Primarily pets

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T12:50:00.000-05:00

While this photo of one of my orchids was taken in December or even earlier, it's the only pink flower I have a photo of at the moment. I wanted to wish everyone a very happy valentine's day with your family, friends, significant others and most particularly your pets.

Bliss and Spirit, the labrador retrievers, Christopher and Eleia get special treats on Valentine's Day - well actually every day, cause they're my constant companions. what can I say!

Those of you who also have constant four-legged companions understand I know. They're fun and silly and give us unconditional love.

Bliss (the blonde) and Spirit-boy sit pretty for me in the snow.

Christopher

Eleia

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!

From all of us.

Be careful what you wish for

2012-02-12T09:41:00.000-05:00

This past couple of weeks, I've been longing for snow, hating the miserable dead brown grasses - unprotected by their usual wintery white blanket. On Friday I went into town and enjoyed a long leisurely and totally decadent lunch in a restaurant with a dear friend - (I seldom eat in restaurants any more so this was a treat.) When we walked out the door mid-afternoon. The white stuff was well underway.

I sped home, not wanting to get caught in miserable driving.

And then the sun came out and graced us all with the loveliest clear skies, no wind, not even a tiny breeze to chill me through. I took the above photo at sunset. Because the sky was cloudless, there was no great colour, just the peace and calm of some snow on the pine needles, a beautiful evening sky and hardly a sound. Not even the call of a late bird fetching a last minute snack.

Later, I took the pups for their last walk of the day. Snow had started to fall again. My tracks of earlier were filled in. Little did I know what would be waiting for me this morning:

(Taken out my front window) I could barely see the house across the road from me, the road is white though it's been ploughed a few times already, burying my already cleaned out drive. The trees and shrubs are laden.

Two hours later the snow continues, more heavily than before and instead of coming down, it's blowing horizontally, whistling off the drive shed roof, curling in around the eaves and piling up in deep drifts. It was already at least a foot and a half deep when I went to put the feeders back out at 7. It was still then, quiet, the times I really enjoy when it's as if I'm alone in the world with just the dogs and the birds... oh and the cats, but they refused to make an appearance this morning.

The skiers will be happy, the birds have tons of seed and suet, the dogs love the snow and had a great play while I shovelled the driveway and cleaned off the car. That I'll have to do it again shortly, didn't occur to me, I was still pretty dozey and hadn't had the first of my coffees.

But I got my wish didn't I? No more complaining for me and I'm going to be careful what I wish for in the future. Sometimes it seems that Mother Nature does listen. Enjoy your day wherever you are!

Shooting fish in a barrel

2012-02-10T09:48:00.001-05:00

My wee pond in the back yard this fall was full of fish - and frogs. The sound of water tumbling from a tiny waterfall and from the fountain in its middle was delightful to hear.

Then winter came or a sort of winter. But the water froze and I suddenly realized that water was leaking from the pond. The ice was much higher than the water level when I looked one day.

So I had to figure out what to do about the fish and the frogs.

Frozen, cold and pretty miserable looking isn't it?

So my solution? I borrowed back a water trough I had used for my horses years ago, filled it up, and scooped out the fish and the frogs from the pond. It was cold when I did this, but still the water in the pond wasn't frozen. The poor froggies, babies all, crawled away after I put them onto the soft garden soil. I hope they were able to dig themselves in. I'm not sure I got all the frogs, or in fact all the fish. I got all the coloured ones and they went into buckets and were dumped into the trough. But if there were new ones, babies? just have no idea. Does this ice go all the way to the bottom of what used to be a pond I wonder? It's not very deep. On the other hand with the up and down seesaw weather, some days there is lots of water around the edges of the pond... so I just don't know.

And here are the fish - in the barrel. I shot this photo with the tongue in cheek idea of writing this blog.

The white thing with the tube attached that looks like a flying saucer is the bubbler that keeps the water fresh. The yellow thing attached to another wire is my old heater for the water when I used to have horses. It keeps the water from freezing. And as you can imagine, the fish hang about the warmth. Not terribly warm though. Putting my hand in the water it nearly turned blue with cold. But the fish are in a semi-hibernative state and will survive until spring and the re-working of the wee pond. It will need to be dug out and re-lined and gives me things to think about during this long bleak grey winter... not that it's been cold, but it's been grey, brown and windy. I confess to preferring winter that is snowy, bright, sunny and filled with the contrasts of colour that come with what has usually been winter.

In any case, now that it's the middle of February more or less, I will begin focussing on spring. Will I start some veggies in a small indoor greenhouse to be out-planted come April? Will it be warm enough in April to dig the pond deeper? All weighty thoughts to be sure. And I can chuckle at the machinations I devise to get me through this particular winter.

I wonder what you do to get through winter this year? I have one blogger/friend I follow who goes ice fishing in the most miserable weather - the worse the better. He loves the challenge of dealing with the outdoors when it's at it's most wintery. You?

Whatever you do - escape to the sunny south, travel somewhere, play indoor games, cuddle up with books beside the fire - or like my friend head into the teeth of a storm - have a great time doing it!

Weather report

2012-02-06T07:35:00.001-05:00

Walking with the dogs in one of their favourite fields, I notice that the moss is blooming. It's growing - as we are told it will - on the north side of the rocks, old split rails and the older beech tree. It's brilliant colour indicates new growth. In February!

Goodness.

This area has in the past 10 years I've lived here, been under three or four feet of snow.

Everywhere around the world we are experiencing different weather patterns. Cold where it should be warm, warm where it should be cold. Drier where drought is threatening life itself, and deluges, floods and disasters in other places where life is being swept away: human, animal and vegitative life.

As I look at the moss, I think how beautiful. The rocks piled by some early pioneer in this area to clear a field, tree by tree, stone by stone, old fencing remains, scattered now and forgotten. Probably this pile was made and this fence built in the very early 1800s. There are similar signs of man's attempts to control and cultivate land for everything from growing food and to building cities everywhere in the world.

It sets my mind wandering about the weather changes. So often man's attempts to control and manicure in the past haven't taken into account the natural weather patterns which are now so exaggerated. The push and drive for more, for "growth," for excess, doesn't often consider the side effects of what this direction could bring.

We're told it's not climate change, that what we are experiencing is part of a natural cycle, sometimes a 10,000 year cycle, sometimes an 11 year cycle. that it was just like this 20 years ago. Numbers don't make much difference if your home is threatened and your livelihood. So it doesn't matter who is right or wrong, it just is. But can we do anything about it?

There is no question that this year is different. Perhaps it seems more monumental because we are so connected around the world. Technology allows us to see what's happening as it happens in countries half way round the world. Are we paying attention to all the effects of this I wonder? Or are we becoming accustomed and therefore immune to the disasters, the misery that happens to individuals, villages, towns and countries. Is it all like a tv show? Something that isn't real?

Or are some starting to realize that it's time we paid attention?

Feathered friends

2012-02-03T09:29:00.002-05:00

I seldom get the chance to photograph a white-breasted nuthatch. They are busy birds and get out of my way very quickly if I show up with my camera. I don't often have time nor the inclination to hang about waiting for them to return.

Not this day though. I had my little point and shoot Nikon camera in my pocket when I was heading out for a walk with the dogs and noticed one of these clown-like birds on one of the feeders. Clown-like because they do such funny acrobatic tricks like walking head down a tree or wall, or hanging upside down to grab seeds. They also have a different sound to their chatter - my father used to say it sounded like yank yank to him.

This bird eyed me suspiciously as I hid behind a screen of weeping birch branches (those are the reddish vertical lines on the right of the photo). But my patience was rewarded and it continued to grab a seed and then returned once again. This time joined by a friend.

A spritely chickadee joins the nuthatch, but the nuthatch does not seem to be impressed. It leaves shortly and the chickadee and several others of its species cheerfully visit one at a time.

Another chickadee selects seeds from the other side of this jerry-rigged feeder. You can see how I've used wire to hold it together, not being a great wood-worker. But perhaps come spring I'll learn how to use glue and nails more effectively than I did last year with this one.

I do have to chuckle sometimes at what some situations such as repairing small things demands of my ingenuity. Not particularly pretty, but so far in this case effective. Thank goodness nothing heavy such as a squirrel or raccoon has tried to grab seeds from this particular feeder. The dogs and cats have been great deterrents to these creatures so far.

And I've been able to enjoy the many birds that visit daily. The feathered flock that meets to eat at my diners, is large and has a number of different species. With this mild weather I hope to obtain more pictures of more varieties as we get closer to spring. Bird watching is certainly fun. And challenging to my photographic skills.

Hope you get to enjoy something fun and maybe challenging today as well as I will.

On the hunt

2012-02-02T10:52:00.002-05:00

Bliss the big hunter

Bliss has been running hard and kept that keen nose of his busy in the grass and under the spruce trees which seemed to harbour traces of what? Rabbits perhaps?
Bunnies seem to be his favourite target lately, also feral cats whose prints we have seen in the snow.

But as you can see, the snow is melting this day. It has continued its seesaw effect, first rain and mild, followed by a sudden drop in temperature and snow. Then comes a deep freeze, bitter winds and roses in my cheeks as we walk around the fields. Then a sudden southerly and warm wind brings rain again and occasionally sun.

This is one of our favourite walking spots - along the edge of one field, crossing into another through a rocky pathway over an old split rail fence. Then down into a little ravine with a creek running through it. The creek has been dammed several times by beavers so there are several small ponds north of this pretty rocky spot. Fun to explore.

But this winter navigating is much simpler than in past years with three or more feet of snow. You can see the moss-blanketed rocks and detritus of last year's leaves and twigs on the mounded dirt that has collected over the last 100 or so years from the early pioneer days.

There is no snow here, nor much in the field beyond to the south.

The winter wheat field that this rocky ridge runs alongside, is more mud than snow-covered field once again this week. I wonder as I walk and look at the green grass-like sprouts in tidy rows: will the wheat and other crops dependent on a heavy snow do well this spring?

I wonder too about my gorgeous garden, so full of perennials that usually weather winter so very well. But then they are usually covered with huge drifts of snow keeping them from this freeze-thaw routine we're experiencing this winter. Will the poppies survive, the many daffodils I've planted? The iris? The bluets?

It must be hard too for the little creatures... no snowdrifts to make tunnels through. Ground covered in six or more inches of water, little holes with muddy entrances. On the plus side, they along with the deer and other creatures more often have easy access to food, but those who are also food for coyotes and wolves, and predatory birds will also be more accessible. Thought provoking.

The dogs wait while I take a picture, snow in some spots not in others in this tiny ravine. They're anxious to get back to hunting - what they like to do best, though they seldom catch anything... it's all in the chase I guess.

And so on we go for another half hour or so, the dogs exploring and me enjoying the fresh air and continuing with my puzzling over it all. Then I decide just to enjoy being outside with them, able to walk around such beautiful areas, wild and tamed both.

But it does make me think more about climate change and where it might lead us. Do you have days where you wander and wonder?

Shed Buddies

2012-01-29T22:19:00.001-05:00

Meet "Funny Ears" - a feral cat that lives in the drive shed that belongs to one of my neighbours who has become a friend.

There are five in the "shed buddy" clan - that's what my friend calls the cats that have found her lovely home in the country. They are the luckiest of feral cats. They don't come near, nor allow my friend to touch them, but they stick around. Probably because they have regular food, though occasionally the opossum that recently has moved in to the shed tries to take most of it.

They also have a heated water dish and two choices of housing, even though the shed itself is far more protection than many feral cats have. But this particular group of cats live together with an insulated and roomy dog house inside the shed and also a home made of straw bales - which can be toasty warm in the coldest weather.

These three are the rest of the Shed Buddies except for one: "Little Kittie" a puss that my friend didn't expect to survive her early days, she came to them in such bad shape. Now, because of the good care she's received she is doing fine thank you very much. My friend's photo of her is too blurry to post - but I'll drop by and see what we can do between us to get that little gal outside and get a picture. These three are called Tippy Canoe - he's in the foreground and you can barely see against the snow, the white tip of his tail which earned him his name. Behind him is Black and White - which while not original is perfect for this aristocratic baby... and then Snuffleguts nearest the shed - what a name! My friend doesn't lack for originality nor for a kind and generous heart.

She locks up the cat food at night these days though - because Mr. Possum is taking more than his share. And she also locks up the shed in the evening to keep prowling coyotes away. She saw one on her walk with her dog the other day. It was on the other side of the road and a bit further down, but a tad unnerving for her all the same.

While many of my blog posts are about birds, the outdoors, and all the wonderful things about nature (including our pets) that I am passionate about, I also love the opportunity to talk about the kindness of others towards those less fortunate. My friend/neighbour and her husband, as do many others that I know, care for these creatures who may have been dumped off at their side road as infants or wandered to their farm by accident. Too often in both urban and rural environments, people ignore the plight of feral cats, and stray dogs as well.

So here's a tip of the hat to my friend and her husband. I hope their example inspires others to help critters in need in some way.

Chasing birds in a different climate

2012-01-28T10:21:00.001-05:00

These two beautiful yellow Labrador Retrievers are friends of my two labs. Their names are Chloe and Sarah and they spend the winter in Florida with their people.

They love Florida because they can swim every day if they want. Here they sun themselves on a lounger near the pool waiting to go for a walk, possibly on the golf course.

That is their hope - the golf course, because there are so many different and big birds there. Much different from the ones they see in Ontario where they spend the summers. And these girls love to run and swim.

But in the golf course pond behind the two storks and the Great blue heron you can just see what looks like a log. It's not - it's an alligator and it looks as if it's trying to sneak up on the birds. This is why the dogs can never go for long runs on the golf course - too many alligators and too much danger for unsuspecting but very beautiful Labrador girls.

It's fun to see green grass and southern birds when there is snow blowing outside my window. And to know that there are places in the world today where it's warm and lovely. I think I'm longing for some sun! But then it's Sunday so that would be appropriate, yes?

Hope you are enjoying your day wherever you are and get some time to relax as Sarah and Chloe obviously are. And thank you to Sarah and Chloe's people for sending these terrific photographs.

Early morning breakfast at home

2012-01-27T10:10:00.001-05:00

It's snowing, well sort of snowing. It's way too mild for real snow so it's mixed with rain - a combination that's deadly on the roads. I think I'll stay off them today.

I can't help noticing all the action outside my deck door and windows.

The birds are obviously glad that my feeders are full on all sides of the house.

Mostly goldfinches and their cohorts, house and purple finches. But I've spotted some pine siskins as well as the other regulars, chickadees and white breasted nuthatches, woodpeckers, mourning doves and blue jays.

Birds squabble over perches on a silo hanging feeder, some are more "polite" and wait on the rail.

And then there is the feeder attached to my weeping birch... more little birds and bigger ones too - the constant flutter is almost audible through the closed window.

The snow continues, but goes back and forth between rain, sleet and actual snow. The birds continue to flock and suddenly disappear, then return in twos and threes, only to flutter away again. Is my friend the sharp-shinned hawk hovering nearby I wonder?

It's a busy morning outside my home this day.

Some time in the future I'll learn how to take a movie with my camera and post it - the activity, the noise of little wings, the continual calling back and forth is completely delightful and I'd love to share it. It reminds me that whatever my worries or concerns, life on this planet outside of human activity, continues at its own pace. Seems to me it's just fine today to become engrossed in all these happenings outside my home and enjoy the gift - abundance in nature.

This winter's changing light

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we walked along the edge of this field. It's currently planted in winter wheat, and the twigs you see sticking up are from the flax that was a miserable crop last year. The heat came at the wrong time or didn't come and the seed didn't develop, - so my neighbour told me.

Nevertheless, I am always entranced with the long views, with the light in the big sky that I seem to require to make my existence complete. This day leaden skies were lit with heavy white clouds along the edge of the hills in the distance. It was a pleasant walk. The dogs checked out the bales of hay - those log like structures put in swales to keep the water from heavy rains and run-off from carrying away the topsoil - a valuable commodity in this countryside full of heavy red and blue clay. The bales required extensive sniffing and marking. Then we walked further.

Water from the tile drain, which keeps the field from being a pond in spring, pours out of metal pipe. It's frozen patterns covering grasses along the edge of the little gully it's created. But here again the light attracts me. The bright white of untouched snow, blown in the previous night contrasts starkly with the black of the hemlock branches and the muddy water from the small creek in the top of the frame.

Muddy from melting ice and snow from two days ago when it was mild and rainy. The weather has been peculiar.

Normally this piece of tiny ravine would be four feet deep in snow with snowshoe tracks competing with rabbit, deer and coyote tracks. This day, it's pristine.

And then there is this - an early morning sunrise that I call a glory sky. Winter's changing light.

Pets' antics make me laugh

2012-01-25T07:22:00.000-05:00

Recently I placed a small mat in front of the fire, because the dogs and cats seemed to like lying by it.

However Eleia has a new game.

She crawls underneath it, and, convinced she's quite invisible, peeks out from one end. You can see the concentration in her eyes. Every time I see her under this mat I have to laugh.

Lately she's shown a great deal of creativity in finding ways to play and get rid of all that energy she has. She doesn't like getting her feet wet and way too many days it's been raining instead of snowing. Snow doesn't seem to stop her... but rain? high winds? This girl isn't going out.

And then there are the dogs - who also make me laugh. The morning game, which sometimes unfortunately, involves me. Unfortunate because it doesn't matter to the dogs that it's snowing or blowing, freezing rain or high winds... they want to go out, the colder the better, have me throw a toy and then watch as they attack one another and play tug of war or wrestlemania...I'm usually in pajamas and dressing gown, not dressed for poor weather.

What a crew I have.

And then there's Christopher, the serious one of the bunch. Except that when the dogs walk by him he extends a lazy paw and grabs at an ear or shoulder. Bliss ignores him or snuffles him. Spirit, the black baby, is truly a baby and waits, staring at me to help him get by the cat menace who threatens him.

Christopher is the boss of the house, though Eleia is trying to take over and they have recently developed their own wrestlemania game. Noses to each other then a paw up and knocking an ear, then a growl and into full wrestle rolling on the ground...

Christopher also keeps Oiler in line. He is Bliss and Spirit's brother, from the same litter and lives down the road coming to visit to cadge a treat or a walk. But Christopher terrifies him. The black cat stands between Oiler and the front door, staring him down. You can see from his intent look in this picture that he can be pretty intimidating if he wishes.

