowers today, just because it's been cool and rainy and I was preoccupied, but a few caught my eye, regardless.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UtxuJjE411c/T81QRRkfXII/AAAAAAAADfo/KK4bH4vkAC4/s1600/IMG_3136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UtxuJjE411c/T81QRRkfXII/AAAAAAAADfo/KK4bH4vkAC4/s640/IMG_3136.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/ArcticSkipper_e.php" target="_blank">Arctic Skipper</a> on <a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=811" target="_blank">Prairie Ragwort</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ErJ9yP8H8g/T81QatZOOnI/AAAAAAAADf0/qMFiAn95SYM/s1600/IMG_3137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ErJ9yP8H8g/T81QatZOOnI/AAAAAAAADf0/qMFiAn95SYM/s640/IMG_3137.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=508" target="_blank">Blue Flag Iris</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZa8mL9Nywk/T81Qmapn_yI/AAAAAAAADf8/VMuUzUNJO4Q/s1600/IMG_3146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZa8mL9Nywk/T81Qmapn_yI/AAAAAAAADf8/VMuUzUNJO4Q/s640/IMG_3146.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=25" target="_blank">New England Aster</a></td></tr>
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<br />Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-84879434721906558972012-05-29T15:38:00.001-04:002012-05-29T15:38:05.921-04:00Monday Forest photo: May 29, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z6xHWY2vfk8/T8USQ5-CacI/AAAAAAAADe0/uBckg_wfamk/s1600/IMG_3094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z6xHWY2vfk8/T8USQ5-CacI/AAAAAAAADe0/uBckg_wfamk/s640/IMG_3094.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2:00pm 33C cloudy</td></tr>
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Wow, what a scorcher! The air is thick and thunderstorms are threatening. I hope we get lots of rain. My walk was short today because this is mad dogs and Englishmen weather and I am neither. There are still a couple more days in May, but summer is in full swing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YeDkpZgUFxQ/T8USfKObSfI/AAAAAAAADe8/G0bW17eFqBw/s1600/IMG_3095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YeDkpZgUFxQ/T8USfKObSfI/AAAAAAAADe8/G0bW17eFqBw/s640/IMG_3095.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ontariowildflower.com/alien_wildflower_meadow.htm#orange hawkweed" target="_blank">Orange Hawkweed</a></td></tr>
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There are a few new wildflowers this week. I was particularly excited to see the Lady's Slipper. I didn't notice it last year, but it is in a unique micro habitat on a hillside beside a little seasonal spring.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7CAa6hYg8FU/T8USozCKk4I/AAAAAAAADfE/WogjeP9DfS4/s1600/IMG_3099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7CAa6hYg8FU/T8USozCKk4I/AAAAAAAADfE/WogjeP9DfS4/s640/IMG_3099.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=268" target="_blank">Swamp Buttercup</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmYCOAehH2Y/T8US0mnJ1RI/AAAAAAAADfM/Rg7SslKtAv8/s1600/IMG_3106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmYCOAehH2Y/T8US0mnJ1RI/AAAAAAAADfM/Rg7SslKtAv8/s640/IMG_3106.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=96" target="_blank">Large Yellow Lady's Slipper </a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qmk3RHZ9bKg/T8US-RFrA7I/AAAAAAAADfU/XULdxfAY07s/s1600/IMG_3112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qmk3RHZ9bKg/T8US-RFrA7I/AAAAAAAADfU/XULdxfAY07s/s640/IMG_3112.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=106" target="_blank">Seneca Snakeroot</a></td></tr>
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<br />Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-64042186063528573872012-05-21T16:06:00.000-04:002012-05-21T16:06:56.001-04:00Monday Forest photo: May 21, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-buOrWmz7mpk/T7qUfiQODPI/AAAAAAAADeY/XA_5-yriv0c/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-buOrWmz7mpk/T7qUfiQODPI/AAAAAAAADeY/XA_5-yriv0c/s640/IMG_3072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2:30pm 29C clear</td></tr>
