New Years Eve

Another spring like day at Crocus Creek..It has been an amazing year out here. The spring was wet and the trees grew like crazy because of it. When you plant over 8000 trees in 5 years it is rewarding to see them grow so tall.


The wildlife had a good year too! Most of the muledeer survived hunting season. It makes me happy that they did. Mydoe showing up in the fall with her fawn definitely was a high light of the year for me. She is still bringing him around nightly for an apple or carrot. She hears me call the cat and she comes running.Zak has named her fawn Pokey! He is soo little good thing it has been so nice!

POKEY

THE SCARS ON HER UPPER HIND LEGS MAKE MYDOE EASY TO PICK OUT

NOT EVERYONE GETS APPLES AND STRAWBERRIES AT CROCUS CREEK

Spikey being here still is really nice. He is a 6 year old buck that was here as a spike buck our first winter. He was mean and obnoxious and even fought off the bigger bucks that firs year to get to the sunflower seeds I spread out for them. Last year we thought we would have lost him as he lost is antlers before the other bucks and spent a  month being beat up by them for food. Had we not made sure he got food he likely would have died . I would feed the rest in one area and then sneak around the corner and provide barley and sunflowers seeds to him. He was very skinny and weak by the end of January. Happily he survived the winter and went on to survive the hunting season. He seemed to know to stick on our land where no one hunts..

SPIKEY AND PAL EATING CHRISTMAS TREE

There are several sharp tailed grouse calling the acerage home and I have seen a few hungarian partridges as well!
We had our usual pair of Geese on the pond and they were successful at hatching out 3 beautiful goslings ....that made the annual hike in their first 24 hours of life to the trout pond 1/2 mile away!!!

There are several whitetail deer that visit but they tend to go to our neighbours east of us...
There are way too many coyotes...I do however enjoy stepping out the door at night to listen to their howling and also talking amongst themselves with whiny chatter...



Next Year Tom is not going to work so hard....(PLEASE GOD!)

My New Years Resolution for both of us...to enjoy this place alot more and worry and work alot less!
Happy New Year to All

Christmas Leftovers

Is it just me or is apparent to you that there is so much Christmas stuff leftover in the big box stores after "the day" that it is unreal.
I remember when the boxing day sales just cleared that stuff out. You were lucky to get a box of cards after the boxing day sale held ON boxing day... Today I was amazed to see shelves full of cards, wrappign paper, lights , ornaments and on and on...It was nice to see all the live trees sold in the lots this year...
We do how ever now live in a world of excess. Even after Hallowe'en there are tons of costumes and even treats filling the shelves.

What is the reason for this???  Just too much offered?
Today it poured rain...we drove in to town late morning and the highway was very icy. The mall parking lot was literally icy enough to skate on....By 2 pm it had all melted as temperatures reached +4..according to our truck thermometer.Next week we are to reach highs of +7. Not bad for January..
Crocus Creek was quite  today...Charlotte is showing signs of being very lonely....Hope she makes spring when we will bring in a couple younger cats for her to hopefully welcome to Crocus Creek Cat Condo

Cat Walk

Charlotte was lonely so after attempting to take my do not like the cold minpin and rat terrier for a walk without success away we went. She followed me step by step to the barn , where I let her cruise around for a bit , then back to the house for a reward of turkey meat.

breaking a trail

wait for me!!!

A beautiful winter day!!!

The birds are having a great time at the feeders today

There are many redpolls on the upside down finch feeder and the woodpecker and chickadees are loving my Christmas gift from my brother. A feeder with nuts ,berries and seeds.

camera shy chickadee

 Woodpecker with sunflower seed in mouth

 male redpoll bright red chest and head



Mydoe

Today was a great day to get rid of some old Christmas ornaments.  The deer are enjoying the lentils that are around on the ground and the alfalfa bales stood up in the yard. I got to within 5 feet of Mydoe and her fawn today. He is a little guy ....  if we had a winter like last year he might not have made it. With December nearly gone and even if January and February are very cold as predicted he is little but nice a fat and will likely make it. I don't want the little guy to become friendly with all humans so I make sure I come into him upwind so he smells me and knows who it is...
They really found the tossed outside Christmas tree interesting and after a few nibbles at it must have decided it wasn't all that great to eat.
Charlotte was okay today ...here is hoping she doesn't meet the same end as Barney ad KitKat. She was wet under her chin this morning and panic hit me...but when I went for our daily walk with her it was dried up. Will have to check in morning.
Crocus Creek was calm today and it just felt so good to be here ....

December 24th 2011

Wow it isChristmas Eve and I am watching chipping sparrows at my feeders. Spring birds. There are several different species eating actually . Pine siskins,chickadees, Red Polls and one lonelyfemale house sparow that has damaged tail feathers..First house sparrow Ihave ever seen here. Walked Miss Ellie and Piper along with Charlotte the cat ...Beautiful weather for the start of winter...