All in all, the animals in my life have always given me a great deal of pleasure, discipline because I must walk and feed them, and laughter. Their antics give me great joy -

Hope you find things in your life today that give you great joy - maybe your pets? or the birds you watch? or your family or friends? There is lots in life to bring laughter, joy and pleasure if we are open to it I think.

Early mornings in the Valley

2012-01-21T10:35:00.000-05:00

The sun's rays just begin to caress the tops of the hills and set the skies aflame. Snow glued to the branches will drip away slowly as the day progresses, but our mornings start long before that.

We've already been out -when the sky was just beginning to lighten - putting the bird feeders in place for the day. Raccoon marauders love the black oiled sun flower seeds as much as the birds do, and prowl the perimeter of the property when it gets dark, then darting in to cadge a meal. It drives the dogs insane and their barking makes me similarly crazy. So into the back of the car with the feeders at night and out in the morning.

As we get ready for a walk, instead of carousing as they usually do, the dogs sit nicely for me while I try to get a picture. Spirit, ever attentive being a black lab, and worried or wondering why I want him to sit and not play the way I usually do, stares into the camera lens with his nearly black eyes. Bliss, bored and somewhat resentful that he's not playing glances at the birds nearby on the ground. I'm sure he's wondering if he can catch one, or thinking how good the game is going to be when I release them from their sit.

One of the games that Bliss plays is with the birds. There are several very smart little chickadees that come to the feeders, grab a seed and then make for a nearby bush or tree. The game is that Bliss runs to the foot of a tree, looks up into the branches until he sees one, then begins to prance and bark. The chickadees make for another tree. He chases after, spots them or it, and begins to bark again. This game of tag or hide and seek is a favourite when Bliss is waiting for me to fill the little toboggan with wood for the fire, or fill the feeders, sweep the walk, shovel snow, clean snow off the car, any one of a number of little outdoor chores before a walk or a ride in the car.

And the little birds wait too - high in the branches of one of the elms that line the edge of the property. They gather in a huge flock which seems to be growing. In this photo I count about 60. It seems, as they swirl and float from tree to deck to feeder to tree to bush and back, that there are hundreds.

There are feeders on all sides of the house. Filled mostly with suet and black oil sunflower seeds, but also niger seed not particularly a favourite in winter because they are so small, but they empty all too quickly and need daily replenishing.

And finally the bigger birds take their turn. The mourning doves, one of the many that dwell in the spruce tree on the west side of the church, was brazen enough this day to continue its search for seed on the deck. More often they leave and flee for the safety of the trees across the road at the tiniest movement in the house or nearby. The blue jays - the gang of thieves I call them - boisterous, raucous and full of joie de vivre, tackle all the feeders, jay-size and finch size, it matters not. If there's seed, they're sure to be nearby.

All in all the bird family that frequents this property is a pretty large number, and they show up early in the morning, returning every two or three hours for another nosh. There are American tree sparrows, white-breasted nuthatches (sadly no rosy breasted ones that I've seen this year), chickadees, house sparrows, American goldfinches, house finches, purple finches, at least half a dozen blue jays and maybe more, pairs of downie, hairy and red-belly woodpeckers, many soft cooing mourning doves, dark-eyed juncoes and once in a while hawks come to call. My neighbour says there is a goshawk hanging around. The sharp-shinned is a regular visitor and grabbed one of a pair of starlings the other day - in breeding plumage already and with red legs - that was all that was left - a pair of wings still attached to the collar bone and two red legs, claws curled in the snow amidst a lot of feathers. Sad but part of nature.

The pair of ravens that dwell in the small valley across the road behind a neighbour's home, call to me regularly in the morning as they head out across the fields. Their distinctive throaty call lets me know all is right with the world this day.

And today since the sun is shining, and it's calm and full of the sound of wings and occasional bird calls, I know all's right with the world this morning as well. Hope it is in your neck of the woods.
***
And my apologies for not posting every day as I have in the past. These last few months have been busier and often it's more difficult to get access to the internet to write. Bear with me. I think of it every day as it's such a delight, and the people who comment are always so kind and have the most interesting blogs for me to follow as well. I'm sure I'll get back to regular posting soon. Enjoy your day everyone.

Making tracks

2012-01-13T12:00:00.001-05:00

It was spring-like and the snowfall in the first part of the morning was wet and slushy - great for seeing who had been visiting the bush lot where we often walk.
In this image you can see that the owner of the lot has been hard at work cutting down a beech. Many of the beech trees in her woods have become infected with some sort of virus or fungus that is killing them. This is so sad because they are among the most stately of trees when they are open grown on the edge of a forest. Some in this small wood lot must be over 400 years old they are so huge around their middle.
The interesting thing for me is the tracks in the snow... some are my dogs - you can see Bliss standing to figure out what's out there to chase after (top right hand corner). Some are other creatures, and some are ski tracks... this is a lovely place to have a short cross-country ski.

In this image there are human boot prints, and deer tracks right in the middle of the ski tracks.

The deer hoof print is small and recent. I hope it's long gone from the area since I don't want the dogs chasing it.

But they did find this - the jawbone of a deer. Not only are their footprints all around it there are also other tracks that I was unable to decipher... but no blood or other indication that the deer had been killed here in the bush.

I assume this one had been taken down somewhere else and a scavenger - fox, coyote, even a large cat had made off with this trophy.

The dogs are pretty good about leaving something alone when I tell them too - though from the freshness of this "find" I'm sure they would have preferred to make off with it themselves. But who brought it here? I left it where I found it, moving it on a later walk.
I saw many more tracks that day including more of the small deer and some of a very large one. As well, there were those of raccoon, squirrel, mouse, bird - many of the tracks you'd expect in a woods. All have their own story to tell.

And so we left this part of the bush - following ski tracks and the many doggy footprints in the snow - and headed out onto the field planted in winter wheat, for the rest of our walk on this balmy winter day. The temperature was well above zero and the sun shining brightly making it a very pleasant afternoon.
As I continued the walk, I thought about all the tracks I'd seen and their stories and marvelled at the synchronicity of nature and its abundance.
As a species we've not paid much attention to the abundance we find all around us, but certainly this year with El Nina or climate change or whatever it is affecting the weather, many of us have been made more aware of the fragility of the planet. I'm hopeful that we'll begin to protect it better so that (selfishly) people like me can enjoy a walk like this one was and so that others can enjoy their experiences, whether work related or recreational, in the outdoors.
Have a super day.

Getting along

2012-01-09T18:31:00.000-05:00

About a week ago we had nearly a foot of heavy wet snow. There were lots of birds at my feeders - especially the woodpeckers who love the suet that goes out, whatever kind I buy or make.

Usually when a large hairy woodpecker lands on the feeder all the other birds flee to a nearby twig or branch to wait it out as they can be irritable. However this day, the blue jay landed... it's obvious the woodpecker was somewhat affronted by the bigger bird landing on his feeder. But the blue jay ignored him and calmly continued searching out sunflower seeds ignoring its usual treat: the suet.

I watched for a bit out the window, marvelling at how in almost all species there are days when everyone seems to get along and not pick a fight, and other days when you better watch where you step and what you say.

It seems to me that this particular day of harmony is a good one for me to remember when I get cranky...the woodpecker seemed to take a deep breath, and then continued pecking at his treat. The blue jay the same and they left together allowing the little birds to land and snack.

Some days it's good for me to take a deep breath and carry on.

Some days I wish everyone in the world would take a deep breath and stop fighting over the feeders. That seems like a pipe dream today - but maybe one day?

In the meantime I'm going to enjoy watching the birds at my feeders, the dogs as they play in what little snow there is, and all the other creatures I get to see in this lovely countryside. Hope you get a chance to enjoy things as well, and that there's no fighting at your feeders.

The escape

2012-01-08T09:14:00.000-05:00

My heart is still racing! Just a few minutes ago the dogs began barking and I heard blue jays screaming outside. I ignored the dogs for a minute but they became more insistent and I've learned to pay attention when they are like that.

I raced outside following them as they ran from the door just as two birds apparently fused together flew up from the ground towards the edge of the property. They only managed about 20 feet of flight and not more than 10 feet in height.

Yelling at the dogs to leave it, I ran over to see what was going on, hearing a jay's mewling cry... and I realized a sharp-shinned hawk had caught a blue jay.

As I drew close the hawk tried to lift the still mewling jay but rose no more than about five feet off the ground to crash land into the snow again barely eight feet away, wings and tail spread, head twisted as it held onto the blue jay. When I was about two feet away the hawk rose in the air but its hold on the jay wasn't strong enough and the blue jay flew away screeching "I'm free I'm free!" The hawk followed swiftly, but I doubt it caught it again.

I seldom interfere when nature takes its course like that, but this time it was going to end badly... the jay was far too heavy for the small hawk which was not quite as big as the blue and gray bird. It couldn't kill it immediately and might itself get hurt in the struggle. Sharp-shinned hawks aren't nearly as plentiful as blue jays around here. So I plunged into the snowbank - in open toed gardening shoes (not too bright since my feet are now freezing!)

The hawk will continue to haunt the area and is likely right now perched in a nearby tree since there are few birds insight anywhere, in trees, bushes or at any of the many feeders around the house. Hopefully it will catch it's breakfast soon. And hopefully too it won't be quite so ambitious as to try to take down a bird bigger than itself.

I've only seen this once before, but it was a successful raid - or at least as far as I saw it - with the sharp-shinned struggling to fly away, a mourning dove in its talons. It reminded me of the prow of an ancient Viking ship - the dove's head still up and very much alive. An image that's burned into my memory it was so strange.

So we've had an exciting start to the day. And I am pleased that the dogs left the two birds when I told them too - a few short years ago that wouldn't have been the case.

And please forgive that I didn't think to take my camera with me and get a photo of the two crashed birds in the snow (I've used a fall image of blue jays on the deck instead) - I'll never forget the sight and maybe some day will try to draw it. And the lesson for me was of course - always be ready with that camera!

What lesson will you be given the chance to learn today?

A change in weather, a change in venue

2012-01-05T09:33:00.002-05:00

Someone I correspond with in the Bahamas has a wonderful garden there.

Occasionally she sends me and others in my family some beautiful photographs of the gardens, her family and various sights around her lovely home.

A couple of days ago, she sent this colourful photograph taken with her Iphone if you can believe - of the poinsettias that she has planted with the help of another friend of mine who spends the spring, summer and fall in Toronto and winter in the Bahamas.

These beautiful flowers grow wild around her property. I admit to being somewhat envious of this sizzling colour and the size of the bushes.

So in contrast to the dull grey of the sky today and the sub-zero temps (Celsius of course) that we are experiencing here in Ontario, I thought you too, might enjoy the hot pinky red and the bounty of these islands closer to the equator.

Isn't it amazing that we can share such beauty around the world with the click of a button? Technology as certainly changed our lives. What will you find that is beautiful that you wish to share I wonder?

A chilly start to the year

2012-01-03T09:46:00.002-05:00

This blue jay is fluffed against the cold as it devours black oil sunflower seeds that I put onto a small dish this morning. It's a bitter morning, with temperatures hovering around minus 12 C but a high wind making it seem much colder.

I've been outside two or three times by 8 o'clock, fetching the bucket in which I put ashes from the wood stove that heats my home, checking to see where the dogs are and what they're barking at (a car stopped on the unploughed road), and sweeping away snow to let me get onto the deck and out to the car.

The little birds - a house finch on the feeder along with a couple of gold finches, and some goldfinches and sparrows at the tray - were among the first to visit just at first daylight. I'm going to have to get more bird seed today. It's so cold the feeders will be emptied in no time and I have only the dregs left in my bin.

As I looked out of the guest bedroom window I saw that the wind was really whipping snow around. We had a heavy snowfall last night and the snow has stuck to the walls of the shed that face south...a north wind. When I walked the dogs at their last outing of the day around 9 they wanted to come right back in which for them is amazing. It had cooled down tremendously and the snow was big fat heavy flakes.

Now it's only fine snow, much of it probably just blowing from what has already fallen. It's going to be cold all day then warm up over night - in the meantime the dogs will get out with me a couple of times, and they'll love it - not so much for me... it's the wind I object to, not the snow or even the cold... the wind can just cut right through the thickest down jackets it seems.

So today I'm thankful for all the wonderful things I have been blessed with instead of moaning (too much) about the wind and look forward to perhaps some sun tomorrow and maybe getting out with skiis or snowshoes.

What about you - what do you do when the weather fails to entice you outside? I'm going into town for a bit then curl up with a book, but first I need to bring in wood for the fire and walk the dogs. Hope you get to enjoy wherever you are and whatever you do when weather isn't great.

The watchers

2012-01-01T09:25:00.000-05:00

It was a snowy morning, very snowy, and neither cat wanted to go out. While they often are curled up on chairs or in front of the fire, they both decided to watch the huge flocks of tiny birds that landed on the deck this particularly morning.

The birds hide instead in the mugo pine off the deck, well aware that at any minute the cats could arrive and force them to flee... after a bit, they gain courage and the feeding frenzy is on. I'm overly generous some days with the seed, specially when the snow is deep and it's very cold. And there are then often spots on the deck filled with mourning doves, house sparrows, chickadees, blue jays, goldfinches and American tree sparrows.

The goldfinches and house sparrows are hungry, so they stack the silo feeder while others wait, sometimes not so patiently - always making an interesting morning's activity outside for me - oh and the cats as well.
And so it will continue in 2012.

We all wish you the very best for a wonderful new year - filled with lots of interesting things and even more laughter and joy!

Our Christmas bird count

2011-12-29T09:27:00.000-05:00

At the point of trying to take some sort of photo ending with this blurry photo of a kestrel, it was nearing noon and the sky around us was blue. But when I looked out the door at 6 a.m. letting the dogs out first thing, the snow was blowing, winds high and the cold didn't creep in around my ankles, it rushed in and froze my toes immediately.

It was a terrible start to the day. The dogs waited impatiently while I cleaned the car off, not quite shivering, they are afterall Labs with lots of padding. Then we walked the pasture - the snow was determined to wet my feet and fell inside my boots - in spots it was over a foot deep, and blowing across the pathways, the field and the roads. Not promising for a day to watch and count birds. I didn't want to be out in this.

The snow stung my cheeks as we walked and Bliss bounded - well - blissfully - through the white mounds which both dogs love to distraction, rolling in it, snuffling for mice in it, and gulping great mouthfuls of it as if I didn't ever leave water out for them and they were dying of thirst.

Finally getting on the road, with trepidation and a phone call to my 94 year old partner in this adventure that I'd be a bit late, I drove slowly towards town to pick her up.

"What a day," I thought miserably wishing that the snow storm that had been promised had held off for at least one more day.

However when we were both comfortably ensconced in the car, we decided that we would continue as we normally did. Dorothy and I have been doing the Christmas bird count for probably nine years now and so we headed for a village between the town and where I live, to see what the roads were like.

Dorothy had already received a phone call telling her we should not attempt to reach a couple of birders who have feeders in the back country - roads were too poorly tended. So we had a few birds to report at least. Add to that, the collection of finches, jays and sparrows that habituate my home and devour any and all seed - and suet. They had surprised me by showing up when it began to get light, hungry and obviously intent on breakfast.

Ultimately I turned onto a side road with some nervousness. The road leads up a hill, it was white with snow. We crept up beside a dairy barn, the cows were outside eating their hay already. Not a sign of a pigeon, or rock dove as they are still sometimes called... often we get at least four or five here. The farmer's tractor lights were flashing as he ploughed out the lane beside the barn. On we went up the hill, clearly disappointed and beginning to think the day would be a bust.

The car tracked like a panther up the hill. Why had I worried I wondered.

And so it went.

Our first stop was a home about 200 yards off the road, and fortunately the owner had been busy dragging a log behind his truck, ploughing the road. I followed him up to his home. He had not seen any birds that morning he claimed and went back to dragging the log. I manoevred the car into a good position to watch his feeder... and what a treat! From no birds to a bunch of chickadees, American Tree Sparrows, a tiny goldfinch and a purple finch. We were delighted.

After several more passes with the log, the owner got out and we said farewell, moving along the amazingly well packed drive with ease.

It continued to snow and blow, but in some parts of the 90 something kilometres we covered yesterday, it appeared to be letting up. Finally a bit of sun gleamed through the heavy cloud cover.

It was a very successful day. We laughed a lot, we saw lots of birds - some we'd not seen on bird counts before - a mallard and a goldeneye - we don't see ducks too often since we're mostly inland and the people who count along the shore get all the ducks and gulls. By the time I'd gone home, been greeted by the two ravens who live around here and always make sure to fly over and call out if they see me and the dogs outside, it was sunny and lovely.

When we gathered later to compare notes and complete the count, we found many had had a very difficult time, with snow blowing straight off the water into their faces, unable to see, let alone count, but they too as the day progressed, enjoyed the day and the challenges. Finally we were about in the middle of the pack in terms of what we'd seen, about 44 species, we had a high number of goldfinches for the year, and a new species to add to the count - a harlequin duck.

The snow blanketing the trees, grasses, roads and everything made it a pretty day - and though it was cold, we all were safe and happy to have completed another Christmas bird count.

Participating in this kind of activity always gives me a sense of community and of being part of something much larger than just this small area in which I live - bird watching the world over is the "hobby" that is growing faster than any other. And as we count birds and recognize the dwindling numbers in most species over the years not only here but globally as well, we re-commit to helping mitigate climate change.

Hopefully you have had or are having a similarly neat experience that ends happily and satisfactorily and are looking forward to a healthy happy year in 2012.

Merry Christmas to all and to all.....

2011-12-24T08:13:00.000-05:00

Cookies for Santa?

Actually these were part of a selection we had a a community centre where I'm on the volunteer board of directors - we participated in the village tree lighting and people came for hot turkey on a bun - which they bought by donation... and then we had a Christmas concert with local musicians and entertainers providing the music and fun... and we had these wonderful home made cookies. Several volunteers got together to make them to share!

What a sense of community they gave us all - from the tiniest wee babe in arms to the oldest in a wheelchair. We all belonged and shared a special evening...

