When we returned from our Winter escape in early April the weather was still coolish but the grass and trees were showing signs of life and there was a hint of Spring in the air.
The familiar old tree at the beginning of Duncan Road remains the same, displaying the names of friends and neighbours. The Pelletier and Margiotta signs are dwarfed by Stan and Cathy's Dezaeyer sign that coincidently glows in the dark.
Two days after settling in we woke to 3 inches of fresh snow. The snow was gone after a couple hours but the ice remained on the lake for 3 more weeks. Excellent reason to start a blaze in the fireplace.
Pretty soon we are back into the routine of checking for mail at our communal box ~1.5 kms down the road. When we signed up for rural mail delivery the postmaster suggested we pick one of the higher up boxes. Why? we asked. Because the dogs pee on the lower ones, she replied!
Yvonne watching zillions on minnows from the dock. Too early now but in a month or so we'll net a few for bait. Walleyes love em and we love walleyes. It's a food chain thing.
These are Goldeneye females. A type of Wood Duck that normally nests in a tree cavity. We often see several waiting their turn to get into the nesting box. It's amazing to watch them fly past at low altitude and on the next pass fly right into the open hole, rearing up at the last second and entering head first. I've seen them pile in when there's already another duck inside. I've also seen up to four standing on the roof providing, I assume, some instruction or moral support for a first-time egg layer.
Note the larger birdhouse (nesting box) on the left. You'll see a goldeneye perched in the opening after laying an egg inside. Last year we were lucky enough to watch 12 newly hatched chicks jump from the duck house and quickly make their way to the safety of the water.
Also, keep an eye on the smaller birdhouse in the lower right-hand corner. A pair of swallows are feeding their young inside and they take turns flying in and out with insects they catch in flight.
Len and Lorraine stopped in for a short visit. They had also stopped in to visit in Leisure World in March.
My latest creation.
Tito and I take a break from our busy routines. Sometimes we do the same in his yard.
I took this photo of Yvonne on a weekday morning.
Funny how the weekdays are so nice (and quiet) compared to the weekends.
Our neighbour Marg (in blue) had Australian house guests Edna and Roger
visiting earlier this month. They declined our offer to go
tubing, instead they settled for a leisurely tour of the lake.
It's beginning to feel more and more like Summer!
