Blog Archives
Sun and Cold
It was so nice to see the sun shining yesterday – but now that we’re into winter, the sun shining often means cold. At this time of year -23C feeds very cold, but later (in January), -23 will probably be a relief from the -30′s or lower. Today it is back up to -15C, but there is a windchill that feels like -27C. 
They are predicting -2C with flurries by this afternoon. Its good to know that my room (with hot chocolate) is all ready for me in Texas.
I took some pictures when walking Chester along the Red River yesterday. Sometimes I see more in the pictures than I noticed at the time I took them.
Red River Dec 5
This is the bank, and you can see that the ice is buckling right up against the shore. This is because the river has dropped and the ice couldn’t drop because of the rocks along the shore – so it buckled.
Close up of some of the footprints from above picture
I haven’t figured out yet what is walking across the river, but these footprints are right on the bank.
Close up of ice on the edge
Also taken from the first picture and there are more footprints. Here you can see the thickness of the ice before it buckled, but as you can see, the ice has already formed under it again.
Red River Dec 5
The open spot across the Red River has now completely frozen. I hadn’t noticed the dog walker across the river when I took this picture and you can see the footprints going right across the river here too.
Red River Dec 5
The sun is up on parts of the Red River. The spot where mist is rising still has some open water there.
On Africam today, we have seen Elephant (including big tusker Isilo), Impala, Warthog, Egyptian Geese, Wildebeest, Terrapin, Butterflies, Zebra, Waterbuck, Nyala and Oxpeckers. Click here to see all of today’s pictures
Chester
For the last few days, I had been watching Chester and looking for the clues that he may have had a seizure while I was at work and all was fine. Saturday was exactly 4 weeks since his last seizure and when Saturday passed I started to hope that had been his last.
Unfortunately his last one has now been changed to today. He had a seizure at 2:45 am today. He woke me up with the jaw noises he makes just as it is starting, and I helped him off the bed where he had the seizure. It lasted the usual 2 minutes or so and then it took 1 1/2 hours until he was calm enough to go back to bed (where he slept, but I didn’t).
This morning all seems fine, except that he didn’t eat all his meal. Since he has been on the meds, he has always demolished anything given to him, but today he left about 1/3 of his meal uneaten. I will leave it out for him and I’m sure he will eat it before I have to leave for work.
OK – I walked away to have my shower and Chester cleaned up his dish.
It is a very chilly -23C this morning. The high today is only supposed to get up to -13C, so it probably won’t warm up much before our walk and may even drop a couple of degrees (it often does).
So far on Africam today, we have seen Lions, Elephants, Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Nyala, Impala, Baboons, Woolly-necked Stork, Egyptian Geese, Fork-tailed Drongo, Hadeda Ibis, Tree Agama, Warthog, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Kudu, Blacksmith Lapwing, and Hyaena. Click here to see all of today’s pictures.
It’s Here!
The it is winter. The snow is on the ground and it will now be staying for several months. Time to get used to it again. Time to re-learn how to drive on slippery roads (especially at intersections). Time to be prepared to slow down at intersections so you can stop when the light turns to yellow and then red. Yellow does not mean speed up. Time to leave a little more space between your vehicle and one the ahead of you.
It is also time for my critter sightings to pretty much disappear. I did see one seagull on yesterday’s walk with Chester. It was on the far side of the river though and I didn’t even bother turning the camera on. It was cloudy and snowing a bit, so I knew that even my Sony NEX wouldn’t manage to get much of a picture. My pansy finally gave up and lay down yesterday, but I hope to see it again in the spring.
Sightings at Africam were wonderful though. 
I don’t even have to rely on others for pictures today, since I snapped some good ones myself. Of course there are lots that I missed too.