May you each have a feeling of belonging this Christmas season, and enjoy sharing time with family and loved ones. And may the coming year bring peace to this troubled world.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Finding the path

2011-12-23T09:59:00.001-05:00

Spirit stands as if he is trying to figure out which way to go in the small woodlot where we often go for our long daily walks. The paths in this bush, though it's a small one, are never clearly visible.

In spring the forest floor is filled with little green plants covering it thoroughly sometimes with the soft colour of woodland wildflowers.

In fall its covered with leaves and fallen branches.

In winter - it's most often filled with snow and the tracks of squirrels, rabbits, deer, coyote, raccoons and the trail of a porcupine that is resident - unfortunately for the dogs. This year there is more water than snow, but a skiffle of white covered the leafy ground this day.

Because the leaves, fallen branches and vegetation cover clear pathways, I am forced often, to rely on markers like these bright pink bits of flourescent tape attached to trees or shrubs to guide me.

The dogs are no help. Sometimes they run on the pathways, but more often they criss cross the woods and are back and forth many times. They seem to have their own paths which they follow. Or they catch the scent of something and they are off running like mad things. I can sometimes here their tags jingling against their collars, more often not as they run further way from me. But they know where they are and where I am. If I stop to get my bearings, or to just look at something that's caught my eye, enjoy the peace, the quiet, the occasional sounds or just stop to be still, they eventually come running back, both of them. I can almost see the questions in their eyes. "Why aren't you coming with us? Is anything wrong? Are you okay?"

Satisfied that they've found me off they go again.

I'm always surprised by something on our walks. This day I find two different kinds of apples in a deep coniferous plantation. This part of the wood lot was planted by the owner who kindly allows us to wander through it whenever we want. I've found apples before but never thought about it much. Now I realize that the plantation must have been set in the ground through the remains of an orchard that was planted when this land was first settled and was part of a pioneer farm. Apples are a major crop in this part of Ontario, providing 25 percent of Canada's apple production.

I wander past the edge of the bush where two years ago a hurricane blew down many trees, topping some, completely throwing others wildly around. The owner has been at work here adding to the wood pile and cleaning out the toppled trees. The dogs love to run around in here as it is a great refuge for small wildlife and feral cats.

It's getting dark and I find the marker that leads me back from the edge of the field and bush, back into the forest and to my car. The end of the walk is only ten to fifteen minutes away.

As I head back to supper for the dogs and a hot cup of tea for me, or a glass of wine, I ponder the markers that I need to find my way. Goodness knows I've gone off the paths when they are unclear or filled with water that would top my boots or shoes, and then wondered where the dickens I am.

Do we have markers in our life paths I wonder? Are there signposts to show us which way to go? Do we recognize these or just live according to plans we've made at some earlier time?

It seems to me that sometimes things happen that act as an indicator that we should change the road we've started down. Not flourescent tape, but similar.

May you see the markers that say "Change where you're headed" so that you can avoid disaster or sadness, and follow paths that are meaningful, fulfilling and bring you the things you want in life.

Gifts that keep on giving

2011-12-19T09:32:00.000-05:00

Two years ago about this time, a friend was leaving for Florida for the winter and dropped by my home to visit for a few minutes. She had her trunk full of things, one of them she pulled out and handed to me - a small galvanized bucket with a bunch of leaves and bark at the top of it.

An orchid she declared. She couldn't take it with her. Did I want it? Doubtful since I'd heard orchids were difficult to grow and one of my "darling" cats had knocked one off a shelf earlier that year effectively killing it, I hedged. She urged me to take it and somewhat reluctantly I gave in. I stuck it in the north window in the kitchen - lots of light and cool nights - I'd done my research. After a couple of months of largely ignoring it, I noticed a shoot sticking way out towards the window.

That year it graced me with 42 or more lovely fuscia blooms.

Last year it offered 56.

This October I was excited to notice that my north window was beginning to show results again. Yesterday I took the photograph above as I set the plant in a westward facing window along with a little green orchid (below the larger one) that had similarly put out a bud or two. Some of the earliest buds were beginning to open.

This morning I was greeted by the nearly open petals of two delicate orchid blossoms. I keep my house on the cool side, it seems healthier and I use a wood burning stove for most of my heat... so the blooms will open slowly and last a long time. Many months in fact.

This accidental present has brought so much joy and pleasure that this morning I needed to share its beauty.

Hope you have something wondrous to share today as well - it makes the world seem a much nicer place.

Nature's tree decorations

2011-12-18T08:58:00.000-05:00

With Christmas day but a week a way, I've been slowly decorating the house and the trees outside. I love to smell the cedar and pine. I have a Norfolk pine that was given to my son many years ago. It was a foot tall, and now has five stems and graces one of my seven foot tall church windows. I have to lean over the balcony of the loft to put on lights it's so tall now. That's yet to do, but the lights await.

And I've dug out the Christmas trappings of years past - the ones I've collected, and the ones collected by my mother-in-law from her childhood - way back when. She is long gone, but I think of her fondly when I bring out the little Santa and tiny tree ornaments shaped like nuts, still holding their silver and bronze gloss.

Walking the property with the dogs I spot something vibrantly red - Nature's very own decorations - apples. Elsewhere there are shiny black berries, or the red of Mountain Ash clumped and hanging invitingly for avian feeders. In other countries there is mistletoe on sturdy oaks, perhaps along with frozen raspberries and nuts still hanging on trees. No wonder Christians decided to make this time of year the same as the pagan celebration of the longest night - and the slow sleep of winter. There is so much bounty still around.

We are truly blessed on planet earth to have so much available - water, food, resources aplenty and beauty of all kinds.

This week I will hold each natural treasure I find in my memory or with my camera - to celebrate this bounty and remind me to take care of it and continue my request to others to do the same. May you each enjoy this week and see the beauty and bounty around you wherever you are.

My love for horses

2011-12-17T08:55:00.000-05:00

Many of you who know me or who have followed my blog, are familiar with my passion for horses. Recently this beautiful paint mare and the two companions in her "herd" have been moved to the field across the county road from me. She watched me carefully but only allowed me to stroke her nose - photography was not something she thought she would allow. so when the camera came out, she put her head down and began to eat, then turned her back on me and wandered away.

And this lovely fellow is her companion. But she's the boss. When he came over to see what was happening at the fence, the mare drove him away.

"This is my show - not yours," she seemed to say.

So typical of bossy mares.

This gelding is about two I believe, maybe three. He is part Percheron, and will be completely grey when he "grows up." He's a big boy, quite a bit larger than the mare.

The mare was purchased as a 4H project for the daughter on this farm. She adores the mare. I often see her out with her mum grooming and feeding her. There is another much older mare that belongs to her mother, but she is too old to ride any more - at least that's what I've been told. She's retired and enjoys life in the small herd, though she is definitely at the bottom of the pecking order.

And then in another field up the road, I found this solitary mini-horse. I can't tell whether it's a male or female - but somehow it's attitude struck me as male. Minis are like small horses rather than ponies, though they are often much smaller than ponies. They are very friendly and love attention I understand. I felt kind of sorry for this one - all alone. Horses are herd animals and most often need companionship of some kind. There used to be a herd of these little guys in this field - well a herd of about six or seven. I wonder what happened to the others? Were they sold? Are they inside? Are they in a different part of this field and this one was ostracized?

I had a pony once that was ostracized when she first came to be a companion to my mares. They turned up their noses at the wee thing and she wandered along the fence-line alone and I thought mostly sad until finally she was accepted into the herd. Then when the geldings arrived - she was just as snotty to them as the mares had been to her.

I guess there is always a hierarchy in the natural world. A leader. Isn't it interesting that in many species it's a strong female who is the leader?

When it snows -

2011-12-15T09:31:00.000-05:00

On the way too and from town on the shores of Georgian Bay, I drive past this lovely barn which is part of what used to be a family farm and orchard. The old farm house is now a classy B and B and the barn used for storage I assume. The rest of the land is slowly being turned into the new style apple orchards - vines where apples are grown like grapes.

The barn stood out against the newly fallen snow which was heavy and wet, clinging to trees like early Christmas decorations and making the faded reds of the barn and silo seem like beacons.

I had to stop and take a photograph. The image seemed like a Christmas card to me.

And then I looked east through the sumach. The vine orchards with a red brick house sitting in front of a lovely snow-gilded woods stood out backed by the ski hills of Georgian Peaks with the mountain seeming to stand firm against a stormy black sky. A totally different but equally beautiful image.

Of course the snow is mostly gone now as temperatures climb and rain buckets down instead. The ski hills and resorts may not do well this Christmas season if our strange weather continues to see-saw back and forth between cold and unseasonably warm. Today it's already nearly 12 degrees C - well over 50 degrees F. Not a record, but certainly not a white Christmas being promised. It will be tough for those depending on skiing and boarding for their livelihood.

But perhaps I'll enlarge these photos and paste one over a window, or one of my other snow scenes from another storm...and chuckle over the vagaries of nature. Yes it's largely due to climate change that these weather upsets are happening - but no rant today. I'm optimistic that human kind is recognizing the problems - certainly this winter it's clear - and is beginning to make efforts, one at a time or in great groups, to make a difference. Hope you can join in, in some way.

Enduring species

2011-12-07T10:26:00.001-05:00

Walking in the wood lot with the dogs always gives me the opportunity to see many things that I might otherwise overlook, or not pay any attention to.

The other day, in between snow storms, I came across the base of this tree, its roots plunging into the ground from a mound around its base. The base, the ground and the old roots were all covered with moss.

The moss was blooming, or at least appeared to be growing! In December!

It sent me to Wikipedia where there is tons more information than I wanted. Basically mosses (of which there are more than 1200 varieties,) are different from "higher plants by not having internal water-bearing vessels or veins, and no flowers and therefore no fruits, cones or seeds. They are small (a few centimeters tall) and herbaceous (nonwoody) and absorb water and nutrients through their leaves. Mosses have stems which may be simple or branched and upright or lax, simple leaves that often have midribs, roots (rhizoids) that anchor them to their substrate, and spore-bearing capsules on long stems. They harvest sunlight to create food through photosynthesis but do not absorb water or nutrients from their substrate through their roots, so while mosses often grow on trees, they are never parasitic on the tree... They can dry out and be rehydrated... come back to life. They reproduce through their spores, relying on the wind to distribute them.

"It is generally believed that in northern latitudes, the north side of trees and rocks will generally have more luxuriant moss growth on average than other sides. This is assumed because the sun on the south side creates a dry environment. South of the equator the reverse would be true. However, naturalists feel that mosses grow on the damper side of trees and rocks. In cool damp cloudy climates, all sides of tree trunks and rocks may be equally damp enough for mosses. And different species of mosses have different moisture and sun requirements so will grow on different sections of the same tree or rock." And on it goes - there is a whole lot of information, but a lot of it is technical, and I'm not in the mood to translate it to plain English.

All of this contributed to my continuing wonder about all life and how even the tiniest little plant grows. So much of what we see is large, right in our face and easily explained. How wonderful that there are many tiny, hidden worlds that continue despite humankind's considerable effort to control, manage, even exterminate them, knowingly or unknowingly.

I often wondered how Santa's reindeer survived the cold snowy winters of the north pole - and since I know they most often live on mosses, I know now how! Amazing what information we have at our fingertips with technology. So while there are times that technology and I are not on the same page at all - there are many more that I greatly appreciate: the inventors, the outside-the-box thinkers, the geniuses and the entrepreneurs who support the incredible ideas that they dream up.

So here's to the tiny worlds and ecosystems within our wonderful planet and here's to the people who help us learn about them and help us preserve them.

Maybe today you'll discover a tiny ecosystem that will make you wonder? (not in your fridge though!) Have a wonder-filled day.

Snowy adventurers

2011-12-06T15:48:00.001-05:00

Time continues to flit quickly through December and my internet access has been hindered by the continual back and forth between rain and snow - at least for me, living half way up the side of our "mountain" out in the country.

But every day despite the weather, intrepid little visitors drop by.

These two goldfinches represent what must be close to 75 birds that visit the three sunflower seed feeders and now the two suet feeders.

They perch on snowy branches, or on the dogs water dish also rimmed with ice crystals, ignoring cold feet - (I don't think birds have much feeling in their feet) but gathering steadfastly on trees, bushes, railings and even catching a bath in the pond, to my total delight.

There have been blue jays, white-breasted nuthatches, American tree sparrows and the gang of house sparrows - about 15 or so of them who habituate the mugo pine outside my studio window where I can hear them gossiping despite the sound of rain or sleet. As well, purple, house and goldfinches show up regularly as do the woodpeckers and soft breasted mourning doves... such lovely creatures. And the red-belly woodpecker male made a recent appearance. What a treat to see his brilliant orange head. Hopefully the immature and the female members of that family will show up as well.

Hope you have as much fun watching the birds, or enjoying the snow as I do. Always a good way for me to combat the frustrations of not being able to read my favourite blogs or communicate with clients, friends and family.

Enjoy what's left of this day and evening - and may the approaching holidays bring you much joyous anticipation.

Did I jinx myself?

2011-11-30T19:57:00.001-05:00

A couple of days ago when I finally could get on the internet, I posted some photos of geese basking on a mud flat in a nearby bend in the river. It was about 15 degrees C that day.

This morning at 7, I looked out my front door to this! -4 and wet blobs of snow.

And it continued to come down, wet and heavy and chilly, but not as cold as the full day of rain yesterday.

I looked out the window as the day grew brighter, still snowing, and the boughs of trees bending low.

Really low.

And then the sun came out around noon and the valley gleamed with a new white blanket covering everything, including the north side of tree trunks and all branches. We'd been without hydro for several hours since seven, and the sunlight on the snow seemed like "Lights - Camera - Action!" Brilliant and shiny.

Later in the afternoon the dogs and I went to our favourite little piece of wood lot where the owner lets us roam at any time of the year. It was like walking into the forest in the Chronicles of Narnia...everything was still covered in snow, the branches of huge trees coated with about three inches of white and the small trees which had been wet when the snow blew through, bending low. It was a lacy fairyland of glitter with black trunks lined on their north sides with white. The sun shone through the branches in many open spots, but the snow was so thick in some places - even 80 feet in the air on twining branches - that it shaded everything below. Blue sky peeped through small openings and all was still.

Except for a lone crow, who hated its rest being disrupted by the sound of big paws and my rubber boots and let me know it loudly, it was quiet, peaceful. The snow that drifted off the trees, crystalline bits floating gently down, landed silently. It was magical. Beautiful and magical.

What a treat!

Here's hoping you get some treats soon too.

Wonder where the winter is?

2011-11-28T19:19:00.001-05:00

It was unusually warm, the sun high in the sky, but it was just a few days ago, late November. The grass should be covered with snow, or at least brown and brittle. And these geese should be floating in the middle of the river or standing on ice, not standing on mudflats basking in the sun.

The weather has been strange... but a friend told me this afternoon, that on this day in 1979 it was in the mid-60s. He said yes climate change is affecting everything, but this kind of aberrant weather isn't completely unusual.

"We had no winter that year," he commented, "but in 1978 it was a doozy!"

So I wondered what it means for this year? I've seen flocks of robins, blue jays, crows, all joining the geese and heading south. There are tons of berries on the mountain ash, the apple trees had a heavy crop this summer and pine trees? Cones a-plenty. Lots of food around. But high up. Squirrels' nests are high in the trees.

Sometimes "old tyme almanacs" say that these kinds of things predict a mild but very snowy winter - with deep snow, making it difficult for some creatures to get food...interesting thought. Were the almanacs saying that would happen this year?

The geese eventually joined the rest of the flock and headed in a very casual manner out to the middle of the river - not worried that I might follow with my camera, but not staying close either. They are among a very large number of geese who hang around for the winter at this particular bend in the river, since it seldom freezes over completely and they can dive for food in comfort, specially if its going to be a mild winter.

They seem in no hurry to go anywhere. Close to 200 geese, maybe more, stay in this area when the wind is high and the nearby lake is too difficult to mine for minnows, snails and any other food geese eat. They also feed on green grass. There's plenty of that here for now.

Do they know something we humans don't, do you think?

Do you speculate on what kind of winter we might have in Central Ontario this year? Is it climate change or just an aberrant bit of weather? I guess we'll know in hind sight one day. But climate change continues to concern me and many others. We do need to do something globally, work together to help this old planet stabilize and recover from all the mistakes we've made as the most dominant species.

Please consider helping an organization that works for ecological sustainability this holiday season. Or help an animal rescue organization. Both are causes dear to my heart and so I feel it important to ask for help for them.

Opening doors

2011-11-24T08:28:00.001-05:00

Recently I have added some new doors to this old church. The front door is very old, and small - not the regulation six plus feet found in most homes today and it has an old porcelain knob.

My contractor friend said to me - "Do you want to use the handle from the old door?"

No I thought, then answered out loud - "No!" very firmly as I looked at the modern handle that had been used on the door I was replacing.

I knew exactly what I wanted. I ran out to the drive shed and pulled out a crumbling basket full of bits and pieces of iron, some ancient hand-carved dowels and about ten porcelain knobs.

After sorting through the basket we found a complete latch set for the knobs and found two porcelain knobs that fit. Nothing worked right away of course and it took lots of WD-40, paint thinner, black paint and elbow grease to pull it all together. At the end of the day - my new door had a new-old handle.

This handle and the other contents of the ramshackled basket came from an old log house that my husband and I had located back in the 70s near a community called West Montrose. With our sons, we took it apart, first the insul-brick covering, then the weathered board and batten silvered with age, and removed the interior wainscotting, doors and bits and pieces. The intention was to place on some property (40 acres across the Valley from where I live now) as a retirement home.

My brother and his family, young girls then, came to help once in a while because they lived nearby in Waterloo. It became a family project that has left us each with many stories and memories. My brother passed away three years ago, and his daughters live in British Columbia, but I have photos of those days. We all remember those days.

And the bits and pieces that we saved tweaks my memory as well. Obviously my husband had saved the porcelain handles and the other old handles and latches from the building. He was such a "keeper." Lucky for me these days when I find treasures like this.

In doing my research at that time I found the last remaining owner of the house. The property had been sold to the local conservation authority which was going to expand the acreage under its care and flood much of the farm land. So the log house whose owner was in a nursing home, had to go, as did the barn with its wonderful ever-flowing water fountain.

