Shout Out to You All

What trying times the world is in, eh? How quickly this virus has spread throughout the globe. Pandemic = chaos to say the least.

Here in our home, Angie is fortunate to be able to work from home now. She doesn't have to make the trip to the downtown area via public transit. As for me, it's the opposite. Work is still a thing, which I really am grateful for. It's stupid busy at Pepsi, busy like July kind of busy... summer is our peak for sales. I do my best to stay physically distant from everyone else. I spend most of my work shift on my forklift which is almost the same size as my Mazda 3 but I sit about 4.5 ft up. I disinfect the truck every day before starting my job. Hand washing is a regular thing every time I am off my truck for any reason. Other than that, it's mostly life at home, enjoying the backyard critter crew and the few walks have been in remote areas with the main purpose of getting nest boxes ready for the birds.

I hope everyone who reads my blogs is doing well, both you and your families. We're all in this one together.

Here's a little bit of what's going on over here in way of the animals.

I've recently made a new pigeon friend. He's a big bird. He knows I'm the guy with the grub and he will follow me around, cautiously hanging out with me but won't come to hand. I'm okay with that. I like that he's a daily visitor. He makes me feel special. HA!

After a bit of chit chat on social media, a friend suggested a couple names and one was Churchill. Angie approved. So here you are, say "hello" to Churchill.

We have a pair of Mourning Doves that have been entertaining us for a few weeks now. What's so exciting about Mourning Doves? Well, we don't get a lot of them. Years ago we did but a Cooper's Hawk did a number on them. Both Angie and I like the doves. Their peaceful call can lull us to sleep on the deck during the dog days of summer. Having a bonded pair is quite endearing to watch. Initially we only had one. The bird called day after day for about a week and then another one showed up. Now they're inseparable and are with us every day for a good part of the day. Angie has named them Mildred and Moe. We'd be okay if they set up nest here with us. I'm trying to make the area more appealing to them. We shall see.

Our resident rabbit has been making random day time appearances. I think he is living a couple yards over but with their 2 loud rambunctious dogs, it might be spooking him some days. We both like having a backyard bunny though I am sure at some point in the summer I will be shaking my fist at him for eating one or more of my plants. But that's life with wild ones, eh?

He is caught on the cam fairly regularly too.

The other critters are showing up nightly too.

Opossums. I'm still catching two on the cam. One is smaller and darker than the other.

Numerous skunks. I'd like to think this one is Topper. It sure looks like her.

Topper and another.

This bald one has been around for a couple months now too.

If you looked at the dates with the skunks, they were all here on the same night.

Of course we cannot omit the raccoons. I can't even fathom how many may be around. I've caught five at once in the winter. Two or three together lately plus a lot of lone ones.

One.

Two.

Three.

Here's a funny capture from earlier in March. I got caught on the cam as I tried to take a picture of one.

The creatures seem to tolerate each other too.

I had a new creature on the cam but I cannot find the photos. It was a deer mouse. He lives down near the shed and that's fine, just as long as that is where he stays. Maybe I will get him on cam again soon?

Anyway, ya, this is a bit of a catch up blog and a shout out to you. May we all get through this terrible thing, without too much loss of any kind.

Just hang in there.

And stay safe.

Feel free to say "hello" back and tell me how things are with you.