Kevin Standlee: Fandom Is My Way of Life

There was just enough daylight after we got home yesterday that Lisa and I could take a short walk around the block, which was useful after all of the time spent driving. While rounding the block, we spotted a rabbit.

( Nice to See You, Bunny )

We used to have several rabbits roaming around here, but when the West Lot was sold and the owner leveled and paved it, tearing out the trees and bushes, there was no more room for rabbits, and they didn't seem to adopt our East Lot. However, we still have a rabbit now and then wander through.

No trains today, but with my main work day not starting until after Noon local time, we had a few hours this morning to go deer hunting.

( ...With a Camera, of Course )

We did stop to have a cream tea in the cafe before getting me back to work. While today was Bank Holiday Monday in the UK, it's not a holiday for me, although it will be next Monday. I am glad I got to visit here. Like so many other places I've seen on this trip, it's very nice and I'm grateful for the opportunity to see it.

Late this afternoon, I stepped out onto the porch and saw a new critter on the sidewalk at Fernley House.

( Squirrel! )

This newest visitor to the Fernley House Wildlife Refuge did not immediately run away the way chipmunks and most birds do. However, when I started to step off the porch, he ran off down the sidewalk and under the front gate. I don't know if we'll see him again or not.

Lisa made a big dent in clearing the weeds, brush, and other debris from the fence that separates our two properties yesterday.

( Clearing the Way )

The wind died down a bit in the afternoon, allowing Lisa and me to sit on the porch for a while. There we watched the birds come to investigate the areas that we have been digging up while clearing weeds, including a couple of quail.

( Visiting Quail )

I may end up carrying the better camera out to the porch when we sit out to watch birds, so I can take pictures without startling them.

Today I bought a bag of birdseed from Big R and refilled the bird feeder. It may take a while for the birds to find it again, though.

It has cooled enough from the peak a few days ago that when the porch is in shade, it's decently comfortable. (We somehow have escaped much of the deadly heat blanketing most of the rest of the world, it appears.) So when possible, even though we have plenty of things to do for the Winnipeg trip, we try to spend some time outside on the porch, where one of the main attractions is watching the birds come to the feeder.

( Camera Shy )

I also hear a quail calling out in the East Lot somewhere, but cannot see him. I like the quail and wish we had more of them coming in to feed.

It continues to be good for our mental health to just sit out on the porch, and also for our eyesight as wel look at things more than just arm's length away from us.

A couple of evenings ago, we had a return of a regular visitor to our bird feeding area.

( Hello, Bunny )

Lisa has seen as many as three rabbits out this spring. With the West Lot being cleared, we've been concerned that all of the rabbits had lost their homes, but there seems to be a few of them around.

The rabbits seem to be somewhat less skitterish than the birds. They keep an eye on us, but seem to understand that we are on the opposite side of a fence from them and are therefore less likely to get at them. Therefore, they don't go running away at our slightest move, such as adjusting our chairs as we sit on the porch.

Yesterday morning, while rinsing out my coffee mug, I saw something slightly out of the ordinary at Fernley House. I grabbed my camera.

( Just Passing Through )

We do get wild horses passing through here from time to time, although mostly they avoid the built-up areas.

This morning, in the pre-dawn twilight, the birds showed up for breakfast.

( The Early Birds get... )

The birds still don't trust us and scatter when we come outside, but they're happy to eat the food we leave for them.

The chipmunks run away from the pumpkin birdseed holder when I open the front door even slowly, so I put my Sony H2 camera (which has a better zoom than the camera phone) plugged into groundside power and sitting near the door. I need to clean the glass panel in the door, but otherwise I can take photos through it. I even came close to taking one of the chipmunks today, but just as I was lining up the shot, the locomotive parked in the house track across the street auto-started (due to the cold) and the chipmunks ran off.

( But there are still birds and bunnies )

Despite the snow, the temperature did not drop below freezing until after sundown. We got all of the snow off the sidewalks, but I could see ice starting to form, sparkling in the just-past-full moon. (By the way, I did get a look at the last half of last night's lunar eclipse, as I had to be up before 4 AM my time.) fortunately the container of ice-melt grit in the garage wasn't buried, so I spread it over the walks so we won't wipe out on the ice tomorrow.