Wednesday, June 30, 2021

HOT WEATHER KEEPS US MOSTLY INDOORS

 Not much happening for photos in this hot weather.  We are enjoying our airconditioned house these days.  We did go up to Karen's yesterday to pick peas but we went early and beat most of the heat.  I've gone walking up the river after supper every night but it was pretty brutal last night as it was still 43C when I headed out about 7 pm.  I took my big camera with a polarizing filter on trying to get photos of the large carp in the river but I wasn't happy with any of the images so I took some photos of the moving water to give some coolness to the people suffering from the heat.









Welcome to our little town

June 29

June 29


Wednesday, June 23, 2021

BLUEBIRDS AND FAWN TIME

Female Western Bluebird

Male Western Bluebird

Male Western Bluebird

Male Western Bluebird

On our way up to Karen's yesterday to pick peas we took a couple of sideroads to get some vineyard views.

This view over Vaseux Lake is looking down to where our house is.  The shear cliff in the center top is McIntyre Bluff and we are just beyond the base of it.

What greeted us at Karen's

 

Sunday, June 20, 2021

WE MET A BEAR ON OUR WALK LAST NIGHT

 We wanted to try a different route for our walk last night so we drove to Okanagan Falls then took the Green Lake Road.  We parked along the Okanagan River channel and walked along the old railroad grade toward Vaseux Lake.  It appears to be a seldom used area and there were lots of birds and other wildlife.  Suddenly I spotted the bear standing up just across a pond from us about 60-70 feet away.   He just remained calm and hardly moved until after we carried on.  There was no sign of him on our way back a few minutes later.  The only downside was the mosquitos in the wooded section of the trail.   They found Aileen to be rather delectable while they barely bit me.


Swallowtail on Milkweed

Pygmy Nuthatch on Ponderosa Pine

Black Bear


I know, not black but this isn't unusual as black bears come in many colours.

Young Yellow-bellied Marmot not far from where the bear was.  He would be a tasty morsel for the bear.


Notice how the marmot has gotten comfortable with me and is relaxing instead of ready for flight.


He let me get within about 8-9 feet.

Along the back road to Penticton a couple days ago.

The flower bed roughed in.

The RZR has found a new home next to the motorhome.  Don't know how long that will last as they are talking of re-aligning the parking spots and I may lose the extra wide one.

Wild baby's Breath, Gypsophila.  This is a Eurasian specie that has escaped from cultivation.

We managed to see two of these Western Painted Turtles on our walk last night, one before the bear and one after.


Monday, June 14, 2021

ANOTHER LOAD FROM STORAGE, UNPACKING AND ORGANIZING

 

We’re continuing to get ourselves established in the new house.  Disposing of unneeded items is a bit of a hurdle but we’re making progress.  We were up to Salmon Arm last Monday and brought home the car full and the trailer loaded.  There is a lot of stuff still in that storage shed that will have to find a new home.  I still have most of my backpacking gear which I won’t ever use again and tools and supplies that we won’t have room for here.  We’re thinking of taking the motor home up there in a while and going through everything and then trying to have a yard sale.  It is a bit of an adventure opening boxes we packed almost thirteen years ago!

We continue to get the bugs worked out here and the other day the electrician came and replaced six faulty breakers in the main electrical panel.   We were getting pretty frustrated with the washing machine and microwave tripping the switch partway through their cycle.  We may be getting close to something done on the floor issue which had a lot of scuff marks and a cut when we took possession.

We had two cabinet beds delivered yesterday.  We got a fairly good deal on two floor models and so far are pleased with them.  Our table and chairs are late July for arrival, last I heard.  No lack of projects to work on with the landscaping going to be a long term project, depending on how hot it gets.  Right now it is fairly cool so I get out and work at it a couple times a day.  Just don’t seem to be able to do what I used to, for some reason.  I bought an electronic keypad for one of the doors so we don’t have to carry keys all the time.  And, I bought a BBQ in the box which will need assembly.

We were pleasantly surprised when the guy in charge of the RV parking came and said he had a spot for the motor home.  I thought we’d be on a waiting list for some time so that was a bonus.  I ordered landscape fabric online this evening so hope it comes soon so we can continue with the project.  There is more prep work we can do while we’re waiting.

Aileen is back to her regular walking schedule.  I join her after supper and sometimes go for a walk after breakfast.  When things slow down a bit we will have to get back to geocaching.  I have a spot in mind to set out a series of caches but it will take some time to get it done.


Gray Catbird

Bullock's Oriole

Male Wood Ducks

Spotted Towhee

Eastern Kingbird

Quail

Goldfinch

American Dipper

American Dipper

Gray Catbird

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Our front yard alfalfa crop

Sunset at our house

Spring run off from Apex Mtn

Visitor to our carport

Prickly Pear Cactus

Okanagan Lake

See, I do relax once in a while!

McIntyre Bluff and the Okanagan River dam

Showy Milkweed

Our motor home in its new home (the black one)

Morning view off our deck

Quite the root system on the alfalfa I have to remove 

The alfalfa is sitting on a large garbage can