MEET MY NEW CO-WORKER!

Meet Basil!

Going into work just got a whole lot easier. The students residence office recently hired a new employee, Basil, who is a therapy dog. He's a fur-ball of love and joy.

He was wanting me to rub his tummy in this picture, and I happily obliged.

He's just over 3 months old and won't grow much bigger.

Time for a nap! Working for a living tires a puppy out.

I start vacation today and will miss his puppy kisses.


Taking a blogging break while on vacation, I'll be back in a couple weeks.

NOT THE WAY I LIKE TO SEE BIRDS

2400 birds (91 species) who didn't survive migration.

Yesterday on my lunch break I walked across the street to attend FLAP's annual "dead bird layout" at the ROM. It's a public awareness program, to make the public aware of the dangers migratory birds face every year just trying to make it through our city. Lights left on in city buildings at night and reflective glass are deadly to the birds. The 2400 birds pictured above is a small sample of the estimated 1 Million birds that die in our city every year.

I wanted to go to show my support for this organization, but it was tough to see, and I teared up a few times, first time when I spotted my "wish bird", a Whip-poor-will, in the mix. I stayed for the speech given by Founder, Michael Mesure, and was surprised to learn that FLAP has been around now for 25 years. I applaud this organization for their dedication and hard work, they are making a difference.

For more information on FLAP, please check out their website by clicking HERE.

A Northern Shrike was in the very middle of the group.

A circle of  Blue Jays around a group of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

This isn't how I like to see birds, but I am grateful to everyone at FLAP for working so hard to lesson the number of birds killed every year.

BIRDING BY CAR WITH SPECIAL GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER

Only my 2nd time seeing Short-eared Owls in the wild.

A couple weekends ago, Rob and I went out with our friends, Dave and Andi, on a day long birding trip that ended with a fantastic dinner at Jake's Grill in Burlington.

We birded parts of south western Ontario and did most of our birding by car. All photos in this blog were taken by Andi while sitting in the car. She got some great shots!

First time seeing a Horned Lark this winter!

We saw many Horned Larks and the biggest flock of Snow Buntings we've ever seen. We also had amazing views of a juvenile Bald Eagle and Rob and I had a lifer with Tundra Swans.

Always fun to see Wild Turkeys!

A herd of deer grazing along the highway.

Ok, the deer aren't birds, but we saw the largest herd of deer driving back home that any of us had ever seen, probably over 40 in total. We had to stop to have a look!

It was a great day and who knew you could see so many great birds just sitting in your car!

NO PROUDER CANADIAN

Stompin Tom Connors, the proudest Canadian.

Stompin Tom Connor's music was as much a part of my childhood in small town Nova Scotia as Kool-Aid, and I was saddened this morning to hear of his passing.

He was my first concert at age 5 and a special memory with my Dad. I saw him a couple more times in Ontario, and blogged about him in 2009.

He is a Canadian legend and loved this country and it's people like no other. I thoroughly enjoy his musical, toe-tapping stories about Canada from coast to coast. Though I am sad to hear of his passing, I'm glad there was a Stompin Tom to miss.

FUNKY FEET & SLEEPING BEAUTY

A red-morphed Eastern Screech Owl snoozes in the sun.

Last Sunday Rob and I went out for a short birding trip. We ran into some friends and had some great sightings. It was a short but sweet adventure.

We were pretty excited to see an American Coot out of the water.

They have the funkiest looking feet!

  
You never know what you're going to see when you leave the house!

WINTER ROAD TRIP

Snowshoeing one of the trails at Johnson's Cranberry Marsh .

It's become a bit of a tradition for us to do a "road trip" on long weekends, and last weekend here in Ontario was the "Family Day" long weekend so Rob and I did our winter road trip.

We drove about two hours north of Toronto to Bala to visit a place I've been wanting to visit for a few years now, Johnson's Cranberry Marsh.

 It was the perfect place to spend a winter afternoon! We had a delicious lunch before hitting one of the trails for some snowshoeing. I did some wine tasting and bought some goodies in the wonderfully stocked gift shop, including a jar of the best tasting Butternut Squash Soup we had with our lunch.

