Wednesday, October 29

Cool-weather Friends

The chickadees aren't always eating out of our hands... 
Not when we're taking a break on a lovely autumn afternoon.

If you've never heard the expression "fair-weather friends" it refers to those who only want to spend time with you when all is (figuratively) sunny and bright in your world. Well that certainly does not include the chickadees and nuthatches who share our forest. Quite the opposite, in fact.

These little feathered friends ignore us throughout the bountiful days of summer and only honey up to us when autumn sets in and chillier days are upon us. They don't even have to know you. They'll be your new BFFs, quite happy to hang out with you -- as long as you've got a palmfull of birdseed -- until well into spring when the sunshine and warm temps bring back all sorts of natural food sources for them. 

We don't mind this fickleness. Cool-weather friends or not, it's always a treat to share a feast with these little birds with big personalities.

A chickadee making sure it finds the *best* seed. Yes, they're choosy!

Aerodynamic nuthatch grabbing a snack.

The nuthatch keeps coming back for more. Must be stockpiling!

Thursday, October 2

Screaming Heads in Autumn

Raise your  hand if you love autumn!
Jim and I made time for an afternoon fall drive last week and meandered up to Midlothian Road for a fantastical walk in, around and through the Screaming Heads.

The Screaming Heads outdoor artscape is a fascinating place to explore at any time of year, but the "wow factor" goes into overdrive in autumn. Add a backdrop of brilliant fall colours to the already striking vistas of cast concrete sculptures, geodesic domes, pyramids and house-turned-castle, and it's an autumn experience that can't be missed. It got even more interesting this year when it was yarn-bombed by a group of knitters as part of the Almaguin Highlands Sweater Weather weekend.

Well hi there!
View from the ferry crossing.
Through the geodesic dome.
Even the sunbeams are getting their groove on!

Trail through the woods.
Expansive view.
I call this one "Jazz Hands". :)
Colour me happy -- love those hills!
"A pyramid, a horse and a hand walk into an artscape..."
The glove fits! Yarn-bombed sculptures for the Sweater Weather weekend.

Do you want to see this for yourself? We provide maps, directions and itinerary suggestions to our guests at Fern Glen Inn; or stop in at the Burk's Falls welcome centre and ask for directions to the Screaming Heads.