This was our 2013 Jayco Flight Swift 198 RD

THIS WAS OUR 2013 JAYCO FLIGHT SWIFT 198RD, PARKED AT THE TOMBSTONE TERRITORIES RV PARK IN ARIZONA



Monday 19 April 2021

Enjoying the outdoors

Just so that you all know, we are fine and are hanging around the house most of the time. Benno had his Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 shot a few weeks ago and I followed with my vaccination a week ago from the same manufacturer, but at a different location. Getting the appointments took a little effort because as soon as the available spots were posted on the Internet site, they were filled almost immediately and required inputting the same info all over again to find another timeslot.

 

With more imposed restrictions here in Ontario there is not much we can do or are allowed to do but at least we are able to enjoy our own properties. Here in the country it almost feels unchanged and normal and many folks come here to walk around the Hillman Marsh trails and surrounding area. There is a large wetland here at Lake Erie and wildlife is abundant especially migrating birds stop here first before flying further north. If I would just make the effort to take my camera with me when I drive into town for grocery shopping, I could show you deer crossing the road, wild turkeys feeding on the farmers’ fields and turtles heading for the water’s edge. Well, maybe I will remember in the future. 

 


Yesterday morning we took our dogs and went out into our neighborhood for a little outing and I did bring a camera. All these photos were taken a very short distance from where we live.  If you click on the Hillman Marsh link you find nice pictures.








There were several Muskrats in the area and I tried to get a shot of one close enough for my camera.

The Caldwell First Nation, previously known as the Chippewas of Point Pelee, own an 80-hectare property at the shores of Lake Erie in Leamington. This building is adjacent to the Hillman Marsh.
I spotted my first butterfly this year and believe it is a cabbage butterfly. Had to wait for it to settle to capture it on camera.

As per Ontario Southwest.com, the Wheatley harbour is home to the largest freshwater commercial fishing fleet in the world with approximately 45 fishing tugs. It is about 5 minutes from where we live.


Although the weather has been nice for the most part, a few cold nights are still in the forecast so I have to keep an eye on the few flower bulbs I already planted and hope the frost will not penetrate very deep. I joined in by cutting our grass as lawnmowers were purring at about every property in the neighborhood this past weekend. Benno thought that perhaps our self-propelled 21” Husqvarna lawnmower with Honda engine, which we use for the areas where the 42” John Deere lawn tractor doesn’t fit, might need an oil change after he checked the oil and found it to be very black. That chore had never occurred to me and we have used the mower for 9 years with filling it only with gasoline. Good grief, I had no idea, it starts always at the first pull with no complains though. Turned out we didn’t have the required oil and with nowadays restrictions, I placed an order for a Castrol 10W30 synthetic oil at Canadian Tire and made a curbside pickup. The salesgirl that came out to bring me my order said she was only allowed to place the bottle on the ground in the parking lot and not into my truck. I shake my head at rules and reason, but whatever.

 

The tulip bulbs I had planted last fall at the sloped flowerbed behind the garage all came up and produced nice flowers. However, it seems a critter, perhaps a raccoon or rabbit took a taste test at one of them and destroyed the bud and most of the stem. Too bad, but perhaps the bulb will survive for next year’s blooming. 

 

Before I close this post, Benno reminded me that at my last blog posting I never showed a picture of the 2000-Watt pure sine wave inverter from Renogy that goes with the solar panel installation. That is because at the time the unit was overdue in its delivery. I had inquired where the shipment went because it was showing out for delivery for several days but the delivery company had no record of it. After my complaint Amazon shipped out another inverter because it was determent that the unit was lost in transit and could not be found. Turned out both the original and the new order arrived within a day of each other. Of course we returned the new order back to Amazon. Great service I have to say.  


I hope everyone is doing ok and please don’t give up on my blog as I try to do more regular updates even if nothing exciting is happening. 

12 comments:

  1. Too many people in the cities to walk the paths safely.
    Tulips are Perennials and will be back next year.
    Benno did a good job With the Inverter installation.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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    1. You are probably right if there are too many people in one area it would be not a good idea to mingle. That is why many outdoor enthusiasts come here to wander around in the marshes with plenty of space and no one to encounter.

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  2. Your pictures of the area are beautiful. The swans are so graceful, I wonder if our surprise visitor from last year will ever return here.
    Critters, they sure love our plants. I'm very happy that mine don't get eaten, except my sunflower seeds when I plant them. Chippy is our only garden predator. Ha ha
    It is a blessing to have properties with yards as well as paths to walk on. I try not to take anything for granted but we do anyway - if we stay home, it seems nothing is different from our 'normal' world.

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    1. Thank you. It would be nice to see your surprise visitor again, wouldn't it be great if we knew where they have been and what happened? We have no Chippies here but would love to have one as they are cute. As to the nibbler, my tulips were probably a disappointment and so the rest were spared. Being in the country we can at least pretend all is well and nothing has changed (until we run out of things we cannot purchase).

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  3. Great installation of the inverter. Wish I could do that!! What a beautiful area you are near. Love the swans! The "rules" do seem to be weird. It just makes you shake your head. Beautiful tulips you have grown. I've been thinking about planting some myself, although it's a tad late now. Enjoy the wildlife!!

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    1. Thanks. Yes it is a nice area here and I should be taking more photos of our surroundings. We long to go traveling with our camper, but we are already in a nice setting many people would love to come to stay. Just remember to purchase some tulip bulbs when they are offered in the fall to plant. Perhaps it will be too hot for them in your area?

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  4. Beautiful pictures and how nice to have that area with wildlife so close by. Great to be able to take walks and enjoy. I am sure you would like to be able to get out and about with your travel trailer but you truly are blessed to be living in such a nice area during this time.

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    1. Thank you. It's true we are in a nice area and should really appreciate it more by taking the time to be out there. But you know if one is being told you cannot travel, then that is what you want to do.

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  5. Nice to be out and about in nature, with the dogs, isn’t it? Yep, the rules and regulations are a bit silly sometimes. And so different in different parts of the world. Let’s hope life can turn back to normal this summer!

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    1. Being Canadians we have to make do with what we got and we are lucky to at least have a little bit of freedom here in the country. Common sense is sometimes questionable, but I bet it happens everywhere.
      Thanks for dropping in and the comment.

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  6. I will never give up on your blog, no worries. Sometimes taking a walk with your camera you see things differently. I enjoyed my walk with you.

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    1. Thank you so much! I really should go out there and enjoy nature more often.

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