One dog was on the deck, and the other was at the side of the building, both going after somethings – yes, more baby squirrels!  I had a fit, immediately pulling them off and putting them in the house, still carrying the little one.  When I went back, momma was on the roof, running back and forth.  I briefly saw that she was still nursing, and decided I HAD to get them back to her.  The one that had been at the side of the cottage was gone, and the one on the deck was hanging off the screen door!  I just didn’t know what to do.  I stood there with the wee one, stroking his fur with the paper towel and he seemed to be stirring a bit but he was shivering, probably shock.  Momma just looked at me from the roof…she knew.  I talked to her and tried putting the little one down on the deck to see if she would come for him, but she had disappeared.  I knew I had to do something with the one hanging off the screen.  After all, we had people renting that cottage.  Even though they were away at the time, they were coming back and we couldn’t have the dogs obsessing and barking on their deck.  At this point Mur came out of the house – he had been napping – and we proceeded to brainstorm.  He doesn’t like it when this sort of thing happens because he thinks I am getting too involved with nature.  Well, our dogs had interfered with “nature” so I was bound and determined to give the wee ones the best chance possible at survival.  He got me a glove and I took the one off the screen.  Mur had suggested I put them in the squirrel/birdhouse in the backyard. There had been a litter in there last year and I had put two of them back into the house after they had fallen out.  Problem was, the one from the screen was trying to get away and he did, jumped right out of my hand.  So, I put him in a thick patch of grass under a tree and he burrowed.  The other one was still semi-concious so I just put him in the grass too.  Something told me to get the more mobile one and put them together on the paper towel, so I did and they both cuddled up together and rested.  A heated discussion with Mur ensued.  He got a plastic container and we were going to put them in it under some bushes, relocate them but I was afraid momma wouldn’t find them.  I remained convinced that if we put them back onto the deck, there was more of a chance of them surviving. 

     I assumed that she had already located the third one and that he was back in the nest, safe and sound.  So I picked up the towel, with the two of them, and put it on the deck under the plastic tray, propped up against a chair leg so that hopefully momma would find them.  Mur told me to come in the house, which I did reluctantly.  That mothering instinct is strong, even if it was just a squirrel!  I waited a couple of minutes and then went back out to see how they were doing – couldn’t help myself!  From what I could tell, didn’t want to get too close, they were still there.  I slowly walked around the side of the cottage, looking for momma and voila, she came out from under the siding of the cottage, near the ground.  I stood still and watched as she made her way to the eaves of the verandah, frantically darting back and forth, stopping to nervously scratch and preen.  I was thinking “Oh, lord, she’s not going to find them!” and starting praying.  She came down the side of the cottage when she heard them rustling about and scratching.  It took her a couple of seconds to locate them but SHE DID!  THANK YOU GOD!  In short order she had one, and ran across the deck and around the side of the cottage.  I think the nest must be up inside the siding of the cottage.  At that moment Mur came out and I motioned to him to be quiet as I waited for her to come back for the last one, and SHE DID!  From what I could tell, the baby clings to her underbelly, more around her chest and neck as she runs.  I couldn’t believe that the one Seamus had mangled was able to cling.  I must have gotten him just in time.  Both Mur and I watched as momma ran towards the barn.  It’s hard to say where the nest really is.  It is probably in the barn and she just had them on an outing, who knows?  But after it was over, I said a little prayer of thanks.  I don’t know if they will live, but I like to think they have a second chance, thanks to our efforts, well, mostly mine.  Living in the country continues to challenge us, and we are forever thankful.

The rain is good for one thing though – greening everything.  They don’t call PEI Little Ireland for nothing!  Until we moved here, I didn’t recall seeing so many shades of green.  The contrast of the red soil and the lupins in bloom along the roadsides, make it a veritable feast for the eyes.  Just a little tidbit; did you know that lupin seeds are edible?  They are classed as a legume and first cultivated by the Romans.  Lupin seeds are now used widely in many Mediterranean countries and are fast becoming recognized as a cash crop alternative to soy.  Of course, not all lupin seeds are created equal.  Some varieties contain a toxic alkaloids and are known as “bitter lupins”.  Hard to believe something so pretty provides nourishment for body and soul.  And the lilacs.  I have always loved them, especially the purple ones.  Bring a bouquet into your home and soon their fresh fragrance will fill the air.  I’ve lived across most of this country, and without fail have always been able to find lilacs.  They were the one common denominator of spring.