I located the owner. I wrote to her and learned the history of the home. It was built in 1837 by her father of what was called rock elm - heavy dense wood - plentiful in that area. 1837! Nearly two hundred years ago. The barn was enormous. I can't remember now what kind of a farm it was, but I would bet there was a little of everything, dairy and beef cattle, sheep, pigs and grain. She lived there with her brother until he died, and later she became to old to work the farm by herself. She was 83 or 84 when I finally located her. I need to find those letters which I kept and find out more.

The history of our countrysides, our homes wherever they are around the world, is too important to lose. So many of the stories of a people's history are captured in the minutiae of the daily activities of one or two families, or groups.

I strongly believe we need to remember our histories at this time in human kind's growth and development..

There is so much violence around the world, so many disasters. And so many groups coming together to try to right a wrong - whether it's a natural disaster or a human-created war or violent activity.

We need to remember that it was people coming together originally, in our dim past or recent past, that has allowed our species to prevail and flourish. A single human wasn't nearly as successful as a group in hunting, farming, any kind of occupation. It took more than one. Even a single sales person, needs another to sell to to complete a transaction. As groups small or large we can effect needed changes to bring about much needed peace and sharing the bounty of this wonderful planet in a much more sustainable way.

And so this doorknob has not only opened a door to a room in my old church - (perfect that it too was created back in the 1800s - 1870 to be exact). It has opened a door to a flood of memories and to some philosophic meanders which make me want to reach out and do something to help make those much-needed changes.

At this time of year - wherever you are, I hope something will prompt you to review some bit of history, and open a door that might affect how you think or feel. Who knows what will come of it? Perhaps something truly wonderful.

Frosty morning

2011-11-22T08:40:00.001-05:00

There are about six blue jays who visit my deck railing each morning - at least when the weather isn't blowing or snowing or pouring down rain. They come to stuff their gullets with seeds then make off to some tree, nook or cranny to hide their treasure. I always wonder whether they'll find them when they need them?

But blue jays are smart birds, cheeky, loud and boisterous. They are the ones who let me know if I've forgotten to put seeds out or that they've eaten them all and would I please replenish the tray?

They are also the ones who alert the rest of the bird world to the presence of hawks. A Cooper's and a sharp-shinned hawk both patrol the feeders with regularity. Sometimes a huge redtail will buzz through like a huge Stealth Bomber compared to the size of the other marauders. But this year the number of hawks appears to have dwindled. And this morning the frost is very heavy so the birds will be plentiful all day.

The ice on the pond is thick except for where the bubbler is keeping a hole open. The fish gather underneath the little air distribution cube, to obtain the necessary oxygen I suppose. They are terribly slow moving now and often appear to be asleep, going into a state of hibernation when the snow gets deep and covers the pond. But even then the bubbler continues to make a hole for gases to escape. Today I must fill the pond again and remove the plants to a spot by the composter to be covered with leaves.

Here are some other pretty patterns created by Nature's frosty paintbrush this morning:

Have a glorious day!

First snowfall

2011-11-21T18:18:00.001-05:00

The sun rises in the south now, across the road instead of just up the other side of the field to the east of my home. A couple of weeks ago, I woke to this scene - a god-ray shooting up to the heavens and apricot tinted clouds dusting the horizon.

When the sun was a touch higher the green and brown leaves clinging to a few trees created a startling contrast to the browns, blacks and whites of the surrounding countryside.

The snow has obviously more than dusted the opposite side of the valley, it looks as if all the trees are heavily coated with great dollops of ice cream flung across the landscape, or maybe it's icing, covering the forests and fields.

Of course by the end of the day, the temperature rose and our white blanket had melted into the ground, adding to the necessary moisture our trees and plants need to get a head start on spring - and if you think I'm optimistic thinking ahead, yes I am. November and December are the toughest months for me as the light gets more and more brief and I think about the garden and spring rather than the persistent grey and brown of late fall. But I will say that this past month has been exceptional, mild, sunny and generally so pleasant.

And of course it wouldn't be this blog without a photo of at least one of the pets this was written for. Bliss (pictured here) and Spirit absolutely love the colder weather, racing out first thing in the morning to check on who or what has visited during the night. They have begun grabbing toys after breakfast and going to the door, then playing wrestlemania, tag or tug of war, sometimes all at the same time it seems. While I'm laughing, I also realize I'm going to have to begin getting dressed earlier to enjoy these early morning Olympics with them. They seem to prefer to have an audience, even if it's just me.

We had six inches of snow more recently and it too lasted only a couple of days. But it won't be long. The Santa Claus parade was on Sunday in Toronto and I swear I saw a little red sleigh racing through the skies in the early morning. A practice run? or a bit late to take his place in the parade? Whichever, the season is soon upon us. And I will glory in the winter, even if I'm snowed in for a few days.

What about you? Will you enjoy the changing seasons or do you prefer the warmer weather near the equator? whatever your preference - I do hope you enjoy it.
***
And a quick apology for my lack of posting lately. I've been fighting with my computer, and internet access, but also with a very persistent cold which tries my stamina and my patience. That's soon gone, and we'll be back to normal shortly I hope. Thank you all who have emailed or commented - I love hearing from you.

2011-11-17T19:15:00.000-05:00

My friend Liw does the most amazing things with horses - here she is working on a young stallion who has just had a big work out (you can tell because his front and neck are all wet). He is stiff, but under Liw's gentle but insistent work on his pressure points, he gradually relaxes. She is demonstrating the technique she uses - craniosacral therapy I think it's called.

By the end of the hour and a half session (I kept checking back to see how he was doing,) the lovely boy was bending to the right much more easily and his head hung low with complete relaxation. It was fascinating to watch. And that was one happy stallion.

This a photograph of something I remember from when I was a child. Huge (some of them up to 19 hands or more) black Percherons' gleaming haunches, blanketed to stay warm in the cool barn, are just back from showing off their stuff by pulling a huge wagon around as a team.

Here the fellows who take care of the horses and all the tack, clean up the harnesses to ensure they continue to gleam and shine for the next shot in the ring. This time it was only a pair of Percherons, but they often have as many as six horses pulling a wagon. And the wagons have as much gleaming metal as the tack does. There is always a lot of work caring for horses

And as the tack gets cleaned, so the horses get bathed after their hard work. These are special shower stalls just for these beautiful animals. I've seen as many as six huge animals and small being hosed and scrubbed, rinsed and rubbed down to get dry. It's quite the sight.

Missy has had her bath, been dried and now is blanketed to go back to her stall. This tall Percheron mare, absolutely the sweetest gal, who let me pat her very gently, has worked hard and is ready for a rest.

The whole team - human and equine - work hard for their owners, and take pride in the wonderful showing they give to the audience in the coliseum ring. Glittering tack and wagons, prancing gleaming horses striding and pulling in tandem - proud of what they can do - they seem to know they're being watched and work well when the audience appreciates their efforts.

And so I left The Royal - after seeing many more horses, and sort of wishing that at some point in my younger years I'd be able to be a groom for some of these very special creatures.

Dreams of what I might have been or done, are just that - dreams, but often I find these days I can work hard and make new dreams and sometimes old ones come true. Do you find this as well? Isn't it wonderful?

More from The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair held in Toronto

2011-11-15T08:58:00.001-05:00

Children are brought to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair by teachers and families as part of their education. I figure this is a great thing for kids to do, especially city kids who might never see a pig, a cow, a horse or a chicken if they didn't visit the fair or the two petting zoo/farms that are located in Toronto, one at Riverdale Park in the heart of a major residential section, but perched on the side of a ravine and the other on Toronto Island.

These children and their parents and grandparents greet one of Toronto's finest - a mounted police officer and her horse. The Toronto Police Mounted Unit stable their horses at the Horse Palace throughout the year. They put on extra patrols of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) grounds where The Royal takes place, every time there is a special event. All the horses (and you know horses are my favourite animals) are friendly and kind. Some are more eager than others to go out for a big run, some are content to make slow patrols. But the unit as a whole is a wonderful bunch of individuals, men and women who love their work with their eager, willing and often brave four-legged partners.

If people are lucky, they get to pat a horse and chat with an officer when they visit The Royal or any other major event at the CNE.

This lovely animal just brought his rider in from a workout, patrolling the grounds around the Royal. The officer takes time to chat with visitors and encourages the children to pat her horse.

This young sow sleeps contentedly in her pen. She may already have had piglets judging by her stretch marks and the size of her nipples. But she almost has a smile on her face. Snoozing is good?

These two young alpacas seem very unconcerned about the large crowds of children that visit them and want to pat them. Sometimes they allow this, wandering over close to the edge of their pen and inspecting the children. But alpacas are shy generally. When they are upset they hum. These two must be quite young - they were very relaxed.

Alpaca hair is incredibly warm and coveted by weavers and knitters. Many farms around my neighbourhood have both alpacas and llamas in their barn yards these days, as well as many different kinds of sheep.

This young llama - I was told he was only a year old - has been brushed and polished and was very curious when I began talking to him, reaching out his long neck and sniffing the air to try to determine whether I was friend or foe. Llamas can be quite difficult to manage I understand. If they don't like you, they'll spit. They are used as pack animals in many South American countries and in the Far East I think as well. Their hair is used by weavers all over the world to make warm blankets and beautiful garments, that are long wearing as well as snug.

The Royal has many exhibits and many competitions for farm animals. It recently added a large indoor petting zoo with farm and other animals for children to go through.

The Fair itself comprises many aspects of agricultural life, from the small family farm with a few stock of many different kinds, to large (and small) grain operations, equestrian centres, dairy farms, goat farms, sheep and pig farms and all the related parapharnalia - such as tractors, tack for horses and other animals, booths of (mostly) horse related jewellery, blankets, clothing, demonstrations and workshops. Competitions cover the gamut from sophisticated riding/jumping and driving for horses, right through the animal alphabet. Though it's changed over the years, as all things do, it's a delight to visit, to see, to learn and mostly enjoy and be proud of our strong traditions.

Let's go to the Fair!

2011-11-12T07:49:00.001-05:00

One of my favourite things to do in the fall is visit the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto at Exhibition Place. Farm animals - all kinds of them from all over North America compete for blue ribbons and their keepers and groomers take amazing care of these prize animals.

The barn stalls are filled with dairy cattle today, it's their turn to compete. This lovely Holstein slowly chewed her cud while giving me a long look. Other dairy cows were being groomed, washed, clipped and cleaned.

A line of Brown Swiss await their turn but these girls have got their hay and have decided like many others they might as well take a break - are they old hands at this? One would think.

Calves wait their turn in the grooming stands. They'll be fluffed and brushed, combed and have their hooves blackened if they're black, polished if they're white.

These darlin's have had their grooming session and also have just had their fleece removed so they are blanketed and hooded to keep them clean and warm... hay and droppings do have a way of getting wound in even the shortest haircut.

And this one is getting its beauty treatment.

Just a few of the wonderful creatures I saw at "The Royal." Tomorrow, I'll post some more.

You may or may not be amused by my complete delight in the fair - for me, it's a tradition. One of my sons came with me, and laughed afterwards -"Mother you're hilarious the way you croon to all the animals - 'oh look at you you're the most beautiful horse (sheep, calf, lamb, llama etc.). I remember with great fondness, going to "The Royal" as a child with my family and spending inordinate amounts of time in the Horse Palace, which of course was exactly the same this time. I so love those horses. My mother knew I wouldn't be lost if I was missing - she always knew where to find me. And so with my son.

There's something so joyous about renewing tradition with one's family - son, daughter, father, cousin, mother, brother. These things are somehow more precious as the days go by and we age.

And "The Royal" - well it's just plain special, even though it's changed a lot. It's still wonderful.

Hope you find some wonderful tradition to share with your family -close or extended - today or soon.

The Lunch Bunch

2011-11-08T09:11:00.000-05:00

Most of the visitors to my feeders are pretty shy. The woodpeckers - downy and hairy, blue jays, finches, all disappear if I open the deck door.

Not so these cheeky House sparrows. There are perhaps 12 to 14 members of this family. It grows of course during spring and summer, but the youngsters are encouraged to move on as soon as they are able to fend for themselves.

But year round, this group lives in one of the mugo pines, the spruce, or the hedge of juniper on one side of the church. They provide endless chatter as well as constant amusement for the dogs who when bored, will rush at the tree or shrub they inhabit and then give chase. It's a game. They all know it's a game. Seldom is a bird caught by Bliss, the big hunter of the two Labradors.

But the fun of the flutter of wings as they rush away from the bouncing, barking fiends who determinedly interrupt good conversation or a meal of sunflower seeds, is way too much for the dogs not to grab each opportunity. It appears to be part of the balance of nature on this wee property.

The Lunch Bunch (as I call the many birds that arrive here to dine) meets between 11:30 and 1 p.m. on the railing of my deck and squabble over who gets first place on the feeder. That there are two other feeders also filled with seeds doesn't seem to make a difference unless the wind is high and affects the deck.

They meet earlier as well - for breakfast, but they're not serious about food, having just wakened at 8 and only hang about briefly after a few nibbles.

They are joined in succession by blue jays, who usually are the largest of the birds at the feeders throughout the winter, and definitely the most aggressive. Finches - gold, house and purple, chickadees, white-crowned sparrows, American Tree sparrows, juncos, nuthatches, woodpeckers and sometimes pine siskins and redpolls all join in at all the feeders mostly over the lunch hour, but often later in the afternoon as well.

Loitering hopefully underneath are the mourning doves. Sometimes a cardinal and its mate will show up - always a treat to see that flash of red on the male and the soft orange crest of the female. There will be some starlings and perhaps a grackle or two that will hang about over the winter if it remains mild. Such a diverse group of birds.

But they all seem able to take their turn.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if people were able to mimic nature and work together to find a common rhythm for getting food and working together?

I'm thinking of the"Occupy" movement which started so hopefully and has certainly made a statement about the vast difference between have and have not. It's sad that it is now being invaded by less savoury elements than the earnest protesters who conceived and initiated it.

It's so important to stand up for what we believe in, for what we feel is important. For me it's about protecting this earth, working towards reducing pollution, finding sensible alternatives to fossil fuels, protecting our water and wild places.

What's important in your world? Are you among the lunch bunch in your community - getting along and cooperating on mutual goals?

Sunrise, sunset and a sad farewell

2011-11-07T10:22:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning as we switched from Daylight time to Standard time, I was of course up early because dogs don't read clocks, but do have ingrained habits. At dawn, it's time to get me out of bed.

It was soft. A golden dawn, the skies filled with voluminous clouds on a horizon painted rose, mauve and rimmed with brilliant ochres and creams.

The dogs amble back from running down the pathways to check out the sounds and smells of the northern part of the property - or maybe their brother who lives two properties north is out and they always have a morning get together. Frost isn't as heavy this morning and it looks as if the day will be glorious. A promise of good things.

The day ended with hot colours, calm skies and though there were good things, there was a sad note casting a pall.

A young friend, grandson of a dear friend who lives across the valley, was killed in a car accident the morning before. He helped me dig the pond of which I'm so fond and write about often. He worked with me on pruning my little orchard the way his grampa had taught him and helped nail down a tricky piece of roofing on the drive shed. He had had many personal challenges throughout his short life but he continued to look at it with joy, enthusiasm and hope for a better future.

Life is ephemeral and I'm reminded once again that we are given an unknown amount of time on this earth and we must do our part each of us to keep it safe and healthy but more important we must keep ourselves safe and take every second we have with gratitude.

Here's to you Ryan - we'll miss you!

Puppy play

2011-11-05T12:49:00.000-04:00

The labs love playing on a frosty morning such as this.

Bliss grabbed a squeaky toy and headed for the door when I asked him if he wanted to play. I'd rather they do this outside than in - they are such big dogs and I have pine floors which doggy nails have scratched and scoured enough.

The game is on.

Wrestling with a toy in his mouth, having it dislodged by Spirit and then looking around for it making a grab and back to wrestling or running away begging to be chased is a bit part of this game. You can tell it's very serious doggy play business.

Finally after about 10 to 15 minutes it winds down and they come back inside for breakfast.

All the while I'm laughing - as I said yesterday, it is great fun to watch these brothers, litter mates actually, enjoy each other and a frosty morning. So for the rest of today we're going to be outside raking leaves and enjoying the last of autumn. Snow is likely not far away.

Hope you have a lot of laughter in your day today.

Greeting the morning

2011-11-04T12:59:00.000-04:00

It was not a hot morning at all, but the dogs look as if it was. They've been running and barking at birds, whatever they smelled or heard across the road in the fields and hedgerows - turkeys? deer? coyotes? the feral cat? Whatever it was they're hot and waiting patiently for breakfast. What's with this picture taking they seem to tell me.

This is a typical morning - they romp and play together. First thing, it's out and check who was here during the night, then go to their favourite spot across from the driveway of the home of the Malemutes across the road. One is a new puppy about four months old now, the other took an instant dislike to both Bliss and Spirit about five months ago and that was the end of any friendship there. Now my two, as soon as they recognize the sounds, sights or smells that indicate that she is outside, run to the edge of the Invisible Fence and mock her.

So typical of teenage boys. I consider them to be like that from their general behaviour - two brothers who wrestle and tumble together, chase things together, vie with each other for the attention of whomever is nearby, even if it's only me. They make me laugh which to my way of thinking, is one of the best ways to start a day.

And then there are the cats... Eleia loves to be with the dogs, but knows when they are feeling rowdy, the best place to be is up on something, even if it's only eight inches off the ground like these split rails. For some reason the dogs will leave them if they're on top of a rock, the deck, a stump or a fence rail. But Eleia is also intrepid and though she's checking her small horizon here for birds or mice to chase, she's also going to run straight at the dogs and through their legs if she can, daring them to chase her.

Again, the whole four-legged family choose to make me laugh...what a wonderful start to a day. Hope you have one too - a great start to a great day!

Growing in surprising ways

2011-11-03T08:56:00.000-04:00

On a recent walk in the woodland that the dogs and i frequent, I took a new path and came upon this tree or set of trees - it looks as if three or four seeds landed very close together and grew together.

The trees are very tall, and I found it astounding that they grew up in the first place. The as I looked up and examined the way the trunks turn, it reminded me of a family growing up.

It's easy to see how the tree trunks have begun to separate... though the two in the Centre stay joined for much longer.

