November ends for 2009

Here it is – less than a month to Christmas and 2009 is almost over..  We have a tiny bit of snow on the ground, but the temperature is expected to get back over 0C in the next couple of days, so we may just go into December without any snow. 

I had an expensive week this week.  A few days ago, my toaster died – just completely died.   So, I bought a new one.  That wasn’t too bad – just $13.  Then, my fridge has been acting up for a few weeks now – water keeps filling up the vegetable tray.  I often see water dripping down the back of the fridge – and it must be coming from the freezer – but the freezer appears to  be just fine.   I had the same problem several years ago and it ended up costing me $500. before it was fixed, because it seems there are several things that could cause it.  The repair guy started with the most common and cheapest fix, but that didn’t do it and neither did the next fix, which cost more.  The 3rd replacement part, which cost even more, finally did it and by then, it added up to almost what it would cost for a new fridge.

So – this time, I decided to go right to the new fridge.  I took a drive out to Lockport Appliances and for $599. I got a nice one.  It is a better size than the old one and will fit in the spot without quite so much trouble.  Being new, it will also save on energy costs. 

At about the same time, I got my monthly phone/cable/internet bill from MTS and after having made 2 previous calls to remove an extra charge and 2 assurances that it had been done – the same charge was on there without any credit for the 2 payments that I made, expecting to have it removed.

So – Shaw has been making great offers to switch over and my next call was to them to make arrangements for the switch.  They gave me a great price for a year – but unfortunately, MTS needs a month notice, so I still have to make this last payment to them.  My official move to Shaw will be on December 28th.

When I talked to MTS to cancel, they of course offered a reduced price to keep me – but the price was still higher than the one I’ve got with Shaw.  She apologized about that extra charge still being there too – but then, so did the other reps from MTS.

I asked the lady from Shaw about going wireless and she told me what I needed to do that and she also told me that Future Shop had the router I would need on sale this weekend.  I had already spent a lot (way too much) this week, but I decided I might as well go and get the router now too.   With wireless, I will be able to sit out on my deck in the summer with my baby laptop.

I just put my new article up at BellaOnline – it is called Starter Birds

Oh, I almost forgot to mention the Bald Eagle I saw a few days ago when the dogs and I were walking along the Red River one morning. Unfortunately, he was too far away to get a picture. I did not even realize he was an eagle right away – due to the light at the time. He looked like a large black bird, but when he made a turn, I could clearly see the white head and tail. He was following along the river and heading for downtown when I saw him.

November 20th

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of November and the temperatures are in the +C and absolutely no snow!  Right now at 6pm, it is +6C.  This almost makes up for the nasty summer we had this year.

My Christmas Cactus is pretty much in full bloom now.  

I have just created a fan page for my birds site at BellaOnline.  If you are on facebook, please take a look and maybe join me as a fan.  It is set up so that you can post on the page and put pictures of your bird(s) on as well.  Hope to see you there.

So far I am my only fan, but the page just went up today.

Birds at BellaOnline on Facebook

November 11th

Today is Remembrance Day.  Please take time to stop and remember those who died for us, so that we can live.

Since it is Remembrance Day, I do not have to go to work today, which means I just might get more of my yard work done.  Due to the wind yesterday, my entire front and back yard are once again covered in leaves – but not as thick as they were before.  I will also have to get up on the ladder to make sure the eaves are clean.  Right now it is +2C with a predicted high of 8C – not bad for this time of year.

For pictures today, I have 2 shots of the sunrise from a couple of days ago.  I don’t normally walk at this time of day, but I had an earlier shift for a few days.

It was only a couple of minutes between the first picture and the 2nd picture.

A couple of days before this, when I didn’t have my camera with me – silly me thought it would be too dark to take pictures, so I didn’t take it – there were a few clouds in the sky, so the colours were extra bright.

My chrysanthemums seemed to have stopped in time since the snow we had last month.  They haven’t changed a bit since the snow melted – same flowers still just there!

My Christmas Cactus, however is just about ready to bloom!

Africam continues to be an exciting site to watch and one day an amazing group of animals gathered at Nkorho at one time. First there were some rhinos having a drink, when a group of buffalo joined them, followed by a small breeding herd of elephants. Three of the big five at one small waterhole at one time. Luckily, the zoomie was on duty and we got some great views of all of them in one camera shot at the same time. Take a look at the video taken by Morris for us at Three of the Big Five.  Along with this group was our little pair of gucks, E & T.

