Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Solitude On My Deck. #4
Good morning and Happy Saturday to all of you! Grab a cup of coffee and relax for a few minutes. It was cloudy earlier and felt quite cool, especially with that wind. But, it seems to have cleared nicely now with lovely deep blue sky above the green of the trees. There are still a few clouds here and there, but nothing serious. Yesterday I went down to the river.
It was sunny and very little wind, a perfect combination for a walk. The wettest areas had mostly dried up, just a little water to walk through in two spots. Mostly those wet areas were now just soft, wet mud. Even though it was sunny, it was still a cool day with a high of only 70F (21C), so I wore a light jacket. So glad I did. The mosquitoes were out in large numbers along most of the path. I regularly had 20 on my hands at a time, plus more on my face and neck.
I guess they were quite happy to have a new “restaurant” walk into their neighborhood. Oh well. They need to eat too I suppose. I do not use mosquito repellant of any kind, that stuff is worse than the mosquitoes. Just my opinion. The worst part was when I stopped to take pics of something. Then those critters would really attack, and there would be dozens of them flying all around me.
But it was a beautiful walk and I managed to get some nice pics at the river, some I am showing today. Plus I was able to get some nice insect pics too. Also missed quite a few insects because they would not cooperate and land where I could get a picture of them. Oh well. Perhaps next time. I got to see a female blackburnian warbler and a male Canada warbler, both in the same area where they were nesting last summer. And both were out gathering insects to take back to the nest and hungry babies.
Unfortunately I was unable to get pictures of them, but there is still time. It would be nice to get the male blackburnian warbler as well. I did get the female last year. It is hard to get pics of warblers with all the leaves out now. They are small birds and like to stay hidden among the leaves. There were other warblers along the way too, but those species stay high in the trees, too high for pics. Chickadees and nuthatches, woodpeckers and pelicans, lots of different birds were around.
And the hermit thrush also. I love their song. They are especially active in singing early in the morning and late evening after the sun has set. But they sing anytime. They are a bird that is heard a lot but seldom seen. I certainly miss having that bench at the river, especially since all the rocks that I would normally sit on are now underwater. Part of the path which last time was under about 2 inches of water, is now flooded with about 2 feet of water for about 40 feet of the path.
Another part of the path is getting dangerously close to the edge of a collapsed embankment, and more will be collapsing soon, large cracks are developing on that embankment. Fortunately it is easy to walk further back from the edge. Well, I will have more to say and more pics to share from that walk, but that is all for today. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Understand about mosquitoes. When they get really bad, wearing mosquito netting hats and jackets make a huge difference. I eat garlic and take B complex vitamins, and not eating anything sweet, I am not so attractive to them. Mosquitos are vicious and can drain the blood of caribou with clouds of them. Enjoy your summer!
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Yes indeed, mosquitoes can be very hard on the animals! Hmm, never thought of mosquito netting hats, although they might interfere with picture taking. If they stay this bad I might look into that though. Thanks! Have a great weekend!😊😺🌞
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Still much warmer than the winter there …
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True, but this is summer, not winter, so it feels cold.😁
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I am *not* a fan of mosquitos but I’m glad you were able to get out and about.
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They can really spoil time outside doing things. Fortunately right at the river there wasn’t a problem. Thank you, it felt good getting down there again!😊📷
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How about some mosquito pics!? An apocryphal story of when I went canoeing in Illinois many years ago: The mosquitoes were so bad, they formed a group and picked up our canoe to haul us to their feeding ground! Fortunately we escaped when they dropped the canoe, because they saw the BIG ones coming! 😂
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Hmm, I did show one last year, but if they are still around on my next walk I will take some pics to show. Hey, that’s good! One time while trying to get a picture I had to remain still and my brother counted over 60 mosquitoes on me! Most got away with blood but I did get my picture.😂😹📷🦟🦟🦟
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Once Anita and I stopped for some photos under the bridge to PEI, and as we left she came behind me and noted dozens of mosquitos buzzing behind me and landing on my back! When I walked toward her, she said, “NOOOooo, stay away! Don’t bring all those squitos to ME!” Apparently, I am a mosquito magnet, too, as there were none bothering her. She “only counted” about 30 bites on my back! 😎
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Yeah, mosquitoes do love me though the feeling is not mutual. The one plus is they don’t leave any itchy lumps on me. The only critters that do are black flies and deer flies, with deer flies being the worst of the two.😮😁
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It would be scary to have an embankment give way ❗️Be careful ! 🙂😺💨💨🚶♂️
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I know, that’s why I mentioned that I can go further back where it is safe. Too bad, that area had some nice wildflowers before, now they are gone. Have a good night!😊😻🌙🥱😴😴
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I don’t use mosquito repellants either, but here I think we’ll have five or six around the house…
Maybe they are even more, but I’m not palatable 😂😹
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Good number of mosquitoes! It is hard to believe that there are so many this year, but all that rain is what did it. Hopefully things will dry more now and that will help. The screens on my windows are sometimes covered with mosquitoes! But that’s at night. Enjoy your weekend!😊😻🌞🦟🦟🦟🦟
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😱 Too many mosquitoes for me…😅😸
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😂😹🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟
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mosquitos do carry harmful diseases so i would highly recommend you take all the precautions you can no matter how undesirable it may be.
