A GREAT RIDE

It was a beautiful day yesterday so I suggested a bike ride in the afternoon, once we had established it wouldn't rain.  Rick and I would have our guns with us in case we saw any birds and Jason and Steve were just along for the ride.  Rejean had to get gas so he stayed back.
We went down FootPrint Lake road and enjoyed the scenery and the beautiful leaves.  It was quite warm but damp.  I lead them over to where we can see the Mississaugi river where we ran into Brent and Nat and their friends.  They hadn't seen any bird either.  We stopped and enjoyed the view of the mighty Mississaugi smooth as glass.  You don't see it like that very often.
Because it was so warm out, the snakes were out and about.  I rescued one on 129 - he wasn't too happy with me helping him across the road - he was trying to rear his head and lunge at me - thank goodness he was just a little garter snake.  I ran over one on FootPrint Lake road and I had to veer quickly on Axe Lake road to avoid running over another one.  We took the Axe Lake Trail back and it was very very muddy - lots of puddles.  We had to hose all the bikes down when we got back to get all the mud off of them.
And the leaves are still beautiful...

GOT WOOD?

As a matter of fact, we do now.  We had our double bunk delivered this morning by one of our local loggers, Tim Bouda.  We have not had to have logs delivered for a couple of years as we have been caught up and still have enough cut and split wood for next year but it was time.  These logs will sit over the winter and we will get at them in the spring.  We first block them to 16 inch lengths and then split and stack them to dry.  It is a process but one that a lot of folks up here do.  You drive up and down the highway and see the same stacks of wood in people's front yards waiting to be processed.
They are all a nice size as well.  You don't want the big logs as they are harder to handle.  Never thought in my wildest dreams I would be admiring a pile of logs and anxious to get working on it.  But I have to wait til spring...

By the way, I think the leaves are going to peak very shortly.  They are late but beautiful.

MUSHROOM TRANSFORMATION

Remember that mushroom from a couple of posts ago - the top two pictures are the original photos that I took.  Well when I returned to that area I found that it had transformed into something totally different.  It had bloomed into a true mushroom shape.  The third picture is an angle that my friend Sandy used to take whenever she found a mushroom she liked.  She held her camera underneath the rim and took a picture looking up.  gives it a totally different angle.
As soon as I find out what it's name is, I will let you know.  I didn't pick it - it is still there.

BUSY

Getting ready for winter seems to be a year long adventure for us.  We finally got all our wood done and in the wood sheds including the kindling - my favourite part of doing the wood.  I love the way the slabs of cedar "POP" when it is dry and you split them just so.  It's a good thing I like it because it is a very long boring task.  But done finally.
Rick and Rejean blew the pine needles the other day after the big wind we had.  There is still some on the trees but the majority came down.
Joanne and I got a picture of the perfectly round rock Ron and Mary found on their property.  Mary said I couldn't have it so I will admire it from a distance.  It is a beautiful rock.
Got a picture of a neat mushroom on the road to the other garage.  There are lots of species out right now after all the rain we have had.  All different.
And finally, the colours are starting up here.  It seems that all of a sudden they are changing.  They should be beautiful for the next week or longer.  All depends on the weather.  But right now they are beautiful!

QUICK TRIP TO HINCKLER

Finally got a trip up to Hinckler after our first attempt ended in new back brakes on the truck.  We only got as far as Lafoe that time - all packed up and we had to turn around and come home and unpack.  Waiting for the weather to co-operate was frustrating for our next trip but we decided to go and chance the 40% light rain prediction for Sunday.  Packed up and headed out on Saturday morning, set up and then headed out for a run.  Saw one bird but it disappeared into the bush like magic.  Had an early dinner and out again when Rick got the one and only bird.
Back at the trailer, we discovered a furnace problem i.e. no heat at all.  We had a couple of ceramic heaters which could only run when the generator was on and when the 40% light rain prediction came true, we decided to pack up and come home on Sunday, cutting our trip short by over a day.  Very frustrating but we did the right thing considering how cold and damp it was.
But on a high note, on the way out we saw a young wolf and a young bull moose (I did not have my camera ready to take the best picture of him standing broadside and looking at us)  By the time I had my camera out I got a shot of him cantering down the road away from us but you can still see him pretty good.  Those sightings made up for the disappointment of coming home early.

Better luck next time...

A LITTLE RACLETTE DINNER PARTY FOR 8

What a fun time we had with Roger and Ute at their lake house on Ute's birthday.  She had a Raclette dinner party.  I had never heard of this and thought it was a kind of fondue.  It was better!!
There were so many different cheeses to choose from along with shrimp and ham, mushrooms and pineapple, onions and peppers.  It got off to a slow start I think because we all were no too sure of what to do but by the end of the dinner we were all experts.  People were stealing other people's shrimps and reaching across each other to ensure they got the food they were after.  I had my doubts about Mitch having enough to eat but he was pretty full by the end of the meal as we all were.
We barely made it out to the beach for the sunset and instead of candles, Ute got fireworks on her birthday.
A good time was had by all.  Good friends, family and food and drink - not necessarily in that order.

SARRACENIA PURPUREA

Years ago we came across Pitcher Plants growing in a swampy area near where we live.  I have never seen them anywhere else around here.  A few days ago Joanne and I came across them again in the same general area and I took some pictures of them.
They go by a few different names:  turtle sox or side saddle flower and they are carnivorous!!!
We made sure not to step on them and left them where they were.  I am sure I would not be successful were I to try and transplant them to my swampy area.  Hopefully whoever else discovers them will leave them be as well.