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Wow. It's summer all of a sudden. Most of the spring ephemerals have packed up until next year. There's an amazing scent of honeysuckle in the woods, but I have never actually seen any there. The biting bugs are out, but all that is necessary to avoid them is to keep moving, rather than any repellant or netting. For now. My next level of protection is to take a silly-looking ballcap with a fabric flap that covers your ears and neck, and spray it with Deep Woods Off. I'll wear that with a light coloured long sleeve shirt and that will do me until it doesn't, at which point I'll switch to long sleeves, long pants and a hat with netting attached. I'll admit that when the bugs get that bad, a walk in the woods just doesn't have the same appeal as it does now.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtmJX_tQ6AA/T7qUsinPf1I/AAAAAAAADeg/9BEyc-xZxIw/s1600/IMG_3081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtmJX_tQ6AA/T7qUsinPf1I/AAAAAAAADeg/9BEyc-xZxIw/s640/IMG_3081.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariotrees.com/main/species.php?id=2036" target="_blank">Red Osier Dogwood </a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFt4ceJZXyE/T7qU19XoYyI/AAAAAAAADeo/4jl4Zix47BA/s1600/IMG_3085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFt4ceJZXyE/T7qU19XoYyI/AAAAAAAADeo/4jl4Zix47BA/s640/IMG_3085.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forget-me-not</td></tr>
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<br />Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-83151151031649426152012-05-20T13:51:00.000-04:002012-05-20T22:02:46.506-04:00Broody Penny; or Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vM8_x9yLGY/T7kjuyK-VfI/AAAAAAAADeM/D3E_GqaN3KY/s1600/IMG_3066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vM8_x9yLGY/T7kjuyK-VfI/AAAAAAAADeM/D3E_GqaN3KY/s640/IMG_3066.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A couple of weeks ago, Penny began acting strangely. I noticed her chasing the other chickens away from the entrance to their coop, while fluffing up her feathers in a threatening display. Then she took up residence in one of the egg boxes and made weird noises when I approached. I evicted her, but she'd keep going back. Penny was broody! I figured I'd toss her out of the nesting box a few times and she'd forget about it, but Penny was determined.</div>
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Madeleine and I discussed the broody chicken problem and started joking that we might as well let her sit on her eggs, but the problem with letting her do that is that if no chicks hatch, she'd just keep at it. Without any resident roosters, we were unlikely to have any hatching. </div>
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Not to be deterred by a simple lack of roosters, last Sunday (a week ago) Madeleine and I went begging at some neighbours where we had heard roosters crowing. They have a small flock of hens and two roosters and they kindly offered us 9 potentially fertilized eggs for Penny to sit on. We quickly prepared the chicken tractor for Penny's personal use so that she doesn't have to deal with nosy or jealous hens. Kind of like a home for unwed mothers. We told the others she'd gone to stay with an aunt in Toronto for a few weeks.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vM8_x9yLGY/T7kjuyK-VfI/AAAAAAAADeM/D3E_GqaN3KY/s1600/IMG_3066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-La3Z0NKIeTo/T7ki6PpAGCI/AAAAAAAADd0/iJsosvpP-SU/s1600/IMG_3036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-La3Z0NKIeTo/T7ki6PpAGCI/AAAAAAAADd0/iJsosvpP-SU/s640/IMG_3036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once a day, or so, Penny descends to ground level to eat, drink and poo. I took advantage of her absence to check in on the eggs. The observant among you will notice that there are seven eggs, but we started with nine. One egg had a hole pecked in it within hours of being placed under Penny. The other completely disappeared - shell and all, by the next day. Penny had a guilty yolk stain on her face so we can only assume that she ate it. Bad bird.<br />
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When Penny comes down to do her business, she becomes the centre of attention. The others are very curious about what she's doing in there.<br />
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Penny spends a lot of her short break all fluffed up and warning off the others. Not that chickens normally display a lot of intelligence, but Penny seems to be operating on pure instinct these days. I hope her instinct will carry her through the next two weeks and beyond to caring for the chicks. That may be thinking too far ahead, given her record of egg destruction so far, but she appears to have settled in and no eggs have disappeared for several days.<br />
