Well, looky here...

Spring has sprung and the grass is riz...and I have photos once again!! Hurrah! I've been exploring Kilally Meadows as often as I can and my rambles should increase now that daytime volleyball has ended. I still have Friday nights at volleyball til the end of June.

Then I signed up for "Huff n' Puff" slo-pitch which was to start today. But the fields were closed to use today as it has been raining BUCKETS for several days. Yesterday I suffered with a migraine due to the intense low stalled over the city. There is still a bit of residual throbbing in my head today.

Pellride  - you asked about the uses of skunk cabbage so I did a little search and found this:

Skunk cabbage was used extensively as a medicinal plant, seasoning, and magical talisman by various tribes of Native Americans. While not considered edible raw, because the roots are toxic and the leaves can burn the mouth, the leaves may be dried and used in soups and stews.

Close to the skunk cabbage which likes a wet, marshy environment are the under-rated marsh marigolds. I think they are gorgeous and are one of the first spring flowers to pop open.

 Violets are everywhere, forming a lush carpet under trees and along the paths. I imagine I'll have to wait for a couple of dry days before I can venture into Kilally Meadows again. It's been flooded a lot this year due to so much rain. A friend told me a few days ago that he was about to plant his corn; however I'm sure he has delayed planting once again in the muddy fields.

Gorgeous blue scilla are everywhere - they are a feast for the eyes!

 While walking one day, close to the river, I heard a sound like a chainsaw starting up. I thought someone was clearing up dead branches. Then I saw a large shadow and looked up to see a heron fly right over my head bleating loudly. I think that may have been the first time I've heard that sound!

 I'm hoping to see the may apple flower this year - hope I don't miss it. They must not last long because last year I only caught sight of the little apples, no flowers.

Bloodroot is everywhere but beware! Bloodroot extracts have been listed as one of "187 Fake Cancer Cures people should avoid!"

 This is an area carpeted with violets. Just beautiful!

I will keep trying to capture Mr. Osprey. He was sitting on that metal thingy and I crept up trying to get his picture. Of course he saw me and took off (I thought I was well hidden behind some branches). So this is my effort at capturing the osprey in flight with a branch between me and him. It looks like he's coming right for me - good luck lifting me off the ground!!

Sorry I haven't been around much. I had some computer issues to sort out (my own) and still trying to sort out my mother's files, plus play a LOT of volleyball, get out hiking and so on and so on! At least my blog is back in action :)

Foto Friday

When I went to bed last night I made the mistake of looking out my windows - woops! There was a layer of white stuff on everything! Yuck! It's all gone now but it made me wonder what the weather was like one year ago.

These photos cover this week, one year ago. There was a tiny bit of snow on the trout lilies...

and weenies and burgers on my brother's BBQ!

My sister and brother-in-law were visiting from PEI!

There I am...

 In addition to the trout lilies blooming the blood root was up.

The trails at Kilally were dry and the sky was blue...

Lots of limbs were down...

blossoms were unfolding...

moss was glowing...

and an odd looking landscape was revealing itself.

Although it is nippy and very windy here today the snow is gone and the temperatures are supposed to rise to 20c by Monday. That will bring the spring flowers on and will take me to the forest!

Here's what I saw a week ago in the forest:

I love skunk cabbage when it first appears...

It is so gloriously green...

and when you look straight down at it it looks like giant green roses.

Ivy and other ground cover is springing back to life...

 and my first glimpse of forest wildflowers is the lovely bright coltsfoot! I was so happy to see it!

...and the pussy willow trees were a welcome sight...

...wild garlic everywhere! So fragrant!

I checked the osprey nest but nothing to see there yet...it won't be long. You may remember that last May I went to the forest for 30 days in a row and recorded what I saw. I plan to do that again this year as volleyball ends at the end of April so I can go back to my forest wanderings.

I have seen (mostly heard) lots of birds but no much animal life yet. I can't wait to see the white-tailed deer and their new flock of young ones. Last year I was lucky enough to see the buck a few times.

