Shopping Online, Indoor Gardening, Pileated Woodpecker

 The little pond sported a thin covering of snow one morning recently. Neddy ventured onto it and, for the first time, the ice held his weight.  The lure of a stick is strong for that was what enticed him to toddle to the very middle. He gathered his prize and quickly hightailed it back to shore just as if he knew he was pushing his luck. 

The snow is not sticking but the ice is. Brr temperatures every day this past week as the season tips over into winter. 

Winter gardening is underway with the outdoor plants now inside. Fingers crossed I can keep them alive till spring. 

Heading quickly towards the shortest day of the year here in our hemisphere. The sunlight, when it does appear, is thinning. I'm questioning whether I should bother opening the curtains in the bedroom. 

Except I do enjoy this view below of the hydrangeas now wearing their brown autumn colours.

I heard a familiar drumming and grabbed my camera. It is always a treat to capture a few photos of the Pileated Woodpeckers. There is a second one there and this is usual for here...I spy two together quite often. 

Many of the trees here bear their marks.

My Christmas tree, which is heavily laden with bird ornaments, is up. Snowy owl is looking down again this year. 

I'm busy doing a little last minute shopping, all online. Here are three sites I enjoy scrolling through.

Hammacher Schlemmer

Lee Valley Tools

and 

Wild Bird Store Online

All have wonderful products and excellent service. Lee Valley Tools is Canadian and became well known when it was mentioned in an episode of the American sitcom, Parks and Rec. Here is an article featuring a chat with actor, Nick Offerman, telling how that came about.

Hope you are enjoying this time of year and remembering to relax as well. 

Happy to link with Our World Tuesday, Viewing Nature With Eileen and Paying Ready Attention. 

My First Confession, Golden Autumn Begins, Beautiful Birds

 A warm Canadian Welcome to my amateur nature nut blog! 

My first confession...I like to place my hand on trees. There is something about the various textures of their barks that I love.  And the strength that I feel when I lean in gives me strength.  I am just learning more about trees besides that which I always knew- they are beautiful, strong and useful. Here I am patting trees in the deciduous forest part of our trails. 

Summer is gradually fading but there are still lots of blooms to enjoy and photograph.  The autumn Asters, both wild and perennial in my garden, are opening and still being enjoyed by the odd bumblebee though their numbers have greatly lessened. 

But golden is the predominant colour for autumn here in a south western Ontario garden. Here is Liguliaria with its elephant ear sized leaves. This has not fared as well this year; maybe the continued bouts of humidity and high temperatures were not to its liking.

And of course, wild Goldenrod.

 I have a couple of patches of this one- a Sedum, Stonecrop, I think, which is very pretty up close and I like its succulent like leaves. 

The Brown Eyed Susans bloom a little earlier and last a long time. Like the Asters, there are banks of these planted in garden areas as well as wild dotting the little meadow areas.

Last night I went to sleep to the sound of two Barred Owls calling to each other in the woods behind my bedroom. It gave me the most wonderful feeling to know they are out there.  Perhaps it was these two I photographed down by our little pond at the start of summer. I still can summon the awe I felt as I watched them and took a few photos. 

I do love it when I spy those large birds. But I equally enjoy catching a shot or two of one of these, the  woodpeckers that frequent our little woods and just love this old pole. Its head was a blur.  

I love my rambles on this property and I especially like returning to the wooden house and having a cup of something. Would that feel wonderful to you too?

I sincerely hope your day includes some time in the great outdoors. 

Also happy to link this post with Stewart at Paying Ready Attention, Floral Friday Foto, Viewing Nature With Eileen, Our World Tuesday and I'd Rather B Birdin'.