Remembering October

This past October was a month of change.

Outdoors, trees changed colour, then dropped their leaves. I tried to capture a sense of that on my phenology calendar for the month. 

Indoors, our basement - which had been partially taken apart after the flood - was rebuilt.

Now it's almost done. 

It won't feel like home for a few more weeks, until furniture is moved into place and we can use the basement again.

In short, October 2026 was a cheerful month - with progress being made on our house, beautiful colours outdoors... and a trip to Toronto as well.

New Spot for Sunning

Squirrels rarely sit still. But on a sunny day, they often stop for a while to rest in the sun.

I notice that this little guy has found a new spot for sunning - tail to the sun - and a good lookout view for wandering cats!

Levi, our neighbour's cat, is a stealthy hunter - but can he climb wooden fences? Maybe he can jump up! You can't be too careful!!

Crafty Octopus and Squid

I've been collecting pictures of handmade toy ideas - fun things to knit and crochet with leftover yarn.

When I saw a collection of knit fish, I had a sudden inspiration - why not try crocheting an octopus or squid... ?

How hard can that be?! 

So I proceeded to try, replicating photos of real ones I found online...

Fun!! Hopefully not too scary...

The beginning of a new hobby?!

Wooden Basket

My daughter likes to collect unusual art.

A while back she bought this interesting handmade basket at an antique shop.

It can lie flat - or even hang on the wall...

Or open up to hold things. 

Handmade by CKW!

I love it!

Early November Weather

Parts of Canada already have snow on the ground...

But here in Ottawa the weather is still warm...

Yesterday was a busy day for black squirrels out running in the leaves!

Later, there was a peaceful - if early - sunset...

Every day we lose about 3 minutes of daylight...

The only flower I noticed in our yard was this one mauve flower lying low. A cheerful souvenir of summer.

What's This?!

I was putting away some gardening tools when I noticed a newly-made dusty hole near the shed.

Groundhogs?? Oh, no! Not again!

I guess we'll have to wait and see! Last time we had groundhogs in our yard - a few years ago - one would sit outside the hole and keep watch.

They build networks of tunnels to other places - like under sheds! I wouldn't be surprised if this hole is connected to it. 

It was a lot of work getting them to move - but we did finally succeed!

Every time I passed the window I'd look out to see if a groundhog was sitting outside... 

But a few days later,  I saw - not a groundhog but a chipmunk come out! Is that his or her newly created nest - or was the chipmunk simply checking out the newly-bored tunnel?!

A quick online search revealed that the tunnel was probably made by a chipmunk!

That's a relief! 

Wow! They also make complicated homes underground.

Virtual Treks: Moving On

Life was hectic here last month: Builders came several days a week to fix up our basement which had flooded in July...  It's not quite done yet. It should be completed and ready to move our stuff back in by mid-November.

Then I somehow injured my right leg. My daughter suggested it could be my IT band - a ligament that runs up and down the outside of each leg. She found some exercises online that I started to do.

It's a lot better now - and I attribute it to the exercises and to REST! I did cut back on my walking.

But - in spite of distractions and pain - I have managed to complete my virtual walk in Australia. Yay!! I am now moving into the Northern Hemisphere, to the south-western- most point of England - a place with the charming name of "Land's End."

I'm looking forward to a new kind of scenery in this different part of the world!

My destination is "John o' Groats" - on the north-eastern tip of Scotland.