Balcony Windowbox

It’s a nice pleasure after the rigors of winter, to find out the wild and wonderful things that nature is really capable of.

Forgotten are the days of snow, ice scraping and temperatures that would tend to preserve one for an eternity, just like a side of beef!

Here then are a few samples from our balcony, of the miracles of Mother Nature plus a little helping hand from the wife.. (click thumbnails)















C'ya

Of Nicer Things

I was kind of looking forward to a little trip out we made a few days ago. Near where we live among these rolling hills, there is a country greenhouse/farm. Last year when we discovered this place we met the owner, a really nice lady. She was kind enough to give us a few pots for our balcony garden.

This year we went shopping for more plants. However the main reason we couldn’t wait to visit was in the pictures you will see. Her husband is in the import business and boy did we get surprised. Hope you enjoy the pictures. ~ click on thumbnails. ~




These are a pair of Australian Cape Barron geese. They can be quite intimidating so caution is advised when visiting, we called them the guard dogs..



This Black necked swan speaks for itself & does have a mate. Like the aussie geese they are always in pairs.



These beauties caught our eye last year and the only ones we saw at that time. These magnificent specimens are kept in a heated barn over the winter. Her husband brought them in from Cuba.



The most beautiful of all geese, Red-breasted Geese, breed in Arctic Siberia and winter in southeastern Europe, so are perfectly at home in a Canadian winter. ~

C'ya

Fooled again

Last week we had temperatures in a range up to, believe it or not, as high as 17c. The last two nights nature turned nasty and dumped about a foot of snow on us, the robin is not amused..





Where did the spring go!

C'ya

Willow Park

We were down at the park on sunday, what a beautiful sunny day for pictures. A brilliant sight to behold and of course, there was Ted's music drifting on the breeze..... Perfection.

South is Thataway!

Canada Geese getting ready for the parade.


I have been studying these geese for some little time now.

There is a park across the road from where we live. Beside there being a sizeable lake, there are walkways, gardens and a playing field. This area is a sizeable habitat for a variety of wildlife and the geese in particular.

When not on the lake or some other such mischief, they congregate on the playing field in large numbers especially when the sun is out. The strange thing I found is, they all sit facing the sun as it dips toward the west, in rows almost like a battalion of soldiers on parade. It is very regimentally impressive I have to admit.

I have come to the conclusion, that just as humans have a need for vitamin D, so too do wild life, the birds in particular. Almost as if they are charging their batteries ready for the long flight south.

Of course having the geese around in such numbers, one gets to see them in flight, in their now well known V formation. Which raised another question, why? To which I also formed my own opinionated answer.

When in flight there is always one goose at the lead position, changing one could presume at intervals, moving from the lead down back to the rear of the flock. I determined then, that over the course of their journey, no doubt every goose within that group, would spend a time both leading and also at rearguard.

It occurred to me. What if they arrive at the wrong destination? They would have no one to blame, but themselves. Maybe even, all that honking is everyone trying to give the lead goose directions! Bunch-a backseat drivers! J ~

C’ya

Adventure

This is a part of an adventure that I have become involved in recently. You have seen the pictures that I posted of the park last year. So whether you're Irish or not "Keep the Green".
***
This announcement of course is more in keeping with people close enough (Ontario Canada) to take advantage of this fine event, come out and enjoy.

***

You are invited to be our guest at the 10th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, October 5th from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Park. We will meet old friends, make new ones and celebrate all that the Park has become over the last ten years. The afternoon's activities are detailed in the attached poster. We hope to see you there! (clickable thumbnail)




C'ya

Glorious Sunset

After so much rain and thunderstorms of late, it was a nice change last night to get a beautiful sunset ~ the moon also showing was an added bonus. (clickable thumbnail )

Doggie Diner

A friend mailed me the fawn pics earlier, I thought it was cute.

Guess who's coming to dinner?

A fawn followed this beagle home -- apparently, right through the doggie door --

Later the owner came home to find the visitor had made himself right at home.






Not to be out-done, ~ why not said the bear!




C'ya

Primrose

You are mostly familiar with our outings last summer to Willow Park. Since then we have moved and are again blessed with living next to another beautiful park and lake.

When you live in an apartment you miss having a garden. We have tried to resolve that by using planter boxes of various size and shapes to grow flowers and herbs.

This annual is Elizabeth’s favorite. I believe it is called an “African Daisy” (osteospermum), very beautiful and picturesque, so many flowers budding.

C'ya

A New Start

Well it seems like I have dallied long enough. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to make a new start, including the banner. As you can see I have reverted back to my other banner which depicts where we now live, and along with that a few pictures to share.

This park which is adjacent to Fairy lake, is right across the street from where we now live. We now have a place to go for walks and beautiful scenery right on the doorstep, what more could one ask. (clickable thumbnails)



A nice variation on tree colors on our street.



A shot of Fairy lake.



A very nice memorial park setting.



A similar memorial setting.



Now where would we be without some Canada geese!

C'ya

Willow Springs

All through this long never ending winter, all I have been able to think about is the day when we can start going back to Willow park.

Old man winter however is making it feel as though the Arctic tundra has fallen upon our shoulders, with the temperatures hovering this morning at the -15c & -26c with the windchill. More of the same is being forecast for tomorrow with temps at -18c/ - 28c.

A few days ago we were in the Norval area and decided to try and get through the snow to take a few winter pictures of the park. It’s obviously impossible for me to negotiate the snow to the park area because of my mobility impairment, so I was restricted to the parking lot area whilst my wife waded through the accumulation of snow and reached our favorite summer haunt. She sure brought back some digital treasure.