The perfect place to spend a winter afternoon.

I had a peek at the Turkeys that roam freely. They were tucked in their tent because the wind was cold.

My sexy Snow-Bunny!

It was our first time snowshoeing together and we had a lot of fun.

We'll be back!

2nd ANNUAL ALOGONQUIN WINTER GET-AWAY

A beautiful male Pine Grosbeak.

A couple weekends ago, Rob and I made the trip to Algonquin Park with our friends Jim & Lynda for our second annual Algonquin winter getaway. We had enjoyed ourselves so much last year we decided to make it an annual trip.

The park was gorgeous as we arrived, fresh fallen snow from the storm the day before had left everything snow covered and the park sparkled.

Just like last year, Rob and I had lifers as soon as we checked out the visitor centre feeders with Pine Grosbeaks, a winter wish bird for both of us.

Female Pine Grosbeak ready for lift off.

   We enjoyed the Spruce Bog Trail after our first stop at the visitor centre and had some good sightings.

We all had great looks at a Boreal Chickadee.

Love hand feeding the Gray Jays!

Our second visit to the visitor centre to warm up and have some lunch offered up another great bird.

Our best looks yet at a male White-winged Crossbill.

Later we walked up Opeongo Road and had saw some more Gray Jays, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Blue Jays and a very special little Chickadee.

We were all thrilled to see the"leucistic" Black-capped Chickadee from last year.

A pretty Gray Jay.

We spent the night in the nearby town of Dwight and enjoyed some great baking from Henrietta's Pine Bakery on both Saturday and Sunday, a stop here is now a must! It was another great trip.

VALENTINE'S DAY

Rob and I work different shifts, so I didn't see him today. I came home to find a dozen roses in the kitchen. After I turned on the computer I found some pictures of Meadow with the flowers. Since no note or card was with them, I'm not sure if they were for me or Meadow. Hmmm...... 

Glad she didn't eat them before I got home.

SNOW DAY

The backyard at 4pm this afternoon.

It's been a while since Toronto has seen this much snow get dumped at once, about 5 years I think. But it started coming down in the early morning hours and it is still coming down.

With the storm this morning came a migraine and I was late getting up.  I missed an opportunity to get a drive into work with a co-worker so I went out to wait for my bus after getting ready for work.

I waited for a bus that never came, called my boss, and after talking to him decided to take an unpaid "snow day", and that was fine by me.

After returning home I took some migraine medication and laid down on the couch to watch the chaos on the 24 hour news channel. The roads and travel were a nightmare, I was glad I decided to stay home.

I enjoyed watching the snow fall all day through the comfort of my kitchen window, the only thing that would of made it better is if Rob could of stayed home too. 

Our backyard ornamental Owls got buried.

JANUARY REWIND

Me and my Dad on his 75th birthday.

Wow, can't believe it's the last day of January, the month flew by! I returned to work on January 7th after having two lovely, long weeks off for the Christmas season. On the morning of January 16th I flew to Nova Scotia to spend my Dad's 75th birthday with him and have a visit for a few days. It was my first trip back since my Mother's funeral, and I had a bit of anxiety about it, but it was fine.

I had a good visit with my Dad, got to see some old friends and family members, enjoyed some Nova Scotia cuisine and even enjoyed a bit of birding. I also visited my Mother's final resting spot. It's in a beautiful spot, lots of trees. I had brought some bird seed and sprinkled the top of her headstone with it. I hope some pretty birds came to visit.

I returned the morning of January 20th, went to work on the 21st, and then was off the rest of the week with a sinus and ear infection.

It's been a busy week at work this week catching up and I'm amazed that it's February 1st tomorrow already.

I have lots of fun adventures coming up in the next couple months; a trip to Algonquin Park, Alberta trip in March and then off to Las Vegas for the first time to see my favorite band, Def Leppard. Doing the VIP experience again, and I can't wait.

Hoping the new year is being good to you all.

"SNOWY" NEW YEARS DAY

My favorite bird, the Snowy Owl.

It's become a New Years Day tradition for Rob and I to go birding, as long as the weather cooperates, and today it did.

