Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!
Hi everyone! Yes, it is Thanksgiving Day here in Canada, the second Monday of October. It’s a nice time of year for Thanksgiving Day, the weather is usually not too cold and the beautiful fall colors are at their best. Although further north and even out west they have had snow already. But I’m talking about normal years. Some years we can have snow on the ground, signalling the beginning of winter, before now. Fortunately that doesn’t always happen.
It’s a very wet and cool weekend for us this year, not really ideal for people who want to come out to their cottages for the last time before winter sets in. Usually this weekend is when people close up their cottages for the season, though some wait longer. The colors of fall are simply breathtaking, such a magnificent show of beauty to end the summer season and before the cold of winter settles in upon us. It’s truly something for which to be thankful.
There is so much, really, when we stop to think about it. We can often think of the big things for which to be thankful. We have our families, friends, our homes, a bounty of food and so many extras that it would be hard to name them all. Then there is the smaller things, like the colors of fall, that amazingly many people barely notice. We have the air we breathe, the brilliant sunshine which is right now beginning to show through the clouds out here.
There is the wonderful chorus of bird songs in the summer, such an amazing variety and so pleasant to hear. Even at night there are many birds, owls, nighthawks, thrushes, whip-poor-wills and others that will sing their songs through the night. Nighthawks generally only have a type of buzzing call they make, but it’s a wonderful sound of summer. There is the beauty of all our thousands of lakes in this part of Ontario, the rivers, beaver ponds, swamps, all with their unique beauty and variety.
There are all of the insects, something that many people wish didn’t exist, yet they are so very important to a healthy ecosystem. And such a surprising variety of insects, many so small we don’t notice, others like butterflies and dragonflies stand out better because of their larger sizes and beautiful colors. All these things for which we can be thankful. The gentle cooling breezes on a hot summer day.
The rains that come to provide life sustaining nourishment to our forests and every plant, no matter what size. The beauty of wildflowers that come along, each blooming in their time from spring to fall. That new life as it begins to show up on the spring landscape. Even winter, though producing it’s harshness each year, also brings with it some great beauty as well. Our flower gardens also explode with color all summer long, and fruit bearing trees providing their bounty as well with flowers first, then the richness of their fruits.
This only touches on all the things we should be thankful for, not just on one day, but all through the year. I’m sure we could all make a very long list. We need to stop grumbling so much, rather be content and truly be thankful for everything. Honestly, that would do wonders, it would relieve so much stress and help us live much healthier and happy lives. Happy Thanksgiving from Muffin and I and all my little outdoor friends, and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Monday’s Musings #24. It’s Thanksgiving Day!
Good Monday morning everyone and HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I know that most of you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving today, but here in Canada we do. I will be doing my annual Thanksgiving Day post a little later, but I still had to say something now. It is another cool, cloudy, windy and very wet day here. Friday night we had 1 1/4 inches (31mm) of rain, Saturday night we had an inch (25mm) of rain, and last night we again had 1 1/4 inches (31mm) of rain. Right now it’s just a misty type rain with a strong west wind. Feels a bit chilly outside. That dampness makes it feel worse.
This week it’s going to be a bit on the chilly side, cool enough to maybe see some snowflakes instead of raindrops. But that is to be expected, we are a third of the way through October now. We just might see some sun this afternoon though. We did yesterday afternoon as well. That’s when 2 of my chipmunks showed up for a short visit. It was Choco and Chips that came. This is now the latest I have had chipmunks come around, but Choco and Chips did get a later start collecting food from me so I guess they want to add a bit more food to the pantry, just to be safe.
Between the wind and rain over the last few days it has certainly knocked the leaves off the trees. However, there are still some hanging on tightly, not wanting to leave their trees just yet. Yesterday afternoon while the sun was out I decided to go outside and get some fresh air, and walk around the yard a bit. In the front yard was Mama deer and her young one who is growing bigger but still small yet. The little deer was running around the yard having fun but finally stopped. Then it decided to cross the street without it’s mother, a very bad mistake.
A car came along, already driving too fast, but the driver decided to speed up and he hit that little deer tossing it at least 8 to 10 feet in the air and it landed on the hill across the street. The little deer got up, shook his head and it’s mother went running across the street to see it. They both walked up the hill together and into the trees. The little deer wasn’t limping at all, but because of it’s size the car would have hit the deer’s body, not the legs. I hope it’s okay. Hmm, the birds are calling for more food. There is a lot of them this morning, getting more all the time. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 