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June 3 is hatch day. I'll post an update - hopefully including pictures of cute little chicks.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-78855251020133306962012-05-17T15:53:00.002-04:002012-05-17T15:53:33.544-04:00Monday Forest photo: May 17, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7kzNXdnhgEs/T7VQcPwheKI/AAAAAAAADc4/tlnCJnTMIGs/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7kzNXdnhgEs/T7VQcPwheKI/AAAAAAAADc4/tlnCJnTMIGs/s640/IMG_2988.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2:00pm 18C partly cloudy</td></tr>
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Finally, the leaves are out! Also, mosquitoes, but not too bad. This week had lots of new flowers and even a morel to show.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=714" target="_blank">White Trillium </a></td></tr>
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Maybe I knew this at one time, but I certainly didn't remember that white trilliums turn purple as they age. I thought they were a different variety. There were quite a few of these elderly purple flowers in the woods today. It seems like there are more trilliums this year than last.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/morels.htm" target="_blank">Yellow Morel</a></td></tr>
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I found a single morel mushroom this year. Last year I didn't see any, so maybe in a few years I will find enough to eat.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6LoyWuSJTw/T7VQ8DC63vI/AAAAAAAADdQ/ZLOCmQ2BV4c/s1600/IMG_3004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6LoyWuSJTw/T7VQ8DC63vI/AAAAAAAADdQ/ZLOCmQ2BV4c/s640/IMG_3004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=408" target="_blank">Small-flowered Crowfoot</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=phdi5" target="_blank">Wild Phlox</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=384" target="_blank">Wild Columbine</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YM6RA9P19VU/T7VRaQkz3EI/AAAAAAAADdo/Ur3kojfIRXI/s1600/IMG_3024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YM6RA9P19VU/T7VRaQkz3EI/AAAAAAAADdo/Ur3kojfIRXI/s640/IMG_3024.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=680" target="_blank">Wood Strawberry</a></td></tr>
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<br /></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-37448124682479429212012-05-09T15:51:00.000-04:002012-05-09T15:51:03.443-04:00Monday Forest photo: May 9, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ddJza249NM/T6rHkj489LI/AAAAAAAADcc/Wty5H24JI_4/s1600/IMG_2984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ddJza249NM/T6rHkj489LI/AAAAAAAADcc/Wty5H24JI_4/s640/IMG_2984.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2:00pm 20C cloudy </td></tr>
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I love this time of year. We've finally made the shift from brown to green, but the mosquitoes aren't out yet. It's mild, but not too warm. The birds and frogs are going crazy with lust and I actually spied a couple of woodpeckers in flagrente delicto today. It seemed a rather hasty and furtive affair to tell the truth, but not my business.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8gf_YNs0NdM/T6rHtNwDUiI/AAAAAAAADck/AmsZMAORDIM/s1600/IMG_2974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8gf_YNs0NdM/T6rHtNwDUiI/AAAAAAAADck/AmsZMAORDIM/s640/IMG_2974.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatbkdABBVWrVSzjEfzZ2Chz25T5qdw5-tHLuGErm0lKtWONglvjWXhhNGf42RPSNWazJbFTU1i92xEcueJ4rXU3aDjFCI33sgF1AFQShXmPjiD50VcGjHKywy-ee_l-EmkC3hQrrKo0rQ/s1600/IMG_2981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatbkdABBVWrVSzjEfzZ2Chz25T5qdw5-tHLuGErm0lKtWONglvjWXhhNGf42RPSNWazJbFTU1i92xEcueJ4rXU3aDjFCI33sgF1AFQShXmPjiD50VcGjHKywy-ee_l-EmkC3hQrrKo0rQ/s640/IMG_2981.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The new bloom for this week is violets.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-1120268859526428352012-04-30T20:29:00.000-04:002012-04-30T20:29:23.998-04:00Monday Forest photo: April 30, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MGBy4Nl2bvU/T58jKZQ5Y5I/AAAAAAAADcA/fylz6N9FhDU/s1600/IMG_2954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MGBy4Nl2bvU/T58jKZQ5Y5I/AAAAAAAADcA/fylz6N9FhDU/s640/IMG_2954.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12:00pm 14C cloudy</td></tr>
