Snow is Rare

 We went from spending a winter in Edmonton, Alberta during a year with record snowfall to living in Ontario during a record breaking warm winter. When the snow DOES fall, we try to make it to a hill for some tobogganing. We act fast. The snow can disappear the next day.

We have made it when school is out and the hill is covered and we also have made it during a school day where the hill is practically our own. Both are fun!

Nature Study Continued

 While comparing differnt textures of bark we noticed fungus growing.

 Some of the trees had moss on them. This one that is rotting is covered in it.

Some of the trees that were down had signs of insects.

This tree told a story. A woodpecker was here.

This tree was wet on one side. This is when I pointed out that all of the trees had more moss on the north side.

We had a wonderful hike. It was well overdue and now that it's cold again, it makes it that much more meaningful.

Christmas Parade

 Small town Christmas Parades are fun, free and it's easy to have a good view.

 While waiting the kids played on the stairs of this old building.

 The pigeons seemed to know that something was going on.

 I thought that these dogs were so adorable!

Santa made an appearance. Life is good in small town Ontario.



Nature Behind the Farm

 We went back to the bush behind the farm where we are currently living.

 

 

 Zoe and I took the golf cart and Austyn drove his dirt bike. I explained that with all of the noise the animals won't be out for us to see, but they insisted. After all, it is a very long walk to get all the way back to the trees.

 

 

There were deer tracks everywhere and we saw some close to the farm as well, which surprised us.

 

 

 This little guy stuck out like a sore thumb on the dull ground.

 We looked at different weeds of the area.

The cat tails were spreading their seeds.

 

 

The milkweeds were fluffy as well.

 

 

We helped spread their seeds by making wishes and blowing them toward the ditch.

 We looked at different leaves and tried to identify which trees they fell from. They decided to make leaf rubs from some of the leaves.

 We looked at the shapes of the trees.

 After spoting a hunters tent we decided not to enter the trees incase someone was there hunting.

 

 

 We spoted a sea gull and these Canadian geese.

 

 

 This Queen Annes Lace had an insect nest in the middle of it.

 This fungus looked bright on the dull bark of this tree.

 

 

 We saw many kinds of nuts. Here is an acorn that lost it's cap.

 

 

 There were many berries. Some looked like a dark purple/black, as well. We liked how these berries were so bright.

 

 

 This flower was still alive.

 

 

 I'm not sure what these marks on the ground are from. Maybe deer antlers rubbed here? There were many tracks here and an opening into the bush where it looked like the deer frequented.

 Zoe grew antlers.

 

 

 We found this balloon.

 

 

This is a spot where a tree fell and the combine ran over it. The beans here were still on the plants.

This grasshopper looked pretty healthy.

This one didn't look so healthy. Zoe was able to pick him up without a fight.

 I thought it was cool how this maple leaf fell right in the middle of this large weed.

It was a great day for some nature. I think that if we ever own land and have a bush we would make it free of hunting so that we could explore the trees without having to worry about being mistaken for a deer.

Resort Fun

 There are always many things to do at the resort we stay at. 

 There are many pools to choose from.

 There are always crafts, board games, movies, and other activities to do.

 Austyn made a couple door hangers for when he gets his own room again.

 Zoe made a craft and coloured.

 They met some friends and one friend they want to keep in touch with.

 This is daddy's splash at the slide.

We needed this vacation. I wish it could have been longer, but with my Dad sick I didn't want to be gone too long.