And so I gaze at the fluttering yellow leaves of these majestic American elms. They've separated but are still joined at the base.

This is such an unusual sight that it made me think for the rest of my walk. It's become a bit of a land mark that I want to check out when I pass near, or walk right by. I've now marked a path so that I can go and see these trees easily if I care to.

Interesting what grabs our attention and creates an impression isn't it? I think about this, and recognize some sort of emotional response in myself to trees in general. I have planted and transplanted several on this property and mourn their loss if one dies or needs to be cut down. There are 25 different kinds of trees on this property - amazing! Many here for years, some brand new since I brought them in. I am blessed indeed to have so many of these lovely pieces of nature surrounding me and my home.

What do you find interesting and creating an impression I wonder?

Wild food for wild creatures

2011-10-31T10:19:00.000-04:00

Walking anywhere in fall is an adventure into the natural order of things. Fall means harvest, the storing up of food for those who must survive in the wild all winter.

Many dream winter away - some people do as well, for that matter, hiding indoors, never venturing into the cold except to quickly shop for groceries and run back to the car. In some places in cities, people can be underground or under protection year round, going from apartment to mall to subway to work to entertainment to meals to home, without every breathing the air outdoors. I heard one young man declare on the radio the other day that he had never seen the stars. Imagine!

Animals on the other hand hibernate, or at least many do. Many birds migrate to where food will be plentiful and temperatures more accommodating. Those that don't, live on what nature provides.

Around my little bit of heaven, the apple trees have been full this fall. The wild grapevines as well. The tops of the spruce trees are heavy with cones, the pines similarly bend their boughs. Hawthorns have held onto the cherry red berries and the black choke cherries glisten in early morning sun or late evenings' soft glow. In the near by bush, beechnut husks litter the ground and black walnuts are so thick they roll onto the driveway and crunch under the wheels of my car.

Crows, turkeys, bluejays and other grain eating large birds scavenge the fields following the combine as it takes down the last of the flax, soy and corn. There will still be lots left under the snow for those who dig down like the turkeys do, or where the wind has scoured the fields.

Along the pathways I find partially eaten apples. Was that Bliss - who loves to scrounge under the trees for apples often picking them right off the tree to devour? Or was it a rabbit or a mouse, mole or squirrel?

There will be lots this winter for those who hang about and need to eat throughout our cold and snowy period. Many of the trees have fruit at the top - which old-timers will tell you means a lot of snow. We'll see.

In the meantime I check along the hedgerow. Once this was an orchard, part of a farm, long ago broken into pieces, a small square hived off for the local church in which I now live, and other pieces as roads and property boundaries changed as we "progressed."

One of the most interesting things I've found is how some of these wild apple trees have grown.

If you look closely at this mass of branches decorated with a few yellow and green leaves and lots of red apples. You'll notice that there are some yellow apples too... and the branches appear to be entwined. Two trees have grown together winding around each other and the sweetest of all the wild apples come from these two trees. I wonder if its their relationship, or simply the kind of apple they are.

And so they fall - and the deer, rabbits, mice, moles and even the odd coyote if there are any left after the hunters have scourged the woods to get rid of them for the sheep farmers - will likely have enough food if the hedgerow along here is any example. And then come spring, there is always the tasty tips of apple branches to be clipped and enjoyed.

Do you see nature's ways on your walks in our great outdoors?

Changing seasons

2011-10-30T12:07:00.000-04:00

These pictures should speak for themselves - just some of the beauty around my wee piece of heaven, that demonstrates the changing seasons. From summer to fall.

Hope you enjoyed the little tour around my garden and the property yesterday evening when the light was warm and mellow - and the breezes were kind though cool. Have a great day!

Blue jay feast

2011-10-29T09:03:00.000-04:00

The blue jays are often the first ones at the feeders these days. Most particularly they fancy the easy to get seeds on the rail and I see four to six of them lined up storing seeds in their gullet and flying off to hide them somewhere.

I believe they are from a family of blue jays that nested in the blue spruce that is highlighted by the early morning sun behind the feeder. It hangs over the drive shed and is the nursery for many young families of birds - finches - gold, purple and house, chickadees and hummingbirds most particularly. But the jays have been living there too - though not recently.

Until about two weeks ago the youngest jays were still fluttering their wings and mewing at the adults to feed them. Comical to see those big fat babies badgering their bedraggled and much thinner parents, begging as if they are starving. Parents often start giving them short shrift as they get bigger and fatter, insisting that they learn to take care of themselves. But there is often one, that won't leave the nest. Sort of like some human youngsters we all hear about, don't you think?

The natural world does include us with all our foibles. It's fun to compare and I often chuckle about how easy it is to forget we are Nature's creature's too.

Enjoy this beautiful day as we run up to Hallowe'en - one of the several pagan festivals that has been adopted by other religions and transformed to meet their codes. Will you be celebrating Hallowe'en this year? The blue jays will certainly be looking for treats - but then every day is a day to look for treats for them.

Woodland walk

2011-10-28T11:05:00.000-04:00

Between the bushlot where the dogs and I walk often, and the field that is planted in grains of some sort, you can see where some farmer of long ago - back in the mid-1800s when this land was settled, moved all the stones from the field and built what we call a road allowance. The long line of trees marks the stone fence between one property and another or the bush lot and the field. But because of the size of the trees I see that it hasn't been used for a long time.

Originally the farmer would lead the horses pulling the wagon out to the field and he would dig out the stone as much as he could then either by using a pulley type of contraption on the wagon, hoist out the stone and then using ropes drag it to the edge of the property, or if the stones were small - as you can see the top ones are, just load up the wagon, drive the horses to the edge where he wanted to dump them, and throw them off. This laborious work continued for many years. without machinery, just old-fashioned hard labour.

A friend of mine born in the 1930s told me that she would help her dad every year picking stones. Each field would have stones that the earth would heave up in the frost and thaw that is early winter and early spring here. Not the huge boulders that had been pulled out by her grandfather and a team, but stones that were of all sizes. That way the harrows, plows and seeders wouldn't get damaged while planting and harvesting. They also pulled out the "wild carrot" or Queen Anne's Lace by hand. No spraying for weeds, all done by hand or by the plow.

I muse on this rich history when I walk along the edge of the field or down the road allowance that is now strewn with broken limbs, and lately, huge fallen beech trees, climbing over them or between in one case where the limb shattered apart when it fell - it's about two feet in diameter - just the branch. And as I looked at all the trees I found one still standing, but not much left of it - that must be nearly 12 feet around it's girth at the base. What an old tree that must have been! One of the ones left from the land clearing of those pioneer days - maybe even old in those days.

I come upon a stump - well more than a stump - the bottom part of a tree long gone, and see where it's been chewed and hollowed out. I assume it must be a porcupine that has done this since I don't think pileated woodpeckers work that close to the ground. But the wood appears soft and rotten, so it could well be any creature digging after bugs and worms I suppose that made this crater in the side of the tree.

I loved the frilly, almost lacy look of the fungii in lines running up and down the trunk. Nature at work turning something into something else. Always things change. I remember from physics in those long ago high school days - nothing every is lost or gone it only changes its state. That was a reference to energy but since everything is made up of the same things - atoms - that little bit of wisdom from my teacher stuck with me for some reason and has formed the basis for much of my own personal philosophy.

Don't you love the huge chunks of wood carved out of the trunk? One of Nature's carpenters at work.

And finally - a turkey feather - or maybe from a hawk - but more likely a turkey - a very large one that thundered up from its hiding place in the bush when the dogs approached.

Just some of the things we found on our walk. Hope you find some interesting things today wherever you are.

A walk in the woods

2011-10-27T07:52:00.000-04:00

It was damp - I laughed that evening when I got home and a friend noted that my previous post with a red morning sky meant rain the next day. It wasn't pouring when we started out, but it was sprinkling. However it didn't daunt the dogs' enthusiasm about a walk in the woods.

This old beech is slowly disintegrating. It has acquired a fungus or infection of some sort that is killing all the beech trees in this little 10 acre bush lot. Sad because beech are among my favourite trees, but even more sad that this particular lot is mostly beech. But I enjoyed the sight of the great old tree, still graced with yellow leaves and standing tall as it must have on the edge of a farmer's field since by the spread of its branches and its size it's a "wolf" tree - perhaps open grown at one time. But it has thrown the seeds for many of the other beeches in this bush. The orange tape on the ironwood is a pathway marker - good thing for me since I can lose my way quite easily in here, though it's small.

In the distance you can see the dogs on the pathway.

Covered in leaves, I love gazing along the paths and deep into this small forest. The dogs race back and forth sometimes in view, more often not, but check back with me and often I can hear the jingle of their tags or the crashing sound and they run hard after some real or imagined prey.

Aha - Bliss has found something, something smelly and black and sticky and lovely for labs. It means a bath for this dog when we get back home.

In the meantime I continued to walk, they to run, and though the rain became more constant, it was a terrific walk.

Tomorrow I'll post some of the other things we found on our walk.

Enjoy your day - rain or shine.

Checking out the morning

2011-10-25T15:57:00.000-04:00

The sun was just starting to come over the hill when the dogs and I went out to see what was what on this lovely sunny morning. They had to sniff around to see who the visitors were from the previous night, if there were any strange passers-by and just what were those cats up to anyway?

When we walked around the property I was breathless at how lovely everything looked despite the colour that has started to leave the trees - a huge strip of forest along the river is practically bare of colour now, exhibiting the bare brown branches of winter interspersed with a touch of green.

This is such a beautiful part of the countryside - sometimes breathtaking. I continued to muse on my very good fortune to find a home here. It was almost by accident that my husband I discovered it many years ago. It's filled with rich farmland, wonderful orchards and vineyards, many recreation opportunities and most important of all - good neighbours. Fortunate in deed.

Hope that you have similar good fortune in the place you call home.

Frosty morning

2011-10-23T14:01:00.001-04:00

A lone Rose Mallow seems to hang its head with the weight of the frost on its petals.

For the first time in a week, the sun shone brightly this morning. As I walked outside to replace the birdfeeders which I must bring in at night to discourage raccoons, I noticed frost in some places.

The valley was misty with it.

Flowers, grasses and leaves were rimmed with it, like a sugar coating.

It was beautiful. And so before the sun got too high, I walked around the garden with my camera to share the loveliness of nature in fall with the promise of winter, but the fragility and glory of it prior to the blankets of snow and howling winds that can make winter tough to endure.

Grasses silvered with frost

Black-eyed susans dusted as if with sugar

Sunlight catches the frosted edges of currant bush leaves.

It was a beautiful way to start the day and a Sunday at that - hope your Sunday has been beautiful so far and continues to be.

Fall bounty

2011-10-22T09:17:00.001-04:00

My deck is kind of messy with fallen leaves and twigs accumulating after each rain and wind storm. I took down the wind chime which was battering my ears during all this. But the other day I happened to notice the lovely red and yellow of the fruit that I've gathered from the trees, the pear being a wild tree that seeded itself in at one time I imagine and the apple being a Macintosh that truly Canadian apple. planted by the former owners of my wee church.

I don't spray, trying to keep my fruit and veggies as organic as possible, so some of the apples were a tad beaten up with scab from the spring rains. But these macs are fresh and have been great for eating. The pears too though some of them are a bit dry-tasting.

It made me realize how lucky I am to have been able to collect these baskets of fruit. And also made me think about those who live in cities now growing their own food...some even have chickens where they've fought bylaws outlawing them. One of the things I've become increasingly aware of, is the need to return to local farming. In Canada there is a huge movement - The Hundred Mile Diet - supporting, buying and eating food grown within a hundred miles of your home, rather than buying imports that come from so far away and use oil and other fossil fuels to transport it to market.

This is not to say that I don't love avocados, grapes, bananas, oranges and all the other tasty items from around the world. I appreciate the progress that has been made to bring the world into our supermarkets, but I believe strongly that we should also be supporting our own.

While I don't eat meat, I support our local farmers who have farms of cattle, sheep and pigs - especially when they are raised naturally. Factory farming just can't be good for us with all those hormones and anti-biotics that are needed to keep the animals healthy in a confined space. And the stress of living in confined quarters?

But that's a long argument. It's enough for me to say that I feel blessed to have property on which to grow my own fruit and vegetables and can get organic eggs, fish and fowl nearby. I hope that you are also able to enjoy good healthy food wherever you live and that it is plentiful. Where it's not I hope that others who have much can help supply you with food and also teach the ability to grow your own and make it possible.

Surely ("The 99 percent" activities of late tells us this is true:) we as a world population can grow enough so everyone can eat? What do you think? I'd love to know.

Dark rainy fall days

2011-10-21T10:25:00.000-04:00

From the top of Blue Mountain just near the ski hills, I paused to take this picture. The sky threatened, black and forbidding. The day was cold and wet and the visibility of the islands in the background on the left and the other side of Nottawasaga Bay on the right hand side arrested my attention. I had to pull over and take a long look.

Until Thanksgiving, two weeks ago, the weather had been beautiful, balmy even. A true Indian summer. Since then the cold has set in with high winds and tons of rain. Even when the sun does peek through it seems a watery pale light, not the robust warm and welcoming heat of the previous weeks.

I miss the sun - it makes it so much more pleasant to dig in the bulbs for spring or transplant perennials that need to be moved. Even walk the dogs. The sleet does not endear the outdoors to me these days.

But we go out anyway. Dogs seem to insist on that. And once outside, it makes me feel good even though the days get shorter and darker.

By Christmas which is really only a couple of months away now, the days will once again begin to get longer and the snow will make everything seem brighter... this is the time for preparation for the snow. At least this year I might get all the chores done... the weather seems to make me want to do them quickly and without any fooling around.

Hope you are also getting some time to get your outdoor chores finished off so you too can enjoy the next season.

Morning mists

2011-10-17T09:28:00.001-04:00

The colour seen here across the valley blew away this past weekend. But in this photograph I took last week from my deck it's an early morning, with clouds of mists rising along the various ridges to be found in the hillsides and valleys of this beautiful area.

The Spy apples can be seen still clinging to the branches to ripen as fall progresses, but they too blew down in the strong winds and biting rains and sleet of Saturday and Sunday.

Always it changes, the weather, the countryside, life itself.

So this morning I'm a bit melancholy but know that once outside in the wind and weather, I'll find something to interest me and warm my heart. Hope that you have warm and interesting moments as well today.

A convention

2011-10-16T08:59:00.003-04:00

Just as I was about to fill the pond back up the other day, I noticed this convention of baby frogs. It seems as if they have all gathered in the pond - to hibernate perhaps? There have been hundreds of little leopard frogs in the grasses around the property, on the pathways when we walk, in the lawns and the gardens since about July.

Up until about three weeks ago it seemed there were only about six in the pond. Two huge green frogs, the granddaddy of all leopard frogs and three little guys - one a leopard frog and two greenies... so this convention showed me things were changing. If you look closely you can see them everywhere in the photograph. At one point there were a few on the back of three-legged turtle (it did have four legs, but a raccoon or cat dumped it into the pond and a leg must have come off in its ride to the bottom.)

For the first year of this pond, all I had was frogs. I remember counting them every morning. In the heat of the summer that year, the pond was well balanced ecologically and the water hyacinth covered its surface with beautiful lime green petals and glorious purple flowers. Since I've added the fish and with the tremendous heat this past year, the hyacinth haven't done so well, in large part because of the string algae I suspect... but the fish have grown.

Now that the frogs are settling in I kind of hope they'll go elsewhere to hibernate, in the gardens for example - because the pond isn't that deep and it will be hard for them to survive...but you never can tell Mother Nature what to do. So I suppose it's the luck of the draw.

Today it will be warmer than the drenching chilly sleety rain and winds of yesterday which prevented me getting any photos to post. So I'll check the pond, sweep out the sumach and other leaves that have lined the edges and the bottom, and once again, count the frogs.

I can't count the fish - they don't stay still. I only know I have the ones from last year much to my and everyone else's surprise - 7 big fat goldfish, and at least eight little ones...but the frogs tell the story. If cold weather is nigh, I likely will find little frogs basking for the last time on the rocky edges of the pond.

Hope you get time to bask in sunshine, or sit in a chair by a warm fire, or lie on a hot beach... just some time to stop and count whatever you wish - blessings perhaps?

This year's foals

2011-10-14T09:32:00.004-04:00

There is a farm near me on the way across the mountain that has a number of black and grey horses. Often grey horses drop black offspring. Though there is a black mare in the background, most of these four foals in front have grey mothers.

As many of you know I love horses, I'm absolutely crazy about them and miss having my own. When I saw this group of youngsters close to the fence, I stopped the car and took several pictures. This is the best with the little mare with her white blaze gazing at me in curiousity - she'll make someone a wonderful pal some day - she's full of smarts. The others just want to eat.

These particular horses often can be seen pulling a sleigh in winter or a large wagon the rest of the year. I believe they are Percherons or Percheron crosses which are much loved for their work as draft horses.

Black horses always remind me of my big black mare Dixie. I think she was part Canadian and part Percheron. She had been used for pulling logs out of the bush. We had a great relationship. She was given to me by my brother one Christmas after my marriage had broken up and he wanted me to start riding again as a way back to good emotional health.

It worked.

And that mare and I had many an adventure. She became the lead of the small herd of five that eventually ended up in my back yard. So you can understand why perhaps, I'm drawn to black horses.

That little mare with the white blaze makes me wonder if it might be possible to have a horse once more? Not likely but it's wonderful to have dreams.

Have a great day - maybe fulfilling some of your dreams?

A fall bouquet

2011-10-13T09:39:00.000-04:00

One of the blogs I follow - wildramblings.com - has a post this week about mindfulness. About paying attention to the little things that often in our hurry and fast-paced world, we neglect.

It certainly made me think.

And when I was searching my photos (my camera connecting cord is missing at the moment) to find something to write about I came across this small photo of a fall bouquet - but if you look at it closely it's also a summer bouquet.

There are sedum, and rudbekia, but also lilies and pale pink roses. Something about it's eclecticness (is that a word?) made me smile when I saw it on my pottery mentor's counter. Tools in the background, a dish made by a friend beside it and the edge of a sander in the upper right corner surround the flowers and all speak to me of the things that I love about pottery and this group of people I meet with almost every week.