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Well, last week I mused that the leaves might be out by this week, but I didn't account for the week of cold and windy weather we've had since then. Today was the first mild, almost normal day in a while. I'd kind of been sucked into thinking we were having a warm spring, but April was ordinary, maybe a bit coolish, and if things are ahead of where they normally are, it's mainly because of the extraordinary heat we had in March to set things in motion. Perhaps the new normal is that all bets are off.<br />
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On my walk today, I spotted the first Trillium flower of the season. I get all Ontario-patriotic just thinking about it. After all, it's the provincial flower and we were all indoctrinated as children that we must never pick them, because they will never grow back and they are very special. I never have picked one and I don't know anyone who has, though I have heard that perhaps they aren't as delicate as all that.<br />
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After a brief hiatus for weather, there were lots of Trout Lily blooms today.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-44427591953403843392012-04-23T16:58:00.000-04:002012-04-23T16:58:23.518-04:00Monday Forest photo: April 23, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6Yw-aWRhL0/T5W_DBi7JEI/AAAAAAAADbs/BMUqDZUZBD0/s1600/IMG_2925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6Yw-aWRhL0/T5W_DBi7JEI/AAAAAAAADbs/BMUqDZUZBD0/s640/IMG_2925.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3:00pm 4C light rain</td></tr>
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Most of the snow has gone, but we woke this morning to a very snowy day. I won't complain, because we desperately need the moisture, and a couple of days of snow and rain should help. I thought the leaves might be out by now, considering the warm weather we've had already this year, but only the poplars and some shrubs have actual leaves so far. As it turns out, it's probably for the best. Maybe next week.<br />
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<br />Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-76463443389617084482012-04-23T16:40:00.000-04:002012-04-23T16:40:23.597-04:00Monday Forest photo: April 16, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxHGa063QJs/T5W8bQXoUwI/AAAAAAAADbc/7bEdaU5YUgE/s1600/IMG_2851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxHGa063QJs/T5W8bQXoUwI/AAAAAAAADbc/7bEdaU5YUgE/s640/IMG_2851.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Cup mushroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-76217878094818031832012-04-09T15:38:00.002-04:002012-04-09T15:39:34.759-04:00Monday Forest photo: April 9, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2K63l101JSE/T4M02ivLXyI/AAAAAAAADbA/TNUBqmTLkT4/s1600/IMG_2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2K63l101JSE/T4M02ivLXyI/AAAAAAAADbA/TNUBqmTLkT4/s640/IMG_2788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1:00pm 10C overcast</td></tr>
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It's an ordinary April day for once. Breezy and threatening rain and not too warm or cold. Things are happening here in Monday Forest, even though you have to look closely still. The wild leeks are up and growing like crazy everywhere, and there are lots of little miscellaneous green things popping up. We're two weeks ahead of last year, but I guess that's no surprise after the incredibly warm March.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68avPRU1j9I/T4M1DmJDjiI/AAAAAAAADbI/3WbCYu267aU/s1600/IMG_2795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68avPRU1j9I/T4M1DmJDjiI/AAAAAAAADbI/3WbCYu267aU/s640/IMG_2795.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://shackinthemiddle.blogspot.ca/2011/04/monday-forest-photo-april-25-2011.html" target="_blank">Trout Lilies</a> are up.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLDiknzheMU/T4M1JxuT2DI/AAAAAAAADbQ/YtjRuZ1pYz8/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLDiknzheMU/T4M1JxuT2DI/AAAAAAAADbQ/YtjRuZ1pYz8/s640/IMG_2808.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I found lots of unopened <a href="http://shackinthemiddle.blogspot.ca/2011/04/monday-forest-photo-april-19-2011.html" target="_blank">Round Leaf Hepatica</a>. Last year, there didn't seem to be so many, only scattered individuals, rather than the patch of a dozen or so I saw today.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-5285440453014066102012-04-04T13:58:00.000-04:002012-04-04T13:58:27.084-04:00Monday Forest photo: April 2, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZNbSoCP4Ug/T3yEmDdtwtI/AAAAAAAADak/iEImDY3HLWQ/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZNbSoCP4Ug/T3yEmDdtwtI/AAAAAAAADak/iEImDY3HLWQ/s640/IMG_2751.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4:00pm 10C clear</td></tr>
