OUR NEW USED TRAILER

Ron helped us with the trailer this morning - it was his old trailer that we bought so who else to assist with the first move.  I always think the worst will happen but everything went well and it was put in place in no time.  We got to work on it.  I cleaned while Rejean fixed a bunch of things that needed fixing.  It was already pretty clean so it went well.  I used our new little vacuum bought specifically for the trailer and found a perfect cupboard to stow it in.  Tomorrow I will clean the windows and wash the curtains and the mini blinds.  The floors will be washed when we are done inside.
We are so pleased with our purchase and can't wait to get it up to Hinkler this summer.

MY NEW FRIEND

Look what I picked up at Pino's the other day.  A Venus Fly Trap!!!!  And the card said it was from Colasanti's in Leamington - where I used to go quite often back in the day.
I got it home and made sure it was comfortable.  It likes direct sun and to stay very moist as it's natural habitat is a bog.  It seemed to be at home as a couple of it's "flowers" opened wide and I proceeded to stalk and stun a fly to feed it.  I was on my hands and knees with tweezers in my hand under the chairs in the sun room retrieving my prize.  I picked it up and as soon as I introduced the dazed but fully alive fly into an open mouth, it closed on the morsel.  I have fed it three times and now I am going to let it rest and digest it's meals.  I thought it would be easy finding food for it as we seem to get a lot of flies in the sun room.  But as soon as I got my Fly Trap home, the flies disappeared.  Figures!!

I hope it doesn't get too big ... I have small humans coming in July ...

THE MISSISSAGI RIVER

Took a ride up the highway the other day to check out the Mississagi River and see how the shores looked.  The River is opened but the shore line is still covered in a thick layer of ice and snow.
 
There is still time before the opener for all that white stuff to melt so we can get us some Walleye.

NEW VISITORS TO THE LAKE

The first picture is of a "bike" we saw in a parking lot in the Sault today.  Street legal and everything.  The black one in the store looked like the Bat Mobile.  Would be fun to drive I bet.
The next group of pictures are of a flock of four Sand Hill Cranes walking around our lake this afternoon.  I have never seen this before - they are usually in the fields and ditches along the highway but with the ice and snow still around, they may have become confused.  But maybe they are looking for a nesting site along the shoreline.  Now that would be fun.

SLOWLY MELTING

It has finally started to be spring like here up north.  It was nice enough that we got the car and truck washed inside and out.  And we had the new bikes out for a ride yesterday.  Nice ride - very smooth.
Rejean cleared a path to the other garage today, and I got to ride my bike over to deliver some refreshments for him.  Won't take much for this snow to melt as the weather is supposed to remain nice for the remainder of the week.
But still a lot of snow to go...

THE HOOTERS

Finally got a chance to head out to count our owls on Saturday nite.  It had been postponed three times before because of the weather.  I think we nailed it on Saturday as it was beautiful.
I hosted dinner before our count.  Sticky chicken legs, baked baby potatoes and broccoli.  Mary made a salad and Ginny desert.  Ute was responsible for the snacks out on the road.
At about 6:30 we were ready to hit the highway.  We gathered for a picture.  Please excuse the 500 layers of clothes on us but it does get a bit chilly out there.  We started out at +8 and ended up at 0 by the end of the night.
We head up the highway to a designated starting spot and then work our way south along highway 129 - every 2 - 3 km or so we stop to play a tape then listen for any response.  There are 10 spots.  It was a beautiful night - no wind and a clear sky.  I had a device that amplified the sound as I can't hear the owls normally.  It hooked up to my headphones so they did double duty as ear muffs and a hearing aid.
The bottom picture is of the snacks Ute made for the road.  We don't go hungry on our excursions.  I munched on grapes and Ritz crackers and a Baby Bell cheese round.  Very Good!!
We heard Sandhill Cranes and saw a hawk fly by.  And on our last stop - as usually happens - we heard the Barred Owl - actually 2 of them in different locations.  I only heard one call but that was enough to make me happy.
All over Ontario people were out doing the same thing - listening for the owls and reporting their findings back to Bird Studies Canada who keeps track of all the data we collect.  All volunteers as well.
We have so much fun that it really doesn't seem like work to us.  I look forward to this night and spending time with my friends doing something that matters.

GILBERTSON'S

The Ladies Luncheon was held at Gilbertson's on St Jos Island today.  They are known for their maple syrup and pancakes.  Which is what I ordered - one pancake - which filled the plate - and two maple sausages which were delicious.  I was full after my lunch.  The other ladies' lunches looked just as good - there was french toast and grilled cheese sandwiches with their famous maple mustard, scrambled eggs with a side of fruit.  Everyone enjoyed their meals.  We browsed the gift shop after and I couldn't find the fudge that was advertised on a sign and I didn't look very hard.  Saved again.

We took the long way home and saw this amazing house right on shore with a magnificent view of the channel.  The ice is slowly melting on the water which was a beautiful shade of blue today.  A nice day.