It's the little things - that we meet once a week for lunch even if we're not staying to take a class. That we exchange notes on family and other friends. That we plan for the event that helps the local food bank - this year it was "Mug Shots" a collection of mugs for sale at a silent auction the main fund raiser for the group that runs the food bank. That we care about each other in the small ways as well as the big ones.

Just a few of the things that I sometimes overlook.

So with the Canadian Thanksgiving just past, I'm full of thankfulness for my rich life and for everything and everyone that makes it so.

Here are two of the mugs that I made for Mug Shots -

And a couple I painted that my mentor Carol made (she is a potter par excellence)

Perhaps you can see in these mugs some of the little things that I enjoy so much and for which I'm grateful.

May you have a day filled with little things that make you smile, think, be happy, or even sing!

I'm outta here!

2011-10-09T09:33:00.000-04:00

Seldom do I get the opportunity to photograph a mourning dove. The ones that hang about here, nibbling seeds and cooing their soft greetings seem quite shy and bolt at the least sign of something happening.

Could be because this species is often prey for many other creatures including hawks, owls, coyote, fox, wolf and of course cats. The doves here are wary.

My yellow lab Bliss has brought the frozen bodies of one or two home to me on occasion, which I find startling because usually they are eaten on the spot or removed to a high tree or back to a den.

This one tentatively landed on the deck railing and my camera was nearby. I slowly got the camera out of its case and stood up. This slow motion was enough to alert the bird which stopped eating and started looking around. As I moved to get a clearer shot, I pushed the button and the bird flew off. All I managed was catching it with it's head turned - about to leave post haste.

The feathers of these gentle birds are lovely mottled colours. In winter the soft umbers of their belly and russets on their backs with smoky grey spots make a beautiful contrast to the snow. In summer when they are breeding, they are less visible against the verdant landscape.

This was a lucky shot for me - usually they are far away and I have yet to get one of the better cameras with great long lenses... for now I'm happy.
***
May this glorious Sunday here in Ontario be the same for you wherever you are - soft and beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends and readers.

Where cats choose to sleep

2011-10-08T09:10:00.002-04:00

Both my cats prefer as a rule to sleep in a bedroom. When Eleia came to me, I kept her in the guest bedroom. (It had a door at the time). It was safe for her while Christopher got used to having a kitten in the house. Also gave her some protection from the dogs who thought she looked like a new moving toy, though she didn't ventured downstairs for a few weeks. When she was more sure of herself she discovered the church windows that go all the way to the second floor with an opening for what she assumed was quick passage - which she uses still.

Christopher has always chosen a particular chair in the living room or my bed. He purrs loudly when I'm there, but since I'm a restless sleeper, doesn't often spend the whole night.

Eleia on the other hand, visits if I'm reading in bed for a short while then goes to "her room." She used to curl up among the pillows on the bed. Or she'd lie propped along the north wall, under the bed with her feet in the air. (Wish I'd gotten a picture of that it was very cute.)

Then one day I left the bottom drawer of the antique chest of drawers open. This is part of a bedroom set that came to Canada with my United Empire Loyalist family way back in the 1860s. It's stayed in the family. When I was a youngster and "slept over" at my grandparents I used the bed - I have fond memories of those days. Today I use the bureau for sheets and my seasonal clothes. I was transferring some clothes to a closet one morning and came back to the guest bedroom to find Eleia curled up inside. She's kept that as her bed ever since. I haven't had the heart to close up the drawer and so put a small blanket in there for her.

Cats - sometimes they do the strangest things!

Early Autumn morning

2011-10-07T09:21:00.002-04:00

The sun has just begun to rise above the mountain in the east, (it's really just a big hill but quite remarkable in the basin that is southern Ontario). It sets the Blue spruce alight. In the small space visible beyond the spruce and the Melba apple tree - (an early apple now devoid of apples) - the mist settles along the river valley. As the sun progresses the mist will rise in coils and tails as if gigantic creatures prowl along the valley floor with only their tails visible.

It is truly a beautiful fall morning. Chilly yet. Frost visible on the tips of some of the longer grass, but the promise of a glorious day gentles the looming winter.

Lots to do this fall to get ready - the lawn needs one last mowing. Bird feeders must be put in place. The bubbler for the pond checked that it will work this winter to keep the fish alive. Gardens to be put to bed and some ground readied for a vegetable garden in the spring. But for now a sip of hot coffee, a minute to just drink in the morning and welcome all it brings, seems right. I silently say "Good morning world, good morning sun."

***
Finally I appear to have alleviated my computer problems with a new-to-me computer. I've missed my blog, my early morning musings and all the "ether" friends I have made over the past year. Hopefully I'll be able to continue with the blog now and share my wee bit of the world with everyone. Thank you for your patience.

And as we move up to the Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend, may each of you have a truly wonderful weekend wherever you are. We have a lot to be thankful for and I for one am grateful for your friendship, comments, visits to my blog and encouragement in the past year or so.

Nature's garbage collectors

2011-09-27T19:33:00.002-04:00

Nature's garbage collectors sit on the road despite the approaching truck. Most often I see them cruising the skies, heads occasionally lifted up from their close scrutiny of the ground below. Here they've found a bit of roadkill that turns out to be a baby skunk - the unfortunate victim of a fast driver who will now spend days trying to get the smell out of his/her truck or car.

One lone bird, as if defying me to get close enough to steal the prize waits to see if I'll creep closer in the car.

Finally it gives way to size I suspect, but doesn't fly far. After I've passed it returns quickly and guards the prey so the others will have to come and squabble over it.

Turkey vultures are not among nature's beauties. But they serve such a remarkable and efficient service I am always amazed.

They float endlessly it seems to me, in the skies overhead - though by now there are few, most having left for warmer climes. But their search for carrion and its quick removal is always remarkable. Nature's plan for this world, the balance that was created or evolved originally is simply wondrous and never ceases to bring me joy and lots to think about.
****
Thank you to all who have written to express concern that I've not posted for a while, or who have said "please return to your blog" or other ways of expressing thoughtfulness and appreciation for my musings. My computer, internet server and I have been having "disputes" over when and how I should be using the airwaves. It seems in the evening works better than day time, so for the time being I'll be posting around this time. I've missed writing, taking photos for the blog and searching for topics in nature or all the many pets around and about that might interest you as much as they do me.

Hopefully your summer was wonderful, the beginning of fall exciting and holding much to be anticipated, and most of all that you are enjoying everything that life has to offer. Stay tuned - if I don't post for a day or three - I've not forgotten and am just going a round or two in the ether ring of technology. - cheers Barbara

The Fall Fair

2011-09-12T10:47:00.000-04:00

What would a Fall Fair be without fruit and vegetables being put on display to be judged?

This particular post is a pictorial of some of the things I saw at the Beaver Valley Fall Fair on Saturday. It was a fabulous sunny day, everyone was happy, the kids were able to show their pets off, have them judged by a vet and also able to explore the other wonderful creatures that were brought to the fair - goats, horses, chickens, sheep - the list goes on. Adults enjoyed the fair just as much as the kids. The talent show and the 4-H dinner - members of the local 4-H clubs put on a wonderful meal for many - were a complete delight. What a great weekend!

And by the way - to all of you who are regular visitors to my blog - thank you for your patience this past few weeks. I've not been able to "blog" every day. However the plan is to change that and get back to my routine. Always love to hear from you and appreciate your comments so much.

Enjoy the Fair:

Pumpkins and other veggies for judging

Young 4-H members get their lambs clipped and brushed for judging

Mother and her babies having breakfast - though it's a bit difficult to see through the cage wires, these are tiny goats.

Baby bunnies had several tots wanting to hold and feed them.

Getting ready for the dog show - kids only!

Just a few of the heavy horses all dressed up and ready to show off.

There will be more photographs tomorrow - I thought to end this day's photos with my favourite animals - horses... these beauties were just three of the many that were shown at the fair.

Hope you have a "Fair" day today in all respects.

Cormorants in Muskoka waters

2011-09-10T08:38:00.000-04:00

Cormorants apparently are an ancient bird, perhaps existing as long ago as the dinosaurs according to Wikipedia. They have largely been a coastal bird, often thought of as a seabird and live on fish primarily. There are as many as 40 different kinds of cormorant.

In Ontario they began moving inland along the rivers quite a few years ago. Since they are a "clannish" bird - they gather together to nest or rest. They also perch in trees as you can see from the somewhat indistinct black spots in the tops of the trees on this small island in one of Ontario's Muskoka lakes.

The sad thing about that is the acummulation of guano they produce is very toxic to vegetation and after a while the trees they perch in die, as you can see in this picture. This makes it difficult for other creatures and most certainly decimates landscapes.

Personally I'm not sure how I feel about cormorants yet. I don't like the fact that there presence kills vegetation and makes it impossible for other birds who might nest on the ground in some areas where cormorants are located - such as ducks, loons and shorebirds. But on the other hand they are natural creatures, found around the world, though mostly in modern history along seacoasts. And I do love nature in all its glory and not so glorious.

So today I'm pondering.

And I'm off to the local Fall Fair in a very short while. There I will see things that will take my mind off cormorants. Things such as nature's bounty in the form of grains, hay, corn and vegetables on display. Flowers and home baking, crafts, antiques, children's displays of art and other items they put together for The Fair. There will be sheep - some to ride, some to pull and some just to pet. A horse show - you can bet I'll check that out. And lots of people, my neighbours, my friends in the surrounding towns and villages.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll have some photos for the blog to show.

But while I get organized, I'll still think about ducks and cormorants and nature's balance and humankind's as well. Something to seriously ponder on this 9-11 weekend.

Enjoy your day.

Rescuing a painted turtle

2011-09-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

Yesterday while driving home from the village, I saw a black thing on the road. As I drove past I realized it was a turtle trying to cross.

I quickly pulled a turn into the driveway ahead of me and raced back to where I'd seen the little guy. It had similarly raced to the shoulder of the road and quickly tucked its head back into its shell as it saw or sensed my car driving close. Must be an experienced turtle, especially since it was so large - at least ten inches from nose to the end of its shell. (I learned later it may have been a female which is the larger and also about that size. It must have been quite old.)

As I approached it started making a beeline for the ditch. Unfortunately the county roads department has decided that all the vegetation in the roadside ditches and along the edges must be scoured before winter so that no snow catches in them. This has meant in many cases that lovely young tress that have seeded in naturally and are now a mere two or three feet tall, daisies, sweet peas, dogwood bushes and some of the lovely wildflowers and much needed natural vegetation has been swept in front of the monster machine that tears it all up and leaves it behind in a dead heap along the sides of the roads. Not a pretty sight, and certainly not one that people who like to drive in the country and see how lovely it is, expect to see - but that's another blog.

The turtle headed for the scoured area, and while I was pretty sure it could get there, wasn't too sure that the machine wasn't going to come back. So I picked it up.

I set it down through a fence away from what I perceived to be a dangerous situation and headed to the car. Looking back I didn't see the turtle, so I went to the other side of the fence and found it making its way along the fence in the tall grass. Once again I picked it up and moved it onto what was obviously someone's mown lawn - a lawn of about 100 or more yards lining a long driveway back to a home hidden behind more trees but close to the river.

The turtle headed for the driveway.

I tried herding it by walking near it and trying to turn it in the direction of safety - long grass and a potentially safer place with lots of insects and water, the unmown part of this field leading back to the river. The turtle was having none of this. So once again I picked it up.

As we walked towards the longer grass it stopped trying to push my hands away with its strong legs and just sort of gazed around. It must have been so surprised to see things from a different point of view. A big world out there.

It headed off towards safety after I set it down in the grass - alive thank goodness - and probably for a long time to come, given its size and the lack of marks from accidents on its shell, an apparent survivor. It was heading towards the river. I didn't want to take it there myself, figuring it had a destination of its own.

Made me happy and set the rest of the day into a great groove. Hope you get a good groove going yourself today.

Epiphillum orchid cactus

2011-09-06T09:06:00.000-04:00

One of the loveliest plants in summer that bloom among my indoor plants is this fascinating plant I've always thought of as a rain forest cactus - after a quick search of the internet I find out it is an Epiphillum orchid cactus and comes in a variety of colours. I received the first cuttings of this huge plant back in 1994 or 95 - maybe even earlier. It is an old plant and started blooming for me about 15 years ago when I moved near Port Hope and put it in a sort of green house environment for the summer for the first time.

These days, all winter it sits inside and sticks me with its little spines when I try to clean around it. I usually place it so it gets indirect light during the winter, with two other semi-tropical plants - another that blooms in summer as well and quite near a 10 foot Norfolk pine that is trying to reach the ceiling in this church.

In spring sometimes even before the threat of frost is past, I can't wait to get the plants outside. So out goes this baby and into a spot where it gets quite a bit of sun. It appears to thrive. It is an amazing and beautiful plant at this time - interesting at other times. But when it blooms it's breathtaking. The blooms begin like so many tiny red spots along the edges of some leaves, not all. The leaves are fleshy and succulent. I believe there may be two kinds of cactii in this basket of spines, some of the "leaves" or stems - whatever they are called - are triangular others are flat.

Usually there are more buds on the plant. On close inspection I just noted several little white nodules along the scalloping of the leaves - this is where the flowers begin to develop. However I believe the strange summer - with only July being very hot and August being sometimes hot and sometimes not, it may have affected the bud production. Also I didn't feed the plant as much this year as I usually do. Or perhaps it is in the wrong place - light obviously has an effect, just like fertilizer and water.

So I've learned quite a bit this morning.

And I suspect that this fall I am going to have to transplant this baby into a bigger pot. Being root bound does help with flower production, but on the other hand, there is a limit. Before I do that though I'll be going back to do some research - so easy now that it's at our fingertips - a virtual library in an instant.

Despite all this, the glorious crimson flowers are a delight to see, particularly on this gray cold morning that belies the forecasters call for sun and is spitting rain. The tropical beauty of the blooms gives the illusion of heat if not the reality. But I think I can see the plant shivering in its pot this morning. It's not that much above 0C this morning - perhaps 10 degrees? Sit by the fire and read kind of weather.

However it's the day after Labour Day, school buses ply their routes once again and it seems as if we're gearing up to get back in business. Somehow the first of September has always seemed more to me like the beginning of the year, than close to the end. I suppose really if you follow the pagan calendar, the Vernal equinox should really be the first of the year. Whatever, I will carry the idea of the hot tropics, created by these lovely huge blooms (about six inches across when really wide open) with me throughout the day to warm my thoughts if not my body.

Hope you have something hot to keep you warm if you're in a cool climate today.

Going down the river

2011-09-05T09:20:00.000-04:00

Looking a head to what became an interesting three hour journey in a canoe. Not having paddled a canoe in a few years I was worried I wouldn't be able to move after this, but it turned out to be just fine. So far.
My younger son and I entered the river near the village of Kimberly. The river is fairly shallow at this point, ranging from a foot to four or five feet deep in some pools carved by spring flooding or storms.

At first we see a beaver lodge that looks as if it's only used in spring when the water is higher.

We begin to see some of the challenges we faced along the river with fallen trees, deadheads just under the surface and in one case a complete blow down of a huge living maple, that someone had tried to clear, only to have it swept back right across the river preventing any passage without my son getting out of the canoe and pushing us across. Several times we got stuck on logs just below the surface, so it became a puzzle to find the deepest sections on this portion of the river.

At one point we came across a fellow holding a cage high, up to his chest in the water. "I'm naked!" he cried in distress when we asked him which way he was headed to take the trapped chipmunk across the water. Apparently to get rid of these tiny critters, you have to move them across water else they will return and they had invaded his home. We paddled on by, my eyes averted to give him some comfort. We chuckled later on.

We are deep into the swamp that is owned and managed by the local conservation authority. In the muddy banks we see holes created by muskrat, snakes and goodness knows what other creatures. I watch a little Short-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, Spotted Sandpiper or Sanderling which is then joined downriver by three more of its friends. Not bringing along my bird book (what was I thinking? that was what I wanted to see - the birds!) I couldn't easily identify it. Nor did I note its markings. But there were a few of them running along the weeds that surfaced along the edge or on the muddy flats, searching for bugs, worms and other bird goody favourites.

Another blowdown. The branches have trapped all kinds of debris when it falls in upriver in storms and is pushed into banks and other traps.

Egrets and cormorants share a dead tree. Unfortunately it's often the cormorants' guano that kills the trees and other vegetation around them. They are one of the few duck-like birds I know of that perch in trees and are an invasive species, not being native to North America.

As we move much further along (this photograph was taken about at the two hour mark) the vegetation changes with more reeds in the water and the swamp extending deeper into the forest that has lined the banks and hung over the river. We are closer to the road along here and also to farm fields and shortly after passing this spot, having paddled for three hours and hearing thunder overhead, decided to finish the rest of the trip - another two hours - in a couple of weeks.

This was a delightful way to spend a steamy summer afternoon with slight breezes from our movement along the river and the occasional drops of water from paddles splashing us. We're looking forward to finishing the trip which won't be as challenging having few if any windfalls across and deadheads under the river.

For both of us, it realized a dream. Though we had lived in the area when my son was in grade school and through high school, none of the family had canoed the river. I've long been curious about what the river actually looked like and what lived in and along it.

We saw many things that I was unable to photograph, minnows, small fish up to about six inches in size, Canada geese standing like statues tucked into the brush, shrubs and trees, quietly watching as we floated by. A kingfisher scolded us and followed us for many miles as we invaded its private fishing holes. My son saw several Great Blue Herons, I missed them of course until they were high in the sky. And he saw a beaver as it jumped into the water just ahead of the canoe as we neared a bank.

The river itself switches back on itself - going about a hundred or two hundred yards and then curving either to the left of right. Sometimes it was a gradual and gentle curve, sometimes almost a hairpin turn. But it explained why it took three hours to go only a couple of kilometres as the crow flies. A fascinating experience all in all.

May I recommend to each of you that you do something you've dreamed about in the coming months or year? The rewards are unmeasurable!

A beautiful spot.

A special cat

2011-08-31T09:38:00.000-04:00

Meet Jasmine. She's curled up on her pillow in the living room at my brother's cottage. She usually lives in a condo, so being in the wild with all kinds of things to hunt makes her very happy.

She's just come in from a long night outside with deer, mice, moles and who knows what other kinds of creatures to share her night-time world. After I take the picture she opens one eye but doesn't pay much attention otherwise, must have been a great hunting night.