By now, we have usually been on the beach a few times but it’s just been too cold.  There are a few tourists around, but not the usual numbers.  However, I suspect that in one week, this little island will be inundated by thousands of tourists and media, all clammouring to catch a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  Check out this link to learn more about their visit to PEI:

http://www.tourismpei.com/royal-visit

Share in the excitement!  We have room for you!

Having said that, the crocuses and daffodils are blooming, with tulips following soon.  Most of the summer birds are here, we’re just waiting for the hummingbirds.  They’re probably still down south, tucked in their nests with the blankets pulled over their little hummer heads and afraid to make the trek north.  I can’t blame them; I like to do that in the wintertime and I must confess most recently this morning!  Lately the finches are hanging around the feeder, both gold and purple ones.  They are so pretty!

BookPEI is an online booking system whereby you can reserve accommodation with Howarth House for either our B&B suite, or cottages.  It’s new for us and very soon we will be up and running with them.  It can be accessed through the Tourism PEI website.  We believe it will make booking with us easier and hope you will take advantage this service.  This summer, why don’t you consider staying with us on your island vacation?

We have made a change to the B&B this year.  Occupancy is by reservation only and not less than 48 hours in advance.  The change will help make your stay more enjoyable by allowing us to ensure the highest quality of meals and accommodations.  Due to our somewhat isolated location, it isn’t always easy to ensure we have the freshest provisions on-hand for B&B customers who arrive without reservations.  Our aim is to give you our best B&B experience.  The terms for cottage occupancy remain the same – drop-ins welcome!

Here are a few winter photos for you.  “See you” soon!

I’ve been feeding the birds regularly this year for the first time and it’s paying off.  We have a flock of snow buntings that visits every day, plus the jays and crows, starlings and a couple of chickadees.  I think there’s a finch mixed in there somewhere.  They like the black oil sunflower seeds plus I supplement with stale bread.  Lately I’ve been getting rid of my old hamburger and hotdog buns from the freezer.  I hang them in a nylon net onion bag off the feeder and they really seem to like that.  Today I put old muffins out there, we’ll see how that goes.  They seem to like the hamburg and hotdog buns the best but I’ve also put out blueberry pancakes and tortillas.  That goes over well too.  Unfortunately I may have lost one of my chickadees to a sharp-shinned hawk, or sharpie as they are called.  I noticed a different kind of bird sitting out on the snow the other day and realized it was a hawk of some sort with something in it’s talons – it was actually sitting on the bird waiting for it to stop moving.  It was kind of hard to watch but it is nature’s way, everyone has to eat.  Shortly thereafter the hawk lifted off with it’s prey and disappeared into the nearby woods.  We also have a red fox visiting at night, making the dogs bark their heads off.  I’ve turned on the backyard light to get a look at the fox and he doesn’t seem to be afraid of it.  He’s just foraging around looking for food.

We’ve had a couple of inquiries about accommodations for summer 2011.  Please keep us in mind if you’re planning to visit.  We’re pretty excited that Prince William and his bride Kate Middleton will be visiting us in July.  Keep checking back for updates on that; you may want to visit during that time.

During our first couple of winters here, we didn’t see many winter birds.  But then, I wasn’t as diligent with the feeding as I am now.  I never saw chickadees coming to the feeder either, but since last year when there was a nest of them in the back yard of the cottages, there are two or three that seem to be hanging around.  I find myself musing about saving the lives of two (or maybe one, twice) after they(he/she) fell out of the nest.  Maybe, just maybe, they/he/she remember that and decided to stay put.  The summer before last I saved a squirrel after it had fallen out of the same birdhouse nest.  Coincidentally, or not, we have two squirrels which regularly make an appearance at the feeder during milder weather.  When the winds start to howl and the temps drop well below zero, I think they hang out in the shed that shelters our well.  That or the woodpile by the the house.  Mollie seems to find them, no matter where they are, and if it involves climbing on top of the five foot woodpile, so be it.  She has always been part mountain goat, climbing on just about anything like chairs, stepstools, couches, picnic tables, cliffs.  You name it, she’s tried to climb it.  Of course, the dogs love “helping” me feed the birds, eagerly watching for stray bread crumbs and seed too.  Mollie actually sticks her head in the bucket and scoops up a mouthful of black oil sunflower seed, chewing happily as she watches the skies and trees for birds and/or the odd squirrel or two.  I had the brainwave yesterday to take a mesh bag, the kind that holds onions, and put some old frozen hamburger buns in it, a stack of six.  I then hung it of a nail on the house-like birdfeeder, which is attached to a platform.  While the bluejays feasted on the bread and seed I had laid inside the feeder, the starlings figured out quickly that the burger buns were their’s for the taking.  I swear one little guy pecked away at it for about an hour.  Twenty-four hours later and it looks like I may have to stock the mesh bag with some more buns!  Clever idea, if I do say so myself.

