Summer heat

On the way to the beach at Belmont Park with the golden grand-dog, we pass Clarks Creek which runs through a cattle pasture. 

Where the creek crosses the road, a shady area is frequented by the cattle. On this particular hot and humid day, the cattle were in the same area on our way home from the beach several hours later.

Several farms in the area have horses as well.

A recent news story on the Prince Edward Island tells of the tails of horses being cut off overnight by thieves while the horses were in a field near a farmer’s barn. Luckily, these two escaped that fate. Such a theft is difficult to understand.

Around 5 a.m. one morning, my husband looked out to see this visitor in our neighbour’s garden at the back of our garden. 

We will have to be careful when the golden grand-dog visits again for a two weeks soon. 

During one of our walks along the boardwalk this past week we saw a Garter Snake along the way. As we watched, it must have sensed us there and headed into the weed and stayed there.

Did it feel hidden like that though its back part was exposed? We can only wonder…

A momma Black Duck is in the stream by the boardwalk with three ducklings these days.

We didn’t see the ducklings when they were smaller this year, until now. Maybe she had them out and about later in the day than we’ve been walking recently.

The area’s Great Blue Heron is back in the marsh again, 

though content to stand silently among the grasses on Sunday morning.

We saw our first Yellowlegs for this year as well. It was well camouflaged among the seaweeds.

Also this week, as we walked to the car from the boardwalk, I spotted this newborn. It was about 30 mm or 1 1/4 inches in length. From what we can determine, it was possibly a newborn mouse. 

It probably was taken from its nest by an opportunistic predator and dropped on the sidewalk. I hope at least momma mouse survived.

Finally, the succession of wildflowers continues this summer and with the rain and heat we’ve had, the blooms are thriving. I especially love the scenes of flowers with the sea behind them.

However, a field of blooms is pretty special too.

In the neighbourhood

Last weekend, our neighbour had fence posts removed, leaving huge holes along the property line for a few hours. Looking through the kitchen window, I noticed a neighbourhood crow looking into a hole, maneuvering around it, as if attempting to get in there. 

My husband and I guessed there was food below.

The crow gave up and when I looked in the hole, a fat little mouse was down there, stranded. 

We felt bad for it and despite our best efforts to rescue it via a shovel, then a stick plastered with peanut butter, hoping it would climb the stick, the mouse died. I had dropped in cheese for the poor creature, giving it a last meal at least. Poor thing. A quick death from the crow might have been better.

A slug somehow made its way into the hole as well 

and while we watched the area, another mouse went by the hole without falling in. An area Song Sparrow, probably one of those who greets me every morning at dawn, stopped by the stick for a look around. 

The mouse was not alone at the end.

We took the peanut butter stick out of the hole and left it on the patio and before we could wipe off the peanut butter, a crow discovered it and pecked it off the stick. 

The crow did a good job cleaning the stick!  

Starlings live in our neighbourhood and nesting is underway. One day last week, we noticed a neighbour putting a grate over one of the back vents on his house. The next day, two starlings were noisy and posturing on the roof of the house. 

We saw each land on the grate and call out as it did. The two continued the behaviour for hours, possibly because their nest was destroyed or made inaccessible by the grate.

The neighbourhood animals include numerous birds besides Crows, Starlings and Sparrows, such as Tree Swallows, Robins, Blue Jays, and Flickers. Foxes have stopped by as well as several predatory felines. Unlike the cats, neighbourhood dogs are confined to their yards, but we hear them greeting others often.

You know, there is a children’s story featuring the neighbourhood animals waiting to be told here. Even if that never happens though, the animals sure keep us entertained.

The final show

She cried to break her heart. Her mother, our daughter, wrapped her arms around her oldest child, Sylvie, and asked what was wrong.

“Dance is over again,” Sylvie replied through the sobs.

This was the scene after the final show for the 2017-18 season. The last ten months were busy for both granddaughters, as dance classes filled the calendar. At seven, Sylvie took three classes and assisted her teacher with a class of younger students. Five year old Caitlin took two classes.

The showcase for the students who worked so hard all year was a treat. From the little four year olds to the senior students, everyone did a wonderful job.

This year Sylvie had the stage to herself for a brief time as Snow White, summoning princesses on stage, the girls from the class she helped with all year. She proceeded to put them to sleep with a bite from that special apple. 

Sylvie also performed with her tap and ballet classes, never missing a beat.

Caitlin performed her ballet steps as a mouse. She was not shy on stage and performed every movement well. She was the cutest mouse ever!

For now, dancing is a passion for both girls. Who knows what the future will bring but Sylvie and Caitlin are already talking about what classes they want to do next year.