Jasmine is Eleia's sister. I find it so interesting that they share a similar feature - it's as if their faces have been painted differently on either side. While Eleia is mostly white and gray with a bit of rust colour, when you look at her face-on, it looks as if one side of her face was made-up with dark and the other with rust.

These two sisters love the night, love to hunt and must be part Siamese with their long bodies and dainty features.

They make me think about families in animals and humans too - how there are similarities, but each member of the family is different in some way.

In the case of these cats, all of them (there were five or six in the litter) have some of the same colouring - white, peach or rust, gray and black. One is all black, one is similar to Eleia, one is all orange. I'm not sure about temperment, but Eleia and her brother Michael who looks a bit like her, are both very affectionate and friendly. Jasmine is her own cat. She adores her human and likes my brother and his wife who care for her often, but isn't really fond of strangers or other humans, though she and my brother's Ragdoll cat Henry get along just fine.

Interesting how everything and everyone on this earth, though all made up of the same stuff - electrons, protons and neutrons, are all different. That's my thought for the day.

Hope you have a good one and some interesting thoughts come your way.

The close of day

2011-08-29T10:35:00.000-04:00

Going

Gone

This was Saturday night at my brother's cottage - the most glorious sunset which we all sat out and enjoyed as the sun slowly settled into the islands and water, turning the sky fiery red then softer peach with yellow... green... turquoise.... mauve and deep purple shadows all around. The perfect closing to a beautiful day.

Families and cottages seem to go together. The cottage can be tiny wee or a mansion, on a lake, in the woods, in a field even. The important thing is family sharing a holiday together. It's special. And unforgettable.

Hope you have those kinds of moments during your holidays.

Summer visits

2011-08-25T16:21:00.000-04:00

Visiting with friends is one of the best ways to spend parts of the summer, I think anyway. On Tuesday I went to visit with these two beautiful lab girls, Chloe on the left and Sarah on the right. And their humans.

The girls are half sisters, about three years apart in age and totally devoted to one another and their humans, to food, like any good Labrador retriever is, and to running around and playing with each other.

When I arrived, they danced around, and then checked my overnight bag to see if Bliss and Spirit were somehow hiding in there. They hid their disappointment well, and began carrying my sandals off - the ones Spirit seems to feel he needs in his bed.

We had great fun sitting outside in the back yard where the girls would go from one to the other of us in search of a pat, a crumb to nibble, or an ear rub. Finally they settled and lay at our feet. They are wonderfully trained, except when they get so excited when someone comes to visit, then they dash around inviting the visitor to share their joy and excitement. They will wait forever for their meals until they are told okay or fingers are snapped. They know which dish is whose and each one carefully goes to the proper dish.

When I bade them goodbye they were disappointed not to come to visit with the boys, but there will be a next time. The last time they were here they jumped into the little fish pond to cool off after a run... much to everyone's dismay including mine, hoping that doggy nails wouldn't cut holes into the plastic liner (they didn't.) Next time, we'll go to the beach right away and the four of them can swim their hearts out... that is if Bliss doesn't decide to head across the lake chasing some wary goose or gull.

My visiting with their humans was enhanced by time spent with the two furry girls. Almost all my friends have animals of some kind and it's always part of the visit process for me - to spend time with them as well as my two-legged friends - makes summertime special for me.

Hope your summer is wonderful, that you're having fun and that as fall approaches, you've had many opportunities to visit people, places and things that you truly enjoy. That's what it's about isn't it? Smiling your way through a day?

2011-08-23T08:43:00.000-04:00

This is Dilly and her pals the donkeys. I have posted their photo before, but came across this one this morning and thought to post her image again. Dilly like her sister Shazam or Niki as I called her, has past, but was a Krevits Arab. I met Dilly and her two-legged partner, friend and breeder many years ago through Niki. I had just bought the mare and registered her with the Canadian Arab Association. Her breeder, who became a dear friend, had been searching for her because Shazam was the first of many horses that she had bred and somehow she'd lost rack of her.

Shazam's breeder (who quickly became a dear friend) lives on a lovely farm on the Niagara Escarpment hear Hamilton, most of which she rents to a couple who run an equestrian centre. It's ideal for my friend, who not only has all her horses there, several Arabs that she breeds and shows, but also a variety of animals she rescues. I don't know if the donkeys shown here are rescues, or the Llama that was in the stable the day I took this photograph, but I did meet the dogs she rescued and several of the cats, some of whom were barn cats, others house cats. This is a woman with a huge heart, who in her working life was a videographer and gatherer of news and commentary long before it was something women did with any frequency. She is remarkable. And so are her four-legged friends.

Hope you have someone or something remarkable in your life who can make you smile, feel proud, or that you want to emulate. This woman has set me a fine example. Have a super day, maybe you'll even see some donkeys today?

Nature's weavers

2011-08-22T07:12:00.000-04:00

If you look carefully in the centre of this photograph there is a small miracle of Nature's design and architecture. After the heavy rain yesterday, the grass was very wet and I found a number of shining spider webs in the tall pasture. They glimmered in the early morning sun (which soon disappeared) and on this one I nearly caught the tiny yellowish green spider that had made it. Now I know that many people (maybe including you) don't like spiders - or spider webs, so this won't be a long post.

Likely with the dogs, cats, birds and other creatures to say nothing of the wind and rain that came on with a vengeance, the webs didn't last long. But I am always in awe of these tiny weavings, most often perfect and complete first thing in the morning. After reading about spider webs and cobwebs (webs that are no longer used by a spider - who knew?) I decided that if you are interested you will read about them too in Wikipedia or wherever.

It's the intricacy of the design, the ability of such a tiny creature to make such a strong structure - spider silk is incredibly strong - that I admire.

So today I'm going to check and see (since it rained again most of yesterday and last night) if there are more interesting little things to see in the tall grass of my pasture.

Enjoy your day - and perhaps some little thing will intrigue you today as well.

A foggy day

2011-08-21T11:44:00.000-04:00

It's so misty this morning, it's hard to see Bliss hunting for mice and frogs in the tall grasses and weeds. At one point I could hardly see my cedar hedge which is only about 10 feet from the front of the house. We were in a cloud.

It seems as if my computer is in a cloud as well, and has been for the past few weeks, meaning that I have been unable to access my blog and post easily or at all. So thank you for your patience, those of you who still check every day or so, thanks to those of you who receive this automatically. I love to read your comments and always reply, so hope you check back... and hopefully either a new computer or a bit of work on this one and on my internet service will help me get back to regular posting. It's an amazing world - this virtual one, and I do love sharing the real world or my take on it with my friends and family in the virtual one.

Enjoy your day and the rest of the weekend.

Two of my four-legged pals as puppies

2011-08-16T10:09:00.000-04:00

Bliss on the left and Spirit being held up for a photo-op at their breeder's home. They are eight weeks old here.

There's something about puppies, all soft and floppy, full of licks, tail wags and generally pretty curious and happy go-lucky.

Bliss continues to gnaw on whatever he can find. He is a counter thief if I'm not home and haven't put all the food he loves (butter, bread, specially butter) safely away.

Originally the mother had 11 puppies. When I finally decided I'd been three months without a dog and responded to a little advertisement posted on the door of the local general store, there were only four males left. Bliss is the one being chewed on by his brother - I think the worried looking black pup in the front is Spirit being sniffed by one of their sisters who hadn't been picked up yet. I went off to Newfoundland the day I chose these two, or perhaps they chose me, and came back two weeks later to find mine were the only ones left behind.

Bliss at home giving me a coy look. He's about 12 weeks here.

Perplexed or worried - Spirit is often both.

Sharing a rawhide chewy

Tired puppies sleep soundly.

These two are now five years old and keep me physically and often emotionally in shape. They are great buddies, spend a bit of time with their black brother Oiler, who moved in two doors down the road, and generally are pretty happy fellows. Bliss is the lead when it comes to hunting. On our walks he is always nose to the ground searching for mice, moles, rabbits, frogs, and the scent of his dreaded enemy - the raccoon family.

This morning there is a raccoon snoozing in the rafters of the drive shed. I figured it would be there this morning because the boys made a huge racket during the night. Bliss has been out trying to discourage it for some time. The coon's life is at risk if he catches it.

Spirit is the worrier, and while walking on my property mostly stays close by me, but when in the fields or woods owned by nearby neighbours, he's off like a shot, and these days leads Bliss into trouble.

They love to swim, continue to play with each other occasionally, specially ring around the pond - where Bliss grabs a toy from the toy basket, shoves it in Spirit's face and then takes off racing around the pond at top speed. They usually chase each other for about 20 minutes like this. Bliss seldom lets the toy drop long enough for Spirit to grab it, but sometimes there is a tug of war, and then it all depends on strategy.

Life is truly fun with these two big labrador retrievers around. They are good protection, setting up a racket if they hear anything suspicious outside, and great companions. Oh and if you're wondering, the mother was a black lab and dad was the blonde!

If you are also owned by a pet or pets, I hope you have as much fun with yours as I do with mine. Enjoy your day!

Summer roses

2011-08-15T12:18:00.000-04:00

One of the flowers in my garden that I truly love is the rose. I have several different varieties. I don't know their names and I don't know the name of the little green worm that has made a tasty meal of their leaves. But I do know that my father and both my grandfathers loved roses as well, as do my sons and my brother.

So I dusted my plants with something called plant doctor to get rid of the little green worms and had immediate remorse because I hate killing things... and so have washed off a lot of the dust which is so old I doubt it would work anyway and am going to use a soap solution.

But here's what "Yahoo Answers" offers as it's best answer to what are the little green worms that are devouring my rose bushes: Not trying to be a wise guy, but they're Baby moths.

If you want to get rid of them, buy the insecticide specified to target them and read the label carefully to ensure optimal effectiveness.

If you care enough about the environment to ensure the poison doesn't eventually work it's way into our already strained clean water supply, (and it will) wait a few days and their natural predators (wasps) will appear and kill them for you. The wasps that target them are not aggressive like the ones that build those huge bowling ball sized paper nests. They live in small holes in rotting dead wood. You can make a few your self by drilling 1/2 inch holes in a section of 2X4 or a branch you find lying around in your yard. Hang them approximately 50-100 feet away from your house and the wasps will help you out. If allergic (Pick-em off by hand or use the poison responsibly)

I would pick them off by hand until the wasps figure out where they are.

Source(s):

Had the same question a few years ago, did the research and built a couple of simple and easy to make wasp habitats in my back yard. The wasps won't bother you and it's fascinating to watch them hover around the plant then suddenly drop down on one of the little critters and fly away with it.

*** ***

So there we go! Now, I've learned something valuable, and pass on this tip to you...and now I'm going out to the garden to wash the white stuff off and get rid of it, probably onto a brush pile with lots of water so it will be so dilute it won't hurt anything...

And - I'm going to enjoy the rose blooms! Hope you have a "rose-y" day!

Horses I've known

2011-08-14T10:02:00.000-04:00

This is Topper - I used to ride her through woods and over hills - steady and elderly - just a doll. She is about 24 and is a Tobiano paint: from Wikipedia explaining colour markings: Tobiano: The most common spotting pattern, characterized by rounded markings with white legs and white across the back between the withers and the dock of the tail, usually arranged in a roughly vertical pattern and more white than dark, with the head usually dark and with markings like that of a normal horse. i.e. star, snip, strip, or blaze.

This is Dune, who was about 5 or six in this photo a couple of years ago. She has her mane caught up in burrs because she like Topper lives in a comfortable herd of about ten horses outdoors. They have shelter in a huge arena and can come and go as wild as they wish or not. Dune is not so easy as Topper to ride, or wasn't when I knew her. She also is a paint, but an Overo: Overo: A group of spotting patterns characterized by sharp, irregular markings with a horizontal orientation, usually more dark than white, though the face is usually white, sometimes with blue eyes. The white rarely crosses the back, and the lower legs are normally dark. The APHA recognizes three overo patterns:

A dun, used in this family in Newfoundland for sulky racing - or "the Trots." Most are standardbreds and are trained either to run as a trotter - alternate back and front feet moving forward together, or as pacers where they are trained to have the legs on one side back and front, move forward together. (I can't resist taking photographs of horses wherever I see them - hence this lovely animal taken on my visit to Newfoundland.)

Along one of our county roads up here there is a paint horse farm. As you can see there are a number of lovely paints (of which I'm very fond - can you tell?) These appear to be all Tobianos - black and white or brown and white. This breed is very popular, not only for show, but for all kinds of "rodeo" work such as barrel racing and ranching. As far as I know they are always Quarter Horses. From Wikipedia:Quarter Horses: a muscular animal that is heavy but not too tall, with a low center of gravity for maneuverability, and powerful hindquarters suitable for rapid acceleration and sprinting. I used to own a paint, or rather he owned me - Mr. B. One day I'll tell you his story. He was a real character.

For now I hope you enjoy a simply super day spending it doing something you really love to do.

2011-08-13T08:32:00.000-04:00

On my way home late yesterday afternoon I noticed this huge threshing machine taking off the grain - looks like winter wheat - with the dust and chaff caught in the sunlight behind. It struck me as a typical late summer image - one that many of us have known since childhood, though this machine is a newer one and cuts a wide swath than several I've seen lately.

Grain used to be taken off the land by hand, scythes swinging in rhythm. If the farm family was lucky and lived in a friendly neighbourly community. The men would all work together to gather each other's grain. At evening, the women would have tables laid out under the trees heaped high with food, everyone contributing. It was a movable feast until harvest was over. It was hard work in the sun, and devastating if it rained and spoiled a crop before it was put into the grain bins in barns. But people seemed able to gauge the weather in those days.

This fellow in the photo was obviously working hard to gather in his grain before it rains today. The straw may also get baled before it gets damp. Lines of round hay bales wrapped in white plastic in the background of the photograph tell me there is a herd of cows that will be well fed this winter. And bedded well if the fluffy quantity of straw falling in careful rows is any suggestion.

We are so blessed in much of North America. Though we've had drought in many areas across the continent we will still (at least most of us if not all) will be able to feed ourselves this winter. Hopefully our cups will "runneth over" and we will be able to help those whose harvests are not so bountiful.

May you have a beautiful late summer day with all it's joys and bounty.

Cottage country scenes

2011-08-12T11:23:00.000-04:00

In Ontario's cottage country it's common to hear the haunting cry of a loon, often in the evening or early in the morning. I was sitting reading on the dock by this pretty lake when I heard a splash. Thinking it was a large fish, I looked up to see this beautiful loon not ten feet from me. It floated for a minute or two while I held my breath, then it dove. I grabbed my camera and stood up thinking it had gone under the dock looking for minnows. It rose further away than I expected and allowed only one shot before it dove again and surfaced about 100 yards away. What an amazing experience.

Many of Ontario's lakes have rocky beds, being part of the Canadian shield, and the islands' shorelines are often rocky as well. They make beautiful spots to sit and enjoy a cozy fire in the evening, or to watch the sunset, or the boat traffic moving by slowly.

Narrows between islands are marked by buoys and also sometimes by Inukshuk, stone people following the Inuit tradition of marking passages or trails.

Others perch their chairs ( not visible from here) on the top of a rocky cliff to catch the amazing view down a channel or a stellar sunset.

Whatever the choice, there are many beautiful scenes around Ontario's countryside, rugged and rocky, heavily treed or grassy, lakes and rivers, long beaches and cottages cheek to cheek along their edges. Long or intimate, the views are always memorable.

Enjoy your day today and may something memorable come into view for you.

Fall flowers

2011-08-11T11:43:00.000-04:00

Early morning sun shines on these sunflowers planted by the birds. Some of them are spindly and some not so, but all are like their namesake - the sun, shining through a gray rainy sky.

Late blooming clematis add a delicacy to the often hot colours of late summer and early fall. Fall? Already? It certainly feels that way with the cool winds and very cool nights. Great for sleeping, but not wonderful that summer as most people know it - the three months of June - August are drawing to a close.

Deep burgundy day lilies combine with feathery white blooms of Veronica to create a lush image of summer heat.

And finally the late summer Melba apple. The wind is bring them down quickly and I'll have a box of horse apples to take to my neighbour shortly. But they look lovely on the tree... though the tree appears to have developed apple-cedar rust. That will be a pain in the neck to get rid of since I have not only my three domestic apple trees but many wild apples along the hedgerow, and cedars planted along the front of the property... oh well. For now I'm going to enjoy the slightly tart taste of the apples that the bugs didn't devour, and the lovely sight of the late summer flowers... all beautiful and meant to be thoroughly enjoyed. I'm going to be Scarlett today and think about the rust tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day enjoying some of your favourite things.

"It's really hot, I just can't move," says Jinx LaRue

2011-08-09T08:55:00.000-04:00

Meet Jinx LaRue, a little part shih'tzuh gal from Quebec where her former owner could no longer care for her.

Jinx has a medium deep voice which she uses frequently to let you know that she's terribly terribly hungry and needs desperately to be fed. She made us all laugh this past weekend at a cottage in Ontario's beautiful lake country with her "mmmmmmm, mmmMMMMMmmmm" and alert gaze as anyone went towards the kitchen. Ever hopeful.

Affectionate and game, this little gal just fits in anywhere and is a welcome guest.

We took Jinx for a boat ride and let the boat stop in a bay, jumping in to go swimming. She was invited (well not really invited but plopped into the water) as well. You could see she felt this was a grievous insult to her person when you looked into her dark eyes. She was not impressed! When her mum let her go she swam through the waves to the boat. She almost reached it and suddenly veered off in another direction.

We all laughed. When she was finally persuaded to get out, Jinx curled up on my towel and told me in no uncertain terms she needed to be wrapped up and petted and would I please give her some food after her arduous workout.

What a dog! What fun, and how lucky this wonderful little dog is to have found her way into the home and heart of my friend who adopted her.

Such wonderful things can come of rescuing an animal in need. And yes here's the pitch: At the moment there are a number of dogs in a Nunvut shelter that are looking for homes in the south because the Humane Society there isn't getting enough money from the small local population to help it continue. It's a very difficult situation. Lots of sled dogs remain unneutred, it's an expense many can't afford and their puppies are often left to make a life for themselves in the wild. Humans try to help but it's a big problem. If you can help, or are interested, check out this story http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/048857_iqaluit_animal_shelter_set_to_shut/

Hope you have a wonderful day and are as optimistic about its outcome as the cute and ever-hungry Jinx LaRue! And bless you if you can find a way to help an animal in need.