A few days before that we had 4 cheetahs come to the waterhole together for a drink, the Styx pride of lions have been by in the last few days as well.  Take a look at Africam’s main page – follow the link above, to see tons of great videos of the visitors at Nkorho and Elephant Plains waterholes.

November 4th

It is a chilly -1C this morning with a forecast high of +4C.  I am anxiously waiting to see if their forecast for my weekend (Friday and Saturday) is true though, as they say +11C for both days.  I might actually get some yard work done before the snow flies if that happens.  I did get a couple of bags of leaves raked up last weekend, but I get about 25-30 bags normally due to all my trees.

The Boma Babbles newsletter for November is now out.  You can find it at November Boma Babbles.  This is the newsletter for Africam, which as you probably know, I am addicted too.

My article for my birds site at BellaOnline went up on Sunday also. You can read it at Time Change and Your Bird.

I haven’t been taking any pictures lately. I have been bouncing around at different times for work and it is often dark when the dogs and I go for our morning walk along the Red River. When we get to walk at our normal times, there is nothing around posing for pictures.

October 31st – Happy Halloween

Not too bad a day here.  Right now (early evening) it is 2C and it was nice enough out that I got some (not much – but some) leaf raking done in my yard.  A few million leaves fell the last few days when I was away.

Speaking of being away, I spent the last few days at the Shooting Star Casino in Minnesota.  Regretfully, I left a portion of my money there – but since I am not a hard-core gambler, I didn’t gamble much and therefor didn’t loose much.  Mostly, I just gamble away the money that they give me to go there, but I did spend a few dollars of my own money this time too.

I had been expecting about $40. more than normal to spend this time because that was the agreement between the tour company, the hotel and I when I got my passport this summer.  They had offered an $80. bonus (which pretty much paid for the passport), with $40. off the price of the ticket and an extra $40. to spend at the casino.  But the casino is under new management and they decided not to comply with the agreement.  The tour company has instead offered $40. off another trip.

I do as much people watching as I do gambling while I am there and that can be a lot of fun.  I eat way too much due to the buffet meals – but only ate twice a day to kind of make up for that.  

Tonight is Halloween (of course), so I am expecting many ghosts and goblins to be arriving at any time.

Africam has had quite a bit of excitement the last few days due to a wild dog pack that has arrived at Nkorho Lodge’s waterhole. Head for the main Africam page (follow the link above to Africam) to see the videos of recent sightings. Wild dog sightings are very rare at the waterholes.

Here are two pictures that I took while watching the video that Morris made for those of us (including me) who missed the first visit.

October 23rd

We are now having our typical fall days here.  It seems like this is the first time all year that we have had typical weather.  At mid afternoon it is 6C after being -2C earlier today when the dogs and I took our walk.  I have been taking some pictures while going for walks daily, but haven’t got around to downloading them until today.

Before I get to those pictures though, I have to tell you about the excitement at Africam today when a Cheetah came for a drink  at Nkorho and then decided to relax there for awhile.  We set a record for the number of viewers watching this cat lie there and roll over every once in awhile to get a change in scenery.  Here is one of the pictures that I took of this beauty.

Cheetah

Click here to see the video that Morris took for us. Thanks you Morris and thank you to the NK zoomie! What a great sighting!

Now for the regularly schedule pictures taken along the Red River back home in Winnipeg. 

Red River Oct 13th

This was such a beautiful morning.  The river looked so peaceful and the water was so still that the reflection of the trees on the other side of the river looked very pretty.  There was a bit of mist just over the water as well.

Seagull Oct 21

Seagull and Mallard Duck Oct 23

Maybe a beaver? on Oct 21

same guy Oct 21

The zoom on the camera is great – but I can’t say for sure if this is a beaver or an otter.  He was busy swimming along anyway.

berries and leaves on my Mountain Ash Oct 23

Mums still blooming Oct 23rd - after the snow.

my Elm Trees Oct 23

Taken from my back step looking up at all the millions of leaves still on these trees.  I don’t see any point in raking when those still have to fall.

more trees and more leaves still to fall

Not much else to report right now.  I spend 5 days of the week at work and the other 2 days, doing chores around the house and running errands.

October 10th

At 0C today, the snow has not melted, although it did melt a bit.  I do not know the official amount that we received, but there were about 6 inches of it that I had to brush off my car this morning.  Forgetting about that snow, I didn’t leave early to head for my class at the Y and almost ended up late due to having to clean the car before driving off.

Here are my poor Mums today

and my Mountain Ash berries

The leaves are falling while green this year and there are lots on the ground now, on top of the snow.

I took a picture of the Red River on our walk today too.  As you can see, the leaves are still green on the trees across the river and the boats are still out at the dock.

