Oak?

Yetismith

Apr 4

0634/3rd April 2023

There is a burned-out house on the way back from the Post Office.

As we passed it this morning I noticed that some nearby trees appeared to have been burned.

Re-focusing, I realised the trees were not burnt.

Today's deep shadows gave the appearance of charcoal.

Curious. Something new to notice every day!

Despite rain and warm temperatures, small patches of ice are still clinging to crevices and woods.

Trees are filling out, the garden beginning to awaken, but Spring arrives cautiously in this part of the World.

As well it should.

Another clear, breezy day.

It felt good to be outside.

Even if the terrain is still a little stark.

Mr Groundhog doesn't seem very keen, however.

Normally they emerge with a great appetite.

So far, we have only been honoured with short visits.

As far as we can tell, by a single individual.

We began to wonder if the groundhogs had abandoned us. Grant chopped up some carrot as an enticement, but it was another furry friend who benefited.

Zoomer shot off under the sumac with his prize. There is no great competition for our humble offering. Yet.

Another visitor has returned, though she comes in the evening when it is hard to get a good photograph of her. Does her belly look round?

Last night a fox rushed off down the hill in a hurry as if it had made a killing, and I thought it held something in its jaw, but I wasn't quite sure. This could be the male fox.

Some creatures we aren't able to photograph at all.

The other day I was playing with Willow when I got an urgent request:

"Come downstairs! Bring a towel!"

"What sort of mess have we got this time?" I wondered.

"Shut the door!" said the man: keep the cats at bay:

Something was the chimney. Grant had heard it crashing about and was busy removing a cap that gives access.

A small bird shot out and took refuge at the end of the basement, where Grant luckily managed to catch it quite easily.

It was a little Bluebird. We so seldom see them as we don't have quite the right terrain around my place.

This wasn't how we wanted to view one, but we were happy to have rescued it, expressed our good wishes and took it outside where it flew off into a pine tree.

After a brief rest it departed in search of a better situation.