Looking Back...

Last August was very dry - in fact, we had very little rain all summer in 2025.

But my photos - dated by my phone app - remind me that during the previous summer - 2024 -we had A LOT of rain.

These pictures, taken in August 2024, two years ago today - show a corner of a cornfield totally flooded... And a very active pump that's trying to keep it dry!

I wonder how wet the field is this year. We had a lot of rain last month. I wonder if the pump is running to keep up! From year to year it's different.

The Month That Was

Our summer is half over!

As I review my phenology calendar for last month, it's the weather that stand out - the rainstorm that brought flooding to our street on July 1...

And two 3-day heat waves - the first starting the same day as the flood. 

A second 3-day heat wave followed two weeks later.

No animals noted on my July 2026 phenology calendar - though squirrels and chipmunks continued to scurry around the yard, and one even stole a few almost-ripe tomatoes from my son's two tomato plants. 

I guess I was too busy with post-flood recovery to notice!

Canada Day Thunder Storm

Yesterday - Canada Day - was hot and muggy. 

Then, in the afternoon - a thunder storm rolled through.

I decided to take a nap! (What's the point of worrying?!)

When I got up, the main storm had passed, and I could see two "streams" in the nearby college grounds.

Terry headed over to dig trenches - to keep the water running to lower ground. It seemed to help.

Glad we were here at home - not getting soaked downtown, where all the festivities were occurring! 

Then it started to pour again... 

And then the basement flooding started!!

(To be continued... we're in the middle of it now...)

Early Morning Sky...

We have reached the year's longest days...

The light of dawn arrives before 5 AM.

These photos were taken by my son at 5:15 AM - sunrise - as he rode the bus to work.

I hate to miss these "gifts" - but I slept through this one!

"I hope you didn't miss this beautiful sunrise," he texted me. "Here are some pictures, in case you did!"

Glad he thought to share!

Last Month's Phenology Calendar

Day by day I continue to create monthly phenology calendars. In them, I note:

• the weather 
• events that fill my day, and
• birds and animals I encounter

The most satisfying part for me is looking out the window and trying to re-create the sky I see before me at that moment. I try to do that sometime during the day.

As any sky-watcher will tell you, the sky looks different in every direction. And it is constantly changing.

Is there such a thing as a "sky painter"? If there is - that is what I aspire to be! 

(... Among many other things, I might add!!)

Rainy Days Ahead

It's April...

Our weather experts are predicting rainy days ahead.

Not what I want to see!

I have to remind myself that "April showers bring May flowers"... 

Though they do make raking difficult. And I was hoping to rake my flower beds before the bugs arrive!

Is It Spring?!!

This picture was taken a week ago - on Thursday, Match 26.

And the next one was taken last Monday, four days later... Both show the same corner of our yard.

Most of our snow has gone, and I raked up a large container of pine cones, dead branches and grass! 

In a matter of days, we jumped  from winter to spring!

Ice Storm

Two days ago our region had an ice storm that coated windows...

.... power lines...

... and trees.

Experience has taught us that heavy laden, ice covered  branches can bend to touch power lines, or even break off, cutting electricity.

So we took a few precautions, like keeping cell phones charged, putting gas in our small generator, so that it would be ready to go if needed. 

I also took some food out of the fridge, in case the power went out and we wanted to avoid opening the fridge door. Not easily perishable food, but things like lettuce, apples, bread and jam.

I also made herbal tea that I enjoy both hot and at room temperature.

We stayed indoors all day. Fortunately we didn't lose power. We were able to cook.

But we were ready - in case we couldn't.

Another Daylight Milestone

Yesterday our community reached another  daylight milestone as our days lengthen EVER SO SLIGHTLY towards spring...

We have gained about 14 minutes of daylight in the two weeks since our shortest days in December. ALL that daylight was gained IN THE AFTERNOON... until YESTERDAY... when we gained 2 MINUTES - one in the morning and another in the afternoon...

Soon we'll be enjoying longer days!! The sun will soon be rising BEFORE 7:30 am and setting AFTER SUPPER - not in the late afternoon (currently 4:35 pm)!

More daylight changes EVERYTHING!

What Do I Want to Remember?!

I was inspired to begin noting the weather - and other natural phenomena around me - on a monthly phenology wheel last January. My main goal was to get a snapshot of my activities, day by day, throughout the year.

(And, of course, the weather!)

Now - a year later... 

... as I look at other phenology wheels I find online...

... I wonder if there's anything else I'd like to include...

The weather remains my main preoccupation, probably because it affects my mood and my energy level. And it's always there.

But I might also like to note the colour of the sky! And the length of our daylight hours... Not sure how I'd do that - on  one tiny segment of paper - but to me, they're real mood boosters.

I truly admire those who paint - or embroider - beautiful detailed pictures. But I don't think I could do that... every day!

So I plan to play around with different formats for a while. I don't want to stop entirely. I would also like to make a colourful depiction. 

I realize that the more I take note of the world around me, the more aware of it I become. And I don't want to lose that awareness!

My December Phenology Calendar

I'm celebrating one year of noting weather and natural phenomena in the world around me on on a phenology calendar.

It's been interesting - not only taking time to notice more - but also writing it down. 

This past month, I've been paying particular attention to the waning minutes of daylight, trying to depict the turnaround period when daylight hours stop diminishing and begin increasing. This December, this occurred over a 9-day period, between December 17 and 25.

I've decided to continue noting weather, personal activities, and wildlife I see in our neighbourhood in the coming months - but in a slightly different format.

It's an interesting and satisfying activity. I do need to work on improving my sketches of squirrels!

The Same Sunday Afternoon

Last Sunday afternoon, my daughter went for a run near the water in Toronto... She sent me these pictures...

The weather looked beautiful - though she said it was windy.

She crossed a pedestrian bridge we often admire driving by.

Heading back to her apartment, she encountered floats returning from the Santa Claus Parade. The one below looks like a giant Canada goose.

When she got back to her apartment, the sun was setting. 

For a few minutes, the reflection of the setting sun lit up downtown high rises. 

Stunning!

After admiring her view, I sent her this picture of OUR view - here in Ottawa! 

Only 450 km (280 miles) away - but worlds apart!

Freezing Fog?!

Yesterday there was a freezing fog advisory on my weather app. Freezing fog doesn't appear  there very often.

What does it look like? I wondered...

As soon as it was light (around 7 am), I took a few pictures.

Not too bad here, though I haven't seen people out walking.

The back hedge had a light coating of frost or ice. No action yet in the two squirrel nests in the branches.

Perhaps a good morning to stay inside!

But a few minutes later, I noticed a black squirrel outdoors... Does she have a leaf in her mouth?!

Maybe she needs to reinforce her nest!

Later, when we drove to the mall, the scenery around is was a real "crystal wonderland"!