There is a remarkable difference between summer & winter that’s for sure, but just another example of the artistry and power of mother nature. How often can one find a place that provides such beauty during the summer months, and have this same place show itself to be such a rich jewel in the face of winter?

Willow Park is such a place and I described it many times during our last summer outings, which we enjoyed at every opportunity.

One would think that under the snow covered blanket and bitterly cold days that is the face of winter, there could be no attraction to the park at all.

The other day we sure found out differently. The music of the rippling, fast flowing waters of the river, danced their way upstream doing their best to entice spring to get started and bring with it the joys of this years first blooms. The snow covered woods and the banks of the river, all murmuring their approval on the whispers of the breeze, of such a long awaited event.

I’m sure Ted up at the house, ~ perhaps looking through his window, is wistfully waiting too, ready to play his music for all who would listen, as the light classical notes of the masters wend their way upon the air, flowing through the valley of the woods. Skirting the wetlands calling out to the hibernating tortoise, “Come, wake up! wake up! It’s time to start another year!”

C’ya

Picturesque

This winter has been a long harsh one. However the folks who do ice sculptures are happy I would reckon. A couple of days ago I came across a few ice pictures in ‘Neatorama’. Now this is really what I call ice sculpture, done by none other than Mother Nature herself. I thought I’d share a couple with you, these were shot in Estonia.







C'ya

An Ice Day

Unlike some places that are now enjoying the first signs of spring, we seem to be firmly entrenched still with winter. So here is a little poem I wrote with supporting array of pics from yesterday. ~(clickable thumbnails)

Ice

Here with an eeriness of light,
Natures beauty, sculptured ripples
Glistening shades of dark and white
Winters fingers ~ Melting icicles. ©

Nature

Most times when we think of Mother Nature we usually embellish all the good things we see and enjoy. The beautiful summers, the birds and animals, the sights that can only come from looking out over the expanse of new life as nature takes over the remnants of what winter has left us, fashioning a new beginning.

Only occasionally do we have another side of nature to look at. Pretty rarely do we think of it as seemingly, cold, cruel and downright heartless.

Yesterday/overnight was one of those such times.

According to the reports out of the news sources where we live, approximately 44 people have supposed to have lost their lives. All this arising out of a horrendous pattern of storms and Tornado’s that cut a path across some of the United States.

When you see some of the pictures like I did, nature really gives you a jolt and something else to think about, a new measure of respect for the awesome powers that nature possesses.

All too many times do we hear and read of the disasters from other countries around the world. To think of such things happening here at ‘our home’ would not even be in our minds until it happens as it did yesterday/night.

Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have suffered as a result of this disaster. Our condolences to the relatives, the loved ones, friends and fellow workers, may you find peace as you travel the journey of your grief.

C'ya

Will o’ the Wisp

This last few days have been pretty hectic, & as is usually the case, ~ so much effort and too little to show for it all.
It seems that it was just a few short weeks ago that the weather was a balmy 38c, that in itself was crazy for Sept/October.
~ Summer Fall & Winter ~

Seems we missed the fall somewhere along the way, even the leaves for the most part, just rotted on the trees before falling away. Real will-o’-the-wisp weather if you ask me, for after reaching low’s of -3c this last week, today was up again to an unrealistic +13c.
In keeping with the weather, today we went to the park!
So here are a couple or so shots of a will-o’-the-wisp fall season!



Leaves stubbornly hanging on.



Pampas grass? A bright sight, in the cool fall weather.


Hmmmm It's that man again!



Cool clear waters



Cool clear brilliant sky.

Just a Great Day Feeling

Up bright & early today. Already we have had the usual groups of birds drop in for a bite. Red Cardinal, Blue Jays, and even for the first time together. A group made up of the Nuthatch, a few Red Breasted Nuthatch's and surprisingly a Black-capped chickadee all on the feeder at the same time. I give up trying to get a picture of that, it's almost as if they know, for the minute I'm ready with the camera they take off!


This was quite the site a couple of days ago. ~ That's a whole lotta Pumpkin Pie!

C'ya

Fall's In

These are just a couple or more fall pictures that I said I would post, and are from Ontario, just over 2 hours North of Toronto Canada. A point of interest in the picture with the fire hydrant. If you look closely, you will see a post with a small pic on it above the hydrant. For those of a curious nature, these posts are to indicate that there is indeed a hydrant at that location. When winter and the snow arrives the hydrants really get covered. You can judge by the height of the ‘flag’ just how deep the snow can get.



A shot of Fairy Lake



On the Road again.



A view of the Muskoka River.



This is called Hunter Bay.

C'ya

Giving Thanks

This year, before sitting at the table this thanksgiving, to partake of the wonderful bounty placed before us. I would like to take a moment, to offer our thanks to Mother Nature for all that she has given us already in such a wonderful year of pleasure.

This has been at a time of my life with this COPD, that I never dreamed I would participate in, let alone feast on such a menu of beauty to take home, but then who could turn down such an incentive.

When it comes to putting on a show nobody does it better than Mother Nature, who once again flexes her awesome power, putting on such enjoyable sights.

In addition to the park that we go to and I have shown so much of, we also have a small lake a short distance from where we live, it takes all of five minutes to get there. These then are a few shots taken there and some of its wildlife.

(clickable thumbnails)




Round em up, move em out!~ Time to go.




Now be nice ya hear, eat and no squabbling.



Well whadya think. ~ We come again next year?



Doncha think this is just a great turnout?




Get outer here! Ya say that to all the ducks.



Thanks for a summer to remember.

C'ya