Being in bed just after midnight has us up and outta the house quite early to enjoy a good morning of birding. Today we went just about an hour north of Toronto to an area where we knew our chances of seeing a Snowy Owl were pretty good. We ended up seeing 3, a record for us in that particular spot.

I had another "snow" bird on my mind though, Snow Buntings. A friend had let us know he had seen some there the day before.  As in every birding outing there isn't any guarantee the birds will be there, but today they were, and I was thrilled to see this winter visitor for the first time this season. I can still remember the thrill of seeing them for the first time ever, last year. I did a blog about it then.

Such pretty birds.

I love the aerial show they put on when they fly.

  The 2013 birding year is off to a good start!

2012 ~ A LOOK BACK

The best part of 2012, marrying Rob.

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that 2012 was the best and worst year of my life. A lot of great things happened, but the worst thing happened too, but life keeps moving forward and so do I.

January- Nine months after her diagnoses, my Mom succumbs to complications from brain cancer. Nothing in my life has changed me more as a person then losing my Mom, and it is the worst thing that as ever happened to me. So many things I wish I could still talk to her about.

When I was 19 years old she put me on a train for Toronto, sensing I would have a good life here, I do my best to do that for her, living a full life is my way of honoring hers.  

Taken in October 2011, when I spent Thanksgiving week with my Mom, the last time I would see her.

February- Rob and I join our friends, Jim and Lynda, for an Algonquin winter weekend away.

First "lifer" of 2012, Evening Grosbeaks at Algonquin Park.

March- We volunteer for the second time at the Toronto Sportsman Show with the Canadian Peregrine Foundation.

Rob educating the masses about birds of prey.

April- I take my first, of what is going to be an annual trip to Alberta for Easter to spend time with my brother and his family.

Having some Easter fun with my nieces!

 May- As any birder knows, May is all about the birds! Spring migration is in full swing. We take our 2nd trip to Point Pelee National Park with Jim and Lynda and spend much of our two week vacation chasing birds.

We're just a couple of "bird nerds".

June- I turn 43 and have a party with friends to celebrate.

Happy Birthday! It was fun celebrating with friends.

July & August- Most of our weekends are spent enjoying the backyard and we also did a couple summer road trips.

Enjoying a butter tart on one of our summer road trips; The Butter Tart Trail.

September- We celebrate Rob's 43rd birthday in Muskoka, as per usual. And I surprise him with a private outing to see a "raft" of Loons in Algonquin. We also have our 2nd tour of the Owl Foundation and are thrilled when we get to see 3 young Snowy Owls.

Re-sponsoring "Silo" the Barn Owl at the Muskoka Wildlife Centre on Rob's birthday.

An adorable young Snowy Owl!

October- I spend an amazing week in Florida with my friends, Patricia and her husband, Greg. I scratch another thing from my life list in honor of my Mom, swimming with a dolphin.

I also have my birding highlight of the year, which you can read about here.

See the look on my face? Pure joy, and that pretty much sums up the whole Florida trip.

November- Rob and I surprise all our friends and family by getting married in our home on what would of been Mom's 73rd birthday.

Our wedding cake.

 
December- My favorite month of the year! I always enjoy all the get togethers of the season. We also enjoyed our first good snowfall of the winter.

It was nice to get some snow!

Wishing you all the best in 2013!

THE CRITTER CHRISTMAS TREE

Rob putting some walnuts under the tree.

The birds and squirrels in our backyard already have it pretty good, but every Christmas we do a little "extra" for them.

About a week before Christmas we set up a "Critter Christmas Tree" in the back yard for them and on Christmas morning all edible ornaments are used to decorate it and lots of good stuff for them placed under it.

It's fun to watch the birds and squirrels come for their "presents" and the tree will remain all winter as a place of shelter.

This year; Juncos, Blue Jays, Chickadees, Cardinals and the squirrels all enjoyed the goodies in and under the tree.

Bagel spread with peanut butter and dipped in bird seed.

Cracked corn, peanuts and walnuts.

Running away with a walnut.

Enjoying a peanut.

I think Rob and I enjoy doing this for them, as much as they enjoy the extra goodies.