Winding down the week, and the staycation

It's our Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, with the holiday being on Monday. I'll be back to work on Tuesday, and it never ceases to amaze me how quickly staycations/vacations pass. I wish I had enough vacation time to take another week; I'm not ready to return to my coworkers, to the politics and bs, etc.

Anyway, I've been enjoying the staycation, with the highlight being the two days I spent with friends Robin and Chuck (mostly Robin, because Chuck was working). She and I enjoy a lot of the same things--I've told her there are only two people I enjoy taking pictures with: her and Dad. We go at the same pace and like to explore, and in the case of Robin, we like to take pics of the same things. That's rare to find!

I got there early Tuesday morning, and our first stop was Reid's Dairy in Belleville. This is the spot that normally has two adorable goats and lots of geese, duck, and turtles. This time it was evident that the goats hadn't been there in a long time (overgrown grass), and there were only three ducks. I don't know what happened, but it was disappointing.

Who's the most handsome duck ever?

 We spied one turtle.

And we also spied a kingfisher! I was at full zoom with the Fuji, so this was the best I could get, and it's highly cropped. But that's the first time in my life I've seen a kingfisher in "real" life, not on TV.

 Robin did a lot of driving over the two days, and this was a typical sight, below.

This is Snowball, below. Robin and Chuck suspect she's been abandoned. Apparently a nearby household recently moved out and they think "Snowball" might have been left behind. She's a beautiful girl, but thin now. Robin and Chuck have done up signs to post around the area, and they will take her to a local rescue before winter if no one comes forward to claim her. She's accustomed to being an indoor cat, or so it seems. If she has no health issues, I would imagine she would find a home fairly quickly.

And this is Ralph, below. He does have a home, but since all the cats know where to go for food and treats, he comes to demand his fair share.

Since it was a beautiful day, we took a picnic lunch and stopped to eat outdoors at this historical site--Haldimand Baptist Church (replica, I believe, of the original old church that was destroyed in a fire). There was a covered patio area to sit and eat, and behind the church was someone's farm.

Poultry -- they all huddled away from the crazy middle-aged ladies with the cameras.

There was a handsome rooster and a couple of hens running around loose. The rooster kept a close eye on his "girls".

We headed into Cobourg and to the Northumberland & District Humane Society thrift store to see Louie, their resident cat. Everyone goes to see Louie.  :-)

Robin found a cute "Louie" sweater--one with a black and white cat face just like Louie's, complete with pink nose. What was funny was that the two volunteers there didn't even realize the sweater was in the store!

On the way back we stopped at Rutherford's Farm Market (the place with the llamas). I snapped a couple of pics of the chickens, but didn't get one of the llamas this time (we didn't go over). I did get some yummy fresh apples and some raw honey.

Our last stop before having to pick Chuck up after work was Wicklow Beach. We'd been there in July too, it's a lovely spot. There were a couple of people walking in the distance, but otherwise we had the place to ourselves.

A monarch with shredded wings spied Robin and went straight to her, didn't want to leave her. Eventually she was able to put him down and we both hoped he didn't suffer long. I think Robin must be an angel of mercy on this earth.

A few final pics for this post: Miss Kitty, who also is homeless, Ralph again (later), who was very perturbed that Miss Kitty was inside the house at that point and getting extra treats, and of the almost-full moon.

I'll do Wednesday's pics in one or two separate posts -- I snapped a lot of shots! We drove all over the region, exploring an old abandoned cheese factory and barn, among other things. I even got to take a few pics in a pumpkin patch at a different farm market. (Maggie, I hope you've gotten to visit your pumpkin patch!)

Peace.