So far today, we have seen Lions, Cape Buffalo, Elephant, Impala, Warthog (with the 3 adorable babies), Nyala, Kudu, Black Backed Jackal, Three-banded Plover, Glossy Starling, Cape Turtle Dove, Bushbuck, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Hadeda Ibis, Waterbuck, Woolly-necked Stork, Oxpecker, Zebra, Wood Sandpiper, Helmeted Guinea Fowl and Reedbuck.
Cape Buffalo at Nkorho November 17
Cape Turtle Doves at Nkorho November 17
Wildebeest at Nkorho November 17
Have I mentioned that I will be at Nkorho next year? 
Impala at Elephant Plains November 17
Lions at Tembe November 17
Lions at Tembe November 17
Click here to see all of today’s pictures.
The temperature here is -11C with snow and a windchill that feels like -17C as Chester and I prepare to go out for our morning walk along the Red River. The temperature in and around Nkorho has been around 40C lately.
May 24 River Walk and Men with Trowels
What a chilly morning – it was 4C when Chester and I took our walk! brrrrr I had to turn the heat on in the house. Normally May and June are pretty much free months as no heating and no air conditioning are necessary but it was way too chilly in here to leave it off today.
I got a picture of a pair of Wood Duck – doing what else – swimming away from us of course.
I also got a couple of pictures of the men with trowels putting the stucco up on the house next door. They got here early and got to work right away. With several of them working, it didn’t take much time.
Men with Trowels
Men with Trowels
Wood Ducks May 24
As I mentioned before I took another trip to the zoo here. I saw a bit online about the plans for the Northern exhibit and if its as good as they plan, it is going to be an amazing exhibit. It is called Journey to Churchill and you can take a look at it here. It will take a couple more years to complete it, but it will be worth it.
Here is another picture I took this trip.
Canada Goose Goslings
Red River Rising April 16th
The temperature was +1C when Chester and I went for our walk along the Red River late this morning. Now at mid afternoon, there has been no change – so I suspect that will be our high temperature today. They are saying +3C for tomorrow’s high. I think we just took a giant step backwards and away from spring.
The snow is turning into mush and I’m sure glad I didn’t wash the car when I filled it with gas yesterday.
My hives are starting to go away. I still have plenty of bumps all over me, but they are not bright red now and the itching is under control.
big tree across the Red River
Red River looking North April 16th
The Wood Ducks are back and I hope they nest in the area again.
Wood Ducks
Wood Duck
Merry Christmas
It looks like we skipped the rest of spring and completely missed summer and autumn and are now back in winter. Merry Christmas!
I know – it is not unusual to get snow in April, but we do not need any more moisture right now and certainly not the white stuff! It looks to be about 2 inches – so its not a heavy snow, but it is still coming down lightly.
The temperature is -1C as I am writing this and it is expected to get to a high of +3C and not much better than that for a few days.
I know the snow is not going to stay around for long and I am certainly not going to shovel it.
My Yard this Morning
We will see what is left of this stuff by the time Chester and I take our walk along the Red River a little later.
Red River April 15th
Chester and I started our morning off with the usual walk to and along the Red River. There wasn’t much (if any) change in the water level today – if anything, it went down a bit.
I didn’t get any of the regular pictures today – well, I shouldn’t say ‘not any’ since the ducks are regular picture subjects here and another little bird joined in today too.
Mallard April 15
Mallard April 15
Little Sparrow (maybe Chipping Sparrow)
Tree cut by a Beaver
I’ve gone past this tree on pretty much every walk and didn’t notice it until today. Wonder if the beavers are going to try to dam the Red River – LOL
My hives are feeling better today. They were actually feeling ok during the day yesterday after I started on the meds – but I wasn’t drowsy and didn’t sleep well. For some reason, I got really itchy once I was in bed and ended up scratching for most of the night. So – today I bought more of the regular Benadryl as well as some night time Benadryl. I haven’t counted my bumps, but I’m thinking there are less of them today.
I don’t often show my daughter’s cats off to the world, but they were both in the sunroom laying on the 101 Dalmatian comforter that I have down for Chester.