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Yes, I know it and at least one of those diseases is up this way and can be very dangerous. But I do not like using chemicals on me, especially on my face. That’s why I try to cover up as much as I can when in an area with lots of mosquitoes. I have never encountered them so bad on that river path. Too much rain this year.
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👍👍
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Gross, that many mosquitoes 👻 you are a mosquito man 💪 lot many bird’s, sure u loved the fun walking, 🥳. New restaurant? 😂🤣🤣 Walking restaurant 😂😂. Water level is high this year? Was it like this every summer? U mean the bench that was taken away 🤔 how about you create a new sitting site 😀 so lot of pictures of insects and birds, u done organizing your collections? 😄😉 have a beautiful day ❣️✨
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No, the water level is never usually this high, even in spring. But having the water so high this time of year is odd, it last happened in 1950!😮😮 I won’t finish organizing my photos until maybe the end of the year!😂😹📷📷 I still have 65,000 to go! Nice and hot today, 40C!😮🌞😎😁 Should be even hotter tomorrow!😊🌞😎
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Did you said 65,000 or is it 65.000🤔 🧐 seriously? ,😂😂You must do it for a longgggg time 😄😄😄 see, this is what happens with digital photography 😂. 40C 😀😎 that is some super hot summer🔥 wow! Enjoy the beautiful Summer ❣️
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Yep, just starting my 5th year of photography now! Amazing how quickly a person can get 65,000 pictures!😂📷 Hot again today, 41C but tomorrow it cools off to a high of only 22C.🙄 I just heard some thunder so maybe a storm is coming our way, or maybe it will miss us. I don’t want a storm, it means I will have to close windows and that would be bad in this heat!😮⛈️⛈️
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Congrats, it’s 5th year 🥰🎉🎉 65000 is definitely a lot to handle by one person 😅Glad u got company,, muffin help you right 🐱😻🐈⬛ no thunder, go away shhooo let’s see if that works out 😋 ever wondered if storm had a blog what could be their post 🤔 hey guys. I got a Mercedes stuck in my swirl, what do you guys suggest? Drop it on land or sea 🤔 poll results 🤣🤣🤣
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Muffin doesn’t like looking at pictures, unless it’s a picture of MC!😻💓💖 Then she could look at it all day!😻❤️❤️ Storms are gone, had some showers today and much cooler again. It should be normal temps again for a while now. Have a great day!😊😻🌞
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MC? 😉😻 Well well well who is MC dear Muffin 🐱… Have a great day ✨🤗
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MC is her boyfriend and helper in my mystery story. But he is a real cat and his human is a friend of mine.😻💓😻
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Ahhhhh this is how a new story goes on the side😉 that’s lovely to know Muffin have someone called MC 😍✨
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Yes indeed! The two of them met online and fell in love right away!😃😻😻
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Awww how sweet 😍
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Uncle Steve, tomorrow is supposed to be another big day right 🤔 😉Your Birthday 😉💝 Have plans? I’m sure muffin must be jumping around to celebrate the day 🙂. Advanced Happy Birthday to you 🎂🎉🎉🎉 I’m sorry if I am late or if I’m too early 😅 enjoy this special day 💝
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You are absolutely right Simon, today is my birthday🥳🥳 and Muffin and I had a big party already this morning but there is more coming after I bake a cake this afternoon!🎂🎂 Thank you so much!😁😁😻😻
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Wow, yay!!! happiest birthday to Uncle Steve ❣️🎉 Happy to hear you both had a blast this morning 😍😍 you sure sending a piece of cake to me right 😉🤗 Enjoy the beautiful day, hope your weather cooperates in your special day with you. 🎉😍
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Yes indeed, a beautiful day 33C and sunny, just perfect!🌞😎 A piece of cake is yours,🎂 I enjoyed eating it for you so it would be nice and fresh, it was delicious!😁😋 Thanks again Simon! Enjoy your Friday and good night from here!😁😴😴
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Yummm u r activating my cake craving for the day 😉😋👻 I’ll have one in your name 🙂 Thank you uncle Steve, you too have a great Friday 💝
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It was indeed, thank you! I hope you enjoyed my piece of cake!😁😋🙄
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I do enjoyed😁 I had my fav cake to celebrate your bday 🥰🤗
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That’s perfect, nice to hear!😁 Have a great weekend!😊😻🌞🦋
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You too have a great weekend uncle Steve 😍
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Thank you Simon!😊😻
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Mosquitos are extremely pesky and carry diseases. Best cover yourself with clothing if you don’t want to wear a protectorate. Skin So Soft by Avon is a good deterrent and not an unpleasant product to wear. Have a great day Steve and Muffin! 😼🦟🌞🌺 ☕️☕️
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Yes, mosquitoes do have their danger side, not too much of a problem here but it is still possible. I do cover up as much as I can except my hands and face. It actually hit 104F today, supposed to be 108F tomorrow, a bit hot even for me! Then it cools off to normal on Tuesday. Have a great evening Eugenia!😊😻🌞😎 Sorry for the late reply, I’m not feeling well today.😟🤒
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OMC! 104F where you live! 🥵I hope you feel better soon! 😻
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Yep, it does happen, though not for a long time now. It’s a strange country up here, we can hit -50 in the winter and 100 in the summer! Thank you!😊😺
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