As we pass the winter away, amusing ourselves with birdwatching, dogwalking, and dreaming by the fire, our thoughts sometimes drift forward to the upcoming tourist season – but not for too long.  It’s early enough in the year that we are still in hibernation mode, only venturing outside when the weather is fair.  There’s time to think about all of that, but it is just around the corner…

This past month has been fraught with the perils of living in the country.  It started off with minor well problems which quickly ballooned to a crisis of almost major proportions.  Short of drilling a new well, we encountered just about every difficulty possible.  Drilling a new well probably would have been easier.  At least the plumber is happy with the fee we had to pay him.  Between that, vehicle problems and a flooded basement there hasn’t been a dull moment here at casa Howarth.  The only really happy ones are the dogs who are continually on guard watching for Rocky in the back yard.  He visits the feeder on a regular basis and I am sure, enjoys taunting the poor animals gazing at him longingly from the sunroom windows.  Rocky is our resident red squirrel who, we think, lives in the woodpile beside the house.  He’s a pretty cheeky little gaffer, who has been spotted peering in at Murray through the upstairs bathroom window and from high atop the woodpile at the living room window.  Mollie and Seamus become quivering piles of furry excitement when they want to give chase.  If you can get the door open, they’re off like a shot.  But Rocky is always one paw ahead of them.  Up the tree he goes, and chatters cheekily at them from lofty heights.  Seamus howls excitedly, Mollie barks and takes up her position beneath the tree to tirelessly watch for his descent.  She has more patience than Seamus.  She sits there for up to an hour waiting and sometimes I even have to call her in to eat.  And if you know Mollie, she’ll eat anytime, anywhere.  This is a daily ritual but I’m sure the thrill is in the anticipation and chase.  I swear they don’t want to catch him, because that wouldn’t be any fun, would it?

If you’re reading this before December 25th, chances are you’re wrapping up Christmas preparations.  I’m pretty late with everything this year but I figure the big day will come and go whether I’m ready or not.  This time of year we have a tendancy to rush around crazily and spend too much money.  Each time we say we’re not doing it next year and then turn around an do it all over again.  Such is life.  As you reflect on the year past and look with anticipation to the year ahead, please remember to do something for a good cause and spend quality time with family and friends.  On behalf of all of us here at Howarth House, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2011!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In Flander’s Fields

Hallowe’en is over and most trees have shed their leaves after a beautiful colour transition to reds, oranges, and golds.  The blueberry fields are an amazing blend of red and deep pink at the moment and when the sun shines on them, they appear to burst into flames.  I have seen several tourists stopped at the roadside taking pictures of the sight.  It’s quite amazing!  Murray and I enjoy the fruit every morning in our yogurt.  Many pounds were picked and bagged for the freezer.

This is also the time of year when the animals look for a place to hunker down for the winter.  Mollie and Seamus “found” a skunk a couple of weeks ago.  Seamus “found” one in the spring, at which time we frantically searched the internet for a magic solution.  We tried the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish liquid one and it worked okay.  Murray decided to get some “Skunk Off” from the veterinarian just to have in the house, and thank heaven he did.  It worked very well.  The unfortunate thing is that I think the dogs will continue to ‘find’ skunks.  You would think that with their sensitive noses it would be too offensive but I guess that instinct takes over and they can’t resist the thrill of the chase!

It’s difficult to believe that 2010 is all but over.  One of the busiest seasons is approaching, but living here makes all the mania easier to deal with.  Just try to keep the reason for the season front and centre in your holiday preparations.  That helps too!