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Ahhh spring.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXOb6zW3zoY/T3yEyEqxHNI/AAAAAAAADas/cE-LX6uUrfo/s1600/IMG_2757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXOb6zW3zoY/T3yEyEqxHNI/AAAAAAAADas/cE-LX6uUrfo/s640/IMG_2757.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The wild leeks are up! This is the season of munching on leek leaves while walking. I come back every day with garlic breath.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-8542108817288129652012-03-27T19:58:00.001-04:002012-03-27T19:58:38.629-04:00Monday Forest photo: March 26, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3:40pm -1C clear</td></tr>
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Well, Mother Nature does have a way of bringing one back down to earth pretty severely. After last week's glorious summer weather, we're back to below seasonal temperatures accompanied by a strong north wind. I've got the waaaay early garlic and asparagus all mulched and protected from marauding chickens (they can't resist scratching in straw) so hopefully they will survive their optimistic foray into early spring.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3TgEwPcNqo/T3JQgudCA2I/AAAAAAAADaY/iugY7jW-5bo/s1600/IMG_2737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3TgEwPcNqo/T3JQgudCA2I/AAAAAAAADaY/iugY7jW-5bo/s640/IMG_2737.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This poor toad was on the trail a few days ago when the temperature was up in the twenties. He was so still I thought he was dead, but I didn't do a full investigation to be sure.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-7884047655943933372012-03-19T14:05:00.001-04:002012-03-19T14:05:40.560-04:00Monday Forest photo: March 19, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ODfr3neILGk/T2drKlrs0aI/AAAAAAAADZo/bPv8jIMx0JY/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ODfr3neILGk/T2drKlrs0aI/AAAAAAAADZo/bPv8jIMx0JY/s640/IMG_2730.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11:00am 18C sunny</td></tr>
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So sorry about the missing month of Monday Forest. I did take pictures, and I'll probably post them for continuity's sake sometime. We've gone from winter to summer and it isn't even officially spring until tomorrow. I read in the paper that some expert is calling this stretch of hot weather (mid twenties in March!) a 1 in a 1000 year event. Yesterday, the record high temperature was broken by 9 degrees C and there's warmer for later on this week. In fact, the forecast low for Wednesday night is higher than the previous record high. This weather is impossible not to enjoy at this time of year (well, any time of year) but it's a little like how I imagine it feels to live the high life on stolen loot. In this case, we've stolen our kids' climate.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jkJnHsfy5Pk/T2drVHOfZTI/AAAAAAAADZw/87RZzLIag08/s1600/IMG_2735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jkJnHsfy5Pk/T2drVHOfZTI/AAAAAAAADZw/87RZzLIag08/s640/IMG_2735.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The forest floor is coming to life even though only yesterday there was still snow covering more than half of it. I don't know what this hairy-tongued thing is.<br />
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For comparison, this picture was taken last week, when the temperature got up to a whopping 12C. This is what kids in Canada do - on the first nice day they put on shorts, find a patch of bare ground and skype with their friends on their mom's laptop. With chickens. Just like when I was a kid. Except for the skype and laptop and chickens. More like transistor radio and book, but still.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-87412238352082584952012-02-13T19:39:00.001-05:002012-02-13T19:40:20.326-05:00Monday Forest photo: February 13, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YV7SyHFW5XM/TzmqF1J5LdI/AAAAAAAADZE/mSv7ckNzHJo/s1600/IMG_2606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YV7SyHFW5XM/TzmqF1J5LdI/AAAAAAAADZE/mSv7ckNzHJo/s640/IMG_2606.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12:00pm 1C sunny</td></tr>
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Today was another beautiful sunny day.