The fish pond

2011-08-05T11:56:00.000-04:00

My little pond has taken on its own life. This summer with the heat and the never-ending sun, and my love of feeding the fish, the algae has grown and is trying to take over.

Every couple of days I haul a number of the water hyacinth out of the pond and strip the string algae off the long roots. The fish flutter about while I do this and often I run some cold water into the pond at the same time. The fish go nuts and frolic in the stream, turning somersaults and flipping their tails which by the way are getting longer and prettier - Disney like even. Their colours - now that's like watching a bunch of neon signs flirting and flouncing around at the surface. Great fun to watch.

At the bottom of the pond in this photograph, you can see one of the tiny little fishes. They are awfully cute and I was so surprised to see the first one the other day. A friend told me yesterday that when they first hatch they are grey and blend in with the pond background. As they grow they begin to develop their colours...even the larger ones are starting show differences in their patterns and hues.

You can easily see the algae clinging to the rocks. I'll be in there pulling that off and maybe even taking the rocks out and scrubbing them next week.

You can also see the reflection of the back of my home and the huge tree that overhangs the drive shed in the surface water of the pond and the dappled sky - a mackerel sky my fishing friends would call it - perfect for catching those elusive trout, bass, and pickerel that we find in our northern lakes.

And there are other inhabitants of the pond:

Have a great weekend.... it's clear to me that my froggy and fishy friends will. Hope you enjoyed my bit of whimsy this morning - I often spend a few moments in the morning with a cup of coffee just enjoying nature's entertainment in my backyard. Hope there is something you enjoy each morning as well.

Flower and weed names

2011-08-04T08:25:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I remember to take my camera with me when we go for short walks around the pasture... from early spring a lovely little yellow flower shows up.

It's not as clear is it should be in this photograph, but you can see that it's like a little snap dragon type of flower. It makes a pretty yellow break in the green and throughout the growing season.

Then it goes to seed.

It's easy to see why someone named this plant birdsfoot trefoil...those seedpods do like little bird feet...

Fun to realize that someone might have had a sense of humour in naming this vegetation that makes up an important member of the grasses and legumes that are part of a good hay crop.

Apparently this legume can withstand drought and is great for clay soils, which we have up here, and also important not only for hay crops but also to maintain pastures for cattle, horses and other grazing animals. No wonder we see lots of it up here - lots of cattle and horses, sheep, goats, lamas, alpacas and even emu!

Hope you have fun learning something new today... it's a lovely day - early start here with a delicious fog, sun shining through it turning everything soft apricot. What a great way to start!

Mother love

2011-08-03T08:32:00.000-04:00

As you can see, on this misty evening walking the dogs along the pathways in my pasture, this cow was curious and stopped to watch.

She is one of a herd owned by my young farmer neighbour. It's a cow-calf operation and the young male calves are shipped off once they are weaned. The females sometimes are kept to add to the herd. They are managed in a very natural way, the old fashioned way some would say. On the grass and outside as much as possible, living a natural and healthy cow life. I respect my young neighbour for his efforts to live on a small family farm, operating it much the way his father did for so many years, and the way his uncle continues to manage his farm along the road a piece.

This particular moment for me was special when all the youngsters were hanging about together, except for this one who seems to adore its mother, staying with her and not moving along the prescribed path the herd takes each day.

While I watched the cow gradually became bored looking at us and turned to her calf who was butting her and nuzzling her neck. She began the steady slow process that many nurturing animals do - licking the calf from tip to tail.

It was a precious moment to watch the two bonded so closely, enjoying each other. That will end in a while, the little fellow will gradually pull away from his mother as he is weaned. He will join the other calves butting and playing and then get down to the serious business of eating and growing.

However Ii was left with a special moment. Something to savour through long winter months or times when things aren't quite as wonderful as I'd like them to be.

Aren't we lucky to have them - special moments to remember?

August gatherings

2011-08-02T10:00:00.001-04:00

I always know when August is getting near because the blackbirds begin to gather. This is an enormous flock of redwing blackbirds that has gathered in the field across the road from my wee home.

I watched them fly in a couple of days ago, it was a seemingly endless stream... like the cars on a highway at rush hour. Whether they are gathering to help the many babies in the flock build stamina, or to get food from the dropped seeds from the recently harvested hay field, I'm not sure.

The only thing I know is they are very restless, every present, and move off quickly to land in the field adjacent to my pasture in the north end of the property if I get to close. Several have joined the usual suspects at one of the feeders, but they seem intent on being together in a group.

Sometimes there is a gap in the gathering, no birds fly in, then again the stream starts up again. This must be the place! The kicking off spot.

In previous years it has seemed as if it were starlings that gathered like this, lining telephone and hydro wires along a certain stretch of highway. But this year, for some reason it's the redwings I've noticed.

It means that fall, or at least the beginning of it isn't too far away, and I really have to wonder where the heck summer has gone. Yes we're still getting tremendously hot days, but the nights are cooler, the sun is setting earlier, and the fall flowers are beginning to head up.

Time or at least how we measure it, simply flies when I don't pay attention and stay in the moment.

For the moments when these birds are here, I'm entranced though. Watching and wondering. Amazed at the number and the swirling wings, noisy rising and falling back into the field that seems to happen with no particular rhyme or reason. Fascinating experience.

Hope you have some fascinating experience today that keeps you mesmorized and in the moment.

One of my favourite flowers

2011-08-01T08:57:00.000-04:00

Lilies capture the fleeting beauty of a spring and summer morning. For me they signify the endless possibilities in a day - colour, new blooms = new ideas, growth, completion and often - as in these few pictures - perfection in nature.

Way too often the day lilies pass - we are fortunate that there are many buds on these beautiful plants so their beautify, while transitory lasts longer than just one day.

Asiatics as well, seem to blossom for a week and then suddenly they're gone. But their beauty, whether captured in a photograph or just in our minds, lives on. Making gloomy days bright.

In my garden the lilies are bounded by beautiful white veronica whose stems are feathery and light beside the more vivid colour of the lilies.

Hope your day is filled with sunshine, a bit of rain to keep the flowers blooming and our spirits high when the heat is excessive, and much beauty.

Abandoned but not lost forever

2011-07-30T08:48:00.000-04:00

Once again a friend of mine has found a kitten abandoned near her home.

This adorable little fellow whom she's named Boots because of his white socks and stockings, is only about 7 weeks old.

Mother and two babies were seen around my friend's rural neighbourhood and then only this wee one left behind somehow.

It's hard to imagine anyone abandoning baby animals, but it happens all the time in the country. People take unwanted cats and kittens out to the country, see a barn and dump the poor defenseless things out onto the side of the road figuring, I guess, that a kitten is a cat and can live in a barn right? Not if the barn already has cats...It would be kinder to kill unwanted babies, rather than the slow death by starvation or predation by dogs, other feral cats, coyotes, hunting birds such as owls and so on.

It always boggles my mind that people get creatures as pets and then don't neuter them. One friend told me of a woman who allowed her cat to get pregnant 20 times - because, the woman said "she loves being a mother." Cats aren't people, there are some that are naturally nurturing, others abandon their babies specially if they are too young to manage... but love being a mother? I don't think so.

Much as I love animals and if you've read any of this blog in the past year, you know they're a focal point of my life, it just wouldn't occur to me not to neuter a pet - male or female -

"Oh I want to get one litter from my male dog," some people state as the reason for not neutering a male. Why? A legitimate breeder (not the backyard or garage breeder/puppy mill kind) does a better job, selects the appropriate female to strengthen the genetics and doesn't keep the female in breeding bondage year after year, but does careful planning to protect the animal and the babies. And if your pet is a purebred, sometimes breeding it isn't even legal from the breeders standpoint. This applies to all pets, not just dogs and cats. And just fyi - testicular cancer is becoming more common in male dogs.

So to begin my new year of blogging (365 posts on the 28th - now that was a surprise to me and some who didn't think I'd stick to it) I'm on a bit of a rant, inspired by that tiny bit of fluff pictured at the top of this blog.

One friend of mine who runs an animal rescue organization has the tag line on her email - "Don't breed or buy while shelter pets die."
She has a good point.

Many loving and abandoned pets end up in shelters, for any number of reasons, allergies, moving to a place that doesn't allow pets, an elderly owner passing on for a few examples, or sometimes, just not caring enough.

So if you truly want to get a pet, why not check out your local shelter, or Kijiji that also has many pets listed to give away, or the animal rescue organizations that have websites? If you want a specific breed of dog, cat, horse, or almost any other kind of creature there are rescue organizations that focus specifically on particular breeds... "googling" will help you find them.

Not everyone wants a pet, but you can help by supporting a rescue organization financially or in some other way... we all can help. And we all know big or small, every bit of help is always needed if the cause is just.

So here's to our four-legged, feathered, amphibian and reptilian friends and the fishes too. We are blessed to share this wonderful planet with such a wide variety of creatures, many of whom give us unconditional love and companionship.

Here's to my own four four-legged friends, the fish and frogs that inhabit my pond and all the other creatures around or near my home that make life so varied and interesting and who were the inspiration for this blog. It was originally started to get me back to writing regularly about things that matter to me, and to obtain the discipline for finishing my book - (which, by the way, is well under way and I'm hoping will be ready for Christmas.

And here's to all of you who read this blog, whether regularly or only once in a while. Thank you so much for stopping by, for sharing your comments, your thoughts and your own blogs. What an amazing year this has been. Thank you all for your support.

Here are some rescued pets - photos friends have sent me. There are tons more - but for another day...

2011-07-28T10:30:00.002-04:00

You can see the most interesting things along river banks and in swamps. For instance - these two grackles are perched on the end of this branch, presumably one is digging grubs or bugs out of the wood since I saw it feeding the other bird. Fun to watch.

Some days it pays to stay quiet and just look at things rather than rushing along as I so often do. I'm making time these days to stop and "smell the flowers" or watch the river slowly meander along and see what pops up.

Such an enriching thing to do in a busy day. Hope you get the chance to do the same.

Egrets hunting

2011-07-27T18:10:00.001-04:00

Several egrets appear to have constructed nests along the Beaver River that runs through the valley

below my home. Nearing the river yesterday just before the bridge, I saw the one in the top photograph

hunting. As I looked more closely I saw another. However when I got out of my car, the furthest one flew

away and I missed the photo of it in flight.

I went onto the bridge and caught the second photo and was amazed to see a number of egrets

further along behind the one in the forefront.

I missed shots of a great blue heron and another bird which looked like a cormorant but was blue backed - the light perhaps shining off its feathers?

What I noticed most though was the quiet and the peace. The river flowed quickly in the centre, current readily visible, but except for the occasional call of a bird, a couple of grackles - one feeding another possibly a youngster on a log at the river's edge, there was quiet. I could have been a million miles from civilization. The swamp takes on an eerie look in mid-summer with algae collecting at the edges but it was the peace, the feeling of being part of something very special that will stay with me for a long time.

The two sides of Newfoundland

2011-07-26T08:10:00.000-04:00

A few years ago I had the joy of traveling to Newfoundland. It is an amazing province. The island apparently was created eons ago by two large pieces of land smashing together.

You can see the difference in the east and west coastlines. This photograph was taken on a beautiful sunny day from one of the western most points of land looking south from Gros Morne provincial park to Trout River, a shoreline village hidden in the inlet behind that first jutting promontory.

The western coastline is rugged and drops into the water abruptly in many places, covered in craggy rock faces and timber that can't easily be reached.

This is the village of Trout River seen from a museum and nature centre.

Above - looking west along a river valley on the way to Gros Morne

East coast Musgrave Harbour, on the northern side of the Bonavista Peninsula, is a similarly lovely small fishing village, but with no high mountains and rocky peaks behind it... much of the land on the eastern sea side has gentle small hills and flat coastlines with sandy or shale beaches or low lying rocks into the water.

The tide is out, it's a misty morning when I take this photo, but you can see the different topography easily.

Beautiful Newfoundland - one of Canada's treasures.

Crossings

2011-07-24T08:18:00.000-04:00

Sunset

The last of my mother's generation, her sister-in-law passed over last week. On Friday there was a gathering of the clan, family and friends came from far and wide to be at the church that historically the family had attended to bid her farewell. Then we gathered at the cottage on a sandy inlet on Georgian Bay that had become the home of my aunt's heart.

All of us who went back to the cottage, except for a couple of tiny new family members, have a connection to that place - that lovely undeveloped spot: the cottage which is much the same as it was in the 50s when many of the most recent renovations were made. Friends who live or who have cottages along the beach came and shared memories with kids now grown and their kids.

For me it was the closing of a chapter and the beginning of a new one. For the past four or so years, I've spent time with my aunt at the cottage as she grew more frail and enjoyed companionship and time to reminisce. Those periods enhanced my knowledge of family history with funny, entertaining and interesting stories.

The cottage had been purchased by my grandfather for my aunt's mother-in-law who didn't want to take a brand-new baby and her two young step-daughters out to an island - my grandfather's traditional summer home from which he commuted to his office in the nearby town of Penetanguishene. He ran the family business - a lumber mill. Storms on Georgian Bay often made it difficult for him to get back to the island at night...no wonder she, also from a logging family, didn't want to stay alone with three small children.

As time went by, marriages and more family members came from being at the cottage, and the family grew and in some cases grew apart. There is a lot of history for my mother's side of my family tied up in that cottage.

I think each of us in our own way, saluted the family and our traditions on Friday during that celebration, and felt closer to each other and our roots. We have gone from sunset to sunrise, crossing into a new chapter as my aunt has crossed into her new one.

I have been profoundly moved for brief periods during that day and this past week or more.

May your days be filled with wonderful memory-making happenings and incidents that might move you in some way, today or down the road.

Sunrise - looking forward

Hiding from the heat

2011-07-22T07:56:00.000-04:00

As I said yesterday one of the best ways to hide from the heat is to be in or on water - on it so you can get in it. The dogs went swimming yesterday in a neighbouring pond and felt much better and I too went swimming. These three green frogs obviously enjoy the cooler water hiding among the water hyacinths... though at the end of the day when it starts to warm up - they're outta there... the water being too warm for amphibians to tolerate. The fish hide under the plants at the bottom of the pond.

Hope you have a wonderful day, that you are surviving, and that all your efforts to help keep the creatures hydrated with bowls and pans of water in your surroundings are rewarded by feeling good about what you've done to help. Stay cool!

Water! everything needs water - help with the heat

2011-07-21T08:58:00.000-04:00

This group of baby mallards is looking for a hand out at the dock. Ducks are among the fortunate ones being on water in this heat. Many people who live in cities are now putting out bowls and pans of water for the wildlife, squirrels, birds, chipmunks, feral cats, yes even raccoons though I know they are a nuisance in city and country alike. This is a tough time for all creatures.

Please keep your pets out of the sun, little exercise, and make sure everyone including you, has lots of water. Never take your dog or dogs with you in the car in this heat - even if you have AC, when you stop the car will heat up and your dog will too - it could die... cats too need to be out of the sun.

If you personally don't have air-conditioning, find a library, museum, or public building where you can get cool for a while. I've found running under the hose keeps me cool occasionally - like a kid again! And drinking lots of water.

Please take care of yourselves...this heat wave seems to be all along the Eastern seaboard. My friend Steve Creek in Arkansas is experiencing well over 100 degree temps daily... and here in Ontario we're reaching the same.

Please help the animals and birds as much as you can... if you just fill a dish, bowl of pan with water, it's helpful to all creatures around you and will make you feel good too.

Thanks for everything you do for the animals and for each other... take care today and through this heat please.

Help animals beat the heat!

2011-07-20T16:32:00.000-04:00

Dear animal advocates, animal rescues, animal lovers:

Yesterday, C4P sent an advisory to most newsrooms and print outlets in the country, asking for support to keep animals on the agenda for newscasts during this heat wave. Happily, several news outlets have called in today, for greater detail, radio spots, etc.

Remember: ALL animal suffer the heat.

Domestic Dogs: should be kept in, minimal exercise, kept in shade, plenty of water, never locked in cars
Domestic Cats: keep indoors, ensure they are not somewhere outside trapped somewhere in heat
Domestic Chained Dogs: must have natural shade & water available - water bowls dry up pretty quickly outside
Birds & Wildlife: need water - for those who love wildlife, put a pail of water out - for birds, please fill bird baths regularly.
Livestock in pastures/barns: cross ventilation, natural shade, access to water
Livestock during transport: join WSPA and CCFA in their efforts to bring the plight of livestock in transports to the attention of your local Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
http://www.humanefood.ca/pdf links/Letter to CFIA Paul Mayers - July 14.pdf

Please cross post this advisory widely on all social networks, and keep in mind for remainder of summer - forecast is high heat to end of August.
Please (politely) intervene if you see a(n) animal(s) in distress. Any questions, don't hesitate to call.

With thanks

Hello all - the above is from C4Panimalrescue.com - Canada's animal advocacy network - please help where you can with your pets or if you see animals in distress... thanks - Barbara from Primarily Pets.

Beating the heat

2011-07-20T10:58:00.000-04:00

It's going to be around 40 degrees Celsius today - that's 104 F - hot hot and humid.

The grass is dry, brown and crunchy.

My gardens cry out for water which I have only sparingly to give them.

The pond plants gather algae blooms daily.

So I figured it would be good to see what it will be like six months from now to make me appreciate more the heat and sun for which I will no doubt yearn in January. The snow drifts wrapped around my wee church actually do make me feel cooler.

So there's the snow, the icicles, the firewood stacked by the door, the toboggan that finally I had to send to the dump this past winter, and one year old lab pups. By the blue colour in the pictures I see it's early morning.

And here a bit later come the pups back from inspecting the conjunction of the two county roads where we live, and seeing what's possible wandered on the pathways in the storm.

Will I be thinking of summer in six months time when the wind is blowing strong, snow going sideways and we need to wear boots, hats, mitts, scarves and down jackets, and the dogs are in their glory?

Who knows? but I'm certain that every day, hot or cold, stormy or sunny may not be tied up with a bow, but it's a gift nonetheless.

Enjoy your days - precious as they are.