Cyrus and Craven
While Cyrus s on the comforter anyway and Craven just lay down in front. They seem to be looking at me as if I had disturbed their sleep or something – LOL.
It is still pretty chilly here today. It is +5C right now at mid afternoon and they are talking about snow tonight. Thats ok – we can handle it!
At Nkorho on Africam, we just had a hippo walk by. He didn’t feel like getting into the water this time and just kept on going.
Red River Rising April 13th
What a shock to wake up to a temperature of -8C, which dropped to -9C with a windchill of -19C while Chester and I walked this morning. Brrrrrr – I had to get my winter jacket out – the wind was nasty. The high today is only supposed to be zero.
I got my usual Red River pictures, including some Mallard Ducks and I also took a picture of my hoya that has just flowered. The flower has been just about ready to open, but this morning when I walked into the kitchen, I smelled it right away. I missed a picture of my first outdoor flower yesterday. I didn’t notice the crocus had flowered when I walked Chester, but saw it when I was heading for work – a little late as often happens, so no time to go back inside to get the camera. This morning it wasn’t open when I walked, but I’ll check again before leaving for work.
Here are today’s pictures
Big Tree April 13th
Another Ball April 13th
Red River looking North April 13th
Mallard Ducks April 13th
Mallard Duck April 13th
Hoya April 13th
In case you hadn’t heard already, the mystery critter at Tembe on Africam was a young Nyala. His horns were deformed, which could indicate health problems, but no signs of bites were evident. I don’t know if they examined him enough to determine if a snake bite had occurred though. His body was left where he fell, so that scavengers could eat.
It’s Wednesday!
With a temperature of -2C, I thought it would be fine to just wear my light jacket on today’s walk with Chester along the Red River. Silly me didn’t check the windchill first, but I’m not sure that would have changed my mind. When I got back I checked the windchill and it was -6C, which is the same temperature I walked in yesterday wearing my light jacket – but today it seemed much colder. The river is changing quickly now with the temperatures getting above zero every day and you can even see water along the edge on my north looking picture today. I saw one lone goose flying by, but didn’t have time to get my camera up for a picture of it.
First – here is the big tree – not much change with it today but you can see more of the river beneath the snow in front of it.
Big Tree March 30
Then, we look south along the Red River on the opposite bank at the bend.
Red River South at the bend
Then looking north towards the trees. This is where you can actually see the water along the bank – so its not just ice. Either the river is starting to rise, which gets water between the ice and the bank or the ice has melted enough to allow water up along the sides. I suspect that the river has actually started to rise with the melting snow. This gives the ice room to move and it will soon start breaking up.
Red River North March 30
I’ve still got a little time to settle down and watch Africam before work now.
Dancing Stork
Last night (for me) and early this morning (for Africa), we got to witness a Saddle Billed Stork dancing at Tembe Elephant Park on Africam. It was beautiful to watch and something that I had never seen before. It appeared as if he was hunting and maybe this was such a special find that he danced – or maybe this was to confuse his prey so he could catch it. I really have no idea though. If there had been another stork around (of the same kind, since there was a Woolly Necked Stork in the vicinity), I might have thought this could be a mating ritual.
Here are a couple of the pictures I took – thanks to zoomie following him so well. I put more pictures up in the daily picture thread.
Saddle Billed Stork at Tembe
Saddle Billed Stork at Tembe
The temperature today for Chester and I on our walk was -13C with no windchill and under a bright sunny sky. No puddles – just the ice to walk on where there would have been water otherwise and since I’m still wearing my spikes, that was no problem. It is supposed to get up to zero today, so some melting will be happening. I should probably get myself another pair of spikes for next year. This was my 2nd year wearing these ones and they are being used on concrete quite a bit now in between the ice, so they must be wearing out.
Yesterday, I saw 3 geese flying by as I was leaving work. They’re back!!!