Boats at the dock across the Red River

Tomorrow, the temperature is supposed to go up to 2C and Monday 4C, so the snow should all be gone soon and will hopefully not be back for at least a month or more.

The weather has been really strange this year – sure hope it gets back to normal in 2010.  Global warming has by-passed Winnipeg.

Right now on Africam, I have Nkorho up and am listening to the sound of a lion. He sounds like he is getting quite close to the waterhole.

I have a turkey in my fridge that is defrosting and to be cooked for Thanksgiving on Monday.

October 9th

SNOW!!!  How can there be snow on October 9th?

I’m going to file an official complaint, as soon as I figure out where to file it!

Snow on Oct 9th

There is not a lot and I know it’s not going to stay – but it is making a mess of my yard!  It is -1C right now and there is a wind chill of -8C.  I’m glad I got the poop patrol done this morning before this covered it all up.

Snow Covered Mums

Snow Covered Mountain Ash Berries

Of course, this is the weekend and the Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada as well.  This is usually the last weekend for many people to use their cottages and close them up until next spring – but I suspect that many people will end up staying in the city due to the weather.

Nothing exciting on our walk along the Red River this morning.  It was cold, but I’m not ready to get out my winter jacket yet, because it will get much colder in the coming months.   Chester is enjoying some extra time outside running around and chasing the snowflakes and the falling leaves – the leaves just started falling today because we had a hard frost last night, so the leaves and snow are falling together.  You can see that the leaves are still green on the mountain ash above.  Dakota enjoys the cooler weather, but does not seem excited to see the snow this year.

A pride of lions visited the Nkorho Pan waterhole at Africam again yesterday (or today) – well, yesterday in Africa, because it is now Saturday there, but today in Canada because it is still Friday here – LOL.        Anyway, this was the Styx pride this time.  There has been quite a bit of lion activity there recently.

You can see Friday’s pictures here.

October 3rd

I guess I am going to have to admit that summer is gone.  Once the temperature dropped last week, it has stayed chilly since then with it getting very close to frost a couple of days.  Right now it is 10C, which is the high for the day and it is supposed to rain tonight and for the next two days, with highs a little lower.

At least Dakota doesn’t get as tired on our walks now as the cool air refreshes her.  We are still not going any further though because she still stumbles and I am afraid that one day she will have problems getting back up.  She is too heavy for me to carry her home.

We saw quite a few geese on the Red River during our walk this morning.  They seem to be in the flocking mode to prepare for their flight down south for the winter.  

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

There were 3 flocks and each one had 1 guard goose, that gave warnings as we approached – but none of the other geese seemed to really mind us walking along.

I don’t think I have ever mentioned this, but recently, I became the editor of the Boma Babbles newsletter, which is from Africam, where, as I am sure you know, I am addicted to watching the cameras.  Although there will be a new newsletter out very soon, you can see the latest issue at September Boma Babbles. When the October issues comes out, I’ll put up a link to that also, if you are interested.

Last night for me, but early morning in Africa, we got to see a baboon family playing at the Elephant Plains camera.

Baboons

I just put a new article up at BellaOnline called Budgie Food.

Sept 22nd

What a chilly morning for our walk along the Red River.  It was 7C when we returned home, but I didn’t look to see what it was when we left.   The sun was shining, so I hadn’t checked before leaving.

Yesterday, I rode my bicycle to work as usual, even though they were predicting thunderstorms in the afternoon.  I was hoping that if we did get the storm in the afternoon, it would be nice by the time I head for home.  We didn’t get any storm, but a bit of rain fell (hardly any) – but the main problem was that it was getting dark by my quitting time.  I have already lost my Sunday morning ride to work because it is now dark when I start – but I hadn’t even thought about the early darkness in the evening.  I am hoping that  it was mainly due to the clouds and I am going to ride again today with sunny skies forecast for the whole day.  If it is still getting dark when I leave, I will have to seriously consider lights for my bike because I was expecting to ride well into October this year.

We have had a lot of excitement at Nkorho on Africam the last few days, because the Windmill pride of lions have been visiting. Usually lions stop for a drink and continue on, but this pride has come every day for almost a week now. I managed to catch them for a few minutes one day after receiving a tweet from twitter about their presence, but the rest of the visits, I have only seen due to the videos produced – mostly by Morris. You can watch the videos, by following the link above to the main africam page, where the most recent videos are highlighted – and most of them are lion videos right now.

A couple of days ago, I took a picture of Dakota and Sable having a snooze – close to each other – but in their own spaces. 

Dakota and Sable