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.
Terry and I each divide the year into two seasons ...(but they aren't the same!)
(Mine also fluctuate more than his do!)
I divide my year into days and months when it's safe for me to walk outdoors - before the ice and snow arrive - and when it's not.
We're currently in walking season - but that could change at any time, without warning. Any day, I could wake up and there you are!
So my walking season can begin as early as February (in good years) and end as early as mid-October.
Terry's two seasons are PLANNED by the NFL Football league: football season and non-football season.
Football season begins in September and ends in early February. For these five and a half months, every family plan depends on the timing of the game or games he NEEDS to watch. Absolutely nothing pre-empts that.
We often comment that it's significant that we met and got engaged in early spring, right after football season had ended. We got married 8 months later - at the beginning of football season.
When Terry talked about having a TV at our wedding reception (so as not to miss an important game), I thought he was joking - but he wasn't! I didn't really know the man I was marrying!
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.
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.
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!
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...)
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!"
It's April...
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!
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!
.... 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.
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!
(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!
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!