Today is BLOG POST 1199!! I'll have to come up with something really great for Post 1200! Something wise and pithy (love that word)! Wait and see... (I really have no idea yet!) Maybe something from the forest!!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Another Visitor - OMG

No photos of our latest visitor , unfortunately. My darling daughter and her fella from Jersey parted ways at Christmas - the 9-10 hour drive being too much of an obstacle to overcome. Now she has a new fella who lives in Detroit, only a 2 hour drive. Much more doable - we'll see how it goes. He visited London this weekend and I walked the fine line between giving them their privacy and getting to know him. So far so good - he seems really nice.

I spent more time in the woods as Saturday was the annual Thames River cleanup day. I could have filled my 4 garbage bags about 10 times over so I bought an extra box to keep in the truck so I can continue  "unjunking" my favourite spot to trail walk/run. Here's a few pics from the last couple of days...

Bloodroot Day One

Bloodroot Day TWO!

May apple

My favourite colour - GREEN!!

Skunk Cabbage - not a pretty name but I think it's beautiful at this stage!

The garbage I collect plus a mouldy old comforter and some plastic sheeting - ready for pickup!

We relaxed for the rest of the day - Lily caught a few rays!

While Luna enjoyed her little bed :)

It's a lot cooler today but at least there are no tornadoes heading our way! Take care those of you in Tornado Alley!

Plover Mills

Where have I been?  I have been so excited about the wonderful weather we've been experiencing (sorry East Coasters...) that I haven't been spending much time indoors. But today we've had some rain on and off...so here I am!!

Last Friday I spent some time on my bike and ended up downtown to snag a few photos of Kazi's latest gig - full-time day bartender at a brand new micro-brewery/bar/restaurant/retail store!! It's called Toboggan and I can't wait til a hot and sweaty bike ride ends with me sitting at my daughter's bar drinking a craft beer served by her loving hand! Hoping for too much??

She's worked a couple of shifts though they aren't officially open yet. They've had a few corporate events over the past week just for practice and to spread the word. Well...I just made that up but it sounds pretty good doesn't it? I do know they had some corporate events - I don't know when the grand opening is.

I was hoping Kazi might see me out the window and offer me a beverage but no...but your eagle eye might espy the top of a toboggan by the open window.

Saturday I hiked the Plover Mills Trail....again. We moved so fast that I couldn't really get any good photos so like the trooper I am I went back by myself in the afternoon to just stroll and take photos. Because you KNOW how I LOVE photos!!

Bloodroot...

And this is why it's called Bloodroot!

Hundreds of Trilliums (our provincial flower) throughout the woods...there's a closeup further down...

 

Most of the year large parts of the Thames River are too shallow for canoes, kayaks etc but right now it's still full from the spring run-off.

Did you know their were red Trilliums too?

 I love looking straight down into skunk cabbage - very pretty.

                                     

Do any of my plant experts know the name of this purplish plant?

Sunday I went to the trailer and I have WATER!! Hurrah! Only cold water for now as I have to call the natural gas company to get hooked up - natural gas will also power my stove and I'm thinking of getting a natural gas BBQ too!! No more propane tanks!  I was too busy to take any photos...oh darn! The birds seemed to enjoy my grass seed :(  I spent most of the day inside cleaning which was too bad as it was  quite mild and sunny but soon all the work will be done and I can just go and enjoy myself.

I spent lots of moolah today at Dollarama buying stuff for the trailer - cutlery, dishes, utensils, etc etc. And now you're caught up on the life of Jane. Oh, except for this evening - my brother is having a "shed night" to meet some people from the Netherlands who are staying with a neighbour and to listen to the tunes of Bob Dylan. Yes, it's a Dylan night. I'm not overly fond of him so I may leave early. I saw him once in concert and he kept his back to us the whole night, never even acknowledged our presence...you know, the presence who paid $100 for a friggin' ticket!!