In spite of the mild temperatures we've had, we've somehow been
fortunate enough to keep our snow and at least the appearance of
winter. You don't have to travel far from here to run right out of
snow. It's a rather dramatic demonstration of the effect of a very
modest increase in temperature. </div>
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Oh, and Meg is hiding in the picture this week.</div>
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We've had some spectacularly clear
skies recently.</div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-59885340571882321952012-02-06T19:58:00.000-05:002012-02-06T20:00:17.501-05:00Monday Forest photo: February 6, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bUufLhc4n7I/TzBzwjogT-I/AAAAAAAADYo/dUkvEzHTYXU/s1600/IMG_2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bUufLhc4n7I/TzBzwjogT-I/AAAAAAAADYo/dUkvEzHTYXU/s640/IMG_2584.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2:00pm 5C sunny</td></tr>
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Oh February sun, you are a tease. You touch my face with your warm rays, but we both know it won't last. Today was an exercise in living in the moment. The pleasure of the fine weather was tempered by hearing on the radio later that the temperature was a record high for the day. Sigh.<br />
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The pond was in fine shape for a skate before it warmed up above freezing this morning.<br />
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The chickens enjoyed the sun, but were highly suspicious of the snow. A couple of them did a hop, skip and jump (with flapping) to roost on a log closer to the house, but mostly, they wait for spring.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-40692417362102399422012-01-30T15:02:00.000-05:002012-01-30T15:02:25.082-05:00Monday Forest photo: January 30, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a-MkOL7u53M/TybyHYfxN9I/AAAAAAAADYU/ChKsLWdpguc/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a-MkOL7u53M/TybyHYfxN9I/AAAAAAAADYU/ChKsLWdpguc/s640/IMG_2530.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1:30 pm -5C cloudy</td></tr>
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Still winter here. The sun has shown up the last couple of days, which makes it all more bearable. And the fact that sunset here is after 5 now is a lovely bonus.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIKL3X4juWI/TybyRsZwgTI/AAAAAAAADYc/oQVGVkZuWa0/s1600/IMG_2540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIKL3X4juWI/TybyRsZwgTI/AAAAAAAADYc/oQVGVkZuWa0/s640/IMG_2540.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I fear that some creature is helping himself to the contents of the hive in the big cedar. There are pieces of comb and dead bees lying at the base of the tree. Based on the size of the scat that was also there, I'm pretty sure that this is a creature that does not fit into the hole, so perhaps the damage will be limited to the extent of his reach.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-30919596534687350252012-01-26T21:34:00.002-05:002012-01-26T21:34:31.659-05:00Monday Forest photo: January 23, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDYQWa9P1AQ/TyIMSoyVFiI/AAAAAAAADYA/n6KrypEG86A/s1600/IMG_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDYQWa9P1AQ/TyIMSoyVFiI/AAAAAAAADYA/n6KrypEG86A/s640/IMG_2509.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12:00pm 1C cloudy</td></tr>
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I admit it. I'm getting bored of winter, and it's still only January. Snow, freezing rain, ice pellets, cold, colder, less cold, more snow, blah, blah, blah. I even forgot to publish the Monday Forest photo until Thursday. Whatever.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AS8FZhjTBgozi6_qvQnRtfevCKCk_xx2Kt2_TSVeyVYdva3G6IWaHyqWGzIfktN4OHaXLIZoCDOLsEW8CYPiUd29Tb_qiWDY6fWuJpzVVacZXe2HI-lv4NWz3izKvUClIJUGkB8SPhRx/s1600/IMG_2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AS8FZhjTBgozi6_qvQnRtfevCKCk_xx2Kt2_TSVeyVYdva3G6IWaHyqWGzIfktN4OHaXLIZoCDOLsEW8CYPiUd29Tb_qiWDY6fWuJpzVVacZXe2HI-lv4NWz3izKvUClIJUGkB8SPhRx/s640/IMG_2422.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-1856505003811145702012-01-16T20:12:00.000-05:002012-01-16T20:12:17.519-05:00Monday Forest photo: January 16, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLvYDD26BG0/TxTDoTdiieI/AAAAAAAADXo/jfZcYGoUGqU/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLvYDD26BG0/TxTDoTdiieI/AAAAAAAADXo/jfZcYGoUGqU/s640/IMG_2381.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1:30pm -6C cloudy</td></tr>
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Another up and down week. It was really cold on the weekend, but we're back to above normal temperatures (which are starting to feel normal). Everything is crisp and clean in Monday Forest and perfectly wintery. I've had the experience a couple of times this week of standing quietly and hearing nothing but the wind in the trees and chickadees and the occasional snap of a branch in the cold. I think this had to do with the perfectly clear skies, cold temperatures and wind blowing from the north, where there are few roads for many kilometres. It's almost as if the absence of cars, or airplanes or chainsaws or snowmobiles has a sound. I can hardly get enough of it but it is a rare treat to experience that silence.<br />
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Luc finally broke down and borrowed my dad's snowblower to get the ice on the pond clear of snow before the temperatures warmed up last week. He discovered the amazing amount of work that can be accomplished with the help of a small amount of fossil fuels. And so the skating continues!Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-76472815547521568292012-01-09T17:18:00.000-05:002012-01-09T19:56:20.939-05:00Monday Forest photo: January 9, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ3w0BtgGtoh8wf8Wz25ku3dnuwujjKiA0RiKWH-omhhbKPMjHsEUAgWLOcFNSFu_c8qchiEp1bP6eaeKsKeFRjzyl9QEFiPStCkVHYDILW0TglzP749wSVHljNlY1R2lqSdBqYO2z-1T/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ3w0BtgGtoh8wf8Wz25ku3dnuwujjKiA0RiKWH-omhhbKPMjHsEUAgWLOcFNSFu_c8qchiEp1bP6eaeKsKeFRjzyl9QEFiPStCkVHYDILW0TglzP749wSVHljNlY1R2lqSdBqYO2z-1T/s640/IMG_2332.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12:30pm 2C cloudy</td></tr>
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The last couple of days have been glorious in Monday Forest: bright, reasonably mild and hard-surfaced. Our neighbour has been over the trails with his snowmobile, packing down the snow and providing almost a sidewalk to walk on. I can hardly recall enjoying my walks more and that's saying a lot. Mind you, my week was hijacked by a very nasty stomach virus which laid me low and kept me out of the woods until yesterday. It was a joy to get back out with Meg.<br />
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My little adventure in illness gave me a new appreciation for our town's amazing emergency room service. Within ten minutes of leaving home, I was triaged, examined and iv'd. I spent the night and left in the morning - nausea under control and rehydrated (I left out the grislier parts of the story). All at no cost, I might add (for the benefit of any of my American readers who doubt it's possible to receive quality, timely medical care in Canada).<br />
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I was also reminded that I am not nearly as sturdy as I think I am, and that my previous good health may have been as much luck as right living. So, humbled and recovering, I resumed my daily walks.<br />
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I had to include Meg in the photo this week, because today is her third birthday. If it's true that a tired dog is a happy dog (and I believe it is), then Meg had a great day.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-11903722353502939362012-01-02T12:38:00.002-05:002012-01-02T12:38:31.955-05:00Monday Forest photo: January 2, 2012<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-T8VLGdKO0/TwHmLDTFSzI/AAAAAAAADXU/0cAGDznqhnA/s1600/IMG_2318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-T8VLGdKO0/TwHmLDTFSzI/AAAAAAAADXU/0cAGDznqhnA/s640/IMG_2318.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12:00pm -1C light snow</td></tr>
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We've had every kind of weather this week and we're back in a rapid change from warm to cold. It's hard to get bored by the weather. A few days ago we had heavy, wet snow followed by a drop in temperature which resulted in many trees being bent over, some right to the ground. I shook the heavy snow off all the trees which were impinging on the trail, and got much of it down the back of my collar. I alternated between being too warm from the exertion to keep my hood up, to freezing cold with a load of snow on my neck. You'll be relieved to know I survived and so did the trees.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h65Sx7ezTdY/TwHl8C0zYBI/AAAAAAAADXM/WRgY1MljIWw/s1600/IMG_2221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h65Sx7ezTdY/TwHl8C0zYBI/AAAAAAAADXM/WRgY1MljIWw/s640/IMG_2221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-2647802625731888182011-12-31T21:59:00.000-05:002012-01-01T11:19:54.575-05:00New Year's Resolutions for a novice subversive<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_HvjvHC4FftHYdI3n2wxyl8J3HQyJiyF1Suz5IHrgvk6LiJz2QaCzsUnYaqr5yYbLKEXpmy7X4KsgtrJxifrDpzeWNwheSy_vbswQVSDoI2A5KKeuYamREey1e7uYDg-G8Z5WZHHTGk/s1600/New+Years+Rulin%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_HvjvHC4FftHYdI3n2wxyl8J3HQyJiyF1Suz5IHrgvk6LiJz2QaCzsUnYaqr5yYbLKEXpmy7X4KsgtrJxifrDpzeWNwheSy_vbswQVSDoI2A5KKeuYamREey1e7uYDg-G8Z5WZHHTGk/s640/New+Years+Rulin%2527s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.woodyguthrie.org/newyearsrulins.htm">Woodie Guthrie's New Years Rulin's for 1942</a></td></tr>
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I'm not a big resolution maker - even less a resolution keeper, but I thought I would share some of my resolutions this year. While looking for an image for this post, I found this excerpt from Woodie Guthrie's notebook. It turns out that Woodie and I have a lot of overlap in our resolution lists except that I'm already pretty good at number 3 - "Wash teeth if any" so I left it off mine. Here are some others:<br />
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1. We've been using credit cards for practically every purchase for years, but this year I'd like to stop giving the credit card company a cut of every transaction. I'm pretty addicted to the convenience, but I'd rather not enrich a huge corporation while at the same time giving them all kinds of information about my spending.<br />
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2. On the same theme, this year I'm going to seek out places to do business where credit cards aren't even an option - the farmer's market, freecycle, the local classifieds, the local charity shop etc. I'll be looking for opportunities to support the underground economy through buying used and super-local. I admit, I've been a bit of a tax snob in the past: saying I didn't mind paying taxes because I appreciated the services we received, but now I'm so disgusted with how the government spends money that I will do my best to ensure they don't get any more of my pennies than strictly necessary.<br />
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3. I will work harder to grow, prepare and eat local food. This is really a no brainer and there's always room for improvement. I really want to increase the number of calories I produce. I'm planning to grow a lot more potatoes.<br />
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4. I'm going to use my bike a lot more this year. I take the car to run errands because it is easier than riding and it's hard to carry groceries on a bike - but that's a problem that others have solved so not a very good excuse.<br />
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I could sum up all of my resolutions in one: I'm going to think a lot more about who benefits and who gets hurt from my activities. And I'm going to be less likely to do something if the one who benefits is a shareholder of a corporation or the one who pays is someone in a sweatshop or someone drinking polluted water or someone vulnerable to extreme weather or someone not yet born. Or, as Woodie so eloquently put it: "Wake up and fight". This is the year of more undermining and less enabling the incredibly damaging industrial capitalist system we've been told is the only way.<br />
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Here's to a happy and rebellious 2012!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/EDS00Pnhkqk?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735293052019259693.post-86043993559881193102011-12-26T16:06:00.000-05:002011-12-26T16:06:20.865-05:00Monday Forest photo: December 26, 2011<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFJWRUQmidA/TvjT7SqpBVI/AAAAAAAADWs/B-100_jMOOo/s1600/IMG_2169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFJWRUQmidA/TvjT7SqpBVI/AAAAAAAADWs/B-100_jMOOo/s640/IMG_2169.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2:00pm 1C overcast</td></tr>
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It's looking very festive here in Monday Forest. We got several centimetres of snow yesterday, which made for a very pretty Christmas Day, and warmed even my grinchy, several-sizes-too-small heart.<br /><br />
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The forest was alive with the song of several dozen robins, along with some chickadees, nuthatches and a downy woodpecker. I don't recall seeing a robin at this time of year or this many robins congregated ever.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106200660390587077noreply@blogger.com0